Halloween Parties for Chicago’s Geeks & Nerds (and geeky families too!)

Chicago has one of the most vibrant geek/nerd communities in the U.S. and you don’t have to look far to find fun events where you can “get your geek on.”

With that in mind, and knowing that Halloween is one of those holidays that really bring out the kid in all of us, here are some fun events and parties that Chicago’s geeks, nerds and their “norm” friends can enjoy! (With one thrown in for my geeky peeps in the suburbs!):

CHICAGO LOOT DROP SHAMBLERS’ BALL: I’ve written about this super-cool event before. It’s less than a week away and tickets are STILL AVAILABLE but don’t wait until the last minute! All proceeds go to the Child’s Play Charity which benefits the Comer Children’s Hospital.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!

(More events after the jump!)

This is the darkest timeline…

I’ll never forget the day this happened. To set the scene up: I had been asked by the folks of Wizard World – the convention organizers – to moderate the “Star Trek Captains Reunion” panel at the WW Chicago Comic-Con a couple years ago. It was going to be one of the biggest events I’d ever be a part of at that point in my career as a “geek journo.” The panel included Avery Brooks (Captain Sisko from “Deep Space Nine”), Scott Bakula (Captain Archer on “Enterprise”) and Captain Kirk himself…WILLIAM…EFFING…SHATNER(!)  Now, Shatner had already given me some playful grief backstage, so I guess I should have expected this:

Funny, huh? Thing is, something happened during the panel that kind of paints that whole act of nerd collectible-vandalism in a different light. Something that pretty much goes unnoticed by most if you watch the entire panel on video.

Quite frankly, it was a hard lesson that I learned about dealing with celebrities and interacting with them in these types of scenarios. It was also lesson that I’ll never forget, and that I always keep in mind when I work conventions like C2E2 or Chicago TARDIS.