Part of New York City's glory is her diverse nightlife, but can we talk about the city's nerdy side for a second please?
There are millions of us here, and if the madness surrounding NYC Comic Con isn't indication enough, it should come as no surprise that there are tons of events and locations around the city that sustain the thriving demographic of fangirls and fanboys everyday.
Read on to find out 6 kick-ass nerdy things to do in NYC.
1. Gamer social clubs
There are lots of places around NYC to let your imagination and strategy skills fly, and many of them are really good.
Unlike the global network for gaming on the web, we're lucky to have so many spots in the city to square off against countless opponents - and in real life, you know, physically across the table from you.
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In Brooklyn alone, you've got two good options. For $25/month, you can become a member at gaming social club The Brooklyn Strategist, at 333 Court Street. Hosting a variety of clubs, events and tournaments, the fee is well worth it.
Now Twenty Sided Store at 362 Grand Street, Brooklyn is a different vibe. They're actually a store, focusing on board games, role playing games, and Magic: the Gathering. It's a great place to chill with no pressure, you know?
The staff is extra cool and makes and effort to really befriend those who come around to play and hang out. Not only that, they're the Village Voice's Best Game Shop 2014.
2. Video game bars
Obviously, alcohol and video games go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Many of us are no stranger to copping a nice buzz and blurring the night to Xbox & PS4, but that's not the same as getting silly in an arcade. There are adult arcades around the world, and in NYC we have a few cool ones too.
Check out Two-Bit's Retro Arcade at 153 Essex St on Manhattan's Lower East Side. They're pretty cool, but they close at 2 a.m. For Pac-Man until 4 a.m., go to any of the three Barcade locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn.
3. Comic book stores
andi.who El lugar mas maravilloso que puede existir en el planeta tierra y yo sin presupuesto #forbiddenplanetnyc
Scoping out the comic book store is simply the most iconic nerdy indulgence-- more so than Dungeons & Dragons, pocket protectors, or dare we say chess?
NYC is host to some of the world's best locations for ogling rarities of graphic novels, collectibles, and sci-fi stuff. While it's true that most self-described and proud geeks adore the internet, the web is a double-edged sword for the community.
On one hand, you can find stuff crazy easily, and it'll probably be cheaper than in a store. On the other hand, and despite our adorable social awkwardness, we proud geeks require human interaction - if only to maintain the believability our human disguises...
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Comic book aficionados can be hard to please, and while Midtown Comics is famous, it's kind of overloaded with tourists at their Times Square and Grand Central locations. There's also one way downtown at 64 Fulton Street.
Forbidden Planet at 832 Broadway in Manhattan is also pretty killer, but still kind of a hassle with crowds being right next to The Strand. But seriously, they're both amazing. These are giant, awesome, NYC comic book shops.
If you can't take those crowds, check out St. Mark's. They have similarly comprehensive collections without dragging you through the dregs of outsiders to help you find what you need. That's not to say that Midtown and Forbidden aren't dope, though. We can't say enough how dope they are.
,4. Cult movie screenings
januszkiewiczpiotr #kino #theater #cinema #IFCcenter #manhatan #NYC #yellow #cab #nighttime a zaraz po drugiej stronie boisko do kosza i dobra kawiarnia ;) Tutaj wszedzie ktos robi filmy. Siedząc w kawiarni pożyczyłem ładowarkę do #MacBooka od gościa obok która akurat montował swój film :D !
One of the most dedicated categories of the fanboy/girl community is the Cult/Indie/B-Movie sector. Sci-fi, horror, and all the rest. They're ironically hilarious, hilariously ironic, and we love them.
Much like comics, there is a history to the craft that plays a crucial role in the enjoyment and discussion of cult movies.
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NYC's film scene is out of this world, and the particularly goofy, scary, and often fantasy/sci-fi side of that world is also killer. The IFC Center, at 323 Sixth Avenue, Manhattan hosts midnight cult movie screenings every weekend.
With titles like Pee Wee's Big Adventure, El Topo, Holy Mountain, Alien, and Blue Velvet and more coming up throughout August, you know you want to check it out.
5. Escape rooms
jeff_fly ...and so it begins. #escaperoomnyc #escape #room #sherlock #game #nyc #escamegame #wishmeluck
You've probably heard of the worldwide sensation that is escape rooms. It's a combination of scavenger hunt, puzzle solving, and strategy. The objective is simple: escape the damn room. It's kind of like a very mellow, non-violent version of the Saw movies.
Nobody's going to hurt you if you don't escape under a certain amount of time, and you generally don't win any prizes for escaping quickly. You just get to leave knowing you were smart enough to get out, that in some fantasy world, you would survive something most others wouldn't...
To gain this particular brand of self satisfaction, go to Real Escape Room NYC at 382 Union Avenue, Brooklyn. These originators of the Escape Room explosion have serious chops, with over 1,000,000 players worldwide having undertaken the challenge.
They're offering two scenarios at their NYC location right now. Through the end of August, the options are Volume 1: Escape from the Mysterious Room and Volume 2: Escape from the Time Travel Lab.
To us, the latter option seems more enticing, as their description warns that "...you will drop into the spatiotemporal distortion and disappear forever..." if you don't escape in time. But, who knows? That kind of seems like a win/win. "Spatiotemporal distortion" is our middle name.
6. Costume/cosplay culture
kostumekult Yaaaasss! Epic sea battle on Coney Island's shores! Who shall prevail Octo-Gal or Latino King Triton?! Kostume Kulters have the most fun in NYC. 😁 @marz_attack #mermaiddayparade #mermaids #coneyisland #ocean #sealife #mermaidparade #kostumekult #costumes #mermaidcostumes #NYC #art #artparade #summerevents
It's not uncommon to see randos in costume on the streets of NYC. Also, a lot of people look like they're in costume, but that's just how they dress. From the Broadway crowd to the Fashion Avenue world, it seems like costumes are all around us-- and NYC nerds are no different.
Kostume Kult is an art collective that descends upon maybe the most ubiquitous NYC costume events, including The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, The Gay Pride Parade, and of course Zombiecon. It's a great way to transform into your wildest dreams!
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Now for the comic, video game, and fantasy oriented, NYCC's Eastern Championships of Cosplay is around the corner! This October it's gonna get wacky and weird at the Javits Center from the 8th through the 11th.
Being NYC and all, we-- ahem-- have some pretty talented costume, hair, and makeup artists, and we can't wait to see how some of the world's best pros stack up against some of the world's most hardcore fans, and where the two intertwine.
So we'll see you there?
Summer's almost over! Check out 13 Must-Do Events for This August in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy: TimeOut]