PRINTTrivia pursuit
Living the game-show dream CoMo style
ESTEN HURTLE
Sophie Wodzak ponders a question at Eastside Tavern’s trivia night. The bar awards a cash prize to the team with the most correct answers.
January 21, 2010 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Other times, you go where everybody wants you to know the names of all the U.S. presidents who died in office. No, this isn’t a history test; it’s the world of trivia nights. So grab a few friends, conjure up a vulgar team name, and win some prizes. Vox reviews some of the best places in town to put your seemingly useless knowledge to the test.
Southside Pizza and Pub:
Tuesdays at 8 p.m. 3911 Peachtree Drive, 256-7337.
Southside offers its own high-tech brand of trivia free of charge: It projects questions onto a big screen. The game isn’t taken too seriously and can become the secondary focus. Teams of up to nine members compete in two themed rounds of 10 questions and a third round of naming people whose photos appear on the screen. The pace is quick; the host manages to fit in two games per night. Prizes include free pitchers of beer. The difficulty level might not be up to par for seasoned trivia players.
Harpo’s:
Wednesdays at 6 p.m. 29 S. Tenth St., 443-5418.
Harpo’s ups the anty with its host. Y107’s JC keeps players entertained with jokes and anecdotes. Questions vary in difficulty. “I pride myself in making the questions difficult but not impossible,” JC says. “I throw some gimmes in there because nobody wants to feel dumb all night.” Harpo’s draws regular teams of all ages and is great for players from rookie to pro. Teams can be of any size as long as all members fit around a table. Prizes are free appetizers and pitchers. The winning team earns a $25 gift card.
Tin Can Tavern and Grille:
Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. 220 S. Eighth St., 777-8788.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find cheaper entertainment than this. It’s just $2 at the door, and beer starts at 50 cents per can. The laid-back atmosphere is perfect for first-timers. This crowd develops team names far too raunchy to be published, and questions are pretty easy. Tin Can’s host Bob Hatley isn’t the most exciting but provides a great soundtrack and time to joke with your team. Teams of six or fewer members test their knowledge for three 10-question rounds. In the last round, teams are rewarded for the “best worst answers.” Prizes include Tin Can gift certificates and free beer.
Eastside Tavern:
Wednesdays at 10 p.m. 1016 E. Broadway, 256-1500.
Eastside’s approach to trivia night is a little different. Classic horror movies play on the TV as the regular crowd shuffles in. The mood is still welcoming but much more competitive. “They’re not messin’ around,” says Thomas Kane, a host. “As soon as we ask a question, you just see heads go right down.” The winning team gets a 50/50 shot at a prize of either everyone’s $3 entry fee or a $20 bar tab. If no one gets the entry money, it carries over to the next week, so the teams of up to seven get competitive. Bartender Adam Boisclair says he’s seen teams win more than $300. The night consists of two general rounds and a “name that tune” round. Questions are tough — this is for the seasoned player.
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