In Philadelphia, we have the cheesesteak. I have personally seen people argue about where to get the best cheesesteak and how it should be made (wit? onions?) for hours at a time. In Chicago it is deep dish pizza. In the south it’s barbeque. Every area has that one food that is distinctly theirs and theirs alone. And in Sweden it is the semlor.

Originally a pre-Lent dessert, it has since become a treat you can enjoy in Sweden all year long. For those that don’t know, a semlor is a puff pastry filled with almond paste and whipped cream, served alongside strong coffee. Swedes have been know to compete to see who can make the best semlor and take part is surveys to find the best in town.

Now you can find out what all the fuss is about as the American Swedish Historical Museum presents Selmor and a Movie on Saturday, February 18th. For $12 in advance or $15 at the door you can enjoy some fresh made selmor and coffee and watch a movie at the same time. Not a bad deal at all.

The American Swedish Historical Museum is located at 1900 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia and they ask that you RSVP by February 13th. So put down your bagel or cheesesteak and go try something new. You might find that you have a new favorite dessert before the night is over.

The American Swedish Historical Museum
www.americanswedish.org

The 16th annual Israeli Film Festival is back, showcasing Israeli life and culture from February 25th through April 1st.

With screenings of 9 films in venues throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, the six-week Festival features prize-winning films exclusively by Israeli filmmakers. The Festival celebrates Israeli cinema with the aim of enriching the American vision of Israeli culture and society through film.

For a list of the films playing and advanced ticket sales check out their website at www.iffphila.com. A limited number of free tickets for high school and college students are available for each screening and can be reserved online as well.

The 16th Annual Israeli Film Festival
February 25th – April 1st, 2012
www.iffphila.com

If you’re a genre fan in Philadelphia, there are two events that have become mandatory throughout the year. The first being Exhumed Films 24 Hour Horror-thon and the second being Exhumed Films eX-Fest; now in its second year.

I attended last year’s eX-Fest, which was 12 hours of some really rare and amazing exploitation from almost every sub-genre you could possible think of… and a few I never even imagined.

Well, tickets just went on sale last week for this year’s iteration of eX-Fest and I can’t wait to see what the guys at Exhumed Films have in store for us. eX-Fest will take place at the iHouse on Sunday, April 29th from 11:00am until 11:00pm and tickets are a mere $25 for 12 hours films all projected in 35mm.

My only suggestion is if you are thinking about going, getting your tickets sooner than later. It seems like as word continues to spread about Exhumed these events they tend to sell out quicker and quicker. Get your tickets here, while they last!

We could spend hours unexpectedly discussing Star Trek; from the good, the bad and to the ugly, error-riddled decision making of Captain Janeway. Why not join a crew of Trekkies at the regular Philadelphia Star Trek meetups?

The next meetup is happening at 2pm on Sunday, February 12th at the hackerspace Hive76. From what we’re told, attendees will be watching back-to-back episodes of The Original Series and The Next Generation. Rounding out the afternoon will be a co-operative starship bridge simulation using Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulation with a Star Trek mod on top.

The folks at Hive76 tell us it’s essentially a live-action roleplaying game aided by computers, and they’re seeking to complete their bridge crew with an engineering and science officers. Do you have what it takes to be Spock of Scotty?

Philadelphia Star Trek February Meetup
2pm @ Hive76
915 Spring Garden St. Suite 519
Philadelphia, PA 19123

(via someecards)

Not a fan of Valentine’s Day? You aren’t alone. First Person Arts could live without it too, and they want you to share in their collective disapproval at next week’s storyslam.

The Ex-Files, an annual First Person Arts Valentine’s Day tradition, hits World Cafe Live on Tuesday, February 14th. Ten storytellers will take to the World Cafe stage to share their true tales of love lost. Ranging from “the sweet to the sad, the hilarious to the ridiculous, it’s an unconventional night out on the most romantic day of the year.”

This particular Storyslam sold out last year, so you may want to get your tickets ahead of time. They’re only $10 for non-members, $8 for members of First Person Arts.

For more information, visit First Person Arts’ official website.

First Person Arts StorySlam: The Ex-Files
Tuesday, February 14th, 7:30pm, $10

World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.worldcafelive.com

Nicole Klein wrote our preview of the Third Global Game Jam at the end of January. Organized by the Philly Chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the Global Game Jam is an annual, international festival of game-making. For 48 hours, programmers, board-game geeks, musicians, and others all over the world banded together to make never-before-seen games.

This Saturday’s meet-up, hosted by IndyHall at their 22 North 3rd Street office, will examine the outcome of those labors. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend and see demonstrations of the games developed both here and abroad. Register at their Eventbrite page to make your check-in at the event as painless as possible.

Oh, and the social butterflies among you should plan on heading over to National Mechanics at 22 South 3rd Street after the meeting to continue chatting up your friendly neighborhood geeks and game devs.

IDGA Philadelphia Chapter’s Monthly Meeting
Hosted by IndyHall
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 5pm – 7pm
22 North 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
igdaphilly2012february.eventbrite.com

You have the second Monday of every month blocked out for the Science on Tap event at National Mechanics, right?

Of course you do, for two very special reasons: science and beer.

February 13th’s topic is Violence in the Laboratory: How Science Changed War and War Changed Science, presented by Dr. Susan Lindee, Penn’s Associate Dean for the Social Sciences and Professor in the Department of History and Sociology of Science.

The talk will cover the effects science and war have had on each other, from scientific research funded by the military to battle tactics shaped by sophisticated tech. After her presentation, there will be a no-doubt lively discussion about how science and war have changed in the 20th century and when exactly we can expect our own Iron Man and/or War Machine.

Science on Tap is a monthly series of informal presentations by scientists and other experts. They’re held at National Mechanics on the second Monday of every month and are always a good time.

Science on Tap @ National Mechanics
Monday, February 13th at 6 pm

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

Mega Bad Movie Night comes lumbering into the Academy of Natural Sciences next Thursday, February 9th, and will be poking fun at the second Jurassic Park film, The Lost World.

I’m psyched for another night of Mystery Science Theater 3000-esque hilarity with the Academy’s brilliant scientists, as they spend the evening pointing out the inaccuracies in the film. Make sure you show up early (doors open at 6:30pm), as the Academy’s staff will be showing a number of fossils from their vast Paleontology Collection.

Now, giveaway time.

I’ve got three sets of two tickets to dish out thanks to the folks at the Academy. How can you enter? Easy. Just leave a comment captioning the photo below. My three favorite entries will score a set of passes for two. I’ll contact the winners on Monday.

Good luck!

Mega-Bad Movie Night: Jurassic Park
Thursday, February 9th
mbmnthelostworld.eventbrite.com

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1009
www.ansp.org

The Philly Auto Show is not the domain solely for the petrol-head. Geeks like cars too. In fact, without geeks and boffins, some of that sweet tech you have in your new car may never have made it there at all. Satellite navigation, radar-guided cruise control, infrared night vision, and launch control all sound like things we might want in our Fifth Element hover taxi, but they are only a small part of amazing tech that can be found in the new, green, and exotic cars you’ll find at the Philly Auto Show.

From Jan 28th to Feb 5th, get (insert motoring pun here) for some of the sleekest and most cutting edge cars to ever hit The Pennsylvania Convention Center floor. Cars large and small will be there for you to oogle, sit in, push every button on the dashboard, and pretend you are belting around the Nürburgring at 170 mph. There is also sure to be a man with a rag over by the Ferraris waiting to sop up your puddles of drool.

In honor of the upcoming show, we have a short list (in no particular order) of some of the geekiest cars from film and real life. If there’s any one you think we should add to the list, drop us a message in the comments section below.

The Ecto-1: Who seriously didn’t want to ride round NYC to bust ghosts in this glorious bit of geek transport. Little known fact: It looks even cooler covered in slime.

The Back to the Future DMC Delorean: The Delorean may have been a complete failure in real life, but when Doc Brown got his hands on it to turn it into a flying time machine, it cruised easily into the hearts of every movie geek.

Peel P50: Small cars are geeky. The Peel P50 holds the record for being the smallest production car ever made. Never mind that it was hopelessly impractical and didn’t have a reverse gear, it was so awesomely small that you could easily drive it around your office building.

BMW Concept Car: No list of geeky cars would be complete without some iteration of the Batmobile. But this is a little something different. BMW created a concept car that’s able to change the shape of it’s fabric outer shell. You can even open and close the headlights to make it look like it’s blinking. It’s very ffective for winking at pretty girls on the sidewalk.

Reliant Robin: Because of it’s three wheel configuration, the reliant robin spent more time crashing than going around corners. But, since you only needed a motorcycle license to drive it, geeks loved turning it into all sorts of incredible things.

Undoubtedly, none of these cars will be at the Philly Auto Show, but like looking at a Lamborghini’s that will be there, it’s still fun to dream.

Philadelphia Auto Show
Jan 28 – Feb 5th, 2012
www.phillyautoshow.com

The Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19107

moscow apartments serviced

As almost everyone knows, geeks really don’t do the “sports” thing. Sure, when the Phillies won the World Series in ’08 we celebrated with everyone else and we’ll jump on the bandwagon of whatever team is hot at the time, but for the most part sports aren’t our cup of tea.

The exception to that rule is the Super Bowl. Everyone gets excited for the Big Game and everyone, even the geekiest geek, loves a good Super Bowl party.

Well, get a foam finger and get ready to party because on Sunday, Feb. 5 the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League (or GPFFL) will present the Big Game Event II to benefit ActionAIDS. Activities are going to include food, drinks, an open bar, a silent auction, raffles and dessert. And last but definitely not least, the “Big Game on the Big Screen” at International House’s 350-seat Ibrahim Theater, located at 3701 Chestnut Street.

And the best part? All the donations benefit ActionAIDS. This organization provides an array of services to more than 5,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia area. You get to watch the game of the big screen and help those in need? Winning!

Tickets start at $40 and go up to $125 (which includes the VIP reception and other cool swag) and can be purchased at here. So get your game on and watch the Super Bowl in style.

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

ActionAIDS
actionaids.org

If Starship Troopers has taught me anything, it is ‘know your enemy’. Let’s face it, bugs are out to destroy us all so we better learn as much as we can about them before their flesh eating giant alien cousins come visit us.

The Academy of Natural Sciences is the perfect place to learn about creepy crawly insects. Entomology Curatorial Assistant, Greg Cowper, and Live Invertebrate Specialist, Karen Verderame, explain why they collect bugs and butterflies at the Academy, how to treat different kinds of insect specimens, and the uses of the specimens in research and education.

Learn how to pin a specimen and take it home. Freak out your roommate. Scare random girls on the street. It’s good to instill some fear for the impending invasion. Or you could just start your own insect collection.

For more information, visit the Academy of Natural Sciences’ official website.

Pinning & Preserving @ the Academy of Natural Sciences
Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 6:30–9:30 pm
Teachers can earn three Act 48 credits
www.ansp.org/adult-programs/workshops.php

As anyone who likes to read knows, Flash Fiction has taken the literary scene by storm over the last few years. Short, powerful stories that are usually only a couple pages or, in some cases, just a couple paragraphs, they distill fiction down to it’s simplest, most basic form and are full of power and emotion.

Stripped: A Collection of Anonymous Flash, edited by local Philadelphian Nicole Monaghan, takes that premise one step further and gives it a twist. The new anthology, which collects Flash Fiction from authors such as Meg Tuite, Michelle Reale and Robert Smartwood, removes the author’s bylines from the fiction so you will have no idea who wrote what stories in the anthology. It makes the book a unique reading experience and a fun guessing game to boot.

There is going to be a launch party for Stripped: A Collection of Anonymous Flash on Saturday, February 4th at Fergie’s Pub in Philadelphia. The fun starts at 2:00 PM and several of the contributors will be attending and doing some readings from the book. Maybe with enough drinks, you can find out which author wrote what story. Regardless, it should be a great time for all.

Fergie’s Pub
www.fergies.com