We have a full schedule of social activities each month, ranging from lunches and happy hours to games nights, discussion groups, trivia, and our Speakers Forum.
All events are open to all Mensa members, and to guests who accompany Mensa members. Events in public places (restaurants, theaters, etc.) are also open to prospective members. RSVPs are not required, except as noted.
The calendar of activities in the Oracle (our monthly newsletter) may include additional events that are open only to Mensa members and their guests. To view the Calendar in the Oracle, please visit American Mensa’s local group newsletters webpage. Have your Mensa log-in info (email address and password) ready.
Once a week, we send an Email Blast — “This Week in OC Mensa” — that lists the activities for the next seven days to each member with an email address on file with American Mensa.
Mensa members: You can schedule your own activity or get-together in next month’s calendar by submitting a Calendar entry to our Calendar Editor at: calendar@ocmensa.org
Note: To protect the privacy of our hosts, home addresses, personal email addresses, and phone numbers are not listed on this website. Current members of Orange County Mensa can access this information in the current Oracle newsletter or the weekly eBlast.
Sunday, January 25
10:30 AM Brunch Buddies
Join us for brunch! This month we’re off to Almuerzo Café. Please note: Brunch time can often mean wait times. Please RSVP for this event no later than 48 hours before so we know who to wait for before getting a table/reservation.
Location: Almuerzo Café. 15761 Tustin Village Way, Tustin
Contact: Valerie Spear or John Olsen.
Wednesday, January 28
12:35 PM (almost) FREE LUNCH
As I write this, I’m hoping it’s chilly and that pho will be the perfect lunch. Either way, join us at My Pho for pho and other Vietnamese specialties that aren’t soup.
Location: My Pho, 3426 E. Chapman Ave, Orange
Contact: John Olsen.
Tuesday, February 3
6:30 PM Parent Support Zoom
Every 1st Tuesday, we will have a Zoom meeting where any Gifted Youth parents can join to connect, vent, get advice, share tips, and brainstorm ideas.
Contact: GiftedYouth@OCMensa.org for the zoom link.
Wednesday, February 4
12:30 PM LuncH with a Capital H
Join us for sandwiches and conversation and maybe a beer. New year, same nonsense. Look for us at the round big table (if we get it).
Location: Hollingshead’s Deli, 368 S. Main St., Orange. Behind Victory Diner. North of the 22 Fwy, south of Chapman. Look for Deli sign in the corner of a small shopping center.
Contact: John Olsen,.
Thursday, February 5
12:00 Noon First Thursday Lunch
Please join us at Cafe Rose Express. Typical full lunches priced from about $8 to $25. Fresh salads & pastries. Full lunch menu with daily specials. We’re welcoming, good natured and friendly. If the weather is nice, we may be outside in the shade. Look for the M on a yellow background.
Location: Cafe Rose Express, 1570 Scenic Ave., Costa Mesa, 949-478-8777.
Contact: John Kerr.
Saturday, February 7
7:00 PM Games, Puzzles, Origami, & Conversation
Join us for a fun and relaxing time hanging out with your fellow Mensans. There will be an assortment of things to do. We’ll have board games to play, as well as jigsaw puzzles for group puzzling. Or, challenge your mind with a variety of 3-dimensional brain-teaser puzzles. Or, try your hand at origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. Those who don’t want to get involved with puzzles or origami or a game can spend their time visiting and conversing.
Location: Garden Grove.
Contact: Marti Reis.
Sunday, February 8
10:30 AM Atheists Brunch
The conversation is enjoyable and unstructured among like-minded friends. We order brunch from the menu. We are open to the public, free parking at the hotel. An RSVP is appreciated but not necessary.
Location: The restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 4545 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. (The cross street is Birch, near the airport).
Contact: Joyce Farmer
Sunday, February 8
3:00 PM Super Bowl Party
Super Bowl Party at the home of Valerie Spear returns again. Same as last year, the house will put on a full buffet with foods from the two teams’ hometowns. Will it be our own LA bacon wrapped hot dogs and Pittsburgh brats? Will it be KC BBQ and Detroit Shawarma?? Also, it’s BYOB. (Bring what you want to drink).
Not a football fan, not a problem. We will have a two-room setup. The football room, where you can enjoy the game without interruption. Then there is the social room. The game will be in the background… food and conversation will be the focus here. $10 per person and BYOB.
Location: Tustin.
Contact: Valerie Spear
Monday, February 9
10:00 PM Calendar and Oracle Deadlines
Submit March 2026 calendar entries to the Calendar Editor at Calendar@ocmensa.org.
Submit March 2026 Oracle entries (articles & photos) to the Oracle Editor at Editor@ocmensa.org.
Saturday, February 14
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Cutting-Edge and Big Ideas SIG
We’ll meet monthly to share big ideas, friendship, and fun. We’ll discuss articles, books, and knowledge about lots of cool topics not limited to: Cutting-edge Science, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Technology, Economics, History, Politics, Biography, Inspirational Leadership, Philosophy, Brain Science, Learning & Thinking, Positive Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, Gifted Minds, Futurism, Cultural & Physical Evolution, as well as AI & Machine Learning. We will be reading a cutting-edge or big idea book each month, chosen by our members. Meetings are the second Saturday of each month and after our intellectual fun together we can join the Mensa group at the Whale and Ale down the street. Come for the exciting conversation, stay for the connection, fun, and friendship.
Location: Sirens Java & Tea, 402 W 7th St, San Pedro.
Contact: Contact Jennifer to RSVP, with any questions or comments, for our book ideas, or for more info.
Sunday, February 15
2:30 PM Virtual Presentation: San Francisco Regional Mensa
Topic: From Earth To Mars: Steps Toward the First Human Journey to the Red Planet.
Speaker: Pascal Lee, PhD, Director, NASA Haughton-Mars Project; SETI Institute, Mars Institute, Kepler Space University & NASA Ames Research Center.
The first human mission to Mars will be humanity’s greatest adventure in space exploration this century. As with all expeditions, its success depends on planning. The first steps are already under way, as we build more efficient rockets, achieve longer space flights, plan our return to the Moon, and work in extreme environments on Earth viewed as Mars “analogs.” We will examine in turn the what, why, how, when, and who of the first human mission to Mars.
This is a Zoom meeting.
Please register at: https://livepresentation.link/FEB
You will receive a confirmation email with the login info.
Wednesday, February 18
1:00 PM South of the Border
Join us south of the border (the border being the El Toro Y) for a south-county lunch. RSVP not required. Look for the black-and-yellow “M” sign on the table.
Location this month: Cafe Rio, 24312 Rockfield, Lake Forest. www.caferio.com/locations/lake-forest.
Directions: Exit I-5 at El Toro Road, go inland (East) 400 feet, and turn right before Rockfield. The restaurant is on the southwest corner of El Toro and Raymond.
Contact: Tom Streeter.
Thursday, February 19
5:00 PM SCIHH (South County Indoor Happy Hour)
We’re continuing indoors for the winter. The always interesting conversation follows wherever it leads, no set topic. We’ll provide the beer, wine, and water. Bring a snack to share if you’re so inclined, but don’t feel obligated. Note: There are some stairs inside.
Location: Laguna Beach.
Contact: Joyce Farmer.
Saturday, February 21
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Gifted Youth: Board Game Fun & Swap
Bring your favorite game(s) to play and a game or two you’d like to trade. The more you bring to trade, the more you can take home! This event will be held at a church with a large parking lot and lots of tables to play games, so feel free to invite your friends. A few snacks will be provided, feel free to bring something to share as well.
Location: Costa Mesa.
Contact: GiftedYouth@OCMensa.org.
Sunday, February 22
10:45 AM Brunch Buddies
We are checking out a relatively new spot called The Pan. Breakfast, Pizza Burgers. Please note: Brunch time can often mean wait times. Please RSVP for this event no later than 48 hours before so we know who to wait for before getting a table/reservation.
Location: The Pan. 1804 N. Tustin Ave. Santa Ana.
Contact: Valerie Spear or John Olsen.
Wednesday, February 25
12:35 PM (almost) FREE LUNCH
Join us at El Camino Café for some distinctive Mexican food. You’ll find their sauces to be rather intriguing, maybe you’ll love them and maybe you won’t. Come for Chilaquiles, Burritos, Quesadillas, Tortas and more.
Location: El Camino Café. 195 El Camino Real, Tustin. Corner of Second St.
Contact: John Olsen.
