Nerd Nite Philly

Join us on June 1st for these three great talks:

Boringly studious!?!? Never! Nerd Needs a New Definition!

The definition of nerd needs a refresher. When you google nerd you get this definition: “a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.” Clearly, whoever wrote that is not a nerd. We all know that nerding out is an extremely positive experience in our lives. In this talk, we will examine the facets of being a nerd and how being a nerd is actually…a superpower! We’ll also generate a new and improved definition for nerd.

Denise is a child at heart. Board games, jigsaw puzzles, and stuffed animals still have prominence in her life. She also loves to play outside and just about anything goes…snowboarding, kayaking, and hiking are a few faves. But most of all, she loves to learn – she’s a nerd about learning and education. Writing her dissertation was so much fun she actually put a smiley face at the end! New skills are fun to learn too, so she recently took an aerial circus class. Flipping around and going upside down made her feel like a kid on the juggle gym! One of her greatest challenges is learning how to parent. But she has a great husband to learn with and her two kids seem to be turning out just fine.

Becoming Weatherwise

The current APS Museum exhibition is Becoming Weatherwise: A History of Climate Science in America. But what does that even mean? This talk from Mike Madeja, Head of Education Programs at the APS, will breeze through the answer (get it?). From Thomas Jefferson and Alexander von Humboldt to high school students today, buckle up for a whirlwind of stories and objects that’ll help you become weatherwise.

Michael Madeja is the Head of Education Programs at the APS Library & Museum. Prior to joining the Museum team in 2015, Mike filled education and visitor services roles at a variety of institutions such as Ford’s Theatre, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Philadelphia Zoo. Mike holds an M.A.T. in Museum Education from the George Washington University and a B.A. in Biological Anthropology from Temple University.

The Perfectamundo World of The Fonz

Ayyy! In the late-1970s and early ’80s, The Fonz was the coolest being on Earth. But how did Henry Winkler’s portrayal of Milwaukee’s greatest greaser become such a pop culture touchstone? In this talk, Chris Cummins will explore the how, when, and why of how a Happy Days supporting character eventually dominated the show, discuss the merchandising bonanza he spawned (including two cartoon spin-offs) and generally talk about a brief but magical time in history when the Fonz was everything.

Nerd Nite Philly co-boss Chris Cummins is a regular contributor to Den of Geek, is the producer and host of the events Sci-Fi Explosion and Music Video Book Club, and is an Archie Comics historian.

It all happens on Wednesday, June 1st at the Bourse!
111 S Independence Mall E
Philadelphia, PA 19106

We recommend getting there at 6pm, show starts at 6:30.

$10, cash and Venmo accepted.

Be there and be square!

Our next Nerd Nite event is happening Wednesday, May 4th, a date which also happens to be Star Wars Day. As such, the Force with be with the Bourse as we bring you three Star Wars related talks:

Charmaine Ensinger LMFT, “The Star Wars Skywalker Genogram”

If you are a fan of Star Wars and Intergenerational Legacies, then the Star Wars Skywalker Genogram will surely impress you. The Skywalker Genogram is a visual representation (think of it as an in-depth Family Tree) that analyzes the Skywalker Family across several generations. We will delve into information about major life events, explore relationships between family members, and uncover motivations and subconscious patterns that repeat throughout history. In this talk, we explore the themes of the Jedi Academy, the “Heroes Journey” and the role of love, attachment and the Dark Side. Together, we discover how these themes are reflected throughout the Star Wars Universe – from the Star Wars Trilogy to the Mandalorian and Boba Fett series.

BIO: Charmaine Ensinger LMFT (she/her) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that specializes in Sex and Couples therapy. She teaches the Intersystems Model at Thomas Jefferson University, which explores how individuals, couples, and family systems are functioning in their relationships with themselves and others. Nerd Nite gives her the opportunity to blend her love of Star Wars and Intersystems theory into a fun and informative presentation, perfect for May the 4th!

Andrew Lee Griffith, “Star Wars: Words into Art”

Before it became a global phenomenon, the Star Wars franchise began as just words on paper written by George Lucas. It required the contribution of legendary conceptual artists in order to begin the process of bringing his vision to life. Hear how young artists with plenty to prove and a former Boeing industrial Illustrator created the look and feel of the ships, characters and worlds that have inspired the public consciousness for the last 45 years as well as the modern-day artists who work on the fictional universe they helped create.

BIO: Andrew Lee Griffith is an American-based comic book artist best known for his work with IDW Publishing as a creator on properties such as Transformers, G.I. Joe and Star Wars. Currently working as a writer and artist on Transformers projects, he has worked on projects that have made the New York Times Best Sellers List, and contributed to the Eisner Award-winning Love is Love compilation. His most recent work includes writing and drawing a story for the Star Wars Adventures comic book series and as the artist on Larry Hama’s long-running G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series.

Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr., “Star Wars: The Future is on the Small Screen”

Star Wars has been the talk of pop culture for nearly 45 years. For the general audience, and maybe even some die-hard fans, that has meant on the big screen. It has touched on several generations of fans by giving us a trilogy’s worth of story every 15-20 years. During this talk, Kevin Gallagher will discuss why the future of Star Wars should be, and to a degree already is, on the small screen.

BIO: Kev is an uber Kevin Smith fan (all Smith’s movies are worth a watch, even Yoga Hosers) who has cried during Kermit’s monologue in The Muppets and once owned two VHS copies Spice World. He loves all pop culture, particularly the Berlantiverse (because Arrow hasn’t been the face of those CW shows for years), the MCU, and Star Wars. The Evil Dead franchise is his favorite horror franchise, though the original Scream is his favorite scary movie. He bleeds Eagle’s green in the (suburbs of the) greatest city on Earth, Philadelphia. Go Birds! Most importantly, Kev is a father to three wonderful children (who seemingly want nothing to do with any of his favorite pop culture fandoms).

All this plus special Star Wars trivia and giveaways!

It all happens on Wednesday, May 4th at the Bourse! 111 S Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, PA 19106

We recommend getting there at 6pm, show starts at 6:30. $10, cash and Venmo accepted.

Be there and be square…and May the Fourth be with you!

Nerd Nite Philadelphia returns with our first event of 2022, and our first event at The Bourse! We are super excited to usher in this new era of nerdery with you and we’ll be doing so with three incredible talks:

Margaret Huang, “A Portal into Duchamp”

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA), the Association Marcel Duchamp, and the Centre Pompidou have teamed up to provide free access to more than 18,000 documents and artworks, comprising nearly 50,000 digitized images, related to the work and life of Marcel Duchamp through the Duchamp Research Portal (https://www.duchamparchives.org/). Learn about the history of the relationship between Duchamp and the PMA, what it took to build this portal, and how it speaks to larger library and archival trends related to digital preservation, digitization, and open access.

BIO: Margaret Huang (she/her) is the Martha Hamilton Morris Archivist in the museum’s Library and Archives and has been the project manager for the Duchamp Research Portal since 2017. She holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh. She is passionate about making the museum’s archival resources and information discoverable, usable, and accessible in an equitable way.

AJ Freeman, “What Color Is Our Sky?”

Many of us don’t properly appreciate that color, in human handcraft, is a powerful form of technology…Van Gogh could only dream of using certain shades of Blue, and the secrets of Purple were once so jealously guarded that for most, to wear it was to take one’s life into one’s hands.The history of humankind is illustrated in color, and in “What Color is Our Sky,” we explore the role of these shades in shaping civilization. What was the first color? Why was the first synthetic fabric dye a medical miracle? Why is Red the most common color used in national flags? Why do the Flyers wear Orange? These answers and even more questions in “What Color is Our Sky?”

BIO: AJ Freeman is one of the region’s foremost chronochromatic experts and author of “64 to Infinity: Love Letters in Crayon. His favorite color is Indigo, because Isaac Newton pretty much made it up.

Neil P. Bardhan, “The Power of Breakfast Sandwiches”

When was the last time you stopped to think about what a breakfast sandwich contained? Not literally. Metaphorically. (Well, also literally.) “The Power of Breakfast Sandwiches” reminds us that simple foods can bring people together on many levels and with great impact.

BIO: Neil P. Bardhan is Philadelphia’s leading expert on breakfast sandwiches. Neil is the Director of Applied Storytelling at First Person Arts, where he also is a producer for the #US – Unique and Shared Experiences podcast. He serves as Executive Director at Broad Street Review.Since 2013, Neil has coached speakers and led workshops in applied improvisation, storytelling, and technical communication, helping professionals tell their stories for diverse settings. He appeared in segments of WHYY’s “Commonspace” and “The Pulse.” His live speaking credits include First Person Arts, The Story Collider, Nerd Nite, Ignite Philly, and the Awkward… and The City shows. Neil performs improv with The N Crowd and co-hosts My Dinner with Ryaneil PT Bardhanlow. Follow him on Twitter at @NeilPBardhan and Instagram at @Knilegram.

Join hosts Simon Joseph and Chris Cummins for all this fun on Wednesday, April 6th at The Bourse, 111 S Independence Mall E. The fun will take place from 6-9pm.

$10 admission. Cash and Venmo.

BE THERE AND BE SQUARE!!!

We’ve got three great talks lined up for you, including:

AJ Freeman, “What Color Is Our Sky?”

Many of us don’t properly appreciate that color, in human handcraft, is a powerful form of technology…Van Gogh could only dream of using certain shades of Blue, and the secrets of Purple were once so jealously guarded that for most, to wear it was to take one’s life into one’s hands.

The history of humankind is illustrated in color, and in “What Color is Our Sky,” we explore the role of these shades in shaping civilization. What was the first color? Why was the first synthetic fabric dye a medical miracle? Why is Red the most common color used in national flags? Why do the Flyers wear Orange? These answers and even more questions in “What Color is Our Sky?”

BIO: AJ Freeman is one of the region’s foremost chronochromatic experts and author of “64 to Infinity: Love Letters in Crayon. His favorite color is Indigo, because Isaac Newton pretty much made it up.

Dan Sanford, “The Life and Death of Smallpox”

The Life and Death of Smallpox

With Covid-19 still on the move you might wonder has humanity ever actually beaten a disease? It is rare, but sometimes medicine and policy manage to triumph. By 1980 doctors around the world were able to say that smallpox was gone. How did we manage to beat a disease that had spent centuries beating us?

BIO: Daniel Sanford was once seen in the Pine Barrens but nobody has been able to prove he is the Jersey Devil. Today he works in Philadelphia making sure you can access databases to prove the first part of this biography is false.

Ben Leach: “Philly’s Local Toy Companies”

Did you realize that the Philly area has given birth to some of the world’s most beloved playthings? In this talk, Nerd Nite Philly favorite Ben Leach returns to discuss Philly’s surprising toy past!

BIO: Ben Leach is a New Jersey-based science and medical writer. However, he is also a collector of the eclectic and unusual, especially if it’s something that relates to his childhood from the 1980s and 1990s. He has been a published author on collectibles since he was 19, with work appearing in Lee’s Toy Review, Toyfare, and about.com. Currently, he operates a website dedicated to antiques and collectibles with his family called The Collector Gene (www.collectorgene.com)

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It all happens on Wednesday 12/15 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 4, we advise arriving early to get a good seat. $10, there’s an ATM on site and we also accept Venmo.

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees at Frankford Hall are required to be fully vaccinated and provide the restaurant with proof of vaccination. Contact the restaurant at 215-634-3338 for further information on masks and other questions you may have.

Hello friends! We’re back on Wednesday, November 3rd at Frankford Hall with a brand new Nerd Nite for you. Here’s what you can expect:

“Intelligent Transportation Engineering and Philly’s Future for Mobility and Access”

Everyone has gotten stuck at a red light that ruins the continuity of traffic flow down a corridor. Many of us have waited on the corner for a bus to come – only for three to show up. Why are there seven potholes on my block? Who designs this inefficient garbage?

This presentation aims to elucidate the reasons for these phenomena – the complex systems that transportation engineers study, the data that’s changing our decisions, what information we hope for in the future, and how urban mobility and our streetscape will change in the next few decades.

Come and join in a candid discussion of the trade, our perceived shortcomings and the real pitfalls that shape our transportation policy and overall mobility outcomes. Transportation is truly a shared experience – everyone has questions and anecdotes and we’ll welcome all of them.

BIO: Justin Ferri is an intelligent transportation consultant from South Philly that works for both public and private sector clients up and down the east coast. He cut his teeth a decade ago doing (surprisingly dangerous) 11-hour traffic counts on the mainline and doing (surprisingly wholesome) ADA curb ramp inspections outside of trap houses in Kenzo. He’s now mostly doing boring things like writing policy for intersection control evaluation for the feds, working with big data, cursing map conflation, and considering far-fetched implications for autonomous vehicles. His napkin math estimates that he’s walked about 65% of Philly’s 2,500 street miles on foot.

“The 10 Greatest Philly Local Ads Ever Made”

Do you have a passion for fashion? Have you ever seen what people who believe in the power of each other can do? What Philadelphia museum claimed that you can feel the fun? All of these confusing questions will be answered when Chris presents an audio/video overview of his picks for the ten greatest Philly commercials of all time in a presentation that will be certain to spawn debate…and leave you with endless jingles stuck in your head.

BIO: Along with being a Nerd Nite Philly co-boss, Chris Cummins is a writer for Den of Geek and the producer/host of Sci-Fi Explosion. You can follow all of his nonsense on Twitter @bionicbigfoot and tune into his free 24 hour live Halloween Spooptacular from 8pm 10/29 to 8pm 10/30 (bringing you hilarious vintage clips, short films and features, music videos, cartoons, comedy and so much more at twitch.tv/scifiexplosion)

It Came from Below: Spooky Science Stories from (Down)stream

From scurvy on the seven seas to dynamite and cannons meant to control the rains, water plays a starring role in some of our strangest and most compelling true stories. But what about the myths, legends, and superstitions that bring us dangerous creatures and angry waves? Is that winding river really full of secrets? Is the salty ocean truly as mysterious as it seems?

Join Distillations podcast cohosts Lisa Berry Drago and Alexis Pedrick as they spin a few yarns, talk about the weird water stories they can’t get out of their heads, and why this shared resource is such a big part of our folklore.

BIOS:

Alexis Pedrick is one of the cohosts of the Distillations podcast and the Director of Public Engagement at the Science History Institute. She is a D&D-playing, science-loving, history nerd.

Elisabeth (Lisa) Berry Drago is the other cohost of the Distillations podcast. She is also a research curator and museum experience strategist at the Science History Institute and a huge, self-professed nerd.

Wed 11/3. 7:30pm.
Frankford Hall,
1210 Frankford Avenue.
$10. (There’s an ATM on site, a Wells Fargo up the street and we also accept Venmo).

BE THERE AND BE SQUARE!