Geek's Guide To NYC Travel: Interop Preview
Superheroes, Dr. Who bars, video games, Seth Meyers, and more. Check out some of the coolest things a geek can see while in New York for Interop.
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When Interop hits New York from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, we know many of you would like to see a different side of the city. Anybody can tell you to go see the Statue of Liberty or Central Park, but who else can tell you where to find the best spots to get your nerd on? So here it is: the Geek's Guide to the Gotham City. Read the guide, mark off your favorites, and register for Interop, but don't forget to give yourself plenty of time to see these sights. New York is the city that never sleeps, so when Interop does (hey, Interop is 28 now; we're not so young anymore), these are the hotspots to keep the party going.
New York is so busting out with geek culture that some pretty cool stuff didn't even make the list. We didn't even get to the truly excellent New York Hall of Science, and that's not because it isn't great. We just couldn't see listing a science museum when you probably have one in your town. Same goes for the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. You may not have an aircraft carrier in your town, but you probably have an aircraft museum nearby.
So what did it take to make the list? It had to be a place where you can buy superpowers in a can -- or maybe see Kermit the Frog in person. We highlighted a ninja village, a cyclone, and a forbidden planet. You'll walk in the steps of superheroes, science legends, and Dr. Who. You can even join a secret club that describes itself as underground... shrouded in mystery... and chock full of brainiacs who will report on the findings of its secret missions, whether in the heart of Papua New Guinea or Brooklyn.
If that's not enough, I'll tell you where you can see the King of the Geeks, Seth Meyers, the former SNL Weekend Update host, current late night star, and animated superhero himself.
We've got so much fun, you'll want to register, not only for this year's Interop, but next year's, as well, because there's no way you'll see it all in one year. Check out the slideshow. Tell us what you are excited to see at Interop and in New York. And if you're local, add your favorite fun spots to the list.
Even though Hollywood is the center of the filmmaking universe, New York plays a close second. The radio and television industry history here is undeniable. You can't walk a block without seeing something Woody Allen filmed in black and white or a building where a couple fell in (or out of) love or an alien was destroyed in a summer blockbuster. But to see it all in one day, check out two amazing museums: the Paley Center for Media and the Museum of the Moving Image (pictured).
Both museums house fine collections of video ranging from classic TV and movies to the modern day. The Museum of the Moving Image is running an exhibit on Looney Tunes (among others) artist Chuck Jones and will soon house donated Muppets from the Jim Henson family, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the Swedish Chef. Paley and the Museum of the Moving Image are constantly screening, but their Interop schedules aren't out. But just to give you a taste of what to expect, this summer Paley offered an eclectic array of TV -- from a tribute to Monty Python to a World War I news reel marathon to a set of Fashion Week archives from the Mad Men era. Every September, Paley previews the pilots of upcoming TV shows before they debut on major networks. Go to either great museum to get your flick on.
Whether it is called Gotham, Metropolis, or plain old New York, all those superheroes you've seen on the silver screen seem to find their way eventually to the city that never sleeps. It is the home of Peter Parker, Batman, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers. The X-Men are so cool they live in the rich suburbs of New York. Wouldn't it be fun to walk in the footsteps of those heroes and see the parts of the city they tore up in their famous fights? Several companies offer walking tours and even a chauffeured tour of Superhero New York, offering visitors the chance to see the Daily Bugle (actually the Flatiron building), the Daily Planet (the News building), and many of the other buildings where heroes worked and played. You'll also see real-life comic landmarks like the headquarters of Marvel Enterprises.
If you can't get enough superheroes, you've got more options. For one thing, New York is the home of the comic shop often called the greatest in the world: Forbidden Planet (pictured). Besides comics, this shop has toys, collectibles, comic-themed clothes, games, and more. Honestly, it is hard to do it justice. Just imagine dying and going to heaven, except you still have to pay for stuff. For a more historical walk through comic land, try the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, which is part of the Society of Illustrators collection. The museum is in a bit of flux as it is moving from its old location to the Society of Illustrators building in Soho, but it hosts workshops and book signings and, of course, features art from major animators and illustrators from the beginning of comics.
It is hard to describe Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company. Part costume shop, part novelty shop, part superhero lair, and all strange, the store sells "real" stuff that every superhero needs. It even sells superpowers in a can. Yes, you can buy super intelligence or the ability to fly in a can. You can buy capes and "cybernetics" to wear to your next party. You can even buy your own cybernetic heart, like the one Tony Stark has. Except this one is a $15 lightbulb. Some of the merchandise is exactly what you'd expect with a real-world use, but some is just tongue-in-cheek and utterly useless (like a 1 gallon "can of gravity"). What you're buying in that case is the gag and a chance to help: There's a point to selling "secret identity kits that help you strive to be boring" and other gag merchandise. All proceeds go to the charity 826NYC, which helps tutor kids in creative writing.
Another Brooklyn oddity is the Secret Science Club. Held mostly at the Bell House in Brooklyn, the Secret Science Club features monthly live lectures from renowned scientists in any field imaginable. In recent months, it has hosted cancer researchers, marine biologists, and psychologists. August's lecture features the biochemist Mande Holford talking about her expedition to Papua New Guinea in search of new species. Particularly, she'll talk about poison. Then, in the way they could only in Brooklyn, people will stay after the lecture and drink and dance. No word yet on who is coming while Interop is in town.
If you want a nightcap, New York has no shortage of geeky bars. Try Nerd Night at Galapagos Art Space for trivia and "funny-but-smart" live performances. If craft beer is your thing, we've got lots of choices. If craft beer plus classic arcades is your thing, there's only one choice: Barcade. Featuring some of the top nostalgic video games like Dig Dug, Gauntlet, Galaga, and Donkey Kong, Barcade is just right for geeks of a "certain age" and for those who want to know what life was like before Candy Crush. Taking the cake for geekiest bar in New York, though, is The Way Station (pictured). Also known as the Doctor Who bar, The Way Station features a Tardis and is the home of Dr. Who screenings (especially when new shows are in season), as well as sci-fi and fantasy movies, geeky bands, and "Nerdeoke."
For a taste of nostalgia, try Luna Park at Coney Island. Named after an original turn-of-the-century Coney Island park, Luna Park is an attempt to revive the old-time feel of Coney Island. Featuring some vintage rides, including one of Coney Island's most famous rides, the Cyclone (pictured), Luna Park has succeeded in making Coney Island cool again (though many New Yorkers would probably tell you it never stopped being cool). Luna Park also features other old-style rides rarely found anywhere anymore, including a steeplechase roller coaster where riders sit on carousel-style horses. Join the hipsters for some last-century fun.
Speaking of fun from the 20th century, New York was home to two of the more famous World's Fairs in history (1939 and 1964). The 1964 World's Fair featured many exhibits designed by Walt Disney himself, including the original It's a Small World (pictured) and the Carousel of Progress, which can still be found at Disney theme parks today. Multiple movies and shows were made there, and it was the last major World's Fair in the US, so it is an icon in American history. Relive those days at the Queens Museum, which features thousands of photos and artifacts from the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs. See how people imagined the future of the world, and see what they got right and wrong.
One thing I don't think anyone at those World's Fairs would have imagined is 3D printing. But very little is as cool as 3D printing today. In fact, in New York, you can now go to MakerBot's 3D printing store. You can watch 3D printers in action, see them scan objects (you can even have your own head scanned in 3D), buy 3D printed gifts for friends, and, of course, buy a 3D printer of your very own. Don't want to buy a printer yet, but have a project to try? No problem. You can walk up with your files and use the printers just like you used to go to a copy shop to get photocopies of your tax forms. There are only a very small number of places like this in the world. (MakerBot has three stores: NYC, Boston, and Greenwich, Conn.) Most of us have been waiting to see 3D printing go mainstream, and this is about as mainstream as it gets. Come and see your future in person.
Of course, the coolest thing for geeks (or anyone else) to do in New York is Interop. Why? Because it will be a great show, but also because, as I mentioned, I had a tip about Seth Meyers. Seth himself will be delivering one of the keynotes at Interop. How cool is that?
If you want to see him and all the other great presenters at Interop, you need to register. And then we can meet at the Way Station or the Barcade for a drink.
Tell us in the comments whether you're coming to Interop NYC. And tell us which of these other New York treats you're looking forward to. And if you've got some local knowledge, drop it here to help all our visitors.
Of course, the coolest thing for geeks (or anyone else) to do in New York is Interop. Why? Because it will be a great show, but also because, as I mentioned, I had a tip about Seth Meyers. Seth himself will be delivering one of the keynotes at Interop. How cool is that?
If you want to see him and all the other great presenters at Interop, you need to register. And then we can meet at the Way Station or the Barcade for a drink.
Tell us in the comments whether you're coming to Interop NYC. And tell us which of these other New York treats you're looking forward to. And if you've got some local knowledge, drop it here to help all our visitors.
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