Zoom Lunch 1 PM. Perhaps the longest running Mensa event anywhere, Chicago’s Zoom Lunch (formerly known as the Downtown Lunch) is held every week, alternating between Tuesday and Thursday. Join us for conversation, laughs, and attempts to define words you’ll never use again. The Zoom id is 836 1178 6315 and the passcode is 190710; it is also included as part of your host Jon G.’s contact information if you prefer a link. Questions? Contact Jon via email or call/text him. You may also RSVP via Meetup. We’d love to have you join us!
Virtual Event!!

NNW Dinner: Georgian/Russian 6 PM. Enjoy Georgian and other Eastern European cuisine at Stumara, lo­cated at 847 W. Dundee Rd. in Wheeling (in a strip mall on the SW corner of Dundee and Elmhurst Rd. (IL route 83)). This is a GOBS-subsidized event where ½ the total cost (including tax plus a 20% tip, rounded up to the nearest dollar) of a CAM member’s, and up to one guest’s, dinner will be covered for a maximum of fifteen people — for a maximum subsidy of $20/person; cash (no coins) or PayPal only for your portion. RSVP (and get more details) on Meetup, but if not on Meetup, email Ken L. by 6 PM, Sunday, February 2nd. If you RSVP by email, your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

MELT at Southern Belle’s 11:30 AM. Join MELT (Mensans Eating Lunch Together) at the Southern Belle’s Pancake House, 152 S. Western Ave. in Carpentersville. You can have breakfast or lunch—it’s up to you. Check out their menu. We can accommodate 12 people. RSVP by Tuesday, February 4th, via Meetup (strongly preferred) or directly to Beth W.

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!!

Ethnic Dining: Sushi 1 PM. Join us at 5th Avenue Sushi, lo­cated at 1512 Market St. in Des Plaines. This is unlimited “order off their menu slip”, many kinds of sushi, even a few vegan, more than half are cooked (sorry, mostly shellfish), and of course salmon is just lox. Also included are, mostly vegan: salads, soups, dumplings, spring rolls, and other appetizers. One tea, coffee, or domestic soft drink is included. You may order and pay for additional beverages, including alcohol. More details on Meetup. The GOBS-subsidized cost (tax & tip included) is $20 for each CAM member and for their guest with a limit of 15 subsidized people for this event; additional guests will be charged the full price of $40; cash only, payable upon arrival. Please RSVP via Meetup (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 in the last 24 hours, 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. This event recurs on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

Dinner Out West: Seafood Buffet 6:30 PM. Join us at Royal Buffet, located at 31 Golf Center in Hoffman Estates , for what Dewey and Hieu described as the best Asian buffet. Dinner buffet is $35 ($2 discount for 65+). This is a GOBS-subsidized event. GOBS will cover a maximum subsidy of $15, including tax and tip, for each CAM member and a 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 Saturday, February 8th.

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 if payment is in cash. A gratuity might or might not be added to the bill. Check your bill and please leave a tip if it is not included. 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.

Northern Ex­po­sure Dinner 6:45 PM. Aurora borealis an everyday thing? 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.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, February 6th.
Virtual Event!!

Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Tuesday, February 4th.

Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, February 10th. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can contact Joe D. , and he will email the poems to be discussed. Contact Bill K. for the Zoom links or any help you might need. Do NOT RSVP via Meetup. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
Virtual Event!!

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 coör­di­na­tor. 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 Coördinator, 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.

Rock­ford-Area Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at the Olive Garden Italian Kitchen, lo­cated at 6367 E. State St. in Rockford (on the south side of State St. between Mulford and Perryville). To RSVP , for more information, or to get on our email list, contact Dave L., our Rockford-Area Coördinator. RSVP required in case of cancellation, time, or venue change. Do not RSVP via Meetup. This event usually recurs on the second Friday of the month.
Date & Time Change!!

Add CAM February Monthly Gathering @Westin North Shore Hotel

Monthly Gath­ering
The location of our February Month­ly Gath­ering is the Westin North Shore Hotel
601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling.

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.

Monthly Gathering

The Nomi­nating Committee is looking for qualified candidates to run for the elected po­sitions on the Chicago Area Mensa Executive Committee. If you’re interested or just curious, see Deb J.’s ar­ticle in the January ChiMe for details. You can also view the job descriptions and the required qualifications.
* * * * *
The Deadline for Candidate Statements is Thursday, February 27th. The statements for publication in the April ChiMe are to be no longer than 500 words and cannot include any boldface, italic, or larger type; they should be sent to Deb J., our Elections Procedures Chair, via email .
* * * * *
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!

Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: Is Music Infinite? 1 PM. Irish Mensa meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM Irish Time; a discussion then follows the lecture.

This lecture explores the very limits of music: investigating historical efforts to catalogue musical materials including the mēḷacartā of Carnatic music, the wazn of Arabic maqam, Slonimsky’s Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns, Schillinger’s Encyclopedia of Rhythms, Forte numbers, and contemporary attempts to ‘pre-copyright’ every possible melody yet to be written. It also tackles the bigger questions: how much music might exist, whether it ever will be exhausted, and if there are any boundaries of our musical perception and imagination.

Milton Mermikides is a composer, guitarist, technologist, academic and educator in a wide range of musical styles and has collaborated with artists and scientists as diverse as Evelyn Glennie, Tim Minchin, Pat Martino, Peter Zinovieff, John Williams and Brian Eno. Son of a CERN nuclear physicist, he was raised with an enthusiasm for both the arts and sciences, an eclecticism which has been maintained throughout his teaching, research and creative career.

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 the Zoom link before the session starts (check back here for that link on Monday, February 17th).
Virtual Event!!

Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Tuesday, February 4th.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, February 6th.
Virtual Event!!

Theodore Talk: Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites 2:30 PM. Sweet steak, Mother-in-Law, Akutagawa, Italian beef and deep-dish pizza are just some of the unique foods first conceived in Chicago. In Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites, authors Monica Eng and David Hammond will discuss lesser-known mom-n’-pop places that serve more affordable — but no less satisfying — food to tens of thousands of Chicagoans every day. These smaller places are often times minority- or immigrant-owned; their book shines a light on the contributions and enduring creativity of street-level food purveyors who, faced with limited resources and unlimited ambition, spread deliciousness throughout the city. All thirty of the foods discussed in the book will be covered, offering photos and brief descriptions of the many inventive culinary creations and the history behind them.

To register, check your email for the Zoom link for this Theodore Talk or, on or after Friday, February 21st, tap/click on the Zoom link that will be available here on our website. See the full write-up and the list of other 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!!

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.

Conversation with London Mensans 8 AM. See Thursday, February 6th.
Virtual Event!!

Zoom Lunch 1 PM. See Tuesday, February 4th.