Research Club is a clubhouse for inquisitive people
July 27, 2010 8:25 AM Subscribe
Research Club is a clubhouse for inquisitive people
For the past year, I've been running a little organization called Research Club here in Portland, Oregon. It started out as a monthly dinner at my house, which then turned into a monthly series of free brunches and lectures at an art gallery downtown, and has now turned into a permanent location shared with micro-cinema, Grand Detour. The official line is that Research Club is a community-supported think-tank.
We host at least 4 events a month -- a First Friday exhibition, Study Hall, Homeroom, and Research Club Tonite.
Study Hall is when we invite members of the community to give presentations or lectures on things that capture their imagination, or projects they're working on. It's very similar to the brunches we used to host, except with less free food. We don't have video up from the two recent Study Halls yet (though the presentations were amazing -- Amber Case's new iPhone app, homemade balloons used to make open source maps of the gulf oil spill, theory and practice of joke telling, and the history of applause to name a few), but the lectures from the final brunch will give you a good idea of what it's like.
Homeroom is more like show-and-tell, and often turns into a mellow party.
Research Club Tonite is our monthly talk-show, filmed live in our space, on which we wrap up highlights from the month in Portland and interview artists and otherwise interesting people. We're still editing the pilot, but the next episode is going to be filmed this Saturday.
I'm posting this finally because
a) we now have enough content online that people who have never been can get a sense of what goes on here from the website
b) we're starting to teach classes. The first one starts this Saturday!
and
c) we're going on tour in Europe in October, and I'd like the input of the MeFi community on how we can make what we do interesting and valuable to people anywhere, not just in Portland.
All of our events are free, except Research Club Tonite (which is free to members) and most classes (which are discounted to members of RC, the Dill Pickle Club, Nationale, and the IPRC)
We also have a lately-neglected group blog, for which we are always seeking contributors. And then there's Draw Your Brain, which we also do.
and then there's our other project blog
We are always looking for new, inquisitive people who have ideas they want to share. Come on by!
For the past year, I've been running a little organization called Research Club here in Portland, Oregon. It started out as a monthly dinner at my house, which then turned into a monthly series of free brunches and lectures at an art gallery downtown, and has now turned into a permanent location shared with micro-cinema, Grand Detour. The official line is that Research Club is a community-supported think-tank.
We host at least 4 events a month -- a First Friday exhibition, Study Hall, Homeroom, and Research Club Tonite.
Study Hall is when we invite members of the community to give presentations or lectures on things that capture their imagination, or projects they're working on. It's very similar to the brunches we used to host, except with less free food. We don't have video up from the two recent Study Halls yet (though the presentations were amazing -- Amber Case's new iPhone app, homemade balloons used to make open source maps of the gulf oil spill, theory and practice of joke telling, and the history of applause to name a few), but the lectures from the final brunch will give you a good idea of what it's like.
Homeroom is more like show-and-tell, and often turns into a mellow party.
Research Club Tonite is our monthly talk-show, filmed live in our space, on which we wrap up highlights from the month in Portland and interview artists and otherwise interesting people. We're still editing the pilot, but the next episode is going to be filmed this Saturday.
I'm posting this finally because
a) we now have enough content online that people who have never been can get a sense of what goes on here from the website
b) we're starting to teach classes. The first one starts this Saturday!
and
c) we're going on tour in Europe in October, and I'd like the input of the MeFi community on how we can make what we do interesting and valuable to people anywhere, not just in Portland.
All of our events are free, except Research Club Tonite (which is free to members) and most classes (which are discounted to members of RC, the Dill Pickle Club, Nationale, and the IPRC)
We also have a lately-neglected group blog, for which we are always seeking contributors. And then there's Draw Your Brain, which we also do.
and then there's our other project blog
We are always looking for new, inquisitive people who have ideas they want to share. Come on by!
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
This is a wonderful idea. I wonder if, and hope that, other communities would be as receptive to it as yours.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 2:48 PM on July 29, 2010
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 2:48 PM on July 29, 2010
This sounds wonderful. Congrats on your venture going so well. I'd love to find something like it where I live.
posted by Georgina at 11:42 PM on July 29, 2010
posted by Georgina at 11:42 PM on July 29, 2010
I find this concept thriiling.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:31 AM on July 30, 2010
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:31 AM on July 30, 2010
Very cool and neat. Like a Salon on steroids! Can we steal/adapt this idea?
posted by cross_impact at 2:33 PM on August 1, 2010
posted by cross_impact at 2:33 PM on August 1, 2010
This rules. Thanks so much for doing it. I live in Portland and would love to get plugged in, but am having trouble finding out how to do so on your website. Is there an email list?
posted by stewieandthedude at 2:52 PM on August 1, 2010
posted by stewieandthedude at 2:52 PM on August 1, 2010
This looks cool as hell. Too bad I'm in LA
posted by klangklangston at 9:19 PM on November 12, 2010
posted by klangklangston at 9:19 PM on November 12, 2010
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posted by sleepy pete at 10:28 AM on July 27, 2010