I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are gearing up for a fantastical holiday. We’ve emerged from the November scramble and have rescheduled our Best Of show to be the opening show for the 2025 season!
Speaker + talk details are listed out below…again.
Bee Lawns: Developing a Sustainable Lawn
We need to rethink the traditional American lawn. Modern lawns consist of a weed-free monoculture that requires high inputs of water and fertilizer. In addition, they are inhospitable landscapes for pollinators and beneficial insects. By integrating compact flowering plants into the lawn, we can provide a source of pollen and nectar for pollinators. Learn how to install and maintain a bee lawn that is attractive and meets community aesthetic standards.
Esther McGinnis is an Associate Professor in the North Dakota State University Department of Plant Sciences. She is also an Extension Horticulturist and Director of the NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program. Her graduate students conduct research in the areas of native plant evaluation, pollinator conservation, and plants for rain garden environments. As the administrator of the Extension Master Gardener Program, impactful initiatives include planting pollinator habitat, fighting food insecurity, community beautification, and plant diagnosis.
we just decided to
This talk is a discussion of how gatekeepers make decisions about what is and is not considered acceptable English.
Kellam Barta has an MA in Sociolinguistics from NC State University and teaches writing and linguistics at NDSU. He also enjoys talking to groups of folks in 20-minute chunks with 3-5 minutes for questions. Seriously.
The Perpetual Crisis of Conservation Biology – A Story of Two Chickens
The grassland prairie is the most endangered ecosystem in North America. Most prairies have been cut in half, forcing many native species into small, isolated pockets. A charismatic resident, the prairie-chicken, still exists in this fragmented landscape, but populations are starting to vanish. Zack’s talk describes the trials and tribulations of saving prairie-chickens, and a past project hoping to rescue an endangered population in Wisconsin.
Zack Bateson spent his childhood lost in the woods of Minnesota. During that time, he fell in love with nature. His love interest turned into a career as a geneticist. Zack has a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Genetics and has studied lizards, birds, bees, crops, and weeds. When not in the lab or begging for research money, Zack hikes the prairie to identify wildlife with his wife and kids. He also breeds snakes and has a small zoo in his house.
…plus our usuals: beer, door prizes, laughs, and terrible 90s music during the breaks. See you Thursday January 16th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom. Bring $10 to the door or get your tickets in advance on Eventbrite. Same price to you either way- we eat the fees bc they go nice with Christmas cookies.
Hey y’all~ it is with infinite sadness that we have to cancel our November Best Of show. 😭 Coronavirus has once again reared its ugly head to strike down one of our speakers, as well as expose the rest of us during our practice run last night. Since the last thing we want to do is get all of you sick the week before Thanksgiving, out of an abundance of caution, we’ve decided to cancel the November show.
Although we were unable to reschedule for this year, don’t worry! We’ll make sure that Esther, Kellam, and Zack have an opportunity to once again dazzle you with their nerdery in 2025. Nerd Nite will return with fresh new antibodies on Thursday, January 16th of next year.
Until then, stay nerdy, stay with us for updates, and have a fabulous holiday season.
BITTER: we have arrived at the very last Fargo Nerd Nite of 2024. 😢
SWEET: it’s our second annual BEST OF show!! 🤩🤩🤩
That means we’ve invited three of our favorite speakers from the last year to come back for encore presentations- just THINK of all the amazing facts you’ll have to bring up at Thanksgiving dinner! Full deets:
Bee Lawns: Developing a Sustainable Lawn
We need to rethink the traditional American lawn. Modern lawns consist of a weed-free monoculture that requires high inputs of water and fertilizer. In addition, they are inhospitable landscapes for pollinators and beneficial insects. By integrating compact flowering plants into the lawn, we can provide a source of pollen and nectar for pollinators. Learn how to install and maintain a bee lawn that is attractive and meets community aesthetic standards.
Esther McGinnis is an Associate Professor in the North Dakota State University Department of Plant Sciences. She is also an Extension Horticulturist and Director of the NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program. Her graduate students conduct research in the areas of native plant evaluation, pollinator conservation, and plants for rain garden environments. As the administrator of the Extension Master Gardener Program, impactful initiatives include planting pollinator habitat, fighting food insecurity, community beautification, and plant diagnosis.
we just decided to
This talk is a discussion of how gatekeepers make decisions about what is and is not considered acceptable English.
Kellam Barta has an MA in Sociolinguistics from NC State University and teaches writing and linguistics at NDSU. He also enjoys talking to groups of folks in 20-minute chunks with 3-5 minutes for questions. Seriously.
The Perpetual Crisis of Conservation Biology – A Story of Two Chickens
The grassland prairie is the most endangered ecosystem in North America. Most prairies have been cut in half, forcing many native species into small, isolated pockets. A charismatic resident, the prairie-chicken, still exists in this fragmented landscape, but populations are starting to vanish. Zack’s talk describes the trials and tribulations of saving prairie-chickens, and a past project hoping to rescue an endangered population in Wisconsin.
Zack spent his childhood lost in the woods of Minnesota. During that time, he fell in love with nature. His love interest turned into a career as a geneticist. Zack has a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Genetics and has studied lizards, birds, bees, crops, and weeds. When not in the lab or begging for research money, Zack hikes the prairie to identify wildlife with his wife and kids. He also breeds snakes and has a small zoo in his house.
…plus our usuals: beer, door prizes, laughs, and terrible 90s music during the breaks. It’s your last chance for a dose of nerding for the year (our usual schedule takes us too close to Xmas and we signed a non-compete with Santa), so join us next Thursday November 21st, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom. Bring $10 to the door or get your tickets in advance at Eventbrite. Same price to you either way- we eat the fees to gear up for Thanksgiving.
Happy Monday, my nerds. Thanks so much everyone who came out for our show last week, our speakers for donating their time and expertise, and of course our fabulous venue Front Street Taproom for putting up with our shenanigans yet again. Our next show is also our LAST SHOW of 2024, and it’s our BEST OF for the season- three of our favorite speakers from the last twelve months are returning for encore performances, and we are so excited to have them back!
Tickets will go on sale at Eventbrite shortly, full speaker + talk details will be posted closer to the actual date. For now:
Don’t forget to vote, MFers! Remember you can go to Vote411.org for election and candidate information, get a practice ballot, check your registration- anything you need to know about voting can be done there. Get it done.
If you were enchanted by his opening song and want to hear more of Warren singing (probably less about food tho), he’s performing at The Troll Lounge on Halloween.
Otherwise, mark your calendars for our next show, and have a wonderful Halloween.
Happy Wednesday, Nerds! I was out shopping tonight for my donations to 4 Luv of Dog’s Annual Silent Auction and fecking “Jingle Bells” was playing from a tchotchke while I was waiting in line to check out.
“Jingle Bells.” In October. 🙄
…But you know what makes me happy again? Knowing that Nerd Nite is just over the horizon! This month’s show is all about expanding your expertise and tastes- check the details of next week’s talks + speakers:
Vote Your Entire Ballot
In a Presidential election, voter participation is highest. However, many people only vote for a few races and leave the rest of the ballot blank. There are some quick, easy steps you can take to be a fully informed voter and vote in every race for candidates that reflect your values.
Ashley Ladbury Hrichena is a Past President and current board member of the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley. Ashley is passionate about voting, especially in local elections. Ashley joined the League of Women Voters in 2012 to be more involved in local government and election education.
What Makes a Good Band Name?
As someone who has been seeking out new music through the Internet, live shows, record stores, and friend recommendations for many years, I’ve stumbled upon all sorts of band names. While the quality of a band name is and should be subjective, I think there are guidelines for what makes a band name do its job better than others. In this presentation, I will share my system of guidelines for what makes a for great band name with examples of band names I do and don’t appreciate.
Idris Malik is a Physics and Discipline Based Education Research Ph.D. student at North Dakota State University. He is a decade long clarinet player, drummer of one year, and started playing bass guitar half a year ago. Idris loves discovering new music and going to concerts at venues small and large. He also likes other various nerd things like DnD and playing online video games with his friends back home in Ohio.
Eating the Funky Bits: Why Eating Nose to Tail is Ethical and Delicious
According to Anthony Bourdain, almost anyone can cook a steak properly, but the real challenge comes when you’re consuming a piece of meat that’s maligned or inedible if not treated with respect and care. This is a story of eating the whole animal, stressing the “funky bits” that you might not find in most grocery stores. Essentially, travel the world, find unique foods and eat adventurously.
Warren Christensen is a dad, Physics Professor, home cook, musician and certified nerd. He loves Dungeons and Dragons, singing musicals, making food for people he loves, and sitting on his porch. Although he grew up as a picky eater, he’s embraced the funkier foods available in the world and travels and eats with adventure on the mind.
BONUS: a free snack will be accompanying Warren’s talk. No, I’m not going to tell you what it is- you’ll have to show up and find out. So get your gorgeous faces to The Cellar at Front Street Taproom next Thursday, October 17th, 7PM (doors at 6:30). Bring $10 to the door or get your tickets in advance on Eventbrite. Same price to you either way- we eat the fees bc they go good with the snacks.
Thanks so much to our speakers Rick, Susie, and, uh, me for donating their time and expertise to last week’s FNN. If Susie has inspired you to look into fostering or adopting a pet through our local orgs, their websites are 4 Luv of Dog and Homeward Animal Shelter . If Rick has inspired you to play video games, good for you. If I’ve inspired you to drink Natural Lite, someone call Anheuser-Busch bc I want a sponsorship LOLZ.
Anyway, our next show is on Thursday, October 17th, 7PM, at the Cellar/ Front Street as usual. Full details will be posted closer to the date of the event, but you can get your tickets in advance on Eventbrite. For now, I will tell you that there my be free snacks involved.
Consider yourself warned. See your gorgeous faces there.
I hope you all had a fantastic summer and didn’t miss us too hard. 🙂 As we close up the lake place for the season, say hello to hoodie weather, and welcome back a flood of college children, we also approach the last three Fargo Nerd Nites of 2024. So kick off your fall of learning with our September show! Details:
Graphics, Guns, and Glory
One Nerd’s view of the history of the first-person shooter game.
Rick Reichenbach is a major nerd, older than the first networked computers. In junior high he built a transistor radio and had a chemistry set, and is a self-taught programmer (at least to start). Now he teaches programming, computer networking, and building/troubleshooting computers. Has seen every Star Wars movie (except for the original), even the rereleases, on opening day.
Intro to Fostering/ Adopting a Dog Through a Rescue Organization
This presentation will focus on how to become a foster for a local rescue organization with a brief overview of 4 Luv of Dog and Homeward. This will include the application process, preparing for a new pet, resources provided to you while fostering, introducing resident pets to new fosters, acclimating a new foster into your home, and time commitment for events and appointments. I will also include my experience with adopting a rescue puppy from both rescues.
Susie Mueller is a mom of five grown kids, grandma to one (soon to be 2!), and a nurse investigator for the State of Minnesota. She was born and raised in Moorhead, where she currently lives with her husband Lee and their 3 dogs Stella, Roo, and Izzie. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to be at the lake fishing or just lounging in the sun, as well as all things travel.
A Modest [Beer] Proposal
Is Natural Lite the Perfect Beer? We thought so, so we used the scientific method to prove (or disprove) it. Find out how!
Tracy Kurtz is a has-been chemist living in a microbiologist’s world. When she’s not hustling for Nerd Nite speakers, she’s fostering adoptable dogs, designing and expanding her backyard pollinator garden, figuring out new ways to reduce her plastic waste, and planning her eventual transition into supervillainy.
Plus laughs, prizes, beer, and general shenanigans. See your gorgeous faces on Thursday Sept 19th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar at Front Street Taproom. Tickets available in advance on Eventbrite, or bring $10 to the door. (Same price either way- we eat the fees for the fiber content.)
Mitch Hedberg reference? No? Anyway, thanks so much to everyone that came out to our June show, and to our speakers for slaying their talks as always. We are indeed going on break for the summer, so here’s some follow up info for you:
Find your zen with our feathered friends- check out Amanda’s book suggestion “Ornitherapy” by Holly Merker, Richard Crosby and Sophie Crossley. Follow Audubon Great Plains on Facebook for birding events, and Amanda on Instagram.
Attenborough yourself and make Boss Tracy happy; reduce your plastic waste and check out Red River Refillery in Brewhalla.
With that, we are taking the summer off to enjoy the sunshine while we have it, and you should too! Nerd Nite will return on Thursday, September 19th, 7PM at the Cellar as usual. Tickets and details will be posted closer to the event.
Until then, stay classy, my friends. And here is that Mitch Hedberg joke if you want it.
“Geez, I’d love to get into birding, but I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of those ornithology snobs with the $2500 binoculars who can replicate bird calls so well the birds answer them back.”
“Gosh, I would love to compost these food scraps but I’m worried about smells and vermin and pissing off the neighbors.”
“Good gravy, planet minded products and packaging are so expensive- there must be cheaper ways to reduce my plastic waste.”
…HONEY have I got news for you! 😀 If you’re looking for ways to increase your mental wellness through nature and reduce your impact on the planet, this is the Nite to be at. Speaker + Talk details:
Observation Birds – A Glimpse Into Mindful Birding
A self-described overachieving Millennial and one who identifies her success through achievements, slowing down was never part Amanda Booher’s lifestyle. But she was pretty stressed out, and through connection and purpose, Amanda Booher, Audubon Great Plains Communications Manager, has become a certified Mindfulness Coach and Mindful Bird Guide in attempt to take a chill and learn from our feathered friends. Mindful Birding combines observing birds with mindfulness techniques where labeling or identifying birds is not the primary focus.
Amanda Booher is a community builder and Communications professional with over 15 years of experience. In her current role at Audubon Great Plains she is the Communications Manager and works hard to promote the importance of protecting habitats for birds in the Great Plains region. Amanda is the Vice Chair for the Chamber’s Women Connect Committee and also served seven years on the Fargo Theatre Board of Directors.
Unlocking the Potential: Transforming Food Waste in the FM-Area into a Valuable Resource
Hayden Thompson and Bridger Scraper tried to give me their details on Monday and I screwed up, so I’m currently missing their full talk info, but you can get an idea of what they’ll be discussing by visiting their website https://www.prairiecompostservices.com/. Will post their teaser and bios ASAP!
Plastic Assassin! Finding Creative Ways to Reduce your Plastic Waste
Single use plastic sucks! It takes thousands of years to degrade, is difficult to recycle, and it’s killing our wildlife. We’ve been over-enjoying this decadent, disposable convenience for too long, and our planet is paying the price. Join me to retrain your brain in how you think about plastic packaging, and learn some painless ways to reduce your plastic waste.
Tracy Kurtz is a has-been chemist living in a microbiologist’s world, a nine year Nerd Boss, and a prime example of the Attenborough effect. Interests include birds, composting, and exactly four other things.(Yes, you may remember this talk from 2023; our third speaker had to drop out for health reasons, so we’re filling time with an appropriately themed legacy talk. Deal with it. 🙂 )
See your beautiful faces on Thursday June 20th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom for some learning, some door prizes, and some laughs. Bring $10 to the door or get your tickets in advance on Eventbrite (same price either way- we eat the EB fees bc the compost worms won’t do it).
Woowwwww what a super fun time this week- we got the storied history of the VW Bug, we extracted DNA from strawberries, we learned how to get out of our own way and just CREATE ART. <3 Things to do while you wait for the next show:
Remember the 19th Annual VWs in the Valley show is coming up on July 27th right here in town- check out https://rrvwc.com/ for details.
Keep up with Zack’s work at the National Agricultural Genotyping Center here: https://genotypingcenter.com/
Need some creative inspiration? Will’s website is here- https://www.willrosenberg.com/
Our next show is THURSDAY JUNE 20TH, 7PM, at the Cellar as usual (get your tickets in advance on Eventbrite). BONUS- you can find us May 23 – 26 at Fargo CoreCon, celebrating our love for all things nerdy with all the rest of the nerds in the Valley.
Until then, stay curious my friends. See you soon.
