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TRIVIAL HERE
Test your smarts at Merry Time Bar and Grill’s Trivia Night
PHOTOS BY COLIN MURPHEY/ COAST WEEKEND
A team puts together an answer to the latest question during trivia night at the Merry Time Bar and Grill. The venue hosts the event every Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m.
By DAN HAAG
FOR COAST WEEKEND
I
don’t dabble too much in trivia, which is
strange, considering my head is swim-
ming with useless facts and pop culture
references.
Trivia and I haven’t had a serious rela-
tionship since the days of the multi-colored,
pie-shaped pieces of the classic Trivial
Pursuit board game.
That is, until I took in Trivia Night at
Astoria’s venerable Merry Time Bar and
Grill, held 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday.
It’s all in the name
I’ve always enjoyed the Merry Time, with
its high booths overlooking Marine Drive.
I especially appreciate their “No Mi-
nors” rule that allows me to nurse a beer
and grumble about the Red Sox third-base
situation without listening to wailing tod-
dlers.
But Trivia Night gave me a new appreci-
ation for the establishment and the import-
ant role trivial facts play in our lives.
My wife and I had no clue what to
expect as we entered the Merry Time on a
warm Astoria Wednesday evening.
The place was packed and the anticipa-
tion was palpable.
Seating ourselves at a small round
corner table adjacent to the center of trivia
action, we were versed by waitstaff on the
logistics of the nights’ competition.
The game features three rounds with
three categories in each round. Each team
— which can have up to four players —
puts in the $2 entry fee. At the end of the
game, the winning team gets the pot.
We were issued pencils and answer
sheets for each round. “Make sure you pick
a team name, something fun,” our waiter
said.
After some intense negotiation, we
settled on a name that not only perfectly
encapsulated us but seethed intimidation:
“Disciples Of Vader.”
Extra points are awarded for the best
team name, and we liked our odds until
some of the others were announced: “Steve
Bannon’s Hit Squad” and “We Can Do
This The Easy Way Or The United Airlines
Way” vaulted to the forefront.
Ridiculous facts
It turns out I’m not the only one who
takes pride in being able to access answers
to little-known facts.
Trivia Night has a loyal following, and
host Carol Goodrich always takes cate-
gory requests in order to involve tavern
regulars.
“I love trivia in general and little facts
that seem ridiculous have always been fun
for me,” she said, adding that the shared
experience of trivia is fun for everybody.
Goodrich, along with Emily Geddiss,
took over Trivia Night last fall with the
blessing of Merry Time owner Terry Rob-
inett.
“Terry really let us run with it and make
it our own,” Goodrich said.