December 3, 2013 at 10:57am
Chag urim sameach!This is Nerd Alert, the Weekly Volcano's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.
Some weeks there's just not that much going on. Trapped between Cyber Monday and the end-of-the-year movie rush, this is one of those weeks. However, it is a stellar time for holiday shopping. Yes, now's the time to find that special, nerdy something for the geek in your life, especially if that geek is you. I called some of my favorite area merchants to solicit ideas on what might fill that empty space beneath your Millennium Falcon and Autobot Christmas tree ornaments.
First off, how ‘bout some Dorky Dollars? You know, for all those classic arcade games! (Dibs on vector-graphics Star Wars!) Meanwhile, get ready for Cosplay Day, the evening of Dec. 15. 4 p.m. to midnight Monday, 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Saturday, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156
I'm also a big fan of Nerdy Stuffs, Tacoma's genre collectibles shop. In fact, you should totally consider taking the kids in this Saturday between 11 and 3, when the store will accept Toys for Tots while offering free photos with Jawas and the 501st Legion of Imperial stormtroopers. Co-owner Jesus Areyano suggests the gift of gaming this holiday season: "Ascension is a pretty big card game, with a two-player edition for $10. It's stocking-stuffer-size." For $20, "Munchkin is a solid gift. There are so many versions, including a ‘Holiday Surprise' edition." For those with a bit more money to spend, Areyano raves about "the DC ‘New 52' figures ... they're these cool statues that run about $40. There's one for each character from the Justice League." Even Zan and Jayna? 1-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 1-10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 12223 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.537.1782
It's a bit of a haul, but believe me, there's no better outpost for Rebel-scum gift shopping than Sucher and Sons Star Wars Shop in Aberdeen. I spoke to Don Sucher, owner, operator and superfan. "There's over a thousand action figures in the package for under $10," he says, plus a variety of ship toys in the $20 neighborhood. But if you really want to drop a joy bomb on somebody's Christmas, check out Sucher's car-sized display model of the Millennium Falcon. It's incredibly rare and would set you back a mere $2,500. That's a pittance for the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. ... I know, that doesn't make any sense. It's still smarter than giant robots that turn into cars and have fistfights. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 413 E. Wishkah St., Aberdeen, 360.970.7080
Finally, I called Casey Bruce, co-owner of my favorite comics shop, Danger Room in Oly. For mainstream readers, he recommends comic series tied to other media projects: "You know, The Walking Dead, or Thor, The Avengers," he says. "We have all the book collections. They run about $15, $20 each." I asked him about games, of which the store carries dozens. "One of our top sellers, and one I've played and enjoyed, is called Robo Rally. It's made by the same people who made Magic: the Gathering." That game costs $50. For the true comics fan, however, Bruce suggests "Infinite Kung Fu, a graphic novel in the spirit of a '70s kung fu movie. The art's really nice, plus there's zombies and stuff." Win-win! 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday, 201 4th Ave. W, Olympia, 360.705.3050
The truth is you can walk into any of these places, point in any direction, and basically just buy the first thing that catches your eye. I accept any or all such gifts; please feel free to drop them by the Volcano office in Lakewood. Also, my wife Amanda has her eye on Edgar Wright's "Cornetto trilogy" on Blu-ray, for which she would thank you kindly.
Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and may Santa Claus conquer the Martians.
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