Manasota Mensa

LAST Thursdays at Mission BBQ
2025-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway, Suite 109, Sarasota, United States
June 26 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – NEW DAY – LAST Thursdays at Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway (just west of Honore). We’re moving our Mission BBQ event to the LAST Thursday of each month. Good food, good friends, good conversation! Look for an “M” table tent, or a bunch of happy people. Contact: Leslie Carroll at leslie.e.carroll@gmail.com or Don Chinnici at don@manasotamensa.com

June Theodore Talk
2025-06-22 15:30 - 17:00
June 22 – Sunday – 3:30 PM – June Theodore Talk: How Corn Changed Itself and Then Changed Everything Else: The Role Agriculture Played in the Early Days of Chicago. About 10,000 years ago, a weedy grass growing in Mexico possessed of a strange trait, known as a “jumping gene”, transformed itself into a larger and more useful grass — the cereal grass that we would come to know as maize and then corn. Thanks to corn, the Midwest was settled faster than any other region in history, and Chicago became immensely influential. Cynthia Clampitt, author of Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland, will present what may prove to be the corniest Theodore Talk ever!
Register: https://tinyurl.com/th68mxcv

1st Thursday Monthly Gathering @ O'Learys
2025-06-05 18:00 - 20:00
June 5 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – 1st Thursday Monthly Gathering @O’Learys – FREE – O’Leary’s has reopened after last year’s storm damage! Let’s go back there for the First Thursday Monthly Gatherings starting this month. This is an informal gathering of Mensa members. You can purchase drinks and snacks at the open-air restaurant with beach seating. We encourage drop-ins. Look for a sign or a balloon on our table. O’Leary’s Tiki Bar, 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. Contact: Don Chinnici:don@manasotamensa.com, Leslie Carroll:leslie.e.carroll@gmail.com

New Day - Mission BBQ on LAST Thursdays
2025-05-29 18:00 - 20:00
May 29 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – NEW DAY – LAST Thursdays at Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway (just west of Honore). We’re moving our Mission BBQ event to the LAST Thursday of each month. Good food, good friends, good conversation! Look for an “M” table tent, or a bunch of happy people. Contact: Leslie Carroll at leslie.e.carroll@gmail.com or Don Chinnici at don@manasotamensa.com

May Theodore Talk
2025-05-25 15:30 - 17:00 | Zoom, Virtual
May 25 – Sunday – 3:30 PM – May Theodore Talk: Sweet Home: The Storied History of Chicago Blues. Journey through blues music’s rich history and evolution, tracing its origins from the deep Southern fields to the bustling streets of Chicago. Jacob Schulz, blues musician and historian, will discuss the current challenges facing the blues, including its fading mainstream presence and efforts to preserve its legacy for future generations. Register for this presentation: https://tinyurl.com/2663hn36

First Thursday Monthly Gathering at Mission BBQ
2025-05-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway, Suite 109, Sarasota, United States
May 1 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – FREE – First Thursday Monthly Gathering at Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway (just west of Honore). Good food, good friends, good conversation! Look for an “M” table tent, or a bunch of happy people. Contact: Don Chinnici at don@manasotamensa.com or Leslie Carroll at leslie.e.carroll@gmail.com

April Theodore Talk
2025-04-27 15:30 - 17:00
April 27 – Sunday – 3:30 PM – April Theodore Talk: When the World Came to Chicago: The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. In 2003, Eric Larson’s book The Devil in the White City sparked widespread popular interest in the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, 1890s Chicago, and world’s fairs generally. While readers were enthralled by the grisly details of the murderous H.H. Holmes, the fair was more than just a setting for a true crime tale (and was not, in fact, the location of the murders); it was an important moment in Chicago’s history that set the trend for subsequent fairs for decades.
In this lavishly illustrated Zoom presentation, Dr. Nicholas McCormack will examine a brief history of world’s fairs and the context for Chicago playing host to the first one in the U.S. You’ll learn how the fair was designed, what its intended purpose was, and its impact on Chicago and the future of world’s fairs, especially Chicago’s second world’s fair in 1933-34. There is a vibrant scholarship — a historiography — of world’s fairs that highlights serious issues such as colonialism, classism, and racism, which many popular tellings of the Columbian Exposition and other world’s fairs either ignore or distort. This talk will engage with those debates and issues as well. Registration: https://tinyurl.com/4n3sctsh.

First Thursday Monthly Gathering at Mission BBQ
2025-04-03 18:00 - 20:00
April 3 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – FREE – First Thursday Monthly Gathering at Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway, Suite 109 (just west of Honore). Good food, good friends, good conversation! Look for an “M” table tent, or a bunch of happy people. Contact: Don Chinnici at don@manasotamensa.com or Leslie Carroll at leslie.e.carroll@gmail.com

ExComm Meeting via Zoom
2025-03-11 19:00 - 20:00
March 4 – Tuesday – 7:00 PM – ExComm Meeting via Zoom. All are
welcome. Zoom link to be provided.

SSSSSS - (South Sarasota Second Saturday Social Soiree)
2025-03-08 10:30 - 12:30 | Skillets Restaurant, 4115 Tamiami Trail South, Venice, FL
March 8 – Saturday – 10:30 AM – $$ – SSSSSS – (South Sarasota SecondSaturday Social Soiree) Join us at Skillets Restaurant, 4115 Tamiami Trail South, in Venice for breakfast/brunch/lunch.
Please arrive a couple of minutes early so we can all be seated together. Restaurant policy is to not seat large groups until all of their complement have arrived. If weather permits, we may be seated on the patio. Please RSVP to Linda Hathaway 407-765-8797 so we can get a big enough table.

First Thursday Monthly Gathering at Mission BBQ,
2025-03-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway, Suite 109, Sarasota, United States
March 6 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – FREE – First Thursday Monthly
Gathering at Mission BBQ, 5231 University Parkway, Suite 109 (just west of
Honore). This month we’re going back to Mission BBQ on University. Come on
out and enjoy the evening. Look for an “M” table tent, or a bunch of happy
people. Contact: Don Chinnici at don@manasotamensa.com

Scrabble®, at the Clever Cup Cafe
2019-07-30 13:30 - 16:30, 2019-07-23 13:30 - 16:30, 2019-07-16 13:30 - 15:30, 2019-07-09 13:30 - 16:30, 2019-07-02 13:30 - 15:30 | The Clever Cup Cafe, 6530 Gateway Avenue, 6530 Gateway Avenue, The Clever Cup Cafe, 6530 Gateway Avenue, FL, 34231, United States
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Tuesday – 1:30 PM – FREE – SCRABBLE®. Sarasota Scrabble Club meets at The Clever Cup Cafe, 6530 Gateway Avenue. They serve specialty teas, coffees, and homemade pastries (some vegan). We usually have 12-16 players and we play friendly fun games, allowing you to use the dictionary as needed. R.S.V.P. to patrogerssrq@gmail.com or 925-0261.

Cheap Asian Eats
2019-07-27 12:00 - 14:00 | Asian Kitchen, 5555 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota, FL, United States
July 27 – Saturday – 12 Noon – $ – CHEAP ASIAN EATS. Let’s again meet at Asian Kitchen, 5555 Palmer Crossing Circle, in Sarasota. (Turn south off Clark Road, about a quarter-mile east of the stoplight at Honore Avenue or a quarter-mile west of the stoplight at Gantt Road.) Lunches start at $6.79. The food is very good and the portions are large. R.S.V.P. to Linda Mason at masonsrq@gmail.com or 349-1884 if you want her to save you a seat.

P.O.E.T.S.
2019-07-26 17:00 - 19:00, 2019-07-19 17:00 - 19:00, 2019-07-12 17:00 - 19:00, 2019-07-05 17:00 - 19:00 | G’s Country Kitchen, 1000 Circus Blvd, Sarasota, FL, United States
July 5, 12, 19, 26 – Friday – 5:00 PM (or thereabouts) – $ – P.O.E.T.S. (Phooey on Everything, Tomorrow’s Saturday) In response to feedback from attendees, we will be trying a new location for July. Show up at or around 5 PM to join us for dinner at G’s Country Kitchen, 1000 Circus Blvd. in Sarasota (in the Bobby Jones Golf Complex). The entrance is on the left side of the building. The new owner offers sandwiches, salads and sides, as well as full meals, most of which are under $10.00. Alcohol is available. So join us for a fun, tasty meal. No. R.S.V.P. needed! Just show up! WA

Games
2019-07-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Nancy Heinrich, 3901 Calliandra Drive, Sarasota, FL, United States
July 21 – Sunday – 7:00 PM – FREE – GAMES. Come and stimulate your mind. Bring your favorite board, card or other table game to the home of Nancy Heinrich, 3901 Calliandra Drive, Sarasota. Also bring a snack to share and your drink of choice. R.S.V.P. to Nancy at flcyclist@gmail.com or 373-0956. C, WA, SS

PUBLIC: Coffee Morning at Starbucks
2019-07-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Starbucks, 5825 Derek Ave, Sarasota, FL, United States
July 20 – Saturday – 10:00 AM – $ – Coffee Morning at Starbucks, 5825 Derek Ave, Sarasota (off of Clark Rd.) Come and join us. Look for a Mensa tent card or yellow balloon. R.S.V.P. helpful: Don Chinnici, 539-8855. Please note: This event is listed on the Meetup Public Mensa site, and is open to the public. Come and mingle with people who want to know who we are. July 20 – Saturday – 10:00 AM – $ – Coffee Morning at Starbucks, 5825 Derek Ave, Sarasota (off of Clark Rd.) Come and join us. Look for a Mensa tent card or yellow balloon. R.S.V.P. helpful: Don Chinnici, 539-8855. Please note: This event is listed on the Public Mensa calendar, and is open to the public. Come and mingle with people who want to know who we are.

Cheap Eats
2019-07-16 11:30 - 13:30 | The Breakfast House, 1817 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL, United States
July 16 – Tuesday – 11:30 AM – $ – CHEAP EATS. This month we’ll try a new place, The Breakfast House, 1817 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. Many of their entrée’s are in the range of $10 or $11 and they have more breakfast choices than I’ve ever seen. They also serve lunch and the cozy setting is very appealing. R.S.V.P. to 941-373-0956 or flcyclist@gmail.com if you want to sit at our table.

South Sarasota Second Saturday Social Soiree
2019-07-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Word of Mouth, 1740 East Venice Avenue, Venice, FL, United States
July 13 – Saturday – 10 AM – $$ – South Sarasota Second Saturday Social Soiree (SSSSSS) will meet at Word of Mouth, 1740 East Venice Avenue, Venice for brunch this month. This is also the weekend of the annual Venice Sharks Tooth Festival. Meet Linda Hathaway and others at the restaurant to enjoy a wide variety of breakfast, brunch or lunch menu items. Email Linda at linda.hathaway@yahoo.com or call her at 407-765-8797 to R.S.V.P. so she can ensure we get seated together.

PUBLIC: O'Leary's Tiki Pub
2019-07-12 18:00 - 20:00 | O’Leary’s Tiki Pub, 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
July 12 – Friday – 6:00 PM – FREE – Evening at O’Leary’s Tiki Bar, 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota (at the end of Ringling Blvd.) This has been a very popular and fun event. R.S.V.P. helpful: Don Chinnici, 539-8855. Look for yellow balloons or a Mensa tent card, and keep that phone number handy to coordinate finding us in a busy high-season time. Please note: This event is listed on the Public Mensa calendar, and is open to the public. Come and mingle with people who want to know who we are.

Games
2019-07-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Nancy Heinrich, 3901 Calliandra Drive, Sarasota, FL, United States
July 7 – Sunday – 7:00 PM – FREE – GAMES. Why not relax with some games? Bring your favorite board, card or other table game to the home of Nancy Heinrich, 3901 Calliandra Drive, Sarasota. Also bring a snack to share and your drink of choice. R.S.V.P. to Nancy at flcyclist@gmail.com or 373-0956. C, WA, SS

Independence Day Party / Monthly Gathering
2019-07-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Linda Mason, 4828 Featherbed Lane, Siesta Key, FL, United States
July 4 – Thursday – 5-8 PM – FREE – INDEPENDENCE DAY PARTY / MONTHLY GATHERING. Join Linda and Michelle Mason at 4828 Featherbed Lane on Siesta Key to celebrate the birth of our nation (and the July 3rd birthday of Dwight Gill)!! Just get casually patriotic, bring the family, and bring a dish to share if you want. We will have hot dogs and coleslaw. Our pool is available to cool off in . . . just BYOT (bring your own towel). We can’t see fireworks from the house, but there will be plenty of time for you to get to your favorite viewing spot (or to drive home and avoid the noise) before it gets dark. R.S.V.P. to masonsrq@gmail.com or 349-1884. D, WA, SS
