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Where is my Canasta Community? Teachers and Places to Play

We are starting to compile an online resource to find Canasta games. Please email us city, state and contact information for games. Please do not include private home addresses. Email is preferred.  

TIPS FOR FINDING CANASTA GAMES:

1. If you don’t know somewhere to play near you or where you are visiting, a great place to search is the website Meetup.com. It is free to join and search.
2. Other members have found games by searching the Nextdoor app. Also, use different spellings.
3. When searching on Google, great searches include separate searches using Canasta and the following terms: 
  • instructors
  • classes
  • drop in
  • game
  • newcomers or newcomers club
  • the area you are looking for city, county, library, Temple, Church, community center
  • Institute for Learning in Retirement
4. Many libraries, continuing education classes, temples, churches, senior centers and community centers offer classes or are great resources to find a game.
5. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is an amazing foundation and has institutes across the country. They offer many different courses, which at times include Canasta. It’s another great idea to search.
The information below is accurate when posted. Confirm before attending.  Please email us if there are any incorrect listings and/or for us to add additional places to play! 
If you have any information to share, please email us at ModernMahjong(at)gmail.com  to add to our Directory. 
 
  • Alabama
 
  • Alaska
 

 

  • Arkansas

 

 

  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
    • Geri Rhoades: Fairfield County
      I'm a retired teacher, using my skills for a game I love.  I teach beginning, intermediate and strategy classes.  Here's what some of my previous learners have said:  "From the moment Ms. Rhoades began to teach, everyone in the room immediately felt comfortable and quickly learned the game.  Ms. Rhoades’ enthusiasm made it easy to learn proper canasta technique, etiquette, and even some canasta history.  She shared her vast knowledge through her amazing teaching style."  Greenwich YWCA "Geri is a terrific canasta teacher! After only a few group lessons, my friends and I were thrilled to be able to play on our own. " R.B. Stamford  gerirhoades(at)gmail.com  
    • Stamford, CT,  We have Canasta on Wednesdays 11-1 at the Henry Bennett Library 115 Vine Road Stamford, CT.  Contact for more information, Jennifer Zorek- Pressman, Phone: 203 227-9503, Cell: 973 222-4006
    • Westport, CT and Norwalk, CT, Wednesday at 2 p.m. and  Friday at 9:30 and 1 pm,  Saturdays at Noon. Contact for more information, Jennifer Zorek- Pressman, Phone: 203 227-9503, Cell: 973 222-4006
    • Jamie Meadow, Southern CT: I also teach in Westchester County, New York and Palm Beach, FL. Contact me at  canastateacher(at)gmail.com or 914-879-5204 
  • Delaware

 

  • Florida
    • Dara Collins, South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties) Currently teaching virtually and will be sharing more information about upcoming classes soon. Available for Book Talks, Strategy and Speaking Engagements. Darajcollins(at)gmail.com or ModernAmericanCanasta(at)gmail.com. 
    • Bonnie Keiles, Delray Beach and Boca Raton, FL:  I retired 18 months ago from a 33 year career in public education and became quickly addicted to Canasta. I spend 4 months a year in Ventnor, New Jersey where I teach Canasta in Ventnor, Margate and Longport, NJ. Contact Bonnie at bonniekeiles(at)icloud.com.  (June through Sept in NJ 
      Oct through Mar in Florida) 
    • Jamie Meadow, Palm Beach, FL:  I also teach in Westchester County, New York and Southern, CT. Contact me at canastateacher(at)gmail.com or 914-879-5204 
    • Pointe Vedra Beach, FL
  • 1st Mondays  - Canasta 2 seasonal)
    Canasta 2  is a unique group that’s located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. 
    We play 3 versions of Canasta and always have a beginners table. We meet the 1st Monday of the month @ 12:30 pm. All lessons are free. The following is the list of Canasta versions we play: 
    1- Hand  & Foot - 5 decks ( Easy ) 
    2- Pennie’s from Heaven- 3 decks ( Easy) 
    3- American - 2 decks ( Most difficult)
    For more information, contact Swinalu(at)gmail.com. Confirm before attending. 
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
    • Public Anyone on or off Facebook.  Join us for a fun evening of light food, drinks, cards and fraternity. Only $10 per person. And if you don't know how to play, don't worry...we'll teach you! Confirm before attending.
    • Indiana 
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky 
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland

       

      • Massachusetts:
        • Bev and Emily Cape Code and Boston, MA, We are a mother-daughter Canasta teaching duo in  Greater Cape Cod and Boston, Massachusetts. Canasta Connection with Emily and Bev. We teach Modern American Canasta: www.canastaconnection.com. Email: emily.shire(at)gmail.com
        • Michigan
        • Minnesota
        • Mississippi
        • Missouri
        • Montana
        • Nebraska
        • Nevada
        • New Hampshire
        • New Jersey
          • Margate, NJ: Please visit our website www.jccatlantic.org 501 North Jerome Ave, Margate City, NJ, 08402. 609-822-1167. Bring a friend or make new ones at our brunch event! Everyone wins when you play games and enjoy tuna, egg salad, white fish, lox bagel sandwiches, salad, fruit, desserts, coffee and tea. https://www.jccatlantic.org/adult-and-youth/jewish-culture/ Mahjong & Canasta Brunches are scheduled on multiple dates, please contact them directly for more info.
          • Christine Blackford, Monmouth & Ocean County, NJ In person & Virtual Teaching Beginner & Advanced strategy American Modern Canasta, Small to large classes & private 1:1 Coach n Play.  Check out my YouTube Channel Canasta Class to reenforce you Canasta lessons. Contact Christine:  732-785-5923, mahjonggclass(at)yahoo.com 
          • Bonnie Keiles, Ventnor, Margate and Longport, NJ: I retired 18 months ago from a 33 year career in public education and became quickly addicted to Canasta. I spend 4 months a year in Ventnor, New Jersey where I teach Canasta and relocated to Florida will teach in Delray Beach and Boca Raton. Contact Bonnie at bonniekeiles(at)icloud.com.  (June through Sept in NJ and Oct through Mar in Florida) 
        • New Mexico
        • New York 
          •  Donna Miller-Small, Long Island, NY: I teach at many libraries in-person, group classes and also teach virtually.  Contact by Email: mahjonggcanasta(at)optimum.net
          • A great opportunity for beginners, intermediate, advanced, or anyone looking to find a future game. Beginning on Tuesday, Aug 30 @ Young Israel of Holliswood 86-25 Francis Lewis Blvd Holliswood NY 11427 phone 718 776-8500 there will be canasta lessons offered from 10 am-noon. Fee is minimal.
          • Mid Nassau Canasta Group, East Meadow, NY: Long Island Canasta meeting place for our group. We play online and in person, usually in middle Nassau County, NY. We are open to new members but please message the host, Diana, to join. Our favorite spot to play in person is Panera in East Meadow. We play online in Canasta Junction as well. We are a friendly group that plays the New American style canasta. Not training rookies at the moment but may do so again in the future. We like friendly but competitive play. https://www.facebook.com/groups/223029495952476
          • North Carolina
            • North Dakota
              • Ohio
                • Oklahoma
                  • Oregon

                 

                  • Pennsylvania
                      • Altoona, PA: Hollidaysburg Area Public Library, Canasta and Mah Jongg games are held at 11 a.m. Mondays. Beginners are welcome. Call Harriett at 814-693-9292 with questions.
                      • Richboro, PA: Ohev Shalom of Bucks County Sisterhood invites the community to a friendly weekly canasta game, Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. Open play is $4. Call 215-968-6755 for more information. 944 Second Street Pike, Richboro.
                • Rhode Island
                • South Carolina
                • South Dakota
                • Tennessee
                • Texas
                • Utah
                • Vermont
                  • Manchester Community Library, VT: https://mclvt.org/event/canasta-masters-60/ If the link is for a prior event, go to the main page and search Canasta. 
                  • Virginia
                    • Arlington, VA: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Programs/55-Membership/Senior-Activities

                   

                  • Washington
                  • West Virginia
                  • Wisconsin
                  • Wyoming
                  • District of Columbia
                  • OUTSIDE OF THE US:
                      • Canada

                   

                  • VIRTUAL: Contact Dara and Donna Miller-Small at ModernAmericanCanasta(at)gmail.com for more information about virtual classes.