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Nerd Nite Bar Nite

  • 12573691_955009074579443_437941464176289526_nHey nerds, it’s a new year! Have you made your resolutions yet? Come help Nerd Nite make ours! On Friday, January 22nd at 8pm, we’ll be at 3rd Street Bar (4626 3rd Ave, Detroit, 48201) for a hangout with the Nerd Nite 313 bosses.

    Do you have ideas for speakers or topics you’d like to hear in 2016? How about a new venue you’d like to see us visit? Or maybe suggestions for events Nerd Nite Goes To… can attend?

    Stop by and tell us! Bring your favorite board or card game and enjoy a casual evening (no speakers, no cover charge) with your fellow nerds. There will also be tasty food available for purchase from Dangerously Delicious Pies and drink specials to enjoy!

    We’d love to hear what you want to see from Nerd Nite in 2016!

    Date:   Friday, January 22
    Time:   8PM-10PM (though the bar is open late and all are welcome to stay longer!)
    Location: 3rd Street Bar, 4626 3rd Ave, Detroit, 48201
    Cost: No cost!
    Questions? E-mail or tweet @nerdnite313

Walking in Nerd Nite’s Winter Wonderland …

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You better watch out, Nerd Nite Detroit’s Winter Wonderland is coming to town! Join us on Thursday, December 10 at Tangent Gallery for an evening of winter themed entertainment. Doors open at 7:30 and the event begins at 8pm. Though the weather outside may be frightful, we’ll have plenty of fun!

Our speaker line up includes Andrew Humphrey, a meteorologist for Channel 4, the Detroit Climate Action Collaborative, and Dr. Andrew Suits, Professor of Chemistry at Wayne State University. We’ll also have activities from the Michigan Science Center!

Drinks will be available from the wonderful Tangent Gallery / Hastings Street Ballroom bar, along with a hot cocoa and s’mores bar provided by The Detroit Marshmallow Co.!

In the spirit of the season, this event will also feature a bring-a-gift-get-a-gift “white elephant” gift exchange. If you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped gift of an approximate value of $10. Bring the nerdiest gift you can find!

Tickets are available in advance online at Eventbrite and we accept cash and credit card payments at the door for $5. We will also be accepting monetary donations for our “Nerd Nite Cares” charity – The United Community Housing Coalition.

Hope to see you there!

Nerd Nite Detroit – Food Science Fair

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Join us Thursday, October 8 at 8pm for Nerd Nite Detroit’s first-ever Food Science Fair at COLORS Detroit.

This event will be just like your elementary school science fair (think vinegar and baking soda volcanoes), only with food and a few adult beverages. It will be a strolling affair, filled to the brim with interactive demonstrations and presentations on the neuroscience of taste, to cooking with liquid nitrogen, the nitty-gritty of making beer, and more.

Demonstrations and presentations by: Justin Riopelle, Brewmaster at Detroit Beer Co.; Nathan Glitman, Barista at Chazzano Coffee; Charlie Gibson, Outreach Coordinator at the Michigan Science Center; Tom Fischer, Professor at Wayne State University Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience; Julie Lesnick, Assistant Professor, Wayne State University Department of Anthropology; and more!

After all of that learning, nerds can dance the night away to the beats of DJ Peter Croce, from 10pm-midnight.

Food will be provided by COLORS, and drinks available at the COLORS bar.

Come explore the area’s expanding food and drink scene in new and nerdy ways, all while supporting COLORS’ community development and job training programs. 

 

Date: Thursday, October 8

Time: 8pm – midnight

Location: COLORS Detroit, 311 East Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

Cost: $10 at the door, or in advance here

Questions: E-mail or tweet @nerdnite313

 

In July, we flew drones. In October, we’ll get nerdy with food!

From Nerd Nite Gets Around, out transportation-themed July event, here are some really neat aerial views of New Center, courtesy of Jeff Weatherup and the Falcon.

Flight 1

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Flight 2

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TooBPo_pbYw[/youtube]

 

 

Also, coming up on October 8th, Nerd Nite Detroit will be hosting Food Science Fair at COLORS, Detroit. Come explore food and drink with us, learn about how beer is brewed; the neuroscience behind our sense of taste; what happens when you dip food into liquid nitrogen, and much, much more.

Nerd Nite Gets Around

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Join us on Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 for Nerd Nite Gets Around, an interactive Nerd Nite event featuring a bunch of short talks and Q&As on all things transportation in and around Detroit.

Michael Schrader, an experienced engineer and PhD student at Wayne State will explain to us what the heck is up with the “Michigan Left”; Sommer Woods, Director of External Relations at M1 Rail, will discuss the future of light rail in Detroit; Todd Scott, Executive Director of Detroit Greenways, will teach us about the benefits of a more walkable, ridable Detroit; and Adrianna Jordan of Freshwater Transit will speak about the possibility of bringing water taxis to the Detroit riverfront.

Drinks will be available from the wonderful Tangent Gallery / Hastings Street Ballroom bar, with food provided by Sidecar Detroit!

Plan for it. Put it on your calendars, or in your phones/other smart devices (how about FitBit’s huge IPO everyone!?!).

 

Date:   Thursday, July 16

Time:   6:30PM

Location: Tangent Gallery, 715 E. Milwaukee

Cost: $5 (cash or credit, in advance here or at the door)

Questions? E-mail or tweet @nerdnit313

Reboot, Renew, Relaunch!

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Nerd Nite’s Back … All Right!
After a brief hiatus, Nerd Nite returns with events that are nerdier and quirkier than ever before.
Join us on Thursday, May 21 for an epic Reboot, Renew, and Relaunch! Nick Yribar, Curtis Sullivan, and Marcus Schwimmer of the SuperSkull podcast will be discussing rebooted universes in comic books; Chris Casteel, founder of Anew Life Prosthetics and Orthotics, will teach us about current technologies that help amputees relaunch their lives; and Rebecca Frank, a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan School of Information, will share her knowledge on disaster planning, response, and recovery for cultural heritage institutions.
Come learn with us, and you’ll have a chance to meet the new bosses, too! We’ll have delicious drinks and amazing food from Sidecar Detroit. Seriously .. be there and be square. And be sure to check back here soon for more info on additional Nerd Nite events!
Date:   Thursday, May 21
Time:   7PM
Location: Tangent Gallery, 715 E. Milwaukee
Cost: $5 (cash or credit, in advance here or at the door)
Questions? E-mail or tweet @nerdnit313

Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey Nerds

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     Join Nerd Nite Detroit for an evening of space, time, and a bit of Dr. Who! We encourage our Whovian nerds to dress their Dr. Who best and we’ll have a portable planetarium on site courtesy of the Michigan Science Center.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Charles Gibson and the Michigan Science Center’s Portable Star Lab

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     What could be more interesting than looking at the majesty of the cosmos?  Looking at it within a miniature planetarium set up especially for Nerd Nite, courtesy of the Michigan Science Center.  10-15 minute presentation will be going throughout the night.   

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Mysteries of the Cosmos

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Cosmology is the study of the origin and fate of the universe.  I will describe our current understanding about our universe and uncover one of science’s biggest mysteries.  All this is simply illustrated on a table top.

David Cinabro is a Professor in Physics and Astronomy at Wayne State University.  He studies cosmology with exploding stars and the rare behavior of sub-atomic particles.

 

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Time Travel on the Silver Screen

SCC_101_time_machine_bubble.jpg (1280×720)Presentation by Nathan Hughes (@ndh313).

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His Name is NOT Doctor Who, Damnit!

1462965_10201386701246378_88329013_nJourney through time (and space) as we look at the phenomenon that is Doctor Who- his 12…er…13…er…13 and a half? incarnations, his enemies, his companions, and why you should love this show. 

Twitter: @malusman
Bio: Chris’ favorite type of travel is through time.

Spooks and Kooks!

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The nerds are alive and are gathering for 2013’s smartest Halloween after party! Don your costumes one more time on Wednesday, November 6 at Tangent Gallery. Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Eat, drink, and be scary.

Special guest emcee:

SRImageScott “Spook” Drebus

Scott is a professional speaker and performer specializing in delivering educational business keynotes as well as entertaining presentations. He also happens to be an expert on ghosts, metaphysics, and the paranormal. As our special spectral guest emcee, not only will he be our ghost host for the evening, he promises to entertain and mystify with unique spooky magic and haunted illusions.

 

 

 

Here’s a sneak peek of our spooks and kooks (and just you wait, there’s more magic to come):

Maggie McGuire, Decoding the Dead: A Zombie’s Guide to Postmodern Analysis

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What connects flesh-eating zombies, academic theory and those creepy drawings your little brother drew when you were young? Postmodernism! In this talk, we’ll talk about the evolving meaning of zombies on film and, on the way, clarify just what postmodernism is and how it can help you can justify watching trashy horror films for the rest of your life.

 

 

 

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Stage Frights: Blood-Soaked Special Effects for the StageNotLD

Ever wondered how your favorite gruesome stage shows get their gore? Join Jen and Ted Hansen as they discuss and demonstrate some of their favorite techniques for gunshots, zombie bites, chainsaw hits, fake guts and more.

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Tyrell J. Simkins, The Neuroscience of Fear: Where, Why, and Why Do We Love It?Scared Homer Brain

Where does fear come from?  Why are we programmed to fear certain things?  Why do most of us crave a good scare once in a while? These topics will be explored through the lens of modern neuroscience to try and understand not only where we are, but where we have been.

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Detroit Fire collective

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Jadey bug is a local fire dancer. Her passion for the art of fire has lead her down an exciting road filled with community and rich with experience.  In this discussion Jadey will introduce you to the unique world of fire dancing! During our talk she will get into how props are made and used, the community, live fire demonstrations, and fire safety! At the end she will finish with a beautiful performance capturing the art in fire dancing!

Get Booked!

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At long last, Nerd Nite Detroit returns! Fall’s here, and that means it’s time to go back to school! Or better yet, it’s time to get booked with Nerd Nite Detroit. This month, we’re celebrating book culture. We’ll have talks on banned books, the role of books in the digital age, and more! Also, we’re having a book exchange where you can give books and take books..come join the adventure! This month we’re changing it up a bit by hosting our festivities on a Wednesday – Wednesday, September 25th to be exact. But we’ll be back at Tangent Gallery with awesome food and drinks, and cover will be $5.

Date: Wednesday, September 25

Time: Doors at 6 Event at 7

Location: Tangent Gallery

Tickets: $5 in advance or at the door

Speakers

Josh Diskin: Banned Books

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Sara Hanlon, John King Books: A Day in the Life of a Rare Book Buyer

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Bonnie Russell, Wayne State Press: Attack of the E-Book – The Rise of the Geeks 

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An overview of the ways in which digital publishing and the rise of e-books has impacted the publishing industry. E-books have affected more than just publishers’ product lines – they have brought with them a vast array of programs, technology, and marketing. Technology is transforming the way we look at publishing and the very definition of “a book.”

 

 

 

Motor City Super Nerds!

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Nerds Assemble!

Come join us for some superhero shenanigans as we’ve got Scott vertical Superman, David Moan talking Batman, and Ben Criger talking Robocop. The Michigan Science Center will be bringing some super toys for you to harness your powers with, too. And there may also be paint. Also, we’re having our first ever costume contest! Dress up as your favorite superbeing (or create your own!) and there will be prizes.

NERD ON! 

When: Thursday, June 27. Doors at 6. Event at 7.

Where: The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave. Detroit

Tickets: $5 either in advance or at the door.


Scott Vertical – Krypton: Superman’s Forgotten Past

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Prior to 1986, DC Comics told many stories about Superman’s home planet, Krypton. Those stories have since been abandoned, replaced by a more “realistic” version of an alien planet. Krypton used to be a fun place to live. Find out why.

Scott Vertical is a former Detroit radio DJ (WDVD, 89X). He owns every Superman comic book published from 1984-2012, including such titles as Action, Supergirl, Superboy and The Legion of Superheroes. Scott also owns many reprints and collections from Superman’s past, having read a couple of thousand stories starring the Man of Steel and his friends. He was a nerd way before being a nerd was cool. He is also an avid movie buff and lapsed Star Wars aficionado (thanks for nothing, prequels). Mr. Vertical currently runs a website which has won multiple awards for “Least Frequently Updated” and “Most Unfinished Ideas”. He lives in Royal Oak with his daughter, who is a Doctor Who fan and future nerd.

David Moan, Not the Hero We Need: Chronology of the Caped Crusader and Philosophical Musings on a Masked Vigilante

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Would our real world problems be solved by a Dark Knight or should Bruce leave his cape and cowl in the Batcave? This talk begins with a survey of the evolution of Batman mythology as a reflection of an ever-changing American culture throughout the 20th and 21st century. It then moves to examine the repercussions of recent adaptations of the World’s Greatest Detective that attempt to reconcile The Batman and our modern society.

David Moan has been obsessed with Batman since he was a child.  Having accepted the fact that he cannot actually become Batman, Moan instead devotes himself to studying the evolving Batman mythology with the goal of developing a college-level lecture series.  (It also serves as justification for purchasing so many comics, movies, and video games.) Originally from Pittsburgh, Moan earned a BA in Music: Vocal Performance with studies in history and theatre from Manchester University in Indiana. He sings for the Michigan Opera Theatre, teaches diction courses for his alma mater, and works as a lead presenter at the Michigan Science Center. He currently lives with his wife and two bats cats in Detroit.

Ben Criger, RoboCop: Why You Should Like It, and Why You Don’t

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In this talk, Ben will address the subtle genius behind the 80s schlock film RoboCop. The talk begins with a brief summary of the main plot of RoboCop, for those that don’t know, and continues with an analysis of RoboCop’s influences, and why RoboCop is a hero for our era.

Ben is from Canada, and has talked about RoboCop several times at Nerd Nite Kitchener Waterloo. He wouldn’t say that he’s an expert on RoboCop, he’s more of an enthusiast. The word ‘expert’ would imply that he has some useful knowledge, but really, he just likes RoboCop a lot. He has has probably seen RoboCop over 100 times, though. You can go down a bit of a rabbit hole when it comes to RoboCop, too, since there have been so many sequels and spin-offs. Some of it’s pretty good (Frank Miller’s RoboCop, based on the original script for RoboCop 2), but it can get really bad.