Our story
At House of Sparrow, we believe Mahjong is more than a game — it is a shared experience that brings people together across generations, backgrounds, and stories. Our vision is to create a welcoming space where learning becomes connection, strategy becomes collaboration, and time at the table becomes meaningful.
Through thoughtful experiences, inclusive community, and a spirit of curiosity, we aim to foster moments where players gather not only to play, but to belong.
Your Teachers
Denise Grimley
Denise grew up in the Merrimack Valley and spent much of her twenties and thirties building her career in Boston before returning home to raise her family. When not working, Denise can often be found shuttling the loves of her life — Violet, Wyatt, and Cooper — from soccer fields to hockey rinks, horse farms to golf courses, and ski mountains throughout New England. She tries to be the quiet parent on the sidelines, but often fails. There is never a dull moment, especially with several beloved fur babies rounding out the household.
Denise has always loved bringing people together. Whether it’s hosting a family gathering or having neighborhood kids over, she finds great joy in creating spaces where people feel welcome, connected, and cared for — something that mirrors her professional background serving clients in the technology industry.
In early 2025, Denise discovered the game of Mah Jong and quickly became captivated by it. Drawn to the strategy, focus, and the energy that builds around the table, she began teaching friends and family whenever they came to visit. What started as casual lessons soon grew into a true passion. A fierce competitor at heart, Denise loves the strategic nature of the game and the excitement of each hand — but even more, she loves the way Mah Jong brings people together.
Joanna Vinick
Joanna grew up watching her mom play Mahjong and Canasta — and she saw more than just a game.
She saw women gathering. Week after week. Coffee poured. Stories shared. Laughter loud enough to echo down the hallway.
That early imprint stayed with her.
Joanna began her career as an event producer in higher education, designing experiences that helped students, alumni, and faculty build real connection. She later spent more than a decade in tech, focused on customer experience — helping people feel supported, seen, and confident in the spaces they were part of.
But outside of work? She’s always been a host.
An annual Holiday “Chef’s Choice” party. A Galentine’s Favorite Things brunch. Charcuterie boards, dessert boards, snack boards — if it can be “boarded,” she’s done it.
For Joanna, gathering isn’t entertainment. It’s care.
House of Sparrow is the natural evolution of that instinct — a space designed with intention, where showing up is simple and belonging is built in.
And if you happen to play where dogs are allowed, you’ll likely be greeted by Zoey, her beloved mini Australian Labradoodle co-host, who makes sure every single guest feels welcomed the moment they walk through the door.
Why Mahjong
Denise’s Why
Why am I building House of Sparrow with Joanna?
There are three things at the heart of it.
First, I love the game itself. Mah Jong is strategic, fast-paced, and wonderfully competitive. The challenge of reading the table, adapting your strategy, and chasing that perfect hand keeps me completely engaged — and sharing that excitement with others is incredibly rewarding.
Second, I’m drawn to beautiful things and thoughtful details. From the tiles and racks to the tablescape and atmosphere, I love creating an experience that feels special the moment you sit down at the table. Mah Jong isn’t just a game — it’s a ritual, and the aesthetics of it bring me enormous joy.
And third, there is something incredibly fulfilling about building something from scratch. House of Sparrow began as a passion and has quickly grown into a side venture that brings me pure fun and creative energy. Creating a business around something I genuinely love — and sharing it with others — is an experience I’m deeply grateful for.
Joanna’s Why
We are more connected than ever — and somehow, more disconnected.
Our days are scheduled, optimized, and lived through screens. Friendships are maintained in group texts. Community becomes something we mean to prioritize… eventually. But connection doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens around tables. In repetition. In shared rituals.
Mahjong is the structure — but, for me, it’s not the point.
The point is a standing date on the calendar, a reason to leave the house, a rhythm you can rely on, a room where phones stay face down, and a space where you don’t have to be impressive — just present.
For women balancing work, motherhood, reinvention, or rediscovery, the mental load is real. Decision fatigue is real. Loneliness can be real, too.
House of Sparrow exists to lower the barrier to gathering.
We teach the game. We set the table. We create the space.
So you can show up — consistently, comfortably, and as yourself.
Because community isn’t something you find.
It’s something you build.
One hand at a time.