Calendar of Events
TO LIST YOUR EVENT – Length limit: 120 words. Submit items to the Calendar Editor at . Items must be received by the deadline listed in the calendar to guarantee inclusion. Items must include host’s name, date and time, location, and applicable codes (above), and should also include phone (including area code) or e-mail address. Notices are published on a space-available basis subject to the discretion of the Calendar Editor. The policy for inclusion in the calendar is based on the SFRM bylaws.
CODES – ACW all children welcome; BYOB bring your own beverage; CO clothing optional; C/D cat/dog at residence; FE fictitious event; FFE fragrance-free event; FFO finger food only; LCR light carpet rules (no red wine or other staining substances; can also mean no shoes); MO members only; NC no children; NPC, PC no public calendar, public calendar; NMPCW new members, prospects, and candidates welcome; NS, S, S/NS, SO no smoking, smoking, provisions for both, smoking outside; NXM not exclusively Mensa event; RSE regularly scheduled event; WBC well behaved children; WCD, WCE, WCI, WCP wheelchairs difficult, easy, impossible, possible; RSEs are reprinted verbatim unless an update is received by the deadline for the issue in which a change is requested.
WEB CALENDAR POLICY – Our policy is not to list events on the Web calendar unless requested to do so by inclusion of the “PC” (“public calendar”) code. If the PC code is not included, your event will default to NPC (no public calendar) and will not be included in the Web calendar. Home addresses (and directions to same) are not listed on the Web, but city and contact information such as telephone and e-mail are unless requested otherwise.
MEETUP – SFRM maintains a MeetUp group for events announced on short notice. See meetup.com/SFMensa
CHILDREN UNDER 18 – Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
WEEKLY EVENT
Every Sunday
12n SPR (Sex, Politics, and Religion) Revival. Sex, Politics, and Religion – everything you are not supposed to discuss at the dinner table. This is for those people who would like to participate in a group that fosters considered, civil discussions, that is open regarding subject matter; i.e., this is not for those who want to “shock somebody” or “troll”. Optionally brown-bag for those who would like to pay homage to SPR’s history as a San Francisco dinner/restaurant discussion group. This is a Zoom event: Meeting ID: 996 5500 8587, Passcode: 279931. Hosted by James Monschke. PC (RSE Su)
End of April
April 28 – Sunday
7p Channing Club. See May 26. (RSE 4 Su)
30 – Tuesday
5:45p Dinner, Drinks, Imperfect Communication, Growth and Form. Join us for drinks, dinner, and another great science-based Wonderfest presentation at the HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. We meet for drinks and dinner at 5:45p. At 6:45p we’ll move to the session room for two talks. First up, UC Berkeley psychologist Sophia Li on “Imperfect Communication.” As a communicator, one wants to transfer information from one’s mind into the minds of listeners. Research shows that both listeners and uninvolved observers have overly positive perceptions of any communicator. They believe that the communicator knows more than s/he actually does and has articulated thoughts better than s/he actually has. Next, Stanford physicist Josh Tong on “Growth and Form.” Living creatures grow and transform their shape, to the awe of many scientists. What does it mean to grow? How do we compare an organism at different stages of its growth? Mathematics can help us find the way to understand this fundamental transformation. Complete details of this free event are at wonderfest.org/category/event/coming-events/. More information on HopMonk’s menu, etc. is here: www.hopmonk.com/novato. RSVP on the SFRM Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Valerie Taylor (northbay/a/t/sfmensa.org). PC, NMPCW, WCE, NS, NC, NXM
May 1-7
May 1 – Wednesday
6p Dominion Discussion. We will be reading Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 5, Charity AD 362: Pessinus. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE W)
4 – Saturday
6p Start the Month Right is tentatively continuing at a new location at Karl Heuer’s home in San Jose. Come celebrate the 44th year and longest running monthly social event in all of American Mensa (originally at Elna Tymes’ home from 1981 to 2024!). We’ll have a potluck dinner, unstructured socialization, games, and talk. Bring some food to share, or volunteer to assist in some other way (extra chairs, setup help, staying to help wash dishes, or vacuum carpet). $1 donation requested. No reservations needed. For more info call (650) 648-3594. Masks optional. PC, NMPCW, WBC, NS, WCD, LCR (RSE 1 Sa)
5 – Sunday
4p Albany Hill Hike. Join us for a one-hour scenic and historic hike up and around Albany Hill. The trail is steep in spots, but the views are expansive. Special bonus: We have scheduled the Sather Tower Solar Beacon to shine directly upon us as we arrive at the top of the hill. Meet under Pacific East Mall Jumbotron just behind the bus stop on the east side of Pierce St. between Central Ave. in El Cerrito and Washington Ave. in Albany. Free parking is available in the mall lot, which is seven tenths of a mile from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station. Please contact Roberta Maguire to make sure she is in town at robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com or (510) 292-6370. PC, ACW, NMPCW, NS, WCI, NXM (RSE 1 Su)
6 – Monday
6p Online Board Games. Come explore some board games that can be played on the Web. If you’re new, please create a (free) account at boardgamearena.com and follow the setup instructions. We’ll meet online with Zoom to establish voice contact, and then we’ll decide on a game to try out. RSVP on the Meetup calendar if possible, otherwise contact Karl Heuer at puzzles/a/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594. PC, NMPCW, ACW
7 – Tuesday
5p Tuesday Tipplers will meet at San Rafael Joe’s, 931 4th St., San Rafael 94901, at 5p for drinks in the bar and then move on to dinner in the dining room after an hour. Park on the street or in the city garage behind the restaurant. If you have questions e-mail Ed Sabrack at edsabrack/a/t/comcast.net or call (415) 472-3725. PC (RSE 1 Tu)
Intelligencer Deadline. Deadline for calendar events, advertising, members’ free ads, and all other content. See above for information on submitting events. PC (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)
May 8-14
8 – Wednesday
6p Dominion Discussion. We will be reading Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 6, Heaven 492: Mount Gargano. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE W)
9 – Thursday
11:45a South Bay Lunch. Meet at Scrambl’z, 5055 Almaden Expressway, San Jose 95118 (near Hwys. 85 & 87), (408) 269-2900. Voted one of the best breakfast restaurants around. Extensive menu online at scramblz-sj.com/. Sandra Anderson, (408) 997-3187. Vaccinated only, please. PC, NMPCW, WCE (RSE 2,4 Th)
11 – Saturday
4p Big Ideas Reading Group: How The World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We Are Going by Vaclav Smil. From energy and food production, through our material world and its globalization, to risks, our environment, and its future, How the World Really Works offers a much-needed reality check – because before we can tackle problems effectively, we must understand the facts. “A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors… is a compelling and highly readable book that leaves readers with the fundamental grounding needed to help solve the world’s toughest challenges.” –Bill Gates. For May 11 on Zoom: Size: How It Explains the World, by Vaclav Smil. We have a list of books read at www.bigideasreadinggroup.com/BIRG2.html. For questions and invitations to our Zoom meetings please contact Chris Boyd at snoboyd/a/t/sbcglobal.net. PC, NMPCW, NXM (RSE 2 Sa)
13 – Monday
4p San Francisco Pub Get-Together. Stop by after work or, if you don’t work downtown, just come anyway. All Mensans and their guests are welcome, provided that they are at least 21, at Patriot House in 2 Embarcadero Center (Sacramento St. between Front St. and Davis St.), SF 94111. Take the inside escalator to the 2nd floor, turn right twice, and then follow the sign to the stairs to the 3rd floor. The restaurant’s entrance is near the top of those stairs on the 3rd floor. Look for the Mensa logo on our table or ask one of the waitresses to find us. Starting at 4p, but arrive when you can and leave when you’re ready. We will be there for several hours. They have a Happy Hour from 4p until 6p, with the kitchen closing at 9p and the bar closing at 10p. RSVP preferred on Mensa’s Meetup site at www.meetup.com/SFMensa, less preferred by e-mail to Barry Krasner at bwkbwk/a/t/pacbell.net. If you find that you can’t come after RSVPing “Yes”, please change your RSVP to “No” before the event takes place. PC, NC, NS, NMPCW (RSE 2 M)
14 – Tuesday
5:30p Apt To In Aptos Mensa Bar Group is held at Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen at Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos 95003, www.seacliffinn.com/santa-cruz-restaurants on the second Tuesday of the month, running until about 7:30p. Come join Central Coast Mensans: Forget last month’s feces and anticipate this month’s blindsides. T(R)oast past friends, find new ones, and introduce current ones, all while contemplating how it all defaults to QM scaled. Courtesy e-mail to host Stew Gibson at LooseId/a/t/ix.netcom.com with subject “Sevy” for restaurant head count is appreciated, but not required. Tip 20% on the bill, with separate checks. PC, NMPCW (RSE 2 Tu)
6:45p Puzzled Pint. Who likes PUZZLES? The kind where part of the game is to figure out what you need to be doing in the first place? Want to do it as part of a team, so you can bounce ideas off each other, and let someone else do the parts that you find uninteresting? This is a monthly event held in the bay area (and simultaneously elsewhere in the world), at a convenient pub where we might order food and drink before or during the game. RSVP to Karl Heuer at puzzles/a/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594 (voice or text) to reserve your spot and learn the address. If Game Control has arranged a pub, it’s probably in Sunnyvale or Mountain View, near Central Expressway. Otherwise, the event host will select a non-pub location in Milpitas or the Berryessa area of San Jose. PC, NMPCW, NS, NXM (RSE 2 Tu)
May 15-21
15 – Wednesday
5:30p Re-BORG. Berkeley-Oakland Restaurant Group is reborn and revived in honor of the incomparable Cathy Roha, who initiated this event and hosted it for many years. Assimilate delicious food and interesting conversation at a good restaurant somewhere in the central East Bay. Bring cash, your vaccination card, and a mask. Limited seating. E-mail or call ahead for location up to a week ahead. RSVP by 3p on Tuesday, May 14. Roberta Maguire, robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com, (510) 292-6370. PC, NS, NMPCW, ACW (RSE 3 W)
6p Dominion Discussion. We will be reading Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 7, Exodus 632: Carthage. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE W)
16 – Thursday
12n Thursday Munchers, a lunch group in Marin dedicated to trying different restaurants. This month we will visit Amelie Café and Wine Bar, 71 Broadway Blvd., Fairfax 94930, (628) 253-5161, www.ameliefairfax.com. RSVP by Sunday, May 12, to Elizabeth Calaway at (415) 456-9220 or elizterrycalaway/a/t/aol.com. PC (RSE Th after 2 Tu)
18 – Saturday
7p Teton Tea. Teton Tea Parties are folk-singing parties going back to the 1950s. We welcome both traditional folk singing and singer/songwriters. Our 3rd Saturday meetings are currently on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/6912937135?pwd=WvlpMEs1SCs0c1FoZk5seUhoREVaZz09. Meeting ID: 691 293 7135. Password: berkeley. Hosted by Kevin Langdon, kevinlangdon86/a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 3 Sa)
19 – Sunday
2:30p Speaker Series: Many Modes of Mind with David Brin, Sheila Finch, Ejner Fulsang, and Pat Murphy. On Zoom. Science fiction often describes our meetings with other intelligent species. Many times a universal communicator or an assumption of a common language bypasses the need to explain communication. In the real world we will have to establish a way to communicate even if we have no commonality to serve as a basis. What senses could be used to communicate, one of the five we have or something we can’t even imagine? Could there be no form of communication because there is no need? Our panel consists of four current science fiction writers who will discuss multiple possibilities in the realm of communication with beings sharing our world and those that we may meet in our future explorations. Please register early for this meeting at livepresentation.link/SF-Panel. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from Zoom containing the link that you will need to join. Hosted by Judy Unger. PC
21 – Tuesday
7:30p Intelligencer Peel and Stick (NOTE ONE-TIME CHANGE OF LOCATION). Come help mail, and get one of the limited-edition June Intelligencers. I’ll provide snacks and drinks. Held at the home of Gary Koerzendorfer, 1541 Market St., Santa Clara 95050, (408) 858-5637. Vaccinated people only. PC, NS, C (RSE Tu after 3 Sa)
April 22-31
22 – Wednesday
5:30p Trivia Night at the Patriot House gastropub in San Francisco. The contest is free, starts at 6p, and lasts about 2 hours, but please arrive about 5:30p, so that we don’t lose the table that I’ve reserved. If you’re a member of our SFRM Meetup group, RSVP on Meetup if you’re planning on coming, so that I can be sure to reserve a large enough table. If you’re not a member of our SFRM Meetup group, RSVP by e-mailing host Barry Krasner at bwkbwk/a/t/pacbell.net. Guests are allowed, so be sure to include the number of guests that you’re bringing when you RSVP. If you RSVP “Yes” and then find that you can’t attend after all, it’s very important that you change your RSVP to “No” as far in advance as possible. The Patriot House is located in Embarcadero Center #2, on the 3rd (top) floor. Enter from Sacramento St. between Front St. and Davis St. Take the inside escalator to the 2nd floor, then turn right twice and follow the sign to the stairs to the 3rd floor. The restaurant is near the top of those stairs. You’ll recognize our group by the Mensa logo that I will have on top of our table. If in doubt, ask the wait staff for “The Mensa Group”. PC, NC, NS, NMPCW (RSE W after 3 M)
6p Dominion Discussion. We will be reading Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 8, Conversion 754: Frisia. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE W)
23 – Thursday
11:45a South Bay Lunch. See May 9. (RSE 2,4 Th)
24 – Friday
6:30p Virtual Happy Hour. Mix up your favorite beverage. Bring out some happy-hour munchies and join us for a virtual relaxing time. RSVP on Meetup for the Zoom Link. Hosted by Judy Unger, junger2040/a/t/gmail.com. PC (RSE 4 F)
25 – Saturday
6p Online Board Games. See May 6.
26 – Sunday
7p Channing Club is a wide-ranging discussion group which has been meeting, in one form or another, for over half a century. There are no assigned topics; we discuss whatever is on participants’ minds. Our meetings are currently on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/6912937135?pwd=WvlpMEs1SCs0c1FoZk5seUhoREVaZz09. Meeting ID: 691 293 7135. Password: berkeley. Hosted by Kevin Langdon, kevinlangdon86/a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 4 Su)
28 – Tuesday
5:45p Dinner, Drinks, Life’s Code, and Gut Feeling. Join us for drinks, dinner, and another great science-based Wonderfest presentation at the HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. We meet for drinks and dinner at 5:45p. At 6:45p we’ll move to the session room for two talks. First up, UC Berkeley plant biologist Enrico Calvanese on “The Interpreters of Life’s Code.” Proteins are molecular machines that enable all cellular life. How proteins are produced infuses our understanding of microbiology. New research proposes a novel understanding of how proteins come to exist, promising to open an entirely new dimension of cellular life. Next, Stanford biophysicist Rachel Porter on “The Bacterial Space Age.” Like human communities, bacterial communities are shaped by the available food, water, and space. Researchers largely understand the importance of food and water for bacteria in the human digestive system. However, only now are we discovering the importance of spatial organization for bacteria within our gut microbiome. Complete details of this free event are at wonderfest.org/category/event/coming-events/. More information on HopMonk’s menu, etc. is here: www.hopmonk.com/novato. RSVP on the SFRM Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Valerie Taylor (northbay/a/t/sfmensa.org). PC, NMPCW, WCE, NS, NC, NXM
29 – Wednesday
6p Dominion Discussion. We will be reading Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 9, Revolution 1076: Cambrai. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE W)
31 – Friday
7p Palo Alto Dining group goes to a local trattoria for Italian cuisine. We’ll be at Caffe Riace at 200 Sheridan Ave., Palo Alto 94306. In the past they had only outside dining with heat lamps. They have added some indoor rooms which help if weather is inclement. Their phone is (650) 328-0407. A tad pricey, but with the good food and good conversation, we’ll barely notice. Join us! To reserve a seat, call/text Susan at (650) 714-4972 or e-mail Susan.Heimlich/a/t/gmail.com by May 29. Ask for Susan, and please bring cash. PC, NMPCW
FUTURE FLASHES
June 1 – Saturday
6p Start the Month Right. See May 4. (RSE 1st Sat)
2 – Sunday
4p Albany Hill Hike. See May 5. (RSE 1 Su)
4 – Tuesday
5p Tuesday Tipplers. See May 7. (RSE 1 Tu)
Intelligencer Deadline. See May 7. (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)
5 – Wednesday
6p Dominion Discussion. We will be reading Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 10, Persecution 1229: Marburg. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE W)
8 – Saturday
4p Big Ideas Reading Group. See May 11. (RSE 2 Sa)