Hi, my name is Rachel and I am addicted to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I am not very good, but I enjoy playing the online multiplayer games. I go online and search around for a group that isn’t a bunch of 8 year olds that fire off swear words (or worse!) as they fire bullets. Sometimes I can find a good group to play with where we are communicating and having a good time, however that is rarely the case. I have a few friends that I will occasionally catch online and we will play together for a few games, until one of us has to log off.

From going to our events I have heard that I am not the only one that feels this way. So, I am introducing our first Nerd Xbox Live Game Night, and if it goes well we will change the games and keep it going on a monthly basis. The first game will be (my choice) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360.

To join us you will need:

• Xbox 360
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game
• Xbox Live account
• Headset

Sign up below and I will email you for your gamertag before the event so we can join up together.
My gamertag: nerdrachel

When: Thursday, September 9, 2010 – 7:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Xbox Live

The idea is to be friendly and show the other participants your interests during your brief conversations. You will spend 3 minutes with each member of the opposite sex, we hope those 3 minutes will seem too short and you will find someone you would like to get to know better.

Have a few questions prepared that you would like to ask your counterparts. Questions that will stimulate conversation and not require just a “yes” or “no” answer, however also don’t require a long essay response. Some examples would be:

“Do you like Star Wars or Star Trek better?”
“Who is your favorite Dr. Who?”
“What is the last comic book you have read that you would recommend?”
“What is your favorite place to eat in Chicago?”
“What the heck do you think is going on in Lost?”

Look at your partners’ name tags for clues to their personal interests. You don’t want to talk about the weather only to realize at the end of the 3 minutes realize you have something in common that you didn’t talk about.

Additional Tips:

1. Smile – Everyone looks and feels better when they are smiling.

2. Relax – You are around fellow nerds, and no one is here to judge you.

3. Be confident – We know you are awesome, we hope you do as well.

3. Keep an open mind – Remember that even if you don’t meet your future partner here, you might meet some good friends. The more connections you make, the better chance you have of meeting someone special.

4. Don’t drink too much – It’s okay to have a little bit of liquid courage, but make sure you have all your conversational skills at your disposal.

We hope you all have a great time! If you haven’t signed up yet (and you’re single) what are you waiting for? Our hetero night is this Thursday and our LBGT night is next Thursday!

Hetero Night Ticket Purchasing (Last day to buy tickets is April 27th)

Gay Night Ticket Purchasing (Last day to buy tickets is May 4th)

You’re basking in the afterglow of C2E2, and want to have a nice, leisurely stroll through the more intellectual side of comics
and graphic literature. In that spirit, we invite you to the next exciting installment of Comics 301!

Our guest will be Len Strazewski, professor of Journalism at Columbia College Chicago

Strazewski has been writing professionally since he was 19 years old, working as a staff and free-lance reporter and editor for local and national newspapers and magazines, including Advertising Age, Crain’s Chicago Business, Online Access, Windows & DOS User’s Guide, The Chicago Tribune, and The Chicago Sun-Times, among others.

From 1987 to 1997, he maintained a dual identity as a comic book writer, scripting Flash, Justice Society of America, Phantom Lady, Starman, The Fly and The Web for DC Comics, Prime, Prototype and Elven for a division of Marvel Comics and Speed Racer for NOW Comics.

Strazewski has a B.S.J. from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, an M.A. in the Program for Writers at University of Illinois at Chicago and a M.S. in Industrial Relations from Loyola University in Chicago.

When: Monday, April 26, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Where: Challengers Comics, 1845 N Western

Cost: FREE

The goal of Nerd Speed Dating is to introduce like-minded nerds for a chance at romance. (Or at the very least a new friend). The event will feature a cocktail hour Starting at 6pm. Drink specials will be available for nerds who need Elixirs of Courage before the event. At 7pm the speed dating will begin!

Tickets for the event will be $25 dollars a piece and will cover 2 complimentary cocktails and appetizers served during the event. Nerds who find a match will be treated to a “first date” coupon from our event host, Cuna Chicago, good for a free cocktail and a bread appetizer at Cuna’s.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up already! Bazinga!

When: Hetro Nerds – Thursday, April 29, 2010 – 6:00pm-9:00pm (Please be sure to arrive by 6:45pm)
LGBT Nerds – Thursday, May 6th, 2010 – 6:00pm-9:00pm (Please be sure to arrive by 6:45pm)

Where: Cuna Chicago – 1113 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657

Cost: $25.00 – includes complimentary appetizers and two cocktails

Purchase Gay Nerd Speed Dating Tickets

Purchase Hetero Speed Dating Tickets

Instructions for the event will be provided via E-mail a few days before the event.

What was the last thing you purchased that excited the nerd inside you? Don’t just take a picture of your latest favorite thing for your Facebook page, bring it to our Nerd Show & Tell event!

This Show & Tell occurs right after the events of the last day of the C2E2 Expo and it is open to nerds of all ages. Maybe you will even find something there that is worth sharing.

You will have 5 minutes to tell us about your nerdy item – and hopefully even pass it around. Bringing an item is not required, but it is encouraged. Nothing is insignificant; if it matters to you, we want you to share it with us.

When: Sunday, April 18, 2010 – 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Where: Dolce Casa Cafe – 4947 N. Damen, Chicago, IL

Cost: Free

Yes, you read that correctly – comics are increasingly becoming part of our academic landscape, and providing an important
perspective. So we’re encouraging not just comic nerds, but nerds of all kinds (history, literary, academic) to attend our Comics 301 event. Our guest is Cord Scott, a doctorial canddiate in american history at Loyola University and has written numerously on various comic-related subjects, including

• Teaching history through comics
• Portrayals of the concept of eugenic in comics
• A chapter in “Captain America & the Struggle of the Superhero”

Cord will be discussing the role of comics in an academic as well as giving recommendations

• Comics and academia – tied into historical or lit aspects for academic
• Academically challenging comic books
• The precursors to the Graphic Novel

When: Monday, March 22nd, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Where: Challengers Comics – 1845 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL

Cost: FREE

We couldn’t have a party to celebrate everyone’s favorite transcendental number without including pie the dessert, WE aren’t irrational!  We are putting out the call for our nerds to show off their math and/or pie baking skills as we celebrate Pi(e) Day.

Contests include:
Pi Off – Nerds recalling pi to most decimal digits – 6:00pm
Constant Pie – Best nerd baked pie contest – 6:30pm
Mad Math Minute – A one minute basic math test, TI-80 not needed – 7:15pm
Pi Trivia – 5 rounds of nerdy trivia for a $100 cash prize – 8:00pm

Prizes include:
Donated items by ThinkGeek.com
$100 ThinkGeek Gift Certificate
$100 Cash provided by Firkin & Pheasant for Pi Trivia Winner

Interested in bringing a pie?
Each pie will have 1 slice saved to be tasted by our Constant Pie judges and the rest will be shared by our nerds.  If you are interested in baking a pie for our event please make sure you select the correct ticket.  Contact rachel@chicagonerds.com if you have any questions.

Bar Specials:
Chocolate French Silk Pie $3.14
Einstein`s Special Beer of the Day $3.14
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie $9.42
Guinness Steak & Mushroom Pie $9.42
Cottage Pie $9.42

When: Sunday, March 14, 2010 – 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Where: Firkin & Pheasant – 670 West Diversey Parkway, Chicago, IL

Cost: $5.00 or $10.00 at the door. Entry will be FREE for pie bakers

As seen in A.V. Club Chicago

Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is the quintessential game for nerds.  Because of it, people have slain dragons, rescued villages, saved the cosmos countless times and adventured in innumerable worlds without ever having to leave the house.  Dozens of video games, novels and movies have been inspired by Dungeons & Dragons – including Bioware’s recent award-winning epic “Dragon Age: Origins.”

A D&D game is like a really good movie: it has danger, intrigue, action, romance and comedy. But it’s better than a movie because you direct all of those elements.  Even better still is that your friends are helping you do all of it.  At its heart, D&D is a social exercise – it’s meant for groups of people and the basis of the game is interaction between people.

D&D 101 is designed both for people who have never played Dungeons & Dragons are interested in learning more about it as well as experienced players willing to help the newbies.  There will be a short introductory discussion covering the (abridged) history, what the game is about and why it has captured imaginations for over thirty-five years.  After the discussion,  attendees will be split into small groups and given a chance to actually play D&D.  Each attendee will take the role of a young adventurer seeking excitement and challenge.  Experienced dungeon masters will run the adventures and help the new players bring their characters to life.

Chicagoland Games: The Dice Dojo will be hosting the event.  They have space for a number of groups to adventure at the same time.  There are a number of restaurants in the area for anyone who would like to get dinner before the event.

When: Sunday, February 21, 2010 – 5:30pm-8:30pm

Where: Chicagoland Games: The Dice Dojo – 5550 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640

Cost: $2.00 FREE

Take part in a journey to explore eight beers rarely seen in North American bars.  Learn the history of each brew and the characteristics of the styles from expert guides leading the progression. Bring your sense of adventure and a strong thirst – we promise both will be filled by the end of this extraordinary journey.

The $25 cost includes tastings of the following beers:

1. Victory Prima Pils
2. Dark Horse Percolator Dopplebock Lager
3. Port High Tide Fresh Hop Ale
4. Lost Abby Red Barn Ale
5. Jolly Pumpkin La Roja
6. Rodenbach Grand Cru
7. Two Brothers North Wind Imperial Stout
8. Lagunitas Gnarley Wine

When: Thursday, February 25, 2010 – 7:00pm-9:00pm

Where: Flounder’s Bar & Grill – 2201 North Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL

Cost: $25 – Return tastings (seconds or thirds) are included

SOLD OUT!

Special thanks to beer nerd Kevin Harriss for helping us plan this event.

Throughout time nerds have been loved and tormented by robots. From the beginnings with Rosie Jetson, all the way to our favorite governor, The Terminator. Which robot will you build?

The Chicago Nerd Social Club is putting together our very first Robot Workshop. We’ll be working with the folks from Robot City Workshop to help us during our construction project. We’ll be using their intermediate level kit, but don’t worry, there’s no soldering required.
It should be a fun time had by all, so if you’re interested be sure to register because seating is limited. If the response is strong enough we’ll be try to schedule another class for later in the day. Tickets are $60 which covers your kit charge and your workshop fee for the instructor.

We’re looking forward to see what type of spirit Chicago puts in its robots!

When: March 28th, 2010 — 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Where: Robot City Workshop — 3226 N. Sheffield Chicago, IL 60657

Cost: $60 – includes robot kit and workshop fee