Nerd out with us on Wednesday, August 14th! Be there and be square!
Doors at 7:00, talks at 8 PM. $5 cover.
Mercury Bar 1154 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, HI 96813
Nerd Nite #7: Chameleons, Chocolate and Dance! Wednesday, August 14
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“Why Hawaiian chocolate is so damn good!” By Nat Bletter
Why is Hawaii one of the best and most interesting places in the world to grow cacao and make chocolate despite being tough since this is the coldest place in the world where cacao grows, dubbing Hawaii “The North Pole of Cacao” or even the “Pluto of Cacao”. If you can get around the cacao-shivering temperatures in Hawaii to ferment by following what we call “The Hawaii 5-I”, you can create some of the best and most unique tasting cacao & chocolate in the world. We might even give out some free samples of this now award-winning chocolate!
Dr. Nat Bletter has 15 years of experience in botany, documenting exotic fruits and vegetables, gathering food in the wild, herbal and traditional medicine, and exploring Asia, South America, Central America, and Africa. He has a Ph.D. in Ethnobotany from the City University of New York and New York Botanical Garden, where he researched medicinal plants of Peru, Mali, and the Guatemalan Mayans, ethnobotany, taste-modifying plants, and stimulant plants such as cacao, which has spurred him to start a traditional-ingredient, high-antioxidant, artisinal chocolate company Madre Chocolate. He now works at Madre making chocolate from scratch and developing new flavors based on his experience with the world’s vast array of flavors.
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“Physics and Fouettes: The Science of Dance” by Christina Comfort
- Evolution of Dance: Dance is often thought of as uniquely human, but many other animals also display “dances,” often to entice a mate. How does the purpose of dance vary across species? Why did dance develop in human culture in the first place, and how has it changed since the first caveman ever dropped it low?
- Physics of Dance: Basic physics principles can be employed to understand how balance, turns, and leaps work. A physical perspective on dance can also illustrate concepts and help to understand why certain body movements are more or less difficult. Get ready for a crash course in ballet physics!
Christina is an oceanographic research specialist at University of Hawaii studying environmental impacts of marine renewable energy. She is also an avid modern dancer, and dances with Convergence Dance Theatre and Upside-Down Dance in Honolulu.
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“, , , , , Chameleon: vicariance, adaptation, and awesomeness” By Chris Jury
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DJ Globes rocks Mercury with appropriately nerdy jams.