The House Rules Cafe in Hudson Is a Great Place to Work

Whether you work from home or head out to a coffee shop on your break, it's important to respect other patrons' space and noise levels. You should also keep your personal items to a minimum and don't spread your stuff out on multiple tables. It's also a good idea to carry a small backpack or purse with your laptop, a few pens, and any other essentials you might need. And if you're going to sit at a table meant for a larger group, ask the hostess about reserving a private area for your work.

The House Rules Cafe in Hudson is the first of its kind in this trendy river city. Owner Kathleen Miller describes herself as a "board game sommelier," and she has an innate ability to match a player's personality with the right game.

For a daily, weekly, or monthly fee, patrons can play as many games as they want, for as long as they like. They can also snack on comfort foods such as grilled cheese or roasted chickpeas, and sip Thrive Farmers coffee.

Miller explains that there has been a board game revolution in the past 15 to 20 years, with new games emerging with innovative themes and mechanics. "Some of these are super easy to learn, and some have a very high level of strategy," she says. She recommends Qwirkle, a surprisingly deep tile-matching game, and the quick strategy card game Ticket to Ride, as two examples.

While there are a number of board game cafés across the country, each has its own flair and style. Some are set up like pubs, some more casual, and others still have a family restaurant feel. Miller hopes that her cafe, which is opening in late April, will strike a balance between the three.

When choosing a cafe to work in, make sure it has ample seating and isn't too busy. It's also best to visit a place that serves food and has plenty of electricity outlets to charge your devices. Lastly, it's important to bring a portable headset or headphones if you need to listen to music or watch a video. And finally, remember to tip the staff!

It goes without saying that it's rude to monopolize a seat for an extended period of time while draining the establishment's electricity, using their bathroom, and taking up space. If you're working in a cafe for an hour or so, try to spend at least $5 at the business and leave a generous tip for the employees.