Local Activities

Some may find it surprising, but Mensa is a very social organization. Each local group has a number of social events, and Western New York Mensa is no exception. There are a wide variety of activities to choose from, not just intellectual or "highbrow" activities. Each issue of our newsletter, the Mensana, includes a calendar of upcoming events.

Here are a few socials we have featured on our calendar of events:

Games Night (Saturdays) Meet at a member's home to play games, eat snacks, and just chat. Participants are asked to bring a snack as well as any favorite games that they would like to play, which can include board games, card games, or just about anything else.	Movie Night (Fridays or Sundays) Get together at a member's home to view a DVD, or enjoy a classic movie presentation with a brief history and background before the film.	First Friday Art Film (First Friday of each month) On the first Friday of each month, a group of Mensans meet to see an art film and then go out to eat afterwards.
Ice Cream Social (Saturdays) Meet fellow Mensans for ice cream. Past locations have included Anderson's and Antoinette's. In the summer months, this event is often combined with a walk at a nearby park or bike path, and/or dinner at a restaurant.	Dinner Meeting (Saturdays) This is either a potluck dinner at a member's home, or a dinner meeting at an area restaurant.	Coffee Shop Meeting (Saturdays) Join fellow Mensans for drinks and/or dessert at a local coffee shop such as Spot Coffee, Caffe Aroma, or Starbucks.
Bar Meetup Meet at a bar or restaurant (usually during happy hour) for drinks and/or food.	Billiards Night (Saturdays during winter) Meet at a member's home to play a few games of pool and enjoy some snacks.	Gifted Youth Program Various events for Mensa families, for example board games events, indoor rock-climbing, Science Museum visits, theater visits, movies, picnic, parents' discussion, etc.

We also have some annual events:

Pancake Brunch and Games Afternoon (Saturday in April or May) This is an all-day event at a member's home, including a potluck brunch, game playing and socializing.	Fireworks Viewing (Saturday in July) On the Saturday closest to the 4th of July, view a fireworks display at a park.	Summer Picnic (Saturday in July or August) Classic family-friendly picnic with BBQ and games at a local park.
Bowling (Labor Day weekend) Join fellow Mensans for a few games of bowling at Airport Lanes.	October Games Night (Saturday in mid/late October) Games night with a Halloween theme. Costumes and treats with a spooky theme are welcome.	Thanksgiving Potluck (Thanksgiving weekend) Enjoy a delicious potluck dinner and pleasant conversation at a member's home.
Holiday Party (Saturday or Sunday, mid-December) Enjoy dinner at a banquet hall and participate in a gift swap.	Jewish Christmas (December 25th) For those who don't want to celebrate Christmas the traditional way, or who don't celebrate it at all. Join fellow Mensans for Chinese food and a movie.

But we aren't limited to the events you see listed here. Other events that we have held include lunch meetings, antiquing, and a viewing of Shakespeare in the Park. Keep in mind that all the events you see on the calendar were put there by individual members - so as a member, if there's an activity you'd like to see on the calendar, feel free to suggest it.