Nerd Nite is a monthly event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet deeply academic vibe. Featuring short talks by several scientists, artists, experts of all types, and ordinary people with extraordinary skills, we aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with "e." Come drink along with us!

When: Tuesday, July 30, 2013, doors at 6:00pm, event at 7:00pm Where: Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan, Portland Cost: $8.00 suggested cover at the door Check out the Facebook event page

This Nerd Nite will feature two awesome talks:

• Genital Plugs, Projectile Penises, and Gay Butterflies: A Naturalist Explains the Birds & the Bees with Becky Jaffe, photographer, naturalist, and educator

• Bugs, Bites, and Bodies: Insects and Death with Eric Tonsfeldt, Medicolegal Death Investigator, Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office

Genital Plugs, Projectile Penises, and Gay Butterflies: A Naturalist Explains the Birds & the Bees

Birds do it, bees do it–even educated fleas do it. Let’s do it, let’s fall in lust as photographer and insect fetishist Becky Jaffe takes us on a romp through Mother Nature’s freaky side. Biophilia? This talk may well bring on a biorgasm!

A photographer, naturalist, and educator living in Oakland, Becky Jaffe teaches high school biology and leads environmental science tours at UC Berkeley’s Botanical Garden.

Bugs, Bites, and Bodies: Insects and Death

To an insect, a decomposing human body left to rot in the woods can be the feast of a lifetime. To a forensic entomologist, those insects can give clues to how the person died, how long they’ve been dead, and even who that person was in life. Eric Tonsfeldt, Medicolegal Death Investigator at the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office, will explain the ways that bugs can be used to help forensic investigation. Prepare to be creeped out (but in a good way!).

*A note on the suggested cover: Nerd Nite is completely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering education to adults who want to learn, so if $8 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Nerd Nite Portland #13 – The Mystique of Terroir: Geology, Soils, Climate and Wines in the Northern Willamette Valley

Nerd Nite is a monthly event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet deeply academic vibe. We aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with “e.” Be there and be square.

ter·roir/tɛrˈwɑr noun Definition: the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown and that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma.

The Willamette Valley has a certain je ne sais quoi, no? What special quality of the region’s terroir yields such exceptional wines? How do the soil, climate, and conditions lend themselves to lovely Pinot Noirs, but not Cabernets or Merlots? How does the region’s geologic past affect where and how to grow grapes? How does Oregon compare to other wine-growing regions in the United States and other countries around the world? Join us as Dr. Scott Burns, professor of geology and past chair of the Department of Geology at PSU, and wine enthusiast, tells us about all this and more about what makes a vineyard successful.

*A note on the suggested cover: Nerd Nite is completely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering education opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $8 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Nerd Nite is a monthly event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet soundly academic vibe. We aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with “e.” Be there and be square.

When: Wednesday, March 12, 2014, doors at 6:00pm, event at 7:00pm

Cost: $8.00* suggested cover at the door

This Nerd Nite will feature two talks:

Owls and Other Night Birds Owls are the first type of birds that come to mind when we think of feathered night fliers, but many other species of birds are also active after dark. Jonathan Plissner, PhD, is a senior scientist with ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Services and has been studying bird populations and behaviors for 30 years. His presentation will focus on nocturnal activities and adaptations of various groups of birds, as well as the risks these birds face in navigating landscapes altered by human beings.

The Biology, Behavior & Benefits of Bats Bats are essential to the health of our natural world. They help control pests and are vital pollinators and seed-dispersers for countless plants. Yet these wonderfully diverse and beneficial creatures are among the least studied and most misunderstood of animals. Cris Hein, PhD, is a biologist with Bat Conservation International and has been studying bat behavior and ecology for 14 years. Cris will discuss the amazing adaptations of these nocturnal animals and their importance to humans and the environment.

*A note on the suggested cover: Nerd Nite is completely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering education opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $8 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Enjoy us for a day filled with inspiration and ideas worth spreading!

14 live talks, 4 TED.com talks, 3 performances, happy hour, and post-event party at Keller Park. Don't miss out!

Kenton’s favorite Thanksgiving event is back! Join us for the 2015 Proper Thanksgiving Feast this Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015, 12:00-4:00 pm. This FREE Thanksgiving community dinner is open to everyone.

We’re pleased to partner with Po’Shines Cafe de la Soul to offer a fresh, high-quality menu featuring traditional Thanksgiving favorites and innovative new dishes. Join us this Thanksgiving, and we think you’ll want to make Proper part of your Thanksgiving tradition, too. All are welcome.

The Proper Thanksgiving Feast features music, entertainment, kids’ activities, an inclusive community experience, and great food. We offer vegetarian options, too. Hosted in a wheelchair-accessible space.

The Thanksgiving feast is held at Celebration Tabernacle, 8131 N Denver Ave. (at Kilpatrick St.), Portland, OR, 97217. Join us anytime between noon and 4:00 pm.

We still have room for more entertainers and volunteers! Please contact us if you are interested in performing or volunteering with us.

The mission of Proper USA is to unite community across all lines. That means the Proper Thanksgiving Feast is a safe space for all community members, regardless of race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, ability, nation of origin, age, or religion.