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December Geek About Town

With the holiday season coming up on us, here are some awesome geeky events to invite your friends and family to!

 

Friday, November 20 – Saturday, December 19: The Twilight Zone: Live!

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Online reservations can be made at http://www.brownpapertickets.com.
Regular at the door $29
Students/Seniors at the door $25
Regular Online reserved $25
Student/Seniors online reserved $22

Box office opens at 7:00pm, show starts at 8:00pm

From the website: You’ve turned the corner…the sign post up ahead…it’s The Twilight Zone: Live! Three episodes from the classic TV show presented live on our stage. The Midnight Sun (Nov, 1961) follows a young artist sweltering in her apartment as the earth slowly spirals into the sun. Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up? (May 1961). Bus passengers are stranded by a storm at a roadside diner while rumors of UFOs fly on the radio and it seems there are more passengers than there should be. The Night of the Meek (Dec 1960). A drunken dime store Santa discovers the true meaning of Christmas. Do not miss this year’s classic.

 

ChiRaq

Thursday, December 3 – Sunday, December 6: Chi-Raq

SIFF Cinema Egyptian, 805 E Pine Street, Seattle, WA

From the webpage: Iconoclast director Spike Lee returns with this hard-hitting, modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek comedy “Lysistrata” that tells the story of a group of women who organize against the ongoing violence in Chicago’s Southside, creating a movement that challenges the nature of race, sex, and violence around the world.

 

Friday, December 4 – Sunday, December 6: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in Smell-O-Vision

SIFF Film Center, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle

$15 | $10 SIFF Members | $14 Senior & Youth

From the webpage: SIFF’s annual extravaganza celebrating the 1971 musical family classic returns! Sign our giant contract on the way in the door, then enjoy fragrant and tasty treats from our legendary Wonkariffic goodie bags. Bring your nose, your taste buds, and your sense of adventure as you tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all, made even more outrageous by Gene Wilder’s wonderfully eccentric performance, utterly singable songs, and those lovable hardworking Oompa Loompas.

Seeing this film on the big screen (with candy!) makes for an experience that is “ninety-three percent perspiration, six percent electricity, four percent evaporation, and two percent butterscotch ripple.”

 

Sunday, December 6: Doctor Wholidays

EMP Museum, 325 5th Avenue N., Seattle, WA

Tickets $22 ($15 EMP members); $8 youth (ages 5-17)

From the website: Put your Sonic Screwdrivers in the air and wave them like you just don’t care at this holiday celebration of Doctor Who at EMP.

Do you love the Doctor? So do we! For over 50 years, BBC’s iconic series about a time-traveling hero, Doctor Who, has been a phenomenon with extraordinary cultural impact.

Join us in celebrating Doctor Who and the holiday season with a holiday-themed TARDIS photo op, costume contests*, Geeks Who Drink trivia, drink specials, activities by Anglicon, Christmas crowns and crackers, clips from Doctor Who Christmas specials, and more wibbly wobbly timey wimey surprises.

Time Lords big and small welcome!

Tickets include admission into EMP’s Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction, which features the original Dalek and Cyberman used in the filming of classic Doctor Who episodes from the 1980s.

 

Doubleclicks

Tuesday, December 8: The Doubleclicks, Sammus and Shubzilla at Funhouse

Funhouse Seattle, 109 Eastlake Ave E., Seattle

Tickets are $8 advance (available at Ticketfly), or $10 at the door.

Doors open at 8:30pm, Show starts at 9:00pm.

 

Friday, December 11: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

7:00pm – 10:45pm, 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle

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! No pressure though, you can just come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon game nights with our friends at Wayward? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

Our group is inclusive and totally newbie-friendly. We play a wide range of modern board and card games as well as some classics. You might find King of Tokyo, Völuspá, Alien Frontiers, Locke & Key, Coup, Tokaido, The Resistance, Skull and Roses, Settlers of Catan, 7 Wonders, Toc Toc Woodman, FLUXX and many more!

Bring a game with you or just bring yourself. Join GeekGirlCon staffers, make some new friends, play some games, and enjoy some delicious organic, fair trade, and shade-grown coffee.

There are also local pastries and vegetarian/vegan treats, if you get hungry during all that gameplay. Their pastries are delivered daily from local vendors including donuts from Mighty-O Donuts, croissants from Le Fournil Patisserie, bagels from Blazing Bagels, and the rest of their tasty treats provided by Little Rae’s All Natural Bakery. There are even GF cookies from WOW Bakery!

 

Friday, December 11 – Saturday, December 12: Hogswatch Night Burlesque

Black Box Theater (At the Seattle Center), 305 Harrison St, Seattle
VIP Tickets: $50 each, general admission: $25 each

Doors at 6:30pm, Show at 7:30pm

From the event: For two nights this December GossamarWing Productions is offering tickets to a burlesque experience on a different world, Discworld to be exact*.
Come and join us for an immersive experience with some of your favorite** characters of the series as they experience Hogswatch Night.
We will have a snack bar, merch and photo booth, so bring cash and be prepared to jump into the DiscWorld with us, as we honor Sir Terry Prachett with our love!

*And let us tell you that was not easy, tracking down the Great A’Tuin was no easy feat as she seemly follows no pattern in her travels
**Well our favorite, but through headology, and stripping, we will convince you to love our choices!

 

Saturday, December 12: Joy to the Worlds Tour

7:00pm – 11:00pm

Seattle Mystery Books, 10326 45th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125

From the event: Help us celebrate the release of Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays!
Join all four authors at Seattle Mystery Books in Seattle, WA. Chat with the authors and pick up an autographed copy of the book.

 

Thursday, December 17: Campout Cinema: Gremlins

Sky Church, EMP Museum, 325 5th Avenue N., Seattle, WA

Tickets $12 ($9 EMP members, youth ages 5-17)

Doors open 6:30pm, event starts at 7:30pm

From the webpage: Deck the halls with boughs of… gremlins? A horde of mischievous monsters are unleashed on a small town in this Campout Cinema screening of Gremlins (1984).gremlins_poster

Hilarious destruction ensues in the small town of Kingston Falls after a new pet owner violates two of three simple gremlin rules: no water (violated), no food after midnight (violated), and no bright light.

Come face to face with Gizmo the Mogwai (yes, the real Gizmo used in the film) who is making his EMP debut inside the Can’t Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film exhibit (included with tickets) before and during intermission. Start some trouble in the Holly Jolly Mayhem photo op, and enjoy trivia, giveaways, and other surprises!

This event is all ages; alcohol will not be served at the screening.

 

Saturday, December 19: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Marathon

JBL Theater, EMP Museum, 325 5th Avenue N., Seattle, WA

11:00am – 3:30pm

From the webpage: Take a breather from holiday shopping and join us for an EMP holiday tradition with screenings of one of the worst films ever made, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

This madcap sci-fi movie adventure sends Martian kidnappers to Earth to capture Santa Claus for their joyless planet, and had a resurgence of popularity in the ’90s when it was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Experience the Christmas magic non-stop with back-to-back screenings at 11:00am, 12:30pm, and 2:00pm.

Tickets are free. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

 

Saturday, December 26: Seattle Audubon Society Annual Christmas Bird Count

Register here. $5.00 suggested donation

From the webpage: Started in 1900, the CBC is the longest running citizen science survey in North America. Seattle Audubon has coordinated the Seattle CBC for nearly nine decades! Approximately 200 volunteers survey the count circle (15 miles in diameter) centered in downtown Seattle, to identify and count anything with feathers and a pulse. There are 14 areas within the Seattle count circle, each being covered by one or multiple teams of volunteer surveyors. All results are tallied by a count compiler and submitted to the National Audubon Society. These data are incorporated into very important research, like the State Of The Birds report and the National Audubon Society’s Birds and Climate Change Report.

 

Thursday, December 31: Moulin Rouge! New Year’s Eve Singalong

SIFF Cinema Uptown

$15 | $10 SIFF Members | $14 Senior & Youth

From the webpage: The ultimate celebration of the Bohemian lifestyle, Moulin Rouge! is filled with breathtaking costumes and lush production numbers that invade the mind and fill the eyes with sensuous treats. Until it all comes crashing down in a tragic, doomed love affair guaranteed to make you grab your hankies. But don’t worry, it’s just another day the Moulin Rouge, so drink your bubbly, and relish a good cry to end the year.

Before the film we’ll celebrate the music of the film with a Moulin-inspired music video countdown. And the evening ends just in time to head over to the Space Needle to catch some fireworks while shouting “Rooooooxannnne” at the sky!

 

JC Lau
“Rock On!”

Bechdel Test Burlesque Returns!

GeekGirlCon ‘15 is fast approaching, and you have a hard choice to make between two awesome events on October 10: our first GeekGirlCon Fashion Show at the Conference Center, or something a little more risque…

 

BECHDEL TEST BURLESQUE

October 9 & 10, 2015

Doors 7:00 PM; show 7:30 PM

21+ Only with ID

$20 General Admission, $35 VIP

 

Presented by

Jo Jo Stiletto, Sophie Maltease, Sailer St. Claire & Scarlett O’Hairdye

In Association with Sin de la Rosa

GeekGirlCon
“Rock On!”

September Geek About Town

Sad that summer is over? Get your geek on for the fall with these super September events!

Wednesday, September 9: Seattle Public Library “Directed by Women” film series: Little Women

1:00-3:15pm, Broadview Branch

From the website: Join us to enjoy “Little Women” as The Seattle Public library joins the Directed by Women global party this September! With their father fighting in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother. In spite of tragedies, the bonds of the close family hold even when men friends appear. Directed by Gillian Armstrong.

Thursday, September 10-Saturday, September 12: Star Trek: The Sexed Generation Burlesque

8:00pm, The Annex Theatre

From the press release: More debaucherous than a weekend on Riza, Star Trek: The Sexed Generation blasts off once again September 10-12th at Seattle’s Annex Theatre.  After a sold-out run in 2014, this fully scripted burlesque extravaganza is back with an all-new storyline, more beloved Starfleet characters, and sexy, space age striptease!

In this tale of lust, intrigue, and spandex bodysuits, what should be a routine mission for the USS Enterprise takes an unexpected turn after passing too closely to a strange wormhole in space. Trapped in time and unable to return home, Captain Picard, Commander Riker, and the rest of the crew must turn to some unexpected allies in order to unravel the mystery.

Written, produced, and performed by lifelong Star Trek fans, Sexed Generation is both a celebration of the show’s unique place in the sci-fi pantheon and a loving critique of its quirks. Featuring Seattle burlesque stars and seasoned thespians, Star Trek: The Sexed Generation is so over the top, it’s out of this world.

Friday, September 11: GeekGirlCon Board Games Night at Wayward Coffeehouse

From the Meetup page: “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! No pressure though, you can just come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon game nights with our friends at Wayward? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

Our group is inclusive and totally newbie-friendly. We play a wide range of modern board and card games as well as some classics. You might find King of Tokyo, Völuspá, Alien Frontiers, Locke & Key, Coup, Tokaido, The Resistance, Skull and Roses,Settlers of Catan, 7 Wonders, Toc Toc Woodman, FLUXX and many more!

Bring a game with you or just bring yourself. Join GeekGirlCon staffers, make some new friends, play some games, and enjoy some delicious organic, fair trade, and shade-grown coffee.

There are also local pastries and vegetarian/vegan treats, if you get hungry during all that gameplay. Their pastries are delivered daily from local vendors including donuts from Mighty-O Donuts, croissants from Le Fournil Patisserie, bagels from Blazing Bagels, and the rest of their tasty treats provided by Little Rae’s All Natural Bakery. There are even GF cookies from WOW Bakery!”

Saturday, September 12: Beginning Stage Puppeteering

1-3pm, $45 pre-reg/$55 day-of

In this fun, dynamic class, you’ll learn the foundations of good stage puppetry – focus, physical commitment and basic puppet operation. Seattle-based puppeteer Rachel Jackson will teach you how to make your puppet seem alive and connect with your audience. You’ll get lots of hands-on time with professional arm-and-rod puppets plus a simple practice puppet to take home so you can keep working on your skills.

Sunday, September 13: Seattle Public Library “Directed by Women” film series: Desert Flower

2:00-4:30pm, Douglass-Truth Branch

From the website: Join us to enjoy “Desert Flower” as The Seattle Public library joins the Directed by Women global party this September! “Desert Flower” tells the real-life story of Waris Dirie, a poor girl who flees an arranged marriage in Somalia, winds up in London and becomes one of the world’s most recognizable supermodels, who also speaks out against female genital mutilation. Directed by Sherry Hormann.

Monday, September 14: Seattle Public Library “Directed by Women” film series: Monsoon Wedding

6:00-8:00pm, University Branch

From the website: Join us to enjoy “Monsoon Wedding” as The Seattle Public library joins the Directed by Women global party this September! Part comedy, part drama and part romance, this charming film about a very chaotic Indian wedding won the prestigious Golden Lion Award at the 2001 Venice Film Festival. In English and Hindi with English subtitles. Directed by Mira Nair

 

Saturday, September 19-Sunday, September 20: Seattle Retro Gaming Expo

From the website: Seattle Retro Gaming Expo is back and ready for it’s annual expo!! This year SRGE is partnering with the Living Computer Museum to bring you both console and vintage computing fun! This September 19th and 20th, video game collectors, retailers, and enthusiasts will descend upon the Emerald City for SRGE 2015.

SRGE 2015 will also feature an exciting panel lineup with topic including collecting, industry insights and more! SRGE will release more information as the show approaches via http://www.facebook.com/SeattleRetro and http://www.twitter.com/SeattleRetro.
 
The Freeplay room is open to all attendees, and features over 1200 games, including NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and more, All free to play ! In addition, there will be consoles from every generation (not currently in production) with games, challenges, contests, and more included with your badge!
 
Seattle Retro Gaming is dedicated to strengthening the local retro gaming community. We have partnered with Ninkasi Brewing and the EMP to bring retro gaming events to Seattle. In addition, the last Tuesday of every month SRGE is sponsoring the QUESTION BLOCK Video Game Trivia Night at the Wilde Rover in Kirkland. Details for these events and more can be found at www.SeattleRetro.org.

Saturday, September 19-Sunday, September 20: Seattle Mini Maker Faire

10:00am-5:00pm, $15 for a 1 day pass online, $20 at the door

From the website: Try out the latest, greatest inventions by over 80 makers from across the region at a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness—and a celebration of the maker movement: people not just hungry to talk about the next big thing, but to make it!

Over the course of the weekend, guests are invited to get their hands dirty and try out amazing projects through exhibits, hands-on activities, demonstrations, and talks that blend art, engineering, science, and technology. It’s a vibrant gathering of innovative minds, and the perfect opportunity to learn as well as share.

Monday, September 21: Jane McGonigal: Gaming Your Way to Better Health

7:30pm, Town Hall Seattle, tickets $5

From the website: In 2009, game designer Jane McGonigal’s life suddenly changed when she suffered a debilitating concussion. SuperBetter is her story of recovery–how she used her skills to create a game to help her recover–and how this personal project turned into a national plan to assist the recovery of others. Based on scientific research into the beneficial properties of playing games, her program became a research study with the National Institutes of Health and, more than 400,000 people later, it continues to help others. She’ll describe her experiences–how she overcame ill health through gaming–and explain why, in order to live a “happier, braver, more resilient life,” we all need to adopt a “gameful” mindset. Whether it’s Pacman, soccer, or a crossword puzzle, she’ll explain how to use any games we encounter to control attention, strengthen relationships, and self-motivate.

Friday, September 25: GeekGirlCon Board Games Night at Wayward Coffeehouse

From the Meetup page: “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! No pressure though, you can just come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon game nights with our friends at Wayward? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

Our group is inclusive and totally newbie-friendly. We play a wide range of modern board and card games as well as some classics. You might find King of Tokyo, Völuspá, Alien Frontiers, Locke & Key, Coup, Tokaido, The Resistance, Skull and Roses,Settlers of Catan, 7 Wonders, Toc Toc Woodman, FLUXX and many more!

Bring a game with you or just bring yourself. Join GeekGirlCon staffers, make some new friends, play some games, and enjoy some delicious organic, fair trade, and shade-grown coffee.

There are also local pastries and vegetarian/vegan treats, if you get hungry during all that gameplay. Their pastries are delivered daily from local vendors including donuts from Mighty-O Donuts, croissants from Le Fournil Patisserie, bagels from Blazing Bagels, and the rest of their tasty treats provided by Little Rae’s All Natural Bakery. There are even GF cookies from WOW Bakery!”

Saturday, September 26: Star Wars: The Party Strikes Back

EMP Museum, 7:00pm-11:00pm

Tickets $30 general public, $25 EMP members, $20 youth, free for children 4 and under

From the website: EMP invites you to join us for the closing party of Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume. Explore the exhibition before it leaves EMP, and enjoy galactic games and light saber duels, drink specials, Padawans costume march, and a dance party of Yub Nub proportions. Attendees are encouraged to arrive in costume and pay tribute to their favorite characters across the Galactic Empire. Do. Or do not. There is no try. You’re our only hope.

JC Lau
“Rock On!”

Rewriting the Trekkie Stereotype: Setting My Phasers to Striptease

Written by Crystal Tassels, burlesque performer.

Crystal Tassels

Crystal Tassels
Photo by Mandy Flame

Star Trek fans have long been portrayed by the mainstream media as quintessential nerds. Generally considered more fanatic than enthusiast, the negative connotation surrounding the term “Trekkie” has driven many fans to opt for the more neutral “Trekker.”  Even Urban Dictionary’s list of words related to Trekkie includes such affirming vocabulary as “loser,” “dork,” “dweeb,” and even “virgin” (which makes me cringe in a special way).

We’re all familiar with the image of a Trekkie as an unattractive, and maybe gross, middle-aged dude who presumably lives in his parents’ basement. (The comic book guy from The Simpsons comes to mind.) In America, this is the cultural baggage that we risk evoking when we tell people that we are Star Trek fans. Of course, this stereotype isn’t limited to just Trekkies, but, outside the gamut of geekery, it’s hard to come up with another hobby that carries with it such a specific and unsexy set of cultural associations.

As a fangirl, I find it incredibly inspiring to see other Trekkies getting their sexy on, Enterprise-style. It happens in fan fiction, in art, in swag, and in deliciously geeky conversations. But I find that I respond most strongly to something a bit more physical. Nerdlesque is the most over-the-top, sensual way to express and explore fandom that I’ve ever encountered. This subgenre of burlesque brings fandom to hot, fleshy life by combining it with parody, dance, and classic striptease. It brings physicality to fan fiction and narrative to cosplay, then gets naked and rolls in glitter.

Geek-mecca Seattle is home to some of the best nerdlesque in the world. (In fact, as a nerd and burlesque artist myself, the city’s robust community of geeky ecdysiasts was one of the main reasons I moved here.) That’s not an exaggeration; many genre-defining performers and producers call the Emerald City their home. (For more proof, check out this post on “Seattle’s Summer of Nerdlesque” by Jo Jo Stiletto, Professor of Nerdlesque and expert in all things naked and nerdy.) The artists that create nerdlesque are fans themselves, and use their bodies to investigate uncharted territory in canons “[f]rom video game vixens and superheroes to Labyrinth, David Lynch, DC Comics, Neil Gaiman and Doctor Who,” says Stiletto.

Star Trek: The Sexed Generation poster

Image source: Annex Theatre

A newcomer to the production side of nerdlesque is up-and-coming theater company Songbird & Raven, whose inaugural season opener is Star Trek: The Sexed Generation, a fully scripted burlesque play that unfolds aboard the Starship Enterprise. When the initial casting call for this show went out, I nearly fell out of my chair. Not only is this a romp of sexy Trek silliness, but also a legitimate exploration of gender and identity in the canon. Through gender-bending and storytelling, the characters tease their way through questions of power and sex in Roddenberry’s future utopia. It’s a space-age cultural study in tassels and sequins. Smart and sexy? Yes, please.

(Full disclosure: The author of this post is definitely biased in thinking that Star Trek: The Sexed Generation will be one of the best nerdlesque events of 2014. She’s in the show! But seriously, it’s good, y’all.)

So why does this matter? I’m not arguing that the burlesque stars shimmying through the canon are writing fan fiction scenarios that haven’t already been explored to some extent elsewhere. But the physical sexualization of geek canon, done on geek-girl terms, has powerful implications. Fangirls run the risk of actually believing the cultural baggage that nerdiness carries. We risk being othered and made to believe that our interests are weird and undesirable, and that therefore we are weird and undesirable. Nerdlesque rejects and negates all of that baggage. It lets geekdom shine in all its sexy glory and connects canon with the bodily sensuality of both the performers on stage and the audience watching. What’s more, nerdlesque celebrates and critiques pop culture by using nudity in a very public, subversive way.

I would strongly encourage all ladies of nerdy persuasion to celebrate their fandom with some woman-powered, sexy nerdlesque. Bring your friends and daughters, too.

For another look at nerdlesque, as written for the audiences of Penthouse magazine, check out this article from September 2013, which features several Seattle-based artists.

Guest Contributor
“Rock On!”

May 2014 Geek About Town

geekAboutTown_blogBanner

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.

Shiboo_Krismer
“Rock On!”

Burlesque, Video Games, and Princess Zelda: JOYstick! Level 2

By Steven Stone, co-owner of Smooches and Science Presents, former staff member for GeekGirlCon

Let’s talk video games, shall we?  I have been a gamer all of my life.  It’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t have a controller or keyboard in my hands.  From the NES to the Genesis to the PSX to the Xbox 360, I’ve been all over the map of types and builds of consoles.  Another thing I’ve been a proponent of over the past couple of years has been burlesque.  I’ve been everything from a host to a prop.

Last year, I, alongside former GeekGirlCon staff member Kelly Clark, was able to help put together a burlesque show based on our love of gaming.  It was called JOYstick!  It was a fundraiser for GeekGirlCon, and it was a dream come true.  We had a Samus Aran constructing her armor, a Psycho Mantis controlling the minds of audience members, and, most importantly, Link dancing to a Ke$ha song.  Link’s act was fun, goofy, and held a special place in my heart.  The Legend of Zelda has always captured my time and attention and has usually been the game series I employ to introduce friends to gaming in general.  It’s able to be an innovator graphically and gameplay-wise despite always seeming to deliver a similar story.  With the Link act, the audience was allowed to have fun in the moment, connecting with Link in ways they didn’t even know was possible.  Something though, was missing.

Fosse Jack as Link in the original JOYstick! (Photo by Jackie Kingsbury)

Fosse Jack as Link in the original JOYstick! (Photo by Jackie Kingsbury)

Thinking back on The Legend of Zelda, the story has never been about Link, really.  I mean, he’s not even worthy enough to be given space in the title!  Zelda has always been the through line to me.  She was the one who split the triforce apart to protect it from Ganon in the original game.  She was the one who helped teenaged Link through the tougher dungeons through her alter-ego Sheik.  She was the young pirate who helped Link out on the high seas when he needed it most.

To me, Zelda has always represented a different side of the helpless princess.  Unlike Princess Peach, Zelda always seemed to have an understanding of what was about to occur and planned appropriately.  She represented the crafty princess, aiding and, in some cases becoming, the hero when the time and circumstances called for it.  Unfortunately, as Anita Sarkeesian points out, Zelda’s role eventually does revert back to being a damsel in distress, traditionally being kidnapped to begin the final act of the game she is in.

How does this relate back to burlesque?  As a feminist artform, burlesque represents to me that moment when a woman (or man) is given the chance to take the main stage and capture the audience through their physical qualities and abilities.  For JOYstick! Level 2, we hope to challenge some notions of the video game world.  We want to showcase the heroine that Zelda is and the important part of video game lore that she represents.  Princess Zelda will be given a starring role in a solo act by the ever talented Olatsa Assassin.  She takes Zelda from damsel to hero in a very specific way…and you’ll just have to attend the show to find out how!

JOYstick! Level 2 is the second show dedicated to the the world of video games from producers Smooches and Science Presents.  This year, beyond featuring Zelda, we hope to have fun and challenge norms.  From characters that represent the misogynistic side of video games (through the jerk that is Duke Nukem) to games that we love simply because they involve rolling things onto a ball, we aim to have it all.  We hope to blow minds and earn achievements.

Smooches and Science Presents will be showcasing JOYstick! Level 2 at the Columbia City Theatre on September 20 and 21.  Tickets are $20 and can be found on Brown Paper Tickets.

Winter Downs
“Rock On!”

Kick Off GeekGirlCon ’13 with Bechdel Test Burlesque!

Poster

In a world where women let their geek flags fly, thirteen burlesque performers will gather to celebrate female fandom through the art of striptease. And they’ll do it all without having conversations about their boyfriends!

Left: Shanghai Pearl, photo by Jules Doyle. Right: Sailor St. Claire

Left: Shanghai Pearl, photo by Jules Doyle. Right: Rebecca Davis, photo by Inti St. Clair

Hosted by Rebecca M. Davis and featuring performances by burlesque luminaries Miss Indigo Blue (Miss Exotic World 2011), Lola LeSoleil (Southern Fried Burlesque Queen 2013), The Shanghai Pearl, and Iva Handfull (Kansas City Burlesque Festival Queen 2013), Bechdel Test Burlesque offers top-notch talent with a geeky flair. These superheroes of striptease will be joined by nerdlesque’s rising stars, including Bolt Action, Flirty Sanchez, Maxie Milieu, Sara Dipity, Sailor St. Claire, Scarlett O’Hairdye, Sophie Maltease, Trooper, and Trojan Original, making for an explosion of nakedness and nerdiness!

Left: Trooper; Right: Lola LeSoleil

Left: Trooper. Right: Lola LeSoleil

Produced in association with GeekGirlCon, Bechdel Test Burlesque will be a fun, feminist romp sure to go down in history. GeekGirlCon ‘13 attendees, Seattle burlesque fans, and geeks of all stripes will have two chances to experience this epic event with two showtimes at the inimitable Re-Bar. With all the costumes flashing around onstage, audience members are highly encouraged to cosplay! Come in your best geeky gear and get ready to hoot and holler!

Tickets to view these ecdysiasts start at $15 for general admission. VIP tickets, which include a reserved seat closest to the stage, are $30. All tickets are available via BrownPaperTickets starting Friday, September 20. Full disclosure: the show is likely to sell out, so save that date and act fast to secure a seat!

Date: Friday, October 18, 2013

Times: 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Price: $15 for General Admission Seating, $30 for VIP

Where: Re-bar, 1114 Howell Street, Seattle, WA 98101

Don’t forget that just before these tour de forces begin, GeekGirlCon is hosting another kick-off party over at the Tap House Grill! Imagine the excitement of picking up your Con passes at registration, grabbing some noms, and meeting new peeps at the Tap House Grill party, then joining even more fellow geeks over at Re-bar. Your weekend is sure to start off right with all this entertainment.

Kick off your weekend right with Bechdel Test Burlesque: because this time, the personal is political. Get your tickets now!

After snagging your tickets to the striptease, remember to pick up your passes for GeekGirlCon ‘13!

AJ Dent
“Rock On!”

February Geek About Town

Hi, readers! That misty fog get you down in January? Well, cheer up! February is just around the corner with awesome events to whet your geeky appetites!

Friday, February 1: Velvet Legends of Wrestling
A visual art tribute to the heroes and villains of wrestling.

Friday, February 1-Sunday, March 10: Photograph 51
From the website: “The Seattle Rep presents “Photograph 51 “ by Anna Ziegler
From the website: An intriguing portrait of British scientist Rosalind Franklin and her—often overlooked—role in the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. This complex tale explores how Franklin, a smart, stubborn, and courageous woman, operated in a field dominated by men. A balance of the historical, romantic, and scientific, Photograph 51 is a touching human play of ideas.”

foolscapFriday, February 1-Sunday, February 3: FoolsCap Con
From the website: “Foolscap is a small weekend conference where readers, writers, visual artists, and other people who love science fiction and fantasy meet, learn, talk to each other, and have a great time together.” It is occurring at the same time as Potlatch 22.

Friday, February 1-Sunday, February 3: Potlatch 22
From the website: “Potlatch is about books: the books we love, and why we love them. Potlatch is about good conversation, conversation about books, and how they fit in our lives, and also about almost anything else you can think of. Potlatch is about speculative fiction, both SF and Fantasy. Potlatch is about sharing: sharing with old friends as well as the ones we just met: sharing great meals, sharing small adventures, sharing our favorite tipple, and sharing our ideas in the ongoing conversation that is Potlatch. At the center of that conversation is a single great book, one we hope everyone will have read by the time we get together, so that we can take a common starting point to range out from.” It is occurring at the same time as FoolsCap.

Friday, February 8-Sunday, February 10: North West Model Hobby Expo (Monroe, Washington)
A three-day convention celebrating model and hobby interests.

geekwireWednesday, February 13: GeekWire Meetup
From the event page: “Mix and mingle with key members of the Seattle tech community at the beautiful new Hub Seattle startup and co-working space in Pioneer Square.”

Friday, February 15: MegaRan with Dr. Awkward, The MC Type, Aeon and Klopfenpop with MC 117
Nerdcore concert

Friday, February 15: EMP Art of Video Games Opening
From the website: “Celebrate the opening of The Art of Video Games with a family-friendly Game Nite! Enjoy tournament style gaming on popular consoles on EMP’s monumental Sky Church screen; classic tabletop gaming with Blue Highway Games in the EMP Lounge; spotlight talks that offer insight into the lives of industry professionals in EMP’s JBL Theater; and a test arcade where audiences can sample the latest and greatest projects from local up-and-coming game designers.” Also, GeekGirlCon has a booth! Stop by!

Friday, February 15-Sunday, February 17: RadCon Science Fiction Convention (Pasco, Washington)
From the website: “RadCon, the big con with a small con feel, is a Science-Fiction Convention held annually in Pasco, Washington. We cater to all genre of the SciFi community.”

Saturday, February 16: Grab Bag 2: Electric Boobaloo
From the event page: “Unnatural Redhead Productions is proud to bring “Grab Bag 2: Electric Boobaloo! A burlesque revue with something for everyone!” to Seattle this February. Do you like horses? Sexy clowns? Robots? Flamingos? Classic fan dances? Nerdy burlesque? Singing? No matter what interest or preference, this show will have something to please every audience member!”

Saturday, February 18-Sunday, February 19: Northwest Scale Modelers Show
From the website: “See hundreds upon hundreds of model aircraft, cars, tanks, ships, spacecraft, and more as NWSM members display their collections. Meet expert modelers and learn about the fascinating hobby of scale modeling. The show also will feature special displays of models representing famous aircraft produced by the Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau and creatures and hardware from the Star Wars series.

faerieconFriday, February 22-Sunday, February 24: FaerieCon West
From the website: “The FaerieCon universe [expands] to embrace fantasy, steampunk, goth, metaphysics, and many other genres who enjoy sharing their diverse interests and passions throughout the weekend.”

Saturday, February 23: ChibiChibiCon
A one-day convention celebrating Japanese animation

Saturday, February 23-Sunday, February 24 BeyondCon
From the website: “BeyondCon is a costuming relaxacon event where you can learn new costuming techniques, share techniques you have developed, and hang out for the weekend with other costumers.

What are you excited for in February? Leave us a comment about what your geeky plans are or email Shubz at shubz@geekgirlcon.com to have it added to our events list! Please keep in mind that we, at GeekGirlCon, reserve the right to add or omit event entries.

Shiboo_Krismer
“Rock On!”

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