Thanksgiving Trivia Time!

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I hope you and yours are preparing for a happy Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow evening. I love having family and friends around the big table swapping delicious sides and stories on one of the most memorable holidays of the year. And, for you, I want to share some fun trivia about Thanksgiving!

The following trivia questions from The Today Show:

On average, how many questions does the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line field from callers during the holiday season?
In 1995, this popular Thanksgiving vegetable was the first to be grown in space.
What year did “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” debut on television?
Which U.S. president was the first to officially pardon a turkey?
According to the National Turkey Federation, roughly how many turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving?

Let’s see how many you got right – and then try to stump your Thanksgiving guests with a few of the trickier trivia questions!

On average, how many questions does the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line field from callers during the holiday season? ANSWER: 100,000
In 1995, this popular Thanksgiving vegetable was the first to be grown in space. Answer: The potato
What year did “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” debut on television? Answer: 1973
Which U.S. president was the first to officially pardon a turkey? Answer: George H.W. Bush in 1989
According to the National Turkey Federation, roughly how many turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving? Answer: About 45 to 46 million

There you have it! Some of the craziest turkey trivia questions you can imagine. Also… there is a National Turkey Federation? Who knew? Enjoy your holiday, everyone!

Holiday Trivia Time!

With Hanukkah starting this past Sunday and Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s all approaching, I thought it would be fun to test your knowledge of these holidays with a bit of trivia! Scroll to the bottom of this blog to read the answers and see how you did!

Which year did the ball first drop for New Year’s Eve in Times Square?
When was the first Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day?
In “Home Alone,” where are the McAllisters going on Christmas when they leave Kevin behind?
Which country did eggnog come from?
Which fairy tale was the first gingerbread house inspired by?
Three of Santa’s reindeer’s names begin with the letter “D.” What are those names?
How many candles are there on a menorah?
Who was the first U.S. President to celebrate Hanukkah at the White House?
How many days does the Kwanzaa celebration last?
Which type of food is considered a symbol of Kwanzaa?

ANSWERS:

1907
1890
Paris
England
Hansel and Gretel
Dancer, Dasher, Donner
Nine (remember: one for each of the 8 days of Hanukkah, plus the Shamash used to light the others)
Harry Truman
Seven
Corn

Hopefully, some of these were tough! I know I learned a few things. I hope you all have a safe, warm, and happy holiday season, no matter which ones you celebrate!

Another brewery in town!

You won’t believe this! Okay, maybe you will. There’s another brewery in Walnut Creek. We just finished recapping Rotator Brewery a couple of weeks ago, and now here I am to tell you about the San Diego-based Mike Hess Brewery that is situated in The Orchards shopping center on Ygnacio and Oak Grove!

The Mike Hess Brewery website isn’t working yet, so I can’t link you. But I stopped by to check it out and got a few pictures! The space has lots of seats inside, but the outdoor seating is the place to be. It is partially covered, and they often have live music on the weekends.

I really like the simple, sleek interior, and they had a spacious, cozy outdoor area with couches and a TV. They do host a trivia night every Wednesday, which should be fun, and they really pulled me in when I found it is a dog-friendly place! Bodie is getting old, but he would enjoy a sit on the patio. They don’t serve food, but you can order from the plethora of restaurants in the shopping center and some will bring it over to the brewery (Mod Pizza, Burger Lounge, etc. to name a few).

One cool thing that Mike Hess Brewery has done in the past is run “HessFest,” a charity fundraiser ever year. We can only hope they’ll bring the event up north with them, as Walnut Creek could use a few good brewfests! Go check out Mike Hess Brewery when you can!

Sauced Opens in the old Pyramid Location

Pyramid Alehouse was a long-standing favorite in downtown Walnut Creek, but has recently given way to a new barbecue joint called Sauced.

The owners are cousins (one raised in Pleasanton, one in the South) and imported everything from the South – from the wood used in the restaurant to the menu and drinks. Their goal is to bring authentic BBQ to Northern California, but they did not bring southern pricing to the table.

Where the old Pyramid brewery tanks were is now a huge, open bar and that seating area looks massive with the new layout. They do trivia on Tuesday and Bingo on Wednesday each week, and the dining area also has plenty of space for big groups.

I had the brisket which was served with apple coleslaw (very good) and a slice of corn bread with whole kernel corn (authentic and tasty) plus two drinks. It was rich and I had a food coma for a few hours, but maybe the drinks attributed to the feeling.

The food and ambiance is good; my son ordered a Cubana, which includes a fried pickle in it and two sides, the cost $20. The BBQ I have had outside of Austin, TX would cost much less and is just as good, but we can’t all go to Austin for some down-home BBQ and I am sure our rents are much higher, thus Sauced is local and may be the next best thing if you are hunkering for BBQ.

They do have a great bar area, tons of mico-brews to choose from and a daily happy hour. It is a great place to gather with friends and enjoy a game. Pyramid left some pretty big shoes to fill, considering its popularity, so time will tell if Sauced can keep the seats filled. I do hope they continue the live music on the patio in the summer and would love to hear what you think and if you know of any other great BBQ spots!