Nerd Nite Orlando

Did know what to expect when I arrived but Need Nite brings a fresh breathe of air and a new approach to presentations.

Ah the fabled Nerd Nite Orlando… I have heard so much about ye and know I truly know thee (not in a biblical sense weirdo).
I was able to attend this session of NNO with my good friend Ms. Tairi P and we enjoyed a non-​alcoholic drink and hunkered down to learn more about the Psychology of MMORPG Games, a new Live Action Role Playing Game called «The Republic» and, last but certainly not least, how NASA is working to turn astronaut pee into plant food in space.
The first session around MMORPGs and the psychology of connectedness between online players was interesting but some of the points seemed debatable… for instance, I personally believe that sitting inside for 20 hours, even if you’re interacting with others over the internet, is not the healthiest thing on the planet. Overall it was a great talk that sparked deep conversations at our table.
The next session focused on a new game called «The Republic» and I honestly have to say that this really turned me off. It felt like bad dinner theater and a pitch for a business (I thought those weren’t allowed at NNO?) and myself and counterparts couldn’t wait for it to be over. While the concept was definitely interesting the presentation and sales-​y feel was off-​putting from the getgo.
The night was closed out in a fantastic way by a gentleman who, through memes and lots of colorful language, explained the logistics of turning human waste into food/​fuel for plants in space. It was entertaining, challenging, and an outstanding lecture that we all enjoyed very much.
This night was great and the only reason I would give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that sales pitch I mentioned. A solid event that I plan on attending in the near future!

Imagine TED Talks but with more nerd friendly subject matter. That’s the jist of Nerd Nite in Orlando. I love coming here when I can. I always leave learning something new and interesting that I never even would have thought about before.
I’ve attended a few of these. They happen on the second Thursday of every month at Stardust. First piece of advice, show up EARLY. The place gets packed very quickly, and it will be hard to find a decent seat if you show up late. Also, if you’re hungry, showing up early gives you a chance to get your dinner order in before Stardust gets crazy busy.
The hosts of Nerd Nite are class acts. They’re funny, smart, informative, and totally non-​judgmental. They love to chat with the speakers and the guests and really seem committed to making Nerd Nite one of the best experiences a nerd in Orlando can have.
Each night typically consists of three presentations. Anyone can do a presentation. Just pick something you’re passionate about and go with it. I’ve seen presentations about obscure stuff like the smallest town in Alaska to less obscure stuff like the history of They Might Be Giants and the origins of steampunk. I’ve been tinkering around with some things that are important to me, so someday I will be one of those speakers.
What I really like is how they encourage social activity. Yes, it’s true, most nerds are introverted and awkward. That’s just the way we are. The hosts encourage us to interact with each other between presentations and make new friends, and I’ve met some pretty cool people here. Again, pretty much everyone who shows up to these things are non-​judgmental, so if you’re obsessed with Thundercats or something, nobody will hold that against you.
And I love the educational aspect of it all. Sure, I’m a nerd, but I only have my niche area of interests. Learning stuff about different kinds of fonts or the language of flowers is interesting to me because those are things I wouldn’t have thought of to research on my own, and Nerd Nites brought those to my attention.
If you like nerdy stuff, learning new things, and hanging out with fellow nerds, come out to Nerd Nite. Have a few drinks, discuss who can pick up Thor’s hammer, and listen to some of our local residents talk about what they’re passionate about and learn new things.

The cream of the nerd crop is to be had at this amazing monthly event. Like a Ted Talk but without the air of pretension, and with alcohol. The trio who run it are friendly, engaging, level 20 nerds, and always strive to make each event fun and unique.
Each event fills up fast and there’s always standing room only right before they begin, and Stardust takes its sweet time about food times so order as SOON as you get there if you’re hungry. (You’d think they would have extra staff on those nights but I digress)
I’m torn between wanting Nerd Nite to expand to a bigger location and enjoying the perfect fit it has with Stardust, but either way I’ll be sure to make it to every single event! Albeit an hour early.

Disclaimer: I am very into nerd culture. I routinely spout out (bad) chemistry based jokes. I get excited about genomes. I used to doodle bacteriophages as a kid. I can’t believe I just admitted that on a social media outlet. But you get it– this was right up my alley.
However, no need to be a «nerd» or a scholar to attend this event. If you like learning about interesting topics, intellectual humor, good food + drinks and a great crowd, you’ll really enjoy yourself here.
The one that I attended included a talk on DNA nanotechnology (right up my science lovin’ alley), hoarders (this was SO interesting– she used The Little Mermaid as an example… I never thought of it that way but so funny and so true. «you want thingamabobs??? I’ve got 20!»), and the last talk was on cosmology… while incorporating cosmetology. Yep, wigs were involved. And see– thats one of those «you just have to be there» moments. It was pretty darn cool.
They happen once a month. Get there EARLY. We got there an hour ahead of time and I thought my other half was being dramatic when he suggested finding a table before ordering at the bar. Stardust was practically empty when we walked in and literally 5 minutes later, the seats were being grabbed up faster than I’ve ever seen. People end up sitting on the floor, standing around the perimeter of the room, and they would probably hang from the ceiling if they could. With this awesome, eclectic crowd, the ceiling hangs really wouldn’t surprise me. I can’t wait for the next one.

I can’t think of a better event for my 100^th Unilocal review. I’m so excited! :-)
I had heard about this through Unilocal and was very interested in attending. Nerd Nite is held on the 2^nd Thursday of every month from 7−9pm. I heard that this is a very popular event and to come early to find seating, so I arrived about 30 minutes ahead of time. Parking is very, very limited. I couldn’t find a place to park, so I drove around the corner and found street parking about 2 blocks away.
Already there were a lot of people inside and I got in line (a very, very long line) to order something eat and drink. I felt like there were so many friendly people to chat with that it felt like I got through the line pretty quickly. Once you place your order, they give you a paper cup with a number on it and you take it with you to wherever you are seated. Unfortunately, all of the seats and tables were already taken so I asked the employee what would be a good item to order to stand and eat. She suggested the chili and I’m so glad that she did. Oh my goodness, I think that this is by far the best chili I have ever had. It comes in a big silver bowl and on top of rice, with tortilla chips. Yum!
At Nerd Nite, three people present a variety of topics, complete with powerpoint presentations. On this particular evening, I learned about the history and future of DNA, the psychology behind hoarding, and the history of our universe. Each presentation is less than 20 minutes long and include an opportunity to ask questions. I found each presentation to be informative and easy to understand. I don’t have any scientific background and I was able to follow along.
This was such a fun and interesting event to attend. I really enjoyed the range of topics that were presented and Nerd Nite is held in such an interesting location. I would definitely recommend that you should plan to be there by 6pm, 6:15 at the latest, otherwise you will be standing in the back of the room. There are so many friendly people that attend and this is a great place to meet different types of people. I am really looking forward to attending again!

Dang– I love a night full of unabashed geekiness!
Nerd Nite Orlando is held once a month at Stardust Video and Coffee and features three speakers on various ‘nerdy’ topics. Their motto is that Nerd Nite is like The Discovery Channel… Just with beer. And you all know I can get behind that!
Nerd Nites happen all over the world (apparently they’re super popular in Germany!) and the speakers’ topics range anywhere from the mating rituals of grasshoppers (brought to us by a hilarious PhD candidate from UCF) to the origami-​inspired art of folding satellite sails in space. Some presentations are better than others, but there is bound to be at least one AMAZING presi every night. Josh, the organizer of this night of libatious learning (is libatious even a word?!?), curates the presentations and is always looking for new topics and nerds who want to teach them!
So, here’s the insider scoop– This thing gets CROWDED. The presentations start at 7pm, but I tend to get there around 6:15 to ensure a seat (yup– it’s standing room only by the end) and grab a drink/​food.
Another fun fact is that for some reason this event brings out the Couch Surfers! I’ve met a ton of folks that were currently the couch surfing site to stay in Orlando at this event. I imagine it’s posted on some super awesome bohemian message board that I’m not yet privy to…
Finally, this type of event makes my heart smile. It helps give crazy-​cool evidence of how amazing Orlando is becoming. Folks young and old, of every background congregate to share drinks and talk nerdy and I find myself looking around throughout the night sighing at what a fabulous community I live in.
Check it out next month!