Happy September, nerds. I hope you all had a glorious summer and that you’re ready for cooler days, pumpkin spice everything, and of course, the return of your favorite Fargo Nerd Nite. 🙂 Our fall season kicks off next week with two new speakers and one returning alumnus- check it:
Tartaria: The Conspiracy Theory Even Alex Jones Wouldn’t Believe
An ancient, vast civilization of endless free energy and iconic architecture, the kingdom of Tartaria was a triumph of civilization until it was stolen from the world by a sprawling shadowy power bent on controlling humanity forever. (Or at least that’s what the freaks on Reddit want you to think.) Learn about the latest, craziest conspiracy to infect the internet.
Levi Magnusson currently works (quite happily) as a Para at Horizon Middle School. By education, he has a degree in music theory. As a creator, he has two albums of maritime parody folk music, two self-published children’s books, and an online magazine for amateur writers (Woodlawn Writers’ Workshop).
First Impressions: The Art & Psychology of Comic Book Covers
Before you read a single page, the cover has already sold you the story. Comic book covers are part marketing, part storytelling, and part psychology experiment. From punchy Golden Age action to hologram 90s gimmicks to today’s minimalist designs, we’ll explore how covers evolved—and why some images stick in your brain forever. A fast, visual tour through decades of iconic art and the design tricks that make you say, “I need that.”
Dan Francis is an award-winning architecture photographer based in Fargo. With a background in graphic design and years teaching photography and photoshop, he studies how composition, light, and visual psychology influence what we notice first. A lifelong comic fan, Dan brings a designer’s eye to comic book covers breaking down why certain images grab us instantly and become unforgettable. He believes great visuals don’t just decorate a story, they sell it!
Look Up!
People just do not look up enough. If you take a few minutes to look up and around and occasionally even down, you can see amazing things and discover some cool science. We’ll look at things you can see in the sky here and discover a weather phenomenon that involves cold air, cows and fast-moving water.
Rob Kupec was a TV Meteorologist in Fargo for 20 years before having a midlife crisis and he ran for the Minnesota State Senate. During his time on television, he covered floods, blizzards and tornados. He also amassed a collection of odd weather facts and photos. Besides his committee assignments in the Minnesota State Senate, he is a proud member of the Dad Joke Caucus.
So return to your favorite moody, purply basement at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom next Thursday, Sept 17th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) for knowledge, door prizes, laughs and drinks. Tickets available in advance at Eventbrite, or bring $10 to the door. Same price to you either way- we eat the fees so the cows don’t get at them.
Happy Memorial Day weekend, nerds! Thanks so much to everyone that came out for last week’s show, to our wonderful speakers Audrey and Dana (and Scooby!), and our fabulous venue Front Street Taproom for putting up with our shenanigans as usual. We are taking off for the summer! We’ll see you again in September, but if you need something to occupy you in the meantime:
Check out LeaderDog.org to see how you can get involved with raising adorable pups like Scooby.
Happy Friday my nerds. I hope you’ve all had a great week, and are ready for one last installment of nerdery before we break for the summer. If you’re looking for new companions of any type, this month’s topics should help you out. Are you awkward or introverted but occasionally wish you had someone to get a beer with? We got you. Do you think people and animals require too much input? Maybe plants are for you! Are you convinced the only people worth talking to are dogs? WE GOT THAT TOO!! 🤩. Full speaker and talk details:
Speak Softly and Carry a Tiny Tree: Demystifying the Art of Bonsai
[Okay, I made up that title- Audrey hasn’t sent her official info yet but I’m sure her talk about Bonsai trees will Leave you Wooding more.]
Audrey Gilbraith is a horticulturist working at Baker Garden & Gift. Her passion in life is to share knowledge about plants for anyone who will listen.
The Science of Friendship
I’m a big fan of friendship. Want to make new friends? Want to make more friends? Want to enrich your friendships? Good luck and godspeed! I can tell you a bit about why friendship is good for us, how it improves our lives, and how–through friendship–we can and should be building better lives for ourselves. Sure there’s a few tips and measures science has shown us about the hows of friendship, but the rest is up to us!
Hi, I’m Kati D! Often noted for my great hair, vast vocabulary, and having zero compunctions in speaking loudly towards inclusion and justice…I am a bibliophage at heart, a librarian by training, and a disability advocate by métier. Fun things to know about me include: I’m a proud alumna of Bryn Mawr College, I have and care for a feline friend named Diana, I’m an enthusiastic journaler, and Picard is my captain. I’m really proud of my friends and our friendships.
Scooby‑Do Good: The Mystery of Raising a Future Guide Dog
Join the gang for Scooby‑Do Good: The Mystery of Raising a Future Guide Dog, a Scooby‑Doo–inspired journey from puppyhood to purpose. Follow Scooby as she learns confidence, courage, and the skills needed to become a life‑changing partner for someone who is blind. This presentation uncovers the real‑life “mysteries” behind raising a hero in the making — and the joy, challenge, and meaning found along the way. And, y’all will be helping to train Scooby as she takes the stage for the first time. Will an audience singing the Scooby-Doo theme song trip her up or earn her a Scooby snack?
Scooby is a five-month-old Labrador puppy born into the Leader Dogs for the Blind 501c3 organization. At 8 weeks old she came to me, a first-time volunteer puppy raiser. Dana Woodruff is an analyst by day and we are taking this journey together.
Told you- we’ve got it all! And yes- there will be a real live actual puppy at Nerd Nite (pic below). 😍 Don’t worry- we cleared it with Front Street. Apparently the 21+ rule does not apply to dogs. 😉
Anyway, see your beautiful faces on Thursday May 21st, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom. Bring a Hamilton to the door, or get your tickets in advance at Eventbrite. Same price to you either way- we eat the fees so the dog doesn’t get into them.
Happy Hump Day, nerds! Thanks so much to everyone that came out to our April show last week, to our wonderful speakers Amber, Clare, and Mason for donating their time and expertise, and our fantastic venue Front Street Taproom for continuing to enable our shenanigans.
Mason teaches us about 3D printing at our April show, sporting his home printed Mandalorian armor. Certifiably one of the top 10 most Nerd Nite things I have ever seen.
Our next show- and last show before we break for the summer- will be Thursday May 21st, 7PM (doors at 6:30), same place. Tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite.
Happy Anniversary to us! Eleven years ago in a crowded room at the Fargo Billiards and Gastropub, we had our first ever Fargo Nerd Nite. We had no idea what we were doing. We still have no idea what we are doing. 😂 But we must be doing something right, because here you are, still with us. 😀
Our 88th show is next week, featuring two speaker alumni and one newcomer. Said newcomer already demonstrated his very impressive commitment to nerdery at our practice nite this week- I can’t wait for you all to meet him. Full speaker and talk details:
Unitarian Universalism: Church for Nerds?
Clare Sojourner Harris Palmer made her Nerd Nite debut around a decade ago with A Dominatrix and a Sociologist Walk Into a Bar: An S&M Q&A. She returned to speak about the etymology of sexy terminology, morality in slasher films, and ethical non-monogamy. After a long absence from the Nerd Nite stage, she’s coming back to present on a new topic: religion! How does Unitarian Universalism intersect with sexuality studies? What does a religion for nerds look like? Come find out more about this hidden gem in the Fargo-Moorhead community!
That’s NOT the Good Guy, Actually: Learning Media Literacy via Superheroes with a Pop Culture Master
Media literacy: It’s important! But it’s also lacking lately. Let’s explore media literacy through the lens of superheroes and villains in pop culture, and how that relates to interpreting what’s going on in the world around us.
Amber Fetch is a lifelong pop culture nerd, raised on a steady diet of Star Trek: TNG, Animorphs, Harry Potter, Saturday morning cartoons, and classic rock, all culminating in a Master’s degree in Popular Culture Studies with a thesis on gender play in FMA: Brotherhood. You don’t get much nerdier than that! Amber loves deep diving into seemingly obscure pop culture artifacts to explore the whos, whats, and whys behind them.
3D Printing: How To & What It Can Do For You
A short presentation about how to start 3D printing. I’ll be covering the printers themselves, filaments, and where to find files. Plus a showcase of fun things you can print!
Mason Peck has been 3D printing for almost 3 years now, including fun little trinkets and full-scale cosplay armor! He is currently working on getting his Mandalorian armor approved by the Mando Mercs Costume Club.
…plus doorprizes, laughs, and general silliness. Maybe even treats to celebrate our anniversary. See your wonderful faces next Thursday, April 16th, 7PM (doors at 6:30), at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom. Tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite, or you can bring $10 to the door. Same price to you either way- we eat the fees to cope with our anniversary related nostalgia.
…but they make for a pretty fun Nerd Nite, I guess. 😂 Thanks so much to our speakers Levi, Brent, and Kellam for sharing their expertise with us, to our fabulous venue Front Street Taproom, and to everyone who came out to make it a great night. Our next show will be Thursday April 16th, 7PM, same basement- tickets are on sale at Eventbrite now.
In the meantime, you can keep up with Levi and Brent on the socials:
Levi (well, the Clay County Historical Society, anyway) : Facebook: @hcscc, Instagram: @hcscc_hjemkomst, TikTok: @the.hcscc
Happy March, nerds! The days are getting longer and spring is right around the corner, so naturally we are expecting another blizzard. 🫠😂 BUT we are also expecting another Nerd Nite, so we’ve got that going for us. Incoming speaker and talk details:
Designed by Clowns and Monkeys: The Story of the 737 Max Disasters
In the span of less than six months between October 2018 and March 2019, Boeing went from a respected engineering firm to a complete joke. Two brand new aircraft, 737 MAXs to be specific, crashed shortly after take-off- killing many, thanks to nothing more than bad design. Part tragedy and comedy, Boeing created a plane that endangered so many all for the sake of making a quick buck.
Levi Magnuson is originally from South Dakota and moved to Fargo to attend Grad School in 2022. Since 2024 he has worked for the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Center. History has always been his passion, but engineering has always interested him.
Walking Erect: Evolution, Aesthetics, and Architecture
Beauty feels transcendent — a window into something higher than ourselves. But evolution suggests a more grounded origin: we find things beautiful because our ancestors who did, survived. Symmetrical faces signaled healthy mates. Lush landscapes promised food and shelter. Our aesthetic sense wasn’t designed for truth — it was designed for survival. And that’s precisely the problem. In a world of fast fashion and abundant content, the same instincts that once protected us now routinely lead us astray.
With 25 years of experience shaping the built environment, Brent Behm has worked across a broad range of architectural contexts and client types. Nine years ago, he founded his own studio — a deliberate move toward a more intentional, design-driven practice. Brent holds a degree in architecture from Arizona State University and a graduate degree from Rice University. Outside the office, he channels his love of craft into woodworking, and searches for inspiration through travel whenever possible.
I Don’t Like Mondays: A Modest Proposal for a 6-day Week
Ever heard of someone talk about a 4-day workweek? Well, I’m here with an even better idea: a 6-day WEEK (not workweek). We can do it if we want. Nobody is stopping us. There would be some adjustments required, though.
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.
…plus our usual laughs, shenanigans, and doorprizes. See your beautiful faces on Thursday March 19th, 7PM (doors at 6:30) at The Cellar below Front Street Taproom. Tickets are available for advance purchase on Eventbrite, or you can just bring $10 to the door. Same price to you either way. We eat the fees to keep the monkeys from getting them.
…See what I did there? Because our next show is in March? 🫠🤓 Anyway, that’s a wrap on our February show. Thanks so much to our wonderful speakers Dick, Jeff, and…uh, me I guess for donating their time and expertise to us, to our glorious venue Front Street Taproom for hosting, and to everyone in the audience who so kindly tolerated my surprise performance of a critical scene from Shrek. 🥸🙄😂
FNN will RETURN Thursday March 19th, same time, same place, new topics- tickets are available now on Eventbrite. If you need something to occupy yourself in the meantime:
Check out Roadsideamerica.com or USAgiants.com to find more Muffler Men! And keep an eye out for the one that went missing in Fargo- if you spot it, let us know! 👀🕵️♀️
Get more Jeffrey story time:
His books “Forever Towards the Sunrise: A Lifetime Lived in the Outdoors”, “Our Bend in the River: Learning to Live a More Natural Life”, and “Klasberg, North Dakota: Collected Stories from the Middle of Nowhere”.
Follow the NDSU Extension on Facebook for free access to local experts and help with your lawn, garden, or trees. Their next FREE webinar on March 2 will cover how to grow apples!
Sad reminder: November 19th, 2026 will be the last Fargo Nerd Nite ever unless we can find someone to take it over- if you are interested, drop us an email (use that Contact us button at the right). We’d love to talk to you.
Lastly, as of today, there is one speaker slot remaining for the year– April 16th. If you are interested in presenting, this may be your last chance.
SO mark your calendars for March 19, hit us up if you’re interested in participating more heavily in the nerding, and we’ll see you out there.
TGIF Nerds! I hope everyone had an acceptable+ week and is sufficiently prepared to survive another Valentine’s day, one way or another. Personally I’m only in it for the day-after discount chocolate, but you do you, boo boo.
Thankfully, it is also time for another Nerd Nite! Check this lineup:
The Giants Among Us
They stand among us on, beckoning us to auto repair shops, putt-putt golf courses and small-town amusement parks. These larger-than-life fiberglass mascots have been around for decades, their origins fading into obscurity. Join us to learn the interesting origin and history of these giants among us known as America’s Muffler Men.
Dick Nilles is a Fargo native, former potato research technician, current brewer at IcewindBrewing in Mapleton, husband and father of two and roadside attraction enthusiast.
Real Baddies Plant Native
The bright yellow lilies dotting the curbs in parking lots. Expanses of satisfyingly mowed turf grass. The same red geranium hanging over every grandmother’s front stoop. Although commercially popular, these plants unfortunately provide zero benefit to our wildlife, being either unrecognizably hybridized away from their original species or completely foreign to this continent. But there’s good news! If you want to support our pollinators, even a few plants can make a difference. In this talk, we’ll ditch the petunias and learn to select plants to nourish our native birds, bees, and butterflies.
Tracy Kurtz is a has-been chemist living in a microbiologist’s world with a horticulturist’s dreams. When she’s not bossing for Fargo Nerd Nite, she is working on completing her Master Gardener certification, saving the world from death by Powerpoint, and pointing out invasive plants for sale at garden centers.
Adventures and Misadventures of an Outdoor Writer
I’ve been a freelance outdoor writer for nearly 10 years, and each adventure is both memorable and difficult! I will talk about some of the best!
Jeffrey Miller, who by day works for the Cass County Soil Conservation District, is a freelance outdoor writer who lives on a small homestead near Kindred.
See your beautiful faces Thursday, February 19th, 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 to balance out the chocolate.
…what a great show to kick off the year. Thanks so much to our presenters Steven, Darrell, and Jamie for sharing their experiences and expertise with us, to our glorious venue Front Street Taproom for graciously supplying us with space and beer, and to everyone who came out to enjoy the show!
Our next show is Thursday, February 19th, same time, same place– tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite, and full speaker and talk details will be posted closer to the actual event.
We also made a bit of a sad announcement last week- after 10+ years and 80+ shows, Fargo Nerd Nite is coming to an end. 😢 The bosses are getting older and our lives are going in different directions- rather than let the show fizzle into mediocrity and death, we’re going to go out on our terms, on a high note, in a good place. Our 2026 shows will proceed as scheduled, but unless we can find someone to carry the torch, Nov 19th 2026 will be the last Fargo Nerd Nite ever.
If you’re interested in becoming a Nerd Boss and inheriting this circus, shoot us an email. There is a lot behind running Nerd Nite but the only required qualifications are that you’ve been to one before- we started out with zero experience and we’ve made it this far. 🙂 And if you start now, we have all year to show you the ropes. So let us know if you are at all interested in taking over- we’d love to make this an ‘Until Next Time’ instead of a goodbye.
