Mahjong in Palm Springs: Meet Lise Baadh, the Woman Bringing Everyone to the Table

There’s something about Palm Springs that makes you want to slow down. Maybe it’s the sunshine, the mountain views, or the fact that somewhere between brunch, a pool day and a vintage shopping spree, you inevitably end up making a new friend.

For Lise Baadh, that feeling has become something of a mission, and her favorite tool is a set of Mahjong tiles.

Tell us about yourself.

After a career in graphic arts and moving to the desert, I found myself spending more time doing the things that genuinely make me happy: dance, hiking, art and games. For six years, I organized neighborhood tours for Modernism Week, and I discovered that I loved creating opportunities for people to connect and form unexpected relationships.

These days, I get to do that almost every week through teaching Mahjong and dance. And honestly, I can’t think of a better job.

Are you a Palm Springs local?

Absolutely. Well… sort of twice over!

I actually lived in Palm Springs as a little girl in the 1960s and returned about 15 years ago with my husband after raising our family in Seattle. So yes, I definitely consider myself a local.

When did you first discover Mahjong?

I’ve always loved games. As a kid, I mostly played cards with my father. I didn’t grow up playing Mahjong, but when I was 10, I spent a lot of time with my best friend and her Chinese family, who played Mahjong every day.

I never learned the game then, but I was completely fascinated by it the beautiful tiles, the sounds they made and the ritual of everyone sitting around the table. It stuck with me.

Lise at the Mahjong table with friends

How did you eventually become a Mahjong player and teacher?

About 18 years ago, while living in Seattle, a friend taught me how to play. I took to it immediately.

Then I moved back to the desert and discovered one tiny problem: I had no one to play with!

My husband bought me a Mahjong set in 2013, and I started teaching my friends. We played regularly until summer arrived, and I realized that if I wanted to play year-round, I needed to recruit some full-time desert dwellers.

So that August, I posted on social media that I was teaching Mahjong. By the end of the day, eight people had signed up.

And just like that, the Palm Springs Mahjong community began to grow.

Why do you think Mahjong is suddenly so popular?

That’s the million-dollar question!

On the surface, Mahjong looks like a game. But I think there’s something much bigger happening around that table.

So many people feel isolated these days: retirees, newcomers, remote workers and really anyone who spends too many hours staring at a screen. COVID made that isolation especially obvious, but even now, when we can technically connect with everyone all day long, something is still missing.

We need what I like to call “social nourishment.”

Mahjong creates that naturally. You sit down with three other people, learn together, laugh, talk and slowly build connections. There’s no pressure to network or make friends. You’re simply playing a game—and suddenly you’re part of something.

Playing with the new ModJong game set and mat designed by Lise Baadh in collaboration with Tom Dolle for DestinationPSP.

Is Mahjong hard to learn?

Surprisingly, no!

The game originated in China hundreds of years ago, and there are now more than 40 variations played around the world. In the United States, most people are familiar with the American version established in 1937.

I teach Classical Chinese Mahjong, which is a variation of the original game. It’s surprisingly approachable, and most people can pick up the basics within an hour.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can dive deeper into scoring and strategy or explore another variation.

And the best part? Palm Springs has a very active Chinese-style Mahjong community, with weekly games and multiple drop-in opportunities.

Student in class at downtown Palm Springs gift shop Backstory.

What do you love most about teaching?

The transformation.

Someone will walk into class looking nervous, convinced Mahjong is going to be impossibly complicated. Then, within an hour, they’re playing confidently, laughing and joking with everyone at the table.

By the time they leave, they’re usually asking how they can join the local Mahjong community.

Watching that lightbulb moment happen never gets old.

Where can we find you teaching Mahjong?

Pretty much anywhere there’s room for a table and eight people!

I’ve taught in private homes, cafes, libraries, retail spaces, hotels, during Modernism Week—and even in hair salons.

The interest has also expanded into the east valley, where my friend Rob Ollander-Krane is now teaching in Palm Desert.

Basically, if there’s a table, there’s potential for Mahjong.

Okay, but where does a Mahjong teacher go when she’s not teaching?

For breakfast, I love high-quality, unfussy food with a view. One favorite is the cafe at the Indian Canyons south course.

For dinner, my go-to is 533 Viet Fusion, especially the crepe. Although, if we’re being completely honest, I’m equally happy with a bag of buttered popcorn at the Camelot Theatre.

And Saturdays? You’ll find me at Dance Ranch, where I swing, waltz and two-step the night away.

Because apparently one way of bringing people together wasn’t enough.

Finally, what do you love most about living in Palm Springs?

I feel incredibly lucky to live here. The sun shines, the mountains glow, and there always seems to be a new friend or a new adventure just around the corner.

And maybe that’s why Mahjong fits so perfectly here.

It’s a beautiful excuse to put down your phone, pull up a chair and meet someone new.

Want to learn Mahjong? Find Lise and explore her classes, games and Palm Springs Mahjong community at psmahjongwithlise.com.

About the Author

Ersilia Pompilio is the Editor in Chief of SQUAD Magazine, a Palm Springs guide for bachelorettes and ladies who love to leisure. Ersilia has over two decades of experience in performing, producing live storytelling shows, and hosting a podcast, she has also taught storytelling classes and written professionally for several media outlets. Originally from Los Angeles, Ersilia is also a twenty-year resident of Palm Springs, California.