“Geek is chic” is such a terrible phrase, but it’s not untrue. Brainy is back, retro has returned, and the people of London are embracing it with open arms.
1. Pint of Science
Imagine how different school would have been if you were able to sip on a nice cold pint while you learned? Of course that would have been totally uncouth (and probably illegal), but Pint of Science have *sort of* created this scenario with their “have a beer in a pub and learn about stuff” concept — or “thinking and drinking” as someone in the office more poetically described it. Between 15th-17th May, Pint of Science are hosting a number of events across a number of venues in London. Learn what it’s like to be a NASA astronaut at the Greenwood Theatre or talk about the ethics behind artificial intelligence at Juju’s Bar on Brick Lane. Or, if you’d rather have a cocktail than a pint (either choice is a perfectly good accompaniment to knowledge), head to the Looking Glass Cocktail Club on Hackney Road to learn all about facial recognition and why some of us are absolutely terrible at it. With 31 different venues in London, there’s plenty of geeking out to be done. Take a look at their website and find out what you could get involved in.
2. Science Museum Lates
If you avoid the Science Museum during the day, we really don’t blame you — it’s just a unpleasant pit of school kids and tourists. But, there’s really no excuse not to visit after hours (and no, that doesn’t have to involve getting yourself arrested). The free London museum throws after-work, adults-only events on the last Wednesday of every month, and there’s not a hyperactive child in sight. Each evening takes on a different theme (e.g. food, robots, sex, space, gaming) and there’s talks, drinks and live music to keep you entertained. Discover this year’s lineup of ‘Lates’ here.
3. Retro Gaming and Cocktails
Throw it back to the old school gaming era and have a play on all 4 generations of SEGA consoles (Master System, Mega Drive, Saturn and Dreamcast). Expect Sonic Speed Run competitions and plenty of 90s games. Partner that with exotic Hawaiian cocktails and familiar gaming tunes and you’ve got a pretty decent evening of retrotainment. Plus, it’s happy hour until 8pm. Book your tickets here.
4. Sci-Fi Film Festival’s cosplay for dogs
SCI-FIDO saw ComicCon and raised you Cosplay for Dogs. We shitzu not. As part of the Sci-Fi Film Festival, SCI-FIDO are putting on a truly special event. On 29th April at Juju’s Bar, in association with All Dogs Matter, dogs are gathering in their very best costumes in the hope that they’ll be crowned “Best Dressed” and win a bag of treats.
5. V&A’s Performance Festival
Between the 21st and 30th April, the Victoria and Albert Museum is hosting their 4th annual Performance Festival. This year’s theme is essentially, and rather topically, ‘Brexit’ — or to be precise, ‘the relationship between British and European stages’. The 9 day event will include a special Virtual Reality experience of Bowie’s musical, Lazarus, as well as various comedy performances and a premiere screening of Lady Macbeth.
6. Royal Observatory Lates
For another late night museum adventure sans screaming children, why not head to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich to learn all about our magnificent universe? Discover the secrets of stars on the 20th April or talk about the possibility of time travel and aliens on the 29th June. You can find out more about their full series of Lates here.