WW's weekly round-up of the nerdy events happening around Portland over the next seven days:

Monday, Jan. 30

DorkbotPDX 0x08
[ELECTRONICS] DorkbotPDX—the Portland chapter of "people doing strange things with electricity"—sometimes hosts talks by people doing strange things with electricity, and this is such an occasion. Jared Boone of ShareBrained Technology will be discussing I2C, while Travis Smith will talk about Orbduino, a robotic arm controlled by users online. Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave, 248-2900. 8 pm. Free. All ages.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

A River of Stories: Two historical perspectives of the Willamette River in Portland
[EDUTAINMENT] Learn more about all that water in the middle of our town. PSU Professor of Urban Studies Carl Abbott will discuss the river's role in our area's commerce and industry, while PSU Professor of History William L. Lang will talk about the development of the waterfront and the construction of the Portland seawall. Audience members will also be able to share their own "river stories," if that's the kind of thing that floats your boat (boom boom). Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Ave., 306-5198. 7 pm. Free. All ages.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Emi Lenox and Natalie Nourigat art exhibit
[COMICS] Local comic artists Emi Lenox, of EmiTown, and Natalie Nourigat, of upcoming graphic novel Between Gears, exhibit new work and release an original print which will be available to purchase at the show. Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St., 241-0227. 6 pm. Free. All ages.

Saturday, Feb. 4

Ladies Night at Things From Another World: Drink and Draw
[COMICS] Comic store Things From Another World is hosting its first ladies night, where chicks who love comics can get together to meet, sketch and drink booze. The night will start with a Q&A session, featuring Colleen Coover (Gingerbread Girl), Kelly Sue DeConnick (Supergirl), Cat Farris (Legend of Larsha 2), Alison Hallett (Portland Mercury Arts Editor), Emi Lenox (Emitown), Jen Van Meter (Avengers Solo), and Dark Horse Comics Executive Editor Diana Schutz, before the drinking and drawing begins. There will also be 10 percent off everything in store during the event—but too bad gents, it's ladies only. TFAW Hollywood, 4133 NE Sandy Blvd., 284-4693. 7 pm. Free.

Geeklesque Sallies Forth
[BURLESQUE] Critical Hit Burlesque—Portland's nerdiest burlesque night—is about to get even nerdier, with Geeklesque Sallies Forth, in which all the acts are based around the fantasy genre. The promoters promise "chainmail, swords, dragons, and fair maidens." Expect something like this:


Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Ave., 248-4700, 7:30 pm and 10 pm. $12 advance, $15 at the door. 21+.

The North Plan with the PDX Browncoats
[THEATER] Portland's Browncoats (that's people who are really, really into the TV show Firefly) are going to see Portland Center Stage's current production, The North Plan. Why? Because one of the actors, Fredric Lehne, was in an episode of Firefly. Actually, he's had bit parts on Supernatural, Ghost Whisperer, The X-Files, Sliders, Babylon 5, Time Trax, and many, many other geeky shows. Our critic didn't care much for the play, but if you're really, really into Firefly... Gerding Theater at the Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave. To sit with the Browncoats, RSVP on their Facebook event. 1 pm. $30.


The listing here are written by WW, but we crib events shamelessly from the Geek Portland calendar. Go there for more events and information.