The Groove – Play That Funky Bingo – Blurb from 4/1/26

 The Groove – Play That Funky Bingo – Blurb from 4/1/26

It was one of those lighter nights at The Groove where the room felt a little more spacious but somehow louder, like everyone collectively decided to compensate for the missing bodies with extra personality. We landed at 43 players, which is still more than enough humans to create a small, well‑organized uprising if they ever coordinated, but thankfully they were all focused on bingo instead of revolution. A table of four younger players settled in right near me, which meant they were unintentionally seated in the direct blast radius of my humor. They handled it well, they laughed, they played, and they didn’t ask to be moved farther away, which I consider a personal victory.

Just beyond them was a brand‑new table of players from a more experienced age range, and they were absolutely buzzing. Pat, in particular, had the kind of energy that makes you wonder if she’s secretly plugged into the building’s electrical system. Every time I looked over, she was either laughing, gesturing, or radiating enough enthusiasm to power the city of Delmar. And speaking of things that require a little creative spark, this week, for your secret art bonus, draw an Easter egg as soon as you get your card. It can earn you a Round 2 win even if you don’t hit a Funky Bingo, or an extra win if you do.

Meanwhile, Latif, regular player, future host, and tonight’s unofficial Funky Bingo apprentice, spent the evening standing behind me to observe the tech side of the show. At some point he apparently started dancing with high energy, which I did not see because I was busy pressing buttons like a responsible adult. But multiple witnesses confirmed it, so I’m choosing to believe he was back there doing interpretive dance about the emotional journey of the Class of ’79 round.

The rounds themselves rolled along with that classic Groove rhythm. Drivin’ For Bingo eased everyone in, Body Language loosened them up, 80s Part 4 triggered the universal “oh yeah, I know this one” posture (and a slight desire to wear flourescent tights), and Class of 1979 gave the more experienced players a chance to sing, something we painfully lacked most of the night. 

By the end of the night, the prize wheel did its thing and handed out a tidy little spread: Matt W, Beth N, Ben W, and Autumn P each snagged $10, while Brandon P and Sadie S walked out with Let’s Do Entertainment T‑Shirts. And poor Chris W — the wheel called his name after he’d already left, which is the Funky Bingo equivalent of hearing your lottery numbers the day after you threw out the ticket.

All in all, it was a night of new faces, unexpected energy, and at least one man dancing behind me without my knowledge. Exactly the kind of Wednesday that keeps The Groove feeling like The Groove.