Tag: seattle public library

Quiz: Seattle Institutions

31-October-08 / James Callan

Round 4 at Post on October 20, 2008

Fourth round of local trivia for the Yes on Seattle Prop. 1 ballot measure.

1) In 2003, Fantagraphics Publishing saved itself from going out of business by starting to publish a complete collection of what newspaper comic strip?
2) What local website describes itself as “Seattle’s sparkly indie-pop press”?
3) Hankblog is the official blog for what local institution?
4) What fraternal organization, once based in the building that’s now home to A Contemporary Theatre, was founded by six theater owners in 1898?
5) In 1993, Ben and Jerry’s launched what rhyming, caramel-cashew-Brazil nut-chocolate-hazelnut-fudge-almond ice cream flavor at Archie McPhee?
6) When it opened in 1986, what semi-kinky Seattle business was called Marzi Tarts?
7) When the Storm won the 2004 WNBA championship, what team did they defeat in the finals?
8) In a recent ad campaign, an animal named Leonard demands that the Seattle Aquarium let him in. What kind of animal is Leonard?
9) According to legend, a customer in Alaska successfully returned to Nordstrom a set of what product that the store has never actually sold?
10) The Green Lake branch of the Seattle Public Library has been closed since October 2 because they found what in a crawlspace?
11) As of December 2007, what was the circulation of the Seattle Weekly?

Quiz: Seattle Landmarks

28-October-08 / James Callan

Round 1 on Oct. 20, 2008

I hosted a quiz to benefit the Yes on Seattle Prop 1 campaign (Support Our Market — fund infrastructure investment). By request, all the rounds were related to Seattle, so you out-of-town readers are in for a difficult slog. (I suspect I would’ve been lynched even on my home turf, actually.)

Since the crowd wasn’t the usual from the Old Pequliar, some questions have been refurbished.

The Tiebreaker is there because prizes were awarded after each round, rather than for the whole night, so a built-in tiebreaker saved a lot of time.

1) Roethke Mews is the official name of the alley bordering what tavern?
2) In 1983, what business took over the Manning’s Cafeteria location at 5501 15th Ave NW?
3) For one point, name two of the three Seattle streets given the first names of members of the Denny Party. For two points, name all three.
4) Smith Tower was built as the tallest building west of the Mississippi, replacing the National Real Estate Building. That building, now known as Key Bank Center, is located in what Washington city?
5) The Space Needle didn’t make the American Institute of Architects’ list of America’s Favorite Architecture. For one point each, name the two Seattle buildings that did.
6) The first Cinerama screen in Seattle was installed in what venue originally built for vaudeville and movies?
7) The Bubbleator was moved out of the Center House at Seattle Center in 1984 to make way for what still-operating cultural institution?
8) The implosion of the Kingdome was the first live event to be broadcast on what cable network, which specializes in sports reruns, movies, and documentaries?
9) In August 2006, Chris Brugo decorated the outside of his house in the Roosevelt district with a mural depicting what sex symbol?
10) PK Dwyer’s band Felix & the Freelicks claims the distinction of being the first band to do what, back in 1971?

Tiebreaker: How many dances are commemorated in the “Broadway Dance Steps” installed in Capitol Hill sidewalks? And which ones can you name?

Quiz: Geography

27-June-07 / James Callan

1) What country is the world’s leading producer of mangoes?
2) The smallest county by area in the continental US, New York County, is better known by what name?
3) What city is the oldest state capital in the US?
4) Which country has recorded South America’s record high and record low temperatures, in Rivadavia and Sarmiento, respectively?
5) Canadians who use the busiest border crossing into the US wind up in what city?
6) Which of these language families has the most native speakers: Germanic, Romance, Semitic, or Balto-Slavic?
7) Hitler established Germany’s Third Reich. By his reckoning, what nation, founded in 800 by Charlemagne, was the First Reich?
8) Upon winning the Spanish-American War, the United States was given sovereignty over two islands and an archipelago. Name two of these territories.
9) What Atlantic island nation is both the most populous and oldest remaining British overseas territory?
10) The American Institute of Architects recently released a list of Americans’ 150 favorite buildings. Two buildings from Seattle made the list. For 1 point each, name them. Hint: there’s no Space Needle to be found.
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