Best of 2003: Best Pastime For Suburban Moms

Bunco

If you're a bored mom in Sabre Springs, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, or Carmel Mountain Ranch, put your ear to the ground and listen for the sound of dice rolling and blenders whirring. Bunco -- or "Drunk-O," depending on which informal group you frequent -- is a dice game played weekly by women who, as one fan describes them, "aren't smart enough to play bridge." The margaritas are a big draw, as are the hot artichoke dip and amaretto cheesecake from Trader Joe's. To connect with a Bunco group, chat up any of the moms volunteering at Creekside Elementary, Morning Creek Elementary, or Highland Ranch Elementary. The early-morning ladies who speed-walk up the hills of Scripps Ranch can direct you to a Bunco group, too.