This Week In Geek 12/02/12

A showcase of this week's finest geek and geek related activities for the week. Mark your calendars.

Longer Term

• Comedy - Norm MacDonald - Washington, DC - February 16 - 19 - 8:00 PM
• Its Norm. You either remember him from SNL and all the news that should have been, or you love his stuff for being so blue that even jaded comedy club habitues have fled some of his shows (risking sunlight and lack of immediate access to alcohol). Either way, its a good time. So good that all shows are, sadly, sold out, but keep an eye out on the secondary market - you might get lucky.

Cosplayers, your work is cut out for you
(Photo by Rob Speed)

• Convention - Katsucon - National Harbor, MD - February 17 - 19
• Its billed as “a fan convention for multicultural enthusiasts and entertainment.” But come on, let’s be honest here - its a con aimed squarely at the heart of anime fandom. And I’m more than just okay with that. Starting at noon on Friday events are running nearly constantly until 4:00 PM on Sunday. The offerings are vast and varied this year, so get down to the apparent hub of cons in DC (National Harbor) and hang out with your people for the weekend. I’ll be out there this weekend, along with Aine, Scooter and other DCG writers. Look for the red and white, and say hi if you see us.
• Convention - ShevaCon - Roanoke, VA - February 17 - 19
• Offering number three in a con heavy weekend, this one down in the southern mountains of Virginia. It could be nostalga for the college days talking, but I’ve never got an issue heading down 81. Its the twentieth anniversry of the con and it looks like some great offerings this year, with Timoth Zahn and Katherine Kurtz making it a very, very tempting event. Lots of gaming as usual and I’m noticing a lot more sessions about costuming and fan craft than I’ve seen in the past. Almost tempting enough to make me cancel other plans and head down.
• Convention - Farpoint - Timonium, MD - February 17 - 19
• I love the breadth of our fandoms. To be a geek in the DC region is to be spoiled for choices. Yes, we cross over a lot and some events call to everyone. But if I don’t feel like dealing with "those people," then I can still find get togethers that service my specific needs. It struck me as I looked over the event schedules for this weekend’s conventions that they all undeniably fit in the Geek category, yet they are incredible different. If I had to pick one word for Farpoint’s schedule: media. Panels about and guests from some of the best geek friendly TV, movies and other media sources out there will be at Farpoint. On a personal note... Helen Tigh and Pamela Swynford De Beaufort will be guests of the convention. I really need to find a way to clone myself.

Wicked Faire is all about the warm and welcoming smiles
Photo by Master Magnius

• Convention - Wicked Faire - Somerset, NJ - February 17 - 19
• This is one that really defies description till you’ve been there. They’re billing themselves as Halloween in February, and to an extent that’s true. More than just Halloween though its a very community oriented gathering (when the community is the folks who just never fit in when they were younger [or even now {waits for Aine’s editor head to explode in 3... 2... 1... (Editor's Note: damn you, Brannen.)}]). Its pretty much a non-stop parade of music and shows, entertainment and niche gatherings, not to mention the back alley vendors that the event brings out. If you’re headed north this weekend, I’d suggest spending it in Somerset.

Wednesday

• Comedy - The Geek Comedy Tour - Washington, DC - 8:30 PM
• An evening of comedy that is a bit different. These aren’t just comedians making jokes about geeks or focusing on laughs they know they can get from geeks. From a robot obsession to a crushed cartoonist these comedians are geeks and are talking to their peers. No matter how uncomfortable that may be.

Thursday

• Music - They Might Be Giants with JoCo - Charlottesville, VA - 7:00 PM
• TMBG and SoCo are swinging back through the region on the down curve of their current tour. Now, really, do I need to say much about either of these acts at this point. Just load up your playlist with the favorites you know, let them etch your brain and then head out to the show. You’re going to have a good time.

Friday

• Music - They Might Be Giants with JoCo - Baltimore, MD - 8:00 PM
• See above: same song, different setting.

Other weekly reoccurring events are listed on our website (such as Rocky, CCG tournaments, crazy themed happy hours) and with the holidays over they’re back with a vengeance! For more information, check out the calendars at DC Geeks.