Categories: Humor; Geek

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Being a Cool Nerd in New York

By aliciak
updated 2 months ago

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No, that isn't a typo. You can be cool AND a nerd! And live in New York City. Were you one of the smart kids in school? Could you rattle off mathematics theorems like there was no tomorrow? Love thinking about neutrons or mitosis? Well, many nerd nights, science clubs, and other geeky celebrations have sprung up so that you can fulfill your nerdy desires most any day of the week.

Admit That You are a Nerd

The first step is realizing you have a problem, right?  Okay, well being a nerd isn’t a problem, but the sooner you admit that you’ve got some inner nerdiness to embrace, the sooner you can make use of this awesome guide. 

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Attend Some Nerd Events

Shop, Eat, and Learn like a Nerd

Union Hall

702 Union Street Brooklyn, NY 11215

Union Hall is better known for attracting the mommies-with-strollers crowd and annoying bocce players, but it also hosts the Secret Science Club, a monthly series with guest lecturers and sometimes, experiments!

There are even science-themed cocktails to take the edge off of talks by physicists, astronomers, biologists, and mathematicians. Is it getting hot in there??? Oh, must be the global warming talk!

Learn about the Secret Science Club

Rialto Restaurant

265 Elizabeth Street New York, NY 10012

Check out “lively scientific discussions” at the monthly Cafe Scientifique. Ooh la la, c’est magnifique!

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American Museum of Natural History

200 Central Park, New York, NY 10001

Lucky 8-12 year-olds can SLEEP OVER in the museum, but the rest of us unfortunate adults will have to settle for late-night dance parties in the planetarium. Hmm, that sounds kind of cool.

There’s always the IMAX and a whole array of exhibits where you can indulge your nerdiness. Cosmic explosions? Check. Dinosaur fossils? Check. Star-gazing on the roof? And check.

Lucky 8-12 year-olds can SLEEP OVER in the museum, but the rest of us unfortunate adults will have to settle for late-night dance parties in the planetarium. Hmm, that sounds kind of cool.

There’s always the IMAX and a whole array of exhibits where you can indulge your nerdiness. Cosmic explosions? Check. Dinosaur fossils? Check. Star-gazing on the roof? And check.

Picnic Market & Cafe

2665 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

More of the cafe science deal, but with fancy French food. Who says black holes and escargot don’t go together?

More of the cafe science deal, but with fancy French food. Who says black holes and escargot don’t go together?

See Menu

Black Rabbit Bar

91 Greenpoint Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222

“Nerd Alert!” is the world’s nerdiest trivia night, apparently. In the event that you win, a $25 bar tab is yours!

I smell a nerdy hook-up waiting to happen here, especially since Black Rabbit is in Greenpoint and there are intelligent hipster types lurking around.

New York Hall of Science

4701 111th St, Corona, NY 11368

 
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Where did the word "nerd" come from?

I am so glad you asked!  It came from a Dr. Seuss book, specifically, “If I Ran The Zoo.” At least it isn’t another term for whale genitalia (“dork”).

“And then, just to show them,
I’ll sail to Ka-Troo
And Bring Back an It-Kutch a Preep and a Proo
A Nerkle a Nerd and a Seersucker, too!”

Buy the book on Amazon

Geek vs. Nerd vs. Dork

When I was in high school, I debated, appropriately, with my math teacher about the differences between geeks, nerds, and dorks.  There are subtle and not-so-subtle differences! I think I concluded that I was really none of these, as I possess social skills and am somewhat extroverted.  We all have tendencies I suppose.

More Geek vs. Nerd vs. Dork Scenarios like the one below

Chief Cell-phone Concern

Geek: does it have BlueTooth?
Nerd: does it play games?
Dork: who would I call?

Nerdfighters!

Get Your Nerd Gear

If you are already a nerd, your closet and dresser are probably stocked full of appropriate gear: black-framed glasses, suspenders, tall socks, blouses, bad hair accessories, etc.  Wait, isn’t that the hipster look?  Anyway, there’s always room for improvement, so here are a few stores to get you going.

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Maxilla & Mandible Limited

451 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Hop on into “The World’s First and Only Osteological Store” after your natural history museum visit. Snatch up an Alligators and Crocodiles poster, bugs in jars, or this here gazelle skull while you’re at it.

Hop on into “The World’s First and Only Osteological Store” after your natural history museum visit. Snatch up an Alligators and Crocodiles poster, bugs in jars, or this here gazelle skull while you’re at it.

Maxilla and Mandible's Site

Toy Space

426 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

I like to tell myself that I have a genuine interest in the minds of kids and how they process information, and that’s why I went into education and childcare. But maybe, just maybe, it’s so I could go to science toy stores like Toy Space and call it “research.”

I like to tell myself that I have a genuine interest in the minds of kids and how they process information, and that’s why I went into education and childcare. But maybe, just maybe, it’s so I could go to science toy stores like Toy Space and call it “research.”

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The interior of Evolution Nature Store

Evolution Nature Store

120 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012

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