Calendar

Stuff to do as we all wait for the Technological Singularity to occur or a Zombie Apocalypse to arrive.

Geekend: Memory, Pt 2

Welp, the weekend is looong. Which means more time for pools, parties, and cookouts. Let’s see if we can find you something to do in between.

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Sunday

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What: Unpub Mini Festival

Our fifth Unpub Mini will be held at Labyrinth Game Shop in Washington, DC on Sunday May27, 2012 from 11am to 6pm! This miniature Unpublished Games Festival will contain the fun and excitement of Cartrunk Entertainment’s Annual Unpublished Games Festival just condensed for a smaller serving!
When: 11am-6pm
Where: Labyrinth Game Shop, 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington Dc
Metro: Eastern Market, Blue/Orange lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Get excited for this particular event since you might be playing the next big game to show up on Wil Wheaton’s Tabletop.

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What: Board Games. At a Bar.

After a smashingly successful reunion tour, The bi-monthly Reddit Board Games (RBG) is now officially back for the spring and summer! Highly acclaimed as “the best way to spend a Sunday Afternoon” by Neckbeards Weekly Magazine, RBG is back on a bi-monthly schedule.

When: 2pm
Where: The Mighty Pint, 1831  M St NW, Washington, DC
Metro: Dupont Circle or Farragut North, Red line
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Get there early int eh afternoon ’cause tables fill up fast. Also, I’m pretty sure there are drink specials.

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What: Memorial Day Weekend War Games

In town for the Memorial Day weekend?  Please join us for an afternoon of tactical and strategic war games.

I’ll bring “Conflict of Heroes: Storms of Steel” which is part of Uwe Eickert’s popular series.  These are World War II squad level board games that play out in 1-3 hours.  Eickert incorporates design elements from EuroGames and the series is very popular.

Please bring your copies of Risk, Axis and Allies, Tide of Iron and other tactical or Grand Strategy games that you would like to play.
When: 1pm-5pm
Where: Au Bon Pain, 1100 13th St NW, Washington, DC
Metro: McPherson Square, Blue/Orange lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Quite appropriate for Memorial Day weekend. Gird your loins and CHARGE!

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What: Tumbler Tour

The Tumbler and the Bat-Pod are hitting the road and traveling across North America.Be sure to tweet your pics using the hashtag #TumblerTour or email them to wbtumblertour@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in our gallery.
When: 11am-1pm, 6pm-8pm
Where: 201 Waterfront St and Gaylord National Hotel, National Harbor, MD
Metro: None
How Much: Free
Pro tip: It’s your chance to dress like the Dark Knight and attempt to vault across the hood of the ultimate crimefighting machine!

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What: Korean BBQ Potluck Picnic

Our fourth annual picnic, and the weather forecast is perfect! Yes, they really have kimchi burgers in Korea! The Korean Taco’s are a USA West Coast creation, and from that inspiration comes the East Coast version. We’ll also have regular burgers, sides, panchan, vegan/vegetarian options, and more!
When: 11am
Where: Jack’s Boathouse, 3500 K St NW, Washington DC
Metro: Foggy Bottom, Orange/Blue lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Sounds like a pretty chill time, and what is Memorial Day weekend without a cookout of some sort? Just, celebrate this one with Korean burgers!

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What: Gamers Brunch at Piratz Tavern
When: 12pm -4pm
Where: Piratz Tavern, 8402 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD
Metro: Silver Spring, Red line
How Much: Maybe about $14 or so? From what I can remember.
Pro tip: Impromptu sword fights, belly dancing, pirate music, and all you can eat brunch. A wonderful way to keep your weekend swimming along.

Geekend: Memory, Pt 1

Ah, who doesn’t remember our brave Jellicle Cats and the frightening Macavity.

No, this post isn’t all about Cats the Musical. As awesome as that would be. This is a post about what to do this weekend, in honor of Memory. I mean, Memorial Day. Time’s a-wasting, so hop into your time travel machine, fast forward to our long weekend, and hop to it.

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Friday

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Source: Lit Reactor

What: Balticon

Over 300 Hours of Multi-Track Programming featuring authors, publishers, editors, artists, scientists, musicians and other creative SF luminaries. Join over a thousand SF fans for the area’s largest and longest running convention of its kind! Visit our huge art show, dealer’s room, concerts, dances, gaming room, computer room and video room. Everything Science Fiction and Fantasy in one huge package.
When: Friday, May 25th thru Monday, May 28th
Where: Marriott’s Hunt Valley Inn, 245 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
Metro: Nope. Try taking the Marc/Amtrak train up to Penn Station, then catching the Light Rail.
How Much: $62 for the full weekend and single day registration is now available.
Pro tip: The premier SF and Fantasy event. This is for the real literary geeks, who follow the Nebula Awards and Hugo Awards and maybe have a subscription to Locus.

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What: Jazz in the Garden

The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 12th season May 25. The free concert series features an array of jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—including salsa, blusion, vibraphone, and Afrofunk—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.
When: 5pm-8:30pm
Where: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC
Metro: Penn Quarter/National Archives/Navy Memorial, Green/Yellow lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: This is one of the busiest and most happening free events during DC summers because it combines all of the things we Washingtonians love, as encapsulated by Marianne, a DC artist whose print w/a quote from Keats really says it all. Pack a picnic and a blanket, and make sure someone in your group gets there early enough to stake out a piece of real estate. The first concert of the summer spotlights the Tom Principato Band.

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What: Friday Night Frights

Every Friday from 7:00 to 8:30, we’ll be screening two episodes of Tales from the Crypt, starting from the beginning. This week is Staired in Horror and In the Groove, with delicious drink specials.
When: 6:45pm-9pm
Where: Black Cat, 1811 14th St NW, Washington DC
Metro: U Street/Cardozo/African American Memorial, Green/Yellow lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Seems like the meetup group Geek Night Out has a pretty chill group of kids going to this thing semi-regularly. Definitely worth checking out. Especially if you’d like to re-watch the Crypt Keeper and figure out if this shit is as scary as you remember. Man, remember Goosebumps, too?

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What: The Lady Vanishes Screening at Artisphere

While traveling in continental Europe a rich, young playgirl realizes that an elderly lady seems to have disappeared from the train.

This screening is part of Artisphere’s Alfred Hitchcock: The Early Years Film Series. Before there was Vertigo, The Birds and Rear Window, Hitchcock directed films for over a decade that—beyond simply laying the groundwork for his later works—are considered masterpieces in their own right. Every Friday in May, Artisphere will screen a different classic from the “master of suspense” released before 1940.
When: 8pm
Where: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
Metro: Rosslyn, Blue/Orange lines
How Much: $8
Pro tip:  If you’re a fan of early Hitchcock, this is the film for you! While you’re there, check out the immensely entertaining exhibits and presentations going on throughout the building. The one on retro-futuristic visions of space might be of especial interest.

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What: Urban Corp Hip Hop Battle and Dance Party
When: 9pm
Where: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
Metro: Rosslyn, Blue/Orange lines
How Much: $5
Pro tip: Apparently, Artisphere is pulling out all the stops for Friday night. Here’s a video of DCypher, one of our local dance crews, to help you sort out what’s what. Get ready to bust a move and pull a few muscles. Think this scene from Step Up, or that scene from Step Up 2, or all the scenes from Step Up 3.

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Saturday

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What: Celebrate Hawai’i Festival

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the museum welcomes Hawaiian artists, performers, and practitioners of traditional Hawaiian healing and culture. Visitors can learn about living a life of “aloha” by watching and learning about hula, watching films and presentations, and meeting and greeting our Hawaiian guests.
When: 10:30am-5pm
Where: National Museum of the American Indian,  National Mall at 4th St SW and Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
Metro: Federal Center, Orange/Blue lines
How Much: Free, but tickets required and are available in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on the Third Level. First come, first served. Programs begin on the half hour.
Pro tip: As dearly as we all love Lilo and Stitch and Hawaii 5-0, there’s something to be said for learning in more depth about the culture of our most exotic state, Wisconsin.

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What: Eurovision at the Austrian Embassy

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among the 44 active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Eurovision has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running and most-watched television programs in the world: audience figures have been estimated at nearly 600 million people internationally.
When: 2pm-7pm
Where: Embassy of Austria, 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC
Metro: Van Ness, Red line
How Much: $10,  comes with one drink
Pro tip: Get ready to laugh your ass off. This is seriously nothing like American Idol or Britain’s Got Talent. Neither talent nor the Euro seem to be the currency of trade here. I say it’s out and out ridiculosity. And yes, that’s not a word but it really does encompass the crazy crackiness of watching this thing. Take the space cadets above. They’re known as Jedward.

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What: Zou Bisou Bisou Party

We have music performances, a dance party, an enchanted teepee garden, plenty of St. Germain cocktails, plenty of Stella beers and more, all waiting for you.
When:8pm-1am
Where: The Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007
Metro: Foggy Bottom, Orange/Blue lines or Dupont Circle, Red line then take a bus/shuttle
How Much: $22.09 here. Buy your tickets in advance cuz they’re certainly going to be sold out by the time you reach the door.
Pro tip: After that episode of Mad Men, everyone should know Zou Bisou Bisou and be absolutely in love with the idea of a ZBB party. Buy your tickets now, and worry about getting home from the event later. For those of us who’re waiting on the Seersucker Social later this yeart. :)

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What: Decentralized Dance Party

What is a Decentralized Dance Party (DDP)?
The DDP is a portable, battery-powered Party System.
It was invented by Tom and Gary, two gentlemen from Vancouver.
It consists of hundreds of Party people, carrying boomboxes, and a DJ who wears a backpack, containing an FM radio transmitter.
When: 8pm-Midnight
Where: TBA
Metro: TBA
How Much: Free!
Pro tip: Epic Dance Party! Sign up for the mailing list so you’ll be in the know by today. And get ready to SUIT UP! This is the Business Tour! Here’s some inspiration for y’all. Business Time. Suit UP!

Keep Calm and Listen to Gaiman.

Thanks to some friends in Philly, I got to be a raging ball of seething jealousy this past weekend. Neil Gaiman gave the commencement speech at University of Art.

Watch the speech here and catch up on Neil Gaiman’s many doings here.

Also, Neil Gaiman gave some very good advice in the speech that seemed to call for some “good” art.

Husband runs off with a politician? Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor? IRS on your trail? Cat exploded?

Musicality Monday: Cool Enough for School

Now that geeks are awesome and cool and popular, here are some songs that put it all in perspective.

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I’m the One That’s Cool

by Jed Whedon and Felicia Day

Reigning queen of geekdom, Felicia Day, created another music video with her Guild castmates and her Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog co-conspirator, Jed Whedon. If this song doesn’t vindicate every geek ever who felt like a bug trying to scurry out from under the heels of the more assured, popular population, I don’t know what does. I am geek. Hear me roar.

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I’ll Still Be a Geek After Nobody Thinks It’s Chic

by Marian Call

Too true. Geekitude has absolutely nothing to do with skinny ties and black, thick-rimmed glasses and ironic t-shirts, although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with those things. But regardless of what you’re wearing or not wearing, geekitude has absolutely everything to do with the things you’re passionate about.Also, how can you not love a song that involves a typewriter for percussion?

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The Big Bang Theory

by Barenaked Ladies

Chances are, you’ve probably already heard at least the first several seconds of this song, due to the fact that apparently “Smart is the new sexy.” Actually, the fact that “geek cred” is even a thing now makes me want to throw my hands up, shout “Bazinga!” and interpretive dance someone else’s PhD thesis.

Welcome to the Geekend: Thou Art Out of Your Mind!

Thou ART out of your mind if thou don’t-est checkest out ARTomatic this weekend. ART THOU TOO COWARD? FEAR NOT! THOU ART READY FOR THE ART!

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Friday

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What: Artomatic

Artomatic 2012 is a month-long art festival in the DC area that is “by artists, for everyone.” It is absolutely free to the public.

This year’s event is in a former office building that’s slated for demolition. It features 10 floors of art by more than 1,000 artists: Visual art, music, performance, film, fashion, and more. Workshops, tours, seminars and other events are held all month long.
When: 6pm -1am
Where: 1851 S. Bell St, Crystal City, VA
Metro: Crystal City, Yellow/Blue lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: It’s kinda the biggest deal in DC this weekend. Plenty of geeks will be making a showing. Look for references to all sorts of geeky interests, from Star Wars to Batman and hopefully even some Cthulhu. First day will probably be a dramatically lighted storm in a hand-crafted teapot, except it’ll totally be worth it for opening night workshops, demonstrations, concerts, and other cray cray performances. They say it goes ’til 1am but I’ve known the night to be longer than that. This is everything that DC usually is not so let’s go have some fun!

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Source: Tae Solyn Deviantart

What: Nebula Weekend Massive Book Signing

Authors will sign their books at the Forty-Seventh Annual Nebula Awards Weekend, Friday, May 18, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.  If you want to have your favorite author sign copies of his/her books, this is the place to be.  

We welcome the public to this autograph session…. you do not have to be registered for the conference to have an author sign a book for you.

When: 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Hyatt Regency, 2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA
Metro: Crystal City, Yellow/Blue lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip: That’s an impressive array of major scifi and fantasy authors in one hall. And they’re all here for the Nebula Awards on Saturday. Pick a few that you’re dying to meet, and get ready to line up. Personal fave is John Scalzi, he of the awesome sauce blog and Old Man’s War.

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Source: chel1395.livejournal.com

What: Monty Python and the Holy Grail at E St. Cinema
When: Various showtimes throughout the day
Where: E St. Cinema, 555 11th St. NW, Washington DC
Metro: Metro Center, Blue/Orange/Red lines
How Much: No clue. Probably somewhere around $15.
Pro tip: Don’t say “Ni” to this one. There’s a showtime for everyone, especially if you leave work “sick” due to violent bunny attack and a case of flesh wound.

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What: Monthly Redditor Spelling Bee Participation @ Rock n’ Roll Hotel

The Rock and Roll Hotel on H St NE hosts a weekly “Spelling Buzz”, approximately 30 people compete in Spelling Bee style competition while enjoying $6 PBR+whiskey ($6 gets you both). You must always have your drink in hand, and drink whenever the MC says to do so. Space is limited for competition, but not for spectators (ok technically it is).   Also, you can drink whatever you’d like, just so long as you have an adult beverage in your hand while participating.  PBR is completely optional. 

Signups start early, so if you’d like to be a competitor I’ll be showing up around 7pm and have a few pregame brews.

In September, Reddit placed 1-4th!!!

The event is FREE for participants and spectators.
When: 7:30pm-11pm
Where: Rock n’ Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE, Washington DC
Metro: Take a bus or walk the 15 min from Union Station, Red line
How Much: Free
Pro tip: The usual. Try to spell like a ten year old, 2nd generation immigrant, supergenius while drunk.

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Saturday

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What: Survive DC

For one night, drop your relations, your work and leisure activities, and all your usual motives for movement and action, and let yourself be drawn by the attractions of the chase and the encounters you find there.

SurviveDC is a race through the streets of DC. You will try to make it to six checkpoints as fast as you can, while avoiding being caught by chasers. Those who survive will be praised and feted at the end. Those who fall will become chasers themselves, rising to pursue their former friends and allies.

This is a footrace – only your own two feet and the metro are permitted. No bicycles, no skates, no cars, no taxis. This race is for you, your fellow players, and the city itself.
When: 7pm-Midnight
Where: Sign up to find out
Metro: Ditto.
How Much: Donations are greatly appreciated for this entirely volunteer-run event.
Pro tip: You can still sign up here. Hope you’ve been exercising your ninja skills.

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What: Fiesta Asia Street Festival
When: 10am-7pm
Where: Pennsylvania Ave NW between 3rd and 6th St
Metro: Archives – Navy Memorial – Penn Quarter, Yellow/Green lines
How Much: Free
Pro tip:  Basically a huge party thrown by the Asia Heritage Foundation, this one’s good for the food and the basic exposure to fun stuff from various Asian cultures. There’s music, food, crafts, and cool tchotchkes for sale, so go make a Saturday out of it.

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What: Super Art Fight

For four years now, the crazed team of combative artists at Super Art Fight have been putting together shows all over the United States.  On Saturday Afternoon, May 19th, 2012, The Greatest Live Art Competition will put on a show unlike any they’ve done before, and it’s going to be for a great cause.

Super Art Fight is proud to present Super Art Fest, a 12 hour marathon event taking place at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Going from 12 Noon on Saturday until 12 Midnight early Sunday, the team at Super Art Fight has pieced together an event that is sure to go down in history.
When: 12pm-Midnight
Where: Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD
Metro: Um. No. Although you can walk to the gallery from Penn Station. So, Amtrak and/or light rail.
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Don’t forget to get your Adam Warrock CD signed. And if he asks for requests. you shout E Pluribus Anus and ask for the new Greendale Community College song.

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What: Gaithersburg Book Festival
When: 10am-6pm
Where: Gaithersburg City Hall Grounds,
Metro: Drive, suburban monkeys. Drive!
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Judah Friedlander of 30 Rock will be at the Rachel Carson Pavilion at 4pm. You’re welcome.

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What: Nebula Awards
When: 8am-11pm
Where: Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA
Metro: Crystal City, Blue/Orange lines
How Much: $100
Pro tip: Um, kind of a $100 and closed but maybe if you hang around the exits, like a rock band groupie, you can catch some of the winners heading out to local bars to celebrate their mighty victories.

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Sunday

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What: Grey Market DC
When: 12pm-4pm
Where: 733 Euclid St NW, Washington, DC
Metro: Columbia Heights, Yellow/Green lines
How Much: $2.50
Pro tip: If you’d like to know what local food businesses will be making it big in the next year or so, stop by here to check them out first. My personal favorite local food that started out showing at DC Grey, Crunkcakes DC.

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What: National Cathedral Evensong
When: 4pm-6pm
Where: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
Metro: CUA/Brookland, Red line
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Okay, so kinda religion-y but still, very pretty and a wonderful way to pretend you’re in the court of some European ruler from the 1500′s.  Also, if it’s still light out, go look for the Darth Vader gargoyle.

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What: Trivia @ Quarry House
When: 7pm-9pm
Where: Quarry House Tavern, 8410 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD
Metro: Silver Spring, Red line
How Much: Free
Pro tip: Get bacon and cheese on your tots. It’s worth it.

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Musicality Monday: Fan-Made Muzak

Just to get you ready for the week. Here’s some muzak made by fans.

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Private Lessons ft. Tahno

by chongthenomad

Tahno’s voice was apparently so sexy we had to have it in techno form. OF COURSE! I’m surprised we hadn’t thought of this before, with Zuko’s voice. Thank you, Rami Malek, for your abs, your pretty, pretty eyes, and your fantastic voice.

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Leslie Knope 2012 (Parks and Recreation Campaign Song)

by Adam Warrock

If the Parks and Recs rap doesn’t do it for you (which is to say, you hate Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson and Tom Haverford, and WHO ARE YOU?!), then try the Browncoats Mixtape or the Downton Abbey rap or the Lion King fan rap and  . . . well, you get the idea. This man can rap AND he’s a geek. Holy fandoms colliding, Batman. Speaking of which, here’s a Marvel vs. DC rap he rapped.

Also, Warrock will be making an appearance in our neck of the United States at the Super Art Fest 2012 in Baltimore, MD on May 19th. It’ll be at the Metro Gallery in the Station North area.

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The National Mall

By Bluebrain

For purchase only, thru the Apple Apps Store, this is a soundtrack of location-aware music that changes based on your location on the National Mall. Fan music for Washington DC, created by a Washington DC-based group, for peeps enjoying the splendor that is Washington DC. Could I possibly type Washington DC any more times? Really not, but if you’ve got one of those newfangled smartphones, go ahead and check this out. Just watch out for all the construction happening on our Nation’s lawn.

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Get Back to Hogwarts (from The Very Potter Musical)

by Team Starkid

Hey, remember Darren Criss when he was a singing, angsting, douchey Harry Potter in a musical that he co-wrote? Yeah, me, too. Those were good times. The very definition of fan-made, this musical is the very heart of what can be done when fans come together in a beautiful, beautiful melding of talent, boredom, imagination, and a healthy dose of WTF-ery. If you haven’t seen it yet, I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your life. Also, the above illustration would make a 150% more sense. RUMBLERAWR!

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Inception Trailer A Capella

by Googenheimer

Not technically music but hilariously impressive nonetheless. Also, I swear to god, every time the dude BWWWAAAAHHHHH’s I burst out laughing. It’s just such a ridiculous sound to be issuing forth from someone’s mouth.

Welcome to the Geekend: Everyone and Their Mother

Hope you all enjoyed your COMIC BOOK WEEKEND last week. Time to gear up for another hardcore weekend of enjoying the heck out of this weather and simultaneously taking advantage of all the geeky goodness available in DC.

You up for the challenge? Is your mother? Am I going to make a mom joke? Heck, no! It’s Mother’s Day Weekend. Be nice to your mother, and maybe take her to go see the Simpsons play over at the Woolly Mammoth.

Here’s some Tron: Legacy to get you in the mood. Speaking of getting in the mood, people, what are we doing about getting The FP shown in our town?

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Friday

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What: Song 1: A Happening

If you haven’t seen the Doug Aitken’s 360 degree projection on the outside of the Hirshhorn building yet, this might be the right time. The recorded soundtrack of the projection will be shut off for one night and live music will be provided by No Age, High Places, Oneohtrix Point Never and Nicolas Jaar — some of the artists on the recorded soundtrack. A concert. Outside. With art. What’s keeping you? – WaPo
When: Independence Ave and 7th St SE, Washington, DC
Where: Hirshhorn Museum,
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue/Orange lines
How Much: $26.50
Tips: Buy tix here. Read about the installation here. Watch a trailer here.

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What: 48 Hour Film Project

A competition for do-it-yourself filmmakers: they’re given a genre, a prop, a character and a line of dialogue. The rest is up to them! AFI Silver welcomes back the 11th edition of the wildly popular 48 Hour Film Project, with this year’s Washington, DC-area films screening May 8 through 11, followed by the “Best Of” screenings on May 24. – AFI Silver

Each screening of the 48 Hour Film Project is different, featuring a unique program of films. For individual show schedules and information about the 48 Hour Film Project, visit 48hourfilm.com

Shows tend to sell out; advance tickets are recommended. Tickets go on sale at noon on April 30.
When: 7pm or 9:30pm
Where: AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD
Metro: Silver Spring, Red line
How Much: $11.50
Tips: This is the last night to catch this heroically creative effort at making a film in 48 hours. Lines are long, people are pumped, so get in line early to get your tix.

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What: Friday Night Frights

Every Friday from 7:00 to 8:30, we’ll be screening two episodes of Tales from the Crypt, starting from the beginning. This week is Revenge is the Nuts and The Bribe, with delicious drink specials. – Black Cat
When: 7pm-8:30pm
Where: Black Cat, 1811 14th St NW, Washington, DC
Metro: U Street/Cardozo/African American Memorial, Yellow/Green lines
How Much: Free
Tips: The Geek Night Out Meetup Group is going tonight, so you’ll have good company for some of the most psychologically scarring material from my and your childhood.

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What: Dark Shadows
When: Anytime tonight
Where: Movie theater closest to you
Metro: Walk if you have to
How Much: Generally $12
Tips: Listen to this fantastic This American Life episode first to truly understand how deeply Dark Shadows has affected our nation.

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Saturday

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What: European Embassies Open House
When: 10am-4pm
Where: Northeast DC
Metro: Really, all of them, but check out this map for a look at which stops dominate.
How Much: Free
Tips: Go early. Go really, really early. Also, prioritize your favorite countries and their offerings. You’re not going to get to everything, what with the insane lines for free booze, food, and culture. I’m thinking House of Sweden’s rooftop lounge on the Georgetown waterfront might be a bit of a winner this year.

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What: DC Nerd Nite – Final Exams

It’s May and it’s the last Nerd Nite before we go on summer break, so come on down to check out our three super-nerdy scientists this month. Learn about the awesome powers of organic chemistry, the possibilities for photosynthetic vertebrates, and little known good germs. Be there, and be square. – Nerd Nite DC
When: 6pm-9pm
Where: DC9,
Metro: U St/Cardozo/African American Memorial, Yellow/Green lines
How Much: $10
Tips: DC’s favorite booze-soaked lectures are coming to a close, along with the school year. Summer vacation is here, but before you jet off to the Galapagos or Reykjavik, get one last Nerd Nite in to stuff your brain full of as much thinking as possible.

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What: Fiesta Asia Festival in Silver Spring
When: 10am-6pm
Where: Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD
Metro: Sivler Spring, Red line
How Much: Free
Tips: Have a nice chill day as a prelude to the DC Fiesta Asia and top it all off with a visit to Quarry House and Alliance Comics.

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Sunday

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