Not since those crazy kids in “Weird Science” made a supermodel out of a test tube has geekiness been so popular. The well-worn Steve Urkels of our past have become the Seth Cohen / Napoleon Dynamite hybrid, a mix of awkwardness, braininess, sexiness and street smarts. With all the fabulously geeky things to do, there has never been a better time to be a geek in Shanghai.

Tongue Twisters

Extolling the virtues of grammar

Like the sound of your own voice? These smooth-talking Toastmasters assess and critique each others’ speaking style. Featuring cool cats with their own superhero-type power (for example, the "Ah Counter" with the power to hunt down and rid the world of those dratted "ums" and "ahs"), this group has enough action to appeal to anyone who would vote for Pedro. Accessories required: Water bottle, "An Idiot's Guide to Public Speaking"

What: Toastmasters Shanghai Leadership Club
When: Every Wednesday, 7pm
Where: Sports Mansion
Address: Rm. 301, 150 Nanjing Xi Lu
Tel: 135-6464-5047

Monopoly Madness

Wearing down the boards

Super at Scrabble? Chess Champion? Monopoly mad? Then head to Nuzi to get your fix of board games, or actually any kind of game at all. Bring your board or use theirs and argue the finer points of Monopoly with your newfound friends and Snakes and Ladders connoisseurs–"No, you cannot collect rent while you're in jail!" Accessories required: Monopoly rule book, cushion for chair, cunning and competitiveness

What: Game Nights
When: Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 6-9pm
Where: Nuzi
Add: No. 30, Lane 248 Taikang Lu
Tel: 5465-3245

Literary Lexicons

Celebrities mixed with vocabulary

Literature isn't cool, right? Wrong. Reading is the new viewing pleasure. The Glamour Bar holds book events featuring visiting authors (read: minor celebrities). Of the same ilk, the CW Penguin Book Club meets monthly at Figaro Coffee for coffee and conversation. Why is it hot? You get to stare pseudo-intellectuals in the eye and say, "I knew that book before it was a blockbuster." Accessories required: Reading glasses, pipe and highlighter

What: Literature Events
When: Specific dates each month
Where: The Glamour Bar
Address: 6/F, 5 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
Tel: 6350-9988

What: CW Penguin Book Club
When: Second Sunday of the month, 4pm
Where: Figaro Coffee > Xinye Lu
Address: 160 Xingye Lu
Tel: 6384-7212

Film Fanatics

In the mood for film noir

Remember the video and audio geeks? No longer satisfied with watching "Revenge of the Nerds" over and over, they’ve graduated to holding film nights for budding film critics featuring films of all genres. If unique foreign films tickle your fancy then visit Arch for one of their regular film nights. But be warned, once conversation starts veering onto the "unimagined subtext" of a film, it's all over. Accessories required: Black and white film stills, a beret and pretension

What: Film Nights
When: Every Thursday, 7pm
Where: Arch > Wukang Lu
Address: 439 Wukang Lu
Tel: 6466-0807

Tests on Tap

A weekly mini exam

Knowledge is power, or so we've always been told by anyone who had better grades than us. Prove it at this local quiz night. Forget all your misapprehensions about it being a boring, beer-filled, snore fest. Collect three of your smartest encyclopedia-reading friends and head down to O'Malley's for these rowdy nights where you can heckle, fight and display your knowledge of obscure European countries over a few—or many—pints. Accessories required: World map, cheat sheet and pens

What: Quiz Nights
When: Every Thursday, 7pm
Where: O'Malley's Irish Pub
Address: 42 Taojiang Lu
Tel: 6474-4533

Battle of the Balls

The athleticism of a child's game

After a bunch of misfits led by Vince Vaughn in the same monikered movie fought their way to victory over Ben Stiller, winning girls, glitz and glory, this elementary school game has been elevated to the ranks of geeky-cool. Finding an outlet for all that aggression toward the taxi driver that ripped you off on your way to work has never been easier. Simply pick up a ball, imagine his sneering face in front of you, and throw. Accessories required: Running shoes, asthma puffer and nose guard

What: Dodgeball
When: Every Tuesday, 9pm
Where: Hunan Sports Center
Address: 4/F, 515 Fangxie Lu
Web: http://asas.com.cn

Retro Rolling

Cute girls in short shorts

Rollerskaters have never been awarded the same cool factor that board-using brothers have been. Heck, even Christian Slater was awesome in "Gleaming the Cube." But thanks to the guys at the Shanghai Roller Revival, you can skate your way into a high-rolling lifestyle–pun intended. So grab a drink, strap on your skates, don the obligatory sweat bands and short shorts and skate the night away. ccessories required: Neon-colored sweat bands, helmet and kneepads

What: Roller Revival
When: Dec. 7, 10pm
Where: Yichuan Lu Roller Rink
Address: 420 Yichuan Lu
Web: www.rollerrevival.com

THE GEEKS

Michael Ferchak: Roller Geek

Rolling against preconceptions of coolness, the roller geek has a laid back attitude toward social labels. "Being a geek is about doing things that are not considered 'cool' by jocky and prissy high school kids; it's a backlash against all of the uptight snobs who don't really know how to enjoy life."

Rebecca Hong: Toasting Geek

Never shying away from the sound of her own voice, the toasting geek isn't afraid of life-altering moments. "The side effect of becoming a Toastmaster is that you might find your life partner here too. We have several success stories already."

Stephen Lee: Sporty Geek

Sports and geeks are not normally two concepts put together, but the sporty geek manages to join these two natural foes. "Watching people get hit by balls is always pretty funny, and there are some pretty clever team names like the Deflecticons and the Puxi Cats."

–Krisha Bartlem