The Beautiful Traps nip Quizzie McGuire at 12 Steps Down

The irony here is that their ringer was outside on a phone call when this photo was taken. New champs at 12 Steps!

Beautiful Gold: The Beautiful Traps 109
So-So Silver: Quizzie McGuire 106
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Team Denmark 77

Also-rans:

Team Destroy 61

Admiral Ass to Mouth wins at Draught Horse

For some reason this blog is blocked by some school districts, and I can't figure out why...

Beautiful Gold: Admiral Ass to Mouth 124
So-So Silver: Man Bear Pigs 110
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Tickle My Pikachu! 58

Also-rans:

Britney 43*
Carly's Cowboys* 36

* team quit

This week's quiz schedule

Tuesday, November 25, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St., between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: MOVIE QUOTES
Fifth week of six-week tournament cycle! The new cumulative score tourney prize is an iPhone!

Wednesday, November 26, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down
9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: AUDIO ROUND


Wednesday, November 26, 9:30pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: CULT TV

Thursday, November 27, 9:30pm
The Draught Horse
15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Temple University campus
THANKSGIVING - NO QUIZ!

This week's Subject rounds

Tuesday, November 18, 9pm Drinker's Tavern
Market St., between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: ILLEGAL DRUGS
Fourth week of six-week tournament cycle! The new cumulative score tourney prize is an iPhone!

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30pm 12 Steps Down
9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: STRANGE DEATHS

Wednesday, November 19, 9:30pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: THINGS THAT AREN'T THERE ANYMORE

Thursday, November 20, 9:30pm
The Draught Horse 15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Temple University campus
Subject Round: AUDIO ROUND!
You spoke, I listened!

Sharks, Fab 5 top field at Temple Sinai

What did you do Saturday night? I hosted a megillah but haymish quiz night at Temple Sinai Social Hall up in Tenafly, New Jersey. Somehow I've become the northern Jersey synagogue go-to entertainment goy, which is gants gut bei mir.

Temple Sinai had a lot of prizes to give away, so we kinda broke the night into the first four rounds, won by those nudniks the Kvetches with a respectable 85, and the last two, won by The Fab 5 with a nice 71, with a shaygets or two on that team.

Totaling scores we have:

Beautiful Gelt: oy vey is mir, tie!
The Fab 5 139
Sharks 139
Bissela Bronze: Kvetches 122

Bupkes:

Smart Asses 100


A sheynam dank!

The Great Space Coaster wins an ill-attended 12 Steps Down quiz

In the coming weeks I think I'll be posting a bunch of kids' show and local TV spot video that this team name (and team in post-quiz conversation) triggered memories of.

Beautiful Gold: The Great Space Coaster 122
So-So Silver: The Fat Shirts 91
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: Team Denmark 58*

* missed first three rounds!

Team Quizmaster Chris Looks Like the Bartender Therefore He Can Suck It wins at the Draught Horse

These miscreants have the Worst Team Name Ever. Three really large teams played this week.

Beautiful Gold: TQMCLLtBTHCSI 120
So-So Silver: Rock Is a Traitor 112
Shameful, Shameful Bronze: My Jiggly-Puff 69

Chris Cosh Sucks wins once-every-six-weeks-or-so University of Maryland alum quiz at the Field House

... while a speed-dating event went on in the same area, and while a group of Virginia Tech alum group watched their football game with the sound up right next to me. Next time, could we book a live band, and maybe some jugglers?

Chris Cosh is the Maryland defensive coordinator apparently. Now you know.

Fun group, I'll see you folks again in January!

Beautiful Gold: Chris Cosh Sucks 136
So-So Silver: tie
Beat the Dirty Feet 133
Saucy Intruders 133

Also-rans:

Fuck 'Em Bucky 132
The Victors (Go Blue!) 120
We've Got Chutzpah (Oy Vey!) 116
Florida State 97
Three Amigos 79

Congratulations Philadelphia Phillies, 2008 World Series Champs

A memorable and deserved championship from a deserving team. Finally, Philadelphia had an outpouring of joy into the streets, and for many of this this was our first time seeing such a thing as an adult. I know some of you are new arrivals to the city, but many of us have been waiting a quarter century for this, and Phils fans specifically almost 30 years.

I never saw such a mixed crowd have such a good time as a group as last night. Very racially mixed, you never see that here. Even the jaded hipsters were celebrating. The funny thing was I never felt threatened even though the mood became "let's smash and burn stuff." The first hour was kinda a letdown, but it built in number and intensity.

Had a bottle of champaign, bumped into several people I knew just in crowds. Sprayed some, drank some.

I made a huge mistake by not bringing out a camera last night (or maybe not, I would've worried about it the whole time.) Broad St. was NUTS, a sort of happy riot, and the closer you got to City Hall, the more "destructive nuts" it was. Dozens of bonfires, burning dumpsters, parking meters ripped out of the sidewalk (HOW DOES ONE DO THIS?!), Robinson Sporting Goods at Walnut got a little looted, the Commerce Bank at Sansom...the poor Commerce Bank... first the bottles through the windows, which I guess was inevitable, but then a guy has a can of red spray paint, pulled out of nowhere, and within 5 seconds of the windows breaking, he starts tagging the place. It looked like people had practiced. People just don't much like banks.

Some people actually had bikes locked up on Broad - not for long. One ended up on a bonfire, apparently we think bikes are made out of wood. Locking your bike on Broad St. on a potential clinching night is what I think the kids these days call "epic FAIL."

Police stretched way too thin... saw a small female cop (4 ft tall 3 ft wide) GET HER HAT STOLEN... people pushing alley dumpsters into the street and lighting them in front of the police, mostly very small women who kept saying "hey, stop that... you stop that... HEY THAT'S MY HAT!"... it was like Chief Wiggum was on the case... this is not Rizzo's police force.

People threw crap at the Union League suits on their balcony, which was funny as hell. Somehow people climbed up to the second floors of office buildings and sat on the ledges and in the window panes. Not a few people, HUNDREDS of people. Fireworks, M-80s, people packed in pick-ups, bouncing them up & down... everybody high-fiving, hugging... not one angry person.

The bus shelter at about Chestnut collapsed from the weight of people, I couldn't figure out what I was looking at at first when I saw the twisted remains & shattered plexiglass.

People were climbing the BIG Avenue of the Arts streetlights - the brown old timey ones, about 40 ft up - and stealing the big World Series banners suspended over the street. AMAZED no one died. Saw about 10 of those. second one a small college age chick that a few thousand people watched, we all thought we were going to watch her plunge to her death... nope, she got it, slid down, huge round of applause, "TI-NA! TI-NA! TI-NA!" The rods the banners hang from extend several feet out, so I thought people were going to fall extending themselves to push the banners off the ends.

Lots of smashed windshields, overturned car at Broad & Ellsworth (also at Broad & Walnut, and several farther into South Philly I hear), riot police surrounding it as I'm sure otherwise it'd be set on fire, that seemed, reasonably, a police priority.

A guy fell off of the top of a normal 25 ft streetlight - missed that, I miss the good stuff - apparently the crowd CAUGHT him and he got crowdsurfed about a block, a new hero. It's become like a folk legend on the radio already. Craziest was the guys standing on the top (!!!) of traffic lights. Lots of them. Again, how do you do this?! Everyone doing that pulled out a cell phone & took pics.

One friend was at the game, getting off the subway at Washington & Broad saw a guy get hit by a car, shin bone sticking out of his leg. That's the only casuality I heard of, and only 3 arrests I could see, one guy tried to take a dual-head parking meter, he got nicked. Too heavy to make off with easily.

Streakers, flashers, Halloween costumes... a very good time for most and comparatively few head injuries. See you at the parade!

This week's quiz schedule

Remember, each quiz is different than the others; you can play as many times as you like per week.

Monday, September 29, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: LITERATURE

Tuesday, September 30, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St., between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: WINE & BEER
Third week of six-week tournament cycle! The new cumulative score tourney prize is an Eagles tailgating bean bag toss set. And the following cycle the prize will be the coolest thing we've given away yet!

Wednesday, October 1, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down 9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: THE ONLY ONE OF SOMETHING EVER TO DO SOMETHING ELSE

Wednesday, October 1, 9:15pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: BASEBALL

Thursday, October 2, 9:30pm
The Draught Horse
15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Temple University campus
Subject Round: EUROPE
Sam Adams products & vodka drink specials; tab awards for first & second place, Sam Adams premiums plus other prizes! Last week the team with the highest score in Round 5 won a pair of great Temple vs. Western Michigan football tickets!

This week's schedule for the trivia you crave

Remember, each quiz is different than the others; you can play as many times as you like per week.

Monday, September 22, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: BOB-BING FOR ANSWERS

Tuesday, September 23, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St., between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: HORROR MOVIES
Second week of six-week tournament cycle! The new cumulative score tourney prize is an Eagles tailgating bean bag toss set.

Wednesday, September 24, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down 9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT

Wednesday, September 24, 9:15pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: WORLD SERIES

Thursday, September 25, 9:30pm
The Draught Horse
15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Temple University campus
Subject Round: TV DRAMAS
Sam Adams products & vodka drink specials; tab awards for first & second place, Sam Adams premiums plus other prizes! Last week the team with the highest score in Round 5 won a pair of great Phillies tickets!

Maximum happy time quiz game excitement!!!

Remember, each quiz is different than the others; you can play as many times as you like per week.

Monday, September 15, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
(near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: FAMOUS FOURSOMES
Yes, there's an Eagles Monday Night Football game. Yes, we'll try to do a quiz if there's interest.

Tuesday, September 16, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St., between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: CARTOONS
Second week of six-week tournament cycle!

Wednesday, September 17, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down
9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: BACK TO SCHOOL
Wednesday, September 17, 9:15pm

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
(near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: ALCOHOL

Thursday, September 18, 9:30pm
The Draught Horse
15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Temple University campus
Subject Round: SCIENCE FACT & SCIENCE FICTION
Sam Adams products & vodka drink specials; tab awards for first & second place, Sam Adams premiums plus other prizes!

HUGE week for the quiz across the board!

Remember, each quiz is different than the others; you can play as many times as you like per week.

Monday, September 8, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
(near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: FAMOUS TRIOS
This could be a make-or-break week for this quiz. Turn-out has been poor both nights at Ray's; people need to start showing up or I can't guarantee that it continues.

Tuesday, September 9, 5:30pm
World Cafe Live (private corporate event)
Subject Round: WOLF-BLOCK

Tuesday, September 9, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St. between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: FOOTBALL
First week of six-week tournament cycle! Everyone is "in it!"

Wednesday, September 10, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down
9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: COMEDIES

Wednesday, September 10, 9:15pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
(near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: MOVIE CHARACTERS

Thursday, September 11, 9:30pm
The Draught Horse
15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Temple University campus
Subject Round: FAMOUS FIRSTS
First-ever quiz at this venue! Sam Adams products & vodka drink specials; tab awards for first & second place, Sam Adams premiums plus other prizes!

Can you solve this week's sample Secret Theme round?

Each group of 10 otherwise unrelated tough questions has a theme running through its answers. Can you answer the questions and figure out the themes? Answers will be posted early next week.

1) What 1987 Eddie Murphy concert film grossed over $50 million at the box office?
2) What river has its origin at Ethiopia's Lake Tana?
3) How did Jessica McClure get her 15 minutes' fame in 1987?
4) What NBC TV show, which began in 2005, stars Patricia Arquette as Allison DuBois?
5) What group had a hit album in 1989 with As Nasty as They Wanna Be?
6) What 1991 movie starred Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey?
7) The elements scandium, yttrium and the 15 lathanoids are collectively known as what sort of elements?
8) What early 17th century English poet wrote "Death Be Not Proud"?
9) On what 1959-1966 CBS Western show did Clint Eastwood's career get a lift?
10) What 1966 hit for The Kinks includes the lyric And his mother goes to meetings / While his father pulls the maid?

... and what theme links the ten answers?

Labor Day quiz scheduled as normal; rest of week's schedule follows

Monday, August 25, 9pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
(near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: LABOR HISTORY

Tuesday, August 26, 9pm
Drinker's Tavern
Market St. between Front & 2nd Sts.
Subject Round: AWARDS
Sixth week of six-week tournament cycle; SoCo machine to be awarded!

Wednesday, August 27, 7:30pm
12 Steps Down
9th & Christian Sts.
Subject Round: DOZENS & TWELVES

Wednesday, August 27, 9:15pm
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
(near 9th & Federal Sts.)
Subject Round: MOVIE CHARACTERS

Children + inedible substance that looks like milk = "What's the worst that could possibly happen?"

I am old enough to remember the commercials for this toy. Nobody I knew had one. Thanks to Kathleen of Kathleen Turner Overdrive team fame for the tip! Keep sending those links, kids!



I understand this toy was halted by Litiganty, the Marvelous Class Action Suit Attorney.

Announcing the Draught Horse quiz!

A few months ago The Draught Horse asked me about hosting a quiz when school was back in session on Thursdays. I'm happy to announce that September 11 will be the first quiz at this great Temple U. bar.

Just as soon as I can come up with some mnemonic so that people can remember that date, perhaps never forget it, I'll let you know. Maybe I'll get some bumper stickers or t-shirts printed to remind you of the date. If you see anyone sporting that sort of promo material (something classy like "NEVER FORGET 9/11", with like... a cool anthropomorphic eagle or, um... Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes peeing on a Quran, but he has, like, this wicked cool completely not-Calvin evil smirk) between now and then, that was me pushing the new Draught Horse quiz. And if you see someone with a tattoo like that... dude, that person is totally going to be at the new Draught Horse quiz. That's the kind of marketing genius you're dealing with here, and that's the level of devotion people will be bringing to Thursday nights.

Sam Adams will be a sponsor - you can expect drink specials, premiums and three generous gift certificates for the top three teams each week.

The bar is located at 15th St. & Cecil B. Moore Ave., and will have the late start time of 9:30 to catch the grad and law students following their last classes.

It seems that I'll have some very cool sound and stage options for the quiz, and will be using that to maximum advantage. The general format will remain the same.

No Lyon's Den quiz this Sunday; bar considering changing nights or ending quiz

Just when some traction was being gained at the Lyon's Den quiz in terms of teams coming back for the quiz, we're transitioning away from the quiz... maybe.

You might have noticed that new management has brought about a great revamped kitchen (the food is 100% better!), some new furnishings, and I have to say a somewhat nicer/less rowdy atmosphere. I live pretty close and will be eating there sometimes regardless of what happens with the quiz.

This coming Sunday the NFL season starts (I have the Birds at 11-5 and in the playoffs, you read it here first). Management has decided to see if Sunday night football draws more people than the quiz. The Eagles will play twice on Sunday nights early in the season, and the last third of the season the league reserves the right to jigger the schedule around for maximum ratings. Apparently the NFL isn't satisfied with having viewers only 7 hours per day. At least I'm not bumped by arena football, which would be devastating.

There will be no quiz this Sunday. The bar and I are on good terms, and I'll be speaking with people next week; one of the following things will eventually happen:

- Football might not draw and the quiz will come back.

or

- The quiz will move to a different night at an earlier time to meet my schedule.

or

- There won't be a quiz at the Den.

If you'd like the quiz on Sunday and/or would come out earlier on any night that isn't Wednesday, be sure to let someone at the bar know. Sunday was never my idea to begin with; I always wanted to do Thursdays. I recently pitched the idea of Monday and thereby cutting Ray's down to Wednesdays, but Monday Night Football means no dice. Such are the scheduling problems of the one-room bar.