New York City's best trivia nights

By Time Out editors Wed May 30 2012

  • Photograph: Melissa Sinclair

    Dave Oliver, founder-host of Trivia A.D.
    Next event: Summer Cult Movie Trivia Festival
    Why you should go: To show off your stash of cinematic knowledge
    Sample question: Prince Humperdinck is the heir to the throne of what country?

    Bryant Park, Southwest Porch, corner of W 40th St at Sixth Ave (triviaad.com). June 12, 26, July 10, 24, 6:30pm; free.

  • Photograph: Melissa Sinclair

    Answer: Florin

  • Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    David Jacobson, founder of TrivWorks
    Next event: Golden Girls vs. Designing Women: A Night of Trivia Celebrating the Queens of ’80s TV  
    Why you should go: Choose sides in this tilt between Betty White fans and Delta Burke acolytes.
    Sample question: In the Golden Girls series finale, Dorothy moves away to marry Blanche’s uncle Lucas, played by which famous actor?

    The Bell House, 149 7th St between Second and Third Aves, Gowanus, Brooklyn (trivworks.com). June 7 at 8pm; $12.

  • Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

    Answer: Leslie Nielsen

  • Jon Stan, host of Pacific Standard Pub Quiz
    Next event: Babeland Trivia
    Why you should go: For bragging rights on your bedroom expertise
    Sample question: What is the proper name for all of the visible external parts of a women’s genital anatomy?

    Pacific Standard, 82 Fourth Ave between Bergen St and St. Marks Pl, Park Slope, Brooklyn (pacificstandardbrooklyn.com). Babeland Trivia: July 1. Pacific Standard Pub Quiz, Sun 8pm. Free.

  • Answer: Vulva

  • Photograph: Anna Simonak

    Matt Wasowski, founder-host of Nerd Nite
    Next event: Nerd Nite Quizo Trivia Night
    Why you should go: Test your geeky superiority against Mensa members.
    Sample question: What percentage of women in their thirties are up for sex on the first date if there’s chemistry?

    Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main St at Water St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (nyc.nerdnite.com). Sept 7 at 7pm; $10.

  • Photograph: Anna Simonak

    Answer: 28 percent

  • Photograph: Melissa Sinclair

    Noah Tarnow, founder-host of the Big Quiz Thing (and TONY copy chief)
    Next event: The Big Quiz Thing’s Tenth Anniversary Quiz Show Marathon Spectacular
    Why you should go: See Tarnow and competitors endure a 10-hour grilling session that culminates in a $1,000 payout.
    Sample question: What name is shared by the most populous city in the second-most-populous primarily English-speaking nation, and the tenth-most-populous city in the third-most-populous primarily English-speaking nation?

    92YTribeca    , 200 Hudson St at Canal St (bigquizthing.com). Sun 3 noon–10pm; $22, advance $20.

  • Photograph: Melissa Sinclair

    Answer: London

  • Photograph: Shannon Echlin

    Andrew Ennals, host of Woo Hoo! Classic Simpsons Trivia
    Next event: Classic Simpsons Trivia
    Why you should go: The hours you spent memorizing Homer’s antics across 23 seasons will count for something.
    Sample question: What is the name of Lionel Hutz’s law practice?

    Berry Park, 4 Berry St at North 14th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (woohootrivia.blogspot.com). June 7 at 8pm; $5, teams up to 6 $10.

  • Photograph: Shannon Echlin

    Answer: I Can’t Believe It’s a Law Firm

Photograph: Melissa Sinclair

Dave Oliver, founder-host of Trivia A.D.
Next event: Summer Cult Movie Trivia Festival
Why you should go: To show off your stash of cinematic knowledge
Sample question: Prince Humperdinck is the heir to the throne of what country?

Bryant Park, Southwest Porch, corner of W 40th St at Sixth Ave (triviaad.com). June 12, 26, July 10, 24, 6:30pm; free.

Related:


Free things to do in NYC


Eclectic walking tours


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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 1/5 (2 ratings)

  • Did Tony Highwater write up all these comments? Jeez

    AL Mon Jun 11 2012
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  • Great to see Classic Simpson Trivia on this list. A ton of fun even if you're not that well versed in the Simpsons.

    Sammy G Thu May 31 2012
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  • Not to pile on, but it does seem strange that the trivia night with Tony Hightower that I've been going to for 5 years, with a city wide (and looking at the comments, international) following wouldn't even rate a mention here. So, what's up with that TimeOut people?

    whimsey Thu May 31 2012
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  • A TRIVIA GAME THAT PAYS YOU......... Have your Game ready . Click Here to Register: https://www.triviarush.com/register/3190/TR5

    bentleyventures Thu May 31 2012
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  • I'm writing from Belgium. Strange to see that the only internationally known NYC quizmaster Tony Hightower is missing. Btw, I'm sure he could come up with a better sample question than those guys (well, not really a challenge there, though I like the one on the Simpsons. The one on the English language cities is just wrong because Nigeria was not included and the one on women in their thirties even has nothing to do with a quiz question...)

    Steven De Ceuster Wed May 30 2012
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  • The only trivia night I've ever felt like I needed to go to more than once is at Dempsey's, hosted by Tony Hightower -- he really knows what he's doing. Whenever I stay away for too long I start to get the shakes. (His old Tuesday night gig at Slainte was even better, if you can believe that!) For the longest-running trivia night in the city (featured on Law and Order, even!) not to make this list...unforgivable.

    Bryan Wed May 30 2012
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  • No list of NYC's trivia nights is complete without the Drunken Smartass Olympics at Dempsey's, a New York City institution!

    julie Wed May 30 2012
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  • Leaving out Tony, TONY, and his nights of trivia @ Dempsey',s makes me seriously question your magazine's recommendations for any future extra-curriculars. Subscription cancelled.

    Juliet Parrish Wed May 30 2012
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  • Echoing all previous posters (and wondering who actually researched this article, how, and what they think makes a good trivia night). Where's Tony, TONY?

    ckstern Wed May 30 2012
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  • My two favourite places in town are the aforementioned Dempsey's (with Tony Hightower) and Professor Thom's (with John Quinn). The Simpsons one sounds like it might be fun, but the sample questions from the others here seem kind of weak.

    Raj Wed May 30 2012
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