Nerdy New York

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While plenty of real nerds do hang out at Pete's, it would be more honest to say it's a vortex of hipster-nerds and nilfs. This excellent bar -- one of my favorites in … the city -- hosts nerdy events such as the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, Bingo, and Quizz-Off night. I've even seen impromptu knitting circles spring up. Now that's hardcore. [link]

The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that specializes in the art and architecture of medieval Europe. And what does that mean to area nerds? … Renaissance Faire! Well, medieval fair anyway. The annual Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park will be held here on September 30, hosting hundreds of costume-wearing history buffs who participate in human chess games, listen to period music, and get knocked off horses in the Royal Joust. Beer and wine is available from vendors, which might explain the weapons policy: blades must be sheathed and "peace-tied" in. But you don't need a festival to dork out at the Cloisters. It's a beautiful year-round destination for those who want to cool out in the charming gardens or pay tribute to that oft-reproduced unicorn tapestry where the unicorn is enclosed in a circular section of fence. You know, the one hanging on your wall. [link]

It's no exaggeration to say Jim Hanley's Universe is New York's premier comic book store (though I'd be remiss to not mention St. Mark's Comics as well). With the full … range of Marvel and DC comics along with all the Manga, graphic novels, and indie stuff you could dream of, it's every comic nerd's dream on 33rd Street. Signings and celebrity events draw uber-nerds like Quentin Tarantino. [link]

Web2Zone is an internet cafe and game room in the East Village that's popular with nerds young and old, rich and poor. And while plenty of people show up just to check … email or work on their lame-o Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, it's best known as a spot to hook up and play Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, and PC games like Counterstrike, Doom, Halo, and World of Warcraft. Blow away your buddy sitting next to you or some dude in Belgium -- network speeds are about as fast as they get in this country. If that's not dorky enough for you, join the Gamer's Club and enter one of their many video game tournaments. [link]

Evolution is essentially a high-end curio shop in SoHo that draws hordes of local and tourist nerds to its cramped museum-like space. And they do have some strange items. … Say, for example, you're interested in bonobos because you just read that New Yorker piece on how these hypersexual monkeys aren't quite as cuddly as you've been led to believe. You can trek on down to Spring Street, plunk down $195, and become the proud owner of a replica bonobo skull (pictured). Pretty cool, huh? No? Wait, come back! [link]

Sadly, if you're looking for a robot to clean your apartment and walk your dog -- something along the lines of C3PO or Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons, minus the … hysteria -- you won't find it here. Robot Village mainly deals in robot building kits, toy robots, and robot books. Robot workshops are available to teach you how to trick your robot out to play soccer or do rhythmic robot gymnastics (really). [link]

Quirky and charming, but definitely nerd-supported, Jan's Hobby Shop is the place to go in New York to buy kits for model cars, boats, airplanes, and toy soldiers. Catch … a whiff of the airplane glue and reminisce about that model car you bought when you were eight and never finished putting together. [link]

Dating back to 1972, the Village Chess shop has all things chess, from hundreds of beautiful chess sets from all over the world to a handful of tables where you can … challenge someone to a game. Before you know it, some eight-year-old prodigy or 80-year-old master will be picking off your rooks, bishops, and queens, and you'll be 'mated, mate. Located just a block below Washington Square Park, the Chess Shop is a Greenwich Village nerd institution. [link]

Get in character before you walk into New York's headquarters for RPGs (that's roleplaying games to you "cool" people). The Compleat Strategist has everything you need … for games like Dungeons & Dragons, from a variety of handsome dice sets to intricate figurines, rulebooks, and modules. Heated games go on in the back room, with dungeon masters and players battling it out vociferously in the latest campaign. New players are welcome, provided they approach this hallowed temple of nerdiness with the appropriate deference. Oh, and it's always BYOD (bring your own dice). [link]

Forbidden Planet is the downtown headquarters for alternative hobbies, roleplaying games, graphic novels, and action figures of all kinds. Whether you're looking for a … scale model of the USS Enterprise, a seven-foot-tall Superman, or just the latest copy of The New Avengers, head on over to this East Village megastore for nerds and those who love them. It draws a particularly enthusiastic crowd for signings and screenings, so don your costume, arrive early, and get in line. [link]