Nerd Nite Orlando

Click here to see the full album of photos from Nerd Nite Orlando’s 4-Year Anniversary on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the Abbey.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 1, 2017)
Contact: Ricardo Williams
Organization: Nerd Nite Orlando
813-464-1712

Nerd Nite Orlando to Talk Politics, Pop Culture, and Robots at 4-Year Anniversary

Orlando, FL – On Thursday, March 9th, Nerd Nite Orlando will celebrate the fourth anniversary of its monthly event series. Held on every second Thursday, Nerd Nite was first launched in Orlando at Stardust Video & Coffee on March 14, 2013 by Josh Manning.

The concept of Nerd Nite, first formed in 2003 in Boston, is very simple; a monthly event featuring entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations in a casual bar atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience. In the last 14 years, Nerd Nite has spread to 6 continents and currently operates in over 106 cities around the world.

Manning attended Nerd Nite in Washington DC and was inspired to bring the event to Orlando and recruited Valerie Cepero and Ricardo Williams to join the organizing team at the first event in 2013.

Williams, who now solely organizes and hosts the event, has brought Nerd Nite to various venues around town, including the Church Street Exchange building, Purple Rock Scissors’ office, Ferg’s Depot, the Geek Easy, Stardust Video & Coffee, and The Abbey.

In the years since its inception, Nerd Nite Orlando has expanded to include special events at Comic Con, SXSW, Maker Faire, and added programming, such as speed dating, trivia, walking tours, movie and game nights, and the dry t-shirt contest which will make its return on March 9th. The contest features contestants from the audience who are invited on stage to compete against each other on who is wearing the nerdiest t-shirt.

At the 4-Year Anniversary, veteran Nerd Nite speakers Max Jackson, Amy Selikoff, and Joshua Walker will each return to give all new presentations. The evening’s topics will range from relevant issues of automation, robots, politics, pop culture, and more.

###

Nerd Nite Orlando’s 4-Year Anniversary
When: March 9, 2017. Doors open at 6pm, Program starts at 7:00pm
Where: the Abbey, 100 S Eola Dr #100, Orlando, FL 32801
Suggested Donation: $10
Guest speakers: Max Jackson, Amy Selikoff, and Joshua Walker

RSVP for 4-Year Anniversary: http://www.ticketbase.com/events/nerd-nite-orlando-s-4-year-anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (February 16, 2017)
Contact: Ricardo Williams
Organization: Nerd Nite Orlando
813-464-1712

Nerd Nite Orlando to Kick Off Busy Month with 4-Year Anniversary on March 9th

Orlando, FL – Nerd Nite Orlando is set to celebrate its four year anniversary on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the Abbey. The event, which is held on the second Thursday of every month, was first launched in Orlando at Stardust Video & Coffee on March 14, 2013 by Josh Manning.

The concept of Nerd Nite, first formed in 2003 in Boston, is very simple; a monthly event featuring entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations in a casual bar atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience. In the last 13 years, Nerd Nite has spread to 6 continents and currently operates in over 106 cities around the world.

Manning attended Nerd Nite in Washington DC and was inspired to bring the event to Orlando and recruited Valerie Cepero and Ricardo Williams to join the organizing team at the first event in 2013.

Williams, who now solely organizes and hosts the event, has brought Nerd Nite to various venues around town, including the Church Street Exchange building, Ferg’s Depot, the Geek Easy, Stardust Video & Coffee, and The Abbey.

In the years since its inception, Nerd Nite Orlando has expanded to include special events at Comic Con, SXSW, and added programming, such as speed dating, walking tours, movie and game nights, and dry t-shirt contests, among others.

Following the four-year anniversary on March 9th, Williams will fly to Austin, Texas to host a special version of Nerd Nite at SXSW with National Geographic on March 11th.

The following week, Orlando will be home to the second-ever “Nerd Nite Bosses Retreat” where Nerd Nite organizers and hosts from across the country will fly-in to discuss the direction of the global event as well as share best practices from their experiences.

###

Nerd Nite Orlando’s 4-Year Anniversary
When: March 9, 2017. Doors open at 6pm, Program starts at 7:00pm
Where: the Abbey, 100 S Eola Dr #100, Orlando, FL 32801
Suggested Donation: $10
Guest speakers: Max Jackson, Amy Selikoff, and Joshua Walker

RSVP for 4-Year Anniversary: http://www.ticketbase.com/events/nerd-nite-orlando-s-4-year-anniversary

Join us on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the Abbey as we celebrate FOUR YEARS of thinking and drinking. The evening will feature new talks, games**, prizes, and everything you love about Nerd Nite Orlando.

RSVP here: http://www.ticketbase.com/events/nerd-nite-orlando-s-4-year-anniversary

Nerd Nite, formed in 2003, is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience. Nerd Nite currently operates in over 106 cities around the world.

Nerd Nite was brought to Orlando on March 13, 2013 by Josh Manning and monthly events are organized and hosted by Ricardo Williams. Live Nerd Nite presentations in Orlando are always the second Thursday of every month.

WHERE: the Abbey, 100 S Eola Dr #100, Orlando, FL 32801
WHEN: Thursday, March 9, 2017. Doors open at 6pm. Program begins at 7pm.

Guest speakers: Max Jackson, Amy Selikoff, and Joshua Walker

For questions, contact Ricardo at

PRESENTATION #1:
“Amazon Web Services Explained Through Politics and Shitty Pop Culture” by Joshua “TechDev” Walker

DESCRIPTION: Some people still think the Amazon is just a beautiful forest and the cloud is how Goku gets to his fights. Josh will push past the Silicon Valley Bullshit and explain Amazon’s prized ecosystem Amazon Web Services through a combination of Politics and mind numbing Pop Culture.

BIO: Joshua “TechDev” Walker is an Honorable Vet Turned Tech, Passionate About AWS, Programming, Data Science and People

PRESENTATION #2:
“Amendments: Using the Constitution to Fight the Apocalypse” by Amy Selikoff

DESCRIPTION: Amendments? What are they? Is that something for smart people to know? Will this help you survive the zombie apocalypse? Possibly. Get ready for this crash course into all 27 amendments and the process for creating more in the face of the impending implosion of our democracy.

BIO: Amy Selikoff has taught social studies to 7th graders for 12 years. Her life goal is to learn everything there is to learn about anything there is to learn about. And travel the world.

PRESENTATION #3:
“Automatic Robot Scientists” by Max Jackson

DESCRIPTION: Are the jobs of scientists safe from being replaced by automation? Can robots design experiments, work around errors, and interpret data? What will we do if we can outsource our ability to make sense of the world? All of these questions will be explored and more, from the beginnings of human inquiry to today, concluding with what the future will likely hold for all of us.

BIO: Max Jackson is a research associate at the Hybrid Systems Lab at the UCF Nanoscience Center. He is also a tech journalist covering major events and trends in the Orlando area. His hobbies include reading, writing, and democratic-socialist organizing.

** We will also be hosting a dry t-shirt contest. All you need to compete is wear your nerdiest shirt.

Join us on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at the Geek Easy for another evening of thinking and drinking.

RSVP here: http://www.ticketbase.com/events/nerd-nite-orlando-february-2017

Nerd Nite, formed in 2003, is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere.

Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience. Nerd Nite currently operates in over 106 cities around the world.

Live Nerd Nite presentations in Orlando are always the second Thursday of every month.

Lineup:
1.) “How to be a #RockStar: A Dummy’s Guide to Building Your Personal Brand” by Carolina Castaneda
2.) “Sci-Fi 101: Analyzing the Science in Fiction and Whether or Not You’ll Ever Be Iron Man” by Ricardo Williams
3.) “Photography – Finding Your Light and Why Your Selfies Suck” by Holly Whelden Carpenter

WHERE: the Geek Easy, 114 S Semoran Blvd #6, Winter Park, FL 32792
WHEN: Thursday, February 2, 2017, 7pm.

Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!

For questions, contact Ricardo at

PRESENTATION #1
“How to be a #RockStar: A Dummy’s Guide to Building Your Personal Brand” by Carolina Castaneda

Whether you like it or not, the world is going to have an opinion about you — so why not take an active role in shaping it? Learn how to build your personal brand through an easy yet strategic marketing approach. We’ll develop kickass branding, own social media, nail your photog skills, dominate Google search results & more. Are you ready to show the world just how awesome we are? #LetsDoThis

SPEAKER BIO: Carolina Castaneda is a Sr. Digital Marketing Director by day, & a Yoga Teacher by night. With over a decade of marketing experience, Carolina is passionate about the power of marketing & how it can help build your personal brand. She’s made a career of being Ms. Right: producing the Right Content, sharing it on the Right Platform, at the Right Time. Carolina believes in om-ing & flowing through life, the importance of doing downward facing dogs, feeding your wanderlust & being #rockstar in everything you do.

PRESENTATION #2
“Sci-Fi 101: Analyzing the Science in Fiction and Whether or Not You’ll Ever Be Iron Man” by Ricardo Williams

Science fact and science fiction. The two have a long history of influencing each other; from the communicators, the universal translator, and almost everything else from Star Trek influencing real-life tech. But are other popular sci-fi trends possible? Time travel? Super soldiers? Interstellar travel? Drinking in space? We will do a brief analysis of the world of fiction and show what’s real science and what isn’t.

Ricardo Williams is a film artist, musician, event organizer, program coordinator, and and self-proclaimed expert in comic book fiction. Since studying communications at Pace University in NYC, he’s appeared in commercials and independent films; and produced numerous albums. He’s also guest lectured on film theory and video production at New York’s School of Visual Arts. Currently, Ricardo is the social media manager at IDEAS For Us and the host of Nerd Nite Orlando.

PRESENTATION #3
“Photography – Finding Your Light and Why Your Selfies Suck” by Holly Whelden Carpenter

In this talk, we’ll explore the power of light, the incredible intricacies of our eyes and how these natural tools win out over any camera. Everyone is a photographer, no matter the price of your camera or the audience for your photos. Your family photo is more valuable than many Annie Leibowitz. I will show you how using light and the science behind the creation of sight can help your photos and get around the short comings of your camera. Get yourself a better Tinder profile picture if nothing else because everyone is a photographer, and that’s pretty spectacular.

SPEAKER BIO: Holly’s big girl job is a Creative Entertainment Lighting Designer for a Walt Disney World making “magic” through designing new shows, character greetings and special events. At night she’s an Event Photographer for Orlando Weekly, Orlando Sentinel as well as many other Orlando organizations photographing special events, bar crawls and any number of the many strange happenings in our city.

Macbeth Studio and Local Love Orlando are hosting a series of fundraisers they are calling “Local Love Nights” to celebrate and benefit local Orlando non-profits doing real, tangible good.

The first Local Love Night is going to be held at their studio in the historic Angebilt Hotel building on Thursday, February 2, from 5 – 9 p.m. to benefit the Zebra Coalition.

Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1795353434049513/

The Zebra Coalition is a network of organizations which provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all youth (LGBT+) ages 13 – 24. The Coalition assists young people facing homelessness; bullying; physical, sexual and drug abuse; and isolation from their families with individualized programs to guide them to recovery and stability. http://zebrayouth.org/

Local Love Night is a networking/social party, with members of the Zebra Co staff and board on-hand to tell guests about the organization. Food and drink will be included with your donation, and is being provided by sponsors.

They will live-post photos taken in front of this beautiful custom background and they are suggesting a donation of $10-$20, the proceeds of which will go directly to the Zebra Coalition.

Also: Limited-edition Pulse Map 8″x10″ letterpress prints by Mama’s Sauce will be on sale at this event, and will sell for $10 while supplies last. Again, all proceeds of the sale will go directly to Zebra Coalition.

Details and updates will be added as they become available. Check back with the Facebook Event page for details.

The Orlando Sentinel published an article about Nerd Nite with Ricardo in full beard and Spider-man suit.

On Thursday, December 29, 2016, we squeezed in a special event right before the new year and featured some live music performances from Jack Graham, Kevin Greene, Aaron Randall, and Ricardo Williams.

Join us on Thursday, January 12th for a special space-themed evening of thinking and drinking at the Abbey!

RSVP here: http://www.ticketbase.com/events/nerd-nite-orlando-presents-space-nite

Nerd Nite, formed in 2003, is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere.

Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Following each presentation is a brief Q&A with the audience. Nerd Nite currently operates in over 106 cities around the world.

Live Nerd Nite presentations in Orlando are always the second Thursday of every month.

Come meet up, drink, and learn something new!

For questions, contact Ricardo at

“SPACE NITE”
presented by Nerd Nite Orlando
sponsored by the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College

WHEN: January 12, 2017, Doors Open at 6:00pm, Show Starts at 7:00pm
WHERE: the Abbey, 100 S Eola Drive #100 Orlando, FL 32801
SUGGESTED DONATION: $10.00

PRESENTATION LIST:
1.) “Comets, and Alcohol, and Spaghettification! Oh, My!: A Hands-On Guide to the Oddities of the Universe” by Seth Mayo

Ever wonder how comets work, if alcohol occurs naturally in space, or what it may feel like to fall into a black hole? These questions and more will quickly be answered in a quirky hands-on way using common household items. Be prepared for some audience participation!

SPEAKER BIO: Seth Mayo is the Curator of Astronomy at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach. Mr. Mayo runs the museum’s planetarium, writes astronomy articles, and performs lectures and presentations around Florida.

2.) “Death by Snu Snu or: All The Ways That Space Will Kill You” by Michael McConville

Traveling to distant worlds has long been a dream of us earthbound humans, and incredible advances in technology mean humans will likely walk on Mars in the next few decades. SpaceX’s Elon Musk envisions one million Martian colonists in the next century. The only limit is our imagination.

But there’s one little problem…space is a really scary place.

Join Michael McConville of the Buehler Planetarium for a sobering look at all the ways that space can kill us — from the dramatic to the mundane — and how scientists are trying to ensure that humans truly become an interplanetary species.

In space, no one can hear you scream, but they might see you boil.

SPEAKER BIO: Michael McConville has always wanted to be an astronaut, and as coordinator of the Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College, he gets to make others feel like astronauts every day. A four-time veteran of Nerd Nite Orlando, Michael is noted for his unique storytelling ability and a love of learning and exploration. This very particular set of skills is useful in his other day job, serving as a professor of history at the University of Central Florida.

3.) “The Top Ten Things about the Universe that will Blow Your Mind!” by Derek Demeter

The Universe is a pretty freaking crazy place! From planets the shape of footballs to celestial objects bigger than entire galaxies, Derek Demeter director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium will share the mind blowing facts we discovered about the wonders of our cosmos.

SPEAKER BIO: Derek is the director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. Derek also enjoys promoting science beyond the planetarium with his work as an astrophotographer, which earned him pictures seen in NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day website, Universe Today, Astronomy Magazine, and Sky and Telescope

Get excited for Nerd Nite Orlando XLV! Not only do we have a great lineup of presentations, but we’ll be joined by EA Playtesting** who will be on hand to raffle off some awesome video games. Join us at the Geek Easy for a great evening of thinking and drinking!

RSVP for the event here: https://www.ticketbase.com/events/nerd-nite-orlando-xlv

** EA Playtesting is a free program that gives gamers the opportunity to play EA developed games, sometimes before their release, and provide us with valuable feedback. Your feedback is used by the developers to improve our games, and as a token of our appreciation for your help, you may receive a gift card or video games. If you’d like to learn more, or are interested in joining this program, please visit our website at https://playtesting.ea.com/.