American Mah Jongg · parlor
Lily Pad Mahjong Parlor
Also called Lily Pad Mahjong; Cathy Lancaster Studio parlor
Lily Pad Mahjong Parlor, 1254 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613 (printed on the Location & Parking page).
Category: American Mah Jongg · parlor
Also called: Lily Pad Mahjong; Cathy Lancaster Studio parlor
Last checked: 2026-08-23
What it is
Lily Pad Mahjong Parlor is a dedicated American Mah Jongg parlor inside Cathy Lancaster Studio in Lakeview, Chicago, IL. It is not Japanese Riichi. Founder Cathy Lancaster is a Chicago artist and designer; the About page says the parlor is a “vibrant extension of her gallery” and sits “nestled inside the gallery.” The shop sells beginner classes, open play, leagues, and themed events. Homepage and product copy name American mahjong and the National Mah Jongg League card.
Who it’s for
American Mah Jongg players and beginners in Chicago who want a bookable parlor near Wrigley Field — open play, 101/102, or a dated league — rather than a rec-center drop-in.
Why it’s listed
This is a first-party parlor with a live Shopify shop and dated 2026 play products, not a scraped directory card.
- Homepage banner on 2026-08-23: “Heads up: Photoshoot happening this Sunday, Aug 23rd, during Open Play (2–4pm)!” A second banner announced Friday Open Play “starting August 21st from 3–5 PM.” Footer © 2026, Lily Pad Mahjong Parlor.
- Open Play (https://lilypadmahjong.com/products/open-play-jan-feb): $30.00 per session. Dated slots on the check date ran from Sunday 23 August 2026 (2–4 pm) through Friday 30 October 2026 (3–5 pm). Recurring windows on that list: Sundays 2–4 pm, Tuesdays 10 am–12 pm, Fridays 3–5 pm. Copy: “No formal instruction—just great games.” Required question: “Have you played American Mahjong or attended a Mahjong 101 class before?” If no, the form says to take 101 first. Beginner skill-level option was marked Sold Out; Intermediate / Advanced was still offered.
- Daytime Fall League $180.00: six Friday mornings, 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 18 September–23 October 2026. Includes all six sessions; weekly prizes and a championship prize. Copy names NMJL rules (with listed bonuses) and requires prior mahjong / 101 experience. Beginner skill-level option was Sold Out; Intermediate was still offered.
- Homepage also sold Mahjong 101 at $80.00 and Mahjong 102 Strategy & Guided Play at $70.00, plus Wrigleyville Classic beginner and intermediate tournament cards at $55.00. Confirm current class dates on the shop; the 101 product handle was not a stable URL on the check date.
- FAQ: every class and Open Play includes tiles, loaner NMJL cards, scorecards, teaching materials, and a self-serve tea / mocktail / snack station.
Prices above are what the official shop showed on the check date. They can change. Open play and league registrations are subject to the City of Chicago Amusement Tax.
Official URL
Open play: https://lilypadmahjong.com/products/open-play-jan-feb
Daytime Fall League: https://lilypadmahjong.com/products/daytime-fall-league
Location & parking: https://lilypadmahjong.com/pages/location-parking
About: https://lilypadmahjong.com/pages/about-us
Location
Lily Pad Mahjong Parlor, 1254 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613 (printed on the Location & Parking page). Copy: “Just steps from Wrigley Field,” corner of Addison & Clark, Lakeview. CTA Red Line Addison and Brown Line Southport are named as nearby stops.
Notes
- American Mah Jongg / NMJL. Not Riichi. Open-play and league forms ask about American Mahjong / 101 experience.
- Confirm the current slot list on the shop before treating any week as fixed. There is no single weekly hours table; play is ticketed by date.
- Booking policy on the open-play product: reschedule requests at least 72 hours in advance; tickets are final sale.
- League questions: league@lilypadmahjong.com. Private-event quote: lilypadmahjongchicago@gmail.com.
- Not affiliated with Mahjong Plaza.
FAQ
Q: Is this Japanese Riichi?
A: No. Open-play and league products ask whether you have played American Mahjong or taken Mahjong 101. League copy scores NMJL rules. FAQ says loaner National Mah Jongg League cards are included.
Q: How much is open play, and what is included?
A: The open-play product is $30.00 per dated session. FAQ says tiles, loaner NMJL cards, scorecards, tea, drinks, and snacks are included. The form requires prior American Mahjong or 101 experience.
Q: Where is the parlor?
A: 1254 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613, in Lakeview near Wrigley Field, printed on the official Location & Parking page.