By Exhildah Smith
University of Washington communications intern

Starting Saturday, June 30, Edmonds-area gaming enthusiasts will have a place to call their own when the Otherworlds store opens in Old Milltown.

According to Otherworlds co-owner Brynn Watson, the store will specialize in fantasy, steampunk, science fiction, vintage horror, used books, board games, role-playing games, and fashion, and will feature mostly handmade merchandise supplied by local artists. (For those not familiar with the term, steampunk is a genre incorporating elements of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, horror, and speculative fiction.)

The official grand opening is set for Saturday from 10 a. m. – 9 p.m. at the store, located at 203 5th Ave. S., Ste. 2.

The day’s festivities will include performances by the Time Gypsies, and an appearance by silhouette artists Kerry J. Cook, who will host a costume-cutting contest for those interested in hand-cutting silhouette. A photographer will also be in the store to capture your glam shots.

Watson said Otherworlds plans to have gaming nights (for example, Dungeons and Dragons),  book groups, a newsletter-writing contest and costume contests. The store will set aside opened games so that customers  can play them before purchasing, and will also encourage gamers to write reviews for other customers to read, Watson added.

Co-owner Ahren Paulson said he feels that Edmonds will be a perfect meeting place for steampunkers and gamers from Seattle and Everett. “We are hoping to bring some of the groups together,” Paulson said. The store will also give Edmonds gamers a local place that doesn’t require a drive to Lynnwood, Everett or Seattle, Paulson and Watson note.

And for those who just want to browse and relax, Otherworlds will have a sitting area where you can read a book while enjoying a cup of tea and cookies you can buy at the counter.

Otherworlds will be “a place to come in and go somewhere completely different for a little while and have a little bit of an adventure,” Watson said.