Why Seattle Is Geektopia!

Photo by Moi. From the Battlestar Galactica Exhibition at the EMP Museum in Seattle.

Back in October, I spent two weeks in Seattle. I went for Geek Girl Con, and stayed for all the other geekery that city has to offer, and believe me – there’s a LOT of it. Geekery isn’t just a hobby in Seattle, it’s a lifestyle.

Photo by Moi. From the Butterfly House at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

It’s a land where everyone works for Microsoft (which is based just outside of Seattle in Redmond), and people are so nerdy it’s not even considered a “thing.” It just is. I mean, they have the EMP Museum – an entire museum devoted to sci-fi and nerdery – for crying out loud!

Photo by Moi. Golden Age Collectibles at the Pike Street Market in Seattle.

For my write-up on why Seattle is Geektopia, visit ChinaShop: TOP 5 REASONS WHY SEATTLE IS GEEKTOPIA

GEEK SHOPPING: The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store

Photo by Moi. This is in the doorway of the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store, New York City.

There is a wonderful, magical place in New York City (in Brooklyn, which seems to be emerging as the Geek Capital of NYC) where you can not only buy yourself a superhero cape and a secret identity, but you can also outfit your sidekick, and even de-villainize any villains you manage to trap. This place is called the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store.

Even better, however, than being able to buy a whole mess of cool superhero gear is the fact that the proceeds go to 826NYC, an organization that provides free walk-in writing tutoring and workshops to school-age children! So you can dress like a hero by actually being one!

826 Centers, co-founded by author, Dave Eggers, also exist in San Francisco, CA and Ann Arbor, MI. All of these locations are mentioned in a ChinaShop article I wrote, and all of them have geeky storefronts to help raise money for the centers – 826 Valencia has a Pirate Supply Store, and 826 Michigan has a Robot Supply & Repair Shop!

What ISN’T mentioned is that there’s also one in my new city, Los Angeles! 826LA actually has TWO locations: one in Venice, and one in Echo Park. Echo Park also has a Time Travel Mart. You know, for all your time-traveling needs. And I love its slogan: Whenever You Are, We’re Already Then.

826 stores are springing up all OVER the place, currently existing in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, and Seattle in addition to all the locations above! Chances are, there will be one soon in any city you’re visiting if there isn’t one already. For the complete list of 826 centers and the geeky products they sell, visit the 826 National website.

And for my original piece on the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store, visit ChinaShop: THE BROOKLYN SUPERHERO SUPPLY STORE: HELPING YOUNG WRITERS ONE CAPE AT A TIME

LI’L GEEKLETS: Best Destinations For Little Geeks (and Their Parents) in NYC!

Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Manhattan, New York City.

Visiting New York? Traveling with the kids?

I know, sometimes it’s difficult finding places that both you AND your child enjoy. However, as a Geek Parent, you have it easier than most. You play with toys and watch cartoons ALL THE TIME. And there are plenty of places in New York City that indulge your inner-geek while also appealing to the budding geek in your child, all while giving you the playfulness you both crave! Wanna know my favorite child-friendly geek attractions across the Five Boroughs of New York City?

Check out my full write-up and more photos at ChinaShop: BEST DESTINATIONS FOR GEEK KIDS (AND THEIR PARENTS!) IN NYC

GEEK NIGHTLIFE: Brooklyn Rules NYC Geek Nightlife

Photo by Moi. The wall of merch at Barcade, New York City.

I’m a lifelong Queens girl, so it kinda pains me to say this…

But as far as geekery is concerned, Brooklyn is where it’s at, as evidenced by the preponderance of geektastic drinking establishments in the borough. (Do you like how I used the words “preponderance” and “geektastic” in the same sentence? It’s like I can’t use big words without using made-up words to balance it out…)

For fans of Doctor Who or steampunk, The Way Station in Prospect Heights, BK is the place to go! The themed (and reasonably priced) drink cocktails, like the “Captain Jack Harkness,” are upstaged only by the lush steampunk decor and the now-legendary TARDIS bathroom! It’s also a performance venue that hosts music and burlesque acts, steampunk parties, and screenings that appeal to geeks of all stripes.

Is your inner-geek of the gamer variety? Well then you need to check out Barcade in Williamsburg! The cute, summer camp-esque bar is chock full of vintage arcade games like Pac-Man, Centipede, and Donkey Kong, all of which you can still play for 25 cents a pop. The place has also got a great beer selection and is a “green” business, so you can feel good about the fact that your carbon footprint as you shoot 8-bit aliens will be teensy.

Check out my full write up and more photos at ChinaShop: GEEK DRINKING IN BROOKLYN BOROUGH.

GEEKY STAYS: The Library Hotel

Photo by Moi. The wall behind the front desk at the Library Hotel, New York City.

You know what’s awesome? Getting to spend the night in an amazing boutique hotel with oodles of geek cred for free, that’s what.

One of the benefits of being a travel writer.

Thankfully, it wasn’t just the unbeatable price that made me rave about it in my review over at ChinaShop. The Library Hotel is a beautiful place to stay that happens to be organized by the Dewey Decimal System! I KNOW! This place is book-lover heaven. Not only that, but if there’s a particular thing you geek out about, from Astronomy to Mathematics to History, you can stay in a room devoted entirely to it!

But what really makes The Library Hotel special is the staff. Everyone, from the front desk staff to the kitchen staff to the housekeepers were all warm and kind and extremely helpful. And not just to me, but to other guests!

Check out my full write up and more photos at ChinaShop: THE GEEKIEST STAY IN NEW YORK: THE LIBRARY HOTEL

Introducing: Geek Girl Traveler!

Standoff with Amy Pond at Golden Age Collectibles in Seattle, WA

After months of posting travel write-ups over at ChinaShop Magazine, I’ve decided to have my own little online presence.

Hello! I’m The Geek Girl Traveler! Nice to meet you!

Actually, my name is Teresa Jusino. You may know me from such websites as the aforementioned ChinaShop, Tor.com, PopMatters, Pink Raygun, Newsarama. You might also know my main blog, THE TERESA JUSINO EXPERIENCE. If you’re a fan of Caprica or Battlestar Galactica, you might even know my site Beginning of Line, the only place where you can find regularly updated stories set in the world of Caprica along with some pretty kick-ass fan art. However, for all my geeky scribblings all over the web, there’s one thing I love even more than geekery…

TRAVEL!

If I had my druthers, I would go everywhere. All the time. I love new people, new places, new experiences. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Even the most podunk, one-horse town is interesting to me, because people LIVE THERE, and discovering HOW and WHY people call a place Home is the most interesting thing in the world.

And then I thought, “Hey…I love geeky stuff, and I love travel. Wouldn’t it be cool if I could combine the two?”

And that’s pretty much how Geek Girl Traveler was born. It’s not a particularly exciting story, but it’s mine.

Welcome to my online home! Here, you’ll find my ChinaShop write-ups, as well as video tours and features exclusive to this site. About what? Glad you asked!

The geekiest places in the country, and eventually, THE WORLD! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (I need to work on my evil laugh. That was so not threatening…)

So, please feel free to enjoy the world’s geekiest spots vicariously through me! And feel free to send me tips! If there’s an awesome geeky spot (related to science, tech, sci-fi, fantasy, comics, horror, pop culture, etc) in your hometown that desperately needs attention, tell me about it! Email your tips, suggestions, and comments to geekgirltraveler[at]gmail[dot]com! You can also follow me on Twitter (@GeekGirlTravels) and keep track of me on Facebook!

I look forward to geeking out with you!

Me and my future husband, Sheldon, at Golden Age Collectibles in Seattle, WA