Tag: space-needle

Quiz: Seattle 2008

18-January-09 / James Callan

Round 2 at the Old Pequliar on Jan. 6, 2009
Average score: 7.67/10 (21 teams)

1) Thanks to a corrupted computer file, Pyro Spectaculars had to manually do what?
2) Who declared on Western Washington billboards that “four dollars is dumb” and “large is the new grande”?
3) What local sports franchise was defeated in round 1 of the Northwest Knockdown championships by a team from Chicago?
4) In January, local women Anne Levinson, Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder, and Dawn Trudeau banded together to buy what?
5) After Bill Gates mostly retired from Microsoft, he appeared in a TV commercial shopping for shoes with what ’90s celebrity?
6) What were Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, and Wind?
7) Two Seattle-based Fortune 500 companies were acquired by other companies last year. Name the two companies, for a half point each.
8) A Rainier Beach resident died after being punched in the face during an argument that started because he was tending a garden he’d planted where?
9) Local resident Casey Knowles made news when footage of her sleeping turned up in a commercial for what?
10) Which presidential candidate won February’s Washington Republican caucus?

Quiz: Seattle Food

31-October-08 / James Callan

Round 5 at Post on October 20, 2008

The final round for the Yes on Seattle Prop. 1 fundraiser. All local again — sorry, out-of-towners and new transplants!

1) If you were going to Ricardo’s Club 19, where were you going to eat?
2) What local bean-to-bar chocolate factory was the first to roast Fair Trade-certified cocoa beans in the US?
3) In January 1990, Ezell’s Famous Chicken was first mentioned to a national audience by what celebrity?
4) What local chain took part of its name from the lyrics to the folksong “Old Settler’s Song”?
5) What local restaurant was founded and is still run by chef Mario Batali’s father?
6) Name one of the two seasonal pizzas currently being offered by Pagliacci.
7) Back in 2001, local writer Bethany Jean Clement competed in — and won — a pageant to become the real-live face of the babe promoting what local restaurant chain?
8) As of 2000, what’s the name of the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle?
9) In a battle centered around wild Chinook salmon, Iron Chef Morimoto was defeated by what local chef?
10) Matt Canlis, a Scottish chaplain, works at Canlis restaurant as what kind of consultant?

Tiebreaker: According to the 2008 Zagat, what’s the average price of a meal at Seattle’s 20 most expensive restaurants?

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?

Geography

9-January-08 / James Callan

1) The combined area of all Wal-Marts in the world is approximately equal to the area of which of these islands: Manhattan, Maui, Nantucket, or Vancouver Island?
2) Name one of the two states that border a record 8 other states.
3) Paris is the most populous French-speaking city in the world. What’s the second-largest?
4) What present-day country is home to most of the territory of the ancient Etruscan civilization?
5) Multiple choice: which of these distances is the longest: Moscow, Idaho to Moscow, Russia; San Juan Island to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Sun City, AZ to Sun City, South Africa; or Toledo, OH, to Toledo Spain?
6) What Pacific Ocean country is the most linguistically diverse in the world, home to over 820 languages?
7) Angola, East Timor, Macau, and Mozambique are all former colonies of what European country?
8) What country has the world’s second-largest sheep population, but is the world’s largest exporter of wool?
9) What’s the largest city located within the Mojave Desert?
10) What building was the tallest in Seattle for 48 years, from its construction to when the Space Needle was built?

Quiz: Seattle

17-May-07 / James Callan

1) On April 19, 1999, what iconic Seattle building was officially designated a city historic landmark?
2) Within Seattle city limits, Washington State Route 522 is known as what street?
3) What business was founded on the site where Waterfall Park is today?
4) In 2001, the downtown neighborhood between Belltown and Pioneer Square was given what new name?
5) Six companies headquartered in Seattle made the 2007 Fortune 500. Name four of them. Bonus point: name the one that’s new to the top 500 this year.
6) What Seattle native inspired H.L. Mencken to coin the word “ecdysiast”?
7) What album, first certified platinum in 1995, is the best-selling album released by Sub Pop?
8) Between 2002 and 2006, which Seattle street had the most traffic accidents involving jaywalkers?
9) In October 1970, the Seattle City Council made it a crime, punishable by a $100 fine, to climb what local natural landmark?
10) There are four Seattle strip clubs in which it’s legal to get a lap dance. What’s the only one offering male dancers?
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Quiz: Geography

1-March-07 / James Callan

1) In 1919, Seattle’s 10th Avenue NE was given what new name?
2) When you list all 50 US state capitals in alphabetical order, which comes first?
3) According to the National Association of Home Builders, what midwest city, the largest in its state, is the most affordable major housing market in the US?
4) Luzon is the largest island in what country?
5) The Sepik River is the longest river in the world not located on a continent. What country is it in?
6) What country shares the longest border with Russia?
7) What three states have only lines of latitude and longitude for borders?
8) Which state has the greatest distance between its capital city and its largest city?
9) Which of these cities is the only one that doesn’t have a skyscraper taller than Seattle’s Columbia Center: Atlanta, Dubai, Melbourne, or Mexico City?
10) How high is Mt. Rainier, if you measure it in Space Needles? (rounded to the nearest whole Needle; within 2)