Thursday night brought our team to Ginger’s Ale House. It’s pretty different than most of the trivia nights we’ve been to, and, to be honest, there were more than a few unusual things about it… but it’s hard not to like it here.
Trivia is run by a kindly older gentleman with his daughter as his assistant. I think he just makes up categories and questions that interest him. Our categories included: What’s in a name (the answers all have or are about names), mushrooms, a photo round with no real theme to it, and the science of beer. There was also a “series” round where each clue leads you closer to guessing a round topic (In this case, the TV series MASH) and the sooner you guess it, the more points you get. FYI, a lot of the questions are true-false.
Trivia at Ginger’s is in a back room where none of the chairs are quite the appropriate height for any of the tables. The host doesn’t use a microphone, and there was a delay while they disconnected the speakers from playing the music from the bar so we could hear the clues. The menu is huge and strange. I got a ton of Fish and Chips for only about $8, which for some reason came with an overly generous portion of peas. Also, we came in first place and the prize was leftover St. Patrick’s day Chi-rish mugs and Magner’s Irish Cider t-shirts. Mugs and t-shirts also were the prize for last place. Also, you get a mug and t-shirt just showing up. Everyone walks away with mugs and t-shirts. Bonus points, however, for the T-shirts not necessarily all being XXL! Finally, upon closing my tab, my credit card was handed back to me very sticky. Thus far, no amount soap, water, bleach, or nail polish remover has eliminated this space-age adhesive. I am welcome to any ideas.
I am sure it sounds like I hated this trivia night: chairs are odd sizes, no microphone, delayed start for speaker disconnection, weird menu, too many peas, true-false questions, no real first place prize after a rare first place finish, sticky credit card… but something about the overall experience is really likeable, and I think it all comes down to the host.
He’s like a friendly grandpa who just wants to share his passion for obscure facts. $5 pay-to-play, but it all goes to charity (the Franciscan Outreach Association). Also, if you are really stumped, he might give you points for answers that have the word “boobs” in them.
After some of the high-intensity-ultra-competitive trivia nights we’ve been to (and I like them a lot), it’s a nice change of pace to sit back in a too-low chair, eat some peas, and just casually learn a few things about mushrooms, for love of the game and for a presumably good cause.
Just make sure you pay in cash.
Ginger’s Ale House
3801 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago
7:30pm to 9:30pm
$5 admission (goes to Franciscan Outreach Association)
2.5 paws (out of 4)
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