Lack of articles…

21 Feb

If you forgot, or missed the memo, I’ve been a bit busy with this:

Yep.  My Little Ponies (sadly, there are far too few Mario ponies, though!).  I’m writing about how it’s cool, and really not freaky.  It’s just another niche where geeks can connect and pretend to be cool.  Check out my blog, if you’re interested:

My Little Brony: Our Fandom is Magic

 

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Being Social: the Weekend of 2.17.12

16 Feb
Happy Presidents’ Day? This is one of those holidays that is just a random day off. I love it, and I plan to do nothing but work on my books that day. But if you want to go out this weekend, there is bit to do. Before then, why not check out ASTRO BOY ON STAGE! Studio Theater will be performing Astro Boy and the God of Comics, a play by Georgetown theater professor Natsu Onoda Power that uses on-stage drawing, interactive video, and 1960s-style animation to tell the story of Osamu Tezuka, and his greatest creation, Astro Boy. Wednesday to Saturday shows are at 830pm, Sunday’s is at 730pm, and tickets are $30. (Discount tickets are available for $18 for select performances.)[TheDistrict]
It’s also KATSUCON weekend! Get your anime geek face on, and head down to the National Harbour for a weekend full of awesome, costumed fun!
Tuesday is also Mardi Gras, so be sure to get out and enjoy some bead-throwing action, and maybe catch a parade!
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Other events for this weekend include:
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Friday
If you and your date still need to do something special, why not have a four course Chopin Vodka dinner at DC Coast? It has a tasting menu of vodka, and looks to be amusing, if not tasty. $125 a person. [WaPo]

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Saturday
930pm
TheBlack Cat will be hosting its annual Right Round and 80s dance party. Tickets are $7 [metromix]
Sunday

I got nothing :( Hunker down for the big snow storm!

Monday
1pm
In Old Town Alexandria, there will be a George Washington Birthday Parade! While you’re in town, historic Alexandria sites will also have free admission today.

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Geek Look Ahead:

February

On the 26th, Barcraft is back, this time showing a tournament sponsored by the same guys that host the Barcraft: One Nation of Gamers. Come on out to Public Bar to spend time drinking, watching Starcraft, and playing board games with fellow geeks.

March
DC’s 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Festival! March 20-April 27: Enjoy traditional and modern Japan/American celebrations of spring.
April
Video Games Live at Strathmore April 7: A live Orchestra performs geek music FTW!
July
Otakon July 27-29: Become by friend now and we can split a room in this Baltimore-based anime extravaganza!

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Being Social: the Weekend of 2.10.12

10 Feb
It’s valentine week, and if you or your significant other celebrates this Hallmark holiday, there’s tons to do around the city (and more).  Just watch out, most restaurants are already fully booked both on the 14th and the entire upcoming weekend.  Maybe opt for a heart shaped pizza instead?  It’s the geek thing to do.  And if you have a special someone you’re ready to commit to forever, you can even propose with pizza. [wtop]

I totally heart i heart guts!

 Want something gross and completely adorable for you or your loved one? The I Heart Guts is having a pop-up shop at Trohv (232 Carroll Street NW) this weekend through February 14th!!! Go there, or at least check out their website.  There is so much cute organ stuff – this is Kawaii to the geek degree.  I have an adrenal pin on my bag, and it makes me smile when  I see it.  If you love ThinkGeek, give these guys a try.  Plus, Ten percent of sales will be donated to George Washington University’s Healing Clinic. [DCist]
 
Finally, This week is also the DC International Wine Festival, held at the Reagan center.  If you’re interested,  tickets are limited, and are a hot $85 and up. [about.com]
 
Friday
6pm
The Nakatani Gong Orchestra led by “experimental percussionist” Tatsuya Nakatani hits the Kennedy Center this evening. Free. [DCist]
 
Saturday
12-4pm
If you want to see people show their stuff and help charity at the same time, why not go to Cupid’s Undie Run? Racers run a 1.75 mile lap around the U.S. Capitol Building in their Valentine’s themed undies to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Race registrations are unfortunately sold out.  [about.com]
 
12-6pm
Nana’s (3068 Mount Pleasant Street NW) is hosting a Handmade Valentine Mart, if you need a unique gift for your special someone. [DCist]
 
3pm
Love scavenger hunts? Hate valentine’s day?  Then try out the Cupid Sucks Treasure Hunt!  “Players, Haters, Lovers and Singles are all welcome to the 4th Annual D.C. Cupid Sucks Game. Feel the love for some good old fashion adventure as you crack codes and ciphers in a race through city streets. Roses are great, but fabulously tacky prizes will last a lifetime. Game on, Cupid.”  Questions? Contact admin@ravenchase.com. Tickets are $35.
 
430, 630 & 830 pm
Woo at the Zoo is an adult-only tour discussing animal mating and all that not-so-talked about stuff.  According to their website, “attendees and their “deer” ones will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to decorate sweets for your sweetheart. A cash bar will also be available featuring specialty drinks served in the exclusive Woo at the Zoo commemorative glass. All the fun takes place in the Zoo’s Visitor Center auditorium.”  The Valentine’s Day event at the Zoo is $11 for FONZ members and $22 for non. A $2 fee per transaction applies and tickets must be purchased in advance.
 
Sunday
12pm
The DC record fair is back, which is pretty much a rummage sale of old vinyl.  Check it out near the archives this time.
 
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Geek Look Ahead:

February
Katsucon February 17-19: Massive anime festival, now at the National Harbor!
March
DC’s 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Festival! March 20-April 27: Enjoy traditional and modern Japan/American celebrations of spring.
April
Video Games Live at Strathmore April 7: A live Orchestra performs geek music FTW!
July
Otakon July 27-29: Become by friend now and we can split a room in this Baltimore-based anime extravaganza!
 

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Being Social: the Weekend of 2.3.12

3 Feb
It’s the Super Bowl weekend!  Find a buddy’s house or go to a bar – I’m sure every one will have specials and have the game on.  It’ll be fun and worth the price of admission.  If you’re in the mood for junk food more than just during the big game, Burger King is offering free onion rings (while supplies last), Chipotle will slash your bill in half if you place an order for six or more burritos on Feb. 5, and for a bonus bet, if the coin toss comes up heads, all Papa Johns Rewards members will get a free large pizza and a two liter of Pepsi Max.
On the same leg, I discovered that if you were born in a Year of the Dragon, you can get free cocktail at Ping Pong Dim Sum, every day through Feb. 6. I don’t get one though :( [wtop]
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Anything else you do besides the Super Bowl this weekend is bonus, but here’s what I’ve found that looks interesting:

Rawr <3

Friday
The textile museum is hosting an exhibit entitled, Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep!  It features all kinds of textiles embellished with these fantasy creatures, in honor of the Year of the Dragon! A $8 donation is suggested, but it’s free if any of you are members. [dupontcircle.wusa9.com]
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Friday-Saturday
8pm
Margaret Jenkins and her company do shows which primarily focus on light and shadow as their artistic medium.  They will perform ‘Light Moves’ at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and UMD alumni, and $9 for any student ID and those under 18. [theDistrict]
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Saturday
1-3pm
If you missed the Maryland polar plunge, fear not! This weekend Virginia is holding their ‘Freezin for a Reason’ polar plunge at Lake Anne Ctr, Reston, VA, although it’s meant to be a toasty 52 degrees out! [dc.about.com]
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Sunday
Super Bowl pre-game parties include:
12-5pm
Pyramid Atlantic’s artist Super Bowl pre-party at Fire Station One Restaurant and Brewing Company (8131 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD).  Screenprint a t-shirt or poster with your team’s logo, letterpress a sign or make a football themed book.  It is $5 and you must RSVP at jdominguez@pyramid-atlantic.org [DCist]
430-11pm
Fuel Pizza & Wings (1606 K Street NW) is hosting a “To Hell & Back” Hot Wing Eating Competition before the game ($10 to enter, winner gets $100).  I post this because they are ‘hot wings’ and not ‘Buffalo Wings’–being from buffalo, the name means a -very- particular flavor and texture. They are also offering Nonna’s Lasagna Pizza (in honor of the Giants), or a Clam Bake Pizza (in honor of the Patriots).  [DCist]
630pm
Kickoff!
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Geek Look Ahead:

February
Katsucon February 17-19: Massive anime festival, now at the National Harbor!
March
DC’s 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Festival! March 20-April 27: Enjoy traditional and modern Japan/American celebrations of spring.
April
Video Games Live at Strathmore April 7: A live Orchestra performs geek music FTW!
July
Otakon July 27-29: Become by friend now and we can split a room in this Baltimore-based anime extravaganza!
 

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Being Social: the Weekend of 1.27.12

27 Jan

HAPPY YEAR OF THE DRAGONS!!! <3

Have food and dragons and parades!!!
 
The Japanese (PDF link) and Chinese new year’s parties this weekend! Most importantly, the parade will be Sunday at 2pm! [DC About.com]
 
This week also concludes the restaurant week bonanza with Bethesda Chevy Chase Restaurant Week through the 29th. [DC About.com]
 
The Sugarloaf Craft Festival will be back this weekend at the Dulles Expo Center.  This place has way too many awesome homemade crafts and is a must-go-to if you have anyone to buy gifts for in the next six months.  There’s something for EVERYONE there! [DC About.com]  In other event news:
 
Saturday
10am-5pm
The Maryland Polar Bear Plunge will be held, though it’s a bit far away (in Annapolis).  Not only will there be people greased up and jumping into lukewarm waters (seriously, it was 60 this morning), it will be taking donations for the Special Olympics Maryland.  There will also be contests and live entertainment. [DC About.com]
 
1115am & 1230pm
There will be a concert at Artisphere called ‘Mischief Managed’. While it does indeed feature music from Harry Potter, it is aimed at children and also features a narration during Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite.  Tickets are $10.
 
1-4pm
The DC Grey Market is back!  Get super tasty, non-regulated foods here.  It will be at be held at 1365 Kennedy Street NW in Brightwood. According to DCist, Bourbon pecan cakes, sweet potato chocolate swirl pie, homemade banh mi sandwiches, jelly donuts and fruit sushi are just a scattering of the array of goodies expected to sell at the event.  And if you go and like it, follow the grey market on twitter @dcgreymarket .  Admission is $2 in person or $2.37 online.
 
Year of the awesome Dovahkiin!
Sunday
Noon-5pm
The Inaugural McLean Chocolate festival will be held, featuring vendors and entertainment.  It’s a $1 admission, so if you’re out that way, check it out!
 
2pm
Don’t forget, the Chinese New Year parade will run from 6th & I St. NW to 6th & H St. NW! While you’re in Chinatown, look around! Lots of bars and eateries will be offering specials during this time!
 
6pm
D.C. Meat Week begins with a feast at Urban Bar-B-Q in Rockville, MD, where they’ll be offering free sides, happy hour prices, and a ‘commemorative gift’.  Check the full schedule for events through February 5, including all-you-can eat brisket, pork ribs, barbecue chicken and sides for $20 at Hill Country (410 Seventh Street NW) this coming Monday. [DCist]
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Geek Look Ahead:

February
Katsucon February 17-19: Massive anime festival, now at the National Harbor!
March
DC’s 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Festival! March 20-April 27: Enjoy traditional and modern Japan/American celebrations of spring.
April
Video Games Live at Strathmore April 7: A live Orchestra performs geek music FTW!
July
Otakon July 27-29: Become by friend now and we can split a room in this Baltimore-based anime extravaganza!

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Being Social: the Weekend of 1.13.12

13 Jan

Happy Friday the 13th, everybody!

It’s Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend! There are quite a few events for MLK this weekend.  Plus, there will be a parade on Monday at 11am in Ward 8 SE… I might recommend you go with friends, if you want to check it out.  I would also like to mention that because it is MLK weekend, there are a ton of ‘Black Alley‘ ‘all Black‘ ‘booty dropping‘ parties where pale geeks will probably not fit in.  So watch where you go this weekend. In other news:

This weekend will be the end of the Winter DC Restaurant Week.  If you don’t have time to get out and try what DC has to offer, have no fears! Next week will be Alexandria Restaurant week!

Straight from the 'real' tribe!

Even if you hated Twilight, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian is hosting an exhibit about the werewolf myths of the Quileute peoples through May 9.  It ‘serves as a counterpoint to the supernatural storyline’ of Twilight. FTW! (WaPo)

The DC Tattoo Expo is going on at the Arlington Crystal Gateway Marriott, if you want to see ink, or watch men turn to crying puddles of goo as they get inked. 12-8 p.m. (DCist)

Bring it!

The Progressive International Motorcycle Show takes over the Washington Convention Center, in combination with the NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo.  I wonder if the bikers do double and hit up the tattoo show, too?  Motorcycles cost, but the health fair is free. [the District]

And finally, on Saturday at 6pm Nerd Nite will be back, this time with speeches about Boxing, secularism, and chicken shit.  Sounds great?  Tickets are $10.

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Geek Look Ahead:
January
Elephant Room at Arena Stage January 20-February 26: Follow three semi-pro magicians through this comedic play.

 The Japanese (PDF link) and Chinese new year’s parties and the parade are coming on January 29th!

February
Katsucon February 17-19: Massive anime festival, now at the National Harbor!
March
DC’s 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Festival! March 20-April 27: Enjoy traditional and modern Japan/American celebrations of spring.
April
Video Games Live at Strathmore April 7: A live Orchestra performs geek music FTW!
July
Otakon July 27-29: Become by friend now and we can split a room in this Baltimore-based anima extravaganza!

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Cactuar sighting!

10 Jan
It’s Tusday.  Have a toothpick cactus.

Give him eyes and call him Cactuar.

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The death of the graphing calculator?

9 Jan

iPhone? Nah, ancient calculator!

Last month, Google released a Graphical Math Calculator application to their already brimming toolbox of add-ons.  Now, if an equation is entered into the search box, it will graph the result.

Seriously?

This is amazing, but I had to save $150 for the TI-83 graphing calculator in high school. It was a rite of passage and took serious money management to be able to buy before school started in September.  Now kids can just Google it? Math may have gotten a ton easier, but I have a feeling it will lead to many fewer students interested in pursuing the field, if Google can do it all for them.

Your thoughts? (and yes, picture is not a graphing calculator, but an awesome iPhone skin)

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Being Social: the Weekend of 1.6.11

6 Jan
Well, apparently there isn’t much going on this weekend: even my most reliable sites don’t have as many listings as normal.  Thus, I offer you this meager list of things to do.  If you’re bored, there’s playoff NFL Football games on Saturday AND Sunday, whee!

WINN!

All weekend:
Magfest, DC’s kitchy, small hotel-based Gamer convention, is back for its 10th year, but this time it will be at the National Harbour’s Gaylord National Convention Center.  It has a ton of video, board, and LARP games to choose from, as well as some completely geeky bands that will Perform. Also appearing will be guests such as Special guests at this year’s event include Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu; the voice of Portal’s GLaDOS, Ellen McLain; the voice of Duke Nukem, Jon St. John; and many more.  Admission is $40 for one day.
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Saturday 1pm

Take a look at the Rock Creek National Park planetarium!  Tickets are free but get there at least 30 minutes prior to snag one! ( WUSA9)
 
Saturday 3 & 8pm
Sunday 2 & 7pm
‘Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies’, a comedic anti-holiday act, will be having its last weekend.  This comedy  will be at Wolly Mamoth theatre.  Tickets are $35 and up. (WaPo)
Elvis Fight

Fisticuffs or Handcuffs?

Saturday 8 & 11pm
Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club, a 21-and-over performance will featured costumed brawls and burlesque at The Warehouse Theatre (1021 7th Street NW). Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 day of. (DCist)
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Yataaa!

Geek Look Ahead:
January
DC Restaurant Week January 9-15: Cheap, tasty meals at DC’s finest!
Elephant Room at Arena Stage January 20-February 26: Follow three semi-pro magicians through this comedic play.
February
Katsucon February 17-19: Massive anime festival, now at the National Harbor!
March
DC’s 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Festival! March 20-April 27: Enjoy traditional and modern Japan/American celebrations of spring.
April
Video Games Live at Strathmore April 7: A live Orchestra performs geek music FTW!
July
Otakon July 27-29: Become by friend now and we can split a room in this Baltimore-based anima extravaganza!
 

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8-bit Showcase: Russian Worker Tetris

5 Jan

Have some Tetris. It’s the best thing Russia gave America that America thinks they invented.

(I hope to do another weekly update tomorrow, but man was work busy this week!)

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