Brainteasers, creative costumes, colorful table arrangements and delicious food treats produced a festive, fun-filled afternoon and evening at this year’s Trivia Quizzes.
Thirty-five, mostly eight-member teams, competed in the Fifth Annual Trivia Quizzes event held at the Hotel Real de Chapala on February 4. Sponsored by Niños Incapacitados, all of the event’s proceeds will be used to help needy Lakeside children with their medical expenses.
In the afternoon session the “Three Roads” team championed over 11 teams by correctly answering 65 of the 80 multiple choice questions which were projected on eight large screens strategically placed throughout the banquet hall. “The Gee Whiz Kids” and the “Commonwealth Tribe” tied for second place with 64 correct answers.
In the sold-out evening session “La Christina Gang” prevailed over 22 teams, scoring an impressive 67 correct answers. In the runner-up position was “Smarty Pants,” last year’s champion, with 62 right answers, while in third place was “The Card Sharks” with 60 correct answers.The trivia questions covered an array of topics from art, history, science, sports, and current events. Ranging in difficulty from easy (e.g., What Italian fascist did not, in fact, make the trains run on time? Answer: Mussolini) to the difficult (e.g., What toy has been used by biochemists to help visualize complex proteins and viruses? Answer: Barrel of Monkeys), the questions often generated boisterous debate among members of the 35 teams.
In addition to their success with the brain-teasers, teams were recognized in a variety of categories that rewarded their creativity, originality and wit in their choices of team names, attire, table decorations and snack foods. For example, winning the Best Theme and Costume Award in the evening session was “Vicars and Tarts” who’s various members dressed as a pope, a cardinal, a monk and a nun. “The Mardi Gras Revelers,” dressed in bright yellow t-shirts adorned with necklaces of colorful beads, received The Team with the Most Festive Spirit award.
In the afternoon session, the “Crazy 8’s” with playing-card designed headgear and coordinated table decorations took the Best Theme and Costume honor. As the smallest team with only five members, “The Wildcards” took home a special recognition award as The Team Playing with Less Than a Full Deck.
Photographs of the three winning teams in the afternoon and evening sessions can be found at the Niños Incapitados website (www.programaninos.org), along with details about Niños’ major fund raising event of the year – its dinner/dance with the theme of “Brit Bands Rock America,” which will be held on Thursday, March 13 at the Hotel Real de Chapala.