Welcome to The Canasta and Mahjong Connection!
We are Massachusetts based mother-daughter duo Emily and Bev and we would love to teach you Canasta and American Mah Jongg. We bring our professional experience as educators and our 10 years of teaching mahjong and canasta to help you learn these games properly! We collaborate with local community centers, restaurants, country clubs, boutique shops and hotels to create high quality, social and accessible experiences. Supporting the local community is so important to us!
Upcoming Classes: Beginner
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Mahjong Wednesdays at Waban Library
Waban Library
12:15-2:15pm
Learn To Play (3 week series) $150 pp
3/25, 4/1, 4/8
Guided Play: (choose one or multiple dates) $35 pp, per date
3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8
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Canasta Tuesdays at Waban Library
Waban Library
Learn to Play Series
Tuesday February 24th-March 24th
2-4pm
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Beginner Mahjong at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Cambridge, MA
Monday 3/23, 3/30, 4/6 6:30-8:30pm
Spend Mahjong Mondays at the Kimpton Marlowe! This three-part series will teach you all the basics to play American Mahjong. We break down the rules in a fun, social and approachable way. As a bonus, Bambara Restaurant at the Kimpton will be releasing a mah jongg menu with specialty drinks and food. Complimentary parking!
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Beginner Mahjong at Greentail Table
Shop and Play!
Thursday April 9th and 16th, evening
$120 for the two week series
Learn to play mahjong in a two week series at Greentail Table in Newton. Shop the boutique for your home and gift giving needs and learn to play with Emily and Bev, from the Canasta and Mahjong Connection.
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Mahjong at Trident
Tuesday, March 31st 7-9pm
Arrive at 6pm to eat and mingle beforehand!
Trident Booksellers, Boston
Join the learning table at our upcoming Mahj and Meld event with a dedicated instructor. Learn:
-the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic game flow.
Class includes a laminated cheat sheet. Surround yourself in a social atmosphere, with other mahjong and canasta players enjoying social play. Win raffle prizes!
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Beginner Canasta at JCC
JCC of Greater Boston
Thursday April 30th-May 21st 10am-12:30pm
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Beginner Canasta, Arlington
Arlington Community Ed, Gibbs School
Thursday April 30th-May 28thg 6:30-8:30pm
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Private Group Lessons
Email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com to inquire about private group classes in person and virtually. Must be based in the Greater Boston Area or on lower/mid Cape Cod for in person classes at this time.
Upcoming Classes: Beyond Beginner
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3/18 Mahjong Guided Play
Waban Library Center (Newton)
Wednesday 3/18 from 12:15-2:15pm
Once you learn the basic rules (how to read the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic gameplay), sign up for beyond beginner! Help solidify rules, increase confidence with game play, and develop more strategies.
To sign up: email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com
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3/25 Mahjong Guided Play
Waban Library Center (Newton)
Wednesday 3/18 from 12:15-2:15pm
Once you learn the basic rules (how to read the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic gameplay), sign up for beyond beginner! Help solidify rules, increase confidence with game play, and develop more strategies.
To sign up: email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com
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3/30 Mahjong Guided Play
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Monday March 30th 6:30-8:30pm
Once you learn the basic rules (how to read the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic gameplay), sign up for beyond beginner! Help solidify rules, increase confidence with game play, and develop more strategies.
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4/1 Mahjong Guided Play
Waban Library Center (Newton)
Wednesday 4/1 from 12:15-2:15pm
Once you learn the basic rules (how to read the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic gameplay), sign up for beyond beginner! Help solidify rules, increase confidence with game play, and develop more strategies.
To sign up: email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com
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4/6 Guided Play
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Monday April 6th 6:30-8:30pm
Once you learn the basic rules (how to read the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic gameplay), sign up for beyond beginner! Help solidify rules, increase confidence with game play, and develop more strategies.
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4/8 Mahjong Guided Play
Waban Library Center (Newton)
Wednesday 4/8 from 12:15-2:15pm
Once you learn the basic rules (how to read the tiles, how to read the NMJL card, and basic gameplay), sign up for beyond beginner! Help solidify rules, increase confidence with game play, and develop more strategies.
To sign up: email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com
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4/13 Mahjong Social Play
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Monday April 13th 6:30-8:30pm
Details coming soon
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Beyond Beginner Canasta (Needham)
Wednesdays, Apr 29, 2026 - May 20, 2026
This program is for those with basic knowledge of Modern American Canasta rules and gameplay. Using instruction and guided play, we will reinforce rules and discuss higher level strategies such as signaling, special hands, sevens, aces, wildcards, and more.
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Private Classes
Send us an email for private strategy instruction in modern american canasta or american mahjong for your group.
Email: thecanastaconnection@gmail.com
Upcoming Social Play + Learning Events
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Mahj and Canasta Night at Trident
Trident Booksellers
Tuesday March 31st 6-9pm
6-7pm dinner and socializing food and drink not included in ticket price
7-9pm game time!
Boston, MA (Back Bay)
Canasta and Mahjong Guided and Open Play. Intro to Mahjong learning Table. Fun raffle prizes.
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Private lessons, events, and parties
We host canasta and mahjong private lessons, social play events, corporate team building, birthday parties, and fundraisers. Reach out to us to inquire.
Shop Our Canasta Materials
Designed by professional k-12 special education teachers to break down the rules and scoring of modern American canasta to make it accessible. We have been iterating on these for years based on feedback from hundreds of students.
Join Our Facebook Group:
The Canasta Connection Group
Find local canasta games and connect with other canasta players.
Testimonials