Community Reminder: TechShop RDU PARTY this weekend!

Here's just a quick reminder that the TechShop RDU Third anniversary party is happening this Saturday!

We'll be celebrating this Saturday, 4/21, rain or shine, from 12-5 PM! Food, Pinewood Derby, class specials, and live music; plus, $3.00 pints of any draft beer from Roth Brewing! Bring the family; don't miss it!

TechShop parties are always a ton of fun.  The "Few Rules" Pinewood Derby is always a big hit and the food is plentiful and delicious.

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Lightning Talks Tonight at Durham's Splat Space

Sorry for the short notice but better late than never, right?  Tonight at Splat Space, Durham's awesomest Hackerspace, there will be a series of lightning talks on a wide range of subjects. 

Cost: Free!

When: Friday, June 10, 2011, 7:30 PM 

Where: 331 W. Main St - Basement Durham, NC

RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/splatspace/events/19644181/

More on Durham's Hackerspace Splat Space.

Welcome Bull City Craft!

Please join me in welcoming Bull City Craft to our roster of sponsors for Maker Faire:NC 2011! Bull City Craft is "an arts boutique and craft lounge with a local, eco-friendly focus."

You can find out more about Bull City Craft by contacting them directly.

Address: 2501 University Dr, Durham, NC

Phone: (919) 419-0800 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (919) 419-0800      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Hours: 11am-6pm Tuesday-Friday, 11pm-8pm Saturday

Durham's Splat Space Participates in Cupcake Challenge

Splat Space, a new technology-focused non-profit in Downtown Durham, will be hosting an open technology "hackathon" featuring a world-wide cupcake challenge at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 15th. This event is open to the public.

The hackathon will include a full day of collaboration and innovation amongst anyone interested in electronics, computers, crafts, or even cupcakes!

As part of the hackathon, Splat Space will be participating in a Cupcake Challenge sponsored by the global makerspace and hackerspace movement at hackerspaces.org. This movement unifies and promotes physical locations, like Durham’s Splat Space, to form and exist as hubs of technology and creativity worldwide. There are hackerspaces and makerspaces all over the world, from Los Angeles to Tokyo. Durham opened its own makerspace, Splat Space, in September of 2010.

For the Cupcake Challenge, all the hackerspaces and makerspaces in the world have been challenged to ship a cupcake over 1,000 miles to another hackerspace. The goal of the challenge is for the cupcake to arrive in delicious and pristine condition. The cupcake must adhere to a strict set of challenge rules and will be judged by the receiving hackerspace based on creativity, quality, taste, appearance, and condition.

In addition to points accrued for judging criteria, additional challenge points are awarded for the distance the cupcake travels. Splat Space members will be sending their cupcake to a hackerspace in Tokyo, Japan, approximately 7,000 miles away. According to Splat Space members, everyone has been hard at work devising a plan to best stabilize, bake, and decorate a cupcake that will truly wow their friends in Tokyo. More information on the challenge can be found on their website at http://splatspace.org.

According to SplatSpace.org, Splat Space is a "work, play, and hobby space where people with common interests, primarily in technology, can meet to socialize and collaborate." Splat Space boasts a membership of some of the Triangle's most creative, technology-minded professionals and hobbyists.

Splat Space is located at 331 W. Main St. in Downtown Durham below Beyu Caffe in the historic Snow Building.



Spoonflower

Welcome Spoonflower – Maker Faire NC 2011’s newest sponsor! For those who attended last year’s Maker Faire NC, you may remember Spoonflower’s exhibit of custom printed textiles and fabrics – and for first time attendee’s, they will have an exhibit this year as well!

The Spoonflower marketplace offers the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world and their community has now reached over 70,000 members. They have also been featured in the New York Times, Vogue and numerous other publications such as Craft and Make. This video highlights the start of Spoonflower and how they are bringing the concept of custom digital textile printing mainstream. Check it out and stop by their exhibit this coming June!