By
Erin Coulehan
Photography by
Katherine Kocian
In the game of life, a round or two of drinks can turn an ordinary night into an adventure – something El Pasoans know to be true. Downtown hotspots like Cafe Central, Hush Hush, The Tap, and more are often the launching points to fun, gathering places for those ready to escape the ordinary that captivated one artist’s imagination.
Artist Lee Beach’s love for creativity has taken many forms over the years, from crafting artwork to designing board games. Now, the El Paso native has fused those passions into something uniquely reflective of the Sun City’s vibrant culture: Night Out in the 915 a Candy Land-style drinking game that brings El Paso’s downtown and Cincinnati entertainment districts to life.
“I’ve always been a creative person, and I’ve made board games in the past, even before getting into art,” he shared. “This game is kind of revisiting those earlier projects, but with a fresh twist. It’s like Candy Land, but instead of heading to the Candy Kingdom, you’re just trying to get home after a round of drinks.”
The concept began taking shape ahead of the holidays, inspired by Beach’s penchant for gift-giving and his time spent brainstorming. A chance collaboration with a UTEP student helped turn his ideas into reality.
“They drew these beautiful sketches of the characters, and everything else really built itself around that,” he explained. “These characters bring El Paso to life on the board.”
The game is packed with local flavor.
Players navigate iconic downtown and Cincinnati locations, rolling an eight-sided die to determine their moves. But this isn’t just about landing on properties like in Monopoly. Instead, Night Out in the 915 introduces interactive elements: red and green spaces signal whether you take or give a drink, while question and exclamation marks lead to cards featuring quirky challenges and mistakes.
“Challenges are like blasts from the past,” Beach said. “One card might have you recall a memory from high school, and if no one laughs, you drink. It’s all about keeping it fun and playful.”
Even the game’s design nods to classics like Candy Land, a race-to-the-finish game where players compete to be the first home. The board’s logo – Beach’s character Roro – makes appearances throughout, adding a personal, artistic touch.
“Roro’s kind of my mascot,” he explained. “I gave him a bunch of new perspectives and versions for the game, so you’ll see him all over the board and the cards.”
El Paso itself is a key player in the game, capturing the city’s nightlife and energy.
“Downtown is on the rise, and the bars and restaurants are really cultivating that. They’re honoring what people love to do – go out, have fun, and make memories,” said Beach.
The game also offers subtle storytelling.
“You’ll notice diverging routes on the board,” he pointed out. “The shorter ones are more dangerous – there’s a lot more red spaces. The main diverging route, the good one, leads through Cincinnati.”
What began as a small project has grown quickly.
Beach originally ordered just 30 game boards to test the waters but recently placed another order after a successful launch that are available at the Lee Beach website (leebeach.com).
Night Out in the 915 is more than a game – it’s a love letter to El Paso, capturing its lively spirit and the camaraderie of its community. As Beach put it, “It’s about bringing people together, laughing, sharing memories, and celebrating what makes this city so special.”
