The Nerd Nite Planning group is excited to announce a new home for our 2026 – 2027 season.
We are taking our talents to the Dovetail Cafe, located at 1917 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55806.
This is an incredibly wonderful opportunity for us, and it will bring about some changes.
Show times will start earlier than our traditional 7 pm
All Nerd Nite Events will be free. We may pass around a hat for small donations to pay our graphic designer!
Dates:
Thursday, Oct. 15th, 2026
Thursday, Dec. 17th, 2026
Thursday, Feb. 18th, 2027
Thursday, April 15th, 2027
Our team would like to thank the wonderful crew at Studio 4 and the Minnesota Ballet for being our home since our 2024 return. We appreciate the opportunity and collab!
Join your fellow nerds for an evening of laughs, learning, and geekiness. We’ll share three great presentations by local geeks that are sure to inform and build your knowledge.
Join us in the Studio 4, nestled in the basement of the St. Louis County Depot. Access the building from the first floor Michigan Street Entrance and take the elevator, or walk down the sidewalk to the Train Museum.
Doors open at 6:30, Show starts at 7! 5 dollars for entry, cash bar available. This month’s presenters are:
Andy Hilfers: “DAW: Judge a Book by It’s Cover”
Presentation Description: If you’ve ever perused a used book store, or the shelves of a charity shop, you’ve seen them. Thin, yellow spines lined up in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi sections, waiting for some curious nerd such as yourself to take a chance on the fascinating and awesome stories within. The deciding factor between coming home with you or staying on that shelf might just fall to the art on its cover. Come and discover the story behind the art and artists behind the good, the bad, and the simply insane covers of one of the world’s original Fantasy and Sci-Fi publishing houses.
Rachel Martin: Virginia, but not that one
Presentation Description: Ever wonder why the heck Virginia, Minnesota is named Virginia? Stay tuned to find out how a shiny rock changed the world…or at least mining in America.
Virginia, Minnesota is named after the state from which many minors came to continue their life’s work, though many people attribute it to 1600s maps, the home state of a few tycoons, and various other weird references.
Fun fact: there was one a backup on a road in Virginia (the state/commonwealth) that lasted as long as it takes to drive from Virginia to Virginia, Minnesota…
Jon Peterson: Good physics and bad spacecraft design–how to fix scifi’s vector problem
Presentation Description: Spaceships are one of the most iconic elements of the science fiction genre, but their design by artists rather than engineers is noticeable to anyone with a decent understanding of physics. Many of our favorite fictional vessels should not be able to fly in a straight line. A scifi-loving engineer will explain force vectors, thrust, and how poorly his favorite scifi vessels were designed around them so that you, too, may have your favorite starships ruined–and how you can design your own to avoid the same fate.
Bio: Jon Peterson is an accomplished science fiction nerd who occasionally dabbles in real engineering. A graduate of the Iron Range Engineering program, his greatest passion is flying machines, and he loves sharing his enthusiasm for both real and fictional aerospace projects with others. To that end, his professional life has been spent supporting undergraduate engineering education as a recruiter, project mentor, shop supervisor, and occasional instructor in design, professionalism, and aerospace subjects.
We have a brand new Nerd Nite on February 26, 2026 at Studio 4, St. Louis County Depot.
Three amazing presentations for only $5. Door open at 6:30, show starts at 7:00.
1. Hailey Eidenschink-Ziebol–A Very Sexy & Silly Postmortem”
Synopsis
Lust and Lutefisk is a musical that premieres on February 13th at The Depot Theatre. It was written by Hailey (with lots of help from Brian Matuszak), and is loosely based on Heart of Fire, the flannel-ripping romance novel written in the 80s and set in early 1900s Duluth. Hear the story of how she found this long-forgotten novel, and went about adapting it into what is certain to be a super successful staged production.
Bio
Hailey Eidenschink-Ziebol works as the Engagement Coordinator at the Depot and is the host of the five-time Emmy Award winning PBS program Minnesota Historia.
2. Austentatious: celebrating Jane Austen in your own obstinate, headstrong way by Ann Miller and Adam Brisk
The world celebrated the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in 2025 through film, stage, commentary, festivals, balls, and memes. In 2026, Duluth’s Ann Miller and Adam Brisk will share their very, very different reasons for loving works written and inspired by Miss Austen.
bio
Adam Brisk is a nerd and likes Jane Austen in a ironic whimsical manner*
Ann Miller is a nerd and enjoys Jane Austen for much better reasons*
*Neither are scholars of Jane Austen or the Regency era.
Its another wonderful night of birds, floods, and nerd in love at the Depot, Studio 4 on June 18. Still only 5 dollars! Doors open at 6:30!
Title: “Urban Hydrology: From Fun to Flood”
Presenter: Katy Hauer Description: Floods are the most common and one of the most widespread disasters experienced worldwide, caused by a complicated mix of earth and human systems. Urban hydrology is the field to pursue if you’re a flood nerd who loves water science and cares about mitigating hazards to communities. I will give a super brief introduction to urban hydrology and then we’ll look at the disaster of the Johnstown Flood of 1889, a flood that is still the deadliest flood in U.S. history. Using the Johnstown Flood of 1889, I’ll demonstrate how a few wrong decisions can create the perfect flood of cascading, terrible events. Thus, you’ll come to understand why urban hydrology is so important (and cool)! Bio: I’ve been fascinated with water systems since early childhood. In college I discovered the joy of hydrology (the study of water) as I completed my environmental science degree. This fall, I’m excited to start a graduate program to study urban hydrology with a focus on stormwater management and flood controls. I’ve worked in a variety of water-related jobs, including hurricane relief, and have also taught pond ecology, watershed, and stream study field trips to kids. I try my best to get everyone in my life excited about water and proper flood management!
Title: “Being a Bird Nerd- The Dangers and Delights of Birding.”
Presenter: Lisa Netzel
Description: From a casual interest in nature to finding my spark bird to a full fledged obsession. My personal journey down the rabbit hole of a hobby at least 4 centuries old”.
Bio: I’m a creative person who works as a goldsmith. I find a lot of inspiration in the natural world and am endlessly fascinated and entertained by everything outdoors.
Title: “Trivial Pursuits: The History of Trivia from a Couple of Nerds who Bonded Over It (A Nerd Nite Love Story)”
Presenters: John Wilcox & Emily Woster Description: What makes good trivia? Why is taking “quizzes” suddenly FUN? Emily Woster and John Wilcox share a brief history of trivia, quizzes, and nerd games. Along the way, you’ll learn how they met and bonded over trivia…at a Nerd Nite event 10 years ago. Bios: Emily is an English professor at CSS and John is a writing instructor at Northwood Tech. They have two cats and 9000 books, and they yell trivia at each other all the time.
1. The Wreck of the Federal Express by Andy Hilfers
Description: Join us aboard a premiere passenger train service during the height of rail travel, and learn a bit of history, a bit of engineering, and why form over function can get out of hand.”
Bio: Andy Hilfers, local cryptid and aspiring Supervillain henchman, can usually be found buried in too many nerdy hobbies to count. As a former Middle/ High school teacher, he’s helped run 3 tabletop gaming clubs, and will ask if you did the readings. Will be flying across the globe in September to go see some Trams.’
2. Pinball yesterday and today by Parnell Lutz
Description: We’ll look at where pinball started, and how much it changed during the 20th century compared to today. Bio: I’ve always been into fixing electronics and doing projects. When I was older I found pinball through a coworker and the addiction became real. I like working on fixing games, maintaining the games on location and some playing. Prior to the family, I did auto racing and enjoyed car trips and camping. Now I’m just trying to get my kids addicted to pinball and become pro pinball players so I have an excuse to travel with them
3. “POW!” Pictorial Linguistic Blend in Graphic Novels by Minden Anderson
This presentation is an introduction to the concepts of encapsulation, layout, and composition and explores the pictorial linguistic blend — i.e. how authors and illustrators use text and images to create meaning — in graphic novels. Bio: Minden Anderson has a M.A. in English and Rhetoric, and she teaches a course in the study of Graphic Novels, Film, and Radio Drama — both delightful excuses to dig much too deeply into literary mediums she was already going to nerd out about anyway.
Beware the Slides of March! … or not! Join your fellow Northland nerds on Thursday March 28 for a great evening of learning, laughter, and lavender(?).
Nerd Nite Duluth welcomes three presenters to our stage:
Luke Moravec steps in to talk “A Million Miles of Mysteries: the Odometer on the Mystery Machine”
Alison Moffat will introduce many of us to MCU’s most powerful and entertaining avenger in “Eating Nuts & Kicking Butts: Marvel’s Unlikeliest Unbeatable Superhero”
Alexis Elder shares the not-quite-optimal performance and logical conundrums encountered by Generative AI in her presentation “Stanky Bean and the Stochastic Parrot: Understanding Issues in AI”
Doors open at 6:30. Show starts 7:00. Still only 5$
Nerd Nite Before Christmas has come and gone. Super belated followup: thanks to everyone who attended – and some special thanks to the following folks:
Jon Brophy for his technical expertise with audio and cables.
Cheryl Skafte for providing lighting control work and being our eyes in the booth
Elizabeth Brophy and Amber Haglund Pagel for providing musical interludes via bass and bassoon.
Luke, Luke, and Adam are grateful for everyone willing to willingly pitch in and share their skills.
New event in January: Nerd (K)nites of the Round Table at Bent Paddle
We wanted a chance to chat, get feedback, and enjoy each other’s company so we are planning a hangout on Tuesday, January 24 at 5:30 at Bent Paddle. The brewery has a great selection of NA and alcoholic beverage options and allows food deliveries.
Bonus: Trivia Mafia starts at 7:00 p.m.
Marchish Nerd Nite
Umm…. we have narrowed down the next nerd nite to… a Tuesday in March. More details soon!
Real talk: we tried to be normal this time, but we couldn’t resist returning with several Santa sacks worth of nerdy holiday fun. Please join us as we celebrate the season with presentations about holiday gatherings, Netflix Christmas royalty and VERY naughty surgeons (take that, holiday theme!).
Historian Jess McCullough confronts us with an unrecognizable Europe with “Blood and Peppermint: The Implied Geopolitics of the Netflix Christmas Universe (NCU).”
Troy Abfalter takes us on a tour of (OTHER) local holiday lights displays with “Little Sweater-Beard: Magic, Mythology, and Outdoor Holiday Gatherings in Duluth.”
And historian of the macabre Kyra Lemieux gives us sweet, horrible relief from the holiday theming with “Opposite Santa Claus: Scandalous Surgeons of the Georgian Era.”
We’ll round out the evening with door prizes, goofy awards, and a game from gamemasters Alison and Garner Moffat. Also, courtesy of Elizabeth Brophy, we’ll have bassoon!
Doors at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. Still $5. We will see you at Studio4, Historic Duluth Depot!
You are kindly invited to reserve the evening of Tuesday, December 19 for an evening of learning & laughter at Studio4, Duluth Depot. Door at 6:30 & Start at 7:00. We’ll have you out the door before 9:00.
After a long and awkward pandemic hiatus, a small group of Duluthians are exhuming the remains and bringing Nerd Nite back to life. We are happy to present:
Nerd Nite: Back from the Dead!
Prepare for an evening of morbidity on Tuesday, October 24 as we present three presentations that explore demonic domiciles, unearth frightening folk tales, and reach out to our forebears!
With our guide Nathan Payne, we will be treated to vacation slides of a charming Dutch Colonial …. FROM HELL. Get ready to make memories in the “Amityville Multiverse.”
Kelly Florence tells us a bed-time story that we can’t put down in “Nighty Night, Sleep Tight: A Nightmare before Freddy.”
Carolyn Kerns stares into time itself and shares the origins of our fall rituals in “Halloween 101: Meaning Making with our Ancestors.”
and… a trivia game by Perfect Duluth Day’s Trivia Master Alison Klawiter!
Important Things! Remember This
Nerd Nite will be at Studio 4 in the St. Louis County Depot!
