Trivia at Dos Mariposas

10/14/2026

IGGY POP KNOWLEDGE PUSHES AVERAGE JILLS, PUMPKINS OVER THE TOP

All it took was a vague recollection of the man called “The Godfather of Punk” to push the Average Jills and the Melting Pumpkins (AKA Menage a (Fill in the Blank)) to tie for victory on Wednesday. One single point separated these two teams from third-place finishers The Loopers, and that one point was earned via basic rock and roll knowledge. More teams (3) thought Moe Howard was the leader of the band that sung (Now) I Wanna Be Your Dog than recognized Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Iggy Pop, which is information the Trivia Master simply cannot process. This single question plus a refusal to listen to Rebecca when she insisted Scooby Doo was NOT a Malamute is all that stood between the Loopers and victory on this night, a stark reality that no one would blame The Loopers for thinking of when they wake up in a cold sweat at 3 AM over the next two weeks.

Play was high-level and brisk throughout the evening. A slate of dog-themed categories produced some of the highest scores recorded in the history of Trivia at Dos Mariposas. All teams had more than 40 points and only two points separated the first four teams. As noted, the Average Jills, chosen last time as the “team most likely to break through,” did break through and were joined atop the leaderboard by mainstays Melting Pumpkins, followed by the cartoon dog breed-challenged Loopers. We Drink and We Know Things finished fourth, two points behind the winners, followed another two points back by a tie between Norm and the Ghost Busters and the Merry Posa skeleton squad, who rode a perfect bonus round to notch the best-ever score by a two-person team. In the cellar were the Jeri-Actrics, only seven points off the lead, who ranked as high as second during the evening before coming apart during a category that questioned the validity of laws relating to dogs.

Here are your awards for October 7:

OFFICIAL TODDLER OF TRIVIA AT DOS MARIPOSAS: Hadley faced some competition for the first time in what seems like forever, fending off a challenge by Lucille, whose brief affiliation with the Average Jills was nonetheless memorable, as she proved expert at coloring within the lines of her coloring book. Lucille will be returning to her home in Hawaii before the next trivia competition, leaving the field wide open once again for Hadley, who is reported to have, like all great competitors, appreciated the one-time challenge.

WENDY BLING CHECK: “I wanted to really give you something to review,” said Wendy of this week’s outfit, which consisted of a black floor-length diaphanous gown dotted with sequins AND rhinestones (confirmed via Wendy) and black platform sandals adorned with, per The Sergeant at Arms, “Little broken disco balls.” Bravo, Wendy,

BEST TYPO OF THE EVENING: To the Norms, whose answer to “What breed of dog is Scooby-Doo”” looked like it said “Great Dave.”

WORST (AND MOST DAMAGING” WRONG ANSWER: No, Loopers, Scooby-Doo is not a Malamute.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF THERE ARE NO MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS? You cheer just as loud for True/False questions.

SCORING ODDITY: The Average Jills and Melting Pumpkins were tied for the lead after rounds three, four, five and the bonus round — AND both had perfect scores for Cartoon Canines.

SELF-SCOFF: Everyone knows Little Orphan Annie’s dog is named Sandy. Why even ask?

BEYOND SCOFF: Is what happens every time Doug of We Drink and We Know Things realizes that the Trivia Master has slipped up in his research; witness his response to a question about firing squads: “That’s just not true.”

TWICE IS A TREND: Having seen her teammate Sherri beat the heat with a personal geisha fan, Melting Pumpkins team member Molly decided, on an unseasonably warm October night, to brandish her own fan. Or maybe she borrowed Sherri’s fan. Either way, the Pumpkins lead the league in fan work.

NOT AS FUN TO SAY AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE: “Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay.”

BEST IMPROMPTU OUTBURST: To the question, “What idiom describes ‘a miserable, unhappy existence,’?” Norm shouted “Marriage!”

TORTILLA CHIP FALL-OFF: Maybe it was the presence of Lucille that curbed the Jills’ seemingly bottomless chip appetite but I spotted only two plates of chips this time, down from their high of three in September.

SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT CATEGORY: Is it Really a Law? This category sunk the Jeri-Atrics, who managed only three correct answers, while the top score in the category was a seven.

SURPRISINGLY EASY CATEGORY: “Idiomatic Dogs.” Good idea starting with “Hair of the Dog,” though.

WHO LOVES CLASSIC ROCK? Jeri, of the Jeri-Atrics, who jumped up out of her seat and pointed at me when I asked a question about Elvis.

TAILOR-MADE QUESTION: The Paw Patrol question was a no-brainer for Rebecca of the Loopers, who in addition to knowing that Scooby-Doo was a Great Dane also knows what it’s like to have a son named Ryder.

That's all for this week -- hope to see you all on October 21!

10/07/2026

Who’s ready for trivia?

Here’s a catchy song to think about as you prepare for tonight’s competition!

From The Bottle Rockets' 2015 Bloodshot album 'South Broadway Athle...

10/01/2026

MERRY POSAS GO WIRE TO WIRE BUT CHICAGO WINS

If you’re keeping score at home, your updated results for last Wednesday are the band CHICAGO (sort of) 1, TRIVIA AT DOS MARIPOSAS 0. Hats off to you, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, for being the only original member of Chicago to take the stage at Britt. It was enough to siphon about half of our usual turnout away from Dos Mariposas. Special shout-out, though, to members of We Drink and We Know Things, for having tickets but choosing trivia.

In this rubble of dashed expectations and sound-alike tribute bands rose the Merry Posas. Fueled by the strength of no fewer than two sit-in members (note: more original members of the Merry Posas appeared Wednesday than original members of Chicago) and unique as the only people in the room (besides the Trivia Master) who know that Sukkot is in fact not a Pagan or Wiccan holiday but is, indeed, one of the Judaic faith, this alone was a victory for the Merry Posas but lets not let it overshadow their strong performance last Wednesday.

The Merry Posas led after every round, holding off challenges from We Drink and We Know Things, who finished one point back in second place, and the Average Jills, who finished third and now assume the tite of “team knocking on the door of victory but haven’t quite gotten over the top,” previously held by… the Merry Posas.

The Team Formerly Known as Menage a (Fill in the Blank), now calling themselves Grape Expectations, followed the Jills in fourth place, tied with the One-Eyed Norms, who win the award for most sardonic name (see below). Newcomers The Kid Was Late finished in sixth place, only a point behind the Norms and the Grapes, having found that their vast knowledge of astrology was not enough to overcome the handicap of playing as a duo. Hopefully next time the kid who was also going to be late actually shows up, expanding your scope and chances of rising out of the cellar, Kid Was Late.

Here are your awards for the Chicago-hampered September 23 trivia session:

OFFICIAL TODDLER OF TRIVIA AT DOS MARIPOSAS UPDATE: With Seager and Yeager sidelined indefinitely, the road is wide open for Hadley, whose arrival in a tie-dyed summer dress, heart-shaped sunglasses and light-up tennis shoes was quite a flex nevertheless. We need a toddler infusion but I’ve got to warn you, potential new toddlers: if you come at the queen you’d better come hard.

WENDY BLING CHECK: It required a quick check with the Sergeant-at-Arms but we can confirm that Wendy’s tunic was covered with rhinestones, not sequins.

RUGGED: Norm, of the Norms, returned to the scene after a month-long absence, thanks to an ailment that has left him unable to see out of his right eye; hence calling your team the “One-Eyed Norms,” is about as good-natured as a guy adapting to being able to see out of one eye can ever hope to be.

THE KID DID, INDEED, ARRIVE LATE: Imagine your first time at Trivia at Dos Mariposas and your kid shows up late, leaving you to play the first round solo; that’s exactly what happened to The Kid Was Late, who, despite their last-place finish, ended up only five points behind the winners. Imagine if the kid had showed up on time.

MOST TORTILLA CHIPS CONSUMED AWARD: The Average Jills went through three plates of chips and salsa, narrowly outdistancing We Drink and We Know Things, who could only manage to put down two plates. Fortunately, the Trivia Master is not eligible for this category, as he has been known to consume an entire family size bag of chips in one sitting.

JOKES ON YOU: Actually, the joke is on the four teams that COULDN’T BELIEVE the Trivia Master would have a category in which every answer is “Yes.” That’s exactly what happened in Hallmark holidays when it became clear to the Trivia Master that the only occasions you can’t buy a card for are Hitler’s Birthday and Nuclear Armageddon. Props to The Average Jills and We Drink and We Know Things for trusting themselves seeing past the subterfuge.

BEST NEW INFORMATION LEARNED: We have two winners in this category. 1) You can indeed stomp on grapes in the Rogue Valley (H/T to Meghan of Grape Expectations for this information) 2) On February 15, Satanists celebrate Lupercalia, which is the celebration of bodily autonomy, sexual liberation and reproduction.

UNSURPASSED LOCAL W**E KNOWLEDGE: Meghan.

MORE NEW IMFORMATION: Bicycle Day (April 19), commemorates the first time anyone took L*D. And yes, you can buy a card.

WELCOME: To new Dos Mariposas employee Jesse, whose name tag game is so far unsurpassed.

THANK YOU: I’d like to reiterate my appreciation of the fill-in Merry Posa ponytail guy who knew what Sukkot was. I was starting to feel like an alien for a moment there.

ROOKIE MISTAKE OR SOLID STRATEGY: “Sly, Bruce or Arnold” seemed, at first, like an easy category. It was not. Teams scored an average of 3.8. So why not write “Arnold” for every answer, The Kid Was Late?

SCOFF IN ABSENTIA: Menage a (FITB) member Brian was absent Wednesday but I am certain he would’ve scoffed at the Neil Young question. Still, you think there’s going to be a Harvest category without a Neil Young question?

That’s all for this week — hope to see you all on October 7.

09/23/2026

I’ve heard that attendance for tonight will be light due to the Chicago show at Britt.

Ask yourself this: would Sly, Arnold or Bruce skip the chance to flex their cranial muscles for a Chicago show?

Not a chance!

09/10/2026

“KIP TO MY LOU” WINS HEARTS, TRIVIA

Seven teams brought the energy of twice that number to last Wednesday’s edition of Trivia at Dos Mariposas, so it was fitting to have the evening end with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory. After lurking just behind the leaders for most of the night, Kip to My Lou rallied in the bonus round to take home a one-point win. As team captain Jeri noted, “If we hadn’t known the name of one of the other sharks in Finding Nemo, we’d have been sunk.”

Yes, Kip to My Lou won because they knew the names of two of the three sharks to appear in Finding Nemo. Almost every team knew that one of them was named Bruce, but the Kippers were the only team who remembered Chum.

Nobody remembered Anchor, and for that we are deeply ashamed.

The win surprised everyone — even Kip to My Lou, who could be forgiven if they’d assumed they’d be watching another walk-off by We Drink (and We Know Things) or Menage a (tonight we are drolly called Team Name), but it was not to be. All for the love of Chum.

The aforementioned We Drinks and Menages went into that last round tied for the lead, one point ahead of the Kippers, after a spirited five-round battle. The Average Jills, returned to their rightful place on the couches, came in fourth, five points off of the lead, and were followed by a hastily-assembled version of the Loopers, the Merry Posas, and a new date night team, 1 Couple, 2 Cups, whose last-place finish only made them more lovable in the eyes of all who attended.

Notably absent for the second consecutive week were the Norms, leading the Trivia Master to seek them out at their rumored home away from home, Cartwrights, for an explanation. Alas, no Norms at Cartwrights either. The world has turned upside down.

Here are your awards for August 19:

OFFICIAL TODDLER OF TRIVIA AT DOS MARIPOSAS: We are getting perilously close to retiring this honor. There were no toddlers present at trivia this week. Nor were there any adults acting like toddlers. For that we are thankful.

WENDY BLING CHECK: Given the autumn-like turn in the weather, it was not surprising to see Wendy arrive in an all-black ensemble. Being Wendy, however, she accessorized with a leopard-print umbrella.

SCOFF #1: Understand that the Trivia Master did not know that We Drink and Know Things would be comprised of 83% expatriate Texans when he made the first question be about the Governor of Texas.

SCOFF #2: Nor did he know that their team would feature an Apple employee when he asked about Tim Cook.

BEST TEAM NAME: “Kip to My Lou.” Sergeant-at-Arms: “Awwww.”

MOST DROLL TEAM NAME: Team Name. Keep ‘em coming, even though I’ll always call you guys Menage a (Fill in the Blank).

BEST REPRESENTATION OF MY WIFE’S HOMETOWN: Kristin’s Seattle Supersonics pullover.

PROUDEST MOMENT FOR THE TRIVIA MASTER: Actually, moment(s); the room basically gave the new, struggling couple team a standing ovation after every round. I hope they come back.

LEAST PROUD MOMENT FOR THE TRIVIA MASTER: Screwing up scoring three times during VoiceOver Madness. The madness came from within and thanks to member of the Average Jills I now know that Winnie-the-Pooh wears a shirt, not a vest and my thirst for knowledge is sated.

SECOND-LEAST PROUD MOMENT: Don’t ever trust AI when compiling trivia questions, because it might leave out the part where Liz Taylor ALSO voiced Maggie Simpson, in addition to James Earl Jones. Never let it be said that Maggie Simpson lacks range.

CHAOS: The scoresheet for that round. Ultimately, the Sergeant-at-Arms and I had to cross out a round of scores and start over. The ensuing disorder kept the Sergeant-at-Arms awake well into the night. She loathes disorder.

HILARIOUS: The huge cheer when I told the crowd that everyone gets a point for the Winnie-the Pooh question… which is sort of the same as if nobody got a point.

LEVEL UP FROM THE TRIVIA MASTER AWARD: To Ron, of the Loopers, whose made-up Shark movie name — Sharkuterie — was way better than Shark Griswold’s European Vacation, which is the one I made up.

KNOWN ONLY TO ME: Halfway through the night I realized that the new member of the Merry Posas looked like Ben Gazzara, while simultaneously realizing that probably very few people in the room know who Ben Gazzara was and even fewer remember what he looked like. That’s why I’m the Trivia Master.

STONE FACE AWARD: I never noticed this before but sometimes when Brian of Menage doesn’t know the answer to a question, he becomes as expressionless as an Easter Island statue while his teammates work on a response.

LEARNED AFTER THE FACT: The progressively tinier fonts submitted after each round by Kip to My Lou were, in fact, done on purpose. Not sure if it was to make me laugh or make my job harder, but it did both. We all miss Typewriter Bob.

PLEASE COME BACK: One Couple, Two Cups. Bring friends.

That's all for this time -- remember, the next session comes September 23, not the 16th.

09/02/2026

As you prepare for tonight's Trivia at Dos Mariposas, here are two things to remember about Richard Nixon:

1) definitely lying when he said he was not a crook
2) second-youngest Vice-President in history, which you probably didn't know because who goes around memorizing facts about Vice-Presidents?

See you tonight!

08/26/2026

WE DRINK AND WE KNOW THINGS RESTORES ORDER

On a lightly-attended night in which the worst any team could do was sixth place, longtime stalwarts We Drink and We Know Things bounced back from their disappointing August 4 finish to score a breezy wire-to-wire victory, outpacing second-place teams Menage a (Who showed up?) And semi-newcomers Nowhere to Go But Up, who tied for second, four points behind We Drink.

Despite the apparent ease of We Drink’s win, the field was tightly contested. The fourth-place tie between the Merry Posas and the Loopers (Plus) was only a single point behind second place and the cellar-dwelling Average Jills, despite struggling for most of the night, only finished 4 points behind the Loopers and the Posas.

In what now qualifies as a rarity, the night’s questions were unthemed and mostly within reach for all six teams — at least for the first four rounds. The teams came out of Current Events completely knotted, with six teams scoring seven and one team scoring six. From there it was mostly a battle between We Drink and the Loopers, a hastily-constructed team whose early success was a testament to the steady hands of leaders Steve and Roe. As play continued, however, the Loopers began to fade, ultimately losing second place to Menage, who rebounded from an early stumble due to a comprehensive lack of knowledge about sports venues, and Nowhere to Go, who spent much of the evening defying the low expectations of their team name.

As for the Average Jills, they were bounced from their usual perch on the couches by a pair of casually elegant women who wanted only to drink w**e and watch everyone else play trivia, (“We’re auditing this course.”) which seemed to jar their compass, giving two team members what my grandmother used to call “shpilkis,” which is a Yiddish word meaning “an inability to sit still.” Tony had it too.

Here are your awards for August 19:

OFFICIAL TODDLER OF TRIVIA AT ANCHOR VALLEY UPDATE: There is no update. No toddlers attended trivia on August 19.

WENDY BLING CHECK: Wendy did not disappoint. She paired leopard-print pants with her rhinestone flip-flops and accessorized with a necklace designed around a large black stone of some kind.

SHPILKIS AWARD: see above

BIGGEST FAN OF THE SEARCHERS AWARD: Roe, from the Loopers, cheered when I played “Needles and Pins.” Average score in the category “Beatles or Not the Beatles:” 6.

OCCAM’S RAZOR AWARD (In which the simplest answer is the correct one): “In what U.S, state would you find the Pontiac Dome?

BEST FREE AGENT COUPLE: Since Winnie’s Winners collapsed under the responsibility of not one but two boys under the age of two, Jeri and Kip have been players without a team; this week they teamed up with the Average Jills. How did it work out? “Too many f-bombs.” — Jeri.

MIXED MESSAGES: Though naming yourself “Nowhere to Go But Up” might seem to indicate a lack of self-esteem, trying to bribe the Trivia Master with a dollar suggests some ambition hidden behind that humble facade. Just not enough. A dollar?

HOW MUCH DO I KNOW ABOUT BUGS? About 5,000% more than I knew before last Wednesday. Apologies for not knowing your name, Average Jills team member who is obsessed with bugs, and I hope it went well when you met your dad in a bar for the first time in 39 years, but I’ve got to score these answer sheets. Also, bugs gross me out.

BEST/WORST CATEGORY: What Is It (weird product names); the average score in this category was somewhere between 2-3 but the wrong answers were fantastic. Of course everyone thought Colon Blow (which is actually a hot sauce) was a laxative, but some of the answers for Magnificent Secretions (perfume) cannot be repeated here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to lace up my Cloudmonsters and get into my Mysterious Utility Wizard, drive home, flop down on my Ektorp, slap on some Hai Karate and set myself up with a nice plate of Stinking Bishop.

BEST EXASPERATED MOMENT DURING THE WORST CATEGORY (X2): In response to “Urban Decay Perversion” (which is mascara) and later for Magnificent Secretions, Rick from We Drink and We Know Things threw his hands up and said, simply, “Oh, come on.”

HOW WILL HE LIVE THIS DOWN: Radio industry veteran Brian thought Billy Gibbons was dead.

SETTLE DOWN, RON: I heard you break that glass during “Beatles or Not the Beatles.”

REVERSE SCOFF: When I read the opening line from “Ferris Bueller,” Brice from Menage a (Fill in the Blank) applauded.

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW: While you’re leaving trivia, Brice is cheerfully bussing your table, because that’s what you do when you’re Brice.

SCOFF WORTHY: “It was the summer of 1963, when everybody called me Baby and it didn’t occur to me to mind.” Even the Trivia Master, who has never seen Dirty Dancing, could’ve recognized the movie from its first line.

NOT SCOFF-WORTHY: The Henry Big Boy Steel, which is a r***e. In case none of you knew that.

That’s all for this week; hope to see you all on September 2.

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08/19/2026

Did the Beatles really do their own voices for the Beatles cartoon? Sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s really them.

See you all tonight at Dos Mariposas!

08/12/2026

HOW PEDESTRIAN? HOW HEARTWARMING!

One of the most wholesome moments in Dos Mariposas Trivia history took place last Wednesday, capping off a spirited evening of play with a Hallmark moment that melted even the most cynical of trivia-playing hearts. Moments before the winning team announcement, rookie How Pedestrian team members Nikita and Erin revealed to the entire trivia community that they had just gotten engaged — that evening, right before play began.


The assembled crowd (save for one disgruntled Looper who will remain unnamed) stood and cheered the couple as Erin showed off her new diamond. It was a high moment, even considering that we’ve welcomed no fewer than three new babies to the trivia community during our run. Good on you, Nikita and Erin; we all wish you the best — and please come back to defend your title on August 19. (More on that to come.)

Once the excitement finally quelled, the second surprise hit: How Pedestrian, after an evening spent in the wake of leaders The Loopers (- Roe), scored a come-from-behind win over the DM trivia mainstays, who couldn’t seem to remember the items Jack carried back down the beanstalk after raiding the Ogre’s cache. (It was the Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs and the Golden Harp, for those of you keeping score at home.). That answer provided the margin of victory and the new team (and its soon-to-be newlyweds) walked off with the victory.

The leaders were followed by three teams tied for third place, Menage a (tribute to the late Glen Hansard that broke the Trivia Master’s heart) and We Drink and We Know things/The Fantastic Four and the Ex-Normans, which may be the best DM Trivia team name in the history of the game. Next up were the always boisterous Average Jills and another rookie team (with an unpronounceable name), Tabebuia. Following these two teams in a two-way tie for eighth place was the One-Eyed Norms and the Pour Decisions Society, whose late-arriving member Tony provided entertainment and unique challenges for the Trivia Master.

Rookies The Papillon Three finished in the cellar with 39 points, 12 points off the lead, but received a lifetime invite to trivia due to their excellent sportsmanship and consistently high enthusiasm levels.

Here are your awards for August 5:

OFFICIAL TODDLER OF TRIVIA AT DOS MARIPOSAS UPDATE: Hadley was wearing heart-shaped sunglasses. That is all.

WENDY BLIING CHECK: I am remiss in that I forgot to write down what Wendy was wearing, but I’m pretty sure it involved a very large and bold floral pattern. Also, I think she was wearing her rhinestone flip-flops. Wendy does not disappoint.

BEST TEAM NAME: The ex-Normans is one for the ages. Pour Decisions Society is pretty good, too.

MOST HEART-BREAKING TEAM NAME: Falling Slowly. IYKYK and IK, and in fact am offended that you thought you had to explain it to me.

WHY CHANGE? We Drink and We Know Things suddenly became “The Fantastic Four,” leading to all sorts of hijinks as the Trivia Master continually forgot to announce their score, since he’s used to there being a We Drink and We Know Things and NOT a Fantastic Four.

THE SPIRIT OF PANTONE 294: Lives on the hastily scribbled, doodled and generally chaotic answer sheets of the Papillon Three.

LEAST INCOGNITO ENTRANCE: It’s one thing to arrive late. It’s another thing to arrive late and station yourself at the front of the room, less than a foot from the Trivia Master, and continue to stand there while he tells you, “I think I’ve got this.” Welcome to the party, Tony.

BEST FAN: The Trivia Master loathes warm weather but does appreciate the quiet elegance of a good hand-held fan, Sherri.

POOR ANSWER SHEET MANAGEMENT: Before How Pedestrian became the Official Sweethearts of Trivia at Dos Mariposas, they started their evening in a much clumsier fashion, spilling water all over their answer sheets. Had the Trivia Master realized that asking for new sheets was far from the biggest question posted this evening by team member Nikita, he might’ve given him more flack.

GROUP SCOFF: We all know which U.S. President said “I never had sexual relations with that woman,” but if we’re going to have a category about liars, its going to be in there.

FREE AGENT: Doug, normally of We Drink and We Know Things, started the evening on the Pour Decisions Society, then transferred back to his original team after Current Events, likely because he’d received a better offer from We Drink.

YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY: To an Englishman, “tosser” means the same thing as “wanker.” Thanks for the tip, Tony.

QUIETEST TITLE DEFENSE: The Norms, fractured into two teams but workmanlike as usual, did not remind the room that they were, indeed, the reigning champs, forcing the Trivia Master to make the announcement late in the evening. Give the Norms their roses.

PARTY FOUL: I get that it’s frustrating to have the Trivia Master repeatedly mispronounce your team name, Tabebuia, but you cross the line when you start throwing w**e glasses around. Maybe I should’ve just called the team “handroanthus,” or simply, “trumpet tree.”

UNFLAPPABLE: Average Jills and their newly-solidified lineup absorbed Tony onto their team whenever the whim struck him and didn’t feel rejected when he drifted back to The Pour Decisions Society… whenever the whim struck him.

That’s all for this week; hope to see you all on August 19.

08/05/2026

Yes, Trivia is back at Dos Mariposas tonight!

Doors open at 5 PM and that's the truth. It's not a lie. Or a hoax.

Hope to see you there!