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Geek About Town: Fall Edition

The seasons, they are a-changin’! As we move from a (strange, confusing) summer to a (also strange, also confusing) fall, I’m feeling conflicted. Saying goodbye to summer means less time to spend (masked!) outside, and even more time spent inside comfort-watching Avatar: The Last Airbender in its entirety. It means that I’ll have to stop exclusively wearing denim cut-offs and start looking into sun lamps to combat the S.A.D.

But even though this summer to fall transition is bittersweet, there are so many things to look forward to. A few of those things are listed on our Geek About Town events calendar, where we feature the upcoming (and, now, mainly virtual!) events that we’re most excited for!

The mood I’m trying to cultivate. [Image description: A gif of Pooh Bear flinging a handful of autumn leaves out his open window. He looks very, very happy that it’s autumn. Overlaid text reads “It’s the first day of autumn!” Source: Giphy]

if you’re looking for a few great events to fill some of that white space in your schedule, be sure to check out the full calendar. In the meantime, here are just a few of the events that are making this between-season time a bit brighter for me:

What events are you adding to your calendars? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

Hanna Hupp
“Rock On!”

Geek About Town: Quarantine Edition

Events looks pretty different these days than they ever have before. We’re hanging out with friends over Zoom and avoiding public spaces we used to love (oh how I miss you, concerts and movie theaters!). We’re tuning in to an endless stream of Instagram lives (may I recommend Ziwe Fumudoh’s genius live show on Thursdays and also every IGTV Sonya Renee Taylor has ever made?!). And, of course, many of us are protesting against anti-Black racism and police brutality, and spending our nights speed-dialing our electeds (P.S. here’s a cool tool to find your reps!)

So it’s no surprise that our most recent round up of upcoming events looks a little different than normal too. From virtual talks to drive in movies, check out our full Geek About Town events calendar to find out about all of the online (or physically-distanced in-person) events coming up that may just help you feel a little bit better about the strange, sad, confusing, and exhausting times we’re living in.

A real quarantine mood. [Image description: A black and white gif of Demi Lovato singing the song “Let It Snow” from Frozen. The lyrics “a kingdom of isolation it looks like I’m the queen” are overlaid on the image. Source: Giphy]

Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the upcoming events I’m most excited for:

Until we can meet again in person, here’s to doing our best to stay safe, well, entertained, and informed during quarantine!

Hanna Hupp
“Rock On!”

Geek About Town: Winter Edition

An illustration of a person wearing a large pink scarf, red cardigan, and striped shirt. Their brown hair is in a bun and they are holding a cup of coffee. The background is yellow.

It’s winter. It’s cold, it’s wet, and the vitamin D supplements are flowing freely.

During these long, dreary months, I tend to adhere to the “hibernation is best” policy. When darkness begins to fall at 4:00pm, I rapidly lose all motivation to turn off The Witcher, drag myself from the pile of blankets in the corner of my couch, put down whatever YA fantasy book I’m re-reading for comfort at any given time, and venture into the outer world.

So it’s a true testament to the quality of the upcoming events on the Geek About Town Calendar that even I am carving out some room in my busy schedule of making large pots of soup and admiring Geralt’s flowing white hair to explore some of the exciting offerings that the city has in store.

That sinking feeling when you have to leave your apartment.
(Image description: Gif of Geralt from The Witcher walking towards the camera with his head bowed down. There are strands of white hair hanging in his face, and he’s wearing a dark tunic with a silver pendant necklace. His face is dirty and bloody and he does not look happy. Source: Giphy)

Be sure to check out the full calendar here, and in the meantime, here is a sneak peek of a few of my favorites:

Happy winter adventuring, everyone! (And if anyone wants to discuss The Witcher, please meet me in the comments.)

Hanna Hupp
“Rock On!”

Geek About Town: Summer Edition

Characters dancing during the iconic pool party scene from "Shrill." Source: Vulture

I don’t know about you, but I could not be more ready for summer. As we move our hibernating, vitamin D-depleted bodies into sunnier days, be sure to check out some of our most highly-anticipated events coming up in the next few months!

The iconic pool party scene from “Shrill.” Source: Giphy

May 24 – 27: 48th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival

  • Seattle Center
  • 305 Harrison St, Seattle, Washington 98109
  • YOUR COMMUNITIES. YOUR TRADITIONS. YOUR FOLKLIFE.
  • The Northwest Folklife Festival is one of the largest community-powered festivals in the nation, bringing together over 5,000 performers, 500 volunteers, 40 food vendors, 150 local craft/import vendors, and upwards of 250,000 attendees. Since 1972, the festival has highlighted the brilliant cultural tapestry of our Pacific Northwest communities. We are proud to be for the people, by the people.

May 24: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Wayward Coffeehouse
  • 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

May 25 – 27: Family Science Weekend at the Seattle Aquarium

  • Seattle Aquarium
  • 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, Washington 98101
  • Join us at the Seattle Aquarium May 25-27 for fun, hands-on science including looking for plankton, learning about Aquarium research, and more!
Aquarium visitors watch sharks swimming past them. Source: Giphy

May 31: Summer Solstice Night Market

  • Magnuson Park Hangar 30
  • 6310 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115
  • Shop, snack, and dance your way over 150 booths along with a summer beer festival with live music!
  • Previously, this festival has been held at the South Lake Union Saturday Market. Join us in a larger venue over two days. Music stage will be hosted inside the summer beer festival garden, so you must be 21+ to enter.
  • There is a required cash donation that benefits a local non-profit with a suggested donation of $3 per person, 2 for $5.

June 6: Queer Me Out: 50 Years from Stonewall in Seattle

  • W Seattle
  • 1112 4th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98101
  • Up-close with the movers, shakers & boundary breakers who are pushing the LGBTQ+ movement forward. Join us at W Seattle for a Queer Me Out event, followed by Q&A for our amazing panelists, and drinks and a DJ in the Living Room. This is an Official PrideFest event and complimentary to the public (but register for a guaranteed seat)!

June 8: Hannah Gadsby at the Moore Theatre

  • Moore Theatre
  • 1932 2nd Ave, Seattle, Washington 98101
  • Who is Douglas? Well, apparently, Hannah Gadsby thinks he is the only one who can help her follow up on the trail blazed by her last show: Nanette. Hannah is all set to take the mysterious Douglas for a trot around America for her first ever US tour. Tasmania’s own Hannah Gadsby has come to the world’s attention through her multi-award winning stand up show Nanette which played to sold out houses across Australia, London, Edinburgh, New York and Los Angeles before launching on Netflix in June and stopping the comedy world in its tracks.
A gif of Hannah Gadbsy performing standup comedy. The text over the image says “This is…not normal.” Source: Giphy

June 13: Queer Art Walk

  • Capitol Hill (Seattle)
  • 500 E Pike St, Capitol Hill (Seattle) 98102, 98112, 98122
  • A partnership between PrideFest and the Capitol Hill Art Walk, June’s show features queer artists at various venues around Capitol Hill (usually numbering 15-20 altogether). An easy, gentle June stroll through some of the best art the queer community has to offer.

June 14: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Wayward Coffeehouse
  • 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

June 15: Booklover’s Burlesque: Seattle Edition

  • The Jewelbox Theatre
  • Booklover’s Burlesque is the Pacific Northwest’s sexiest literary salon which matches titillating, inspiring, and empowering book readings with burlesque performances all in one show!
  • Professional readers, actors, and/or local authors & writers read aloud a three to five minute piece of poetry, fiction (from any genre), memoir, non-fiction, etc, which is then followed by a burlesque performance inspired by the piece.

June 15: Original Music Inspired by G. Willow Wilson’s Ms. Marvel

  • Hugo House
  • 1634 11th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98122
  • Original Music inspired by G. Willow Wilson’s Ms Marvel
  • Saturday, June 15th, 2019 at Hugo House
  • Presenting Partner: Town Hall Seattle

June 22: Summertime Cosplay Picnic 2019

  • Volunteer Park Rd, Seattle, WA 98112, United States
  • The time of the annual Cosplay Picnic is upon us. Hayly and Kat are back it again with another meet up! We hosted the Christmas one back in December, and everyone was so great and had a good time so we thought it’d be fun to put something together for the summer! What could be better than a cosplay picnic? You get to dress up as your favorite character, hang with friends, and stuff your face with food! Definitely an all around good time. As per usual, we’re gonna kick it potluck style! So bring a tasty food, eating utensils, or beverage of your choice! (While you don’t HAVE to bring an item to attend, it would be much appreciated) just be sure to label your food in case of any potential allergies.

June 22: 2019 Fremont Solstice Parade

  • 7:00pm – 9:00pm
  • PACCAR Theater
    200 Second Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
  • Free!
  • Once again giant puppets, stilt walkers, floats, skywriters, dancers, sashayers and musicians from all over will parade on the streets of Fremont in a kaleidoscope of joyous human expression. We’re preparing right now and are inviting our friends and neighbors to make the 2019 parade and following Gasworks Park Celebration the best ever! Who can participate? Anyone! We believe in cultivating the spirit of celebration where everyone is an artist. This people-powered celebration is not only for Fremont, but for our entire Seattle community!

June 22: PrideFest 2019 at the Seattle Center

  • Fremont Arts Council
  • 3940 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98103
  • Once again giant puppets, stilt walkers, floats, skywriters, dancers, sashayers and musicians from all over will parade on the streets of Fremont in a kaleidoscope of joyous human expression.  We’re preparing right now and are inviting our friends and neighbors to make the 2019 parade and following Gasworks Park Celebration the best ever! Who can participate? Anyone! We believe in cultivating the spirit of celebration where everyone is an artist. This people-powered celebration is not only for Fremont, but for our entire Seattle community!
A gif of a painted rainbow with pink hearts coming out of it and text below which reads “Happy Pride.” Source: Giphy

June 28: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Wayward Coffeehouse
  • 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

June 28: Trans Pride Seattle 2019

  • Trans Pride Seattle 2019 is Seattle’s Celebration of Two-Spirit, Trans, Gender Diverse, and Non-Binary people in the heart of Capitol Hill produced by Gender Justice League.
  • Entering our 7th year – Trans Pride Seattle has become one of the countries largest celebrations of gender diverse people – focused especially on the communities in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Trans Pride Seattle bringing performers from around the country and Mexico to deliver ground breaking and amazing performances, musical talent, speeches, and comedy.
  • Trans Pride Seattle is an amazing opportunity to connect with community, make new friends, celebrate our collective strength and continue our communities resistance with riotous demands for equity and justice!
  • You will also find resources of more than 60 organizations local to Washington State at our tabling fair. Each year Trans Pride Seattle sees more than 15,000 people. It’s the perfect way to kick off Pride Weekend in Seattle.

June 29: Seattle Dragon Fest

  • Chinatown – International District
  • The Dragon Fest event will feature cultural performances including Dragon and Lion dances, Traditional Korean drumming, martial arts demonstrations, the Chinese Girls Drill Team, and more. For Seattle’s foodies we are proud to bring back the Annual $3 Food Walk with over 40 restaurants offering a wide array of international $3 bites and a few bonus retail!

July 12 – 15: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert

  • Benaroya Hall
  • 200 University St, Seattle, Washington 98101
  • Relive the magic of your favorite wizard in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™  in Concert. Based on the third installment of J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, the thrilling tale is accompanied by the music played live by the Seattle Symphony as Harry soars across the big screen. From the moment Harry uses the Marauder’s Map to when the Patronus Charm bursts from his wand, you’ll be transported back into the world you love.
A gif of Professor Snake from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” The text over the gif says “Turn to page 394.” Source: Giphy

July 12: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Wayward Coffeehouse
  • 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

August 9 (and throughout summer): Seattle Shakespeare in the Park

  • Various Locations
  • During the summer months Seattle Shakespeare Company presents free, outdoor productions of classical plays performed in parks throughout the Puget Sound region. Grab a picnic, bring your family and join us for some free Shakespeare in the parks!

August 10: Seattle Marauder’s Scavenger Hunt

  • Magnuson Park Hangar 30
  • 6310 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115
  • You’ve joined us for trivia… now join us for a magical scavenger hunt! This adventure will take you around major sites in Seattle with a wizarding flair, helping you find magic where you previously saw the mundane.

Hanna Hupp
“Rock On!”

Geek About Town: November + December

Lo and behold, it has arrived! An extra special holiday extravaganza version of Geek About Town, just in time for the holidays! Whether this is the most magical time of the year for you, or you’re finding yourself down and in need of some cheery distraction, we’ve got you covered. From board games to holiday lights, comic books to Christmas carols, we’re excited to spend the holidays with you, our favorite geeky community!

 

Sunday, November 18th: Outsider Comic Book & Game Swap Meet and Social

  • 4pm – 6pm
  • Outsider Comics and Geek Boutique
    223 N. 36th St., Seattle, Washington 98103
  • Bring in your comics, graphic novels, and games to swap with other folks in the Outsider community. Meet new people and find elusive treasures!

 

Friday, November 23rd: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Free event!
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

 

Friday, November 23rd – Friday, December 28th: A Christmas Carol at ACT Theatre

  • Multiple performances
  • ACT Theatre
  • 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101
  • It’s ACT’s 43rd production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. Directed by Kurt Beattie, this celebrated adaptation follows the original Dickens tale taking audiences along on Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformational journey through time. Three ghostly visitors help Scrooge get into the holiday spirit, leading him on a trip through Christmases past, present, and future.

 

Friday, November 23rd – Saturday, January 5th: Wildlights at Woodland Park Zoo

  • 5:30 – 8:30pm
  • Woodland Park Zoo
  • 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103
  • Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow
    Seattle’s wildest holiday lights festival returns with sparkling lights, faux snowball fights, up close animal encounters, hot chocolate and family delights. Experience brand new wild and wonderful light displays that will be featured throughout the zoo including a holiday light spectacular at the zoo’s south entrance which will now be open throughout the run of WildLights.

 

Friday, November 23rd – Friday, December 28th: The Nutcracker at Pacific Northwest Ballet

  • Multiple performances
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • 301 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109
  • PNB’S best-selling holiday classic is a fantastical combination of Ian Falconer’s unique design, Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, and the entire Company in show-stopping roles. A memory making tradition for generations of families and friends, Nutcracker fun includes McCaw Hall gloriously decked-out for the season’s best photo ops.

 

Saturday, November 24th: Holiday Pop-Up Market

  • 10am – 3pm
  • Broadway Market
    401 East Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98102
  • The Broadway Market Holiday Pop-Up Market features a variety of vendor members from Seattle Made, an initiative to grow and support the area’s urban manufacturing and producer economy. Vendors will be selling a variety of holiday gifts, wearables and hand-made merchandise, all with a focus on recycled and upcycled materials. This event is presented by Broadway Market, Blanton Turner and Seattle Made to celebrate Shop Small Saturday.

 

Monday, November 26th: Mars Insight Landing Viewing

  • 10am – 5pm
  • Pacific Science Center
    200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
  • Join us on Monday, November 26 as NASA makes history when its next lander arrives on Mars, the first mission dedicated to studying the deep interior of Mars. We’ll have presentations by Mars experts and space related activities throughout the day. We’ll broadcast the landing live in our PACCAR IMAX Theater from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Our educators will be on hand to answer your questions and walk you through what’s happening during the landing.

    This event is included with general admission and is FREE for Pacific Science Center Members.

 

Friday, November 30th: Witches’ Night Out Market

  • 6pm – 10pm
  • Arcadia Seattle
    943 NW 50th Street, Seattle, Washington 98107
  • Join us for another magical evening! The Witches’ Night Out Market returns on Friday, November 30th – bringing you an array of metaphysical merchants and artisans, community networking, readers and bodyworkers, and much more!

    Every event we do is a little different – this time we’ll be focusing a bit more on the market – we’re making space for a few more artists and witchy creators to expand your holiday possibilities. Also, as this season also marks a time of remembering our ancestors and those who have come before us, we will have an interactive community altar. We have more things up our sleeves that we will be announcing as we get closer to the event. You are not going to want to miss it!

    As always, our events are free and all ages – but we have a fabulous door raffle to benefit the Cabiri and Arcadia. Cash donations will transform into tickets for you to win delightful things!

 

Friday, November 30th: Giving Marketplace

  • 10am – 5pm
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center
    440 5th Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
  • Give gifts that give back! Find unique holiday gifts for family and friends from over 30 vendors and organizations that support great causes locally and globally.

    Looking to do more than just shop for holiday gifts? You can make your own gifts alongside local artists and join Sanctuary Art Center in creating one-of-a-kind gift cards.

    Free and open to the public.

 

Saturday, December 1st: Seattle Science Night: An Evening of Drunken Experiments

  • 6pm – 9pm
  • Hale’s Ales Palladium
    4301 Leary Way NW, Seattle, Washington
  • Drunken Science Nigh returns this December 1st to the beautiful Palladium Theater at Hale’s Ales in Fremont.

    Doors open at 6 and the Stage Show starts at 7 sharp.

    This is most fun you can have without breaking the laws of physics.

    Science Night is a hands on Science Experiment free-for-all, with dozens of ever changing exhibits to try. Blow things up with air! Levitate metal! Make homemade lightbulbs, cube-shaped bubbles, 3-d art, float stuff on air, and more! Ever wanted to shatter flowers with liquid nitrogen? See sound waves? Tesla Coils? Jacobs Ladder? Oh my! We have got you covered. This is not a lecture… instead its a fully interactive science fair. Come ready to have your mind blown.

 

Saturday, December 6th: Luminaria Walk

  • 5:30pm – 7:30pm
  • Meadowbrook Community Center
    10517 35th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98125
  • Friends of Meadowbrook Pond and the Meadowbrook Advisory Council are joining together to host our Annual Luminaria Walk. Please come enjoy good company and hot cocoa, while walking around the beautifully lit pathway. We are also looking for community members to help make this event happen; work parties are listed below!

 

Friday, December 14th: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Free event!
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

 

Saturday, December 1st: Indigenous Family Day: Art-Making & More

  • 1pm – 4pm
  • 1000 Fourth Ave.
    Seattle, WA 98104
  • A special day of art, culture, and creativity celebrating Indigenous families. Meet local Indigenous artists and makers. Create treasures to bring home. Stick around for more festivities after 1:30 p.m. including artist talks from yəhaw̓ artists in residence and a 4 p.m. film screening of Rumble.

 

Saturday, December 8th: Makers Market

  • 12pm – 6pm
  • Inscape
    815 Seattle Blvd S, Seattle, WA 98134
  • Shop a market and open studios for art, “hand-knit hats, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, and more” and stop by Vichayapai’s solo exhibition, which she’s been preparing all through her artist’s residency.

 

Saturday, December 8th: Annual Green Lake Pathway of Lights

  • 4:30 – 7:30
  • Green Lake, Seattle
    Seattle, Washington 98103, 98115
  • Come join us for this FREE holiday event for the whole family! Stroll the glimmering Green Lake circuit, paths, and docks which will be lit with thousands of twinkling candles. And while you wander through the magic of the sparkling lights, enjoy complimentary refreshments and live holiday music. If the weather is good we’ll have hot air balloons again from 4:30-5:30pm only.
    You can also visit and like the Green Lake Pathway of Lights Facebook Page for updates on the event!

 

Sunday, December 9th: May The Course Be With You 5k

  • 9:00am
  • 5849 15th Ave NE
    Cowen Park
    Seattle, WA US 98115
  • The inaugural race was so much fun, we wanted to bring it back, see all the costumes, and get into the holiday spirit.

    In the spirit of Star Wars, this will be a FUN opportunity to get out your light saber and practice your best Darth Vader impersonation, as well as dress up in your favorite holiday race outfit!

    The run/walk is for FUN, no official timing, but there will be a running clock.

 

Saturday, December 22nd: Seattle Secular Solstice 2018

  • 4pm – 9:30pm
  • The Factory Luxe
    3100 Airport Way S, Seattle, Washington 98134
  • Once upon a time there was darkness,
    So we made light.
    Once upon a time there was cold,
    So we kindled fire.
    Once upon a time there was fear,
    So we faced it together
    with song and speech and light
    A proof by example: We are not alone.

    Join us to celebrate humanity’s accomplishments, reflect on our past, and consider the future with food, light, song, and camaraderie.

    Your donations help us cover venue, audio/video equipment, permits, and supplies, ensuring that we can continue this tradition year after year.
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-secular-solstice-2018-tickets-47498714935

 

Friday, December 28th: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

  • 7pm – 10:45pm
  • Free event!
  • Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

Hanna Hupp
“Rock On!”

What To Do On Saturday At #GGC18

As I write this—sitting in my hotel room just hours away from the official start of the convention—I am thrilled, excited, and relieved. Another year of hard work and we’re finally ready to share it with all of you.  My outfit is spread out, my bag is packed, and I’m ready to commence a weekend of geeky fun as we celebrate the importance of diversity and inclusivity in this community.

Brought together by our love of fandom, popular culture, STEM, fashion, gaming, comics, and just about anything that we can possibly geek out about, GeekGirlCon gives us the ability to express what we love and share those passions with our friends and peers. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or this is your first year, we welcome you and we are honored that you’ll be apart of this journey alongside us.

This year’s content lineup includes a plethora of panels, events, workshops, and meetups for you to learn something new or explore an old favorite (with some added spooky happenings for Halloween!)

So without further ado, here are but a few things you can looking forward to during the first day of GeekGirlCon 2018.

 

Panels

Panelists from the GGC'16 Magic, Music, & Friendship: Steven Universe panel speak to the audience while sitting on white couches onstage.

Cosplay Quickfire

10am to 11am in Garnet

A roster of experienced cosplayers will instruct you on how to make any costume for under $100 in less than 7 days. No costume is unattainable. With a mix of suggested costumes from internet polls and ideas from the audience, the goal is for everyone to gain crafty, affordable methods of costuming.

Featuring Jay Justice and Emily Finke.

 

25 Years of MYST & MYST Fandom

11:30am to 12:30pm Samus

Since its release in 1993, MYST has had a dedicated following, built a complex world and lore, and Cyan has continued to push expectations of what is possible in video games. Join us as we reminisce on the joys, sorrows, and mayhem of the D’niverse, and ponder the future of Cyan and their fans.

Featuring Eleri Hamilton, Rand Miller, and Melinda Rose.

 

Feminist Frequency Radio Live!

1:30pm to 2:30pm in Storm

FemFreq Radio is a podcast tackling feminism & pop culture from the folks that ruined your favorite video games! Anita, Ebony, and Caro deliver funny, irreverent, take-no-prisoners opinions on the good, bad, and ugliest media that pop culture has to offer.

Featuring Ebony Aster, Anita Sarkeesian, and Carolyn Petit.

Indigo Boock
“Rock On!”

Meetups and More: Activities at GeekGirlCon ’18

This month is the month, people! GeekGirlCon has arrived (basically)!

Throughout October, look to our blog for everything you need to know about the weekend, from Panel Highlights to Cosplay Contest announcements, we’ve got you covered.

Though our epic panels are what attract a lot of folks to GeekGirlCon (me included), they don’t comprise the whole of the weekend’s festivities. Today, I’m going to walk you through some of the other kinds of activities we have in store.

First up, meetups, the perfect event for meeting like-minded attendees to share the weekend with. To name a few of our offerings this year, we have meetups for first timers, Black Panther fans, Star Wars/Star Trek enthusiasts, and more! Meetups will take place throughout the duration and venue of the con, so check out the schedule for specifics.

[Image Description: Data from Star Trek saying to Worf, “You have friends here.”] Source: MRWGIFS

One especially exciting meetup we have slated for this con is Meet & Geek: A Networking Event for Mavens-in-the-Making. This is the event for folks who are looking for mentors and advice to assist with anything geeky-career related. Bring your questions and look forward to discussions of everything from writing to digital media to game design. In addition to the meetup, GeekGirlCon will be hosting a Mentor Booth in the Connections area of the Exhibitor Hall where you can sign up for one-on-one sessions with a mentor who can look at your resume and give you tips for breaking into the geeky career of your dreams!

[Image Description: Winston from New Girl at a job interview saying, “I know Word. I can open a document, Save, Save As, Print, Print Preview.] Source: Rockwood Search

Also in the Exhibitor Hall will be VAIN’s booth for impromptu hairstyle sessions. Need a touch up on your cosplay look? Need a general spruce? VAIN, a longtime supporter of GeekGirlCon, will be there to save the day.

[Image Description: River Song fluffing her hair and mouthing, “The hair!”] Source: Giphy

And last but far from least is the QUEST, our con-wide scavenger hunt. We set up this event each year to help folks touch base with everything GeekGirlCon has to offer, and this year is no different. To play, you’ll need just your program and sense of enthusiasm. There are six checkpoints: attend a panel, play a game on the gaming floor, attend a workshop/meetup, post on social media using #GGC18, do an experiment in the DIY Science Zone, and complete the con survey. You’ll receive one stamp per activity you complete, and each stamp gains you an entry into a raffle for a bag of the sweetest goodies from our vendors. It’s up to you whether you collect one stamp or six! If you do complete every step, you’re rewarded with a pin of the GeekGirlCon avatar of your choice. And if you fill out the con survey at the GGC QUEST table, you can receive a second avatar pin of your choice!

More details about the checkpoints and how to get your stamps will be included in the program, but until then, get your game face on!

[Image Description: Sherlock walking out of a door saying, “The game, Mrs. Hudson, is on.”] Source: SteemKR

Teal Christensen
“Rock On!”

Got a Costume? Sign Up for the 2018 Contest at GeekGirlCon!

GeekGirlCon Costume Contest at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, WA, on Saturday, September 30, 2017.

This year I started dabbling in cosplay, and very quickly came to learn that making a costume is not only an expression of love for a fandom, but it’s also a great opportunity to show off your creative side and your design skills! A LOT of hard work goes into creating outfits, weapons, gear, and props, and it’s only right that if you’ve put in the time for that, that you  be recognized for it.

That’s why we’re bringing back the Costume Contest to GeekGirlCon this year! Register in one of the two age categories: adults (13+, holding an adult GeekGirlCon pass), and kids (12 and under, with child passes). Adults can also register as a group of no more than five, if you have a squad effort happening.

Show us what you’ve sewn, hot glued, welded, knitted, or otherwise put together to celebrate your favorite geeky characters. 

Image description: a cosplayer holds a R2-D2 parasol while in a ballet-themed R2-D2 costume. Photo by Danny Ngan.

After you register for the category that best suits you, you’ll also be given the option to meet our amazing panel of judges backstage. They’ll be to ask questions about your costume and look up close at it. (This is optional and you can chose not to participate in pre-event judging.) Then, all you need to do is show up on the day for the contest and strut your stuff.

Plus, there are fabulous prizes to be won for your efforts!

A participant in the kids’ costume celebration is asked about their Child of Light cosplay. Photo by Danny Ngan.

Registration is NOW OPEN and will close when all of the spots are filled, or at the time of the convention, whichever comes first. Spots are limited, so make sure you get in quick to snag yours.

 

Register here for the costume contest (13 and over)

Register here for the kids’ costume celebration (3-12)

 

JC Lau
“Rock On!”

Come See Us at Seattle Mini Maker Faire 2018!

We already told you all about this weekend’s Seattle Mini Maker Faire in this month’s Geek About Town, but what we didn’t share is that MoPOP invited GeekGirlCon to participate! Come check out our talk on exploring and celebrating the contributions and legacy of women in science, technology, comics, game design, and more, then stop by our booth to get your tickets to GGC18!

Source: Giphy. Description: a corgi excitedly jumping as he waits for his bowl to be filled.

Source: Giphy. Description: a corgi jumping excitedly as he waits for his bowl to be filled.

When? Saturday, August 18th to Sunday, August 19th

Where? Museum of Pop Culture, 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109

What? Seattle Mini Maker Faire is the greatest show (and tell) on earth! Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. You won’t want to miss it!

Eric Mack
“Rock On!”

Join Us for a FREE Showing of Wonder Woman!

Source: Flickr. Description: A photo of Wonder Woman facing the camera in her uniform with the WW logo in the background.

Do you love movies? Events? Community? If so, join us Friday, August 10 for the 16th Annual Skyway Outdoor Cinema Festival’s showing of Wonder Woman! GeekGirlCon will once again be emceeing the pre-show with a trivia contest to give away some 2-day passes to the con!

Source: Giphy. Description: a gif of Wonder Woman climbing out of a trench into enemy fire and stopping a bullet with one of her gauntlets.

Source: Giphy. Description: a gif of Wonder Woman climbing out of a trench into enemy fire and stopping a bullet with one of her gauntlets.

The showing will take place at 12702 Renton Ave S, Seattle 98178 behind the 7-11. The pre-show will kick off at 8:00 p.m., so plan to arrive and get settled by 7:00 p.m.

For additional details, info about which food trucks will be there, helpful tips, and more, check out the Facebook event page.
Hope to see you there!

Eric Mack
“Rock On!”

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