On Thursday, April 12th, Nerd Nite is back at the newly-renovated Geek Easy with a World Space Party. We’ll have 3 brand new space-themed presentations and a space costume contest. Details here: bit.ly/worldspaceparty
But we’ve decided to keep the party going– on Friday, April 13th, we’ll be joining Yuri’s Night Space Coast for a special event at the Kennedy Space Center and we want you to join us! You can get your tickets at http://spacecoast.yurisnight.net Nerd Nite attendees can get a discount using the code: NERDNITE10
In a show titled “Somebody’s History”, Amy Selikoff will take the stage at the 2018 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival.
Described as “a white woman’s journey to understand race in America.” The show is part spoken word, part stand-up comedy, crossing six centuries of history fraught with tragedy, trial, and tradition.
Over the past year, we’ve received tons of feedback from you all about the process concerning our online ticketing services. From some people not getting the automated email confirmation, to being forced to use paypal, or to your charge not going through at all.
At first, we thought these were a few isolated incidents due to site maintenance or maybe even user error (I’ll be honest, a few times I just thought it was your fault), but as the issues have grown in numbers and expanded in scope, we have decided that the best course of action is to discontinue using Ticketbase as our event management platform and starting today we will begin the process of weaning off of paypal for online money transfers.
Nerd Nite Orlando recently celebrated its 5-year anniversary and announced production of a documentary film.
This documentary will explore the decentralized structure of Nerd Nite, its infectious spreading to new cities all around the world and how it has helped people gain confidence, discover their identity, and build meaningful relationships.
The modest budget will help to cover production costs; including equipment rentals, staff hires, travel, and festival submissions.
Production of the project will begin June 2018 with an expected completion by September 2018.
When I ponder on the last five years, so many incredible memories come to mind. From hearing Amy Selikoff nerd out about flags to Jonathan Pamplin in full costume discussing the very peculiar history of “Emperor Norton” to an 8-month pregnant Tairi Perez tell an audience full of people how gross pregnancy can be and how humans should evolve to lay eggs. All of this and more are what make Nerd Nite so special. A community of remarkable people getting on stage and sharing their passions in a place where they can be themselves, be accepted and be celebrated.
Thank you all for the last five years. This milestone is as much our achievement as it is yours and with your continued participation we’ll keep it going for five more years and beyond!
Join us on Thursday, April 12th for an evening of thinking and drinking with 3 brand new guest speakers. We’ll be celebrating Yuri’s Night (aka the World Space Party) in honor of Yuri Gagarin, the 1st human in space on April 12, 1961. We’ll also be having a “space cosplay” contest.
WHERE: The Geek Easy, 114 South Semoran Boulevard #6, Winter Park, FL 32792
WHEN: April 12, 2018. Doors open at 7pm. Program begins at 7:30.
Guest speakers include:
James Cooney
Caley Burke
Joshua Colwell
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PRESENTATION #1
“Black Hole Diaries” by Dr. James Cooney
Dr. James Cooney is an astrophysicist at the University of Central Florida. He spends much of his time teaching astronomy and physics to hungry young minds. He also enjoys competitive Scrabble, stamp collecting, and a number of other nerdy pastimes.
PRESENTATION #2
“The Secret of Great Liftoff Timing” by Caley Burke
Caley Burke is a rocket scientist with NASA’s Launch Services Program, with degrees in aeronautical & astronautical engineering from Purdue University and MIT. She works as a trajectory analyst for spacecraft orbiting Earth, landing on Mars, and other destinations around the solar system. Caley’s day job consists of making sure that the rocket drops the spacecraft at the right place & right time. In her innovation time she works on the NASA’s annual global hackathon, the International Space Apps Challenge.
PRESENTATION #3
“Who Cares That In Space No One Can Hear You Scream?” by Dr. Josh Colwell
Dr. Josh Colwell is a Planetary Scientist and Professor of Physics at the University of Central Florida. His research interests are in the origin and evolution of the solar system with a particular emphasis on planet formation, asteroids, planetary rings, comets, and interplanetary dust. He is a Co-Investigator on the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph on the Cassini mission, a spacecraft orbiting and exploring Saturn from 2004-2017. Josh studies the structure and dynamics of Saturn’s rings with data from Cassini. His experiments have flown on the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, suborbital rockets, parabolic airplane flights, and he is developing a CubeSat for launch in 2018.
“Nerd Nite doesn’t belong to just me. It belongs to any and all those who wish to take ownership. Often times on stage, I’ll tell the audience that they are a vital part of keeping this thing going, but I don’t want to just say that, I want everyone to see it– to feel it. This is why I send out surveys, pass out comment cards at events, and encourage folks to email me with their questions and concerns. The feedback is a necessary ingredient to how I organize and this event literally wouldn’t work if the community didn’t participate.
Two weeks ago, I posted a poll in our Facebook group asking where we should have the 5-year anniversary event. In a very short period of time there was an obvious winner: the Orlando Science Center.
So there you have it, folks. Nerd Nite Orlando will be celebrating five years of thinking and drinking on Thursday, March 8th at the Orlando Science Center. We’ll have 3 new talks, games, prizes, and plenty of other surprises. Be there and be square.”
WHERE: Orlando Science Center, 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803
WHEN: Thursday, March 8th.
Doors open at 6:30pm (to the Kinetic Zone)
Program begins at 8pm (in the Digital Adventure Theater)
* Complimentary Garage Parking with covered access into the building.
* Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Guest Speakers:
Aquanza Cadogan
Dr. Julian Chambliss
Joshua “TechDev” Walker
Questions? Contact:
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PRESENTATION #1
“Armor” by Aquanza Cadogan
A mask, an object normally worn on the face for protection, disguise or entertainment can also be used to become someone else for a little while.
Aquanza Cadogan is a mentor, public speaker, visual journalist and humanitarian with a desire to promote the welfare of others. His passion for music, culture and giving back to today’s youth makes him an amazing visionary for the 21st Century.
PRESENTATION #2
“The Problem of the Cinematic Superhero: Everything Changes, But We Must Stay The Same” by Dr Julian Chambliss
Is the superhero the solution or the problem? The rise of the cinematic superhero tells us much about US culture, but it might not be what you think.
Julian Chambliss is an interdisciplinary scholar and writer deeply concerned about real and imagined urban spaces. Within that framework comic pages, urban places, and digital spaces offer an opportunity to explore the intersection of identity, community, and power that shape contemporary society.
PRESENTATION #3
“The Not So Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Joshua “TechDev” Walker
“The Not So Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” is a personalized adaptation of the best selling book “The SubtleArt of Not Giving a Fuck”. Walker will attempt to prescribe brash self help for your life and career through personal examples, unorthodox philosophy and cursing…
Joshua “TechDev” Walker is a military vet turned tech. He enjoys family, Star Wars, concerts and bourbon. He is a founder of Black Orlando Tech and works in the mythical Cloud as a devops manager.
Nerd Nite 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.
PRESENTATION #1: “Why is that so funny?” by Darren Wendroff
Laughter is an in-born human behavior, like coughing or yawning, and the result of thousands if not millions of years of evolution. Deep laughter has the power to temporarily override other emotions (we can’t sob and laugh at the same time) while hijacking the face and body’s muscles and flooding the brain with happy neurotransmitters. Only 15 percent of laughter is related to jokes, laughing can signal recognition, surprise and often safety. I hope to share the beauty and origin of laughter and how something we take for granted is perhaps the most complex human expression of all.
Darren Wendroff is an Army Veteran, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, a former editor at Men’s Health and Kiteboarding magazines and an entrepreneur. He’s the producer of Orlando Cringe, the public diary reading show, and a long time improv performer and occasional standup comedian. His mother and father were a professional clown and magician, and he’s been laughing since he was 3 months old.
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PRESENTATION #2: “Ouch! Navigating Stigma and Day to Day Language” by Nicole Elinoff
Language is powerful and if used in a certain way can empower others or continue to promote stigmatization in the community. This presentation will walk others through the language that we may use everyday and the impact it has around us.
Nicole Elinoff is a fierce Public Health professional working to protect the Public’s Health, all while having fun! Nicole strives to build collaboration, fight stigma, and be an agent of change in her community. You can catch her riding her bike, drinking coffee, our being a foodie around town.
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PRESENTATION #3: “How a Zamboni Works and Why Deadpool Uses It to Kill” by Justin Cirillo & Bryan Pittard
Justin Cirillo is the owner & vice president of operations at the Daytona Ice Arena. Involved in ice hockey for 30+ years, Justin was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He began playing hockey at age 11 in the Salt Lake Amateur Hockey Association. Justin relocated to Orlando, Florida after a successful 15 year career in the Distribution/Logistics industry in Los Angeles, California. Once in Florida, he changed his focus to pursue his passion for hockey. Justin Cirillo gained much success as the Operations Manager for the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando for 8 years. Justin is a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach and a Level 2 USA hockey official. Justin holds the Certified Rink Administrator title through STAR.
Bryan is the technical lead TSS-JV University of Central Florida and President and Co-Founder of the Orlando Curling Club.
