May 2014 Geek About Town
Hi, readers!
The days are getting longer and the nights are getting (sorta) warmer, too! Here’s a list of geeky events and activities to enjoy as the weather warms up!
Thursday, May 1-Monday, May 12: Seattle Cinerama Sci-Fi Film Festival
From the website: “Cinerama is hosting its 2nd annual Sci-Fi Film Festival beginning May 1. The 12-day festival will showcase over 30 films from the sci-fi genre.”
Friday, May 2: The Real Folk Blues!: Burlesque Inspired by Cowboy Bebop
From the Brown Paper Tickets site: “Cowboy Bebop is the best anime ever. No, it is. It has won multiple awards for its characters and storyline and is critically acclaimed by absolutely everybody But that’s not the most important thing right now. What’s important is that it also has one of the most recognizable, extensive and mind-blowing soundtracks EVER. The Real Folk Blues: Burlesque Inspired by the Music of Cowboy Bebop! starts with that soundtrack, and invites the most talented burlesquers this side of Titan to make amazing sexy art with it! This is NOT a Cowboy Bebop-themed burlesque show–this is a whole new galaxy of creativity inspired by the genre-blending musical masterpiece that is the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack. See you… There!
Featuring burlesque performances by Scarlett O’Hairdye, Bolt Action, Sara Dipity, Sin De La Rosa, Lady Drew Blood, Sailor St. Claire, Maggie McMuffin, Stella D’Letto, Whisper De Corvo, and headlined by Your Own Private Radical, Randi Rascal!”
Saturday, May 3: Free Comic Book Day!
“Free Comic Book Day is a single day – the first Saturday in May each year – when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores.”
Saturday, May 3: Seattle Astronomical Society Star Parties
From the website: “The SAS organizes monthly star parties at Green Lake and Paramount Park which are free and open to the public. People of all ages and background, including children, are welcome. These events offer to all the opportunity for telescopic viewing of sky objects as well as educational interaction of experienced, knowledgeable astronomers with each other and with participants who may have limited or minimal understanding of astronomy. A typical star party gathering features observing through at least two or more different types of telescopes provided by SAS members along with the opportunity to ask questions, to discuss the observation process, and to learn about many astronomical topics: solar system objects, deep space objects, constellations, types of telescopes, and any other topic of interest.”
Sunday, May 4: Staged Reading of “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars”
From the Facebook invite: “Come celebrate “Star Wars Day” with a launch party for The Rogues Gallery, Seattle’s newest theater company dedicated to producing plays with geek themes founded by enthusiastic geek and veteran theater artistDaniel Wood. Featuring a staged reading Ian Doescher’s “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars”.
Sunday, May the 4th at 3:00pm at the Raygun Lounge on Capitol Hill. Come eat. drink, be merry and listen to Star Wars as Shakespeare would have written it.
May the Force be with you!
Tuesday, May 6: Worst Night to Grow a Pair Premiere
From the Facebook invite: “The wait is almost over – join us for the world premiere of Frankenhuffer Productions’ epic dark comedy short, Worst Night to Grow a Pair! STIFF presents an evening of five shorts.”
Tuesday, May 6: ARA Seattle: Women in Tech Forum
From GeekWire: “The conversation about attracting, retaining, and advancing women in technology and marketing is not one that can be had in isolation, especially when organizations large and small are feeling the effect of talent shortages. During this panel, female leaders from different facets of the Seattle technology and marketing community will share their perspective on what is necessary for women to play a more significant role—both in volume and influence—in the tech industry both in the near- and long-term.
Special Guest: We’re honored to have Dawn Lepore as our special guest speaker. Dawn is the CEO of Lepore Northwest Partners, served as a Director of eBay and was the CEO and Chairman of the Board of drugstore.com. We look forward to hearing Dawn’s story and her path to CEO.”
Thursday, May 8: Charlaine Harris
From University Bookstore: “Still mourning the end of the Sookie Stackhouse series? Move on by joining us for a reading and signing of Charlaine Harris’ new book,Midnight Crossroad, with the author herself. The first book in Harris’ new series about the strange and supernatural characters of a small town in Texas, its story and suspects—including a phone psychic, a practicing witch and maybe even a vampire—will not only remind you why you love Harris’ books, but hook you from page one. And what better way to step in to Midnight, Texas for the first time than with Harris in the lead!”
Friday, May 9: GeekGirlCon Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse
From the Wayward website: “This is a hosted night of tabletop games open to all. Come by with friends or on your own and meet fellow geeks and gamers for a night of socializing, gaming, and delicious coffee! 7 – 11 pm, free!”
Saturday, May 10: Rule 34: If You Can Think Of It, There’s Burlesque For It
From the press release: “Rule 34 is May 10th at the Re-Bar in Seattle. Mister Bawdy is our Master of Ceremonies, our Potentate of Porn, our Sultan of Smut, and our Dictator of Dirt. Following his lead is Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Boom Boom L’Roux, Whisper De Corvo, Miss Violet DeVille, Maggie McMuffin, Cinnamon Maxxine, Magnolia Monroe, Morgue Anne, Dee Lushious, and Ms. Audrey Rugburn! Doors at 6:30 pm, seating at 7:00 pm, show at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $13 and are available through www.BrownPaperTickets.com and for $15 at the box office day of show.”
Sundays, May 11-June 1: Beginning Puppetry Classes
From the class description: “In this fun, dynamic class, you’ll learn the foundations of good stage puppetry – focus, physical commitment and basic puppet operation. Students learn the fundamentals of Muppet-style puppeteering through a combo of easy exercises, wicked challenges and practical scene work. Over the 4 weeks, you’ll get lots of hands-on time with professional puppets plus a simple practice puppet to take home so you can keep working on your skills. Working in the realm of visible puppeteering, we’ll explore both arm-and-rod and live hand puppets.
~ No puppet experience required.
~ Please dress comfortably and be ready to move.
~ Class size limited to 8.”
Monday, May 12: Women and Beer Presents: Third Annual Thirsty Sisters Event
From the Brown Paper Tickets site: “We welcome you to The Third Annual Women in Beer Thirsty Sisters Event, created by women but open to all. Enjoy goods from women-owned Breweries, Distilleries, Wineries, Restaurants, Cheese Makers, Bakers and Chocolatiers! Proceeds to benefit Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.
This year’s event will take place Monday May 12, 2014. This is a food and beer tasting event, open to the general public (women encouraged, men welcome!). We will be celebrating women in beer: drinking beer, spirit and wine brewed by women, and tasting food created and cooked by women-owned businesses.
Your ticket entitles you to all food samples and 10 tickets for alcoholic beverage pours.
FEATURING:
The Pike Brewing Company, The Ram in Puyallup, Peddlers Brewing, Populuxe, Island Hoppin’ Brewery, DerBlokken Brewery, Airways Brewing Company, Elysian, Spinnaker Bay Brewing, New Belgium, Stoup Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, Finnriver Farm Cidery, Sky River Brewing, Full Throttle Bottles, Copperworks, Brovo Spirits, Farmbox Greens, Taylor Shellfish, Bravehorse, Andaluca, Café Lago, Glendale Shepherd Cheese, Mt. Townsend Creamery, Cherry Valley Dairy, Tease Chocolates, Social Ice Cream, Luv Macaroons, Barley Angels Seattle…MORE VENDORS TO COME
Please note – this event is for ages 21+.”
Tuesday, May 13: A Reading with Anne Carson
From Townhall Seattle: ““In the small world of people who keep up with contemporary poetry,” wrote Daphne Merkin in The New York Times Book Review, Anne Carson, a Canadian professor of classics, has been cutting a large swath, inciting both envy and admiration.” Carson, a MacArthur Genius Award-winner, has collaborated with Robert Currie on a new piece of work inspired by the Cycladic Sculptures. This evening will be the world premiere performance of the piece, with original music by Eyvind Kang and Jessika Kenney. The sculptures were created on the Grecian Cycladic Islands of the Aegean Sea around 3000 BC. In addition to her many highly regarded translations of classical writing, Carson has published poems, essays, libretti, prose criticism, and verse novels that often cross genres. Known for her supreme erudition, her poetry also can be heartbreaking; she writes regularly on love, desire, sexual longing, and despair.”
Wednesday, May 14: Teen Science Cafe: Climate Impact: Changes in the Northwest & How We Can Help
From Pacific Science Center: “Come uncover how climate change and adaptation has been impacting our local Northwest species and ecosystems at the May Teen Science Café. Join us, along with the University of Washington’s Meade Krosby, Ph.D., in discussing the work that scientists and wildlife managers are doing to protect our environment, how these changes will affect us in the future, and what we can do to help. **Sorry adults, this event is only for teens.**”
Fridays, May 16-Saturdays, May 24: KAZOKU! the improvised game show
From the press release: “KAZOKU! takes a family teaming with hang-ups and dysfunction and pits them against the brave and beloved Audience Team in a series of outrageous challenges, with everyone competing to win Fabulous Prizes.
Guided by the sure hand of our delirious Game Show Host, watch as the Family Team teeters on the edge of despair and redemption. Can they put aside their differences and pull together to battle their way to victory? Or will their baggage pull them under? The only way to find out is to play KAZOKU!
Inspired by “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” and “Minute to Win It,” each performance of KAZOKU! is a completely fresh non-stop evening of improvisational scene- and game- based comedy, driven by the suggestions of our all-powerful audience. The family-themed challenges run the gamut from highly competitive and tricky, to just plain ridiculous.
KRAM Improv is made up of: Angela Bennett, Alex Dittmar, Rachel Jackson, and Kristin Olsen.
About KRAM Improv: KRAM Improv is a Seattle-based democratic-anarchic improv collective formed in 2007. KRAM’s formats are developed by a consensus-driven, organic process under the guidance of The Taco Quorum.”
Saturday, May 17: Girls Can Do
From GeekWire: “Free event at Benaroya Hall May 17. MISSION: TO INSPIRE A GENERATION OF POSSIBILITY THINKERS.TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG WOMEN TO HAVE BIG DREAMS AND PURSUE THEM. After all, what you want to do in life is always your best option, and anything is possible if you expect it.”
Sunday, May 18: The Gauntlet
Head to Ballard’s Card Kingdom and cheer on GeekGirlCon as they battle other local teams in an gamers invitational competition to raise money for Child’s Play. The event will be hosted by NPC Cast and will be streamed live over the internet! Supporters provide donations which give our team power-ups during the competition. Don’t miss your chance to support the GeekGirlCon gamer team as they play their way through five separate games!
Monday, May 19: UW Science Now: Chelsea Kahn: Communicating Climate Change
From Townhall Seattle: Conveying environmental issues to the general public has challenges, but according to Chelsea Kahn, this is especially difficult when the facts are disseminated through the media. Her research examines the communication of uncertain information before and after scientific reports have been published. She’ll share her analysis of English newspapers from four South Asian countries and their coverage of climate change. Kahn is a Master’s candidate at the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs.
Monday, May 19: Reclaiming Prosperity: Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Saru Jayaraman, and Anne Greenberg: Gender and Work
From Townhall Seattle: “Women’s wages are lower than men’s in every U.S. state, but what does income inequality mean for women in the workforce? This discussion will focus on the changing nature of work — and how it affects gender roles, families, and economic security. Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Anna Greenberg, and Saru Jayaraman will explore the current landscape of the gender pay gap and its relationship to labor. Rowe-Finkbeiner is the co-founder and Executive Director/CEO of MomsRising, a grassroots organization working toward economic security for families. Greenberg is a leader in the field of political polling, data analytics, and micro-targeting at GQR Digital. Jayaraman is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United.”
Tuesday, May 20: Katherine Freese: The Search for Dark Matter
From Townhall Seattle: “NASA telescopes recently discovered potential dark matter at the center of the Milky Way, but scientists have been on a search for this substance for years. With known particles making up a mere five percent of the universe, the hunt for the remaining percentage (dark matter) could have a huge impact on our understanding of the cosmos. Theoretical physicist Katherine Freese offers a historical account of this quest, from its initial discovery to current understanding, and gives a glimpse of its immense (and largely unknown) possibilities. The Cosmic Cocktail: Three Parts Dark Matter is the true tale of “the most mysterious particle in the universe.” Freese is Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan.”
Wednesday, May 21: UW Science Now: Sharon Greenblum: Stories from Your Stomach: Jacquelyn Braggin: Viruses Sneak to Survive
From Townhall Seattle: “Trillions of microscopic bugs crawl around in our bodies every day. Sharon Greenblum, a graduate student in the Genome Sciences Department, says these bugs — which line skin, noses, and stomach walls — collectively weigh 3-4 pounds in each person. She’s studying the bugs in the stomachs of healthy and diseased individuals, to find out which ones make people healthy and which ones do us harm.
The immune system works hard to keep the body healthy, but viruses use a variety of “sneaky tricks” to escape the body’s natural defenses against disease. Jacquelyn Braggin studies the tools most important to viruses in their battle with the immune system. According to Braggin, understanding how and why viruses use these tools can help determine how viruses make us sick and how to prevent them from doing so. Braggin is a graduate student in the Microbiology Department.”
Thursday, May 22-Saturday, May 24: Accio Burlesque! A Burlesque Tribute to Harry Potter
From the event page: “Return to Hogwarts on May 22, 23 & 24 at The Annex Theatre with Accio Burlesque! Now in its second year, this burlesque tribute to Harry Potter features brand new cheeky revelations about the Harry Potter universe. From witches and wizards to magical beasts, Accio Burlesque summons our favorite things from J.K. Rowling’s novels (and the films they inspired) and re-imagines them through the art of the tease.”
Friday, May 23: GeekGirlCon Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse
From the Wayward website: “This is a hosted night of tabletop games open to all. Come by with friends or on your own and meet fellow geeks and gamers for a night of socializing, gaming, and delicious coffee! 7 – 11 pm, free!”
Friday, May 23-Sunday, May 25: Crypticon Seattle
From the about us page: “Three days of your favorite actors, authors, and artists, along with tons of new people and things you never knew existed. But we are so much more than a tidal wave of blood, guts, and scares.
Crypticon welcomes and supports all types of dark art and encourages people from all walks of life to come and enjoy the show. Love zombies? We got ya! Vampires? Yes! Goth, fetish, dark fantasy or sci-fi? Yeah, we’ve got that, too! And it’s not just once a year that we flaunt our freakish best—we sponsor, support, and run many dark-themed events throughout the year, all over western Washington.”
Friday, May 23-Sunday, May 25 Enfilade! 2014 Historical Miniature Gaming Convention
From the website: “Enfilade! is [the Northwest Historical Miniature Gaming Society’s] flagship event, held annually over Memorial Day weekend. With more than 300 attendees, it’s the largest convention devoted to historical miniature gaming west of the Mississippi.”
Wednesday, May 28: Michelle Jacob, PhD: Yakima Rising: Indigenous Cultural Revitalization, Activism, and Healing
From University Bookstore: “One of few ethnographies about Native communities by a member of their community, Michelle M. Jacob’s new book about the Yakima Nation has been described as “an intense and robust examination of decolonization, tradition and survival” with no other work like it. This spring we are proud to have Jacob join us for a reading, signing and discussion of her new perspective on the tension between reclaiming traditional cultural practices and adapting to change that shifts the conversation surrounding Native communities from one of perpetual victimhood to one of indigenous self-determination, ongoing resilience and cultural revitalization.”
Saturday, May 31: Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam Volume 8
Spring has finally sprung and puppets are in full bloom! Come out and bask in the sunlight of a brand spankin’ new volume of the Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam. While puppet slams aren’t known to cause allergy attacks* we can’t guarantee your eyes won’t be watery from laughter and profundity.
Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam has been providing quality puppet shows for the fine adults of Seattle since 2011. From hilarious to heartbreaking to horrifying, every performance features a variety of fascinating short works by puppeteers from the Pacific Northwest (and beyond)!
If you have any geeky events you would like to see on Geek About Town, email shubz@geekgirlcon.com. Please note that we reserve the right to include or exclude events from our list.
