Ever come up with a completely brilliant idea to cook up some salmon and create a glaze for it by reducing a sweet salsa made from a local craft beer? Ever feel compelled to try every fantastic BBQ place in the city or are you perpetually on the hunt for the best rendition of your favorite dish? Do you find yourself compelled to RSVP “Yes” to attend an event that isn’t even a gathering – physical or virtual, rather it’s simply a delicious burger of the week?

I know that I’m not the only proponent of good food and drink in the city. All the nerds throwing back complicated cocktails and fancy hors d’oeuvres at the regular Yelp Elite events would wholeheartedly agree.

And while those of us are still waging the war for justification/validation on food geekery or being a beer snob, you can do something to further tighten the ties between food and tech. Have you heard of shareURmeal? By taking a picture of any meal, no matter what it may be, a sponsor will donate $1 to United Way’s LIVE UNITED: Food for Thought initiative. Yes, it’s an easy, low effort, high-impact way to help fight hunger on the local level. Spend somebody else’s money and do something worthwhile.

So, while you’re cross-posting the fabulous dinner you just made between Facebook and Twitter, don’t forget about shareURmeal. Posts can be made by way of email, MMS-to-email, the website or through a handy iPhone app [iTunes link]. You can submit anonymously or you can even register to prove you have no shame for those KFC Double Downs you’ve been eradicating through ingestion. This all sounds pretty geeky, I know.

While you’re off pitting your shutter speed and ability to cram noms into your gullet against each other, take note: for the first week in August (8/1 through 8/7) – I’ll be awarding the top 3 registered users redemption codes worth $25 on restaurant.com

Rules & Details:

1. Must be a registered user of shareURmeal.com (just makes things easier for scoring/contacting)
2. New/old users are on the same playing field, only submissions through Sunday, August 1st & Saturday, August 7th will be counted.
3. Winners will be contacted via email the week of Monday, August 9th. So, it’s important to use a valid email when creating your account.

Illustration by Carlos Araujo

Okay, well maybe not directly with NASA, but Philadelphia’s Autumn Society have joined forces with the Mars Society, a group affiliated with NASA, to present Exploring Mars, a children’s coloring book featuring the bright red planet and possible future home.

Details are sparse at the moment, but this fun and interactive coloring book (which features plenty of illustrations by Autumn Society members) will be available soon.

I can’t wait to see more!

Exploring Mars: The Autumn & Mars Society [ www.theautumnsociety.org ]

Watching Salt proved quite a few things in my mind about Angelina Jolie; this film has transcended her into the path anon of action heroes with the likes of Daniel Craig and Bruce Willis in my book. A very exclusive club in Hollywood where entrance can only be attained by having one scene in your film where you dispose of more than 10 men with a submachine-gun, and have the audience not only buy it, but totally cheer you on as well.

Angelina Jolie once again proves that she can walk a tight rope of vulnerability, sensuality, kick-ass determination and still not fall into the same trap of being the femme fatale that many actresses have fallen into and never escaped.

More after the Jump!

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Whipped Lovers @ the Shop’s Opening

Our good friends at Whipped Bakeshop recently received a letter from Philadelphia Magazine, announcing that they’ve won the title of “Best Cupcakes” in Philadelphia. We’d like to send a massive congratulations out to Zoe, Brennen, and their entire team at the amazing Fishtown bakery. It was a long hard road getting to where they are now, and we here at Geekadelphia are fiercely proud of them.

To celebrate their win, Whipped is dishing out free CakeCups to anyone who mentions the Best of Philly award at the store this Saturday, July 31st.

Unfamiliar with Zoe and her amazing baking prowess? She is notorious for creating desserts that make our geeky hearts soar. From Master Chief cookies to Rubik’s Cube cakes, Star Wars snacks to Battlestar Galactica cake-sculptures… Zoe knows us. So, to celebrate their win here on Geekadelphia, I present to you, Whipped Bakeshop’s Top 10 Geekiest Creations.

Hold on to your seats. These are fantastic. Hit the jump for the list and pictures. And congrats again to Whipped.

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Johnny Zito and Tony Trov

We had the chance briefly catch up with our friends Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, two Philadelphia comic book writers and indie film makers. You might recall their awesome work on Fiesta Day, the short film for our Fiesta Movement that we premiered with a free Prince of Persia screening.

They’ve just returned from SDCC 2010 and we had a chance to talk to them about their experience.

So, what are you guys currently working on in the wide-world of comic book writing?
JZ: Moon Girl Fights Crime is kicking ass and we just released Carnival De Robotique during Comic Con. Download the (FREE) Comixology app [iTunes store link] and Check them out!
TT: DC Comics is releasing LaMorte Sisters and Black Cherry Bombshells on their App later in the month. We also have another title in the works called D.O.G.S. of Mars. Stay tuned for more about that.

Every summer it seems like you guys have gone on yet another SoCal, SDCC adventure. How many times have you guys gone out at this point?
TT: This is the third year in a row we’ve taken the pilgrimage.
JZ: We’re always in a Comic Con state of mind.

How do you think 2010 compared to the first time you guys went?
TT: Every year is more ridiculous than the last. Anything can happen; don’t turn your back on Comic Con for a minute!
JZ: The geek community is emensely diverse and every year you can see a new niche being welcomed with open arms.

What was the newest/most exciting thing about SDCC this year?
TT: Scott Pilgrim was everywhere. It by far dominated the convention. Everyone was really hyped for the new film and the latest graphic novel.
JZ: The beautiful, young ladies dressed as Jackie O.

Read more after the jump!

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I am a die-hard Halo fan, and being such I am also by default a die-hard Red vs. Blue fan. I still remember stumbling upon the first season DVD at my local Electronics Boutique (remember those?) while picking up my official Halo 2 Logitech Headset; I have had a special place in my heart for Blood Gulch ever since.

New Video was kind enough to send me a copy of Red vs. Blue Season 6: Reconstruction, to review for the site; it had been a while since I had seen the series and I was curious as to what had happened since the ending of season 5. Popping the disc in my player the video quality definitely looked on par with the newly re-mastered discs that were recently released.

Red vs. Blue Season 6: Reconstruction is presented more or less as a 120 minute movie, and while that sounds great content wise, I found it honestly works better broken up in to 3 or more sittings. Where in other seasons there was no real over-arching plot where you really had to seriously pay attention, this season tries and barely passes with setting up several storylines that shambles through it’s more than ample running time.

While I wont say I didn’t enjoy the story, Red vs. Blue really isn’t about story… its about 2 teams trying to wipe each other out while making wise ass remarks throughout. While some of that is here as well, I found myself looking at my watch at several points waiting to get back to Sarge threatening to kill Church or Caboose to show up again.

More after the jump!

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Nielsen, the media research firm, is currently working on building a panel of Smart phone lovers that use Windows handheld devices… and they want you to join the campaign.

If you head over to Nielsen’s website, you’ll note the process is simple. They ask for the standards. Name, address, employment status, etc. Register for an account, download the app, and get started. After you sign up on the website, Nielsen will send you a text with instructions on how to download the app and score your Windows $50 gift certificate.

Best part of this campaign? Every user that installs this application on their Windows handheld, Nokia smart phone will earn at least $50 in gift certificates after a year. Free money. Not bad.

Unfortunately in my case, I’m an iPhone user… but that doesn’t mean other Geekadelphians can’t check it out. A chance to help with the future of smart phones (spoiler alert Nielsen… the future is Apple and Droid) and score $50? Sold.

Check out Nielsen’s official website for all the details.

Alright Geeks, I have 25 passes to what is looking to be one of the most epic comic book films of the summer… Scott Pilgrim VS. The World. The film doesn’t hit theaters until Friday, August 13th, but thanks to the kind folks at Universal Pictures you will have a chance to see the film an entire week before it opens, giving you serious bragging rights and some legit geek-cred as well.

If you’re not familiar with Scott Pilgrim and you’re reading this blog, Google is the only one who can save you from the lifetime of shame you would have to live with if you admitted this in front of others. Just sayin’.

But, for the rest of you… here are the deets. The screening will take place August 4th at the United Artist King of Prussia Theater at 7:30.

Want a pass for 2 to check out Scott Pilgrim? I am going to do this two ways.  You can either submit a piece of epic Scott Pilgrim fan-art to dan@geekadelphia.com or submit a comment explaining a.)  why you’re too lazy to draw a picture and b.) what your favorite Scott Pilgrim book is and why.

The contest will end Friday July 30th, and I will be contacting the winners on Monday the 2nd.

If you can’t draw don’t worry, I wont be judging fan-art on likeness but for effort. Open up Illustrator, break-out MS Paint, reinstall KidPix, draw something by hand and scan it… whatever! If we get some good ones we might just post ‘em here. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Fanart submissions are guaranteed tickets till I run out, enough said!

Good luck and check out the trailer below!

Writers of Geekadelphia and their families are not eligible for prizes.Limit one entry per person. No cameras, camera phones, or other recording devices permitted in screening. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Theatre capacity is limited and passes won do not guarantee seating.(So show up early!) Theater is not responsible for overbooking. Ticket holder and guest must enter theater together.

Photo via Philadelphia Athletics

A Facebook group recently launched, encouraging Philadelphians to rally around the Oakland A’s. But why?

See, the Oakland A’s are looking for a new home. Founded in 1901 here in Philadelphia, they’ve moved twice since their inception. Kansas City in 1954, and then off to Oakland in 1968. For those of you non-sporty types, you can read up on their history on Wikipedia. The team wants a new stadium, and Oakland is saying no… so now it’s time for the A’s to consider their options. So why shouldn’t Philadelphia make a play to bring them back home? To the rebuilt Connie Mack stadium?

“This town needs a new underdog,” says J.T. Ramsay, founder of the budding movement. “I can’t imagine such a proud franchise suffering such indignity.”

As of this post, they’ve got a little over two dozen fans, just enough to create a dedicated URL. Expect a full blown website in the coming weeks. Get on this now, and become a fan as this movement surely grows.

Bring Your A’s Game [ www.facebook.com ]

Otakon, one of the biggest and longest running anime conventions on the East Coast, descends upon our neighbors in Baltimore this weekend, visiting the Baltimore Convention Center Friday through Sunday, July 30th through August 1st.

Otakon was my first convention back in 1997 and I’ve attended it semi-regularly ever since! If you have never been Otakon, it’s comparable to the DragonCon of anime, convention-size wise. The convention is very well attended, to the point they often cap attendees during the con at some point during the weekend; so I would show up early Friday or Saturday morning if you haven’t pre-reg’ed. Registration for the con is about $75 for a weekend pass per person, which isn’t cheap… but I think with this con, you definitely get your money’s worth.

Otakon is also well know for being one of the few cons in America to regularly get Japanese anime industry guests and musical acts, which is no small feat. This year’s guest roster includes Masashi Ishihama (Animation Director The Girl Who Lept Through Time), Hiroshi Koujina (Director of Rainbow), Koji Masunari (Director of Read or Die), Masao Maruyama (founder of Studio Madhouse) and English voice acting favorite Vic Minogna (Eric in Fullmetal Alchemist and many, many others). I think though I am probably most excited to see Amy Howard Wilson, whom you old-timers out there might recognize from her voice acting role as Nova in Star Blazers.

I will be covering the con for Geekadelphia so expect a big Flickr pool, and possibly a few videos as well. If you plan on attending and want to meet up, feel free to drop me an @ on twitter to @danthefan I will be there Saturday and Sunday. See ya there!

Otakon
www.otakon.com

Welcome to Dialog Tree (formerly known as Coffee Talk), where we still discuss the finer topics concerning video games, technology and other issues you’re less geeky friends care not to talk about — we just decided upon a better fitting title. So, let’s have a dialog, shall we? Have questions or something you’d like to see discussed? Let us know in the comments!

Nintendo’s Eiji Aonuma admitted to the existence of an official timeline for the Legend of Zelda series, but it’s a secret. Only Aonuma, Shigeru Miyamoto (we would hope he was involved) and the director of the title, Hidemaro Fujibayashi have seen the classified document. Surely this confirmation has sent  Zelda fans raving, not to mention that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will take place before Ocarina of Time. Considering the critically acclaimed title has been the chronological anchor to which every other Zelda release has been attached to, this is hug– wait, since when is all of this nonsense relevant? (more…)

Guest Post by Erica Maxwell

I want to ride a dinosaur into the past to have tea with Oscar Wilde. But apparently, all my plans to amass a fortune in the future so that I can hire a mad scientist to build a time-machine/pterodactyl-collecting-devise are failing/have failed/will have failed.

But we can all have the next best time-traveling, science-y, neo-vintage experience Saturday night at Dorian’s Parlor in the Ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel. It’s a steampunk extravaganza with class. Ballroom dancing lessons! Cabinet card photography! Steam fashion show! Dance party with spinning by the fantastical and handsome DJ Turing! A live band! Portraiture! And what appears to be the largest collection of neo-Victorian door prizes ever assembled into one location.

Holy Babbage, it looks like fun. Admittance also includes a drink ticket, hors d’oeurves, and entry into the fashion contest, because nobody wants to strap on their goggles and gears without fashion and fortification.

Dorian’s Parlor @ The Doubletree Hotel
Saturday, July 24th, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20
www.doriansparlor.com