Calendar of Events
TO LIST YOUR EVENT – Length limit: 120 words. Submit items to the Calendar Editor at . Items must be received by the deadline listed in the calendar to guarantee inclusion. Items must include host’s name, date and time, location, and applicable codes (above), and should also include phone (including area code) or e-mail address. Notices are published on a space-available basis subject to the discretion of the Calendar Editor. The policy for inclusion in the calendar is based on the SFRM bylaws.
CODES – ACW all children welcome; BYOB bring your own beverage; CO clothing optional; C/D cat/dog at residence; FE fictitious event; FFE fragrance-free event; FFO finger food only; LCR light carpet rules (no red wine or other staining substances; can also mean no shoes); MO members only; NC no children; NPC, PC no public calendar, public calendar; NMPCW new members, prospects, and candidates welcome; NS, S, S/NS, SO no smoking, smoking, provisions for both, smoking outside; NXM not exclusively Mensa event; RSE regularly scheduled event; WBC well behaved children; WCD, WCE, WCI, WCP wheelchairs difficult, easy, impossible, possible; RSEs are reprinted verbatim unless an update is received by the deadline for the issue in which a change is requested.
WEB CALENDAR POLICY – Our policy is not to list events on the Web calendar unless requested to do so by inclusion of the “PC” (“public calendar”) code. If the PC code is not included, your event will default to NPC (no public calendar) and will not be included in the Web calendar. Home addresses (and directions to same) are not listed on the Web, but city and contact information such as telephone and e-mail are unless requested otherwise.
MEETUP – SFRM maintains a MeetUp group for events announced on short notice. See meetup.com/SFMensa
CHILDREN UNDER 18 – Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
WEEKLY EVENT
Every Sunday
12n SPR (Sex, Politics, and Religion) Revival. Sex, Politics, and Religion – everything you are not supposed to discuss at the dinner table. This is for those people who would like to participate in a group that fosters considered, civil discussions, that is open regarding subject matter; i.e., this is not for those who want to “shock somebody” or “troll”. Optionally brown-bag for those who would like to pay homage to SPR’s history as a San Francisco dinner/restaurant discussion group. This is a Zoom event: Meeting ID: 996 5500 8587, Passcode: 279931. Hosted by James Monschke. PC (RSE Su)
End of August
August 25 – Sunday
7p Channing Club. See September 22. (RSE 4 Su)
26 – Monday
7p Palo Alto Dining at Pizzeria Delfina. This chain restaurant has a good reputation. It is located at 651 Emerson St., Palo Alto 94301 (at Forest Ave.). Join us for good food and good conversation. To reserve, call/text Susan Heimlich at (650) 714-4972 or e-mail susan.heimlich/a/t/gmail.com by Saturday, August 24. Be sure to get a confirmation. Please bring cash. For last minute changes, call (650) 714-4972. PC, NMPCW
27 – Tuesday
1p Naked Economics Discussion. We will be reading Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 4, Government and the Economy II: The army was to get that screwdriver for $500. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Tu)
5:50p Dinner, Drinks, and the Fermi Paradox. Join us for drinks, dinner, and another great science-based Wonderfest presentation at the HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. We meet for drinks and dinner at 5:50p. At 6:50p we’ll move to the session room for the talk, “The Fermi Paradox” with Dan Werthimer, Chief Technologist at the Berkeley SETI Research Center. Since 1950, when physicist Enrico Fermi casually posed the question, the mystery has only deepened: Why hasn’t ET visited us? Current evidence and reasoning suggest that life has been evolving in the cosmos for billions of years. Moreover, low-speed interstellar travel requires relatively modest technology. So why is the UFO evidence so poor, and the SETI results so … negative? This special Wonderfest event will feature more “audience participation” than usual. Bring your questions – and possible answers – to address Fermi’s fabulous question: Where is everybody? Werthimer is a SETI pioneer who has earned Wonderfest’s Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Complete details of this free event are at wonderfest.org/category/event/coming-events/. More information on HopMonk’s menu, etc. is here: www.hopmonk.com/novato. RSVP on the SFRM Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Valerie Taylor (northbay/a/t/sfmensa.org). PC, NMPCW, WCE, NS, NC, NXM
28 – Wednesday
5:30p Trivia Night. See September 25. (RSE 4 W)
31 – Saturday
10a Biased Discussion. We will be reading Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 4, Male Black. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Sa)
6p Online Board Games. See September 16.
September 1-7
September 1 – Sunday
4p Albany Hill Hike. Join us for a one-hour scenic and historic hike up and around Albany Hill. The trail is steep in spots, but the views are expansive. Special bonus: We have scheduled the Sather Tower Solar Beacon to shine directly upon us as we arrive at the top of the hill. Meet under Pacific East Mall Jumbotron just behind the bus stop on the east side of Pierce St. between Central Ave. in El Cerrito and Washington Ave. in Albany. Free parking is available in the mall lot, which is seven tenths of a mile from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station. Please contact Roberta Maguire to make sure she is in town at robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com or (510) 292-6370. PC, ACW, NMPCW, NS, WCI, NXM (RSE 1 Su)
3 – Tuesday
1p Naked Economics Discussion. We will be reading Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 5, Economics of Information: McDonald’s didn’t create a better hamburger. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Tu)
5p Tuesday Tipplers will meet at San Rafael Joe’s, 931 4th St., San Rafael 94901, at 5p for drinks in the bar and then move on to dinner in the dining room after an hour. Park on the street or in the city garage behind the restaurant. If you have questions e-mail Ed Sabrack at edsabrack/a/t/comcast.net or call (415) 472-3725. PC (RSE 1 Tu)
7 – Saturday
10a Biased Discussion. We will be reading Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 5, How Free People Think. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Sa)
6p Start the Month Right is continuing at its new location at Karl Heuer’s home in San Jose. Come celebrate the 44th year and longest running monthly social event in all of American Mensa (formerly at Elna Tymes’ home from 1981 to 2024!). We’ll have a potluck dinner, unstructured socialization, games, and talk. Host will provide the main dish; you bring salad, bread, or dessert to share and YOB. $1 donation requested. RSVP encouraged; use Meetup (preferred) or e-mail stmr/a/t/sfmensa.org or phone (650) 648-3594. Masks optional. PC, NMPCW, WBC, NS, WCD, LCR (RSE 1 Sa)
September 8-14
9 – Monday
4p San Francisco Pub Get-Together. Stop by after work or, if you don’t work downtown, just come anyway. All Mensans and their guests are welcome, provided that they are at least 21, at Patriot House in 2 Embarcadero Center (Sacramento St. between Front St. and Davis St.), SF 94111. Take the inside escalator to the 2nd floor, turn right twice, and then follow the sign to the stairs to the 3rd floor. The restaurant’s entrance is near the top of those stairs on the 3rd floor. Look for the Mensa logo on our table or ask one of the waitresses to find us. Starting at 4p, but arrive when you can and leave when you’re ready. We will be there for several hours. They have a Happy Hour from 4p until 6p, with the kitchen closing at 9p and the bar closing at 10p. RSVP preferred on Mensa’s Meetup site at www.meetup.com/SFMensa, less preferred by e-mail to Barry Krasner at bwkbwk/a/t/pacbell.net. If you find that you can’t come after RSVPing “Yes”, please change your RSVP to “No” before the event takes place. PC, NC, NS, NMPCW (RSE 2 M)
10 – Tuesday
1p Naked Economics Discussion. We will be reading Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 6, Productivity and Human Capital: Why is Bill Gates so much richer than you are? This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Tu)
5:30p Apt To In Aptos Mensa Bar Group is held at Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen at Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos 95003, www.seacliffinn.com/santa-cruz-restaurants on the second Tuesday of the month, running until about 7:30p. Come join Central Coast Mensans: Forget last month’s feces and anticipate this month’s blindsides. T(R)oast past friends, find new ones, and introduce current ones, all while contemplating how it all defaults to QM scaled. Courtesy e-mail to host Stew Gibson at LooseId/a/t/ix.netcom.com with subject “Sevy” for restaurant head count is appreciated, but not required. Tip 20% on the bill, with separate checks. PC, NMPCW (RSE 2 Tu)
5:50p Dinner, Drinks, Perception, and Attention. Join us for drinks, dinner, and another great science-based Wonderfest presentation at the HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. We meet for drinks and dinner at 5:50p. At 6:50p we’ll move to the session room for the talk, “Perception and Attention” with Dr. Michael Silver, Professor of Neuroscience and of Optometry and Vision Science at UC Berkeley. Every second, we encounter enormous amounts of sensory information. How does the brain extract the most relevant bits from this information firehose? Attention is one important brain mechanism for selecting certain aspects of the environment for enhanced processing. A better understanding of attention’s effect on perception improves a wide variety of human activities, including making policy for cell phone use while driving, improving performance of airport luggage screeners, and optimizing teaching methods in the classroom. Dr. Silver also directs Cal’s Center for the Science of Psychedelics. Complete details of this free event are at wonderfest.org/category/event/coming-events/. More information on HopMonk’s menu, etc. is here: www.hopmonk.com/novato. RSVP on the SFRM Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Valerie Taylor (northbay/a/t/sfmensa.org). PC, NMPCW, WCE, NS, NC, NXM
6:45p Puzzled Pint. Who likes PUZZLES? The kind where part of the game is to figure out what you need to be doing in the first place? Want to do it as part of a team, so you can bounce ideas off each other, and let someone else do the parts that you find uninteresting? This is a monthly event held in the bay area (and simultaneously elsewhere in the world), at a convenient pub where we might order food and drink before or during the game. RSVP to Karl Heuer at puzzles/a/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594 (voice or text) to reserve your spot and learn the address. If Game Control has arranged a pub, it’s probably in Sunnyvale or Mountain View, near Central Expressway, or maybe San Jose. Otherwise, the event host will select a non-pub location in Milpitas or the Berryessa area of San Jose. PC, NMPCW, NS, NXM (RSE 2 Tu)
Intelligencer Deadline. Deadline for calendar events, advertising, members’ free ads, and all other content. See above for information on submitting events. PC (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)
12 – Thursday
11:45a South Bay Lunch. Meet at Scrambl’z, 5055 Almaden Expressway, San Jose 95118 (near Hwys. 85 & 87), (408) 269-2900. Voted one of the best breakfast restaurants around. Extensive menu online at scramblz-sj.com/. Sandra Anderson, (408) 997-3187. Vaccinated only, please. PC, NMPCW, WCE (RSE 2,4 Th)
12n Thursday Munchers, a lunch group in Marin dedicated to trying different restaurants. This month we will visit Gott’s Roadside, 302 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae 94904, (415) 785-4233, www.gotts.com. RSVP by Monday, September 9, to Elizabeth Calaway at (415) 456-9220 or elizterrycalaway/a/t/aol.com. PC (RSE Th after 2 Tu)
13 – Friday
6:30p Our Palo Alto Dining group is going French at La Boheme Restaurant, 415 California Ave., Palo Alto 94306. Parking garages are on side streets. Their menu (see it online at www.labohemepaloalto.com/s/Dinner-124.pdf) includes duck confit, crab cakes, rabbit in mustard sauce, beef stroganoff, salade de chevre chaud, even French burgers. You get the idea. Good food (a tad pricey); good conversation (priceless). To say you’ll be there, contact Susan by Wednesday, September 11 and be sure to hear confirmation, as we have a limited reservation. At the restaurant, ask for Susan and please bring cash. Contact info: Susan.Heimlich/a/t/gmail.com or call/text cell phone (650) 714-4972. For last minute changes, call/text cell. PC, NMPCW
14 – Saturday
10a Biased Discussion. We will be reading Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 6, The Scary Monster. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Sa)
4p Big Ideas Reading Group: Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David J. Chalmers. On Zoom. In a highly original work of “techno philosophy,” Chalmers conducts a grand tour of big ideas in philosophy and science. He uses virtual reality technology to offer a new perspective on long-established philosophical questions. How do we know that there’s an external world? Is there a god? What is the nature of reality? What’s the relation between mind and body? How can we lead a good life? For October 12 on Zoom: On the Origin of Time: Stephen Hawking’s Final Theory by Thomas Hertog. We have a list of books read at www.bigideasreadinggroup.com/BIRG2.html. For questions and invitations to our Zoom meetings please contact Chris Boyd at snoboyd/a/t/sbcglobal.net. PC, NMPCW, NXM (RSE 2 Sa)
September 15-21
15 – Sunday
11a SFRM Birthday Pool Party. Please join us for a birthday celebration, running until about 4p, as George Towner revives his legendary Mensa pool parties at his Sunnyvale home. Light bites and wine will be served, and guests are also invited to BYO. No gifts please, but RSVPs are appreciated to grtowner/a/t/icloud.com or (408) 505-2564 for address. PC, BYOB, C/D, WBC, WCE
2:30p Speaker Series: Your Intelligent Brain with Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin. On Zoom. To be intellectually gifted is a gift, but IQ isn’t the only aspect of smart brains that is supercharged or unique. This lively talk merges stories with research as we dig into the cognitive science and behavioral science behind strange things your mind is doing right now. Throughout this talk you’ll say, “So that’s why I do that!” and will look at your thoughts and behavior in a whole new way. With an enhanced understanding of what drives your quirks and makes you unique, you’ll leave this talk even smarter than before. Rankin has two doctorates (a PhD and an LHD) and is a Fulbright Specialist for the U.S. Department of State. She has lectured at such institutions as the University of Cambridge (teaching the Postdoc Masterclass), the University of Oxford (St. Anne’s College), and most recently Columbia University (teaching a class for its SAFE Lab research initiative). Please register early for this meeting at livepresentation.link/Register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from Zoom containing the link that you will need to join. Hosted by Judy Unger. PC
16 – Monday
6p Online Board Games. Come explore some board games that can be played on the Web. If you’re new, please create a (free) account at boardgamearena.com and follow the setup instructions. We’ll meet online with Zoom to establish voice contact, and then we’ll decide on a game to try out. RSVP on the Meetup calendar if possible, otherwise contact Karl Heuer at puzzles/a/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594. PC, NMPCW, ACW
17 – Tuesday
1p Naked Economics Discussion. We will be reading Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 7, Financial Markets: What economics can tell us about getting rich quick (and losing weight, too!). This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Tu)
18 – Wednesday
5:30p Re-BORG. Berkeley-Oakland Restaurant Group is reborn and revived in honor of the incomparable Cathy Roha, who initiated this event and hosted it for many years. Assimilate delicious food and interesting conversation at a good restaurant somewhere in the central East Bay. Bring cash, your vaccination card, and a mask. Limited seating. E-mail or call ahead for location up to a week ahead. RSVP by 3p on Tuesday, September 17. Roberta Maguire, robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com, (510) 292-6370. PC, NS, NMPCW, ACW (RSE 3 W)
21 – Saturday
10a Biased Discussion. We will be reading Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 7, The Comfort of Home. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Sa)
6p Online Board Games. See September 16.
7p Teton Tea. Teton Tea Parties are folk-singing parties going back to the 1950s. We welcome both traditional folk singing and singer/songwriters. Our 3rd Saturday meetings are currently on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/6912937135?pwd=WvlpMEs1SCs0c1FoZk5seUhoREVaZz09. Meeting ID: 691 293 7135. Password: berkeley. Hosted by Kevin Langdon, kevinlangdon86/a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 3 Sa)
September 22-30
22 – Sunday
7p Channing Club is a wide-ranging discussion group which has been meeting, in one form or another, for over half a century. There are no assigned topics; we discuss whatever is on participants’ minds. Our meetings are currently on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/6912937135?pwd=WvlpMEs1SCs0c1FoZk5seUhoREVaZz09. Meeting ID: 691 293 7135. Password: berkeley. Hosted by Kevin Langdon, kevinlangdon86/a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 4 Su)
24 – Tuesday
1p Naked Economics Discussion. We will be reading Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 8, The Power of Organized Interests: What economics can tell us about politics. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Tu)
25 – Wednesday
5:30p Trivia Night at the Patriot House gastropub in San Francisco. The contest is free, starts at 6p, and lasts about 2 hours, but please arrive about 5:30p, so that we don’t lose the table that I’ve reserved. If you’re a member of our SFRM Meetup group, RSVP on Meetup if you’re planning on coming, so that I can be sure to reserve a large enough table. If you’re not a member of our SFRM Meetup group, RSVP by e-mailing host Barry Krasner at bwkbwk/a/t/pacbell.net. Guests are allowed, so be sure to include the number of guests that you’re bringing when you RSVP. If you RSVP “Yes” and then find that you can’t attend after all, it’s very important that you change your RSVP to “No” as far in advance as possible. The Patriot House is located in Embarcadero Center #2, on the 3rd (top) floor. Enter from Sacramento St. between Front St. and Davis St. Take the inside escalator to the 2nd floor, then turn right twice and follow the sign to the stairs to the 3rd floor. The restaurant is near the top of those stairs. You’ll recognize our group by the Mensa logo that I will have on top of our table. If in doubt, ask the wait staff for “The Mensa Group”. PC, NC, NS, NMPCW (RSE 4 W)
26 – Thursday
11:45a South Bay Lunch. See September 12. (RSE 2,4 Th)
27 – Friday
6:30p Virtual Happy Hour. Mix up your favorite beverage. Bring out some happy-hour munchies and join us for a virtual relaxing time. RSVP on Meetup for the Zoom Link. Hosted by Judy Unger, junger2040/a/t/gmail.com. PC (RSE 4 F)
28 – Saturday
10a Biased Discussion. We will be reading Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 8, Hard Lessons. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Sa)
FUTURE FLASHES
October 1 – Tuesday
1p Naked Economics Discussion. We will be reading Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 9, Keeping Score: Is my economy bigger than your economy? This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Tu)
5p Tuesday Tipplers. See September 3. (RSE 1 Tu)
5:50p Dinner, Drinks, and the Universe of Universes. Join us for drinks, dinner, and another great science-based Wonderfest presentation at the HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. We meet for drinks and dinner at 5:50p. At 6:50p we’ll move to the session room for the talk, “Universe of Universes?” with Dr. Alex Filippenko, one of Earth’s most highly cited astronomers. Despite implications of the prefix “uni,” many scientists now think that there might be more than a single universe! Our universe may be just one example in a far larger “multiverse,” but an unusually complex one that is conducive to the existence of life. Come learn – and inquire – about the relevant lines of reasoning and their profound implications. Filippenko was the only person to serve on both teams that simultaneously discovered the Nobel-worthy accelerating expansion of the universe. Alex earned Wonderfest’s Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization, and he was voted UC Berkeley’s “Best Professor” a record nine times! Complete details of this free event are at wonderfest.org/category/event/coming-events/. More information on HopMonk’s menu, etc. is here: www.hopmonk.com/novato. RSVP on the SFRM Meetup (preferred) or e-mail Valerie Taylor (northbay/a/t/sfmensa.org). PC, NMPCW, WCE, NS, NC, NXM
5 – Saturday
10a Biased Discussion. We will be reading Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt one chapter at a time. Join us for one, a few, or all chapters. This week we’re reading Chapter 9, Higher Learning. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith. PC (RSE Sa)
6p Start the Month Right. See September 7. (RSE 1 Sa)