Being Geek Chic is a blog for stylish geeks, sophisticated nerds and people who enjoy the musings of a complete dork. Join us as we dream of driving the TARDIS, cuddle with our eBooks and test out an iPad sleeve. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi and a team of brilliant lady nerds. Meet the team.
I’m beyond excited to announce SherlockeDCC: The Official Party of The Baker Street Babes, Being Geek Chic, The Nerdy Girlie, Sherlock DC and Cara McGee. If you’re going to Comic Con - you can buy a ticket right now, right here!
Join us at Brick + Mortar Thursday July 18th from 6 - 9 p.m. for of sleuthing, tea, games, prizes! You DON’T need a SDCC badge to come either! This is an ALL AGES party!
We are going to be giving away insane prizes, like a SIGNED COPY OF A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA with the scribes of none other than Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Steven Moffat. There’s going to be comics, art prints, mugs, tea - lots and lots of great stuff, my friends. But that’s not it. Because if you want can’t go to Comic Con, you can still win that script and get some swag by supporting our IndieGoGo campaign.
Here’s how our fundraising is going to work:
All the tiers (except the sponsorship tiers) come with all kinds of great goods. BUT the bonus is that for every $1 that you give you get your name entered into the raffle once.
So $1 = 1 Entry to Win.
I’d love to meet you and wax poetic about all things Sherlock with you, so if you are going to be at SDCC, then get your ticket now.
If you will be there in spirit and want a chance to win the signed BBC script - simply support the IndieGoGo campaign at SherlockeDCC.com - and check out some of the other great incentives you can pick up there.
I’m full of SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE. Yeah. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE. That’s the only way to describe it. Star Trek Into Darkness is here, the tickets are bought, so don’t spoil it for me. I haven’t even seen this damn movie and I’m fangirling so hard over my favorite baddy. The Benny. The Cumber. The Benny Cumber.
Friends, let’s count the ways that Benedict Cumberbatch rules all fangirl hearts.
1. He’s psychotically talented.
2. He’s concerned about feminism.
3. He’s unbelievably smart.
Broody bad attitudes abound in my house this week. It’s kind of like this:
Oh Sherlock, you get me. The snow isn’t just falling. It’s accumulating. This is an important distinction for Minnesotans. Fine if it wants to fall, as long as it melts. But I’m trying to be in a good mood. I’m trying to be thankful. Here’s some things that help:
PwnLove is the coolest instagram account out there. It’s run by the super chic Kaitlin Stewart who is on a quest to wear a gaming inspired outfit every single day for a year. That’s right: 365 days straight. Check out her cool interview with the Geeky Hostess. I honestly don’t think I could do it, so mad props to K. Stew. (Obviously, she’s the cooler one.)
I’ll just go ahead and tell you now, there’s all kinds of spoiler-y shit ahead. So if you aren’t caught up on Doctor Who and Sherlock (by God, what are you even doing here if this is your situation!? Go watch it already!) then you may want to avert your eyes. Or just scroll past this post.
I think Steven Moffat has a thing for falling.
Our beloved Holmes jumps to his death in The Reichenbach Fall.
Amy and Rory risk their lives to be together by jumping many stories in a dramatic group hug.
Clara Oswald forces her way into the Doctor’s life, only to find herself falling off a cloud to her death moments later.
It’s not as if I had to scroll through years and years worth of scripts to find this shared theme. No, in fact it’s all recent history.
I think Steven Moffat is trying to tell me something.
I’ve been struggling lately with trusting the universe. I’m not an overly religious person, but if I was forced to describe my faith, I would say that Mother Nature is God and she is the all-knowing Mother of the universe. She gives life. She takes it away. She dreamed up the stars and wills them to be. She passed on her intuitions and plants the seeds of opportunity.
But just like any child, we must work hard to keep our Mother happy. We have to listen to her subtle lessons and respect her rules. We have to honor the life she gives and plant a few seedlings of our own. This is the deal and in exchange, she gives us the moon and the sun and the air in our lungs. It’s not a bad deal.
Even though I hold these beliefs, I haven’t been doing so hot with trusting it. Instead, I’ve been an angst ball, frustrated with the glacial pace of my career and dreams. Afraid of that intuitive voice in my gut that’s pointing to another path on the map and telling me to turn around.
And then these stories come along. They present scenarios in which the risk of losing one’s life must be faced or become an inevitability. A decision must be made. Jump. Don’t jump. Risk dying or live gloriously in the miraculous aftermath of surviving the fall. This is what Amy and Rory and Sherlock and Clara all share.
Great fiction and brilliant writing has this incredible ability to invade our lives and enlighten our realities. The key is that we don’t know it’s happening. We have to feel separated from the source. Once removed through fantasy or insanity, if you will. It’s why the Doctor is an alien. He has to be the “other” for us to better see our own humanity in him.
My love affair with Sherlock Holmes may have recently become intensified at the hands of Benedict Cumberbatch, but my long admiration for the character as a person goes far deeper than those cheekbones. Holmes is someone who trusts exactly what he sees. His vision, his observations and his talent are so deeply in tune with who he is that he never doubts himself. It’s an admirable quality. One I envy. From what I do for a living to where I live to who I should trust - there isn’t anything that I feel entirely certain about.
I knew that Reichenbach Fall (The Final Problem for those interested in reading the book) would end the way it did - but that’s the genius of what Moffat and Gatiss have done with the BBC Series. They’ve adapted it just enough so it felt entirely new to me. It was the first time I looked into the eyes of Sherlock Holmes and felt what I felt when I read the books. There’s a subtle moment in the final episode of Series 2 where you can see on Sherlock’s face that he isn’t sure about his plan. A rare crack in his bold persona. Failing meant certain death, but if we’re lucky, we will get to enjoy the pay off of his leap of faith later this year.
Which brings me to my beloved Doctor. Doctor, Doctor, Doctor.
“I never know why—I only know who.”
There really isn’t any act more brave or any sign of trust more bold than handing someone the key to your home. Or in this case, the key to your hearts. And as is the case with most companions, the instant rapport they feel with the Doctor often means they fly into space and danger without question. Or a toothbrush as far as I can tell. And so Clara dies on the precipice of her great adventure, because it was worth the risk.
Similarly, Amy and Rory risk their lives and their world because the very idea of being in this universe, or any other, without the hand of their love within grasp seemed unbearable. They fall into a new reality, but they do it together. Their trust for each other is as thick as the tension for me as a viewer.
So I stand here now on the precipice of my own challenges. My toes clench tight as I stare over the edge and see my greatest fears mingling among my greatest hopes. Do I trust myself to take the jump?
I think Steven Moffat is telling me something.
As promised, The Baker Street Babes, Part 2 are our Lady Geeks of the Week! Last week, we interviewed Amy, Ardy, and Lyndsay. This week, we present Maria, Taylor, and Kristina.
The Babes are a group of Sherlock Holmes fans who produce a (witty, charming, and highly successful) podcast in which they discuss “everything from canon to Cumberbatch, Charles Augustus Milverton to Jude Law, and dancing men to Jeremy Brett.”
Follow the Babes on Twitter @BakerStBabes.
Q: What has led you to your passion?
Maria: Concerning Sherlock Holmes: A general interest in Sherlock Holmes from my childhood on; but I only grew really passionate about it when I started looking into it during my British Studies classes at Uni where I went to several Doyle and Sherlock Holmes centered seminars. BBC’s Sherlock just rekindled that interest and turned it into something amazing. Concerning my passion in general, which is literature: Some of my oldest memories are of my parents of friends reading books to me. I started reading fairly soon, even though I am slightly dyslexic (which made writing essays and dictations in school extremely hard); I read fantastic fiction throughout my teenage years, but when I started University, I just fell head over heels for English Literature, mostly thanks to my extremely wonderful teachers (now colleagues). I just loved reading literature, talking about it, writing about it; and eventually I found that I’m pretty good at teaching it, too, so this is why I am now doing my doctoral thesis in EngLit and hope to stay at Uni and teach.
Taylor: I have a complete inability to simply like something. I have to become totally obsessed with things I enjoy. I like to immerse myself in things fully and always have. I became obsessed with The Lion King when I was in 5th grade and my room totally reflected. Lion King sheets, curtains, and even a laundry hamper. Now my room is like a shrine to all things British. My obsessions transfer into all forms of media too. Of my two favorite bands I have seen one live 50 times and the other, I lost count, but I think I’m somewhere in the 70’s now. No.
Kristina: Spontaneity. I’ve always been a geek, but about very different things. It changes ever so often and it’s mostly because I take a right instead of a left. It’s never planned. I got into the Holmesian world because I decided to see a play, met a Sherlock fan in line, and voila here I am. I’ve never been afraid of just taking the next step, okay, scratch that, I’ve been terrified, but I’ve never backed down. Passion is terrifying. Absolutely horribly terrifying, but that’s what makes it worth it in the end. I suppose I’ve always been very well mentored by so many amazing teachers, professors, and friends who have helped me along and pushed me when I needed to be pushed. While I haven’t always succeeded, I’d like to think I’m made them proud. That’s very important to me. I don’t really do things for myself, I’m always thinking of someone else.
Q: What inspires you in the world?
Maria: Kindness and patience. There is nothing more inspirational than people showing kindness to others without asking for anything in return. It makes me want to be kind and tolerant.
Taylor: Books, music, and social planning. It seems like those things are at opposite ends of the spectrum but while I always draw inspiration from books and music I seem to accomplish more in my efforts to organize groups of people with a shared love particular musicians and books.
Kristina: Travel. It’s a really easy answer for me. I’m an absolute nutter for travelling and experiencing a new culture gives me a high unlike anything else. I’ve been to places beautiful and war torn and both exotic and mundane. No matter where I go there is always something beautiful and something sad about it, and time and time again I’ve come to realize that even through all of the world’s differences, human beings are the same. The kindest people are those who have the least and the most beautiful places are those who have seen horrible things.
Q: When did you first realize you were “geeky?”
Maria: Well, I started reading fantastic literature as a child and stayed up night after night to read more and more; I guess that was when I knew. But it took me a while to understand that there’s a label for that kind of interest group :) I’m also very much into motor sports and movies and remember the weirdest tiny facts about things.
Taylor: I think it first really hit home the day I spent over $100 on a rare Lion King trading card in 5th grade. My collection is still only missing two cards and they were both only handed out at the Super Bowl in 1995, making them ultra rare.
Kristina: Probably when I was twelve and I found myself writing my own stories based off things I enjoyed. I devoured the Redwall series and so desperately wanted to be a white mouse named Danneal. I guess I have a think for mice as The Great Mouse Detective was my favourite movie of all time, and pretty much still is. It was at this time I discovered role playing and I basically wrote stories with other kids my age based on the Redwall series, people I’ve still friends with to this day actually. I just loved writing in these worlds and through that I started to write my own stories. I preferred writing and being in my own imagination than being out with friends or anything. I was the kid who doodled and wrote in class. I knew it was a bit weird, but it made me so happy, I didn’t care.
Q: If you could take any historical figure out for a drink, whom would you choose, and what would you drink?
Maria: Giovanni Battista Belzoni; and it’d be Whisky and I’d have him tell me his tales about excavating Egyptian tombs. (I’m also an Egyptologist, so some awesome first hand experience from back in the day would be amazing.)
Taylor: I really can’t answer this question. I’ve been thinking about it for about an hour now. I’d really like to have a drink with someone who could answer a big question or explain something to me. Like it would be cool to know what happened to Amelia Earhart, the Roanoke colonists, or Jimmy Hoffa. It would also be neat to know sit down with King Arthur and find out if/where Camelot existed and talk to Shakespeare about whether or not he actually wrote all of his plays. I’m better with current figures though.
Can I have a drink with Stephen Fry? Preferably a Pimm’s.
Kristina: So I studied history and archaeology at college. You have no idea how difficult a question this is! While I was eventually seduced by medieval history, my first love in history was Napoleon, so I’d have to say him. I have a soft spot for Nappy-poo, he was a fascinating person and clinking cosmopolitans with him would be a wild night. I’d ask about how he felt taking over Europe, why he wanted to, and his saucy love letters to Josephine. Seriously, read those, they are scandalous.
Q: What would you tell you 13-year-old self?
Maria: The Latin and English lessons you are taking in school will actually be helpful one day.
Taylor: If you start going to Jump, Little Children shows now you can see them way more than 50 times before the break up.
Kristina: Oh my. First off I’d tell myself to stop straightening my hair and then I’d say I’m sorry for how sucky the teens are going to be and that you won’t always be so lonely and you’ll make new friends and discover so much.
Q: What would be the title of your memoir?
Maria: “A life of coffee, books and laughter”
Taylor: Probably my twitter tagline. Books, Brits, and Bands: My Life as a Fan
Kristina: I think it’d have to be Into The Great Perhaps. I recently stumbled upon the quote “I go to seek a great perhaps,” which were the alleged last words of Francois Rebelais, a 16th century French humanist. While for him it may have been said with a more religious connotation, for me it’s all about just taking that leap of faith and taking a chance.
Post by Emma Bauer, who works as BGC’s official intern. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, history scholar, tea drinker, fashion devotee, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic.
Follow her on twitter: @emmalynnbauer
The Baker Street Babes are our Lady Geeks of the Week! The Babes are a group of Sherlock Holmes fans who produce a witty, charming, and highly successful podcast in which they discuss “everything from canon to Cumberbatch, Charles Augustus Milverton to Jude Law, and dancing men to Jeremy Brett.”
Being Geek Chic was chuffed to be able to interview a few of the Babes. This week, we’re featuring Amy, Ardy, and Lyndsay. Next week, we’ll treat you to a few more! Can’t wait another week for more Babes? Follow on Twitter @BakerStBabes.
Read on!
Q: What has led you to your passion?
Amy: My passion for all things Sherlock Holmes was kindled in 2010 when I re-read the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle after the BBC “Sherlock” series came out. I developed a passion for all things Holmesian and wrote my own novel about Holmes and Irene Adler, The Detective and The Woman, which was published by MX Publishing earlier this year.
Ardy: Depends which passion we’re talking. My first passion was reading, and that kicked off everything else, so my answer to this would have to be: the local public library in the town where I grew up. I read widely and indiscriminately when I was a kid, and somewhere in there were Lord of the Rings and the Sherlock Holmes stories, and the rest was history. I also owe a lot to my sixth-form English teacher, who kind of crystallized that passion for reading, and for stories. And, of course, I owe the fact that I’m on the Baker Street Babes to my friend Kristina Manente, who is awesome.
Lyndsay: When I read the Sherlock Holmes mysteries as a kid, I had no idea that massively fangirling over them would quite literally lead to my professional career. I read them so obsessively that I absorbed a lot of Doyle’s style, and my first published novel was a Sherlock Holmes pastiche called Dust and Shadow. Since then, I’ve been a novelist and short story writer and Sherlock Holmes commentator at large, and it’s all thanks to my childhood geek niche. Geeks, be aware: you can really rock this geek thing, and make it work for you. Own your inner geek. All we Babes have found each other through this very specific passion, and it has led to some truly amazing opportunities and friendships.
Q: What inspires you in the world?
Amy: I’m inspired when I see people being creative in positive ways, using their gifts and talents to uplift and encourage others and to bring light into our world. The Internet and other forms of media are amazing at facilitating this because they allow us to experience the joy of what people create all across this earth.
Ardy: People who follow their passions. Whether it’s an artist or a biologist or a musician or whatever, watching someone at work, doing something they love, is always special.
Lyndsay: Bravery, self-sacrifice, heroism that isn’t easy, protagonists who are good but not nice, antagonists who are wicked but sometimes right, noble people who struggle with giant flaws, eccentric forms of unconditional love.
Q: When did you first realize you were “geeky?”
Amy: I’ve always been geeky; I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t. I started reading Shakespeare on my own when I was about 10, and I’ve never stopped having geeky interests, whether in classic literature, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who, or any other of a myriad of things.
Ardy: Probably in school, in the not so fun way that I just didn’t really fit, I was sort of on a different planet from my peers and misunderstood a lot. Probably that’s part of every teenager’s experience, but I always think that for geeks, it’s tougher because there’s all this stuff in your head that you really can’t talk to anyone about. That’s actually one of the reasons that it makes me really happy to see kids at conventions. It’s only later in life, when I went to uni, that I met other people who loved the same stuff I did and were just as happy that there was someone to talk to, that I understood that “being a geek” was a thing and that it was okay and there were lots of others like me.
Lyndsay: I recall pretty clearly telling my mother when I was maybe thirteen that it was okay I had crazy hair and entirely mismatched thrift store clothes because I “didn’t want to be normal.” In retrospect, I have no idea what on earth I was yammering about, since I grew up in a Pacific Northwest mill town and I can guarantee you that I knew precisely zero “normal” people to base my distaste of normalcy on. I was operating in a vacuum on that one. Maybe I’d seen ”normal” people on TV or something and decided it wasn’t for me.
Q: If you could take any historical figure out for a drink, whom would you choose, and what would you drink?
Amy: Wow, that’s a hard question! I’m part Native American, and I would really love to meet Sacagawea and hear all about her life. She’s such an inspiring woman with an amazing history. I’d probably take her out to my favorite tea house and have a beautiful pot of Earl Grey.
Ardy: I think I’d want to have a Gin & Tonic with Queen Victoria.
Lyndsay: Can I say Sherlock Holmes? Please? Oh, all right. In that case, I would really love to take Samuel Clemens out for a stroll through the rolling countryside and have a little bourbon picnic with a bucket of ice and the whiskey of his choice. I would trust his judgment on the subject. I’d want to know all about newspaper reporting during the Silver Rush, and writing Huckleberry Finn, and a complete list of the best pranks he ever pulled, because I am sure they’d be stunners.
Q: What would you tell you 13-year-old self?
Amy: I think I’d tell my 13-year-old self to “just keep swimming” and never give up!
Ardy: I’d tell my 13-year-old self not to be so serious all the time and to take pride in being a geek. To enjoy life. And to never feel ashamed to be spending the summer holidays cooped up in her room with a book.
Lyndsay: I’d tell myself at that age, you know what, Lyndsay, you’re going to stay this geeky, and get even geekier—but it’s going to get so much less lonely later on, so just trust that you’re going to meet more of your peculiar kind. And many other peculiar kinds you’ll get on with like a forest fire.
Q: What would be the title of your memoir?
Amy: The title of my memoir would be People Would Be Less Likely to Think You’re Stupid than that You’re a Man, which is something my sister recently said to me in an attempt to bolster my flagging confidence.
Ardy: My memoir… dear God. “Over the Wires, Between the Bookshelves” would probably be apt, because literally and figuratively, that’s where I spent a lot of time in my life.
Lyndsay: I think it would be most appropriately titled It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time.
Post by Emma Bauer, who works as BGC’s official intern. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, history scholar, tea drinker, fashion devotee, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic.
Follow her on twitter: @emmalynnbauer
