This Week in Geek: Swashbucklers, Drones, and Mad Scientists

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

When it comes to attacks, the opinion of many is really clear.
Specific legislation may be trickier and infringe on the DIY crowd.
(image by CODEPINK - Women for Peace)

Tuesday

• FutureTense - The Drone Next Door - Washington, DC - 9:00AM to 1:45PM
• It’s easy to see where Code Pink stands, but FutureTense’s morning-long series of presentations examines the grey areas inherent in the controversy. If the military and police shouldn’t violate your privacy with drones, what about other civilians such as hobbyists and journalists? And where precisely is the line between a “civilian surveillance drone” and a kid with a 1080p video camera taped to a quadcopter?

Thursday

• Theater - Synetic Theater's Three Musketeers - Arlington, VA - 8:00PM
• Synetic Theater is a blending of multiple art forms - a synthesis of kinetic arts, hence the name. This Thursday is opening night for their interpretation of the Three Musketeers. A great story and an excellent opportunity to show off truly impressive swashbuckling. The show runs through June 9.

Saturday

• Faire - Virginia Renaissance Festival Opens - Spotsylvania, VA - 10:00AM
• Since 2002, Spotsylvania has hosted the VA renfaire. The website fills you in on all the details. However, this year’s story revolves around a small barony and a visit from the queen. Tensions rise as the baron cannot afford such an extravagant event and his sheriff is sent out to levy taxes. Where’s Robin Hood when you need him?

Promotional Photo © Out of the Woodwork Productions

• Convention - Collectors Con - Baltimore, MD - 10:00AM to 7:00PM
• Another new con that almost slipped by us! Collectors Con bills itself as Maryland’s first all-in-one con, which seems to mean a respectable number of comic and artist guests, an M:tG tournament, cosplay, and the batmobile. Sounds like a lot to pack into one day, but it’s close enough that you don’t need a hotel room and admission is only $10. Don’t forget to check them out on Facebook.

Sunday

• Movies - Young Frankenstein at AFI - Silver Springs, MD - 2:15PM
• To celebrate Mel Brook’s AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, the Silver Spring theater is showing all of his movies (scattered between now and July 2). Did you realize that Spaceballs was 25, or that The Producers was already 50. This Sunday is the movie that introduced many of us geeks to the brilliance of Mel Brooks. Just remember, “Fronk-en-steen.”

Did we miss something? If you have an event you’d like to promote that isn’t on this list, leave a comment or email us. Other weekly recurring events are listed on our website (such as Rocky, CCG tournaments, crazy themed happy hours). For more information, check out the calendars at DC Geeks.