by Linda l. Esterson, photography by Nikola Tzenov
If you know the answers to these questions, you could be a winner at trivia. Most nights in Carroll County, you can find a game at a bar or restaurant.
Trivia games connect back to television quiz shows from the 1950s and ’60s, which required contestants to answer factual questions. In later decades, “Jeopardy” and the “$10,000 Pyramid” joined the mix and continue today along with “Name That Tune,” “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and the “Weakest Link.”
Trivia enthusiasts also enjoyed various versions of Trivial Pursuit. This board game initially featured geography, history, entertainment, arts, literature, science, nature, sports and leisure. Based on its popularity, modified editions were released, including a Junior Edition, All-Star Sports, All About the ’80s, Harry Potter and more.
Bistro 91 in Finksburg hosts trivia events on Monday and Thursday evenings. The side room is full of competitors, with up to 10 teams and up to 10 players per team. During warmer months, the bistro will add teams outside.
Once a month, a group from the Finksburg branch of the Carroll County Public Library descends upon the restaurant, and there’s always a waiting list.
Bistro 91’s sister restaurant, Tavern 26 in Eldersburg, has a trivia night on Tuesdays, as do the Flood Zone Marketplace & Brewery in Union Bridge and Serra Restaurant and Bar in Sykesville.
“It brings people in and gives people something to do,” says Kelly Kluka, operations manager of Bistro 91 and Tavern 26. Kluka plays in the library event. “We just want a place to go and hang out. We may or may not know the answers to the questions….
The important part is coming, having fun, talking about the answer [and] laughing when we get it wrong.” Serra on Main in Westminster added a trivia night on Thursdays about 18 months ago. “People like to have a reason to come out during the week,” says Brittany Leister, assistant manager.
“They get to engage with their friends. They also get to engage with other people who might be at the bar or in the restaurant. We have people all the time that will just be grabbing dinner with the family. It’s kid-friendly, so anyone can play.”
Run by Professionals
Swan’s Trivia runs the games at Serra, and Showtime Trivia runs the shows at Bistro 91 and Tavern 26.
“It’s a very easy form of entertainment,” says Brian Garrahy, Showtime’s owner. “You have some folks that are very competitive with their trivia. Some are just doing it for fun.”
Trivia Question: American rock band Fall Out Boy is from Wilmette, a suburb of what major Midwest city?
Garrahy writes the questions based on ongoing research and everyday happenings. He provides a mixture of topics to challenge participants of all ages. These include ’80s and ’90s music, history, geography, popular culture, sports and more.
Sometimes hearing a report on the radio can spur a question. “The one thing about trivia is there is a lot of static trivia, like things that have already happened,” he says. “But trivia is constantly being made.”
The Team Approach
Players form teams, with the more competitive groups selecting members based on their hobbies and expertise. They come up with creative team names like Spankmasters, Relentless, Cruisers and That’s What She Said. A few years ago, Camille Peeples joined Nerds and Dorks (NADS for short), a team of professors from McDaniel College, to play at Serra on Main. When they needed another player, her husband, Robert, joined.
“You put the right team together, and it’s not intimidating at all,” says Robert, who considers his strengths to be government and art.
“Everybody knows something, and [if] you get a diverse enough group, you can do all right.” At the start of the night, the questions appear easy, but over time, they become more challenging.
Barry Kramer is a regular at Bistro 91 and has followed Garrahy to various venues.
“I like trivia because it lets me show off a little bit,” Kramer says. “There’s always that one question where everybody else in the room is looking around, and they’re [wondering] where I pulled that [answer] from….
It’s a little bit of an ego trip, but also it’s the camaraderie of seeing my teammates and the other teams.” On a recent Thursday, Kramer rattled off the 10 answers to a question related to professional wrestlers and their nicknames to the delight — and expectation — of his three Danger Zone teammates.
Dave Hahn, also of Danger Zone, competed against Kramer for decades before the two joined forces about 10 years ago.
He calls himself a “trash can,” referring to the extensive subjects he’s mastered, like pop culture, classic television, entertainment, sports, geography and history. He’s built his knowledge base by memorizing facts.
Nearly 20 years ago, while dining out, Carol Dougherty and Steve Holland of Sykesville joined a trivia game. They found themselves successful at questions related to old movies, music and history.
“One by one, our six children all descended upon it,” Holland says.
“We’ve always enjoyed trivia, and it was great to have all of our kids with us. There were times when we would have the team, and it was just all the kids,” Carol says. Sean Dougherty and his wife, Casi Dougherty, joined his mother and stepfather years ago at another venue and try to attend Bistro 91 each week.
Trivia Question: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred in what body of water?
“We’re parents,” Sean says. “It’s a good way to get a nice break.” Casi enjoys answering “Jeopardy” questions at home. She excels in pop culture, music, cooking and fashion. “I like trivia in general, so it’s just fun to play in real life,” she says.
A Social Atmosphere
For some, playing is more than winning; it’s about socializing. “We’re both retired, so it just kind of ends up being something fun for us to do. It’s more social,” Camille Peeples says.
“We like it primarily because it’s a great way to get together with folks, have a good time and meet new people,” adds Peter Basile, who brings expertise in history and geography to NADS.
Trivia Question: What is the total sum of the jersey numbers worn by Michael Jordan while playing in the NBA?
“It’s also fun to try and pull some things deep in your brain — a good way to use your brain when you get older.”
At the end of the evening, winning teams usually earn a prize. Depending on the venue, gift cards for the top three teams could be distributed, or it could be played in a “Deal or No Deal” style, with the winning team selecting a prize envelope.
Season winners move on to tournament-style play. Teams from all over the state ultimately compete in the finals at Magoobys Joke House in Timonium.
“It’s a friendly competition. Having the gift certificates is nice — at least [it] gives you some sort of prize that you can cash in at a later point in time,” says Sue Basile. “But it’s really about just being there, [and] having fun…. Sometimes we do very well, and sometimes we don’t.”
