We’re coming to the end of another year. For me, it was challenging. As I’m sure many of you did, I made some rough life decisions. But as I step back and reflect on 2018, I look to those who helped me get through it: my friends and my family. Because of them, I endured challenges and obstacles that I might not have been able to face alone. My close friends were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, my mom and dad were a phone call away when I needed advice. They propped me up when I wanted to throw in the towel and stood by my side while I looked my demons in the eye. Now as I look back on the last twelve months, I feel the warmth that they shared with me.
The holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate, is a time to show your loved ones that you appreciate everything that they’ve done for you. Whether big or small, a gift is a gesture. It shows them that you care: that you care about their passions and interests and that you appreciate the time and effort they’ve put forth to support you. Whether a vinyl sticker of their favorite character or a book meant to inspire them the way that they inspired you, take the time this holiday season to express your love and gratitude. You never know how much that gesture might mean to them, too.
Curated by the lovely members of the GGC staff, without further ado, here is the 2018 GeekGirlCon Holiday Gift Guide:
A new staple for industry professionals and gamers alike. Women in Gaming: 100 Pioneers of Play features an amazing lineup of women working in the industry, including a few friends of the staff! Help inspire your geek, whether they’re interested in pursuing a career in gaming or simply interested in learning more about the development process and how these amazing women came into their careers.
While the next GeekGirlCon is almost a full year away (November 16 and 17, 2019!), we’re already getting the ball rolling, and we’d love your help! We’ve compiled an Amazon Wish List of items that will help us make the con a success. If you’d like to support our mission, please take a look and consider donating an item or two to the cause.
Source: Giphy. Description: An overhead shot of many people putting their hands into a pile as a celebration of teamwork. The last “hand” is a dog paw.
Each item on the wish list is labeled with the area of the con it will help support, so you can contribute directly to the experiences that have had an impact on you.
Love our panels and featured contributors? Consider donating a Southwest Airlines gift card to help us bring in more panelists from more places around the country.
Appreciate our accessibility efforts? You may want to donate a pack of writing pads to support that mission.
Consider our cosplay contests the highlight of GeekGirlCon? Our wish list is full items we’d love to offer as fabulous prizes for contest winners. (Pro tip: if you’re looking for holiday gift ideas for the geeks in your life, I’d highly recommend scrolling through our list.)
Source: Giphy. Description: a trio of people dressed as Santa’s elves wrapping a present.
Whatever you love about GeekGirlCon, our Amazon Wish List is a great, inexpensive way to have a tangible impact on next year’s con. We appreciate your support and can’t wait to show you what we have in store for the upcoming year!
A Place Further than the Universe is not your typical “cute-girls-doing-cute-things” anime, and thank goodness! Sure, the four protagonists are cute teen girls, but that is where the similarities with the genre end. Instead, A Place Further than the Universe is a coming-of-age story in which Mari Tamaki, Shirase Kobuchizawa, Hinata Miyake, and Yuzuki Shiraishi learn about themselves (and of course, friendship) during an expedition to Antarctica.
While Mari, Hinata, and Yuzuki all have great character development, Shirase’s narrative stuck with me. The writers made her a character full of contradictions: stoic looks, but full of emotions. She’s super stubborn, but only until she catches a glimpse of penguins. I love her character because she’s an ordinary, realistic girl who will stop at nothing to achieve the extraordinary.
Image description: a young attendee colors in with crayons at the Science Zone at GeekGirlCon.
After a week of feasting, hanging out with family, fighting lines at stores, and shopping online, Giving Tuesday is upon us!
#GivingTuesday is a movement–it even has its own hashtag–that’s set right in the middle of all your holiday shopping as a day to give back to nonprofit organizations so that we can keep doing things that you love. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, GeekGirlCon is entirely volunteer-powered and rely on donations to fulfil our mission to support, empower, and celebrate women and girls in all areas of geekdom.
Donate for her. Image description: a young attendee in a Wonder Woman costume does a science experiment with beads and cups at the DIY Science Zone.
Today from 5am PST, PayPal and Facebook are partnering to match 100% of donations made for Giving Tuesday, up to a total of $7 million. This means that every dollar that you donate to GeekGirlCon today will be matched so that your donation will go twice as far. Since donation matching will continue until the $7m runs out, the earlier you donate in the day, the better!
Our focus this year is on raising funds for our famed DIY Science Zone! What better way to foster a love of science in the next generation of geeks than to do all the science with them? Funding the DIYSciZone allows us to invite more scientists, do bigger experiments, and grow the Zone, all for the love of science!
Image description: A young attendee pets a spotted spider in the DIY Science Zone.
Click here to donate on Facebook today. Or, you can even go further and make your own GeekGirlCon fundraiser! Your generosity will not only go directly to helping us put on the convention, but it will also give us the following powerups, to name a few:
Year-round activities, such as our Board Game Nights at Wayward Coffeehouse.
Outreach in the Greater Seattle Area, such as Atomic Comicon or the PAX Diversity Lounge.
Programming, such as featured contributors, speakers, and workshops at the convention.
Regardless of how you contribute, your donation will make an impact, and we truly appreciate the strength, kindness, and generosity of our community. We truly wouldn’t be able to do it without you!
Can you believe it’s been three (plus!) weeks since we all said goodbye at the end of GeekGirlCon ‘18?
While it’s almost enough to begin prep for GeekGirlCon ‘19, I’d like to just take a second to revel in what we made and experienced this year. Here’s some of what our community had to say about that glorious weekend.
A Feminist Frequency Radio podcast episode recorded live at the con for anyone who missed it (or for those who just need even more Anita, Ebony, and Carolyn in their lives).
And, of course, from our community—parents and cosplayers alike:
Lo and behold, it has arrived! An extra special holiday extravaganza version of Geek About Town, just in time for the holidays! Whether this is the most magical time of the year for you, or you’re finding yourself down and in need of some cheery distraction, we’ve got you covered. From board games to holiday lights, comic books to Christmas carols, we’re excited to spend the holidays with you, our favorite geeky community!
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
It’s ACT’s 43rd production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. Directed by Kurt Beattie, this celebrated adaptation follows the original Dickens tale taking audiences along on Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformational journey through time. Three ghostly visitors help Scrooge get into the holiday spirit, leading him on a trip through Christmases past, present, and future.
Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow Seattle’s wildest holiday lights festival returns with sparkling lights, faux snowball fights, up close animal encounters, hot chocolate and family delights. Experience brand new wild and wonderful light displays that will be featured throughout the zoo including a holiday light spectacular at the zoo’s south entrance which will now be open throughout the run of WildLights.
PNB’S best-selling holiday classic is a fantastical combination of Ian Falconer’s unique design, Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, and the entire Company in show-stopping roles. A memory making tradition for generations of families and friends, Nutcracker fun includes McCaw Hall gloriously decked-out for the season’s best photo ops.
Broadway Market 401 East Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98102
The Broadway Market Holiday Pop-Up Market features a variety of vendor members from Seattle Made, an initiative to grow and support the area’s urban manufacturing and producer economy. Vendors will be selling a variety of holiday gifts, wearables and hand-made merchandise, all with a focus on recycled and upcycled materials. This event is presented by Broadway Market, Blanton Turner and Seattle Made to celebrate Shop Small Saturday.
Pacific Science Center 200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
Join us on Monday, November 26 as NASA makes history when its next lander arrives on Mars, the first mission dedicated to studying the deep interior of Mars. We’ll have presentations by Mars experts and space related activities throughout the day. We’ll broadcast the landing live in our PACCAR IMAX Theater from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Our educators will be on hand to answer your questions and walk you through what’s happening during the landing. This event is included with general admission and is FREE for Pacific Science Center Members.
Arcadia Seattle 943 NW 50th Street, Seattle, Washington 98107
Join us for another magical evening! The Witches’ Night Out Market returns on Friday, November 30th – bringing you an array of metaphysical merchants and artisans, community networking, readers and bodyworkers, and much more! Every event we do is a little different – this time we’ll be focusing a bit more on the market – we’re making space for a few more artists and witchy creators to expand your holiday possibilities. Also, as this season also marks a time of remembering our ancestors and those who have come before us, we will have an interactive community altar. We have more things up our sleeves that we will be announcing as we get closer to the event. You are not going to want to miss it! As always, our events are free and all ages – but we have a fabulous door raffle to benefit the Cabiri and Arcadia. Cash donations will transform into tickets for you to win delightful things!
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center 440 5th Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
Give gifts that give back! Find unique holiday gifts for family and friends from over 30 vendors and organizations that support great causes locally and globally. Looking to do more than just shop for holiday gifts? You can make your own gifts alongside local artists and join Sanctuary Art Center in creating one-of-a-kind gift cards. Free and open to the public.
Hale’s Ales Palladium 4301 Leary Way NW, Seattle, Washington
Drunken Science Nigh returns this December 1st to the beautiful Palladium Theater at Hale’s Ales in Fremont. Doors open at 6 and the Stage Show starts at 7 sharp. This is most fun you can have without breaking the laws of physics. Science Night is a hands on Science Experiment free-for-all, with dozens of ever changing exhibits to try. Blow things up with air! Levitate metal! Make homemade lightbulbs, cube-shaped bubbles, 3-d art, float stuff on air, and more! Ever wanted to shatter flowers with liquid nitrogen? See sound waves? Tesla Coils? Jacobs Ladder? Oh my! We have got you covered. This is not a lecture… instead its a fully interactive science fair. Come ready to have your mind blown.
Meadowbrook Community Center 10517 35th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98125
Friends of Meadowbrook Pond and the Meadowbrook Advisory Council are joining together to host our Annual Luminaria Walk. Please come enjoy good company and hot cocoa, while walking around the beautifully lit pathway. We are also looking for community members to help make this event happen; work parties are listed below!
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
A special day of art, culture, and creativity celebrating Indigenous families. Meet local Indigenous artists and makers. Create treasures to bring home. Stick around for more festivities after 1:30 p.m. including artist talks from yəhaw̓ artists in residence and a 4 p.m. film screening of Rumble.
Shop a market and open studios for art, “hand-knit hats, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, and more” and stop by Vichayapai’s solo exhibition, which she’s been preparing all through her artist’s residency.
Green Lake, Seattle Seattle, Washington 98103, 98115
Come join us for this FREE holiday event for the whole family! Stroll the glimmering Green Lake circuit, paths, and docks which will be lit with thousands of twinkling candles. And while you wander through the magic of the sparkling lights, enjoy complimentary refreshments and live holiday music. If the weather is good we’ll have hot air balloons again from 4:30-5:30pm only. You can also visit and like the Green Lake Pathway of Lights Facebook Page for updates on the event!
The inaugural race was so much fun, we wanted to bring it back, see all the costumes, and get into the holiday spirit. In the spirit of Star Wars, this will be a FUN opportunity to get out your light saber and practice your best Darth Vader impersonation, as well as dress up in your favorite holiday race outfit! The run/walk is for FUN, no official timing, but there will be a running clock.
The Factory Luxe 3100 Airport Way S, Seattle, Washington 98134
Once upon a time there was darkness, So we made light. Once upon a time there was cold, So we kindled fire. Once upon a time there was fear, So we faced it together with song and speech and light A proof by example: We are not alone. Join us to celebrate humanity’s accomplishments, reflect on our past, and consider the future with food, light, song, and camaraderie. Your donations help us cover venue, audio/video equipment, permits, and supplies, ensuring that we can continue this tradition year after year. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-secular-solstice-2018-tickets-47498714935
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
For decades, women have made incredible strides in the world of sports and are becoming more and more visible within the athletic community. Here are some of the ways women have inspired us and challenged the status quo time and time again.
Historic Moments in Sports for Women
According to research from Ohio University, “40 percent of all sports participants are female. Yet women’s sports receive only 4 percent of all sports media coverage.” Despite this low amount of coverage, women continue to break barriers and achieve greatness within the sports industry. Here are a few notable milestones for women in sports throughout history:
Billie Jean King Defeats Bobby Riggs: Already turned into a big studio movie, the Battle of the Sexes tennis match in 1973 was a triumph for women around the world as they watched King take the win against the notoriously misogynistic Riggs. King was already a legend at that point, but defeating Riggs sent a statement to women everywhere that they can do anything.
Althea Gibson Breaks New Ground: Often referred to as a female Jackie Robinson, Gibson made strides for both race and gender equality by becoming the first black competitor at the U.S. Nationals in 1950. She also became the first black tennis player to win Wimbledon in 1957 and the U.S. Open in 1958.
Ann Meyers Drysdale Inspires Generations of Women: Drysdale became the first woman to sign an NBA contract, as she signed with the Indiana Pacers in 1979. She also became the first woman to broadcast an NBA game when she served as a color commentator for the Pacers.
Danica Patrick Proves It’s Not Just a Men’s Game: In 2008, Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy race with her victory in the Japan 300. As a professional racing driver since the age of 10, Patrick continues to make an impact on the sports industry and inspires women everywhere.
The Olympics Makes History: In 2012, the U.S. sent more female Olympians than male to compete in the summer games. Women’s boxing made its debut that year, while male competitors were outmedaled by women in the U.S., Russian and Chinese teams in all sporting categories.
These are just a small number of the ways women are making a tremendous difference in the sports industry. But it’s not only in sports where women are breaking new ground. According to Arizona State University, “women make up nearly 50 percent of the U.S. workforce and 51 percent of corporate professionals.” It’s inspiring figures like King and Drysdale who have brought strength and confidence to women everywhere and motivated women to move up in their career.
Since King and Drysdale made such important milestones, other women have achieved greatness in other industries. For example, Eileen Collins became the first female space commander in 1999 when she was assigned to pilot space shuttle Columbia. Collins became the first female astronaut to pilot a space shuttle mission in 1995 and became the Air Force’s first female flight instructor. From healthcare to technology, athletics to journalism, women have made a difference in how they’re represented and proven there are no boundaries to what women can do.
These women and their inspiring stories of success will continue to stand the test of time and empower everyone to accomplish their goals. The impact women have made in the sports industry demonstrates the strength and power our femininity holds within all of us. The amount of barriers broken by women throughout history is astounding. But we still have a long way to go before that glass ceiling is completely shattered.
Frankie Wallace is a freelance journalist interested in all things pop culture. Wallace resides in Boise, Idaho and contributes to a variety of blogs across the web.
Earlier this fall we announced the Name Our Avatar Contest. We received so many amazing entries, and we’re beyond excited to finally share the winners with you today!
Every name that we received was thoughtful and picking just one was a true challenge. We were so heartened by your bounds of creativity and passion. So without any further ado, here are the two runners-up as well as the winning name:
Why?: This is a beautiful middle eastern name that means “rivers” which I love as a representation of fluidity as well as strength in the GeekGirlCon community. “What I love most about rivers is: You can’t step in the same river twice. The water’s always changing, always flowing.”
Why?: First, it means sky or heaven in Arabic: this reflects the constellation-like patterns on her clothing, her freckles, as well as the fact that she is very bright! It’s a name that gets used in many places and cultures, and is very beautiful to boot! (It’s also the name of a character from Miraculous Ladybug! Alya runs the world’s best Ladybug fanblog, and is Marinette’s best friend.)
…and finally, our first place winner and the new name of our avatar. Introducing…
Why?: It’s a unisex Hindu name meaning “knowledge” specifically as it pertains to science. I see Vedi as being a hero for women and non-binary people in STEM!
We are pleased to let you know that your fundraiser tees are on their way!
Thank you for your continued support of GeekGirlCon, we couldn’t do any of this without you. Stay tuned and we’ll see you next year on November 16 and 17 for #GGC19!
Have a wonderful holiday season. Be merry and be geeky!
Well, friends, GeekGirlCon’18 has officially drawn to a close. On behalf of the GGC staff, I want to say thank you so, so much to all of you who joined us this past weekend. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, supported, and otherwise contributed to making 2018 our best year yet. Thank you for believing in our mission, for finding value in the celebration of geeky girls and women, and for being passionate about the things you love and sharing that passion with us.
