Our trivia team has been nothing if not a bit…unpredictable this trivia season! We called off our semifnals bid at Powell’s Pub after playing four games, we’ve stopped playing weekend games and we have yet to find any “one” trivia spot we’re willing to commit to each week! We had planned to play Tuesday night at Haymaker Ann Arbor, but it was the birthday of one of our team members Brad, so we called it off so we could hang out with him. But…since he had a sick dog to tend to at home, well, we just wound up celebrating his birthday in his absence at a local watering hole (though two of us raised our glasses and clinked them together in honor of his birthday…hey, we tried). . Even our Thursday trivia games at Original Gravity Brewing Company have been sporadic – with us having played seven games there this season (only three of those game were “on the books”).
Then Wednesday rolled around, and it was Halloween! For some strange reason, I decided to wear purple and green, which are our trivia team’s colors. The “thought” of hitting up a trivia game did cross my mind – in the hopes that at least a couple of questions might be about…Halloween! But we made no serious plans to play. Then as fate would have it, Brad sent me a text while we were at a watering hole in Willis enjoying a couple of happy hour drinks, and asked if we would meet him at Arbor Brewing Company (Ypsilanti) for some drinks (his dog was feeling better). I said yes, we would meet him there… provided we could find a parking spot. What a shocker – not only were the parking lots essentially bare for a trivia Wednesday, but when I stepped inside about a little past 6:30 there were also plenty of open trivia tables! Those usually fill up a little after 6. So I thought…”Hmmmm…
I actually did my best imitation of this emoji when pondering whether or not to sign up to play – “Hmmmm trivia?”
Long story short, we signed up and played as a trio, logged a 153 point game – our highest score of the trivia season! We won a third place $5 gift card in game two, but came just ONE POINT from being in the “prize” zone in game one. Special thanks to Terry from Your Resume Sucks for spotting me the newsletter/Facebook hint answer (there is no “i” in team, though there are…uh five in our team name)! Sporcle With Tim came over to our table after game two to give us our prize – I almost forgot that this bar gives third place prizes! We decided to give the prize to the “birthday boy” Brad so he could buy himself a drink next time he stops in
As a special Halloween “treat,” most of the questions had at least SOMETHING to do with Halloween! This definitely gave a team as obsessed with the strange and arcane as ours an edge…read on to see some of the “spooky” questions we had!
Game One
1. Games – What fruit is most commonly used in a Halloween party game that involves a tub of water with participants trying to grab the fruit without use of their hands? Reminds me of when I engaged in (and won) a hands-free doughnut eating contest at Girl Scout camp (one time at Girl Scout camp…), got for 10.
2. Compilation Albums – What 1976 single is in the title of a 2000 compilation album titled The Best of Blue Oyster Cult? 9
3. Actors – Although known mainly for comedy roles, what actor appeared in the political drama JFK as Attorney Dean Andrews Jr.? Miss for 2. Got the “nerd” bonus point asking for which person directed this movie.
4. Companies- Through a subsidiary headquartered in Batesville, IN, HIllenbrand Inc. accounts for more than 40 percent of all U.S. sales of what item? We put in a guess for “knives,” which was incorrect, miss for 1.
5. Short Stories – What American author wrote the horror fiction story The Black Cat, published in 1843? 8
6. Comics – What Marvel comic book character who was originally created in 1982 as an adversary of Ant-Man wears a grey battle suit that enables him to make himself or other objects invisible or intangible? Brad and I teamed up with success here, but only wagered 3.
7. Spiders – What is the common name given tot hree species of venomous spiders native to North American whose females are often black with red hourglass shaped markings on their abdomen? 7
8. Calories – Within 50, how many calories are in a standard grande Starbucks pumpkin spice latte made from 2 percent milk and whipped cream? Miss for 4.
9. NFL Teams – Which NFL team is the only one that counts orange and black among its official colors? 6
10. TV Sitcoms – What TV sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2003 included non-title characters named Hilda, Zelda and Harvey? I always get answer right about this sitcom – even though I have never seen a single episode – or have read the Archie comics on which this is based. Could it be….witchcraft? 5
Mystery – Anagrams
Answers will reveal well-known monsters from film, literature of folklore
1. Car duel
2. Teardrop
3. Dog wine
4. High Tent
#1 was easy, the others were a bit trickier – Mike and I teamed up here with success, got all 8 points.
Scores: I wasn’t at the table when scores were read. We were one of three teams with 60 points heading into the final (in third), two teams were tied with 61, and one team was in first with 63.
Final Category – Costumes
According to Google Frightgeist, what comic book character was the most popular Halloween costume of 2017?
The “guys” had one idea, and I had another…they eventually came on board with my way of thinking! I said the character they were thinking about was way too “R” rated to be the top costume, and appeared in a movie that most parents wouldn’t take their kids to see.
No major change in the standings, a tiebreaker had to be settled to figure out second/third place (did not catch the question).
I think Ennui took first in this game….I really wan’t paying attention!
Game Two
1. 2018 Movies – What 2018 film is the eleventh in the series and began 40 years earlier and stars Andy Matichak, Judy Greer and Will Patten, among others? 10
2. Old Traditions – Within one, in what decade of the 20th Century did children in North America, in a precursor to what is now called “trick or treating,” first dress in costumes and go door to door for food or money? I remembered seeing a Drunk History episode about this not too long ago…got this for 5 plus the bonus for hitting it dead on.
3. New Traditions – In a recently new trick or treating practice, houses with a blue pumpkin on display signifies that they have treats that share what notable characteristic? Good guess, but for only 3.
4. Colors – What is the order of the three colors of a piece of candy corn from the wide base to the tip? Miss for 2.
5. Landmarks – On Oct. 31, 1941, work was suspended on what major U.S. landmark roughly 14 years after it began? 9
6. Sports Nicknames – Pro golfer Thomas Brent Weekley, who joined the PGA in 2002, isk nown by what ghost related nickname? Miss for 1.
7. Voiceovers – Audio clue of Thriller narration toward the end of the song, got for 8.
8. Animals – What is the appropriate name given to bats whose primary food source is blood? 7
9. U.S. States – Which U.S. state joined the union on Oct. 31, 1864 and is sometimes called the “Battle Born State” because it was admitted during the U.S. Civil War? Picked a state that was admitted the year earlier, miss for 6.
10. ’60s Hits – What English band had hits in the ’60s with songs including She’s Not There, Tell her No and Time of the Season? 4
Visual mystery:
Missed #1.
Scores – Twenty-one teams, scores ???, to 57, with Your Resume sucks in first. We were in third playing under the name, “They found the body, Charlie Brown” with 53 points.
Final Category – After Halloween
Halloween is the first day of a three-day observance in Western Christianity known as Allhallowtide. What are the names of the other two days, which fall on November 1st and November 2nd, respectively?
Got it…final standings did not change. We finished in third with 73 points.
Until next time, which will be tonight at Original Gravity Brewing Company. The trivia host Lauren will be celebrating one year of hosting trivia! Wouldn’t want to miss it…As always, Go Pods, and stay classy, you Wendigo monster! Eat to live – don’t live to eat 😏
hebspeaks 