The only trivia I’d encountered before coming to Cornell was Trivial Pursuit, a board game now covered in dust in the back of a closet at home. Tuesday night at Collegetown Bagels on 420 College Avenue proved trivia could look very different from a simple board game: every table filled, music blasting and more than 10 teams debating answers with bragging rights on the line.
Every Tuesday at 6 p.m., Gina Zealth hosts a free, two-hour trivia night, featuring three rounds, each with its own unique category. Before the game begins, she lays out a few ground rules: No technological assistance (search engines, AI, Shazam, etc.), no ‘phone-a-friends’ and definitely no consulting the “all-knowing CTB staff.” Teams are limited to six players if they want to compete for the prize; any team larger than that means simply playing for the love of the game.
There is also a strategic element to the evening. Before the game begins, each team chooses one category to ‘gamble’ on, giving them the chance to double any points earned for that round. The categories themselves are announced beforehand on CTB’s social media and flyers posted around the restaurant, allowing teams to mentally prepare — or at least hope one of the topics aligns with their strengths.
Scoring is where Zealth’s personality really shines. While she awards both full and partial points for correct answers, partial points work a little differently than one might expect. Sometimes they come from answers that are partially correct in the literal sense. Other times, however, they come from humor and sheer effort. If Zealth sees you dancing to the playlist she has queued up, senses just how desperate your answer might be or thinks your answer is funny, you might earn a small boost in what she jokingly refers to as the “suckup section.” These quarter-point adjustments may seem minor, but they can add just enough suspense to keep teams eyeing the scoreboard (and each other).
Of course, the stakes are not insignificant. The winning team walks away with a $40 CTB gift card, bragging rights and a photo with the celebrity host — perfect for wallet or mantlepiece display. The second-place winners do not leave empty-handed either; they earn the privilege of choosing a category for the following week.
On Feb. 16, my friend Arden Wilkes ’29, self-acclaimed trivia master, and I attended our first round of CTB trivia. Wilkes approached the night with full confidence, explaining that trivia is simply all about “having that one random fact ready when it really matters.” As freshmen, we were not entirely sure how well-known the event was — it’s not exactly a popular activity among social crowds. To our surprise, however, the back room of CTB was completely packed. Every table was filled, and we had to grab stools from the front bar just to squeeze in.
That was also the moment we realized this would not be a casual game. Despite Zealth’s attempt to lighten the atmosphere by DJing upbeat pop music, the competition in the room was palpable. Looking around, Wilkes summed it up best: “You can tell everyone here has done this before. I don’t even think they’re guessing; they have the information somewhere in their minds already.” In hindsight, I probably should’ve not been shocked — this is Cornell, after all. Aren’t we really all just a bunch of nerds looking for a common space to channel that energy? And, for those of age, perhaps with a beer in hand?
Part of the charm of CTB trivia is that the categories can be anything. When I attended, one category focused on presidential knowledge in honor of Presidents’ Day. Another was simply titled “Potato” — nothing more, nothing less. The third category, called “Map It,” took a slightly different approach. We had to fill out a blank map of every South American country and its capital.
Although Wilkes and I finished with a modest 17.5 points — compared to the first-place team’s impressive 43.5 points — the experience was more than worth it. Even in defeat, Wilkes remained optimistic, stating, "Honestly, 17 points for our first time isn’t too bad. Next time we just need a Hotelie who knows their food” (we fumbled a bit in the potato category).
We had a great time together trying to figure out what pet John Quincy Adams kept in his bathtub (an alligator, gifted by the Marquis de Lafayette). I searched deep through memories of my sixth-grade Spanish class, trying to recall the song pairing South American capitals with their respective countries. Moreover, we debated potato idioms heatedly, hoping one of them might just stick.
What surprised me the most was how invested everyone in the room was in this game. Taking the opportunity to think critically about obscure knowledge without the pressure of receiving a Canvas grade was surprisingly freeing. CTB trivia, ultimately, becomes a place to nerd out together over niche and oddly specific topics. It’s a small space where an unexpected community forms: friend groups gather regularly, teams return week after week and what began as a casual outing can quickly turn into a Tuesday ritual.
If you are looking for a free, competitive activity and perhaps the chance to win a $40 gift card for a bagel spree, I highly recommend stopping by CTB on a Tuesday evening.
Savannah Sandhaus is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at sjs482@cornell.edu.
