What is the Gauntlet? It’s a 10-hour competition among teams of 4 people each, and they play tabletop games from start to finish for the honor of hoisting the Gauntlet in victory! Part of each team’s strategy involves their fundraising amounts, and bonuses for gameplay called “powerups”. Think of these as cheats or special abilities that they get to use throughout the various games to help boost their chance at winning. Powerups are based on each team’s fundraising and are earned: one at $500, one at $1000, one at $1500, one at $2500, and then one every $2500 after that. As of April 21, Team GeekGirlCon has just one powerup, but we know more are coming!
2014 Team GeekGirlCon: Kristine Hassell, Jex Ballard, Cynthia Rogers, Rose Minier Image source: Jex Ballard
The 20 participating teams are raising money for Hopelink, a community action agency that has served homeless and low income families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities since 1971. Hopelink has food banks, support services, family development, adult education, and employment training among their many amazing programs. They serve more than 60,000 people in King County every year.
ENGAGE, the charitable giving program within Card Kingdom and Mox Boarding House, is running this contest for the second time, and this year they have doubled their space–allowing for 10 more teams to compete. GeekGirlCon is competing for the second time, with staffers Kristine Hassell, Jex Ballard, Sylvia Monreal, and Rose Minier stepping up to take the challenge.
Newest team member Sylvia is excited to participate in her first Gauntlet this year. “In a big city like Seattle, it’s important for us to look after our neighbors whenever we can. I’m grateful that The Gauntlet will give me a way to use my hobbies in the service of others. It’s just a wonderful opportunity to showcase a positive, fun side of nerd culture – let’s use our powers for good!”
Exactly how will the money GeekGirlCon is raising for the Gauntlet be used by Hopelink? Here’s an example of what the dollars raised can do for needy people in King County:
$25 provides weekend food for FIVE school-aged children
$50 provides formula for a newborn child for a month
$100 provides hygiene products for FOUR people
$150 provides FIFTY meals for a family of FOUR
$250 provides financial education classes for a parent
Second-year teammate Jex had this to say about playing for the Gauntlet: “I’ve been involved in GeekGirlCon for 5 years now, and one of my absolute favorite memories was playing on Team GeekGirlCon in the first ever Gauntlet last year. I was shocked when our team was able to rise as the underdogs to take home 4th place! This year, I’m revved and ready to compete again at Moxtropolis! More importantly, I’m ready to hit the streets and raise some money for Hopelink! We’ve already surpassed the amount we earned last year, and I’m interested to see what kind of funds Team GeekGirlCon can bring in for this awesome cause.”
How can you contribute to GeekGirlCon’s Gauntlet team to help them earn more valuable powerups to aid them on game day? You can go to their team page on the Gauntlet website and donate any amount you want to–anonymously or not is completely up to you. To date, Kristine, Jex, Sylvia, and Rose have raised $730, which is 43% of the $1700 they’ve set as their goal! There are 24 days remaining for them to reach that goal and gain more powerups, and with the help of our strong, generous GeekGirlCon community, we KNOW they can do it.
There will also be spectator space available for the competition at Mox Boarding House in Bellevue; stop by for an hour, or stay from start to finish to support GeekGirlCon and the other teams competing for the Gauntlet! Go to the Gauntlet’s homepage for more information. We can’t wait to see you there!
Written by GeekGirlCon Copywriter Sarah “SG-1” Grant
Written by GeekGirlCon’s Special Events Manager Maddy Vonhoff
Our special events, such as our annual GeekGirlCONcert, our closing celebration, costume contest, and our Friday night Kick-Off event have been some of the most popular attractions of the con! Past GeekGirlCon performers and special guests have included former astronaut Wendy Lawrence, The Doubleclicks, Molly Lewis, SAMMUS (check out our 2013 interview!), and Unwoman. This year, GeekGirlCon’15 will take place on the weekend of October 10 and 11, 2015 at The Conference Center at the WSCC in downtown Seattle and we want YOU to be a part of it!
and entertainers of all kinds to take part in our GeekGirlCONcert, our closing celebration Sunday night, and potentially other events throughout the con.
We are looking to diversify our performances, speakers, and musical genres from previous years, so don’t be afraid to apply, even if it is not something we have seen or heard at GeekGirlCon before. We’re especially looking for talent that reflects and appreciates the mission of our convention – to promote, celebrate, educate, mentor, encourage, and empower the female geek. Don’t want to apply but know someone who is a great fit? Please pass along this form to them!
Do you have to be a woman to apply?
No, although woman performers and special guests are highly encouraged! GeekGirlCon is committed to representing women geeks of all ages, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, creeds, physical and mental abilities, and familial statuses. All performers must reflect this commitment as well.
Do performers and special guests get discounted badges?
All performers and special guests are eligible for comped badges if they are performing or participating in special events at the convention.
Submissions are open until 11:59PM PST on Friday, May 15.
Please fill out the form here to indicate your interest. All questions and suggestions can be directed to the Manager of Special Events, Maddy Vonhoff, at maddy@geekgirlcon.com. Thank you for your interest and we will be in touch shortly!
Join us at the GeekGirlCONcert Saturday night for a jam-packed variety of awesome geeky musical talent! Our annual GeekGirlCONcert brings the best of music and musical comedy to you, and this year, there is something for everyone in this lineup of returning favorites and brand new talent.
Details and cheat codes:
Date: Saturday, October 11
Where: GeekGirlCon’ 14 at The Conference Center at WSCC, Room 301/302
The Doubleclicks are a nationally-touring, Billboard charting nerd band with a cello, a meowing cat keyboard, and songs about dinosaurs, Cats & Netflix, space and Dungeons and Dragons. Their YouTube videos boast over 2 million views and have been featured on BoingBoing, Kotaku, the Huffington Post, and on NPR shows “Live Wire” “All Things Acoustic” and “State of Wonder.” Find out more.
Sammus
Sammus
Sammus is an upstate New York-based rap artist and producer with Congolese and Ivorian family roots. Since joining NuBlack Music Group in early 2012, she has released two albums, a collaborative EP with nerdcore MC Random aka Mega Ran, a beat tape, and a Kickstarter-funded Metroid EP. Her production is characterized by uniquely chopped samples, and video game-like synths. She has been called the “rap Aisha Tyler” (MTV Iggy) because her smart lyrics often draw on her love of gaming. When she’s not rapping, she moonlights as a PhD student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Thundering Asteroids!
Thundering Asteroids! is a nerd punk band from Portland, Oregon performing for the first time at GeekGirlCon! They have been beating the Kobayashi Maru with over-caffeinated power chords since 2009. With topics ranging from sexy lamps to goblin kings and from superheroes to kill screens, their geek badges are proudly emblazoned on their sleeves. Minn and the boys crank the D10 to 11 as they rocket through space leaving a trail of video game cartridges and blown speakers in their space wake.
On March 12, join Central Cinema and GeekGirlCon in Townsville for a TV Dinner featuring sugar, spice, and everything nice . . . with just a dash of Chemical X. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup fight our villains in two of our favorite episodes of The Powerpuff Girls, while you enjoy a tasty dinner. Our villains could be Mojo Jojo or Him or the Ganggreen Gang or one of the many giant monsters that visit Townsville. Come to Central Cinema to see!
Details:
Date: Wednesday, March 12
Where: Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave, Seattle)
Time: 7:00 PM
Cost: Free! Food is available for purchase.
Who: All ages
Contact specialevents@geekgirlcon.com with questions or for more information on this event. To find out more about the Central Cinema, visit http://www.central-cinema.com/.
Have you ever portrayed the bad guy in a computer game and thenaccidentally almost started World War III? Well, Matthew Broderick has, as David Lightman in WarGames. Before he was everyone’s favorite teenage rebel in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off–where he played a disgruntled high school student hacking into the school computers to change the number of sick days he had taken–Broderick played a disgruntled high school student hacking into the school computers to change the poor grade he had just received. Ever wonder if Ferris learned a thing or two from David?
In WarGames, with his friend Jennifer Mack (played by The Breakfast Club’s Ally Sheedy), David accidentally hacks into a game that isn’t a game…and you’ll have to watch the movie to see how it ends!
Join GeekGirlCon at Central Cinema for the screening of this awesome scifi thriller!
GeekGirlCon ‘13 has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any geeky events around! Celebrate GeekGirlCon’s third year by attending these fabulous events!
From the Meetup Page: “Unnatural Redhead Productions is proud to bring ‘Boobs and the Bard: A Shakespeare Burlesque!’ to Seattle this November. Whether you are a life-long Shakespeare devotee or have only resentfully read what was assigned to you in school, this show will delight and entertain. Genderbending and crossdressing! Clever wordplay! Comedy and tragedy! Oddly frequent occurrences of twins! The best stage direction of all time! Boobs and the Bard explores all the things so beloved about Shakespeare, but with more near-nudity and in a venue where you can have the finest ales and foodstuffs brought directly to your table.”
From the Meetup Page: “Be part of the TEAM! Are you better with numbers than with equipment? Do you long to be part of the action but just aren’t coordinated? Play the role of LifeSaver extraordinaire! Provide concessions for the hungry hoards and raise funds for local cancer patients and their families. Join your friends and have fun making a difference for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while volunteering in a concession stand at the University of Washington Volleyball match on Friday, November 1st. We will run the concession stand and a portion of the proceeds from the stand goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Free food and beverage while working and if time permits you will be able to catch parts of the match.”
From the Meetup Page: “Want to make games but not sure you have enough time? Lack the programming chops to turn your ideas into reality? Or perhaps you’d just like to practice designing games? Join us for an afternoon of good old-fashioned game making! We’ll be using pen, paper, and various other odds and ends to design games from scratch.
From the event page: “This tribute to the wide-ranging career of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle features readings of two of his pure horror stories (“The Case of Lady Sannox” and “The Brazilian Cat”), along with one of his mysteries that really is a mystery: we’re not even going to name it. But after it’s read—by one of Seattle’s favorite professional actors—director Kurt Beattie will hold a contest to see whether anyone can identify it, and then he’ll award an appropriate prize! Here’s a clue: it’s about a man named Holmes.”
From Event Page: “For more than 25 years, Rebecca Eaton has served as executive producer of PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, the longest-running weekly prime-time drama series in American history—so she has seen a lot. With unprecedented insider access to the people and stories behind all the huge hits at PBS—including Downton Abbey, Prime Suspect, and Mystery!— Eaton, author of Making Masterpiece, shares interviews with writers, directors, and producers, along with her own candid photos and personal anecdotes about her career. In addition to revealing behind-the-scenes insight, Eaton shares tidbits on Alistair Cooke, Maggie Smith, Diana Rigg, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Daniel Radcliffe (whose first TV role was as the title character in David Copperfield).”
From Pacific Science Center: “Taken without consent in 1951 from a patient named Henrietta Lacks, the cells now known as HeLa are the oldest and most widely used human cell line in scientific research. At the November Queen Anne Science Café, join UW’s Jay Shendure, M.D., Ph.D., to explore his team’s efforts to decipher the HeLa genome amidst controversy regarding issues of patient consent and the privacy of genetic information.”
From the Event Page: “Within months of Jezebel.com’s 2007 debut, fans of the cutting-edge website for women dubbed themselves ‘Jezzies’ and organized meet-ups all over the world. By 2008, Jezzies’ devotion warranted a New York Times feature story, and parody blogs and copycat websites popped up everywhere. Now, with contributions from the writers and creative types who give the site its distinctive tone and influence, The Book of Jezebel offers an encyclopedia of everything important to the modern woman. Editor Anna Holmes and Seattle writer Lindy West (formerly of The Stranger and lately famous for a debate over rape jokes—and the unbelievable response to it) pore over pop culture, feminism, fashion, and sex from A (Abzug, Bella) to Z (zits!).”
From the Event Page: “Homer’s exasperated “D’oh!” might most popularly define The Simpsons, but Simon Singh says the show is anything but simple: It contains so many mathematical references, they could form the basis of an entire university course. Offering deep insights into the celebrated TV series, Singh, author of the bestseller Big Bang and the new The Simpsons & Their Mathematical Secrets, reveals how the show’s writers (all of whom have advanced science degrees) slip in morsels of number theory and mathematical concepts, from pi and the paradox of infinity to the origin of numbers and the most profound problems that haunt today’s mathematicians.”
Thursday, November 7 – Sunday, November 10 BurlyCon
From GeekWire Event Page: “For the sixth stellar year, BurlyCon is back for 2013! Attendees glowed about last year’s amazing schedule of offerings and round-the-clock fun. With over 100 classes taught by over 30 instructors, BurlyCon is the place to amp up your game! BurlyCon is an annual Burlesque Educational convention that provides educational offerings, professional growth and in-person social networking for the Burlesque Community. Our aim is to further the development and historical knowledge of this rare American art form that is experiencing a popular resurgence worldwide.”
From the Meetup Page: “Thursdays in Ballard equals a night of party games and merriment. Join us at Ballard Coffee Works. Bring your favorite games or choose from the host’s selections. First timer? Don’t be shy, we are as friendly as they come.”
From the Meetup Page: “New venue! We’ve moved Thursdays to Phoenix Comics & Games. Which also means we’re back to all-ages. Come join us for Thursday night story gaming! Everybody’s welcome. Never come to our meetups before? Never tried story games or for that matter any roleplaying games? No worries! RSVP so we know you’re coming and you’ll get to play.”
From the Meetup Page: “Want to explore the board/card game hobby? Want to meet people happy to teach you board games? This is your group! It is a very casual newbie-friendly group! We play a wide range of modern board and card games as well as some classics. You could find Ticket to Ride, Flash Point, Pandemic, The Resistance, Dominion, Settlers of Catan, 7 Wonders, and many more. Join the GeekGirlCon staff and friends and play some games! Want to each a game? Bring along some games and show others how to play!
From the event invite: “KRAM’s BINGOmatic Improv Machine returns for two shows November 8 & 9 at Ballard Senior Center. The show takes 16 short improv scenes and puts them against the backdrop of a twisted bingo game. The audience controls the order of the show and prizes are won by a lucky few. Each show is a completely fresh non-stop evening of improvisational scene- and game-based comedy, driven by the suggestions of our all-powerful audience.”
From the Meetup Page: “What are we doing? Dominoes (or other games depending on the mood), chatting about anything sci-fi related, drinking (caffeinated or unleaded) and general silliness. We start around 10:30 AM or so and play until whenever (usually 2:00 PM), feel free to come early or late; punctuality isn’t important.”
From the Meetup Page: “Story gaming has expanded to the Eastside! Everybody’s welcome. Never come to a meetup before? Never tried story games, or for that matter any roleplaying games? RSVP and you’ll get to play.”
From the Event Page: “Using a blog, MS Paint, and a penchant for telling poignant, funny, and self-deprecating stories, Allie Brosh has won over a huge, faithful audience. This book collects some of her most popular posts with new material to create a unique graphic memoir filled with humor, pathos, and doggies.”
“Based on the graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley, the film combines the worlds of video games and comic books with plenty of ka-pow. Watch wannabe-rockstar Scott Pilgrim on his quest to defeat not just one, but seven evil ex-boyfriends of his crush, Ramona Flowers. As if that task wasn’t tough enough, roadblocks along the way include bitter bandmates, a bloodthirsty old flame, and maybe even his own past mistakes. He’s going to need all the 1-ups he can get. Geeky greats Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Jason Schwartzman deliver knock-out performances worthy of the original book series.”
From Event Page: “After a wildly successful debut season at Town Hall, the popular public-speaking series returns with its simple goal: ‘Enlighten us, but make it quick.’ Since 2006, Ignite communities have thrived in Portland, Sydney, Boulder, Baltimore, NYC, and elsewhere. Presenters are asked: If you had five minutes on stage, what would you say? What if you got only 20 slides, and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds? Touching briefly on a variety of topics, from the DIY community to parent-educator relationships, and presented by anyone and everyone, Ignite events are all-ages, fast-paced, sometimes-unpredictable, and always thought-provoking. A Science Challenge networking event open to all precedes the talks”
From the Meetup Page: “What is GeekBingo, you ask? Well, it’s just like regular bingo, except we kicked it up a notch with geeky words instead of plain old numbers! Bingo cards are $1 and proceeds raised are donated to local charities – so feel free to triple or quadruple your chances, it’s for a good cause! Plus, we have awesome prizes donated by Dreamstrand Comics, Otherworlds, Wayward Coffeehouse, as well as some of our own shiny bits and bobs.”
What are you excited for in November? Let us know in our comments!
Do you have a geeky event to plug? Email Shubz Blalack. We are happy to feature events outside of the Seattle Metro area!
Please Note: GeekGirlCon reserves the right to approve or deny any event submissions. All submissions must be in alignment with GeekGirlCon’s Mission Statement.
It’s the night before GeekGirlCon ‘13. You’ve checked into your hotel, picked up your GeekGirlCon weekend pass early so you can beat the crowds tomorrow, and gone for a long wander around the block. You see the evening stretching out before you in unending boredom, as the time space continuum conspires against you, and the start of GeekGirlCon ’13 seems to spiral further and further away…
Don’t worry–we can help!
Come to the free GeekGirlCon ‘13 Kickoff Party at Tap House Grill from 6p.m. to 9p.m. on Friday, October 18! Our sweet pals over at the Seattle Browncoats Charities are co-hosting this party with us, so we’ve got four pool tables to play on and talk around. Plus, the excellent Tap House Grill offerings of food and drink will stave off the evening munchies and help those hours fly by. It’s an excellent place to meet new friends, map out the panels you’re going to see and the games you’ll play, and just relax and have a great time with your GeekGirlCon peeps.
And when we’re done, you can meander back to your hotel with your first memories from GeekGirlCon ’13 dancing in your head. Though it is just possible there might be somewhere else to go before you mosey off to bed, so stay tuned.
Details for the evening:
What: GeekGirlCon ‘13 Kickoff Party Where:Tap House Grill, 1506 Sixth Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 When: 6-9PM Who: GeekGirlCon, Seattle Browncoats Charities, Anyone who wants to start the convention weekend off right! How Much: No charge to attend! Food and beverage available for purchase.
All ages are welcome!
Bring your pool cues, and maybe your dancing shoes, and come hang out with us the night before GeekGirlCon ‘13!
Riddle me this: What’s the best way to spend a Monday night out in Seattle? Why, gumshoeing it up and getting your grub on at Central Cinema, of course! GeekGirlCon and Central Cinema invite you to indulge in a TV Dinner filled with detectives and deliciousness. Two standout episodes of the critically acclaimed Veronica Mars show will be aired, so come prepared for puzzles.
Starting at 7:00 p.m., watch as Veronica, a teenage private eye, takes on “The Wrath of Con.” When her friend Georgia is scammed out of a hefty sum of money, she must go where no non-geek has gone before—a den of hardcore gamers. With an intriguing disguise and guts that just won’t stop, she proves her stuff and then some. This episode from the show’s first season features one of the series’ most emotional endings, and acts as a great introduction for interested newcomers.
After a nice seventh inning stretch, “Ain’t No Magic Mountain High Enough” will unfold. In this second-season episode, our super sleuth slips up, with money being stolen right from under her nose. The carnival setting is a perfect backdrop for laughter and trickery, and with most of the main players running amok, it allows for some serious character development. Hailed for being chock-full of one-liners and classic Veronica zingers, this episode is a wild ride.
For just five bucks, you get all this action as well as a food voucher, which serves as your ticket inside, and enables you to order a meal with the server in your section. No mystery involved!
The Clues
Date: Monday, July 29, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM
Price: $5
Where: Central Cinema, 1411 21st Avenue, Seattle (21st Ave and East Union Street)
If you’d like to make it to the mayhem by bus, the #2 line drops off around the corner from the theater at 20th & Union. The #48 is also an easy option, stopping at 23rd and Union just two blocks away.
For additional information, check out Central Cinema online. Hope to spy you all at the show!
Join host GeekGirlCon to welcome three fantastic musicians to our Benefit Concert at the White Rabbit in Fremont!
Jonny Nero Action Hero has performed for us before; he has been performing for fifteen years, and writing his own material for ten years.
Nursehella was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada; this will be the Canadian rapper’s first performance for GeekGirlCon.
Shubzilla, GeekGirlCon’s own Public Relations Content Producer, debuted at NerdcoreNow’s First Annual Vocalist/Producer Challenge.
Add these three talented performers together, and we get a smashing nerd concert. Proceeds go to benefit GeekGirlCon and our mission. Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets; get online and buy yours now!
Are you headed to Emerald City Comicon this weekend?
Stop by Raygun Lounge on Friday, March 1, for Excelsior!, a party organized by GeekGirlCon and NW Gay Geeks.
For those who haven’t checked it out yet, Raygun Lounge is a full-service tabletop game lounge where you can geek out and relax with friends. We are thrilled to partner with them to host this event!
What can you expect at this party? Game demos, beer and wine, groovy tunes from DJ PBear, and free mead for the hobbits among us! Please note that the event is for those age 21 and over.
We’ll be joined by some special guests, including Tony Akins, artist for DC Comics’ Wonder Woman, and Chris Lange of the Capitol Hillbillies webcomic. We’ll also raffle off some amazing prizes, with all proceeds benefiting the Lambert House for homeless gay youth.
Please be sure to give Gamma Ray Games, Raygun Lounge, and the Comics Dungeon a big shout-out for sponsoring this event. Because of them, and you, it’s going to be epic.
We hope to see you on Friday!
QUICK REFERENCE DETAILS
What: Emerald City Comicon party hosted by NW Gay Geeks and GeekGirlCon When: Friday, March 1, 2013, 8:00 P.M. – close Where: Raygun Lounge Cost: Free Age: 21+ event Website: Check out all the details on our Facebook event page
