Photo by Terry Hankins

Are you erudite/scholarly/cultured/cultivated/enlightened or merely plugged into the big, wide world of general, otherwise largely useless knowledge? Put the grey matter to the test by joining a winning team at Aqus Café’s legendary ‘Trivia with Lesley’ night, taking place every third Thursday of the month from 7 pm to 9 pm.

As Petaluma’s oracle of international trumpery and minutiae, your no-nonsense, British-born trivia hostess insists that Thursday Night Trivia at Aqus is not for the more serious trivia buff:

“Cheating in the form of ‘googling’ on your smartphone won't be tolerated,” says Lesley. She who must be obeyed makes the rules: “which sometimes means that I make them up as I go.” Heckling is subsequently rewarded by even worse heckling from this particular hostess.

Tables fill early on in the evening for ‘Trivia With Lesley’ nights, so head on down to Aqus for a bite to eat and a glass of beer or wine prior to this popular, Sonoma County battle of the brains! 

Newcomers and regulars are encouraged to sit at a table with a team, paying $1 per person to compete. “There is no such thing as ‘I'm not playing’,” says Lesley. “There’s no way you won't answer a question if you know it.”

Great spot prizes including gift cards and bottles of wine are awarded throughout Aqus Trivia Night. Teams consisting of any more than five people are penalized by one point per person at the end of the game. Likewise, teams with any less than five people gain one point per person at the end of the game.

Be warned, for once each team’s answer sheets have been turned in there's no double checking or questioning the hostess. “This just creates controversy and quarreling,” says Lesley “which spoils the name of the game.”

Winning team wins the cash pot so the more people that play the bigger the win.