Pub quiz brings people together 

Community, Kortepohja, Kylä magazine, News, Rentukka / 26.9.2025

Text: Anni Pajari | Pictures: Tiina Salminen, Tiitu Design 

Pub quizzes have a long tradition at Rentukka. There have been breaks over the years, but now Brage Sekse Aarset has been hosting them at Rentukka’s restaurant for several years. 

“The restaurant is always packed on quiz nights. That shows there’s a demand in Kortepohja for open, low-threshold activities,” Brage says. 

During quiz nights, participants form teams of five. Brage has noticed that many people eat lunch alone at Rentukka during the day, each at their own table. But during quiz nights, people become social, and even those who come alone easily find a team to join. Good questions also spark conversations among people who didn’t know each other before. 

“It’s a joy to see how new people recognize each other the next time, greet one another, and sit at the same table. It’s important to feel like you’re part of a community.” 

A good question: Challenging but possible 

Brage follows a principle from a popular Norwegian quiz show host: in a good quiz, one third of the questions should be ones that almost everyone knows, one third that most people know, and one third that only a few know. 

“Participants stay engaged when the questions are realistically answerable. If the quiz is too difficult, it quickly becomes exhausting.” 

Preparing a quiz takes a few hours of background work. Brage says the process often starts with an interesting fact he wants to share with the participants. He gets ideas for questions from everyday life—while walking, cycling, or just before falling asleep. 

“I think a good question teaches something new and exciting, or is a kind of story in itself. It sparks curiosity and makes you want to learn more,” Brage reflects. 

A place worth staying 

Brage lived for years in Soihtu housing on Vehkakuja and served as chair of the Tenants’ committee. When he moved to a new apartment, it was important for him to stay in the same area. 

“Kortepohja is one of the best places in the world, in my opinion. Its architecture is unique, there are many kinds of people living here, and you can walk or bike everywhere along nice little routes.” 

Now serving as vice chair of the Kortepohja residents’ association, Brage hopes to connect different people and communities in the area through open events. He describes himself as a DIY-minded person, and the communal workspace Hacklab, located in the O-building of the Student Village, is especially important to him. 

“I like figuring out how things work and fixing broken stuff—from computers to bicycles. I also help out with everything else there, from marketing to taking out the trash”, he says with a laugh.