Let's Give It Another Go

Well, Trivia folks, we couldn't do Trivia last week due to the Bruins game downstairs and a party happening in the Loft I was unaware was happening until I arrived at Professor Thom's last Tuesday night. Once again, I offer my apologies to all of you who came out expecting Trivia to happen last week. This coming Tuesday, April 30th, there will be BOTH the Bruins and Celtics playoff games happening, so we go back to the Loft again this week. I was told by Chris from Thom's a few days ago that there was currently nothing scheduled in the Loft for Tuesday, but I try to get another confirmation on that shortly. If anything changes on that front, I will pass along the word as soon as possible here on my blog or at the Facebook group.

We will have the same Special Category as last week, "France Trivia", seven questions connected to that great European nation in pop culture and history, and same Q Train lightning round, "Seinfeld Quotes Trivia." I will give you ten classic lines from the 1990s classic comedy, and you have to tell me which of the four main characters (Jerry, Elaine, Kramer or George) said that line.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:

"Who was the original host of the US version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'"

We get going at 8:30 PM. Remember that seating up in the Loft will be limited, so please do get in as soon as possible to get a good seat or table. See you Tuesday night!

Trivia Was Called Off Last Night

Hello Trivia Players: Unfortunately Trivia Night at Professor Thom's didn't happen last night. The Bruins fans flocked in for Game 7, an even bigger crowd than what was expected. But unfortunately, the Loft had an event happen that ran long, and I didn't know it was happening until I reached the bar at 6:30 PM. Originally I thought we could do Trivia in the Loft at about 9 PM, but the event up there did not conclude until after 10 PM. So it was obviously too late to start, so we had to call off the night.

My apologies to all of you who turned up expecting Trivia to happen. (I did have fun with some of my Trivia regulars outside the bar, as they asked me what the Current Events questions were, and we did an impromptu round outside! That was cool!) Next week, we will make sure that if Trivia happens again in the Loft (and odds on it will, as both the Bruins and Celtics advanced to the second round) that it is all clear and we can start on time. I will update all of you here and on the Facebook page and keep you in the loop as to where we stand for April 30th.

Next week we will be doing "France Trivia" as the Special Category and "Seinfeld Quotes Trivia" as the Q Train lightning round again.

Again, my apologies to all of you who made the trip to Thom's last night, and I look forward to seeing you all again next Tuesday night.

Know Your Seinfeld Lines on Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 23rd at 8:30 PM, with "France Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to that great European country in history and pop culture. The Q Train lightning round will be "Seinfeld Quotes Trivia." I will give you ten funny quotes from the classic comedy series from the 1990s, and you have to tell which of the four main characters (Jerry, Elaine, Kramer or George) made it. It will be just those four characters and none of the supporting ones.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Who was the original host of the US version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' in 1999?"

The Bruins won their Game 6 matchup with the Maple Leafs on Sunday, so there will be a Game 7 on Tuesday night in Boston. That means we go upstairs in the Loft for Trivia this week. The Bruins game starts at 7 PM, so the bar will be crowded when Trivia will begin, so it might be wise to get in early as well. Seating will be limited upstairs in the Loft. Looking forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday for Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: April 16

We had a terrific crowd of 17 teams in for Trivia on Tuesday night, after taking last week off. The sports gods were good to us, as both the Celtics and Bruins were off from their playoff series, so we did Trivia on the main floor. (We'll see what happens next week.) Nice to see my old friend Andrea in, as we watched many Red Sox games together many years back. We also had Sean from Stella Artois in again, and we awarded two passes to the Tribeca Film Festival to the Best Team Name winner, courtesy of Stella. The Trivia went very well, as the top five teams heading into IQ Trivia were just separated by five points. But it was the team of Chris Penis that pulled off the victory, as they got 4 of 5 correct to take the night with 46 points. They had a slow start, but came on strong. Congratulations to Snehal and his friends on their great win.

Second place went to DIMS with 43 points, and third place went to Defamers with 41 points.

Best Team Name: In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Smokes!

Current Events
1. What major US city recently elected its first black woman and openly gay person as mayor?
2. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, the six-term senator from what southern state, died last week at the age of 97?
3. Omar al-Bashir was deposed as president of what African country in a coup d'etat last week after 30 years in office?
4. The East Village concert venue Webster Hall will reopen on April 26th after a renovation with a concert by what rap star?
5. What team defeated Texas Tech in overtime to win the men's NCAA basketball championship, 85-77?
6. Chris Davis, the first baseman for what AL Team, set a new all-time record for futility, going 0-for 54 at the plate, a new record for position players in MLB history?
7. What Australian Oscar-winning actor won a sexual harassment suit against the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph last week?

April Trivia
1. England's patron saint is remembered on April 23rd. Who is he?
2. In April 1998, Pol Pot, the onetime dictator of what Asian country, died?
3. What 19th century US president was born on April 13, 1743?
4. In April 1993, what female tennis star was attacked and injured during a match in Germany?
5. San Jacinto Day is an official holiday every year in what US state?
6. "Apollo 13", a feature film from 1995 about the ill-fated mission to the Moon, was directed by what Oscar-winning director?
7. Name 2 of the 4 US states that celebrate Patriots Day in April as a state holiday.

Comedy Films Trivia
1. Some Like It Hot
2. Napoleon Dynamite
3. Duck Soup
4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
5. Midnight Run
6. Dumb and Dumber
7. Nine to Five
8. The Jerk
9. The Odd Couple
10. Shaun of the Dead

General Knowledge
1. Between cats, fish and dogs, which is the most popular pet in America, based on the number owned? ( 1 pt)
2. What 1990s TV series was centered around the death of a character named Laura Palmer? ( 1 pt)
3. "Vision of Love" was the first number one hit single for what female singer? ( 1 pt)
4. Jerry Springer was once the mayor of what Midwestern city? ( 2 pt)
5. What US state experiences the most earthquakes? ( 2 pt)
6. What country has the largest number of Facebook users? ( 2 pt)
7. Soccer is the world's most popular sport with the most fans. What team sport is second? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. In 2017, the national Music Publishers Association declared what 1971 number one single to be "the song of the century?" ( 5 points)
2. In 1976, the NY Taxi and Limousine Commission gave hack license 265216 to what famous New Yorker, who spent a month driving 12-hour cab shifts daily? ( 4 points)
3. What superhero was created by the inventor of the lie detector, Charles Marston? ( 4 points)
4. Who is the only person to earn Nobel prizes in two different sciences? ( 3 points)
5. What rock star inspired Jack Sparrow's character in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean?" ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Chicago; 2. South Carolina; 3. Sudan; 4. Jay Z; 5. Virginia; 6. Baltimore Orioles; 7. Geoffrey Rush.

April Trivia
1. St. George; 2. Cambodia; 3. Thomas Jefferson; 4. Monica Seles; 5. Texas; 6. Ron Howard; 7. Massachusetts, Maine, Wisconsin and Connecticut.

The Q Train: Comedy Films Trivia
1. 1950s (1959); 2. 2000s (2004); 3. 1930s (1933); 4. 1970s (1975); 5. 1980s (1988); 6. 1990s (1994); 7. 1980s (1980); 8. 1970s (1979); 9. 1960s (1968); 10. 2000s (2004).

General Knowledge
1. Fish; 2. "Twin Peaks;" 3. Mariah Carey; 4. Cincinnati; 5. Alaska; 6. India; 7. cricket.

IQ Trivia
1. "Imagine;" 2. Robert DeNiro; 3. Wonder Woman; 4. Marie Curie; 5. Keith Richards.

How About the Combo of April & Comedy on Tuesday?

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 16th at 8:30 PM, with "April Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions connected to the month of April in pop culture and history. The Q Train lightning round will be "Comedy Films Trivia". I will give you the names of ten classic comedy films from down through the years, and you have to tell me the decade of its original release.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What 1990s TV series was centered around the death of a character named Laura Palmer?"

We are fortunate that there will be no playoff games scheduled for either the Celtics or Bruins on Tuesday night, so we will be downstairs doing Trivia. Looking forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday night!

Trivia Takes This Week Off

A quick reminder to everyone that Trivia Night will NOT be happening this week, as I will be away at Fenway Park for the home opener on Tuesday. Trivia will return next Tuesday, April 16th at 8:30 PM. We will most likely be doing Trivia upstairs in the Loft at Professor Thom's, as the Celtics and Bruins playoff runs begin, and it appears that the Celtics will most likely have a playoff game that night. (The Bruins don't, as the NHL first round schedule was just released.) I'll keep all of you updated on that here at the blog. See you next week!

Trivia Q&A: April 2

We had another terrific crowd in for Trivia on Tuesday, as 14 teams took part. The bar had a huge crowd, as it seemed most teams had at least 5 or 6 folks per team.  Going into IQ Trivia, we had the top five teams separated by just four points. But the team in second, Quizards of Waverly Place, got four out of five correct to seal their first victory with 47 points, on their very first night playing with us. My congratulations to McCamey and her friends on a hard fought debut win.

Second place went to DIMS with 46 points, and third place went to We'll Trade You Trump For Brexit with 44 points.

Best Team Name: Vandelay Imports and Exports

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Trivia Night will NOT be happening next week, as I will be away at the Red Sox opener at Fenway Park. Trivia will return in two weeks on April 16th at 8:30 PM. See you then!

Current Events
1. Lawyer Michael Avenatti was arrested last week for an alleged $20 million extortion scheme against what company, embezzling a client's money and defrauding a bank?
2. What world capital city was the best-rated destination in the world by the annual Traveler's Choice Awards for 2019?
3. What movie actor was on a flight in Southern California last week that had to make an emergency landing and assisted many passengers making the final 100 miles of their trip to LA?
4. What tiny southeast Asian country passed a law that goes into effect this week that will punish gay sex with punishments as death by whipping and stoning?
5. Health officials in Rockland County, New York declared a state of emergency last week due to an outbreak of what contagious disease?
6. What TV series was renewed for a 21st season last week and will become the longest-running drama in TV history?
7. The lead singer of what superstar rock band announced this past weekend that his illness forced the group to postpone their American tour that was suppose to start this month?

1979 Trivia
1. What Michael Jackson album from 1979 produced four top ten hit singles?
2. Idi Amin, dictator of what African country, was overthrown in April 1979?
3. What Vietnam War picture won the Oscar for Best Picture in April 1979?
4. What British rock star became the first Western pop star to tour the USSR in May 1979?
5. In June 1979, Pope John Paul II visited what Communist country, the first ever to do so?
6. In March 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident occurred in what state?
7. What NFL team won their third Super Bowl in January 1979, a 35-31 win over Dallas?

The Q Train: Name the Month Trivia
1. The anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar is in this month.
2. The Stonewall riots, marking the turning point in the Gay Rights movement, occurred in 1969 in this month.
3. The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in this month every year.
4. Hurricane Katrina struck the southern US in 2005 in this month.
5. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in the US in this month.
6. World War I concluded in this month in 1918.
7. Comedian Chris Farley died of a drug overdose in Chicago in 1997 in this month.
8. In recent years, the Emmy Awards have been presented in this month.
9. In the UK, the Queen's Birthday is officially celebrated in June, but Queen Elizabeth was actually born in this month.
10. Bastille Day is celebrated in France each year in this month.

General Knowledge
1. What is the first astrological sign of the Zodiac? ( 1 pt)
2. In a regular letter, what does "P.S." stand for? ( 1 pt)
3. What country originally produced Jaguar cars? ( 1 pt)
4. As of 2018, how many cities in California have a population over 1 million? ( 2 pt)
5. What is the most common eye color in the US? ( 2 pt)
6. "I think, therefore I am" was originally said by what famous scholar? ( 2 pt)
7. William Shakespeare's wife had the same name as what Hollywood actress? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What actor, who won an Academy Award in this decade, provided the voice for the yellow M&M in their commercials? ( 4 points)
2. At $22 million, what 1993 film was the most expensive black and white movie ever made? ( 3 points)
3. What American woman was the highest-paid model of 2018, earning $22.5 million? ( 4 points)
4. The hyoid bone is the only bone that is not connected to any other bone in the human body and is located where? (5 points)
5. In 1965, what Dr. Seuss book was banned by the Chinese government for its "portrayal of early Marxism?" ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Nike; 2. London; 3. Keanu Reeves; 4. Brunei; 5. measles; 6. "Law and Order SVU;" 7. The Rolling Stones.

1979 Trivia
1. "Off the Wall;" 2. Uganda; 3. "The Deer Hunter;" 4. Elton John; 5. Poland; 6. Pennsylvania; 7. Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Q Train: Name the Month Trivia
1. March; 2. June; 3. May; 4. August; 5. October; 6. November; 7. December; 8. September; 9. April; 10. July.

General Knowledge
1. Aries; 2. post script; 3. UK; 4. three (LA, San Diego and San Jose); 5. brown; 6. Rene Decartes; 7. Anne Hathaway.

IQ Trivia
1. J.K. Simmons; 2. "Schindler's List;" 3. Kendall Jenner; 4. tongue; 5. "Green Eggs and Ham."

Let's Go Back to the 1970s on Tuesday

Trivia will be happening this Tuesday night, April 2nd at 8:30 PM, with "1979 Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions on events from that final year of the 1970s in pop culture and history. The Q Train lightning round will be "Name the Month Trivia." I will give you ten events that occurred in recent history and you have to tell me what month of the year it happened in. Every answer will be a different month of the year.

The Sneak Peak question for this week is:
"What is the first astrological sign of the Zodiac?"

We've been getting some fine turnouts over the last few weeks, so do get in as soon as you can to get a good seat or table. Also, Trivia Night will NOT be happening next week, April 9th, as I'll be away at the Red Sox home opener that day, to see another championship flag go up the pole! I look forward to seeing many of you this Tuesday night!