For those that were mercilessly teased in grade school for their uncanny comic book knowledge or an obsession with tabletop RPGs and Pokémon, take heart!
Nerd culture has all but taken over the mainstream and nerds everywhere are showing their pride like never before.
And in a colorful and eclectic city like New York City, it’s not too hard to find somewhere to let that geek flag fly. Read on to find out where to unleash the geek in NYC.
1. Nerd Nite at Le Poisson Rogue (159 Bleecker Street)
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A monthly get-together at the swanky Le Poisson Rogue, Nerd Nite is hosted by Matt Wasowski, the Festival Director of New York Super Week, which is a weeklong festival celebrating everything under the umbrella of nerd culture.
From seminars on how the brain makes us horny and the history of James Bond gadgets, to special guests like magicians, weapon experts and cosplay gurus, this night is a serious immersion of what it means to be a nerd.
Check their website for the official list of upcoming events and speakers. Tickets usually range from $10 to $14.
2. New York Comic Con at Javits Center (655 West 34th Street)
If nerds were on a journey to an enlightenment mecca, NY Comic Con would be their Nirvana. Every year, thousands of people swarm the Javits Center to get in on all the action, many clad in their favorite cartoon hero or super villain getup.
From hundreds of stands with all kinds of collectibles and swag to panels full of the famous folk who brings these epic stories to life in TV and movies, Comic Con is a nerd experience like no other.
Although this year’s just passed, it’s still worth noting as tickets go on sale months in advance and usually sell out in a matter of minutes. Mark your calendars for next year’s convention on October 6th through the 9th.
3. New York Hall of Science (47-01 111th Street – Queens)
A treasure trove of knowledge and fun awaits you in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. What some might write off as “just for kids” is actually a sensory and interactive nerd playground of over 450 exhibits.
Check out one of the eight life-size space capsules in their open-air Rocket Park, complete with mini golf course, or learn how scientists look for life on other planets firsthand.
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Through January 9th, take a stroll down GingerBread Lane, which won the past two years' Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread village. This year will feature more than 1,050 houses and structures, including a double-decker carousel modeled after the one on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
,4. Brooklyn Brainery (190 Underhill Avenue)
If Sheldon Cooper lived in NYC, he’d probably be the king of the Brooklyn Brainery, where you can crack open the books and find a class on everything from physics and art to modern medicine and computer programming.
Course prices are relatively inexpensive, especially if you went to NYU, and they’re filled to the brim with people thirsty for knowledge. The wide range of topics that can be found here alone will get your brain juices flowing.
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Some upcoming classes include A History of Dating & Sex, Herbs For Winter Immunity, Classic Charcoal Drawing: Anatomy, a Wine Hack Education Course and a Primer on Board Games (with an open Game Night afterwards).
5. N3rd Night at G Lounge (225 West 19th Street)
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Gay guys can be crazy nerds, too! This Monday night fun and games party attracts a diverse crowd from a number of nearby neighborhoods. And it’s not just for the go-go boys on the bar in Batman and Superman briefs.
Weekly themes bring out the creative cosplay guys and certain drink specials apply if you show up in some sort of nerdy gear. Screenings of the latest Walking Dead or Doctor Who episode play as beer pong and boozy Geek Pictionary take over this local Chelsea bar.
6. The Brooklyn Strategist (333 Court Street)
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Part café, part retail store, part community center, all nerd-worthy. This spot in Carroll Gardens offers an experience that is hard to find elsewhere in NYC. Brooklyn Scrabble Tuesdays, Chess Club Thursday Nights and Dungeons and Dragons Saturday are only a few of the regular events they have.
You can also try out the newest board or card role-playing game it to see if it’s worthwhile to add to your ever-growing collection before buying it. The staff here is not only helpful, but brushed up on the most current nerd knowledge and game rules.
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This month, Mondays nights hold Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures competitions and on Fridays you can bust out that rare holographic card from your new booster pack for an epic all-levels-welcome Magic: The Gathering tournament.
Check out 6 Kickass Nerdy Things to Do & Places to Go in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]