Introducing: Mahj Tile Talk on Substack, "Where Every Tile Has a Story"

Tales of Mahj Entertaining, Tiles and Accessories, Playing Tales, Instructor Tales, Tablescapes, Wine and Cocktail Pairing.

Feb 27, 2026

Mahjong is one of my obsessions. If you follow the Wine Wanderings newsletter, you can appreciate my love of entertaining, wine, and cocktails. Add to this the “up-trending and strategic-thinking” game of Mahjong to the mix and you have the genesis of Mahj Tile Talk. Incidentally, I am a certified member of the Mahj Life Instructors Guild, directory listed.

Click on Reel above to see two of my favorite tablescapes.

Welcome to Mahj Tile Talk: What to Expect

I’ll be covering the rapidly growing audience for the game of American Mahjong, which follows the guidelines of the National Mah Jongg League. We’ll talk about the broadening tales ranging from the angst of newbies learning Mahjong game complexities to interviews with the guru’s of Mahjong to playing in the ever-growing number of competitive tournaments. I will recommend some of the latest Mahjong accessories among the growing number of competing producers. Beautiful Mahjong rooms and tablescapes will be featured. We’ll interview some of tile and accessory producers. We’ll talk about people opening mahjong parlors in cities across the world. You’ll also discover the humanity inside the Mahjong community. When disaster strikes with a fellow player or Mahjong group, we have answered the call.

If you are a Wine Wanderings subscriber, you know that my WSET Diploma of Wine (level 4) has allowed me access to winemakers, wine region venues and owners, river cruise travel, and distillery sites. As a Mahjong player and instructor, I bring access to some of your favorite firms, travel opportunities, and events, I understand personally the craziness of group play, and the angst of winning and losing. I’ll detail MJ etiquette faux pas, the elegance of tiles and tablescapes, the fun of drinks-pairing, and the challenges of tournament play. Yes, I get butterflies at a tournament, too.

Areas of focus

What will we be covering? Our articles will include: Tile Tales, Instructor Insight and Profiles, MJ Company Founder Journeys, Entertaining and Tablescapes, Mahjong Travel Opportunities, City Sites and Events, Media Coverage, MJ Culture and Community, and Tournament Play. As an instructor, I have taught groups of players from many walks of life following the guidelines and rules of the National Mah Jongg League. Additionally, we’ll cover some of the unique regional “house rule” twists that make the game colorful and controversial: alternative cards, blanks play, and 2-3-4-player Mahjong, too.

What’s on the Banner?

Accessories: Peace Love Mahjong Racks, Miss Mahjong Miss Classic Malachite Tiles, and an Oh My Mahjongg Luna mat. Some discounts may apply.

What are Today’s Topics?

Today we’ll be talking about:Mahjong in the Media: Rapid Growth, the Mahj Magazine launch, and crafting a specialized Mahjong Room. in the I’m Obsessed section we’ll look at Siamese/2-player Mahjong racks and some other beautiful accessories. Don’t forget to check out A Little Mahjong History, A Shout Out to City Mahjong Groups, and the Editorial Calendar for the Spring and Summer.

**Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture**

A Little Mahjong History

Whether it is spelled Mahjongg, Mah-jongg, Mah Jongg, or Mahjong (all are correct), Mahjong can’t be escaped in today’s culture and society. Don’t we need a little distraction now?

In the 1020’s American Mahjong emerged as a fad after Joseph P. Babcock introduced a Westernize version. The cultural practice, which varied in many regions, was standardized by the National Mahj Jongg League in 1937. While Chinese immigrants brought the game earlier, it exploded in popularity in the 1920’s. The game merges the rich Asian heritage with American enthusiasm for design, connection, and entertaining blending strong strategy, tradition, and community vibes. Check out the book, “Mahjong” by Annelise Heinz for further historic information.

Mahjong in the Media

From a media perspective, this month’s cover of D-Magazine features a story on “High Stakes Mahjong” and the growing number of companies making a profit from this growing enthusiast group. Mahjong was brought to American in the 1920’s but has flourished since the Covid Pandemic. Mahjong has experienced a massive rapid surge in popularity bringing a sense of fun, community, and style. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, Eventbrite reported a 180% increase in Mahjong events in the US. With regional explosions like 365% in Houston and 150% in San Francisco, it is easy to understand why accessory manufacturers have grown. Some key cities for growth include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Charleston. While American Mahjong remains popular other styles like Hong Kong and Riichi (Japanese) are also growing in popularity.

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Check out the scene from the 2018 movie, Crazy Rich Asians, for the Mahjong scene.

“The Mahjong Room”, Julie Provenzano Group, Instagram January 25, 2026- Let’s be frank, we all want one.

Mahj, The Magazine: Launch March 2026

Mahj, the Magazine. launches in March and will feature Dallas, Charleston, and New York in its initial city coverage. Watch for more news on that front soon. Use this link to Subscribe to Mahj, The Magazine.

Mahj, The Magazine Subscription

Mahj Tile Haus, Double Racks, Tortoiseshell

I Am Obsessed: Our Favorite Mahjong Accessories

*Siamese Mahjong and Mahj Tile Haus Tortoiseshell Double Racks- when you can’t find four people, but have two, why not have a game and BTW learn two hands at once while switching tiles between both? Check out some of the prettiest Double/Siamese® racks in existence at Mahj Tile Haus. I just bought them: Tortoiseshell Double Racks.
*Mahjong Maven Tiles - Custom Black Tiles with Gerber Daisy, Sparkling Racks. Use Code: MahjTileTalk.

MMT Launch Gift Subscription 10% OFF

Mahjong Maven Black Tiles Gerber Daisy, Sparkly Racks, use CODE MahjTileTalk for a discount.

Shout Out to City Mahjong Groups

*SF Mahj Social Club - San Francisco, CA: open play and tournaments
*McKinney Parks & Rec, McKinney, Texas: Open play Wednesday, holiday events
*Cypress Mahjong Social, Cypress, Texas: Lessons, socials, multi-card play
*Buckhead Mahjong Club, Georgia and Florida: Socials, guided play, lessons
Austin Mahjong Social , Austin, Texas: Open play, classes, various meeting locations.

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Benefits of a Paid Subscription

As a paid subscriber, along with regular Mahj Tile Talk newsletters, you’ll have the benefit of one-on-one and group Mahjong instructions, LIVE Substack updates and tips, design and tablescape planning, and tournament coaching (Founding members).

Paid Subscriber Only: LIVE Substack Talk, Monday March 23, 5 PM CT:

“The Fair Way to play 3-Player Mahjong” - You will be notified prior to the event. Download the free Substack App from Apple or Google for your phone in order to join.