Toronto’s creative scene is always evolving, but some events tap directly into the heart of community and culture. The Domino Club, founded by Dak and Marlon, is one of those rare spaces: born not just from nostalgia, but a real desire to connect the people in the city through play, conversation, and tradition. With a “Learn – Play – Connect” ethos, their monthly domino nights have quickly become a hub for cultural celebration, creativity, and belonging. I caught up with Dak and Marlon to talk about their inspiration, the unique energy of their events, and what’s next.
The Stories Behind the Tables
What inspired the launch of The Domino Club and its Learn – Play – Connect ethos?
“For both of us, there are several shared experiences, and some unique ones, that have culminated into the creation of the event series today. Our primary goal is to create a space where we can celebrate, honour and grow domino culture amongst the Caribbean, LaTAM, community and beyond. It’s for people who are far away from home, those from the diaspora looking to stay connected to their roots, for those who might not have had the chance to learn or play when elders were playing.”
Dak:
“I grew up around dominoes, watching older family members play in both Toronto and all around Jamaica. Most of the games happened at backyard parties, with loud reggae in the background, bottles of Red Stripe on the table, and plenty of yelling, or what I later learned was just passionate communication. I was always nearby, but I never really had a seat at the table to learn the game myself.
Now that I’m older, it feels more important than ever to protect cultural traditions and make sure our generation doesn’t lose the recipes that come with them. What started as a casual conversation between Marlon and me on a hotel rooftop over the summer quickly turned into something more. We wanted to create a recurring experience that brings people together, creates real memories, and keeps those recipes alive.”
Marlon:
“I spent a lot of my formative years with my grandfather, I spent many Saturdays at our local Cricket Club in our hometown where the early Caribbean community would congregate. I’d be running up and down with other kids and my cousins – Occasionally, I’d sit still long enough to take in the the excitement of a bowler hitting a wicket to out the batsman, the smell of curry and brown stew chicken wafting through the air, and at the end of the night, multiple games of boisterous dominoes being slammed while uncles argued about why their partner never played the deuce-five to block the game.
Growing up, whether born in the Caribbean or abroad, sometimes, it can feel like the right to sit at the domino table was earned, never given. I learned by watching and playing with elders towards the end of the night, only once the food was finished and pots were being scraped. It’s akin to an athlete playing late in the game when the other team is winning by 30 points, the coach puts you into the game to play during garbage time, you’ve got to make the most of your opportunity to prove yourself.”
Photographs by Jerome Cheng
Building Community Through Competition
Walk us through a standout event: what made the energy so electric?
“The standout event so far, has definitely been our first event. It’s a special feeling to go from planning and thinking about ‘What If’s’ To seeing it all come together within a matter of a couple weeks to congregating over something as simple as a casual game of Dominoes. What also sweetens it, is seeing the support of friends and the community”
How do your events support Toronto’s Black creative community or diverse participants?
“We’ve been to a multitude of different events, venues, and bars in the city over the years. A lot of the time, for Afro-Caribbean folks in the city (downtown specifically), there are not a lot of places where you can randomly walk into that isn’t a club focused night and hear music you listen to, see people who look like you, and sometimes just feel comfortable on a casual night out. Now, especially in the downtown core, you could argue that’s a demographics issue, but if the demand for our event has been any indicator, there is a clear need for spaces, or events that help foster that community”
What’s one memorable player story or “table moment” that captures your vibe?
“I’d say the first 6 Love handed out, it was definitely the magnum opus of energy in the night. We had bought a couple gift cards we had planned to give out to the first team to do it, and we did not expect it to give them out the very first night. There may be more prizes, but you’re gonna have to come out and find out in person.”
What’s Next for The Domino Club
Upcoming events or expansions planned via your Linktree?
“Currently, we’re planning on doing this on a monthly basis, our second event that takes place January 15th at the Annex Hotel – we announced the event, and within the day, it sold out – we were not expecting that at all. So that said, we might expand to larger venues to accommodate more people or even host multiple events per month.”
Any collaborations with local creators, DJs, or brands like recent Papi Hour?
“Yes for sure! We recently had a pop up with Stephen Pryce, also known as Overproof Papi at his Papi Hour event where we brought a couple of tables, some dominoes, and provided an additional experience to his event. He’ll be at our next event in January at the Annex Hotel, offering a rum tasting experience. Going forward, we want to collaborate with more creators and hopefully sponsors, that align with our brand, and provide a benefit to both, as we look towards continued growth into 2026. A special shout out goes out Treymane, (@ldatti) he’s been in charge of sound selection so far, and It would be a crime not to mention the value he adds as well as Jerome Cheng (@blackdragonroll) who helped capture photos and videos from our first event and set our brand up for success.”
Growing Pains and Community Feedback
How has any feedback shaped your growth since the debut?
“Ahaha, now we’re not going to name names, or in this case, usernames, but there was definitely a lot of noise on Tik Tok about the tables we were using in our first event. Some had even said we were gentrifying the game based on the visuals – Dominoes is a game played around the world, with many different sub-cultures and variations of the game. All we’re trying to do is to create spaces for the community that are welcoming and authentic. That said, we took that feedback and invested in a couple of new dedicated Domino tables – our hope is that we can eventually replace all tables with the new custom ones we’ve purchased. Some said they wouldn’t come because it looked like they couldn’t slam their dominoes, we welcome you with open arms. All we ask is that you’re mindful of the venues that have graciously enabled us to carry out our vision and other patrons who might not be as experienced – we need the support of the community to continue to build and grow.”
Join the Movement
The Domino Club is more than a game night: it’s a growing hub of culture, tradition, Black joy, and cross-cultural connection. Dak, Marlon, and their team have shown how old games can spark new energy, build friendships, and strengthen community roots in the heart of Toronto. Follow their journey here and get your spot early: the next game might just become your story, too.
For more creator spotlights and community stories, check out our creators directory and submit your own story to be featured next.
| WHERE TO FIND ‘EM? Stay connected with The Domino Club and never miss a game night: Instagram: @thedominoclubTO Events & Links: Linktree Next Event: January 15th at The Annex Hotel Founders: Dak Turner: @dakturner Marlon Pusey: @marlonpusey Event Contributors: DJ/Sound Selection: Treymane @ldatti Photography/Videography: Jerome Cheng @blackdragonroll Rum Tasting Experience: Stephen Pryce (Overproof Papi) @overpoof_papi Venue Partner: The Annex Hotel: theannex.com |
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