Hi Bestie!!

My birthday is this month ("When? I'll never tell!"), and in my my final efforts to like my birthday, I sent out boxes to a couple of friends, had a one-sided yelling match with my therapist (we unlocked a bonus level), and wrote you this trivia.

Remember, I promised you intense navel-gazing in this newsletter.

Answer it at your leisure. It will give me something to do this weekend at Finback or on the bus during holiday travel. There is no deadline.

By the way, I totally stole this from one of you, who had a big party in Big Bear Lake last year with games, forbidden candy salad, and a personalized JEOPARDY!/Trivial Pursuit. I bow to the expert.

RULES: No cheating! As the host of Good Question Trivia says, "Trivia is [uncool]." As my father says, the worst thing in the world is to lie.​​

What's In A Family Name

Katherine has two sisters. For a half point each, what are their names?

For a bonus point, identify Katherine's birth order, for which she has a self-deprecating comeback:

For another bonus point (a half point each), name Katherine’s beloved brothers-in-law:

Even though almost none of her adult friends have, or even like, children, her nieces and nephew are nearly all that Katherine talks about. For one-third point each, provide their names:

For a bonus point, at half a point each, name the literary inspirations behind the names of the Oregon girls:

She'd never say it to their face (she would), but Katherine calls her parents by their first names when gallivanting around town. What are their names?

Finally, who was Katherine named after, and who named her? (For one point total, and half a point each!)

TOTAL POINTS: ___

The Geographic Name Game 

What idyllically named neighborhood did Katherine call home during her childhood?

For a bonus point, name the town:  

Katherine's first apartment, located in a suburb of Baltimore, was given this illiterative name, inspired by a math rock EP originally titled Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" At Them.

Name the Brooklyn neighborhood Katherine lives in now:

For a bonus point, name the mayor-elect. Spelling counts:

An enduring appeal to living on Bedford Avenue has been proximity to the Franklin Avenue train station. For three years, another draw was "the bar and bakery of your dreams," a small bar that served cocktails with slices of cake and pie. Name this famed, woman-owned bar, whose name sounds like an ice cream topping:

Since 2017, Katherine has volunteered in this small, Midwestern town, furthering the legacy of her grandparents, who volunteered during her childhood. This area is known for the transformative effect it had on President Theodore Roosevelt and will host his presidential library. Seated outside the Southern Unit of a National Park, this town is known for its family-friendly appeal and its original musical, held in an outdoor amphitheater. Name the town and state, for a half point each:

TOTAL POINTS: ___

The Nickname Game 

In a failed attempt to mock Generation Z, Katherine started greeting her friends at work with this term of affection, which is incidentally how she opens her semi-irregular newsletter, Too Loud and Too Old.

Earlier this year, Katherine interviewed a producer from the film Gabby's Dollhouse. He revealed a new character, voiced by Matty Matheson. In hours, it was a new term of affection. What is the name of the character whose likeness is licensed exclusively by Walmart?

Embarrassingly, Katherine briefly tried to have a nickname in middle school. Of course, if she had known that Kick was a nickname for Kathleen, or that her chosen nickname was exclusive to infantilized housewives, things might have gone differently. Only two friends from middle school use it today. Name it and proceed with mockery:

For a bonus point, list one nickname you or her immediate family uses. (Naming more than one correct answer will not result in additional points.)

TOTAL POINTS: ___

You Got Schooled, Homie

For half a point each, name Katherine's elementary school and collegiate alma mater:

In what was a miscalculated bid for education, Katherine learned about this seminal 1911 New York City tragedy at a very young age. Don't miss your lunch hour or work too late, or she'll give you the fastest lecture of your life about unions, safety, and compensation:

For a bonus point, quote a portion of Katherine's seminal lecture:

In another miscalculated venture, Katherine learned about irony at a young age through a book about this historic shipwreck, which has a memorial in New York City’s seaport:

Contrary to popular belief, this idyllic, saccharine series is not Katherine's favorite TV show or book — despite the fact that she has seen every single episode. Her fascination with this chapter of U.S. history, loosely tied to her family's Midwestern heritage, continues to captivate her (enough to inspire questions at Good Question Trivia and a niche meme account). Name this series, known for its bonnets and braids, whose 1984 finale ends with the highly fictionalized detonation of Walnut Grove.

For a bonus point, Katherine says this short-lived comedy, which aired on Starz and was created by YA author Rob Thomas, is her favorite:

By request: this politician is Katherine's most-hated. He is single-handedly responsible for laying the groundwork that led to today's shitstorm, although he has not held office in almost 20 years. He recently died, though, and if the rumor is true, urine stains marble — making a trip to his home state of Wyoming totally worth it.

Katherine was 18 during an election year. She cast her ballot for this man, a Navy veteran, beloved former Secretary of State, and errant hothead:

TOTAL POINTS: ___

My Mother Never Called It A Phase Actually

Which of the following was Katherine's first ringtone? For this question, you may listen to the songs before you make your choice.

- [ ] Jimmy Eat World "The Middle"

- [ ] The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

- [ ] Imogen Heap "Hide and Seek"

- [ ] Franz Ferdinand "Take Me Out"

For one bonus point, name any one of the three ringtones she has on her iPhone now. (Naming more than one correct answer will not result in additional points.)

Katherine wrote a zine for ten years, which she self-promoted and self-published. It led to meeting her best friend and a jaw-dropping amount of work experience. What was its name?

During the same time period, 2000-2010, Katherine faithfully attended this summer music festival, which hosted acts like Green Day, The Graduate, Less Than Jake, and hundreds of Hot Topic bands. Grab a skateboard or join her in the pit at this erstwhile, dust-filled, multi-stage experience:

Embarrassingly, this then-local, now-national (they released a new album this summer) band was in every issue for the first year. Name the band Katherine was tragically, hopelessly devoted to, and counts Nicole Richie and Cameron Diaz as wives of its founding members:

Thankfully, she moved on and went all-in for this Illinois-based pop-punk band. Name the band she gave all of her drinking money to in college, which itself is named after a minor character from The Simpsons:

Katherine spent almost every Tuesday doing this, which likely contributed to her C+ in honors-level physics?

For a bonus point, name the specific place she went to:

Name Katherine's favorite band, another Illinois-based band with a confusing, sports-based name. This band recorded its first LP in 1999 before the members graduated from college, and has recorded two LPs since 2016. Name these NPR darlings and the godfathers of emo:

Katherine went to Santa Monica for the first time last year during a trip to Los Angeles. Her best friend took her to the beach and the pier, and together they rode the Ferris Wheel and talked shit about ex-boyfriends. Katherine's fascination with Santa Monica was inspired by a song written by which 1990s/2000s alt-rock band?

TOTAL POINTS: ___

READ A DIFFERENT BOOK

At the risk of throwing haymakers in the bike lane, Katherine thinks this series, which concluded for a second time this month with the publication of The Rose Field, is vastly superior to Harry Potter. Published in the 1990s and 2010s, it was adapted into a cinematic film in the 2000s and a BBC miniseries in the 2020s, despite minor controversy for its criticism of the Catholic Church. (For this question, the proper name of the series, or its American nomenclature, is acceptable.)

Katherine read this novel when she moved to New York in 2010, mostly on the bus to Williamsburg from her house. Because she was lonely in a new place, she was particularly moved by this heroine’s youthful journey and pursuit of friendship and education. Name this book, which has a series of sequels and several miniseries adaptations, including an anime:

Katherine took and aced AP Lit in high school. (Humblebrag.) It was then that she read this Jane Austen novel about sisters, which is truly her favorite:

Katherine is a devotee of this cookbook author, who preached "cookie diplomacy." The author is known for Palm Beach Bars and Pennsylvania Squares:

For a bonus point, name another cookbook author beloved by Katherine. She is best known for her Food Network series, but reminds the birthday girl of her Aunt Renee, as they share a no-nonsense approach and a similar haircut:  

LOOK AT YOU NOW

Katherine fell into bartending by accident, after her well-paid startup office shuttered; she worked for a variety of businesses. Name one of the last two breweries she worked in before returning to editing. (Naming more than one correct answer will not result in additional points.)

One of these venues led to meeting the close friends she has now, and participating in a weekly activity during the winter months. Name the country's oldest winter bathing club, of which Katherine is a member:

Katherine is also a member of a local community group that is active during the summer. Name the general activity this group is dedicated to:

For a bonus point, call it a challenge question, name the group by its full name: 

No one knows what people do for work anymore. Name Katherine’s current job and employer for a half point each:

For a bonus point, hazard a guess at the other careers Katherine considered as a young person. (Naming more than one correct answer will not result in additional points.)

Katherine started an Etsy shop several years ago. Initially, it was meant to be embroidery, but it evolved into tie-dye. Its most successful venture has been anti-Trump merchandise, which is printed to order by a third-party company (because Katherine lives in an apartment). Name this business, which is inspired by her bodega order:

For a bonus point, name any of Katherine's other hobbies. She has many:

IT WAS THE '80S!

Katherine always knew she needed to live in New York. She spent her afternoons with these two TV shows, which promised — correctly — that the streets were paved with pizza. One show was live-action and literature-focused; it will be rebooted soon with a new host. The other was animated and featured characters named after Italian artists. It, too, is enjoying a Renaissance of its own. For half a point each, name these influential programs:

GRAND TOTAL POINTS: ___

Always your friend,

Katherine

There are sources this week. That video in the caption is from Parks and Rec, and it's on YouTube. Here’s a baby picture if you scrolled to the end.