Cocktails, With A Side Of Science 101
There is an intriguing new fad taking hold in some of New York City's bars. Instead of just going to bars to act like an idiot — jumping onto tables and busting a move, and hitting on people that may or may not still be attractive the next morning — some folks are going to bars to... learn. More specifically, to learn about science.
The concept itself is quite simple: Bars are natural settings for engaging in thoughtful (and sometimes heated) conversations with your peers about the latest goings-on in the world. Just consider the function of ancient public houses, where the informal atmosphere lent itself to a hearty and boisterous exchange of ideas free from the stuffiness of the traditional college classroom. This new breed of bar event takes a modern approach to this idea — focusing in on a fun, if not obscure, science-based subject you might have never realized you wanted to know more about.
As for the lecturers, suffice it to say they aren't doing it for the money, or to make a career out of it. It simply seems that these are people who have found a subject that they're passionate about, and who now want to share that interest with you over a couple drinks.
In recent weeks, I've learned about everything from the physics of speed bikes to the social theory behind the recent explosion of infographics on the intellectual scene. In fact, these events have been better at motivating me to going out and learn more about what interests me in the world than maintaining my grades ever was. (OK, so the promise of cocktails helps.)
Interested in adding a little intellectual flair to your regular bar routine? Read on for the full scoop on five of the city's best events.
Society for the Advancement of Social Studies
This Brooklyn Brainery-aided knowledge extravaganza, a new start-up on the science lecture-bar scene, is headed by Larissa Hayden and Anna Rasche. While they've only had one official meeting so far (which featured very interesting discussions on the Crusades), they've hit the ground running. At the first meeting, information junkies pushing to hear more about Eleanor of Aquitane crammed into the back theater of Pete's Candy Shop. (The bar promises to serve up specialty drinks with each new discussion, with "The Holy Grail" being the drink of choice for this series.)
The idea for the lecture hall came from very humble beginnings: Hayden and Rasche's shared love for social sciences. Without an outlet to express their nerdy passion, they eventually came into contact with Jonathan Soma, who works the Brooklyn Brainery, a local collective of all things knowledgeable and eclectic. Soon enough, their project was off the ground. Aside from being an excellent example of people simply wanting to learn more and going out to make it happen, SASS is, quite simply, a great time. The only complaint from the night seems to be that no one in the front of the room was able to get up and get drinks for fear of losing their prime seat.
Once a month, the Upper West Side's modest PicNic Café plays host to an educational smorgasbord set up by Columbia University. For a mere $10, attendees get the chance to speak with some of the country's brightest professors and hear what they have to say (plus, the free drink that comes with the ticket doesn't hurt). The vibe at these events is informal, focusing more on exposing the general public to these complex subjects (think microbiology or paleoceanography) in a way that neither freaks them out or bores them to death.
Not that being bored is an issue here. Use of the full bar is encouraged to keep the snootiness to a minimum, as is ordering from the gourmet kitchen. Upcoming lectures are trying to broaden the spectrum to include social sciences as well, so next time you show up you'll be just as likely to learn about Pragmatic Approaches to Promoting Human Rights as Radiosensitivity in Space. Just don't let the titles scare you off — these events are a must for any knowledge junkie out there, and also just a fun deviation from the standard New York nightlife.
For the last five years, The Bell House has been home to Secret Science Club, a monthly science lecture series put on by Dorian Devins, Margaret Mittelbach, and Michael Crewdson. Most recently, the topic of discussion was the past, present, and future state of New York City's ecology.
Considering the rather dry topic, one might have easily expected a rather tame crowd to match — not so. The place was packed with everyone from young twenty-somethings to older Secret Science vets buzzing about ecology and civil engineering, excited for the lecture to start. The bar was serving a specialty cocktail, appropriately called The Urbanist, and attendees were drinking them down at break-neck speed. The talk was led by ecologist Eric Sanderson, who used a visual of overlaying maps of Manhattan during different time periods to draw people into his world. The speech itself was very technical, yet still accessible, as most good lectures are liable to be, and the crowd maintained a respectable volume thoughout the night (pretty impressive considering how many drinks the bar was going through). The talk was followed by a question and answer segment, after which lecture-goers congregated in the front bar area to continue heated discussions with friends and new aquiantances alike.
This set of science lectures, put on by the good people over at CUNY, takes place once a month uptown at Japanese restaurant Kouzan. OK, so it's not a bar, per se, but tickets do include the choice between free beer, wine, or warm sake.
The Science Café has a slightly more academic feel then some of the other lectures, focusing more on the educational aspect than the "getting wasted while people try to make you understand basic biology" side. The crowd is a mix of school professors, students, and random people who stop in from the street. The discussion topics vary, with the only real thread between them being enthusiastic lecturers hell-bent on teaching. The lectures over the last few months have varied from African Sleeping Sickness to Vikings (taught by a man who looked suspiciously like a Viking himself). The atmosphere is very casual, with the lecturer moving between the tables and taking questions after the lecture (many of which are as interesting with the talk itself). Stick around afterwards to chat with the lecturer and the posse of intelligentsia and enjoy quality sushi along with more of that sweet sake.
This is it. The socially awkward event of the year (or at least the month), where nerds gather from all over to celebrate the genuine curiosity needed to be a true geek: Welcome to Nerd Nite. This monthly nerd gala has been at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO for three years now, making it one of the older science nights in New York — and one of the most popular. Their annual Nerdtacular is a staple on the social calendar for any self-respecting smarty-pants, and their Nerd Nite Speed Dating exists as the best hope for any socially awkward intellectual to find their soul mate.
The night I went for a visit the lectures were prologued by Quizzo!, the traditional pre-lecture quiz game, where nerds show off just what exactly makes them so very nerdy. The games are broken down into four rounds, and within each is a hidden, dreaded "sports question," which gets boos from the audience, and even the emcee. After the game (I placed a respectable second), people were encouraged to hit either of the two full bars, bring in food to their tables, and enjoy the generally friendly atmosphere between fellow intelligentsia.
After the break, the emcee appeared again to launch us into the lectures, with the signature randomness in topics. Going from Infographics on Infographics to Physics of Superbike Riding to Barbecue Starting Western Civilization, the lectures are superbly funny, always enlightening, and masterfully explained by experts in their... unique fields. Nerd Nite is currently set up all over the country and even in Europe, and is even being developed into its own magazine. The next lecture being given will focus on zombie survival, with their very own expert on hand-to-hand zombie combat giving the first lecture. As their catchphrase goes, "Be there and be square."