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.
Friday, January 24
5:45 PM Dinner & a Play
Join us for dinner at Urban Plates in Fountain Valley at 5:45 pm. After dinner, we’ll carpool to the Costa Mesa Playhouse to see a performance of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize winning drama, How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel. A block of tickets at $15 each has been reserved.
Directions: Take the 405 to the Brookhurst Street exit, and head south. Urban Plates is one block south on the left (east) side.
Contact: Pam Zinner, no later than 1/18 to RSVP and reserve your ticket.
Sunday, January 26
10:45 AM Brunch Buddies
Join us for brunch with this new SIG. This month we are going to Bosscat Kitchen & Libations. Wide range of brunch options and the Flaming Hot Cheetos Bloody Mary. Please note: Brunch time can often mean wait times. Please RSVP for this event no later than 48 hours before so we know who plans to join us before getting a table/reservation.
Location:. Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, 118 W. Chapman Ave., Orange
Contact: Valerie Spear or John Olsen.
Wednesday, January 29
12:30 PM (almost) FREE LUNCH
Join us for Japanese inspired burgers, fried chicken, rice bowls, craft beer and other tasty options at Ojai Burger.
Location: Ojai Burger. 238 W. Chapman Ave., Suite 100, Orange. Free parking garage one block north on Lemon.
Contact: John Olsen
Deadline for Nominations to OCM Board
The last Wednesday in January is the deadline for volunteering to serve on the next OCM Board (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026).
Contact: Any member of this year’s Nominating Committee:
Chair: Roger Schanzenbach,
Kristine Calitri
Dave Wade
Wednesday, February 5
12:35 PM LuncH with a Capital H
We’ve been coming to Hollingshead’s for 3 decades! Great sandwiches and beer if you’re a midday beer kind of person.
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 6
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.
Contact: John Kerr
Sunday, February 9
10:30 AM Atheists United Orange Co., Second Sunday 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.
Location: The restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 4545 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. (The cross street is Birch, near the airport).
Contact: Joyce Farmer
3:00 PM Super Bowl Party
Super Bowl Party at the home of Valerie Spear returns again. This will be a bit different this year. House will put on a full buffet with foods from the two teams’ hometowns. Will it be Buffalo Wings and Cheesesteak? Will it be KC BBQ and Detroit Shawarma?? The other change is it will be 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.
Location: Tustin
Contact: Valerie Spear
Monday, February 10
10:00 PM Calendar and Oracle Deadlines
Submit March calendar entries to the Calendar Editor at calendar@ocmensa.org .
Submit March Oracle entries (articles & photos) to the Oracle Editor at editor@ocmensa.org .
3:00 PM, Friday, February 14, through Sunday, February 16
“Stargazing 2025.” Our neighboring chapter, Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa (GLAAM) will be holding a regional gathering (RG) just across the border from us at in Long Beach.
Wednesday, February 19
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: Asia Buffet, 23552 El Toro Rd, Lake Forest
Directions: Exit I-5 at El Toro Rd, head inland a half mile; on the right.
Contact: Tom Streeter
Sunday, February 23
11:00 AM Brunch Buddies
Join us for brunch! This month we’re off to Rodrigo’s for Mexican. 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: Rodrigo’s, 14882 Holt Ave., Tustin
Contact: Valerie Spear or John Olsen
Wednesday, February 26
12:30 PM (almost) FREE LUNCH
For years we went to a great Oaxacan restaurant at this location. Now it’s a different Mexican restaurant with very good reviews. They appear to have many of the specialties from the previous place. Let’s check it out!
Location: Gonzalez’s Restaurant. 1740 W. Chapman Ave., Orange
Contact: John Olsen
