Pi Day Is Coming 3/14/15
By Selena Fragassi in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 13, 2015 3:40PM
It’s a holiday math nerds and pie lovers have dreamed about for a century: Pi Day! This Saturday, or 3/14/15, the numbers align perfectly to represent the first five digits of the cult favorite equation, so naturally the city is going all out to celebrate. Here are some of the best options to get a slice of the action.
Eat Some Pi
As home to some of the best pie—dessert and pizza—around, Chicago’s finest shops are going all out with Pi Day specials, mostly including individual-sized portions for $3.14 or $3.14 for a full size. As well, Swirlz Cupcakes will sell Pi and Einstein decorated cupcakes for $3.14 all day. Get the full list, updated through Saturday, at IllinoisScience.org.
Score Some Free Pi
The best kind of pie might be free pie, so head over early to the Museum of Science and Industry where the first 314 guests who purchase a museum ticket tomorrow will receive a free slice. And since not everyone has a sweet tooth but still loves to celebrate, you can choose to enjoy a slice of pizza pie instead. For those who are a little late to the celebration, you can still enjoy a $3.14 slice in the museum's food court all day long. While enjoying your pie, take in the museum's exhibit Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze, which looks at mathematical patterns that are all around us and includes a giant mirror maze. -Lisa White
Run a Pi K
Fleet Feet Sports and the Illinois Science Council (a nonprofit that promotes science and math) are partnering up for this racing event that bends the rules of a typical 5K or 3.1 mile run for a 3.14 mile trek. The race starts at 9:26:53 a.m. (naturally to represent the next five digits of pi) and anyone named Albert, Alberta, Albertina or Alberts gets $5 off registration fees in honor of Einstein’s birthday, also on March 14. There’s four locations to choose from in Old Town, Lincoln Square, South Loop and Elmhurst; get more details here.
See Pi in the Sky
Adler Planetarium and WBEZ team up for some pretty cool Pi Day activities beginning at noon and free to all visitors with paid admission. There’s a pie-eating contest, parachuting pies challenge and pie in the sky solar observing plus a nerd confessional booth (run by the Nerdette podcast ladies) and a lecture on Pi and Einstein presented by Astronomer Shane Larson. An after party gets started at 6 p.m. for guests 21+ with cash bars and music from Vocalo’s DJs ($25). And all day vendors like Bang Bang Pie Shop, Hoosier Mama Pies and Piece Pizza will be cutting slices. Get the scoop at Adler's site.
Meet Other Pi-ple
What else would you expect from a place called Geek Bar Beta than a nerdist meetup on Pi Day? In addition to menus of specialty pies (including vegan and gluten-free options), there will be carnival games, open tabletop gaming and discounts to guests in cosplay. Plus, take a charity pie to the face for $5 to benefit the CHIditarod Foundation. Day events are open to everyone beginning at 3 p.m. and a special after party kicks off at 9:26 p.m. Find out more on their Facebook page.
Stay Home and Watch “Pi”
Or you can forget about the events altogether and cozy up at home with a pie from your favorite pizza shop and the movie Pi on Netflix. Lest you forgot, this is Darren Aronofsky’s directorial debut from 1998, a surrealist thriller about the breakdown of a number theorist.