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!!

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!!

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 (when it becomes available). RSVP by Tuesday, March 4th to Marco, the SW Suburban Area Coödinator, ac-swarea@chicago.us.mensa.org . Do not RSVP on Meetup.

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. More details on Meetup. 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. 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. RSVPs will not be honored before Monday, February 24th. 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.

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.

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 Silo, in Lake Bluff, for scrumptious appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and some of the area’s best pizza. No separate checks; bring cash. Lo­cated at 625 Rockland Rd. in Lake Bluff. 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 9 AM. See Thursday, March 6th.
Virtual Event!!
Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

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

Rock­ford-Area Lunch Noon. Join Dave and other Rockford-Area Mensans for lunch at the Tavern on Clark, lo­cated at 755 Clark Dr. in Rockford (just east of Bell School Rd., three blocks north of State St.). 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.
Time Change!!

Poetry Dis­cus­sion 7 PM. Our poetry group is using Zoom for meetings. Please send a poem or two to Joe D. by Monday, March 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.

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

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

South Suburbs Dinner 6 PM. Join us Fox’s Pizza & Irish Pub, located at 9655 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. For more info, see the article in the March ChiMe (when it becomes available). 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, Zelle, or PayPal will be accepted for the remaining amount. The subsidy increases to $20 if fewer than 15 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.

Add CAM March Monthly Gathering @Rolling Meadows Community Center

Monthly Gath­ering
The location of our March Month­ly Gath­ering is 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. 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.

Monthly Gathering

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.
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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.
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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: TBA

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 or, on or after Friday, March 21st, tap/click on the Zoom link that will be available here on our 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 or, on or after Friday, March 21st, tap/click on the Zoom link that will be available here on our 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!!

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.

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 9 AM. See Thursday, March 6th.
Virtual Event!!
Time Change Due to Daylight Saving Time Change Difference!!

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

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. The usual GOBS subsidy applies to a member and up to one guest: the lesser of $15 or half your share of the bill. Be prepared to settle up with Apple Cash, Zelle, PayPal, or legal tender. Our limit this month will be 20 people. RSVP via Meetup (strongly preferred) or text Matt C. no later than 8 PM on Tuesday, March 25th.

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