1/Satur­day

  • ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Ad­ver­tising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the April ChiMe. Interested in organizing and hosting a virtual or in-person event? Find out how by checking out our guide to hosting events.

  • ChiMe Editorial Deadline. Last day for editorial submissions to the April ChiMe. Please submit original ar­ticles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensa members would love to hear from you.

3/Mon­day

  • pulaski

    Casimir (Kazimierz) Pulaski Day
    Observed in Chicago & Cook County
    City offices closed.

4/Tues­day

  • mardi

    Mardi Gras

6/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. Join a video chat with our kin from across the big pond in London at 2 PM BST. RSVP (via Meetup preferred) to local host Carey S. to receive the Zoom sign-in information. The London host is Ian David Moseley.
    Virtual Event!!

7/Fri­day

  • Cincinnati Mensa RG held today through Sunday, March 9th at the Doubletree Suites Cincinnati - Blue Ash lo­cated at 6300 E. Kemper Rd. in Cincinnati, OH. Join the Cincinnati Mensans for their 3 day RG. For more information, see their Mad MAC’s Flipped RG website, which will have their most up-to-date information.

8/Satur­day

  • SW Burbs Oasis 5 PM. Join us for refreshment in this parched social desert of the SW burbs. This will be a kick-off meeting to discuss future Mensa events in the southwest burbs. Stimulating fun is is very likely! Bring your ideas to share, and guests if you like. ‘Friendsans’ are welcome. The venue is Craft’d at 16031 S. Lincoln Hwy. in Plainfield. They are all about having a good time. The restaurant has interesting spins on American classics and includes a full bar with 30 beers on tap. For more details, see the article in the March ChiMe. RSVP by Tuesday, March 4th to Marco, the SW Suburban Area Coödinator . Do not RSVP on Meetup.

9/Sun­day

  • clock

    Daylight Saving Time starts. Remember to change your clocks by adding an hour so you’re not late.

  • Ethnic Dining: Mexican 1 PM. Mexican family-style meal with uncommon dishes at Sayulita Taco, Mariscos and Tequila Bar, lo­cated at 1655 W. Algonquin in Rolling Meadows. This will be a GOBS-subsidized prix fixe meal for $22, payable upon arrival; depending on the number of attendees, amount may be less; limited to 16 people. Each Chicago Mensa member may bring one guest. Additional guests pay $42. More details on Meetup. RSVP by 1 PM, Saturday, March 8th via Meetup (strongly preferred) or by emailing Carey S. directly and, for each person in your party, include 1) their full name and 2) their CAM membership status. If you need to cancel, let Carey know ASAP since your fellow CAM Ms may be waitlisted and would love your spot. Please try to avoid cancelling after the RSVP deadline, but if you must, contact Carey by mobile phone, which you may also use if you are lost or will be late. If possible, text first, then call, as he may not hear it ring. For Ethnic Dining notifications, updates, and all the details, join the Mensa Connect Ethnic Dining Group, but do not use it to RSVP. This event usually recurs on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

11/Tues­day

  • Break­fast/Lunch in Arlington Heights 10:30 AM. The Southern Kitchen is located in a strip mall at 818 E. Kensington Rd. in Arlington Heights, a little west of the northwest corner of Kensington and Dryden. Separate checks are available. A 2% surcharge is added to the prices on the menu, but is waived for cash payment. Check your bill and if a gratuity is not included, please leave a tip. If it is, you may include an additional tip for good service. Use Meetup, but if not on Meetup, RSVP to Ken L. via email. If you RSVP by email, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

12/Wednes­day

Northern Exposure

  • Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner 6:45 PM. Celebrating the Ides of March… under ten feet of snow? Then you should have dinner with us. Join us at The Green Basil, in Vernon Hills for some authentic Thai food in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. The address is 701 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Vernon Hills (in the shopping center with the Best Buy, SE corner of Route 60 & Milwaukee). Please RSVP on Meetup or via Janice’s email, jesser@chicago.us.mensa.org , so she can reserve a big enough table.

13/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, March 6th.
    Virtual Event!!
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

14/Fri­day

20250314: ROCKFORD - NORMALLY ON A SATURDAY WHEN NOT ON FRIDAY!!

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion Cancelled. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, April 7th for next month’s discussion. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can Contact Joe D. , the SIG coordinator for general information about this SIG. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Event Cancelled This Month!!

  • pi day

    π Day

15/Satur­day

  • Conserv­atives Lunch 11:30 AM. Join other members of the Mensan cell of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy for lunch and civilized un-PC conversation. No forbidden questions, no unchallengeable answers. This lunch happens on the third Saturday every month. The venue will be The Patio, 2780 S. Highland Ave. in Lombard (NW corner of Butterfield and Highland, but you can enter only from Highland). RSVP by emailing Jim Z. the event coor­di­na­tor. You may also RSVP via Meetup. Open to non-Mensans; bring a curious friend.

  • Beverly Area Saturday Salon (B.A.S.S.) ~Noon. Spontaneous conversation in far SSW Chicago, approx­i­mate vicinity of 107th St. & Western Ave. Please contact Rick E. the Beverly Area Coordinator, for this month’s lo­ca­tion and the exact time as well as more information; if emailing, put “BASS” in the subject line. This event usually recurs midday on the 3rd Saturday of the month.

  • SEMM: Because Science IS Funny!: TV’s The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, AND YOU! 6 PM CDT. Even in re-runs, something astonishing keeps cropping up on TV’s The Big Bang Theory and its highly successful spinoff, Young Sheldon—namely, actual science! What’s so hilarious about Schrodinger’s cat, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and glow-in-the-dark jellyfish? Though both shows are comedies, they’re peppered with real-life scientific references: Characters chat about cutting-edge and classical experiments; historic formulae adorn living room whiteboards; and famous techno luminaries and science educators guest-star as themselves. The Big Bang Theory, which is still watched regularly on at least ten different local stations, cable channels, and streaming services around the world, features an assortment of very smart characters wisecracking about these and other real-life high-IQ concepts—and now you’ll be able to, too.

    Join us to learn why CBS became PBS… sort of. This month’s guest speaker, science humorist Dave Zobel argues that the two hugely popular “funny nerd” shows still fill a vital (if nontraditional) role in popularizing science: Their subtle celebration of scientific inquiry draws viewers into conversation about science, technology, math—even philosophy. And that’s a gift to every science geek … or science denier. Part one-man colloquium, part comedy routine, Mr. Zobel's talk just might show you enough of what’s fun and funny about science to earn you a spot on Sheldon’s couch!

    Dave Zobel has appeared on the TV channels G4 and Discovery and has penned segments for the radio shows StarDate, Day to Day, Says You!, and The Loh Down on Science. For the LA nonprofit “T4T” (Trash for Teaching), he designs STEM teaching kits out of rescued and repurposed manufacturers’ discards.

    See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website. All attendees must preregister by visiting the SEMM Monthly Gathering page and choosing "March 15, 2025 5:30 pm" from the dropdown. Due to rising Zoom costs, SEMM asks for a $5 donation, if you can afford it.
    Virtual Event!!

16/Sun­day

Brett McCutcheon-Vigil

  • SFRM: Beyond the Microscope: Identifying Microorganisms Then and Now 4:30 PM. Identifying microbes, especially human pathogens, is a primary function of the science of microbiology. In this session, you will learn about morphological and metabolic methods of identification, as well as newly discovered genetic-based methods, that enable us to effectively identify microorganisms.

    Brett McCutcheon-Vigil joined Mensa in high school, then went on to study microbiology at Ohio State University. He worked in the healthcare documentation industry for 20+ years as a trainer, education director, and project manager. He also served on the board of the industry’s professional association. He lives in North Dakota with his husband, Robert, and two cats. And this year, at 57 years old, he is returning to finish his bachelor’s degree in microbiology at The Ohio State University.

    For more details, visit the SFRM Zoom RSVPs FB Group or the SFRM List of Presentations. To register, visit San Francisco Regional Mensa (SFRM)’s registration signup for this event.
    Virtual Event!!

17/Mon­day

  • Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: The Ancient History of Computers and Code? 1 PM. Irish Mensa meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM Irish Time; a discussion then follows the lecture.

    What links an ancient shipwreck to the textile mills of Northern England? Both contained forerunners of the computing we use today. In fact, computer language and software have a long history, featuring military research and the repurposing of early programs widely used in manufacturing. This lecture delves into the earliest archives of processing, prediction, difference, and analytical engines, to discover who really made them all work.

    Professor Victoria Baines FBCS is a leading authority in the field of online trust, safety, and cybersecurity. She frequently contributes to major broadcast media outlets on digital ethics, cybercrime, and the misuse of emerging technologies, including Extended Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Her areas of research include electronic surveillance, cybercrime futures, and the politics of security.

    For the full write-up and to join, visit the American Mensa event. One does not have to register early for the event—simply click on this Zoom link about 15 to 30 minutes before the session starts to both register and join.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Vitual St. Paddy’s Day Celebration 6 AM. Join this 12 hour celebration via Zoom featuring Mary Reilly from Ireland. Feel free to drop in and out anytime. Get the Zoom info on the AML website.
    Virtual Event!!

  • leprechaun

    St. Patrick’s Day
    Sláinte!

18/Tues­day

19/Wednes­day

  • GOBS Request Deadline Noon. Today is the last day to submit a request for GOBS funds to be approved at this Saturday’s Business Meeting for any planned, eligible event, activity, or class taking place after Saturday, March 22nd and through Saturday, April 19th or later; to be eligible, events involving CAM members must be published in the issue of ChiMe corresponding to the month in which they occur.

20/Thurs­day

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, March 6th.
    Virtual Event!!
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

  • equinox

    Northward—Vernal in our hemisphere — Equinox

22/Satur­day

  • South Suburbs Dinner 6 PM. Join us at Fox’s Pizza & Irish Pub, located at 9655 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. For more info, see the article in the March ChiMe. This is a GOBS-subsidized event. GOBS will cover half of your meal cost (including tax and tip, rounded up to the nearest dollar) up to a maximum of $15 per person (CAM member and one guest). Cash or Zelle will be accepted for the remaining amount. The subsidy increases to $20 if fewer than 16 people register. Limit is 20 people (first come, first served). RSVP by Saturday, March 15th to Dorin R. with the number of attendees so we can get a headcount.

Our next Monthly Gathering occurs on July 19th.
at the
Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center
3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

  • Monthly Gath­ering
    The location of our March Month­ly Gath­ering was the Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center
    3705 Pheasant Dr. in Rolling Meadows.

    Games and hos­pi­tal­ity are in the spacious auditorium, with overflow space in the lobby. Every month, after the business meeting, we offer exciting, engaging workshops just for the kids while you enjoy the main meeting. The speaker event is in the Card Room. Park in the NW lot behind the building and use Entrance K (near inner corner). Please note that we have this venue only until midnight, so plan accordingly. This gathering is open to the public. So if you’re interested in learning more about Chicago Mensa, come join us. There is an admissions fee to help cover costs (major credit cards accepted). Members, RSVP via Meetup to let your friends know you’re going to be there.

    Test:
    5 PM.
    Business Meeting:
    5 PM.
    Youth Program:
    6 PM.
    Game room opens:
    6 PM.
    Program:
    7:30 PM.
    Refreshments:
    8:30 PM - Midnight.

    The CAM Executive Committee has allocated GOBS funds to be used for the reimbursement of either or Uber ridesharing services from/to the Arlington Park METRA station. Details are on our Monthly Gathering page.
    * * * * *
    Volunteer
    Get involved! Hone your leadership, organizational, or web skills. We’re looking for vol­un­teers to fill some of the open po­sitions listed both near the back of ChiMe or on the List of Officers. Try your hand as a co-Program Officer, a website designer, web content creator, or a MG Hospitality Volunteer. You can view the job descriptions and the required qualifications for all the open positions and ones you may be interested in. Or consider supervising the children at the MG for some extra cash.
    * * * * *
    Express Yourself
    Write an ar­ticle, submit a photo, or create a puzzle for ChiMe; see our Submission Guidelines for contact information and deadlines. Host your own event or your own virtual event using Discord!

    Program Topic: Food in the Midwest: More Interesting Than You May Think

    presented by Cynthia Clampitt

    The history of the Midwest is remarkable for many reasons, not least of which is the diversity of its population, and therefore of its regional cuisine. There were remarkable foods here, and migration from Meso-America introduced more. Even more entered as people worldwide escaped war, poverty, and famine. Between 1850 and 1910, the Midwest grew faster than any other region in history. Migrants from China, Europe, Mexico, and other regions of the U.S. brought traditions, which mixed and evolved. The food culture of a region famed for abundance became hard to define (but worth exploring) because of its variety.

    Cynthia Clampitt is a writer, speaker, and food historian. She has pursued her love of culture, history, and food in thirty-seven countries on six continents, but has in recent years increasingly focused her studies on the American Midwest. She is the author of Pigs, Pork, and Heartland Hogs: From Wild Boar to Baconfest and Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland. Her last book, Destination Heartland, focuses on places to enjoy Midwestern history, and she is currently researching a sequel. There is more here than most realize.

23/Sun­day

  • Theodore Talk: Shedd Aquarium 2:30 PM. The Shedd Aquarium, which opened its doors in 1930 as the first inland aquarium to maintain a permanent exhibition of both freshwater and saltwater fishes, was a gift to Chicago from John Graves Shedd. He wanted to give back to the city in which he had risen from stock boy to president of department store giant Marshall Field & Company. Today, the aquarium combines the best of the early 20th-century characteristics, with a diverse array of animals surrounded by eye-popping architecture and 21st-century advances in care and conservation.

    Serving as a portal to the aquatic animal world, Shedd Aquarium brings guests eye-to-eye with belugas and bluegills, stingrays and sturgeons, coral reefs, kelp forests, and countless other species from around the world. As they see the iridescent scales of fishes found around the globe, feel the thick coat of a sea otter that allows them to survive the cold, and hear the chirps and whistles beluga whales use to communicate and navigate through dark waters, guests of all ages and backgrounds encounter beauty and science only nature can produce. These unforgettable experiences create connections with, and compassion for, life beneath the water’s surface.

    The aquarium is more than just a destination. With partners across the globe, Shedd is acting for animals and advocating for their environments. Research allows us to better understand wildlife and wild places, helping us to create change for our shared blue future. Learn more about this iconic institution and its commitment to conservation. To register for this Theodore Talk, visit the American Mensa Events website. See a list of all the Theodore talks on the American Mensa Events website. Even if you can’t attend the live talk, provided you register, you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
    Virtual Event!!

  • Theodore Talk: Chicago’s Best Art Deco Skyscrapers 3 PM. Influenced by Cubism and the art and architecture of the ancient Middle East, Art Deco was a modern European style that was showcased to the world at the International Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. In the U.S., the new style ornamented tall office buildings, built to meet the needs of the post-war business boom, and reflected the optimism and prosperity associated with the Roaring 20s.

    This program, presented by the Chicago Architecture Center, will briefly describe Art Deco’s origins and characteristics, then explore in detail five of Chicago’s Art Deco skyscrapers, all of which are official city landmarks meticulously restored to their original glory.

    To register for this Theodore Talk, visit the American Mensa Events website. See a list of all the Theodore talks on the American Mensa Events website. Even if you can’t attend the live talk, provided you register, you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
    Virtual Event!!

24/Mon­day

  • MELT 11:30 AM. Join us for MELT (Mensans Eating Lunch Together) at the Big Skillet Pancake House, located at 90 Tyler Creek Plz. in Elgin. You can check the menu and decide if you want breakfast or lunch—it’s up to you. We can accommodate 12 people. RSVP by Sunday, March 23rd, via Meetup (strongly preferred) or directly to Beth W.

25/Tues­day

  • Break­fast in Mount Pros­pect 10 AM. Breakfast or lunch and conversation at Jelly Café lo­cated at 1784 W. Golf Rd. in Mount Pros­pect (northwest corner of Golf Rd. and Busse Hwy.), featuring a large and diverse menu. Sepa­rate checks are available. Use Meetup, but if not on Meetup, RSVP to Ken L. via email. If you RSVP by email, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

  • MEANS (North Suburbs) Dinner 6:30 PM. Join Mensans Eating Around North Suburbs (MEANS) at Hackney’s on Lake located at 1514 E. Lake Ave. in Glenview. Free parking. Separate checks available. Limit 12. Please RSVP via Meetup (preferred) or email Brent B. Recurs on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

27/Thurs­day

  • Sip & Paint at Toast to Paint 7 PM. Join us for a Sip & Paint at Toast to Paint, located at 7185 W. Bloomingdale in Chicago (in the far west Galewood neighbor). Toast to Paint is a BYOB venue; we can bring our own beverages and snacks. Cost is $19 per person. GOBS is covering the other half of the cost for one CAM member and a guest. Limit 24 people. Reservations are required. Email Beth at locsec@chicago.us.mensa.org  for payment instructions (Zelle, PayPal, or check in the mail) and to RSVP no later than Sunday, March 24th. Payment is required to hold your spot.

  • Conversation with London Mensans 9 AM. See Thursday, March 6th.
    Virtual Event!!
    Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

  • Dinner Out West 6:30 PM. More than a restaurant or bar, Hawthorne's Backyard is a community resource—during the summer. For now, it’s a restaurant, with salads, sandwiches, fish tacos, burgers and more. One of the Thursday specials is a slab and a half of ribs for two people. Join us at 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane in West Chicago. This is a GOBS-subsidized event. GOBS will cover ½ of your meal cost, including tax and tip (rounded up to the nearest dollar), up to a maximum subsidy of $15, for each CAM member and their guest. Cash, Zelle, or PayPal for your portion. Limit 20 people. Reservations are required so Beth knows how big of a table to reserve. RSVP via Meetup (strongly preferred) or directly to Beth W. no later than Tuesday, March 25th.

  • Westside Improv Studio 7 PM located at 125 W. Front St. in Wheaton. Show is from 8 – 9:30 PM. CAM’s own John C. is part of the opening act. Buy your tickets at https://westsideimprov.com in advance (it’s not unheard of for them to sell out). Email Beth at LocSec@chicago.us.mensa.org  or Chicago Mensa Meetup to let her know you’re going—we’ll plan dinner before for those who are interested.

31/Mon­day


* * * * *

1 April/Tues­day

  • ChiMe Activ­ity Bulletin and Ad­vertising Dead­lines. Last day for these submissions to the May ChiMe. Interested in organizing and hosting a virtual or in-person event? There’s bound to be an activity or a restaurant you want to try, but you just want some other people to experience it with you. So invite your fellow Mensans. Find out how by visiting our guide to hosting events.

  • ChiMe Editorial Dead­line. Last day for editorial submissions to the May ChiMe. Please submit original ar­ticles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, photographs, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensa members would love to hear from you.

Activities Bulletin
March 2025

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RSVPs - Always contact the CAM event host as specified in the event details—email , phone , text , or Meetup.

About
Meetup

Chicago Mensa Meetup - All our events are listed; see who signed up, get notifications, and add the event(s) to your personal calendar. Check out the current calendar

About
Meetup

Chicago Mensa Meetup - All our events are listed; see who signed up, get notifications, and add the event(s) to your personal calendar. Check out the current calendar

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