Lightning Octopus - Arizona Geek Events, Geek Culture, & Phoenix's Nerd Community

7 Geeky Things To Do This Weekend In Arizona [WE 05/20]

Jonathan — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:05 +0000

This weekend, Arizona laughs at zombies, plays tons of video games, and does super-hero roller derby.

Time to poke boredom in the eyes and sidle out the front door, Zoidberg style.

(Whoop-whoop-whoop whoop!)

Thursday, May 17th

Juan of The Dead [Tempe]

I wasn’t joking when I said I’m always writing about zombie stuff going on.
Case in point – Cult Classics is on a zombie kick this weekend.
Enjoy this “Cuban flavor [of] the zombie genre” at 5:30pm at Madcap Theaters.
Details, details.

Friday, May 18th

Joel McHale [Phoenix]

You watch Community, right? Yeah, of course you do.
Mr Handsome will be dropping his wry quips live for you.
At Stand Up Live at 7:30pm
Tickets are $35.

Indie Game: The Movie [Phoenix]

I got to see this amazing documentary last month.
Highly recommend you check this one out.
Starts at 8pm at The Film Bar.
Trailer and details at The Film Bar’s site.

Shaun of The Dead [Tempe]

Continuing the zombie humor thing, Juan is followed up by the classic Shaun.
(Can someone please film a movie about zombie octopi?)
Also at Madcap Theaters, but this one starts at 8pm.
Get some red on these details.

Saturday, May 19th

Controllers & Canvases [Mesa]

This is a not-to-miss event for video game fans.
Artists, costumers, and I’ll be there too!
Oh yeah, and The Minibosses will be playing.
Inside Bookmans Mesa starting at 4pm and going until 8pm.
Level up with this Facebook Event.

Heroes Vs Villains Roller Derby [Phoenix]

This round of skatey goodness will benefit Kids Need To Read.
I’m guessing super-hero costumes will be involved somehow?
Doors open at 6:30pm at Castle Sports Club.
Here’s Nathan Fillion’s tweet about it (seriously).

Sunday, May 20th

Pixel Art & Retro Video Game Trivia [Phoenix]

I’ve been to Mel’s video game trivia before (I lost, pretty bad).
It’s fun, get’s pretty hard, and is thoroughly enjoyable.
Starts at 5pm at Bookmans Phoenix – details here.

(Still not enough video game action for you this weekend? Check out The Pause Button for tons more going on.)

Wow, next weekend is Phoenix Comicon, and the weekend after that is Lightning Octocon!

If I missed anything this week – drop a comment and share with the rest of us, yo.

The Nerdist Podcast – Live In Phoenix

Jonathan — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:08 +0000

Just a quick post to let you know (if you hadn’t heard already) that The Nerdist Podcast is being recorded live in Phoenix next week.

If you can pull yourself away from Phoenix Comicon next Friday night, some of the biggest names in podcast-y nerdiness will be about four blocks away.

The show will be at Stand Up Live at 7:30pm. Tickets are currently running about $25.

Huge thanks to everyone who tipped me off!

6 Geeky Things To Do This Weekend In Arizona [WE 05/13]

Jonathan — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:01 +0000

This weekend, Arizona does costumes, more costumes, zombies, pirates, Legos, comics, & lucid dreaming.

Let your inner-geek out this weekend.

Slap your “same-old” routine in the face, give it a wedgie, then run out the door.

Friday, May 11th

CostumeCon 30 [Tempe]

It’s an entire convention for you cosplayers!
Huge opportunity to step up your costume game.
Goes all weekend at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel.
Learn more in my post about CostumeCon30.

Downtown Mesa’s Sci-Friday [Mesa]

These always end up being one of my favorite events; so much is packed into one street.
Half of downtown will be Steampunk.
Hungry Zombies will roam the streets.
Costumes will abound and be judged.
Bring a camera for all the action, and keep an eye out for yours truly.

Saturday, May 12th

Pirates With Lego-Land [Tempe]

Legos! Pirates! Put them together!
Register at 9am at AZ Mills Mall, then start building with provided materials at 10am.
Build the sweetest “pirate” themed model and win some pretty serious prizes.
Learn details here. Tempted to take my boys just to watch.

Pop Culture Paradise’s Grand Re-Opening [Tempe]

I’ve been hearing really good things about PCP’s new space.
Check it out yourself during their grand re-opening!
Party starts at noon – learn all about it.

Halfway To Halloween Pub Crawl [Scottsdale]

Wait until Halloween to wear costumes?
Pshaw!
Get your trick-or-treat on (way) early this year.
The debauchery begins at 7pm at Firehouse, and goes from there.

Lucidity! [Phoenix]

Enjoy the first 6 episodes of this locally filmed web series, and meet the crew.
It’s a trippy show about dream-sharing, lucid-dreaming, and overall hilarity.
At The Alwun House Foundation, starting at 6:30pm.
Details here (just scroll down a little).

Is that everything? If not, please share so that all may partake in some geeky goodness this weekend.

What will you be up to?

Where My Cosplayers At? Costume-Con 30

Jonathan — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:51 +0000

Local cosplayers, costumers, and costume appreciators – this weekend has a convention just for you.

The clothes will make the man (and woman) this Friday through Monday. Claiming to be “the most fun you’ve ever had with your clothes on,” Costume-Con marks its 30th event with competitions, workshops, and general costumery (new word?).

It’s hard for me to write too much about this subject, as I’m painfully inexperienced in the costume realm (I’m a t-shirt and jeans guy), but even I have to admit half the fun of things like Phoenix Comicon is appreciating some of the amazing get-ups.

No matter where you are in your involvement with cosplay, you can probably gain something from this convention.

Starts Friday, May 11th and goes all the way through the following Monday.
At the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel.
Plenty of contests, programming, etc. Including a Future Fashion Show.
(But will there be lightning boobs?)
And probably some of the best costumes you’ve seen in a while.
Membership isn’t for the cheap, however, with the weekend coming in at $75.
Learn more at their site.

Have fun! I want to see some of these at Steampunk Street IV next weekend.

Wil Wheaton Is Coming To Phoenix Comicon 2012!!

Jonathan — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:04:21 +0000

Well, Jean Luc may be out, but Wesley is in!

The internet’s favorite nerd is bringing his beard, his biting wit, and his boyish smile to Phoenix Comicon in a few weeks.

It’s a bit of good news that may help take the edge off of hearing (just this morning) that Patrick Stewart couldn’t make it after all.

Wil has become a bit of a staple of Phoenix Comicon, having been a huge supporter since before it got “big.” And in my experience, he tends to act less like a guest, and more like an attendee – super friendly, wandering the convention, and becoming quite ubiquitous at times.

I remember last year thinking, more than once, “I can’t not run into Wil Wheaton at this thing.”

Of course, I suffer from a mild case of Deer-In-Headlights Syndrome (also known as Stupid Grin Syndrome) when it comes to meeting famous folks, so I’ve yet to gather the nerve to say hi.

Oh, and 1000 Awesome Nerd Points to anyone that can tell me why the shirt he’s wearing in that picture up there is pure awesome.