Nerd Nite Los Angeles - April 2025

Nerd Nite is fun-yet-informative lectures at a bar. It's like TED Talks...but with beer.

We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in more than 100 cities across the globe during which several folks give 20-minute fun-yet-informative and easily accessible presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along.

https://linktr.ee/nerdnitela

FAQ's:

- Doors open at 7pm. Intro at 7:45pm. Presentations at 8pm.

- The Brewyard Beer Company is a 21+ venue.

- There is free street parking surrounding the bar, but we recommend utilizing a ride share service.

PRESENTATION LINE-UP:

PRESENTATION #1: The International Conspiracy to Feed You Dinner: How Geopolitics Influences Popular Takeout Food

By Liz Greenwood

Summary: Have you ever wondered about the origins of your favorite food? Bored during the pandemic, Liz Greenwood started Googling her takeout orders and quickly discovered that many of the foods we take for granted have fascinating backstories, ranging from complicated geopolitical negotiations to improbable kitchen accidents. Because most of the improbable kitchen accident stories lean toward the apocryphal, this talk will focus on the former, explaining the historical and political underpinnings of several foods that are probably in your recent DoorDash history.

Bio: Liz Greenwood is obsessed with food - she produced and co-hosted a food history podcast and currently writes a food-inspired Substack called Best Thing I Ate Last Week. Upon moving to Los Angeles last year, her first order of business was building a spreadsheet with 389 (and counting) local restaurants that she aspires to try. In terms of actual credentials, Liz has a PhD in economics from Harvard, a background in management consulting - and is a stand-up comedian.


PRESENTATION #2: Reasons Why I Love Abraham Lincoln (And You Should To)

By Muffy Marracco

Summary: Sure, he's on the penny. And the $5 bill. And Mount Rushmore. Despite his ubiquity in American culture, what do you really know about ol' Honest Abe? Join Muffy Marracco -- writer, educational consultant, trivia maven, and a bona fide Lincoln Lover -- for a round-up of reasons that you should love the 16th president, too.

Bio: Muffy Marracco is a Los Angeles-based writer, trivia expert, and independent educational consultant. She graduated from Brown University and earned a Master’s Degree from Stockholm University in Sweden. She wrote the 2008 Lifetime movie “Girl’s Best Friend,” starring Janeane Garofalo. She has appeared as a contestant on various game shows and as a regular cast member of “Master Minds” on the Game Show Network. She writes and hosts quizzes on TikTok (@muffymarracco) at and Thursdays at Edendale. She has two rescue dogs named Rex and Baloney Sandwich.


PRESENTATION #3: Zero to Hero: A Look Behind the Scenes of What It Takes to Cosplay

By LT Sauvage and Sir Hubbington

Summary: Albert Einstein once said 'Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it.' And the same could be said about cosplay! Believe it or not: you don't have to be a serious content creator, have a large following or expendable cash to get into this fun hobby. Sir Hubbington and LT will present on the multiple approaches to cosplay: from choosing a character, starting levels, some surprising science that can be involved, and how to fully realize a character. We'll cover all of these topics, as well as addressing some of the myths about cosplay!

Bio: LT Sauvage is a professional costume and prop maker, who has been cosplaying for as long as she can remember. She loves connecting with characters and bringing them to life through the building process of her cosplays and collaborating on her photoshoots. Her love for fantasy and sci-fi is echoed in her most notable cosplays, and she also often pulls inspiration from her indigenous Coptic Egyptian heritage. A recipient of multiple awards for her craft, LT has been featured in numerous publications, as well as at events such as San Diego Comic Con, Los Angeles Comic Con and WonderCon. LT volunteers with West Coast Avengers and Cosplay for Science, and also runs the California chapter of the N7 Elite Costuming Club. She loves teaching and encouraging a variety of creative skills, especially as a way of personal expression. She believes cosplay is for everyone at any level.

Sir Hubbington has been cosplaying since he met his now wife (LT) in 2010, and he wanted to participate in couples costumes. Since then, he's grown his costume collection to represent Marvel, Star Wars, Steam Punk, and historical/Victorian. He knows first hand what it's like to be budget challenged, but committed to bringing a character to life. He's regularly invited to San Diego Comic Con, LA Comic Con, and Wondercon, among other conventions, and has volunteered with Cosplay for Science, participated as a cosplay model for life drawing panels, as well as built his own steam-punk jetpack (and designed it to blast smoke on demand!).