Geeks of Westchester, assemble!
No longer are we confined to the dank basements and suffocating attics messing with our asthma. No longer are we the beautiful flower clinging to the wall as the world dances by. No longer are we stuck on the outside looking in. No, we are the mainstream now, and we’re wiping away the stereotypes. Since the turn of the century, we’ve ushered in the age of Marvel movies; we’re the reason your mother knows where Middle Earth is and that it has nothing to do with George R.R. Martin; and when The Big Bang Theory gets yet another spinoff after Young Sheldon, know that is our doing, too.
So, why shouldn’t Westchester revel in this? The county is full of geeks. And, more importantly, it’s filled with activities for geeks to do.
geek (noun) Definition per dictionary.com
a person who has excessive enthusiasm for and some expertise about a specialized subject or activity: a foreign-film geek.
Sports
Did you know geeks play sports? Of course we do. And while all major sports have their geek representation (shout out Tim Duncan, former NBA star, D&D player and renaissance fairgoer!), many of us lack coordination and upper body strength, so we flock to arenas of a different sort, though these tests of might are no less challenging and no less rewarding. Often, it’s the brain that gets the biggest workout.
Chess
How to put this? Chess is the king of all geek sports. With origins dating as far back as the seventh century, chess has become one of the world’s most popular games, and ever since the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the debut of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, the sport has surged to even greater heights. At the Westchester Chess Club in Scarsdale, players of all ages can meet up for casual games or sign up for tournaments to test their mettle. Not sure you’re up to snuff? The club can put you in touch with local instructors to improve your game. Just want to watch? That’s fine too. Simply head on over and enjoy the friendly competition. The club even hosts lectures from some of the area’s greatest players, an invaluable opportunity for beginners and experts alike. Or you can pay your dues, strengthen your play and ranking, and immerse yourself in the true sport of champions.
Esports
And finally, there’s the sport of tomorrow. Esports, short for electronic sports, are video game competitions that have been gradually building an audience since 1972 when Stanford University hosted a tournament for Spacewar!, in which the winner received (drumroll, please) a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine. Since then, a lot has changed. There are now competitions that have prize pools of more than $25 million. And the top esports players can easily earn more than $1 million a year, complete with sponsorships and devoted fan bases. There are even prominent names that have invested in esports leagues, such as former basketball stars Shaquille O’Neal and Jeremy Lin. And whether you’re a newb or seeking to go pro, Encore Esports in New Rochelle is the place for you. This lounge holds tournaments for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Tekken 8; it has PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox consoles, and numerous computers for you to begin the battle. There are couches to watch livestreams, a snack bar to fuel your late-night sessions, and card and board games if you want something more tactile. And for just $10, you can play all day (the space closes at 2 a.m.).
Ping Pong
Ping pong, or, more formally, table tennis (yes, it is an Olympic sport), is far more intricate than it seems on the surface. Whether you’re on offense or defense, you have multiple ways to strike the ball. There are even two entire families of grips for holding the paddle. And in the blink of an eye, as the ball whips and curves your way, you must decide how you’re going to counter (backspin? topspin? side? cork?). As the body moves, the mind cannot rest; it’s always calculating, always searching for an edge. The people at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville know all about this. The center is the premier spot for competitive play. There are 30 regulation-sized tables within a 21,000-square-foot facility, drawing some of the very best players not just in North America, but in the world, for tournaments and league nights. But even if you’re not an expert — or not even rated — you can come down and participate, get lessons from dynamic instructors, and join an amazing, supportive community. “We’re very welcoming here,” says Will Shortz, founder and famed New York Times crossword editor (geek icon status confirmed!). “I’ve been to over 250 clubs, and we’re the friendliest elite club there is. We have kids in grade school, and from there, it goes all the way up. Our members are from 35 different countries; there are absolute beginners and the very top pros.”
So, is the sport called ping pong or table tennis? “Well, I like to say ping pong is the game, and table tennis is the sport,” Shortz says. Geek heaven.
geek (verb, used without object) Definition per dictionary.com
to be overexcited about a specialized subject or activity, or to talk about it with excessive enthusiasm (usually followed by out): I could geek out about sci-fi for hours.
Collectibles
Geeks like to collect. We don’t know why. It’s just a compulsion we have. And it can be anything: watches, old computers, typewriters, lunch boxes, guitars, stamps, coins, you name it. Although the origins of collecting can’t be pinpointed to a certain time and place, it was in the Victorian era that things really began to take off, with collectors keeping their treasures in a cabinet of curiosities (or wonder rooms), which also led to some of the first museums in Europe. You go through any geek collector’s house today, and the feeling is similar. When we collect, we really collect.
Sports Cards
Sports cards go even further back than comics, but they weren’t always held sacred, often getting stuck in bicycle spokes or drawn on in humorous ways. The very first cards were used as advertisements for shops or as structural support in packs of cigarettes. Compare that to today, when they’re kept behind plastic, graded, and sold for astronomical prices. It’s a market valued at nearly $10 billion in 2022, and it’s expected to double by 2030. And although geeks might not play these sports, they’ll collect the heck out of them. One of the best places to do that is at American Legends in Scarsdale. In this shop, “the four major sports are firing on all cylinders right now,” says owner Mark Rubin, who will buy and sell cards dating to the early 1900s. “We cover all budgets.” You can purchase individual cards, packs, even boxes. And there’s plenty of signed memorabilia too. This is card collecting at its most serious and fun, and American Legends has been doing it for 31 years. “It’s not exclusively men coming into the store anymore,” he says. “It’s women, children, families. Collecting has exploded since the pandemic.” And here in Westchester, it shows no sign of slowing down.
Toys & Figures
In 2021, the toy collectibles market was valued at $12.5 billion, and by 2032, it’s estimated to be more than $35 billion. So, yes, this is a lucrative business. However, unlike comic books and sports cards, action figures are not nearly as profitable as investments. While some, like original G.I. Joe figures or Teddy Ruxpin dolls, can sell for thousands, most collectors just like to display their figures. Many don’t even keep the boxes. Not that it matters to them. This is a passion, often nostalgia-fueled, and the pleasure is in the collecting and displaying. At Undiscovered Realm in White Plains, you can find all sorts of collectibles, but the figures in particular cover the gamut, from Masters of the Universe, Star Wars, Disney, and Nintendo, all the way to anime and manga from Japan. “Anime is the hottest thing in the world right now,” owner Chris Wilcock says. “Post-pandemic, it’s this generation’s Marvel and DC, their Star Wars.” Some figures are vinyl, some are retro, and some are signed. There are blind boxes and designer brands, LEGO exclusives, and model kits. Almost everything you can think of. And there’s plenty of Funko Pop!. “We have tens of thousands of Funkos,” Wilcock says. “We’re one of the biggest Funko carriers around. And if it’s not in our store, it’s on our website.” Discover Undiscovered Realm and add to your own personal museum.
Vinyl
Now, record collectors across the world are going to tell you that when it comes down to it, they’re pretty cool people. Hip, even. And they’d be right. But make no mistake, they’re also geeks. They’ll tell you vinyl sounds better than any other format, that it’s also a piece of visual art begging to be displayed, and they’ll say collecting vinyl can be a valuable investment. Then they’ll go and reorganize their collection for the hundredth time. The people at Clockwork Records in Hastings-on-Hudson know all about it. First off, the name, sign, and entire decor is a riff on Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, a geek’s filmic delight and a signal that you’re entering a collector’s haven. Though the shop specializes in 1960s rock, expect everything from metal to jazz, prog and ska, even novelty records. So, sure, there are hipsters out there showing off their vinyl collection filled with all the bands you’d expect. But, for geeks like us? It’s all about finding those rare gems, and the people at Clockwork Records are just the ones to help you out. Now go get crate digging!
Comic Books
The first thing one thinks of when putting the words “geek” and “collectibles” together is comic books. While parents rarely saw the value in hoarding these stapled pamphlets, geeks have always appreciated what these stories held, storing each issue in plastic and long boxes for safekeeping. Nowadays you can even have them graded and sealed, and they can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions. To satisfy these desires, Squiggy’s Dugout opened in 1988, and it’s been in New Rochelle since 1992. The store has everything you’re looking for, from today’s hottest books and graphic novels to an array of back issues. Worried about missing your favorite comic book the day it’s released? Sign up for the pull list and never be left without again. Need some money to purchase those new issues? Squiggy’s will buy comics too. And don’t forget about Free Comic Book Day every May, and the many sales Squiggy’s offers to go along with it. The place is a paradise.
geek (noun) Definition per dictionary.com
a digital technology expert or enthusiast (a term of pride as self-reference, but often used disparagingly by others).
Games
Geeks love to game. And it’s not just video games. Consider tabletop gaming. This can include anything from board games, card games, dice games, role-playing games, strategy games, tile-based … the list goes on. Then there are theatrical games, where geeks get into costume and act out the adventures they play on their tabletops in real time or participate in scenarios where skill sets are put on full display IRL [in real life]. Full immersion is what geeks are looking for, a place where they can escape one reality and enter another. And these next activities are as close as we can get — for now.
Dungeons & Dragons (& friends)
Gary Gygax’s 1974 co-creation, Dungeons & Dragons, or just D&D to the initiated, rules over all: It’s in both the National Toy Hall of Fame and Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. But plenty of other games live in the D&D neighborhood, like Magic: The Gathering and Warhammer (Henry Cavill, represent!). And let’s not forget board games that can go from simple (Catan) to ultra complex (Gloomhaven). Well, you can play all these and more at The 3rd Universe in Croton-on-Hudson and at The Rift in Cortlandt Manor. There are also Pokemon leagues, Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments, release parties, and so much more to experience in these welcoming geek havens. Check the calendars, pick a night, grab some friends, and enter a whole new world of fun.
Escape Rooms
Escape rooms seem to have been invented by geeks, for geeks. The idea comes from a geeky subgenre of point-and-click adventure video games after all. What better way to show our problem-solving skills and teamwork than under pressure in a gamelike atmosphere where we get to feel like it’s all real? In these intriguingly designed rooms, you’ll be faced with riddles, cyphers, puzzles, and more. And at the Puzzle Parlour in White Plains, you have a choice of four types of escape rooms, each varying in difficulty. You have one hour to escape before your friend becomes a vampire or your chance to expose an alien conspiracy is blown. As many as eight people can participate, but if you’re feeling bold, you and a partner can try the challenges on your own. Do you have what it takes?
Virtual Reality
Geeks love futurist technology — a glimpse into what awaits. And although VR is becoming more popular in homes, sometimes you need more space and better equipment so the experience becomes truly immersive. The Edge VR in Croton-on-Hudson will bring you all the way there. “This is not an arcade,” says founder Adam Anfiteatro. No need for the heavy packs, tethers, or cumbersome headsets you find elsewhere. This place has the very latest in technology, including a groundbreaking magnetically tracked system and games specifically made in-house for the ultimate VR experience. There are even interactive props! Best of all, you can play by yourself or with friends. “It’s a full multiplayer experience,” Anfiteatro says. Edge VR is light years from most gaming experiences, and you’ll even receive a complimentary video of your adventures to prove it. Go ahead and live out your ultimate geek fantasy.
Cosplay
Geeks also love to dress up. But when we go out for a night on the town, it usually means we’re in character. Deep in character. And, no, this isn’t Halloween, which we love too, but cosplay, short for costumed play. This can mean any kind of dramatic representation, but it usually falls into the realms of movies, anime, comic books, and video games. The costumes can be incredibly detailed, often homemade. But for many of us, we’re not budding designers or craft superstars, so we need another way to put together our costumes, even if it’s just a wig or accessory. And for that need, Westchester has an answer. Beyond Costumes in Yonkers is a 12,000-square-foot warehouse with more than 30,000 costumes, wigs, accessories, makeup, props — everything you could possibly need to stand out at the next convention. “I’m preserving culture here,” Yon Zweibon says. “It feeds my soul.” She’s owned Beyond Costumes for 25 years now and insists that the moment you walk into her store your mind will be blown by the sheer abundance of options to rent or buy. She’ll greet you as you enter, and within seconds, you’ll see that she is absolutely right.
Michael Kozlowsky, a geek, is the author of five novels, including Scarecrow Has a Gun. For 10 years, he has lived in Croton-on-Hudson with his wife, two daughters, and their beagle Huxley, none of whom are geeks…yet.
