Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
We still have a few more months before Game of Thrones returns to our screens and who knows when George RR Martin is going to get his next book finished. And while we can watch some of the kick ass characters on other shows (Hi, Natalie Dormer, love you!) - it’s just not enough.
Here’s a few ways to survive:
Soak yourself up in the fun facts about the show so that you can totally use to impress your friends:
Play games inspired by the show:
The new Game of Thrones online game by Microgaming, immerses fans in the mythology of the show. Imposing castles, misty backdrops and fire-breathing dragons are all part of the adventure. It’s not available until Dec. 2014, but that’s only days away! You can find online locations featuring this game at Microgaming Tribune as well as other nerdy betting games.
Get immersed in the books from the series and beyond:
My brother is a HUGE fan of the books and he is always giving me the details on what’s different between the show and the text. I mean, there are six freaking books to read! And a brand new universe with an encyclopedic volume to give you behind-the-scenes facts. Also, don’t forget about all the show’s art books.
Go Outside and Enjoy Winter like a true Northerner:
There’s something about putting on a pair of snow shoes and wandering through the woods that truly makes you feel like Jon Snow could be your brother. I’m a huge believer in embracing winter to survive it and perhaps putting on your best fake fur and throwing on a fuzzy winter hat that makes it all feel more bearable.
Sans all the be-headings, prostitution and murdering… you know, just enjoy the cool part where you live in a castle and wear inappropriately fancy clothing. I’ve always wanted to know how one rented a castle, because well it just seems like a great idea to go on a large trip with friends to a castle. Turns out there are a few sites out there.
If you want to stay in a castle similar to that of…
House Tyrell of Highgarden – Try Château de Challain
Located in France, the Château de Challain is all about luxury and romance - and with a family obsessed with who is marrying who, this castle seems like an appropriate venue with massive gardens and plenty of party space. You can rent it here.
House Stark of Winterfell – Try the Giant’s Ridge Lakefront
The idea of spending time in a castle in the middle of the winter might seem unfun, but one of my favorite family memories is spending a ton of time in this property in Biwabik, Minnesota. It’s a giant home, which feels like a rustic castle on the inside and presents you with so many beautiful views of winter mountains, it’s hard to imagine the Starks being more comfortable anywhere besides the harsh cold of Minnesota.
House Greyjoy of Pyke – Try the Castle of Aragon
There’s not much Greyjoy love to be found here, but their geographic perks make them worth considering for a future geek inspired vacation. Unlike the other Houses of Westeros, the Greyjoys sit atop their castle of Pyke ruling over the Iron Islands, which means their property is both hard to reach and difficult to navigate. That’s why the ancient Castle of Aragon is perfect. On an island near Ischia, Italy, the castle is so remote, you must use an ancient bridge built in 1438 by Alfonso of Aragon to access it.
House Lannister of Casterly Rock – Try the Ballyhannon Castle
If the Lannisters have one thing going for them, it’s their taste in real estate. The Lannister fortress is well protected, largely due to its location in Westeros, where it has been carved into a rock wall. Similarly, the Celtic Ballyhannon Castle is a 15th century dwelling which utilizes massive stone walls and honestly strikes you as impenetrable on first glance. You can rent it here.
Now if only I had planned a Game of Thrones premiere party far enough in advance to rent one of these castles… alas.
Winter is here. The crows have three eyes. Arya’s wandering and apparently not all that good at sword fighting after all. Meanwhile in the real world, I’m working on some scary stuff. Put your heart out there and see if the world coddles or stomps it kind of stuff. And for some reason, this quote from Game of Thrones seems to capture that feeling best.
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.”
I’m not taking down King’s Landing anytime soon, but fear… that’s a dangerous thing. It warps the mind and changes intention. It makes people foolish and steals their confidence. Sure a sword can kill you physically, but fear will kill your art.
So I made this quote into into a poster to remind myself that fear is the real enemy. And I must be brave. Free link to download after the jump.
It was a big TV weekend at our house. Doctor Who and Game of Thrones are back. This calls for something delicious. Resident food expert Emma Carew Grovum whipped up the perfect treat inspired by the land of direwolves and frozen zombies. These Coconut Cake Snowballs may not scare away a White Walker, but they are delicious.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Cake:
1 white or yellow cake recipe (you can use a box, I used this recipe)
Vanilla frosting:
Instructions after the jump:
“Stop being a cartographer and become an explorer.“ - Ray on GIRLS.
My head is all afloat with Doctor Who wibbly-wobbly, but last night’s GIRLS knocked me back into focus today because I realized that my favorite thing about GIRLS is the boys. And it needed to be said.
There is something quite wrong with that from a feminist perspective, but it’s a fact I’ve lived over and over that our most meaningful mentors and teachers don’t always have the same parts as we do. In GIRLS, these dudes are a necessary presence serving as storytelling devices to teach lessons to our protagonist 20-somethings on their listless journeys through love and sex and work and apartments. But while they teach, they are also acutely self-aware. Whenever they’re on screen it’s like a quick burst of air after suffocating on a balloon: Oh yes, there are a few people on this show that have a bit of self-awareness.
And while the cartographer line didn’t get a mention in most of the reviews I’ve read today, I’m walking around with it on repeat in my brainpod. Like some kind of karmic TV intervention I decided to revisit Doctor Who Series 6, Episode 10: Closing Time, in the same weekend as this GIRLS episode and it’s got me hooked on a new way of thinking…
