There is a definite air of erudition at La Merde, the dormlike lounge adjacent to Le Bistro Montage where customers pore over boxes of Trivial Pursuit questions in preparation for Thursday’s trivia night. Portland’s preeminent TJ, ShanRock (a.k.a. trivia jockey Shannon Donaldson), maestros the popular pub quiz, a weekly tradition since 2006. Teams of up to five players mix it up through six rounds of questions on everything from pop culture to science. Plus, there’s one goofy “physical challenge” round—e.g., playing Operation or tossing a Ping-Pong ball into a pint glass. Paired with La Merde’s signature cocktails, such as the Rudy Fernandez (hibiscus-infused tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar), and mac-and-cheese variations, the evening has become a standing-room-only affair with winners claiming prizes like the coveted “I Was ‘The Shit’ at Trivia Night” T-shirts. To the victor, the spoils. To the rest, la merde.