Regional Gathering Gaming

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Traditionally gaming at a regional gathering opens when the event opens and closes at the very end of the weekend; our Emerald City RG is inline with that tradition.

The game room will have a host available to help you find something interesting or provide you with an escape room packet to try with a team. Looking for players? Show up and see who else has similar interestes to yours. Have a game you’ve been wanting to try out, bring it with you, many Mensans are enthusastic about trying new games (even ones not quite published yet).

Emerald City RG Schedule 2023

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All items subject to change. Don’t forget to also check out the tours page for add on options.

  • FRIDAY, MARCH 17
    • 2pm Chocolate Tasting Tour (offsite add on)
    • 3pm Registration & Gaming Open
    • 3:30pm Mead Tasting Tour (offsite add on)
    • 6pm Welcome Reception and RG Kickoff
    • 6:30pm Page Ahead Book Drive Launch; Kasi Walker
    • 7:30pm Ask A Genealogist; Janice M. Sellers
    • 8pm Registration Closes
    • 9pm Evening Games (Escape Room Mission 1) & Hospitality
  • SATURDAY, MARCH 18
    • 7am Virtual 5k
    • 8am Registration Opens
    • 8am – 10am Breakfast (self-host)
    • 9am – 11am Mensa Admission Test, Cascade 4 (details & pre-register)
    • 9am – 10am Shakespeare; Richard Smiley
    • 10am – 11:30am Youth Bridge and Bridge for You; Al Bender, Rui Gong
    • 11:30am – 1:30pm Lunch
    • 1:30 – 3pm Meadmaking in the Pacific Northwest; Erik Newquist, Jarl Jon Oppegaard, Brandon ‘Cozmo’ Walters
    • 3 – 4:30pm How Mensa Foundation Unleashes Intelligence; Michelle Rakshys, Charlie Steinhice, Jennifer Wise
    • 4:30 – 6pm Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge; Angela Kokinakos
    • 6 – 7pm Meet the AMC Reception; Jon Gruebele, Tracey Guice, Lori Norris, Charlie Steinhice 
    • 7pm Registration Closes
    • 7 – 9pm Gala Dinner; Charlie Steinhice (add on)
    • 9:30pm Evening Games (Escape Rooms) and Hospitality
  • SUNDAY, MARCH 19
    • 8 – 9am Registration Open
    • 9 – 11am Volunteer Brunch, From Wall Street to Fourth Street; Tracey Guice (add on)
    • 11am – 12pm Games and Goodbye or Local Group LDW

RG Tours

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The tours offered at our RG are located in the Westfield Southcenter Mall area. Our hotel participates in a free shuttle to the mall, so if you’re up for some walking, you will be able to join even if you didn’t bring a car to the hotel. Advanced registration required. More information about the shuttle here. Scroll to the bottom of the page for more complete travel directions.

Seattle Chocolate Factory

For just $12 you get to taste your way through their flagship store. We’re offering this tour at 2pm on Friday before the RG officially starts. The factory is located at 1180 Andover Park West, 1.2 miles south of the mall shuttle drop off. (24 minute walk or 11 minutes by metro bus). The tour does involve stairs, and attendees must be at least six years old to participate. NOTE: due to lack of interest the charter bus option has been cancelled.

pink trays on a wite table being filled with chololate by a person wearing a white coat and blue latex gloves

Mead Tour ~ two venues for the price of transportation

Friday, March 17, 3:30 pm

Oppegaard Meadery/Bloodmoon Meadworks

Viking Mead with a modern twist. Oppegaard Meadery creates an amazing variety of Mead using a wide range of both common and rare ingredients. Honey is always the main ingredient, but also expect to find fruit, spices, hops, herbs, and even tea leaves in the unique Meads they craft. Their tasting room, which is kid and dog friendly, is located within a mile of the Westfield Southcenter Mall.

Contrivance Wine & Meadery

Small batch hand-crafted mead and premium wines are available for tasting at their steampunk-themed tasting room. This venue, which can accommodate 20 people, is kid and dog friendly and within a mile of the Westfield Southcenter mall.

Tickets for the Mead Tour are free but limited to 50 people. Charter bus transportation has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

Transportation options by tour:

Seattle Chocolate Factory, March 17

1. Uber, taxi or rideshare

2. Take the free 1:05 hotel shuttle to Southcenter. From there take #150 bus to Andover Park W & Midland Dr. Walk south on Andover Park W towards Midland to 1180 Andover Park W.

3. Take the free 1:05 hotel shuttle to Southcenter.  Walk or uber, taxi or rideshare 1.2 miles from Southcenter to 1180 Andover Park W.

Return option is reverse instructions. Catch the 2:20 or 3:20 shuttle back from Southcenter between JOEY Southcenter and Duke’s Seafood.

Mead Tour

1. Uber, taxi or rideshare

2. Take the free 3:05 hotel shuttle to Southcenter. From there take the F Line bus to Strander Blvd and Andover Park E. Walk W on Strander to Andover E. Turn left on Andover Park E. Turn left. Arrive 600 Industry Drive.

3. Take the free 3:05 shuttle. Walk (~15 min) or uber or taxi or rideshare from Southcenter.

Return option is reverse instructions. Catch the 6:20 (last) shuttle back from Southcenter between JOEY Southcenter and Duke’s Seafood. Sometimes leaves as late as 6:30.

RG Tickets 2023

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Tickets include Friday reception, Saturday lunch, Saturday reception, and six beverage tickets. Minors must be accompanied by a paying adult. $10 surcharge for non-members. By purchasing a ticket you agree to abide by the policies for the event. Online ticket purchases will be available until March 15th.

Online ticket sales have ended. Limited tickets available at the door.

Tour tickets can still be purchased through noon Friday.

  • Supporter Ticket – Glinda the Good. This VIP level ticket includes the beverage add-on package and hotel parking. $220.00
  • Adult Ticket, online purchase available until 03/15/2023. $155.00
  • Youth Ticket, age 10 – 17 $65.00
  • Child Ticket, age 9 and younger FREE
  • Add-on drink package. Purchase additional drink tickets for use at the bar. $50.00
  • Saturday Only, if you are unable to attend for all three days. Includes Saturday lunch, reception, and four drink tickets. $130.00

Non-member surcharge. If you are not a current Mensa member there is an additional $10.00 fee.

Meal Tickets

Gala Dinner; Saturday, March 18, 7 – 9pm, $65

Dinner is a plated meal that includes a choice of: Tomato Bisque, Grilled Chicken Breast w black garlic cream. Vegan soup and entree provided when ordered in advance. All meals include Ancient Grains Pilaf (V), Roasted baby carrots (V), and Garlic Broccolini (V). Dessert is New York Cheesecake. Also provided, Starbucks coffee and TEALEAVES tea.

The dinner keynote speaker is Charlie Steinhice, a lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mensa member for more than 20 years, was appointed AMC Director of Science & Education in 2020. He joined the Mensa Foundation Board of Trustees in 2016 and currently serves as President.

Volunteer Brunch From Wall Street to Fourth Street; Sunday, March 19, 9am, $35

Brunch includes a choice of: applewood smoked bacon, sausage link, turkey sausage patty, scrambled cage free eggs, seasoned red potatoes with peppers & onions, family style pastry basket, butter & jam, fresh chilled orange juice, Starbucks coffee and TEALEAVES tea.

The brunch keynote speaker is Tracey Guice, Vice Chair, Region 8, American Mensa.

As of 2/12/2023 there will be a 10% fee charged on all cancellations. After 2/28/2023 no refunds will be granted.

Back to RG main page

RG Policies

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As of November 2022, Emerald City RG is requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all attendees. Masks are optional. These requirements are subject to change as the public health conditions change in Washington.

Attendees may request registration changes through February 12, 2023, after which point a 10% processing fee per item will be charged. Tickets are unable to be cancelled as of March 1, 2023, but may be transferrred using the transfer form which is available on request. A transfer fee may apply.

RG Code of Conduct

(Mensa of Western Washingtion Actions Still in Effect)

Mensa of Western Washington (“MWW”) has an obligation to protect attendees at its Regional Gathering from predation, harassment, and intimidation.

Accordingly, personal attacks or harassment are not permitted. This includes touching another event attendee or member of the hotel staff without permission. Personal attacks and harassment shall be deemed to be such if they would offend a reasonable person, or disturb the sense of dignity of a reasonable person. It shall not be a defense that the remarks were meant in jest, or the touching was well intentioned, if the offended party communicates in a manner that would be clear to a reasonable person that the jests or touching are unwelcome, and the offensive remarks or touching are not immediately stopped.

Illegal, destructive, or hazardous conduct is also not permitted.

Complaints regarding violations of this code of conduct from either the person being harmed, or from bystanders witnessing offensive behavior, should be made to the Regional Gathering Chair or Hotel staff. You share in the responsibility of enforcing this code of conduct.

The Regional Gathering Chair reserves the right to ask anyone to leave at any time without refund for violation of the foregoing, and may assign this right to any of his or her fellow Regional Gathering committee members.

Regional Gathering attendees are also bound by the rules of the hotel and all applicable laws.

Penalties will range from warnings and temporary or permanent removal from the Regional Gathering up to such other penalties as may be available through the local, regional and national bylaws, and Washington State and Federal law.