San Francisco Regional Mensa

Weekly Events in February

Every Tuesday

8:30a  Mensa Milers. Come run for fun or train for your marathon with us. Check in with Cynthia at peninsula-sfo/a/t/sfmensa.org for each week's location. We typically run 6-10 miles at Sawyer Camp Trail, the Stanford Dish, or Crystal Springs Cross Country trail. Sorry, pets are not allowed on most trails. PC, NMPCW, NS, NXM, NC (RSE Tu)

11:30a  Santa Cruz Lunch. Meet at Guang Zho Chinese Restaurant, 3150 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz 95062. We meet at a different restaurant each month. RSVP to John Taylor, (831) 475-6366. PC, NMPCW, NS (RSE Tu)

Every Thursday

12:30p  Sunnyvale Lunch Bunch. Meet at Fresh Choice, 1105 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale 94087, in the Cala Shopping Center between Bernardo and Mary at Grape Ave. on the N side of El Camino. We will eat outside if the weather is fine, or look for us inside near the front door. New people, please call so we will expect you. Claire Taylor, (650) 494-6697. PC, NMPCW (RSE Th)

Date-specific Events in February

February 3 - Friday

6:15p  Movies That Matter: Moneyball (2011). Brad Pitt in the true story of how Billy Beane, manager of the Oakland A's, changed the game of baseball. Roger Ebert's 4-star review: "A smart, intense, and moving film that isn't so much about sports as about the war between intuition and statistics. I walked in knowing what the movie was about, but unprepared for its intelligence and depth." Join us for an evening of pizza, picture, and a chance for thoughtful discussion. Pizza 6:15p, film 7p. Movies shown on 58" plasma TV. For pizza, let us know your preference, meat or veggie. (510) 451-3009, daniel/a/t/joyfulharmony.org. Hosted in Oakland by Daniel Neumayer and Gwendolyn Rothman, Harmony Center for the Joyful Spirit. Map and directions: www.joyfulharmony.org/jh/events.htm. PC, NS, NXM (RSE 1,3 F)

6:30p  Friday at the Pub. Join Donna Jadis and Gerry Riley at Crown Pub, 331 Hartz Ave., Danville 94526, a British-style pub complete with red London-style phone booth outside. Drinks, snacks, conversation. We'd love to meet more of our Mensan neighbors. Please call or email Donna/Gerry at (925) 978-0690 to "reserve" (so we can tell the restaurant if we need a table for 6 or 20), even if you're only thinking of coming. Ask for Donna or Mensa to find us at the Pub. For Crown info and directions, see www.crownpub.com or phone (925) 855-2185. E-mail donna/a/t/mooseworks.org or gerry/a/t/mooseworks.org. (RSE 1 F)

February 4 - Saturday

11a  Inventors' Co-op. Meet other inventors helping the planet. We discuss and develop patent filings and market electronic inventions. We are electronic engineers, VCs, people seeking interesting projects and web marketing projects like www.InventionSpringBoard.com. No drop-ins please. We're free to Mensans and non-Mensans in Solano County and beyond who demonstrate strong interest in intellectual property. To apply, kindly call membership at (707) 428-5000 or see www.innovationinstituteblog.com. Meetings in Fairfield, 30 minutes from Berkeley near intersecting highways I-80 and I-680 at Invention Springboard. Free. PC, NXM, WCP (RSE 1 Sa)

6p  Start The Month Right. At Elna and Adrian Tymes' home, Mountain View 94043. Come celebrate the 31st year and longest-running monthly social event in all of American Mensa (at Elna's home every month since 1981)! Potluck dinner, unstructured socializing, games, talk. They provide the main dish, you bring salad, bread, or dessert to share and YOB. $1 donation requested. No reservations needed. Info (650) 969-6650. Guests of Mensans must be accompanied by the member. PC, SO, WBC, WCD, C/D (RSE 1 Sat)

6p  Mystery/Suspense Movie Discussion Dilettantes (MSMDD). Potluck first. The movie will be Assassin in Love (2007). It stars Damian Lewis. A hit man who wants to leave the business reinvents himself as a baker in a remote Welsh village. Please bring a dish to share and YOB. Please bring suggestions for future movies. At the home of Terry and Elizabeth Calaway, San Rafael 94901. (415) 456-9220. PC, NS, D/C(1dog)

February 5 - Sunday

4p  Albany Hill Hike. Join us for a one-hour scenic and historic hike up and around Albany Hill 94706. The trail is steep in spots, but the views are expansive. Off-leash dogs are fine. Meet under Pacific East Mall Jumbotron just behind bus stop on east side of Pierce Street between Central Avenue in El Cerrito and Washington Ave. in Albany. Free parking available in mall lot. Six blocks from El Cerrito Plaza BART station. Roberta Maguire, robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com. (510) 526-3974, cell (510) 292-6370. ACW, PC, NMPCW, NS, WCI (RSE 1 Su)

February 7 - Tuesday

12n  Math Lovers' Lunch. May Flower Chinese Restaurant & Dim Sum, 2156 University Ave., Berkeley 94704, between UC Campus and Shattuck, across the street from Ace Hardware. A table will be reserved; please try to come at 12 sharp. Kevin Langdon, (510) 524-0345, kevin.langdon/a/t/polymath-systems.com. PC, NS, NC, NMPCW, NXM, WCP (RSE 1 Tu)

6p  Tuesday Tipplers. Join us for drinks and conversation in the bar and stay for dinner. Ristorante La Toscana, 3751 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael 94903. (W. frontage road opposite Marin Civic Center. N. San Pedro Rd. exit.) Parking in the lot or on the street. Carole Taylor, caroleptaylor/a/t/sbcglobal.net or phone (415) 454-9453. (RSE 1 Tu)

  Intelligencer Deadline. Deadline for calendar events, advertising, members' free ads, and all other content. See page 2 of the printed Intelligencer for information pertaining to general Intelligencer submissions, and the first page of the calendar for information on submitting events. (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)

February 8 - Wednesday

6:17p  Berkeley-Oakland Restaurant Group (BORG). Assimilate delicious food and interesting conversation at a good restaurant somewhere in the central East Bay. Email or call ahead for the location. Reservation deadline is 6p Tuesday by email or phone so we have a table large enough for everyone. Well-behaved non-Mensans welcome. Please bring cash. Cathy Roha, (510) 845-1833, catroha/a/t/gmail.com. PC, NMPCW (RSE 2 W)

7p  Mensa Technology Junkies. An opportunity for tech industry vets to rub elbows, enjoy a beverage, and discuss current tech topics and trends, hosted by Greg Oehmen. Location rotates monthly between SF and Silicon Valley. In February we meet at ThirstyBear Brewing Company, 661 Howard St., San Francisco 94105. Email greg.oehmen/a/t/gmail.com for more details. PC, NMPCW (RSE 2 W)

February 9 - Thursday

11:45a  South Bay Lunch. Meet at Coco's Bakery Restaurant, (408) 866-5377, 150 E. Hamilton Ave., Campbell 95008 (2 blocks east of Winchester Blvd. at the corner of N. 3rd St.). Sandra Anderson, (408) 621-1273. PC, NMPCW, WCE (RSE 2,4 Th)

5:30p  Tulare-Kings Area Mensans will return to Panera Bread, 4103 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia 93277, for coffee, bagels, pastries and/or dinner, as well as stimulating conversation. Questions? Contact Steve Pastis at (559) 280-9774 or tulare-kings/a/t/sfmensa.org. PC (RSE 2 Th)

February 10 - Friday

6:30p  Mid-Month Mex (MMMex). We meet, eat, and rest our feet at Tito's, 15508 E 14th St., San Leandro 94578, 1500' NE of the exact geographic center of the Bay Area. Twixt 580 and 880, and close to Bay Fair BART, this is where Mensans meet in the middle and go "MMM!" Come for the Mensans and the margaritas (or just for the Mensans), along with a marvelous Mexican meal after 7p. Cohosted by Hank Stephenson, hank888/a/t/earthlink.net or (415) 793-0300 cell, and Peter Midnight. Come see why Tito's has been there for more than 50 years, directly across E 14th St from Bayfair Mall. We'll see you at Tito's! PC, WCE, NMPCW, NC, SO, NXM (RSE 2 F)

7p  GenX Food and Movie Night. Join us for dinner at 7p at the Chevy's at 3rd and Howard in SF, followed by a movie at a local theater. As ever, all ages are welcome. The only requirement is the manners your mother taught you, and that includes RSVPs. If you have trouble finding us, call my number; it's a cell. For more info, contact Cathy at mulfordc/a/t/alumni.princeton.edu or (415) 730-5711. PC, NMPCW (RSE 2 F)

February 11 - Saturday

1:30p  Sweethearts' Tea in San Mateo (to 5:30p). Make a date with your sweethearts (all of them)! Put on your pretty feathers. Gaze at your valentines from the far side of the room, raise your cup (or your glass of sherry), and give them a wink. Engage them in repartee worthy of a Mensan. Offer them something yummy from the buffet. Please bring a plate of sweet or savory finger-food tidbits or equivalent to share. RSVP to Francesca at fantine/a/t/sonic.net by February 9 to receive menu suggestions, address, directions, and password. PC, C, FFO, NC, NMPCW, NS, NXM, WCI

3:30p  Bridgers Reading Group. NOTE NEW TIME. This month's book is The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement by David Brooks, the New York Times columnist and bestselling author of Bobos in Paradise. This is the story of how success happens. It is told through the lives of one composite American couple, Harold and Erica - how they grow, push forward, are pulled back, fail, and succeed. Distilling a vast array of information into these two vividly-realized characters, Brooks illustrates a fundamental new understanding of human nature. A scientific revolution has occurred - we have learned more about the human brain in the last thirty years than we had in the previous three thousand. Our March 10 book will be The War of Worldviews - Science vs Spirituality by Leonard Mlodinow with Deepak Chopra. Big Ideas Reading Group is on temporary sabbatical. Bridgers are readers who want to continue in the interim reading cutting-edge science and technology themes, including artificial intelligence, robotics, genetics, nanotechnology, radical life extension, and futurists such as Ray Kurzweil, Damien Broderick, and Eric Drexler. We focus on non-fiction and popular science books. Books are nominated monthly by the group and members vote on choices. We are meeting at Le Boulanger, 20488 Stevens Creek Blvd. (SE corner with De Anza Blvd.), Cupertino 95014 in front of the Cypress Hotel. Plenty of free parking in the garage next door. Meetings go for about 2 hours from 3:30-5:30p. For questions and directions please contact Chris Boyd at snoboyd/a/t/sbcglobal.net. PC, NMPCW, NXM (RSE 2 Sa)

February 13 - Monday

11:30a  Monday Munchers. Rising up from the old Ethnic Dinner, a lunch group in Marin dedicated to trying different restaurants. We are going to Miller's East Coast Deli at 421 3rd St., San Rafael 94901, in the Montecito Shopping Center where Pasta Pomodoro used to be. Please RSVP to Elizabeth Calaway, elizterrycalaway/a/t/aol.com or (415) 456-9220 no later than Friday February 10. PC

February 14 - Tuesday

7p  Brainstormer Pub Quiz. Do you like trivia? Join our Transcendental Pi team for dinner and a chance to win some delicious microbrews. Quiz begins promptly at 7:30p. RSVP to save a seat. Pyramid Alehouse, 901 Gilman St., Berkeley 94710, (510) 527-9090. Entrance and parking on 8th St. side. Roberta Maguire, robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com, (510) 292-6370. PC, ACW, NMPCW, NS, NXM, WCP (RSE 2,4 Tu)

February 15 - Wednesday

7p   Palo Alto Indian Dining. Join us this month for "modern, casual, Indian dining" at Mantra, 632 Emerson St., 94301 (near University). Their phone number is (650) 322-3500. To reserve, contact Susan at (650) 325-8078 or Susan.Heimlich/a/t/gmail.com by February 13. Ask for the Mensa table or for Susan, and please bring cash. For last minute changes, call cell phone (650) 714-4972. PC, NMPCW

7:30p  GenX South Bay Pub Quiz. Join us at Katie Bloom's, 369 East Campbell Ave., Campbell 95008. The quiz starts at 7:30p, but come early to secure a table and have some dinner. RSVP helpful but not required. Adrian A., (408) 431-0817 or buaya123 /a/t/yahoo.com. PC, NMPCW, NXM, WCP (RSE W after 2 F)

February 16 - Thursday

12n  Chinese Lunch in San Mateo. Join us at Oceanic Chinese Restaurant, 2507 S. El Camino Real (at 25th Ave.), 94403 for good conversation and great food. This Yelp 4-star restaurant offers specialty luncheon combos such as mango chicken, along with traditional and vegetarian fare. RSVP to Cynthia at asstlocsec/a/t/sfmensa.org and please bring cash. Most selections are under $10. Guests are welcome! PC, NMPCW, NS, WCP.

February 17 - Friday

6:15p  Movies That Matter: The Debt (2010). Just because everybody knows it's true, doesn't mean it is. Helen Mirren is a former Mossad intelligence agent with a secret and a past that she must protect. Her famous exploits of 35 years ago are reemerging to threaten her life and her legacy. This film tackles the questions of sacrifices to serve one's country, and the hidden costs. With Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, and Tom Wilkinson. Join us for an evening of pizza, picture, and a chance for thoughtful discussion. Pizza 6:15p, film 7p. Movies shown on 58" plasma TV. For pizza, let us know your preference, meat or veggie. (510) 451-3009, daniel/a/t/joyfulharmony.org. Hosted in Oakland by Daniel Neumayer and Gwendolyn Rothman, Harmony Center for the Joyful Spirit. Map and directions: www.joyfulharmony.org/jh/events.htm. PC, NS, NXM (RSE 1,3 F)

7p  Movie Night in Orinda: Moneyball (2011). The cast includes Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright Penn. Directed by Bennett Miller. A drama based on a true story written by Michael Lewis. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane. He is the General Manager of the Oakland A's. Beane assembles the team on a tight budget. The one-time jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand, and recruits bargain players considered by scouts as flawed. Old methods are challenged, using statistics to outsmart richer clubs. Come about 7p to have time to socialize with Mensa friends before we start the movie at 7:30p. Please bring something to share; it's not a dinner, but salads are welcome, as are hors d'oeuvres, desserts, fruit, and light colored beverages (no chips). Orinda 94563. Please reserve your seat with Mary Bradshaw, (925) 376-0762 or MaryBradsh/a/t/aol.com. PC, NMPCW (RSE 3 F)

February 18 - Saturday

1p  Mensa Testing in Benicia. See www.sfmensa.org/info/testing.html for information.

7p  South Bay Games Night. Liven up your Presidents' Day Weekend with some games, hosted by Barbara and Tom Canup in South San Jose. Board, word, strategy, and card games (maybe some Presidential Trivia) - play our games or bring ones of your own. Please bring a snack to share and your choice of beverage. New players are enthusiastically welcome. For information, contact Barbara at (408) 225-6068 or treasurer/a/t/sfmensa.org. PC, BYOB, C, NMPCW, SO, WCP (RSE 3 Sa)

February 19 - Sunday

10:30a  Berkeley Sunday Brunch is on hiatus for February. (RSE 3 Su)

11:30a  Peninsula Sunday Brunch. Greet old friends and meet new ones when you join us at Fresh Choice for brunch. 1952 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo 94403. Easy access just south of Highway 92. Questions? Call Adele at (650) 339-1431. PC, NMPCW, WCE (RSE 3 Su)

12n  Harmony Health Circle: Enhancing Memory, part I. Do you sometimes forget important meetings? People's names? Trips you have taken? Details of pleasurable events? Would you like to memorize poems and songs for performance? Learn how to use imagery to enhance memory, using calendars and planners to serve as memory triggers, herbs and supplements to aid memory, and strategies for improving memory. The Health Circle meets at the Oakland Veterans Hall, 200 Grand Ave. at Harrison St., 94610. Hosted by Gwendolyn Rothman, M.D. (510) 451-3009, Gwendolyn/a/t/pacbell.net. Harmony Center for the Joyful Spirit. Map and directions: www.joyfulharmony.org/jh/events.htm. PC, NS, NXM

February 21 - Tuesday

7:30p  Intelligencer Peel and Stick. Come help mail the Intelligencer. I'll provide snacks and drinks. Held at the home of Gary Koerzendorfer, 1541 Market St., Santa Clara 95050. (408) 246-7456. PC, NS, D/C (cat) (RSE Tu after 3 Sa)

February 23 - Thursday

11:45a  South Bay Lunch. See February 9. (RSE 2,4 Th)

February 25 - Saturday

7p  East Bay Games Night. Join us for fun and games in the East Bay! We're playing word games, card games, board games, all kinds of fast-action social games (not long strategy games). Choose from my shelves of games or bring your own fast-action social games. Please also bring a snack to share. The fun is in Oakland, 94611 near Piedmont Ave. and Pleasant Valley Ave. For more information or directions, contact Alan at alan_winson/a/t/yahoo.com or (510) 653-2685. PC, NMPCW, NS, WCP

February 26 - Sunday

12n  Harmony Health Circle: Enhancing Memory, part II. Understand the differences in short-term memory, skill memory, and long-term memory and the strategies for increasing proficiency in each. How health impacts memory and learning, particularly REM sleep. How to improve memory through improving REM sleep. Explore activities which are fun and also improve memory. The Health Circle meets at the Oakland Veterans Hall, 200 Grand Ave. at Harrison St., 94610. Hosted by Gwendolyn Rothman, M.D. (510) 451-3009, Gwendolyn/a/t/pacbell.net. Harmony Center for the Joyful Spirit. Map and directions: www.joyfulharmony.org/jh/events.htm. PC, NS, NXM

February 28 - Tuesday

11:30a  Lunch in Concord. At Buffet City, 1400 Willow Pass Rd. 94520. Located two blocks east of I-680 at the Willow Pass Rd. exit. Come and enjoy a delicious, healthy meal with good friends. It is an all-you-can-eat restaurant, with lots of chicken, beef, seafood, salads, and desserts. Look for us at one of the large tables downstairs to the right of the serving area. Questions? Mary Bradshaw (925) 376-0762.

7p  Brainstormer Pub Quiz. See February 14. (RSE 2,4 Tu)

FUTURE FLASHES

March 2 - Friday

6:15p  Movies That Matter. See February 3. (RSE 1,3 F)

6:30p  Friday at the Pub. See February 3. (RSE 1 F)

March 3 - Saturday

11a  Inventors' Co-op. See February 4. (RSE 1 Sa)

6p  Start The Month Right. See February 4. (RSE 1 Sa)

6p  Mystery/Suspense Movie Discussion Dilettantes (MSMDD). Potluck first. The movie will be Impact (1949). It stars Brian Donlevy and Ella Raines. A successful businessman gets tricked into giving a ride to his wife's "cousin" who turns out to be her lover. The lover tries to kill him but ends up dead after he tries to crash the car. The man loses his memory and starts over in a small town in Idaho called Larkspur. The movie was actually filmed in Marin's own Larkspur. Very Film Noir. Please bring a dish to share and YOB. Please bring suggestions for future movies. At the home of Terry and Elizabeth Calaway, San Rafael 94901. (415) 456-9220. PC, NS, D/C (1dog)

March 6 - Tuesday

  Intelligencer Deadline. See February 7. (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)

March 8 -- Thursday

11:45a  South Bay Lunch. See February 9. (RSE 2,4 Th)

5:30p  Tulare Kings Area Mensans. See February 9. (RSE 2 Th)

March 9 - Friday

6:30p  Mid-Month Mex (MMMex). See February 10. (RSE 2 F)

7p  GenX Food and Movie Night. See February 10. (RSE 2 F)

March 10 - Saturday

3:30p  Bridgers Reading Group. See February 11. (RSE 2 Sa)

March 31 - Saturday

12:00p  Robot Games at SJSU