Ready for Geek Freak Weekend/Pi Day Princeton?

Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 11 at 2 a.m. – Set your clocks ahead 1 hour

Friday, March 9

3:14 p.m.: Pi Day Pricing Begins. Check out all the details here.

3:14 p.m.: Genius Accommodations check-in begins. These hotels have some pretty clever ideas. Check out all the details here. 

6:30 p.m.: Guest speaker – Alan Lightman, author of Einstein’s Dreams – Princeton Public Library, Community Room. He will speak about the relationships between the sciences and the humanities.

Pi Day Book Groups – Princeton Public Library, Community Room

This year’s Pi Day Book Pick is Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman. Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, when he worked in a patent office in Switzerland. As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over. In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar.Throughout the weekend the Library will be hosting a number of reading groups and will provide multiple copies of the book. Book group meeting times:

• Friday, March 9 at 10:30am – Library
• Sunday, March 11 at 9:30 am – location TBD

Saturday, March 10

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Kids’ Violin Contest – Princeton Public Library, Community Room 

Practice your “Twinkle Variations” or “Lightly Row!” Grab your violin and get ready for a Kids’ Violin Contest, part of Pi Day Princeton’s weekend-long celebration of Albert Einstein’s birthday (which happens to be 3-14!). Einstein is known to have loved to play the violin – he even played in the Westminster Community Orchestra – and he was also very fond of children, so it’s fitting that his birthday celebration should include young violinists. For ages 3yrs-6yrs. Participants should come prepared to play one piece for beginning violin, such as a selection from the Suzuki repertoire. This friendly contest will be judged by members of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra staff, and extra credit will be awarded to contestants who come dressed as Einstein! The first-place winner will receive $314.15.

10 a.m. – noon: Princeton University Art Museum

Did you know that the Princeton University Art Museum has artwork by contemporaries of Albert Einstein? The museum less than two city blocks away and now is a great time to go to Princeton University campus and check out the works of Degas, Monet and Picasso for free.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Hourly Trolley Tours of Einstein’s Neighborhood and Office Park

This route will take you to Einstein’s residences and office building. Mimi Omiecinski, owner of Princeton Tour Company, will lead you through the famous streets while telling everything you wanted to know about Time Magazine’s Man of the Century. By the end of this tour, you’ll understand why Einstein called Princeton paradise! 30 minute tours, Free, first come, first seated. Trolley leaves from Princeton Public Library every hour on the hour beginning at 11 a.m.

11 a.m.–noon: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian on a tour of Einstein at Home, featuring his own furniture and personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake! For children ages 6 – 12,  $5 child / $4 HSP members, 158 Nassau Street. Space is limited to 15 children. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 to reserve a space.

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Mathlete Challenge – Princeton Public Library, Community Room

The Mathlete Challenge is made up of a series of Speed and Timed rounds followed by a final Championship round. The entire challenge including time for registration and awards will be approximately two hours. The actual challenge portion will be about 90 minutes.Local “mathemagician,” Thomas Draper, will lead a warm-up for contestants by teaching mental math tricks, including one of Einstein’s favorites. The entrepreneurs of Tigerlabs will add to the fun by presenting some of the math problems through their “Einstein” Anybots telepresence robot. Tigerlabs is a seed fund, hackspace, and entrepreneurship center based in Princeton. 

• Speed Round – Mathletes compete head-to-head, racing against each other and the clock to be the first to answer correctly within the alotted time.
• Timed Round – Mathletes are given a series of problems and race against the clock to get the most right within the allotted time.
• Championship Round – the top Mathletes from the Speed and Timed rounds face off against each other to determine the winner!
• Middle School Aged Youth – grades 6 through 8
• Winning Contestant will win $314.15
• Courtesy of Pi Day Princeton
• The first 31 contestants to register will be selected for the competition. Click here to register for Mathlete Challenge

1– 2 p.m.: Piku – Princeton Public Library, 3rd Floor Children’s Section

Children and adults are invited to drop in and create their own Piku to add to the display board on the library’s third floor. While the Japanese verse Haiku is written in 17 syllables divided into three lines of 5, 7 and 5, Piku is eight syllables divided into three lines of 3, 1 and 4 syllables. PiKu must have an image or word or action that somehow evokes roundness or math or science. Click here to download the Piku template for the library’s display board.

2– 2:30 p.m.: Rubik’s Cube Challenge – Princeton Public Library, Community Room

Watch world record holders from the The Cube Club of Princeton University alongside some of the area’s fastest Rubik’s Cube aficionados as they demonstrate their skills. Stay afterwards and learn trade secrets from the masters! Want to cram a little before the event? Click here to read a Cube master’s musings!

3– 4 p.m.: Meeting of the Minds – Princeton Public Library, Community Room

This might be the largest gathering of Einstein experts we’ve ever assembled! Meet the authors and have your books signed.

• Alice Calaprice & Freeman Dyson, The Ultimate Quotable Einstein, with Foreword by Freeman Dyson
• Robert Schulmann, Einstein on Politics
• Linda Arntzenius, Images of America: Institute for Advanced Study
• Josef Eisinger, Einstein on the Road

3:30–5 p.m.: I HEART Pi Family Photo Op – Princeton Public Library, Fireplace Area

Move over Hollywood – this is Princeton’s genius version of a red carpet!  Families and friends pose for our official photographer, Monica Pedalino of Ferrari Iris View. Monica has supported Pi Day Princeton since day one and she’ll have a slide show from past years! If you’re a regular, come see yourself on the big screen!

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian on a tour of Einstein at Home, featuring his own furniture and personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake! For children ages 6 – 12, $5 child / $4 HSP members, 158 Nassau Street. Space is limited to 15 children. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 to reserve a space.

4 – 6 p.m.: Geek Freak No-Socks Sock Hop at YWCA of Princeton, 59 Paul Robeson Place

Einstein didn’t particularly love to wear socks so we’re having a No-Socks Sock Hop! This brilliant rock and roll band, the official band of Einstein’s Alley, plays covers from the 60′s through today and is guaranteed to knock your socks off! Dance Contests and Prizes – Family fun for all ages. $3.14 per person – One free root beer float with admission, 

7:30 pm: The Princeton Theatre Experiment and the Arts Council of Princeton present a staged reading of Peter Cook and William Lanouette’s historical play, “Uranium + Peaches,” Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, Solley Theater

“Uranium + Peaches” is the story of the meeting in Spartanburg, South Carolina of Manhattan Project scientists Leo Szilard and Harold Urey with influential politician James Byrnes, soon to become Secretary of State under President Truman. Szilard is the physicist who urged Einstein to write the letter to FDR which led to the beginning of America’s efforts to build the atomic bomb. Szilard and Urey are now visiting Byrnes urging him to persuade Washington not to use the atom bomb on Japan. It is late May 1945. Hitler committed suicide one month ago. The Allies have ended World War II in Europe. Does ending the war in Asia require such a weapon? Weigh the arguments of two sides that believe deeply in diametrically opposed positions.

The playwright William Lanouette will be at the reading and there will be a discussion afterward. Lanouette has had a long career as a writer and journalist. He has written for The Atlantic, The Economist, The Washington Post, and Newsweek. He is the former Washington correspondent for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and he has written “Genius in the Shadows: A Biography of Leo Szilard, The Man Behind the Bomb.”

Tickets: $3.14 each (but $5 happily accepted).

Sunday, March 11

10 a.m.–noon p.m.: Princeton University Art Museum

Did you know that the Princeton University Art Museum has artwork by contemporaries of Albert Einstein? The museum is less than two city blocks away and now is a great time to go to Princeton University campus and check out the works of Degas, Monet and Picasso for free.

11 a.m.: Pie Eating Contest – McCaffrey’s, Princeton Shopping Center, Upstairs in sit down dining area

• Contestant Age Groups: Youth 4yrs-8yrs and 9yrs-13yrs,
  Teen 14yrs-18yrs, Adult 19yrs and up.
• Participants must sign waivers.
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
• Adults will consume a regular size pie.
• Youths will consume a miniature size pie.
• Those interested in competing are encouraged to register in advance. Those who attend without registering may have an opportunity to participate, but due to possible space and timing limitations, we cannot guarantee participation to anyone who is not registered by March 7.
  Click here to register for Pie Eating Contest

11 a.m.–noon: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian on a tour of Einstein at Home, featuring his own furniture and personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake! For children ages 6 – 12, $5 child / $4 HSP members, 158 Nassau Street. Space is limited to 15 children. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 to reserve a space.

Noon – 1:11 pm: Dinky Train rides with Einstein

Start the Sunday festivities off right! Be like Einstein and ride the Dinky train into Princeton! Meet Einstein, his mother, first girlfriend, first wife, secretary and good friends. Be sure to ask “Einstein” where he is going on the train because sometimes he forgets! If you’ve ever had breakfast with Cinderella in the Disney castle, this event will give that memory a run for its money!

• Departing Princeton Station – 12 p.m., 12:27pm, 1:00pm
• Departing Princeton Junction Station – 12:11pm, 12:37pm, 1:11pm
• $2.75 per adult each way, up to two kids (ages 5-11) can ride free with a passenger paying any valid fare

1 p.m. – ?: Pi Recitation Contest – Princeton Public Library, Community Room 

Marc Umile, 2007 Pi Recitation North American Champion with over 15,000 digits of Pi, will help in the official counting of digits! And the entrepreneurs of Tigerlabs will engage in a friendly pi recitation “competition” with pi enthusiasts through their “Einstein” Anybots telepresence robot. 

• Contestant Age Groups: Youth 7yrs-13yrs, Teen 14yrs-18yrs, Adult 19yrs and up
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
• Youngest Winning Contestant is awarded $314.15!
  Click here to register for Pi Recitation Contest

2-3 p.m.: Scavenger Hunt – Princeton Public Library, 3rd Floor

Children ages 6 and older are invited to a scavenger hunt where clues will be related to libraries, Pi or pie!

2:30 p.m.: Pie Judging Contest at infini-T Cafe, 4 Hullfish St. – Masterminded by Princeton resident, Tamera Matteo 

Move over Top Chef! It’s a gloves competition in Princeton. This year the residents of Princeton will determine the winner of the coveted “Best Tasting Pie in Princeton” award. Beginning at 2:30pm, the first 50 guests to arrive will be the judges. They will receive small samples of professionally baked pie submissions and choose the winning pie!

3 p.m.: Writer’s Block at the Arts Council of Princeton

 Presenting scientific and not-so-scientific comic shorts and songs.

3:14 p.m. – 4:14 p.m.: Pie Throwing  Palmer Square Green

Bring your favorite friend or frenemy to this hysterical event! $1 per throw – All proceeds benefit 101, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to helping Princeton High School graduates in need of financial assistance for college.

3:30 p.m. – 5 pm: Einstein Re-Enactor Tours by Princeton Tour Company

Learn the chronological history of Albert Einstein as told by his family and friends.  Re-Enactors are “hidden” within local shops. Tours start at Princeton Public Library where you pick up a map to find the first re-enactor – Einstein’s mother!  Get ready, she’s a pistol! 

4– 5 p.m.: Happy Birthday, Albert! at the Historical Society of Princeton

Who was Albert Einstein? Learn about the public and private life of the famous scientist and humanitarian on a tour of Einstein at Home, featuring his own furniture and personal belongings. Then, play like Einstein – build a house of cards, solve puzzles and enjoy some cake! For children ages 6 – 12, $5 child / $4 HSP members, 158 Nassau Street. Space is limited to 15 children. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 to reserve a space.

5 p.m.: Einstein Look-A-Like Contest – Princeton Public Library, Community Room

Fun for all ages. Contestants may portray any age of Einstein. Is Pi Day YOUR BIRTHDAY? You can be one of our lifetime judges! Winning Contestant in youngest category wins $314.15. Click here to register for Einstein Look-A-Like Contest

Wednesday, March 14

Happy Birthday Einstein! Happy Pi Day!

10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Curator’s Tour of Einstein Exhibit at 
the Historical Society of Princeton

A special exhibition featuring selected pieces of furniture from the Einstein Collection of the Historical Society of Princeton. Through these rarely seen objects, visitors will have the chance to glimpse the personal side of this world-famous scientist. Tour is free to the public. Space is limited to 20 people. Please call 609-921-6748, x102 to reserve a space.

11 a.m. & 2 p.m.: Walking Tour of Einstein’s Neighborhood

You’ll see Albert Einstein’s homes (he lived in two places, not just 112 Mercer) while you hear all about his home life, his friendships with other genius (Robert Oppenheimer, Kurt Godel and John von Nuemann – they lived in Princeton too) and Einstein’s remarkable humanitarian efforts as well! $3.14 per person – All proceeds benefit the Princeton Public Library.

7 p.m.: Movie Showing – Ball of Fire (1941) – Princeton Public Library, Community Room. 

A fun movie about a team of stuffy academics living in New Jersey, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper.