Trivia Night Takes Over Local Restaurant
By Liz Wassman
Students shout at one another to be heard as they debate which celebrities' high school photo is on the screen in front of them. Doug Ancey gives a two-minute warning into the microphone, and asks the crowd to raise their hands if they want another beer.
The night life scene around Santa Clara can get a little repetitive sometimes, with the same rotation of house parties and bars. This year, Neto's Market & Grill has started offering something different to do in the evenings by hosting a weekly trivia night on Wednesdays.
Trivia started in April as a way to bring more students into the Market, which is within walking distance from Santa Clara. T
he game is open to all ages, and students can join for free and create teams to try and win the five-round game. Questions range from astronomy and vocabulary to sports and celebrities.
The host, Santa Clara 2011 graduate Doug Ancey, calls out the questions along with drink specials for the night. Every round of gameplay is accompanied by a different drink.
The drinks are inexpensive to begin with, and you can barter with him to lower the cost even more. Neto's also has all kinds of snacks and dinner options to eat while playing.
"Trivia is a great place for people to start out their Wednesday nights," says Ancey. He was a regular trivia participant until one night when they were between hosts, and he stepped in and said he would do it. Although he is not a Neto's employee, he now shows up every week to host the game.
Although it gained popularity over the summer, Ancey says that, "I don't remember it ever being this crowded."
On a recent Wednesday, every table was full as Santa Clara students shouted over to friends and collaborated on answers. It's a great way to break up the standard weekday routine.
"It's so much fun to go with friends and compete against a bunch of college students. Every time I go I laugh the whole time!" said senior Casey Cronin.
Neto's is also considering starting a college band night for students on Thursdays. But the most popular night remains, of course, Trivia Wednesday.
Contact Liz Wassmann at lwassman@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.