Princeton WannaBe Blog

Friday, March 8

3:14 pm: Pi Day Pricing & Pi Day Princeton Video Contest Submissions Begin

Contestants 18 years and younger from all over the planet upload videos into our Geek Zone!
Content must include celebration of Pi & Einstein’s Birthday and run LESS than 3.14 minutes
On Pi Day, we’ll skype the winner at 3:14p to let them know we’re sending a check for $314.15!

Share your Geek Freak Style and Pi Day fun online on our Facebook & twitter pages!

Saturday, March 9

10:00 am – 11:00 am: Kids’ Violin Contest – Princeton Public Library, Community Room – Sponsored by Princeton Symphony Orchestra & Coordinated Wealth Management

Practice your “Twinkle Variations” or “Lightly Row!” Grab your violin and get ready for a Kids’ Violin Contest, part of Pi Day Princeton’s weekend-long celebration of Albert Einstein’s birthday. Einstein is known to have loved to play the violin – he even played in the Westminster Community Orchestra – and he was also very fond of children, so it’s fitting that his birthday celebration should include young violinists.

• For ages 3yrs-6yrs
• Participants should come prepared to play one piece for beginning violin, such as a selection from the Suzuki repertoire. To inquire for more information, please email mlaing@princetonsymphony.org
• This friendly contest will be judged by members of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra staff, and extra credit will be awarded to contestants who come dressed as Einstein!
• The first-place winner is awarded $314.15!
• There is no advanced registration. Simply arrive by 9:30am and report to The Genius Zone inside the Princeton Public Library lobby to compete in this event! If your child is dressing like Einstein, be sure to register for the Einstein Look A Like Contest being held at 11:00am!
• Courtesy of Coordinated Wealth Management

10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Princeton University Art Museum

Did you know that the Princeton University Art Museum has artwork by contemporaries of Albert Einstein? The museum less than 2 city blocks away and now is a GREAT time to go to Princeton University campus and check out the works of Degas, Monet and Picasso FOR FREE!

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

For children ages 6 – 12
Tickets: $5 child / $4 HSP members
(1 adult included with each child; additional adults are $5)
158 Nassau Street, Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian through examination of photographs and his personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake!

Space is limited. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 or e-mail eve@princetonhistory.org to reserve a space.

11:00 am: Einstein Look-A-Like Contest – Princeton Public Library, Community Room, Sponsored by Princeton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau and Kopps Cycle Shop

• Fun for all ages
• Contestants may portray any age of Einstein.
• Is Pi Day YOUR BIRTHDAY? You can be one of our lifetime judges! Mayor Liz Lempert and members of the Princeton Council will join the judges in honor of consolidation!
• Contestants 18 yrs and younger are eligible to win $314.15 AND a bike from Kopp’s Cycle Shop for the retail value of $314.15!
• There is no advanced registration. Simply arrive by 10:30am and report to The Geek Zone inside the Princeton Public Library lobby to compete in this event!
• Courtesy of Princeton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau & Kopps Cycle Shop

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Ultimate Brain Teaser Hour – Princeton Public Library, Community Room – Sponsored by Princeton Black Squirrel

This event is FUN for the whole family and guaranteed to make your head hurt! The audience will try to solve riddles, logic problems and mind puzzles. Each participant receives a small gift from Pi Day Princeton just for trying!

2:00 pm: PiGami – Princeton Public Library, 2nd Floor – Fireplace Area

Paper folding origami grandmaster Akira Yoshizawa’s birthday is March 14th! Come to the Princeton Public Library and create your own origami masterpieces with members of the Princeton Origami club. You will even see a demonstration of how to fold a piece of paper into a slice of pie!

2:30 pm: Princeton University Cube Club – Princeton Public Library, Community Room

Yes! Yes! Yes! The Princeton University Cube Club is coming back to demonstrate how to solve a Rubik’s Cube. This is ALWAYS a standing room only event, regardless of where we hold it in the Library. Grab your cube and join the fun!

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

For children ages 6 – 12
Tickets: $5 child / $4 HSP members
(1 adult included with each child; additional adults are $5)
158 Nassau Street, Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian through examination of photographs and his personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake!

Space is limited. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 or e-mail eve@princetonhistory.org to reserve a space.

6:30 pm: Woodrow Wilson Centennial Gala Dinner – Nassau Club

Celebrate one of Princeton’s political geniuses at this Gala Dinner honoring the centennial of Woodrow Wilson’s Inauguration as the 28th President of the United States of America. Woodrow Wilson was living in Princeton when he was elected in November 1912 to be the leader of our nation – how genius is that? To order your tickets to this very special, once-in-a-lifetime events, please visit: http://wilsongala.eventbrite.com
$100 per person

7:30 pm: An Evening of Physico-Mathematica-Logical Music and Comedy – Arts Council of Princeton

The Princeton Theatre Experiment in collaboration with the Arts Council of Princeton presents “An Evening of Physico-Mathematica-Logical Music and Comedy.” The show is a mashup of super smart comedy worthy of Princeton’s Ph.D. set and musical compositions and improvisations inspired by concepts mathematical.  The line up so far:  Pi Experince with “Go-go boot jazz” bassist Wilbo Wright, saxophone/synth wizard Eric Haltmeier and Box Project guitarist Jeff Nathanson (also Arts Council of Princeton Director) together with playful Princeton faculty:  Bonnie Bassler, molecular biologist; Howard Stone, engineer; and Ned Wingreen, condensed matter physicist!
JUST IN: Concert pianist and former Institute for Advanced Study artist-in-residence Robert Taub will introduce and perform a Milton Babbitt piece as part of the evening’s offerings.  Join us for 90 minutes of heady fun! 

Tickets: $5 general / $3.14 ACP members, students and seniors

Sunday, March 10

(Don’t forget to move your clock forward on March 10th!)

11:00 am: Pie Eating Contest – McCaffrey’s, Princeton Shopping Center, Upstairs in sit down dining area – Sponsored by McCaffrey’s of Princeton

• Contestant Age Groups: Youth 4yrs-8yrs and 9yrs-13yrs,
  Teen 14yrs-18yrs, Adult 19yrs and up.
• Participants must sign waivers.
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
• Adults will consume a regular size pie.
• Youths will consume a miniature size pie.
• There is no advanced registration. Simply arrive by 10:15am and report to the 2nd floor inside McCaffrey’s to compete in this hysterical event!

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

For children ages 6 – 12
Tickets: $5 child / $4 HSP members
(1 adult included with each child; additional adults are $5)
158 Nassau Street, Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian through examination of photographs and his personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake!

Space is limited. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 or e-mail eve@princetonhistory.org to reserve a space.

12:00 pm – 1:11 pm: Dinky Train rides with Einstein

Start the Sunday festivities off right! Be like Einstein and ride the Dinky train into Princeton! Meet Einstein, his mother, first girlfriend, first wife, secretary and good friends. Be sure to ask “Einstein” where he is going on the train because sometimes he forgets! If you’ve ever had breakfast with Cinderella in the Disney castle, this event will give that memory a run for its money!

• Departing Princeton Station – 12:00pm, 12:27pm, 1:00pm
• Departing Princeton Junction Station – 12:11pm, 12:37pm, 1:11pm
• $2.75 per adult each way, up to two kids (ages 5-11) can ride free with a passenger paying any valid fare

1:00 pm – ?: Pi Recitation Contest – Princeton Public Library, Community Room – Sponsored by Princeton University

Marc Umile, 2007 Pi Recitation North American Champion with over 15,000 digits of Pi, MIGHT be able to join us to cheer on the contestants! Either way, click here to learn Marc’s training secrets!

• Contestant Age Groups: Youth 7yrs-13yrs, Teen 14yrs-18yrs
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
• Contestant from the Youth Category is awarded $314.15!
• This year, guest pi recitation judges include Gareth Conway, Age 11 and  2 X Pi Day Princeton champion and his father, John Conway, Professor of Mathematics and John Von Neumann Distinguished  Professor in Applied and Computational Mathematics at Princeton University!!!!
• There is no advanced registration. Simply arrive by 12:30pm and report to The Genius Zone inside the Princeton Public Library lobby to compete in this event!
• Courtesy of Princeton University

2:30 pm: Pie Judging Contest – Yankee Doodle Tap Room, Nassau Inn – Sponsored by Princeton Unwrapped & Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics – Dr. Huckel & Dr. Balescu –

• Move over Top Chef! It’s a GLOVES OFF competition in Princeton!
• The residents of Princeton determine the winner of the coveted “Best Tasting Pie in Princeton” award.
• Winning Baker is awarded $314.15!
• Beginning at 2:30pm, the first 50 guests to arrive will be the judges. They will receive small samples of professionally baked pie submissions and choose the winning pie!
• Courtesy of Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics – Dr. Huckel & Dr. Balescu

3:14 pm – 4:00 pm: Pie Throwing – Palmer Square Green – Sponsored by Palmer Square Management

• Bring your favorite friend or frenemy to this hysterical event!
• $1 per throw – all proceeds to benefit 101: A non profit volunteer organization dedicated to helping Princeton High School graduates in need of financial assistance.

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Guided “Insiders Only” Tour by Re-Enactors – Sponsored by Princeton Tour Company & Landau’s

We admit it, Einstein’s mother was built for fame and this tour proves it! Guests will start in the lobby of the Princeton Public Library and weave through downtown Princeton. Pauline will be telling her version of her son’s life as she takes her guests to see little known places throughout town. Think you know Princeton? Pauline will show you where Einstein used to get his hair cut and even a secret plaque on campus outlining his commute from his house! Along her route, Robert Oppenheimer will pay the group a visit and the tour ends with Einstein himself inside the Einstein museum at 1o2 Nassau Street inside internationally acclaimed family-owned Landau’s – The World’s Most Beautiful Woolens!

• Pauline, Einstein’s mother
  played by Donna Renner – mom to the owner of Princeton Tour Company
• Albert Einstein
  played by Bill Agress – professional re-enacter for AT&T
• Robert Oppenheimer
  played by Henry Vega – Administration, Princeton University Art Museum

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

For children ages 6 – 12
Tickets: $5 child / $4 HSP members
(1 adult included with each child; additional adults are $5)
158 Nassau Street, Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian through examination of photographs and his personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake!

Space is limited. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 or e-mail eve@princetonhistory.org to reserve a space.

4:00 pm: Pi Social – Princeton Public Library, Community Room – Featuring PiFight, The Einstein Alley Rock and Roll Band

Princeton’s Geek Freak Weekend wraps up with a rock and roll birthday party honoring Albert Einstein. Back by popular demand is Pi Fight, the official Einstein Alley rock ‘n’ roll band, playing a mix of songs for all ages to enjoy — dancing will be encouraged but not required. Performance starts at 4 pm with a break at 5 pm for singing Happy Birthday to Albert!

Thursday, March 14

Happy Birthday Einstein! Happy Pi Day!

3:14 am: Visit www.PiDayPrinceton.com

• DEADLINE to submit your video for the Worldwide Pi Day Princeton Video Contest
• Find out winners of challenges
• See photos and videos of the events
• Congratulatory shout-outs to winners

11:00 am: Walking Tour of Einstein’s Neighborhood – Sponsored by Princeton Tour Company

You’ll see Albert Einstein’s homes (he lived in two places, not just 112 Mercer) while you hear all about his home life, his friendships with other geniuses (Robert Oppenheimer, Kurt Godel, and John von Nuemann – they lived in Princeton too) and Einstein’s remarkable humanitarian efforts as well!

• $3.14 per person – All proceeds benefit the Paul Robeson Foundation
• Tours begin at 116 Nassau Street INSIDE the Princeton University U-Store.  Please email princetonmimi@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

3:14 pm: World Premiere & Announcement of the Pi Day Princeton Video Winner! – Sponsored by princeton genius tours

• Video must be received by 3:14am on Pi Day & content must include celebration of Pi & Einstein’s Birthday
• Video will be judged on Pi Day by Princeton residents inside small world coffee from 9a- 10a and 1p – 2p.
• Contestants 18 yrs and younger from all over the planet should send videos to princetonmimi@gmail.com
  
• We’ll call the winner at 3:14p to let them know we’re sending a check for $314.15!

Share your Geek Freak Style and Pi Day fun online on our Facebook & twitter pages!