Do Something This Weekend of Nov. 21, 2008
Geek Out
Contend. MoMA (11 W. 53rd St.) is running an ill-defined but nonetheless enticing film series right now. Deemed “The Contenders,” its press-release description reads, “Whether bound for awards glory or destined to become a cult classic, each of these films is a contender for lasting historical significance—and any true cinephile will want to catch them on the big screen.” Translation: Here’s a bunch of recent movies we think are good. Not that I’m quibbling. When you run a museum you get to do cool things like that.
The screening schedule includes summer hits like Wall-E and Iron Man that you’ve probably seen already, along with notables that you probably missed. In the latter category are Encounters at the End of the World (pictured), Werner Herzog’s documentary about the Antarctic scientific community. I want to see The Silence Before Bach, a “biopic” of sorts that’s more Philip Glass than Amadeus.
Check the schedule for showtimes this weekend and beyond.
Geek In
Stay warm. After all, it is freezing outside, so maybe you’d rather wait for the DVDs of all those “contenders.” In the meantime, dig out your old board games and practice for the upcoming Board Game Olympics produced by Metro Metro. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Metro Metro puts together the annual Metropolitan Odyssey scavenger hunt that kicks all variety of urban-gaming ass.
On Dec. 2, they’ll host eight teams of four each in a board-game throwdown. The tentative, likely-to-change game list is as follows: Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories, Connect Four, Battleship, Memory, Jigsaw Puzzles, Operation. Quick takes:
- Trivial Pursuit: My buddy Sam and I play exclusively with the Genus II set because all of the editions produced in the 1990s and early 2000s are way too easy, and the original Genus set has too many questions concerning the world as it stood in 1981. (Somehow Genus II’s 1984 hits the sweet spot of obscurity.) Given that this event is sponsored by Hasbro, we’ll probably be playing with more recent versions of the game. Perhaps the TP writers have gotten more clever in the past few years.
- Scattergories: A fantastic game that often leads to fantastic fights. My family almost came to blows one Thanksgiving as we debated whether to accept the answer “lock key” in the category “Things Found in a Locker.”1 I’m sure the Metro Metro guys will have a solid adjudication system in place.
- Connect Four: Has been solved, so if you can play with the discipline of a computer program, you’re golden.
- Battleship: While Scattergories tends to result in open rancor, Battleship breeds quiet suspicion and contempt. Are you sure I didn’t sink your destroyer? Really?
- Memory: Many children’s first board game; I love its potential inclusion in this adult event. Hopefully it remains on the docket.
- Jigsaw puzzles: A game in the same way that Love Connection is a game show. I.e., not.
- Operation: I can’t say I’m a fan, but it was fun to build my own Operation game in high school.
Sign-up details are on the Metro Metro events page, so get your team together for its inevitable defeat at the hands of my squad.
All contents copyright © 2007-2010 John Teti.
