Pi In The Sky

Celebrate the greatest day of the year with pastry and physicists.

By Adrienne So

To us, every day is pie day. Mmm, pie. For the math nerds who calculate among us, the celebration of Pi Day (named for the irrational number 3.14159265…) must wait until March 14 (3.14, get it?). But this year, the high holy day of mathematics and pastry puns will be celebrated here 24 hours early. "We used to have it on March 14 at 1:59 in the afternoon, but March 14 is a Saturday this year," said Lewis Clark College physics major Naoko Uno. So LC's Physics Club will instead host pie-eating and pie-throwing contests at 3 pm Friday, March 13, in the college's Olin Center. In the spirit of what is obviously the greatest day of the year, WW asked three physics professors to name their favorite kind of pie, and three bakers to name their favorite irrational number. Or any irrational number.

Hey, physics professors:

What’s your favorite pie?

RICHARD CRANDALL, Department of Physics director and adjunct professor, Reed College:

JONATHAN ABRAMSON, professor of physics, Portland State University:Sorry, I don't have the time for this. Too busy to eat pie.

JOHN FREEOUF, professor of physics, Portland State University:My favorite pie is key lime pie. I like the combination of sweet and tart it provides.

Hey, pie bakers:

What’s your favorite irrational number?

MELISSA PELLETIER, Random Order Bakery:

BECCA BURDA, Little T American Baker:How about you give me one and I'll say that's my favorite. E to the X? OK. This is the most interesting call I've had all day.

PETER, Bipartisan Cafe:One-third. It never ends! Oh, and we donate pies to the Metropolitan Learning Center every year for Pi Day.

DO IT: Lewis Clark College Pi Day takes place at the Olin Center for Chemistry and Physics, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, 768-7575. 3 pm Friday, March 13. Free.

Headout Picks

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11

PHOSPHORESCENT
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. 8:30 pm. $8. 21+.

THURSDAY MARCH 12

ANOUKVANDIJK DC
Oaks Park Dance Pavilion, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way. 8 pm Thursday, 7 and 9:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 8 pm Sunday. $16-$26. Call 1-800-982-2787 or visit whitebird.org for tickets.

FRIDAY MARCH 13

CHE
Che.
Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave., 223-4515. 7 pm Friday; 1:30 pm and 7 pm Saturday March 13-14. Che screens through March 19. $13.

[DOGS] BOUTIQUES UNLEASHED
The highlight of the dog fashion season—this pooches 'n' local celebs meet catwalk show raises money for DoveLewis' Pet Loss Support Program. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. 6:30 pm. $60. Visit dovelewis.org for tickets.

[SCREEN] BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Kara Thrace (and her special destiny) drop in for KUFO's free, weekly Battlestar Galactica screening at the Bagdad. Yep, Starbuck, a.k..a Katee Sackhoff. Live and answering your geek queries. Frak yes! Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 236-9234. 10 pm Fridays. Free. 21+.

SATURDAY MARCH 14

K.M.R.I.A
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 9 pm. $12. 21+.

MONDAY MARCH 16

SMALLPRESSAPALOOZA
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 5-10 pm. Free.

TUESDAY MARCH 17

THE BAD PLUS
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 8 pm. $20-$30. 21+ on the floor, all ages in the mezzanine.

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.