Whether you’re obsessed with playing HQ Trivia, are harboring a secret love for Steve Harvey, or can’t stop binge-watching reruns of Jeopardy!, we can all agree that there’s something exhilarating about using your know-how to earn prizes.

But you don’t have to go on TV to earn the big bucks. Head to these Baltimore bars and restaurants for trivia that’ll be sure to put your mind to the test. And with special drink promotions, food deals, cash prizes, and creative theme nights, these bars will have everyone feeling like a winner. Grab a pint, pick a clever team name, recruit your smartest teammates, and get ready for some friendly competition.

Sunday

Homeslyce: At Homeslyce’s Federal Hill location, the fun and games start at 7 p.m., but the drink specials go all night long. Get $4 Deep Eddy drinks, $4 Coppola wines, $3.50 seasonal beer, $5 craft draft beer, and $2.50 Miller Lite, Bud Light, and Natty Boh bottles and cans. Or split a $12 seasonal pitcher with your teammates and prepare to dominate. 1741 Light St., 443-501-4000

The Brass Tap: This Towson bar hosts a themed trivia night that starts at 7 p.m. And with categories ranging from The Big Bang Theory and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air to the Ravens and James Bond, no game night is ever boring. The weekly winners walk away with gift cards, brewery glassware, free draughts, and a bartender’s choice of free shots. Visit the bar’s Facebook page for upcoming themes for each week. 825 Dulaney Valley Rd., 410-842-6041

Kooper’s Tavern: Kooper’s Tavern is known for its BYOB (build your own burger) menu. And nothing pairs better with a burger than a bucket of beers and some friendly competition. Kooper’s trivia starts at 8 p.m., it’s free to play, and the happy hour specials last all night. There’s only one rule: No Sunday Scaries allowed. 1702 Thames St., 410-563-5423

Monday

El Bufalo Tequila Bar & Kitchen: Charm City Trivia hosts a weekly game night at this Canton restaurant starting at 8 p.m. There’s a variety of tequila drinks, specialty house salsas, and family-style nachos—perfect for sharing with your team. And with so many delicious plates, are there really any losers? 2921 O’Donnell St., 410-814-0594

Black Eyed Suzie’s: This Bel Air bar mourns Mondays in the best way—by offering $5 martinis all day. Grab a glass (or three) and stay for the weekly trivia game at 7 p.m., hosted by Charm City Trivia. The toss-up winners get free Suzie Bombs.119 South Main St., 443-271-799

Cafe Hon: Hosted by Charm City Trivia, Cafe Hon’s trivia night starts at 8 p.m. Earn a $20 gift certificate for first place, a $15 gift certificate for second, and a $10 gift certificate for third. There’s also weekly drawings for more chances to win and tons of drinks specials.1002 W 36th St., 410-243-1230

Tuesday

Frazier’s on the Avenue: Head over to Frazier’s on the Avenue for a weekly trivia night that starts at 8 p.m. The Hampden dive will be serving up deals like $2.50 domestic bottles and $5 tots all night long. Order your toasty tots plain or dip them in chipotle ketchup or Sriracha ranch. 919 W 36th St., 410-662-4914

The Laughing Pint: This bar’s happy hours specials run from 3-6 p.m on Tuesdays and are the perfect pregame for the trivia competition at 8 p.m. The drink deals include $2 Natty Boh drafts, $3 cans of All Day IPA, $4 Union Duckpin, and $4 Union Anthem. 351 Gough St., 410-342-6544

Myth & Moonshine: Hosted by Charm City Trivia, this game night brings everyone together, from the competitive geeks to beer-loving bros. Myth & Moonshine offers drink promotions like $2 tall Natty Boh cans, $3 domestics, $4 rail drinks, and $5 drafts all night long. 2300 Boston St., 410-777-5502

Wednesday

Maxie’s Pizza, Bar & Grill: Get your game face on and head to this neighborhood bar at 7:30 p.m. In addition to weekly trivia, Maxie’s also hosts special themed nights. There’s an upcoming spooky trivia night on Halloween, featuring a midnight costume contest, live DJ, and halloween cocktails. 3003 N Charles St., 410-880-1113

Ottobar: Check out the upstairs of this Remington bar from 7-9 p.m. for trivia hosted by Showtime Trivia. There’s weekly prizes for the winning teams and cash prizes for the top teams in the region at the end of the season. The best part? After trivia, you can stay at the Ottobar for late-night karaoke at 10 p.m. 2549 North Howard St., 410-662-0069

Looney’s Pub: This Canton pub hosts a 7 p.m trivia night every Wednesday with awesome drinks deals, including $3 Jim Beam, Malibu, and Deep Eddy drinks and $9 Yuengling and Miller Lite pitchers. Pair the drinks with their $6.99 chicken sandwich served on a freshly baked brioche roll and crispy french fries. 2900 O’Donnell St., 410-675-9235

Molly’s Irish Pub: Bring your ‘A’ game to this local trivia night. The game goes from 7:30-10:30 p.m., and the winners get more than just bragging rights: The round winners get free shots, the runner up wins $10, and the game winner claims the cash prize of $25. 1053 Rte 3 North, 410-451-4222

Brewer’s Cask: With 20 rotating draft lines and an expansive bottle collection, Brewer’s Cask boasts one of the most eclectic beer lineups in Baltimore. So enjoy the brews and get in on the buffoonery at ‘Greg’s Shitty Trivia’ from 8-11 p.m., hosted by the entertaining Greg Parker. 1236 Light St., 410-273-9377

Crossbar: Get rid of the hump day blues at Baltimore’s favorite biergarten for trivia every Wednesday. Starting at 8 p.m., this sud-soaked trivia night features chances to win up to $50 in cash, free shots, and fun prizes. There’s also $3 Miller Lites, $1 off drafts, $4 rail drinks, and $5 Jager drinks. 18 East Cross St., 443-438-4013

Thursday

Ye Olde Emerald Tavern: Locals love to hit up this Baltimore pub for the food specials every Thursday, like one pound of chicken wings for $7.50 or a half-pound of shrimp for $7.99. Indulge in the finger-lickin’ food while playing a round of trivia, hosted by Charm City Trivia. The game starts at 8 p.m. 8300 Harford Rd., 410-870-3821

Mother’s Federal Hill Grille: The competition is fierce at this trivia night hosted by Charm City Trivia. The games start at 7:30 p.m, and from the know-it-alls to the novices, the weekly game night is open to everyone. 1113 S Charles St., 410-244-8686

Max’s Taphouse: There’s no better place to show off your knowledge of useless information than at Max’s Taphouse. Starting at 8 p.m., Charm City Trivia hosts game night in Max’s upstairs Mobtown Lounge. There’s free shots for the toss-up winners, so bring your nerdiest friends and get ready for a boozy bout. 737 South Broadway, 410-675-6297

We love any opportunity to sample a lot of little things at once—whether that’s tapas, dim sum, a well-crafted charcuterie board, or most recently, some of our favorite spirits. Of course, wine flights had their heyday several years back, but now there are all kinds of things that can be found in flight form, and we’re sure happy the trend is, well, taking off.

Many breweries in town have made their beer available in flights (Oliver, Monument City, and Jailbreak, to name a few), but if your aim is to try a bunch of different breweries under one roof, head to Parts & Labor (2600 N. Howard St.). Though the restaurant recently announced its closing, a pop-up bar will operate Wednesdays through Saturdays through the end of September. Featuring offerings from craft breweries around the region and country—such as Diamondback, Wardaca, and Sly Fox—the oft-rotating draft options are available in three mini snifter classes for $8-11.

There’s an even greater selection at The Brass Tap in Bolton Hill (1205 W. Mt. Royal Ave.), where four samples of their 62-draft selection are often scribbled on a chalkboard, so you can clearly remember your choices no matter how many you’ve had. Sit outside and sample your beers as you watch the Light Rail whiz by.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, look no further than Lane Harlan’s two Remington bars. W.C. Harlan (400 W. 23rd St.) offers flights of the Italian liqueur amaro ($12 for three pours). The liqueur is presented three ways on a beautiful silver serving tray. There’s even one house-made version concocted with local honey.

Just up the street is Harlan’s taqueria Clavel (225 W. 23rd St.), which recently expanded with a private six-seat bar providing special mezcal tastings. For $35 per person, sample four different varieties of the agave treat, while being expertly guided by bar manager Dre Barnhill. The bar offers small bites—nuts, crackers, and traditional orange slices—and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Tequila Interchange Project, an organization that advocates for the preservation of agave-distilled spirit practices.

If you truly can’t decide what kind of flight to try, head to West Madison Craft Beer & Wine Bar in Mt. Vernon (311 W. Madison St.), which offers practically everything in small sizes. There are flights for beer ($12 for 4-ounce drafts), whiskey ($15 for 1-ounce pours of rye, bourbon, and scotch), and wine ($15 for four selections of red and white). And the bar also boasts flight selections for both olives and pickles, which come in a medley of sweet, horseradish, garden, and spicy.

The bar’s vintage telephone booth and open windows overlooking the bustling sidewalk give it a European feel—appropriate for all the “flights” we’ve taken in our travels through Baltimore.

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

 EAT

March 24: Grand Opening of Roll Ice Cream & Coffee

Roll Ice Cream & Coffee, 3222 Eastern Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free. 443-595-7655.

Even though Winter Storm Toby ruined the first days of spring, that won’t stop us from celebrating the new season with warm-weather festivities. This Saturday, head to Highlandtown for the grand opening of this brand-new ice cream shop, featuring the trendy frozen treat and Thai street-food eat, rolled ice cream. Enjoy free samples, enter to win free ice cream for a year, and watch a live performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids. And if you’re feeling brave, participate in their inaugural ice cream eating contest. Just brace yourself for the impending brain freeze.

 DRINK

March 23-25: Maryland Day Celebration

The Brass Tap at The Fitzgerald, 1205 W. Mt. Royal Ave. 11 a.m. Free. 888-901-2337.

It’s been nearly four centuries since a group of European settlers first stepped off their ships and onto Maryland’s western shore. Now, we’re celebrating the anniversary of those settlers discovering our great state with events across the city—from museum exhibits to county-wide festivals. At the Brass Tap, more than 20 breweries will showcase two of their best made-in-Maryland brews in this boozy tribute to the Land of Pleasant Living. Expect local favorites like Union Craft, Monument City, and Peabody Heights, DuClaw Brewing, Heavy Seas, and Maryland’s only woman and minority-owned brewery, Denizens Brewing Co. 

 SEE

March 23-25: School of Rock

Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 1 & 6:30 p.m. $49-107. 410-837-7400.   

Get ready to pledge your allegiance to the band. Based on the hit comedy film of the same name, Broadway’s School of Rock musical follows wannabe-musician-turned-substitute teacher Dewey Finn as he transforms his fifth-grade class into a pint-sized rock band. This weekend at The Hippodrome, hear all the original songs from the movie plus 14 new guitar-shredding pieces from composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jack Black not included—sadly. 

 

 HEAR

March 23: Mortified

WTMD, 1 Olympic Pl., Towson. 7:30-10 p.m. $20. 410-704-8938. 

There’s probably nothing more embarrassing than reading your middle school diary in front of a crowd of strangers, and yet Mortified, the largest and longest-running project of its kind, is bringing grown men and women to the Towson radio station to do exactly that. This certifiably cringe-worthy evening of comedy comes to the stage with stories of love letters and home videos, reminding us all of one simple truth—at the end of the day, we’re all awkwardly human. If you can’t make it, tune in to 89.7 FM for a live broadcast.

 

 DO

March 23: Art After Hours: Moondust & Stargazing

The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. 8-11 p.m. $10-25. 443-573-1700. 

This Friday, immerse yourself in all things lunar in honor of The Baltimore Museum of Art’s newest installation, Moon Dust. At this cosmic party, dance beneath Spencer Finch’s shimmering installation to music by DJ Trillnatured, sip on moonshine by the Baltimore Whiskey Company, and experience the scents of night-blooming flowers with local body-care company Priya Means Love. From stargazing on the museum’s steps to making a take-home sparkling constellation, revel in the chance to experience the museum, fittingly, at night.

Walk into The Brass Tap in Midtown Belvedere and you may get the feeling that you’ve been there before. You probably haven’t—the Baltimore location of the Florida-based chain is the company’s first foray into Maryland. Despite admirable efforts to localize—there’s a smattering of standard Orioles flair on the walls—the neutral colors, furniture, plethora of TVs, and even the thin, laminated menus remind us of a Buffalo Wild Wings-type establishment. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. As we’ve seen with places like the Greene Turtle in Fells Point and World of Beer in Locust Point, there’s a place for franchises in the heart of a city. 

The Brass Tap does several things well, first among them offering a casual eating and drinking venue in a neighborhood that lacks them. University of Baltimore and Maryland Institute College of Art students, and people going to a show at the Meyerhoff or Lyric, will appreciate the restaurant’s outstanding beer selection and bar-food staples. With 60 rotating taps and dozens more bottled varieties, The Brass Tap is serious about its beer. We love the way the menu is organized by style, and appreciate that each beer’s ABV is listed. A beer club is in the works, and the bar frequently hosts beer release parties. 

We found its food to be more uneven. Among the “shareables,” an order of Peri Peri Wings stood out. While the meat itself was unremarkable, the South African-inspired sauce provided a nice blend of sweetness and spice. Despite the menu’s amusing linguistic grandeur, other items, like “house-made” tots, “angry” onion straws, and “boom boom” fried shrimp tasted like the same, generic ones you can get just about anywhere. The kitchen has a deep fryer, and it isn’t afraid to use it. Fair warning: The chicken fingers, hush puppies, and beer-battered cod are all extremely crispy. 

Where The Brass Tap nails the art of bar food is its burgers. A half-pound “gourmet blend” of chuck, brisket, and short rib, they’re available with an impressive array of cheeses (smoked Gouda, jalapeño beer), sauces (poblano), and toppings (hummus, Peppadew peppers). 

We especially enjoyed our sliders—three to a serving—which came with an order of solid fries. At $9, it’s a great deal. The bar and its adjacent high-top tables might feel a bit crowded for some people, so for a more relaxed atmosphere, sit in the sunroom or on the patio. Across the road, the sign for the iconic Mount Royal Tavern, a different bar in every way, is visible. In this neighborhood, there’s room for everyone.

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›› The Brass Tap 1205 W. Mount Royal Ave., 888-901-BEER. Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. every day. Flatbreads: $6; appetizers: $8-19; salads: $8-11; sandwiches: $9-14.