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Too damn smart? Bars (and other public spaces) across the city offer trivia nights, an excuse to meet new people
and show of the fruits of all those wasted hours learning to differentiate between Arnold Snarb and Arnold
Strong. Gather up some compatriots, or join a team of fellow-stragglers, and convert that synaptic alacrity into
bragging rights and bar tabs.
The Gael Pub This standard-issue Irish pub distinguishes itself with a hugely popular trivia night. Tues-
day nights at 8:30pm you can find six categories, with audio and visual rounds shuffled in to the mix. Winners
get a $50 gift certificate. Losers hope to get lucky on a $20 tab raffle. 1465 Third Ave., btw. 82nd and 83rd sts. 212/517-4141.
www.thegaelpubnyc.com . Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th St.
Last Exit Pop Quiz @ Last Exit isn't free, but the $5 cover can be considered an investment. The cash goes into a
pot for the eventual winner. Groups of four compete, and if you show up short-handed, they'll make a team for
you. Categories include Canadian or Not Canadian? and Bodega Price Is Right. Warm up: Who wrote LastExitto
Brooklyn? Trivia nights are on the first and third Mondays of the month, from 9 to 11pm. Register around 8:30pm
and bring a pen or pencil. Answer: The late Hubert Selby, Jr. Every third Tuesday check out the Slurring Bee, a $5
spelling competition. 136 Atlantic Ave., btw. Clinton and Henry sts., Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn. 718/222-9198. www.lastexitbar.com . Subway: R/2/
3/4/5 to Borough Hall; F/G to Bergen St.
Pacific Standard As the name suggests, there's a chill West Coast undertone here, with Cali expats often
in attendance. Sunday night quizzes can get more boisterous with teams of six packed in, but a projector ensures
everybody gets a fair chance to glean the questions. A free round of drinks goes to the winners, weekly at 8pm.
82 Fourth Ave., btw. St. Marks Place and Bergen St., Park Slope, Brooklyn. 718/858-1951. www.paciicstandardbrooklyn.com . Subway: B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to
Atlantic Ave./Pacific St.
Pete's Candy Store At Pete's Wednesday Quizz-Off, categories range from general knowledge to music to top
10s, with prizes for the top three finishers. The action starts at 7:30pm. The first Monday of every month you can
revisit ancient humiliations with a spelling bee. At 7:30pm, trip over words like roriferous and keratic. (Or is it ker-
ratic ?) That's why the Williamsburg Spelling Bee ( www.nycbee.com ) operates on a gentle three-strike basis. All
games are free, though there's a loosely enforced two-drink minimum. 709 Lorimer St., btw. Frost and Richardson sts., Williams-
burg, Brooklyn. 718/302-3770. www.petescandystore.com . Subway: L to Lorimer St.; G to Metropolitan Ave.
8 Word Up: Readings
New York has always been a city of writers, and modern Gotham has no shortage of literary lights. Undiscovered
hopefuls, midlist strivers, and huge names with cultlike followings all find their way to lecterns across the city.
Bars, galleries, libraries, bookstores, and schools do the hosting. With eight million other stories unfolding in the
Naked City, most people don't take the time to be read to, and I usually find literary events are pleasantly under-
attended. There are exceptions—voices of the moment and package nights that bring in a bunch of big names at
once—but generally you have a better chance to see a big-time writer up-close than you'll get with any actress,
athlete, or musician. And almost always you'll get to do it for free.
At Bookstores
Bookshops are good spots for getting a hit of that sweet, sweet literature, and getting it for free. Some stores offer
regular readings, and some just signings, but either way on a quiet night you may get the chance to talk up a
favorite author.
Barnes & Noble The Union Square location gets the biggest names and most frequent readings. Literary
stars like David Sedaris, Helen Fielding, and Michael Chabon come through to read from their works or parti-
cipate in conferences and discussions. The seating area is large, but you should show up early for the best-sellers
because it does get crowded. For children's story times, look to the TriBeCa branch and Saturday mornings. 33 E.
17th St., btw. Broadway and Park Ave. S. 212/253-0810. www.bn.com . Subway: L/N/Q/R/4/5/6 to 14th St./Union Sq. Other location: TriBeCa, 97 Warren St.,
at Greenwich St.
212/587-5389. Subway: 1/2/3/A/C to Chambers St.
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