Ever have one of those days, where every idea you have is immediately validated by the universe? No? Well, me neither, but as I was puzzling over what theme to awkwardly impress upon this week's BarFSPAM, whispered from the ether was a faint, "Help the nerds!" To wit, I immediately set forth a four-part plan for getting one's nerd on in the PDX, which may now conveniently be found, below. Midst composition of my magnum opus, I got the big seal of universal approval. It came in the form of an email - an interview request from "Graduating Engineer Magazine" seeking little ol' my input on "old school networking" techniques. Now if that ain't synergy, what is?

OMSI After Dark - With OMSI happily cleared of children, singletons can cruise the exhibits with the twin assurances of a beer in hand, and absolutely no chance of being mistaken for a pedophile. This evening brings the second of this summer's afterhours 21 and up mixers, featuring local treats from Caffe Vita, Full Sail Brewing, and Clear Creek Distillery, and Moonstruck Chocolate. Wednesday, June 24th, 6-9pm. $10 cover/museum admission + cash bar. OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave, 503/797.4671.

Ground Kontrol - Ladies, if you like your men adenoidal, and more intent on a high score, than scoring, with anyone, ever, then Ground Kontrol will be a happy hunting ground for you. Just remember to dress appropriately dumpy, as skirts and heels tend to make nerds skittish (and Dance Dance Revolution ne'er impossible). Open at noon daily (11am Saturday and Sunday), but kid-free after 5pm, when happy hour begins, conveniently enough ($1.50 PBR & Miller High Life tallboys, $2 domestics, $2.50 micros and imports, 5-7pm, daily). Open until 2:30am nightly, deejays and, occasionally, bands on the weekends. Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St.

Trivia Tail - A tried and true, by yours truly, means of vetting potential significant others, and other one night stands, is making your first date any of the many trivia events that are popping up like herpes in bars across Portland. I recommend those run by sometime BarFly Bus shepherdess, Miss Shannon Donaldson, under the "Shanrock's Triviology" banner (http://shanrockstrivia.com). The sessions are divvied up into rounds, each with its own unique twist on the old trivia rag - the "Natalie Portmanteau" (wherein one smushes two or more names or titles together to form one new pun) being my personal favorite (and forte, I might add). You'll find Kyle "Mr. BarFly" Ritter hosting on a regular basis, too (@ Ella Street Social Club on Mondays, @ La Merde on Thursdays). Find Shanrock's full schedule, here: shanrockstrivia.com

Beer and Blog - If you can't get enough TwitFaceSpacing, try it live and in person, at the weekly happy hour convocation of local bloggers known as "Portland Beer and Blog," 4-6pm, Fridays, at The Green Dragon. Who knows, you might find that special someone with whom to share your daily minutiae and other inanities, not only in real time, but in real life. B&B was suggested by the happily practically married Kyle (who actually said, "How any of the people at Beer and Blog manage to get laid is beyond me." LOL, indeed.). Plenty of liquid courage on hand with this recent Rogue acquisition's selection of local distillery and brewery fruits. You can even try absinthe fresh off the still, if you're lucky enough to get a personal tour of the on-premises Integrity Spirits' microdistillery, by Integrity's own mad scientist, Rich Phillips. The Green Dragon, 928 SE 9th Ave, 503/517.0606.

Nerd up! While you're at it, you might as well start following us on Twitter.

Fondly,

Miss Jen Lane,
www.portlandbarfly.com
www.barflybus.com

P.S. If you can't get laid on the BarFly Bus, you're probably dead! Join us for Jedediah's Mustache Ride, on Saturday, July 11th, and/or Wet, Hot, American, Summer BarFly Bus Tour, on Saturday, July 25th!