Trivia Q&A: September 27

We had 12 teams in for Trivia on Wednesday night, and while the crowds have been slightly down the last couple of weeks, we still had another great night of Trivia Q&A. We had three teams separated by four points going into the final round, and the IQ Trivia scores were on the lower side, as no team got more than two correct. But for the second straight week, the same two teams finished forst and second, as our friends from DIMS got the win, getting 42 points. Congrats to Ken, Mike and Derek on their win. Second place went to Something Inoffensive with 38 points, and OS East finished third with 34 points.

Best Team Name: Urethra Franklin

Current Events
1. Darci Lynne Farmer, 12 years old, won the championship on the TV show "America's Got Talent" last week. What talent of hers won the title?
2. What European city stripped Uber's license to operate there, citing safety concerns?
3. A masked gunman shot six worshipers and killed one at a church in what southern city last week?
4. What newly-released spy comedy grossed $39 million in its debut this past weekend and became the number one film in the US?
5. What NFL player set off a firestorm last Sunday by scoring a TD and celebrated by mimicking a dog urinating in the end zone?
6. Disgraced former congressman and sex offender Anthony Weiner was sentenced to how many months in jail last Monday?
7. The king of what nation issued a royal decree on Tuesday granting women the right to drive, ending a longtime ban next June?

Blue Trivia
1. What 19th century classical composer wrote "The Blue Danube?"
2. "True Blue" was a 1986 album by what pop singer?
3. What was the name of Paul Bunyan's Blue Ox?
4. John Popper is a member of what rock band?
5. "Blue Devils" is the nickname for what teams from what major US university?
6. "BBig Blue" is a nickname for what major American company?
7. Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits starred in what 1990s TV crime drama?

The Q Train: Lead Singers Trivia
1. Adam Levine
2. Brian Johnson
3. Robert Smith
4. Natalie Maines
5. Bret Michaels
6. Philip Bailey
7. Jack White
8. Scott Weiland
9. Belinda Carlisle
10. Jared Leto

General Knowledge
1. Orly Airport is located in what European city? ( 1 pt)
2. What is the most populous city in North America? ( 1 pt)
3. The sauna originated in what Scandinavian country? ( 1 pt)
4. What year did the Berlin Wall begin construction? ( 2 pt)
5. Who was the best selling rap-hip-hop artist of the 1990s? ( 2 pt)
6. What river serves as the border between the states of Indiana and Kentucky? ( 2 pt)
7. What beloved Disney cartoon character's middle name is Fauntleroy? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. The human eye can distinguish more shades of what color than any other? ( 4 points)
2. The United States' five highest mountains east of the Mississippi are all located, at least in part, in what state? ( 4 points)
3. In the ten-event Olympic decathlon, what is traditionally the first event held? ( 4 points)
4. The five most popular birthdays in the US from people born since 1994 occur in what month? ( 5 points)
5. What British TV series has been nominated for the most Emmy Awards in history? ( 3 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Ventriloquism; 2. London; 3. Nashville; 4. "Kingsman: The Golden Circle;" 5. Odell Beckham; 6. 21; 7. Saudi Arabia.

Blue Trivia
1. Johann Strauss; 2. Madonna; 3. Babe; 4. Blues Traveler; 5. Duke; 6. IBM; 7. "NYPD Blue."

The Q Train: Lead Singers Trivia
1. Maroon 5; 2. AC/DC; 3. The Cure; 4. The Dixie Chicks; 5. Poison; 6. Earth, Wind & Fire; 7. The White Stripes; 8. Stone Temple Pilots; 9. The Go-Go's; 10. 30 Seconds to Mars.

General Knowledge
1. Paris; 2. Mexico City; 3. Finland; 4. 1961; 5. Tupac Shakur; 6. Ohio; 7. Donald Duck.

IQ Trivia
1. Green; 2. North Carolina; 3. 100 Meters; 4. September; 5. "Downton Abbey."

All About Blue This Week

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, September 27th at 8:30 PM, with "Blue Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the color blue in some way, shape or form. The Q Train lightning round will be "Lead Singers Trivia." I will give you the names of ten singers down the years who were a part of some famous band, in many genres, and you have to tell me what the band was.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Orly Airport is located in what European city?"

Hope to see many of you tomorrow for a great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: September 20

We had just 11 teams in on Wednesday night, as the Rosh Hashana holiday probably kept some people away, but still it was a good night of Trivia. We had a three-team race to the finish, but the team of DIMS came out on top, grabbing 46 points and entering the winner's circle once again. Good job by them as always. It was interesting that had they not gotten the Lady Byng question correct in the IQ Trivia round, we would have had an extreme rarity happen last night: a three-way tie for first. We actually had a tie for second, between Legalese and Still Summer, both with 43 points. Still Summer answered the tie-breaker question closest to the correct answer: "How many square miles is the Arctic Ocean?" (It was based on a General Knowledge question.) The answer was 5,427,000  square miles.

Best Team Name: John Quinn Is My Daddy (and various other names)

Current Events
1. What university offered a visiting fellowship to Chelsea Manning, who leaked government secrets, but they later rescinded it after the school faced an escalated backlash?
2. What actress/singer suffered a fall during a Broadway play last Thursday night, but wasn't hurt and finished the show?
3. Reknown character actor Harry Dean Stanton died last week at the age of 91. He portrayed an FBI agent in what classic 1974 mob film?
4. What athlete caused a stir last week by defending President Trump's infamous comments from the 2005 Access Hollywood tape, calling him "a real man?"
5. What retail chain giant, with over 1600 stores and over 64,000 employees, filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday?
6. Who became the first actor/actress ever to win six consecutive Emmy Awards for the same role with her win last Sunday night?
7. According to the new Forbes 2017 list of American sports franchises, what NFL club is the most valuable, worth $4.2 billion?

1990s Movies Trivia
1. In the 1935 film "Seven", Brad Pitt and what Oscar winning actor played detectives hunting down a serial killer?
2. Frances McDormand won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1996 for what quirky film?
3. What actor starred as James Bond in the 1995 film "GoldenEye?"
4. Oliver Stone made a biographical film of what US president in 1995?
5. Who co-starred with Matthew Broderick in the 1996 dark comedy "The Cable Guy?'
6. English filmmaker Guy Ritchie's feature film debut was what 1998 crime comedy?
7. Who was the only director to win two Best Director Oscars in the 1990s?

The Q Train: Even Numbered Trivia
1. Bill Clinton was the this number US president.
2. A 1947 Christmas film was called "Miracle on This Numbered Street."
3. This is the number of miles in a standard marathon, rounded to the nearest mile.
4. MLB Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Reggie Jackson have both had this number retired for them.
5. This is the number of days in a fortnight.
6. This is the number parallel north that is the dividing line between North and South Korea.
7. The 26th Amendment to the Constitution made this the standard voting age.
8. This is the number of days in the shortest month of the Gregorian calendar.
9. In Astrology, Cancer is this number sign of the Zodiac.
10. The Cleveland Indians recently set a new AL record winning this number of consecutive games.

General Knowledge
1. Carrie Underwood was once a winner on what TV reality show? ( 1 pt)
2. What is the smallest ocean in the world? ( 1 pt)
3. In the Bible, the Book of Genesis opens with what three words? ( 1 pt)
4. The US fiscal year begins in what month? ( 2 pt)
5. What film did Michael Douglas win the Oscar for Best Actor? ( 2 pt)
6. What US president's son once had a recurring role on the TV show "Baywatch?" ( 2 pt)
7. North America's largest oil field is located in what US state? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What former US president won a Grammy Award for his participation in a recording of "Peter and the Wolf?" ( 4 points)
2. Who was awarded the Razzie Award for "Worst Actress of the Decade" for the 2000s for her work in such films as "House of Wax" and "The Hottie and the Nottie?" ( 5 points)
3. What celebrity was elected mayor of Palm Springs, CA in 1988 because he was angry that the city fathers wouldn't let him open a new restaurant? ( 4 points)
4. The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is an award presented every year in what professional sport? ( 3 points)
5. "Scousers" is a slang term to describe the inhabitants of what English city? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Harvard; 2. Bette Midler; 3. "The Godfather Part II;" 4. Floyd Mayweather; 5. Toys R Us; 6. Julia Louis-Dreyfus; 7. Dallas Cowboys.

1990s Movies Trivia
1. Morgan Freeman; 2. "Fargo;" 3. Pierce Brosnan; 4. Richard Nixon; 5. Jim Carrey; 6. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels;" 7. Steven Spielberg.

The Q Train: Even Numbered Trivia
1. 42; 2. 34; 3. 26; 4. 44; 5. 14; 6. 38; 7. 18; 8. 28; 9. 4; 10. 22.

General Knowledge
1. "American Idol;" 2. Arctic; 3. In The Beginning; 4. October; 5. "Wall Street;" 6. Gerald Ford; 7. Alaska.

IQ Trivia
1. Bill Clinton; 2. Paris Hilton; 3. Sonny Bono; 4. hockey; 5. Liverpool.

Back to the '90s On Wednesday

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, September 20th at 8:30 PM with "1990s Movies" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about films throughout the final decade of the last century. The Q Train lightning round will be "Even Numbered Trivia." I will ask you ten general knowledge questions where every answer will be an even number between 1 and 50, and every answer will be a different number.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Carrie Underwood was once a winner on what TV reality show?"

Looking forward to seeing many of you this coming Wednesday night at Professor Thom's, which should be a great night of Trivia Q&A!

Trivia Q&A: September 13

We had 14 teams in for Trivia at Professor Thom's last night. The crowd was higher than last week, and I suspect it will grow more as we get further into September. We had a great three-team race going into IQ Trivia, as they were all separated by just one point.  But the team of DIMS got the win, as they did best in the round among the three, getting 49 points. Congrats to Ken and Michael on a nice win. Second place went to The Othyer Team with 45 points, and third place to I'll Give You a Lock of My Hair for $4000 with 44 points.

Best Team Name: Bleached Massholes

Current Events
1. What talk show host flashed a Nazi salute during a rant on his show last Thursday about President Trump and Steve Bannon?
2. At least 58 people died last Friday when an 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck what country's southern coast?
3. What Oscar-winning actress caused a furor last week by suggesting the two devastating hurricanes of the past few weeks are nature's wrath for Donald Trump's presidential victory?
4. Pope Francis lost his balance while riding in his popemobile last Sunday in what South American country, bruising his cheekbone but wasn't seriously hurt?
5. Rafael Nadal won the US Open's men's singles title last Sunday, his 16th Grand Slam win. How many times has he won the US Open title?
6. Cara Mund won the title of Miss America 2018 last Sunday night, and became the first woman from what midwestern state to win?
7. A porn video was "liked" by the Twitter account of what US senator on Tuesday, and he later explained it was a mistake made by a "staffing issue?"

New York City Trivia
1. On which NYC avenue would you find "The Museum Mile?"
2. What is the name of the Revolutionary War fort that was built to protect Brooklyn and is still in use today?
3. The most stolen honorary street sign in NYC is named in honor of what NY-born rock star, who died in 2001?
4. Which of the NYC boroughs is the largest in area?
5. Which NYC bridge was renamed in honor of former mayor Ed Koch in 2011?
6. What NY-born actor founded the NYC-based Tribeca Film Festival?
7. Name 1 of the 2 US presidents who were born in New York City.

The Q Train: Robert DeNiro Characters Trivia
1. Rupert Pupkin
2. Jake LaMotta
3. Jack Walsh
4. Al Capone
5. Paul Vitti
6. Jimmy Conway
7. Sam Ace Rothstein
8. Bruce Pearson
9. Travis Bickle
10. Jack Tiberius Byrnes

General Knowledge
1. The nation of Zambia is found on what continent? ( 1 pt)
2. Which "Seinfeld" character was the first to lose the bet regarding being "master of their domain?" ( 1 pt)
3. Russell Crowe won an Academy Award for his role in what film? ( 1 pt)
4. "Eureka" is the motto of what western US state? (2 pt)
5. In 2003, who became the first African-American woman to appear on Forbes' list of wealthiest Americans? ( 2 pt)
6. "Disturbia" and "Unfaithful" are hit songs by what pop singer? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the largest lake in North America? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What president was the first to visit Europe while in office? ( 4 points)
2. What is the world's best-selling musical instrument?(4 pt)
3. What current US territory or possession is larger in area than the smallest US state? ( 4 points)
4. What female pop singer sang the opening theme song on the 1980s TV kids show "Pee-Wee's Playhouse?" ( 4 points)
5. What English comedian wrote a 2017 autobiography called "Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens?" ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Stephen Colbert; 2. Mexico; 3. Jennifer Lawrence; 4. Colombia; 5. three; 6. North Dakota; 7. Ted Cruz.

New York City Trivia
1. 5th Avenue; 2. Fort Hamilton; 3. Joey Ramone; 4. Queens; 5. Queensborough Bridge; 6. Robert DeNiro; 7. Theodore Roosevelt and Donald Trump.

The Q Train: Robert DeNiro Characters Trivia
1. The King of Comedy; 2. Raging Bull; 3. Midnight Run; 4. The Untouchables; 5. Analyze This; 6. Goodfellas; 7. Casino; 8. Bang the Drum Slowly; 9. Taxi Driver; 10. Meet the Parents.

General Knowledge
1. Africa; 2. Kramer; 3. "Gladiator;" 4. California; 5. Oprah Winfrey; 6. Rhianna; 7. Lake Superior.

IQ Trivia
1. Woodrow Wilson; 2. harmonica; 3. Puerto Rico; 4. Cyndi Lauper; 5. Eddie Izzard.

It's a New York Night on Wednesday

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, September 13th at 8:30 PM, with "New York City Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about our great city through the years in all different categories like history and pop culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "Robert DeNiro Characters Trivia." I will give you the names of ten famous characters that the great actor made famous, and you'll tell me what film it applies to.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The nation of Zambia is found on what continent?

I look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday for what will be a great night of Trivia!

Tower Records Forever

It's that day again.

Today is the 16th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on the United States, when nearly 3,000 innocent souls were brutally taken away from us in attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in western Pennsylvania. On that day, my dear friend Joyce Carpeneto had the terrible misfortune to be in her office at General Telecom on the 83rd floor of the North Tower. She didn't make it out, and none of her other 12 colleagues with the company made it out either. General Telecom suffered the worst loss of life of any company that was below where the planes struck in either building. Nothing was recovered from any of the lost 13 employees.

I have honored Joyce here every September 11th on my blog. I have been to all of the previous 15 remembrances at the World Trade Center, and will be there again today. As many of you may know, Joyce and I met at Tower Records in Greenwich Village back in August 1985. I had been there just about nine months, working as a rock floor clerk. Joyce joined as one of the "Front Desk Girls", who assisted customers as they entered the store. We became fast friends, and worked together until 1990, when Joyce joined an offshoot company connected to Tower called TRIP, which stood for "Tower Records Import Product", which sold product to all the Tower stores in the region. I joined her as her assistant in 1991, and she was a joy to work with as my boss.

In 1993, the company merged with another called Bayside Distribution. I was kept on, but Joyce was let go, which was incredibly short-sighted on their part. Joyce went back to Tower and worked as an instore artist, creating all kinds of incredible art used in the store, which included things like album covers and such. She was incredibly talented, and worked there for about 5 years, when she left Tower for good to join General Telecom in late 1998.

Last May, I discovered online that Urban Outfitters was selling Tower Records shirts, and I had to get one. I didn't have any of my old ones any more, and jumped at the chance to get one. Their store on Fulton Street had them, so I ordered one online, and went to the store to pick it up.

On my way there, a thought struck me. The store was just a few blocks from the WTC, so I came up with an idea. I got the shirt, and walked over to the memorial. It was the middle of the afternoon on a Thursday, and it was filled with the usual tourists. I reached Joyce's name on the North Tower pool, took out the shirt, and put it just below her name. I pulled out my iPhone and took some photos. There were some tourists watching me do it, and a couple from India asked me what I was doing. I explained about Joyce and Tower, and they even asked me if I would pose with the shirt so they could take a photo of me (I said yes).

As I took the photos I thought that I should save them for this September 11th, so I did.

I know Joyce was smiling as I took those pictures. I see them and they make me miss Tower, and especially Joyce, so much more.

As I said before, I have honored Joyce every year here on this blog, and if you'd like to read my past tributes, please click the links below:

2006: Forever Missed. And Forever Loved.
2007: Never Forget. Ever.
2008: We Can Be The Ones Who Remember
2009: The Most Sacred Of All Days
2010: 3000
2011: Ten Years After
2012: 11 Years
2013: No Other Place In The World I Could Be Today
2014: Always And Forever Family
2015: I'm The Lucky One
2016: Joyce and Alice

May God bless all the 9/11 victims and their families on this difficult day. Say a prayer for them, and especially those first responders who are ill and dying.

We miss you, Joyce. Thank you for being such a special part of my life in my most favorite job. I'll always love you.

Trivia Q&A: September 6

It was a rainy night in New York and with the completion of the Labor Day weekend, we had just eight teams in for Trivia last night. But it was fun as always, and it was also the return of DIMS, the team that has dominated our Trivia Night, who rolled up 51 points and grabbed a victory. Congrats as always to them. Second place went to Team Haggard with 35 points, and third place went to Ma Loof Is Fat! with 32 points.

Best Team Name: Quiz Quizty

Current Events
1. The pop single "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee tied what female pop singer's record for being on the top of the Hot 100 singles chart for 16 weeks last week?
2. What US city declared a state of emergency last weekend due to some of the worst brushfires in the city's history?
3. Walter Becker, a founding member and guitarist with what classic rock band, died last Sunday at the age of 67?
4. What west coast city declared a public health emergency last weekend over an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to at least 15 deaths?
5. Madonna announced in an Instagram post last Sunday that she has moved to what European country, where her adopted son is playing in a youth academy?
6. What actor, known for his iconic space role, won a contest with NASA to send a message to the Voyager spacecraft, which has been in deep space for 40 years?
7. What world leader's wife is expected to be indicted for fraud in her home nation shortly over pocketing money and accepting items illegally worth more than $110,000?

Mob Movies Trivia
1. Robert DeNiro won his first Academy Award in what mob film?
2. The book "Wiseguy" was the basis for what 1990 mob film?
3. "Kill the Irishman" was a 2011 gangster film about mobster Danny Greene, who rose to the top of the underworld in what midwest city?
4. What film was voted the number one mob film of all-time by the American Film Institute?
5. Martin Scorsese won his first Oscar directing what mob film?
6. The 1983 mob film "Scarface" was primarily set in what US city?
7. The 2007 film "American Gangster" was based on a NYC drug dealer named Frank Lucas and starred what Oscar-winning actor as Lucas?

The Q Train: Colleges and Universities Trivia
1. Marquette
2. Occidental
3. The Citadel
4. Gonzaga
5. Drexel
6. Morehouse
7. Creighton
8. Wake Forest
9. Quinnipiac
10. Marshall

General Knowledge
1. The Phantom of the Opera is set in what city? ( 1 pt)
2. Germany invaded what country on September 1, 1939, beginning World War II? ( 1 pt)
3. What is the Zodiac sign of the goat? ( 1 pt)
4. What is the minimum age for a person to serve in the US Senate? ( 2 pt)
5. Chris Martin is the lead singer of what band? ( 2 pt)
6. John Gotti was once the boss of what New York crime family? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the smallest country in area in Central America? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What East Asian country gained their independence in 1948, and celebrates their Independence  Day every August 15th? ( 4 points)
2. What late celebrity appeared on the cover of People magazine 58 times, more than anyone else? ( 4 points)
3. What ice cream company makes the desserts in the shape of characters like Cookie Puss and Fudgie the Whale? ( 4 points)
4. Who was the only filmmaker that won two Best Director Oscars during the 1980s? ( 5 points)
5. The core of what rock band was born when Paul Hewson met Dave Evans in 1976? ( 3 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Mariah Carey; 2. Los Angeles; 3. Steely Dan; 4. San Diego; 5. Portugal; 6. William Shatner; 7. Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mob Movies Trivia
1. "The Godfather Part II;" 2. "Goodfellas;" 3. Cleveland; 4. "The Godfather;" 5. "The Departed;" 6. Miami; 7. Denzel Washington.

The Q Train: Colleges & Universities Trivia
1. Wisconsin; 2. California; 3. South Carolina; 4. Washington; 5. Pennsylvania; 6. Georgia; 7. Nebraska; 8. North Carolina; 9. Connecticut; 10. West Virginia.

General Knowledge
1. Paris; 2. Poland; 3. Capricorn; 4. 30; 5. Coldplay; 6. Gambino; 7. El Salvador.

IQ Trivia
1. South Korea; 2. Princess Diana; 3. Carvel; 4. Oliver Stone; 5. U2.

Colleges & The Mob: Perfect Together

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, September 6th at 8:30 PM, with "Mob Movie Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions concerning films about gangsters and mobsters, of the more recent vintage. The Q Train lightning round will be "Colleges and Universities Trivia", in honor of the new school year starting. I will give you the names of ten well-known places of higher learning, and you have to tell me which US state it is located in.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"The Phantom of the Opera is set in what city?"

We continue to get terrific crowds every Wednesday night, so make sure you get in a bit early to get a good seat or table. Hope to see many of you for Trivia on Wednesday night!