Dear Friends,
I recently attended the strangest party.
The guest of honor looked just like the elderly and diminutive character actor William Hickey as he looked in Prizzi’s Honor (for which he was Oscar-nominated), but I only knew this from the invitation. His face was upon it, so I walked around the banquet hall seeking to know which face matched the picture. I thought he was a big shot in the world of Berkeley poetry.
An unexpected collection of people attended this party. My actress friend Bethiah was there, even though she stopped working for our mutual friend, Chad the realtor, years ago. I learned that Bethiah is now living in San Francisco; we had our longest ever conversation, but I don’t remember the topic.
Sean Scully, who I have not chatted with since he left the Washington Waldorf School more than 40 years ago, was there, looking oddly like his 1970s self. He has worked as a newspaper writer and editor for a couple decades, and lives just an hour from Davis, but I haven’t reconnected with him in person, regrettably. Hi Sean!
Ben Sontheimer was there from Boston University. He’s now a world traveler. Musician Amanda MacKaye was talking to some old friends near the appetizers. I thought I saw Barbara Neu on the other side of the room, but I couldn’t be sure. I miss talking about parenting and teaching with that Fairfield School icon.
This party was like visiting Facebook, but in person, and I came away from the event thinking that I was grateful to have all these people in my life, but regretful that I didn’t spend more time with them outside of this party.
We in Davis are surrounded by fascinating people who are worth our time and attention, but too often we pass them by or keep to ourselves, imagining, perhaps, that someday we will enjoy the dinner party of our dreams, and that we should save our catching up for then.
Many of us our set in our ways and wedded to our routines. When it comes to making or strengthening connections with others, I say we should always be breaking the ice, or, on a day like today, encouraging the ice to thaw and then to melt away to nothing.
Please plan to partake in the Pub Quiz festivities this overheated evening at Sudwerk in Davis. Bring your team to the beautiful outdoor patio where the misters are misting and where we have room for almost everyone. The jollity will be unfiltered. As Ralph Waldo Emerson allegedly said, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.” Tonight some will want to play indoors. I encourage you to come early to snag a table. We filled the restaurant and patio last week, and I expect that we will continue to do so throughout August and beyond. Also, tonight I plan to move the quiz along quickly — the entire quiz is only 859 words long!
In addition to topics raised above, tonight’s pub quiz will feature questions on peace and love, people who are “testing” the waters and finding them to be red hot, titles that have words and two sets of numbers, valorous statements, actual cancellations, Republican guerrillas, healthy keto plans, people named after digable planets, visiting princes, continental cities, silly songs, palaces, existentialism, something Thor does, stylish improvements, extinguished cell phones and other flames, the rules of scowlers, Weird Al, AI and our future, cities that changed meanings, excellent examples, winning tickets, multiple championships, noise complaints, London incidents, islands, blue skies, current events, books and authors, and Shakespeare. Sometimes a question is substituted at the last minute because of the day’s news.
Thanks to all the new players joining us at the live quizzes and to all the patrons who have been enjoying fresh Pub Quiz content. Thanks especially to new subscriber Sophie! Every week I check the Patreon to see if there is someone new to thank, such as Janet and Joey. I also thank The Original Vincibles, Summer Brains, The Outside Agitators, John Poirier’s team Quizimodo, Gena Harper, the scintillating Mavens who carefully take note of casual adjectives and precise pronunciations, and others who support the Pub Quiz on Patreon (where I am also sometimes sharing drafts of poems). I would love to add your name or that of your team to the list of supporters. I appreciate your backing this pub quiz project of mine!
Best,
Dr. Andy
P.S. Poetry Night returns to the Natsoulas Gallery September 5th with Joshua McKinney and Susan Kelly-DeWitt. And then season 11 of Stories on Stage comes to our own Sudwerk this coming Monday afternoon at 5 PM. Check out the lineup. I will be hosting both of these events.
P. P.S. Trivia from last week:
- Ohio Cities that Start with the Letter C. The main campus of The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) has grown into the fifth-largest university campus by enrollment in the United States. In what city is the main campus of OSU found?
- English Franciscan Friars. The name of what English Franciscan friar appears in the name of the principle that suggests that the simplest explanation—meaning the one that requires the fewest assumptions—is usually the best one?
- Pop Culture – Music. At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the Georgia delegation introduction song, sung by Lil Jon, began with these lines: “Fire up that loud / Another round of shots.” Name the song.