Alligators! Ostriches! Bears! Oh my! In this talk Katherine will take us on a wonky whirlwind tour of some of the most bizarre oddities of public entertainment in WNC’s past. From crocodilian cocktail bars to funky one-man bands, by the time this talk is over you’ll agree- in Asheville “keeping it weird” is just what we do.
Katherine is an aggressively enthusiastic public historian and Asheville native (Yes! We exist!) currently managing the Buncombe County Special Collections library in Downtown Asheville. Almost nothing brings her more joy than engaging folks with the past and helping them to realize that history is more than dates and “important people” – it’s the foundation of our collective memory and a roadmap for our future.
Suzanne E. Fisher
No More Second Place Presidents
There have been 5 second place presidents in the history of the US and 16 near misses where a change in a small number of votes could have created more second place presidents. How did we get to this ridiculous situation? How can we get out of it? Suzanne will fill you in on all the details and tell you how you can help make this happen by 2028.
Suzanne is a cell biologist who was at the National Institutes of Health her entire career. She moved to a mountain home in 2013 and has become involved in the League of Women Voters. Suzanne is the current President of the Asheville-Buncombe County chapter, on the North Carolina board, and leads the local and state Election of the President by Popular Vote Action Teams at the local and state level. She and her husband enjoy traveling by various modes and spoiling their grandchildren.
Kendall Beaver
Deep Sea Exploration
Laced with some sea stories from life on board a ship and the places it can take you, Beaver will describe the institutions that support oceanographic research, and the mechanics and capabilities of how they operate. They will also share their experience from years of working with the DSV Alvin, a crewed deep-ocean research submersible owned by the U.S. Navy.
Beaver is a professional sailor who has worked as a navigational officer aboard some of the most advanced scientific research ships in the world. He has spent more than a decade sailing across the oceans to take scientists and film crews to some of the most far reaching and deepest places on earth. In his spare time he likes painting, writing, woodworking, and writing and recording music. https://open.spotify.com/artist/46CxNU8YYuF3WOCBNgilbb IG: @castor_beaver
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Star Trek Generations is a Christmas Movie (and the best Star Trek movie)
While not religious, Von enjoys many secular holiday traditions: decorating trees, hanging lights, exchanging gifts, and watching Star Trek: Generations, which is not only a Christmas movie, but the best of all the Star Trek films. You get to see Data swear and William Shatner die. What’s not to love? See some of the best moments of the best Star Trek movie, along with an argument for its superiority so logical it would make Spock swoon.
Von (they/them) is a local performer known for their radioactive style, political commentary, and inability to shut up about Star Trek. A lifelong nerd of both science and theater, they were an avid lover of Nerd Nite in Los Angeles before moving to Asheville and starting the local Nerd Nite Chapter.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @von.infinity)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
This show will be NOTAFLOF (no one turned away for lack of funds). If you can afford to pay our normal ticket price, great! We appreciate it! If not, pay what you can afford at the door. If you need free entry, just say “free entry”.
Meet your presenters for November’s Nerd Nite:
Eric William Carroll
How (Not) to Detect Dark Matter
For nearly five years, Eric traveled across the United States and Europe in order to photograph scientific experiments attempting to detect dark matter and other theoretical particles. Join Eric as he takes you behind-the-scenes and shares stories about the making of this work and what kind of role an artist plays in scientific experiments.
Eric is an artist whose work with photography, science, and nature explores the variety of ways in which we experience, organize and represent the world. His work has been exhibited internationally including shows at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Aperture Foundation and the New York Public Library. He can be found online at www.ericwilliamcarroll.com and on Instagram @ericwilliamcarroll
Bluesubmission
I Tie People Up and They Like It
Blue is going to tell you all about her quest to bring rope bondage from dark dungeons into the daylight, smashing the stereotype associated with the artform. You’ll learn about the history of this practice and how it became the mainstream version it is today, why people choose to do it in the first place, and what this practice does to the body and mind. Come find out why people like it when she ties them up!
Blue has been practicing the art of Shibari and rope bondage since 2018, working on all sides of the rope as a top, bottom and self-suspender. Her work is inspired by her beautiful surroundings, and she can often be found hangin’ in the trees and over the streams of the Appalachian Mountains. She enjoys pushing the edges of those she ties in barely tortuous predicament ties and making her friends fly in multi-position transition sequences. You can find her body of work and reach out to her at any time on her Instagram.
Jared Rennie
Helene: WTF Happened?
Helene came through Western North Carolina in September 2024 and created catastrophic flooding in and around the Asheville area. Unfortunately, this was part two of a “double whammy” rainfall event, adding an extra foot or rain to an already saturated environment. Join us to learn more about the meteorology of the event, poke fun at a 1980’s game show, and stick your middle fingers in the sky as we say ‘screw you’ to Helene.
Jared Rennie (he/him) is a research meteorologist for NOAA who sits on a treasure trove of data. Originally from Boston, he moved to Asheville in 2010 to perform climate research, primarily focusing on heat waves. Recently, he has shifted efforts towards science communication, bridging the gap between climate extremes and vulnerable communities. Threads: @jjrenniewx. BlueSky/Twitter: @jjrennie
With your host, Von
Von (they/them) is a local performer known for their radioactive style, political commentary, and inability to shut up about Star Trek. A lifelong nerd of both science and theater, they were an avid lover of Nerd Nite in Los Angeles before moving to Asheville and starting the local Nerd Nite Chapter.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @von.infinity)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
This is likely to be our only free show, so don’t miss out!
Meet your presenters for Nerd Day June:
Jared Rennie
Watching Weather 22,000 Miles Away
Weather can be beautiful and destructive at the same time. WIth advances in technology, we are now able to see different types of weather all around the world, in real time, FROM SPACE! Cameras onboard these satellites 22,000 miles away are able to see many types of phenomena, including hurricanes, wildfies, and flooding. Come learn how we visualize these events, and see incredible orbital satellite images of our planet.
Jared Rennie (he/him) is a research meteorologist for NOAA who sits on a treasure trove of data. Originally from Boston, he moved to Asheville in 2010 to perform climate research, primarily focusing on heat waves. Recently, he has shifted efforts towards science communication, bridging the gap between climate extremes and vulnerable communities.
Sara Rivera
The Fabulous World of Fireflies!
Have you ever seen fireflies at night? Their magical summertime glows light up our world and make it magical! But how many kinds of fireflies are there? What do fireflies eat? How do they glow? And how do their flashing butts help us make new medicine?? Learn from our own Firefly Expert about the lives of our fabulous flashing friends and how we can help protect them!
Sara Rivera (she/they) is finishing her Master’s degree at Western Carolina University studying fireflies. They are also the founder of the science communication effort THEM in STEM (theminstem.com, Instagram @them.instem), which focuses on making science accessible through local Firefly Walks, Science Storytimes, and endlessly entertaining public talks! In July, she will start as an Insect Curator for the Great Smoky Mountains, where she will be able to keep studying and protecting all our amazing local insects!
Tavi
Why Disney’s Moana is Culturally Amazing
Moana is one of Disney’s most treasured animated films, in no small part because of the care taken to accurately and beautifully represent Polynesian culture. Tavi will explain the culture represented in the film, along with live demonstrations of Polynesian dance, music and costumes! What culture does Moana’s costume come from? What dances are they performing in their village? What are all the legends that Maui refers to during his song? All these questions and more will be answered at: Why Disney’s Moana is Culturally Amazing!
Raised in Western North Carolina, Tavi didn’t learn of his Māori Heritage until he was 17, this led him to the decision to move to Hawaii to go to school as well learn of his culture. In 2015, Tavi started training, dancing and performing at the Polynesian Cultural Center. His extensive training included multiple Pacific Cultures such as Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand, the home of the Māori) and the Siva Afi (Samoan Fire Dance.) While performing at the PCC at night, Tavi attended Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he received a Degree in Mathematics and a minor in Pacific Island Studies. He now lives in Asheville, NC and continues to perform and train all over the South including; North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia under the name ‘NCFireknife’. He alsp volunteers his time during Asian American Pacific Island Heritage Month to present at various Public Schools and teach Students about Pacific Culture. Tavi will be performing the Siva Afi after the show at Nerd Nite!
With your host, Von
Von is thrilled to finally launch Nerd Nite Asheville’s first family friendly event!
Von (they/them) is a local performer known for their radioactive style, political commentary, and inability to shut up about Star Trek. A lifelong nerd of both science and theater, they were an avid lover of Nerd Nite in Los Angeles before moving to Asheville and starting the local Nerd Nite Chapter.
As a kid, Von had a pass to the Museum of Science in Boston, and would hang out among the exhibits for hours every week. Von hopes to help the next generation of kids fall in love with learning.
Join us June 22nd, doors 11am show 12pm sharp at The River Arts District Brewing Co! 13 Mystery St, Asheville NC 28801. FREE tickets, donations appreciated at the show. All ages welcome.
Be there and bring your little squares!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
