New Orleans catches puzzle fever
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Carlie at a puzzle swap in Metairie. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
Hi! I'm Carlie, and one of my favorite "grandma" hobbies is puzzling with friends.
Why it matters: Puzzling's shift from solo to social mirrors a bigger trend as people turn analog hobbies into in-person communities.
The big picture: Puzzle swaps and speed competitions are popping up across New Orleans metro.
- I went to a recent library swap in Metairie with hundreds of puzzles. Some were for sale, but many were leave-one, take-one, like a Free Little Library.
- I prefer 300- to 500-piece puzzles, but another woman was only hunting 1,000-piece puzzles. She said she does a new one daily.
- The New Orleans Public Library has a free community puzzle exchange, and most library branches in Jefferson Parish have puzzles. There's also a puzzle sale in Metairie next week.
Why I like it: I'm a social puzzler who loves sorting pieces (the best part!) while catching up with friends and family.
- It's a low-stress, screen-free activity we can do while we talk. The Butts on Things series has been a hilarious hit with my parents.
Zoom out: Speed puzzling is not my thing, but plenty of people love it.
- Nationally, there were 151% more puzzle competitions from August 2024-July 2025, compared to the previous year, according to a report from live event marketplace Eventbrite.
- Urban South and Alice and Amelia regularly host puzzle nights. The brewery's next one is Aug. 10.
How it works: Typically teams of two or four gather around tables, each with a mystery puzzle sealed in a bag. After a countdown, they open it and race to finish.
- First one to shout "Done!" collects prizes.
- The vibe is similar to bar trivia — except puzzling offers something to do with your hands, which "makes conversations a lot easier," says Sarah Schuler, a Minnesota–based professional jigsaw puzzler and puzzle host known as Sarah Does Puzzles.
What they're saying: Events are "especially great for people that aren't super athletic but are very competitive, which is me," Schuler says.
- Plus, she says puzzling is an activity people of all ages can enjoy. At a recent competition she finished second behind a 12-year-old and his partner.
