1/Satur­day

  • ChiMe Activity Bulletin and Ad­ver­tising Deadlines. Last day for these submissions to the March 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 March ChiMe. Please submit original ar­ticles, insights, puzzles, brain teasers, or short poems. Your fellow Chicago Area Mensa members would love to hear from you.

2/Sun­day

  • groundhog

    Ground­hog Day

4/Tues­day

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  • 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.

5/Wednes­day

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  • 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.

6/Thurs­day

8/Satur­day

9/Sun­day

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Ethnic Dining

  • 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. RSVP by 1 PM, Saturday, February 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 recurs on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

10/Mon­day

  • 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.

11/Tues­day

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  • 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

  • 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, February 15th and through Saturday, March 22nd 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.

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Northern Exposure

  • 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.

13/Thurs­day

14/Fri­day

  • A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) 3 PM. Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality at the Westin Northshore1, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. Bigger than a house party, smaller than an RG; just hundreds games supplied Chicago Area Mensa, plenty of tables, and well over a hundred friendly, albeit competitive, players. At AGOG, you can play all your favorite board and card games, including Euro/German games as well as party games and classics, or bring your own to share with friends. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the weekend. If you haven’t pre­reg­istered, you can reg­ister at the door. Please email our Chairs  regarding questions or concerns you have about anything other than registration.

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion Rescheduled. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Event Rescheduled for Friday, the 21st!!

Happy%20Valentine’s%20Day!

15/Satur­day

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AGOG 2015

  • A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) continues. Join the fun and attend the long weekend gathering of just games all day through Sunday afternoon at the Westin Northshore, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling! All the games we have at WeeM and more, because folks like you bring their own to share. We provide food, non-alcoholic beverages, and all the games you want for a reasonable price. Plus the fee includes access to today’s Monthly Gathering. If you haven’t pre­reg­istered, you can reg­ister at the door.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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Rockford-Area Mensans

  • 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!!

Our next Monthly Gathering occurs on March 22nd.
at the
Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center
3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

  • Monthly Gath­ering
    The location of our February Month­ly Gath­ering was 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.

    Test:
    2 PM.
    Business Meeting:
    5 PM.
    Game room opens:
    All weekend for AGOG!
    Nomi­nations for Local Officers:
    7:30 PM.
    Program:
    ~7:35 PM.
    Refreshments:
    8:30 PM - Midnight (food & beverages put out earlier than 8:30 PM is for AGOG registrants only).

    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 February ChiMe or 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!

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    Program Topic: Board to Pieces: The Journey of Board Game Creation

    Presented by Jason Brooks

    Are you a board game enthusiast who’s ever wondered how those captivating games make their way from a simple idea to your tabletop? Get ready to embark on a journey through the exciting world of board game creation with our witty and insightful session, “Board to Pieces: The Journey of Board Game Creation", hosted by Jason Brooks. From brainstorming to play-testing, graphic design to manufacturing, Jason will give you a peek behind the curtain to share all of the magic that goes into getting your favorite game (or possibly one of your ideas) to the table!

    Show all…

    During the session, we’ll navigate the twists and turns of bringing game concepts to life — complete with examples of games in various design states. You’ll learn about the importance of theme vs mechanics, eye-catching prototypes, and the long, yet important, process of gathering invaluable feedback through play-testing. Discover how collaboration with talented graphic designers and artists give games a visual identity that pops. Plus, we’ll dive into the world of crowd-funding and manufacturing, sharing tips, trials, and tribulations that have the potential to buoy or bust any game design along the way before reaching eager players everywhere. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a curious newbie, this talk promises to be a treasure trove of information, sprinkled with humor and practical advice. Join us to learn how your favorite board games ultimately make it to your table. See you there!

    Jason Brooks (Brookspun Games) has designed and published tabletop games for nearly a decade with his first game — Legacies — successfully funding on Kickstarter and sold out of its first print run. His second board game — Clandestine — just funded on Kickstarter and will arrive on tabletops in Fall 2025. Prior to board game design, Jason’s primary hobby was competitive Scrabble where he ran clubs and tournaments in Chicago and reached expert status on the tournament scene before moving on to play (and eventually design) a wide variety of games.

    For his day job, Jason has spent ~30 years as a process and technology consultant helping companies find better ways to get things done and solve problems. His wife and four children love his hobby and how busy it keeps him, but have grown weary of always being asked to be the initial play-testers for new designs.

    Show less

16/Sun­day

  • A Gathering of Gamers (AGOG) continues until 3 PM. Join us for a relaxing weekend of games and hospitality at the Westin Northshore, 601 North Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling. Bigger than a house party, smaller than an RG; just hundreds games supplied Chicago Area Mensa, plenty of tables, and well over a hundred friendly, albeit competitive, players. At AGOG, you can play all your favorite board and card games, including Euro/German games as well as party games and classics, or bring your own to share with friends. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the weekend. Sunday brunch is included as well. Vote for the HELL’s M’s AGOG Party Animal. If you haven’t pre­reg­istered, you can reg­ister at the door. Please email our Chairs  regarding questions or concerns you have about anything other than registration.

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Benyamin Cohen

  • SFRM: The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got Into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms and Our Minds 4:30 PM. Albert Einstein’s genius continues to impact our everyday lives — from science and technology to his status as a pop culture icon and his legacy as a humanitarian rescuing refugees and fighting in the civil rights movement. For his book, The Einstein Effect, journalist Benyamin Cohen spent years tracking down lesser-known stories about Einstein (did you know the pathologist performing Einstein’s autopsy stole his brain?) to reveal an intriguing — and often hilarious — look at how Einstein is more relevant today than ever.

    Journalist Benyamin Cohen is the author of The Einstein Effect, a book about the modern-day relevancy of the world’s favorite genius. He manages the official social media accounts of Albert Einstein, where he posts every day to the 20 million fans who follow Einstein across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He is also the news director of the Forward, America’s oldest Jewish newspaper. He is based in Morgantown, W.V., where he lives with his wife, three dogs, a cat, and a flock of chickens known as the Co-Hens.

    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

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  • 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 this Zoom link about 15 to 30 minutes before the session starts to both register and join.
    Virtual Event!!

  • mtrush

    Presidents Day
    Federal Holiday

18/Tues­day

20/Thurs­day

21/Fri­day

  • Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Interested persons who are not currently members of the poetry group can contact Joe D. , and he will email the poems to be discussed or you can view them by tapping/clicking here. Do NOT RSVP via Meetup. This event is usually held on the evening of the second Friday of the month.
    Virtual Event!!
    Event Schedule Change!!

22/Satur­day

  • washington

    George Washington’s Birthday

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  • CultureQuest® XXXVI Registration. On Sunday, May 4th, at 3 PM CDT, all across the country as well as Canada, all at the same time, teams of Mensa members will participate in a 90-minutes-long contest to test cultural literacy administered by American Mensa. Prizes will be award­ed to twenty “Classic” (no age restrictions) teams and one “Next Generation” (youth) team with the highest scores! Submit your team registration information to American Mensa by Monday, March 31st. Get all the details including how to get the registration fee covered by GOBS funds and, if you want your team to meet virtually, how to request your own Discord channel.

23/Sun­day

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  • 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 for this Theodore Talk, visit the American Mensa Events website or tap/click on this Zoom link at least an hour before the session starts. 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!!

25/Tues­day

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

  • Theodore Talk: Kansas City National World War I Museum & Memorial 2:30 PM. Soon after World War I ended, Kansas City leaders formed the Liberty Memorial Association (LMA) to create a lasting monument to the men and women who served in the war. In 1919, the LMA and citizens of Kansas City raised more than $2.5 million in just 10 days. The equivalent of more than $40 million today, this staggering accomplishment reflected the passion of public sentiment for the Great War that had dramatically changed the world. In 1921, more than 100,000 people gathered to see the supreme Allied commanders dedicate the site of the Liberty Memorial. This was the first time in history these five leaders were together in one place. The local veteran chosen to present flags to the commanders was a Kansas City haberdasher, Harry S. Truman.

    Join us for this Theodore Talk to learn more about what you will experience when touring the National World War I Museum & Memorial during the 2024 AG in Kansas City. It is a visit you will never forget.

    See the full write-up and find contact info on the American Mensa Events website. Even if you can’t attend the live Talk, as long as you register you will receive a link to a recording of the event. Closed captioning enabled.
    Virtual Event!!

27/Thurs­day

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  • 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!!

  • 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!!

  • Deadline for Nomi­nation Statements . Candidates’ 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 directly to Deb J., our Elections Procedures Chair, via email .

28/Fri­day

  • lantern

* * * * *

1 March/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? 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 April 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.

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  • Annual Gathering (AG): All Fired Up Online Registration Deadline! Register for the AG, held Wednesday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 6th in Chicago, Illinois, in the Hilton Chicago on south Michigan Avenue, before midnight EDT, Monday, March 31st, which is both the deadline for online registration and your last chance to get a discount. Due to all the 4th of July and weekend festivities in the area, it may be best to book a room.

Activities Bulletin
February 2025

February
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9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21

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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 February 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 February calendar

All March Events
Top Join Contact Members
Only