A scholar-led lecture series based in D.C. is expanding into Arlington for the first time later this month.
Profs and Pints, which launched in 2017 and has since expanded into several other metro areas, is coming to Highline RxR (2010 Crystal Drive) beginning on Feb. 22.
The first talk, titled “The Everyday Supernatural,” will focus on how folklorists and anthropologists interpret beliefs in the supernatural. The featured lecturer is Benjamin Gatling, a folklorist, scholar of belief and everyday religion, and associate professor of English at George Mason University.
Similar to other locations, Profs and Pints will offer a full range of topics at Highline RxR, including astronomy, philosophy, literature, history, art history, political science, folklore, archaeology and psychology.
Attendees can expect seasonal offerings as well, such as Halloween-oriented lectures in October and winter-themed lectures in December. Tickets for Profs and Pints lectures at Highline RxR and other D.C. area venues are available on the Profs and Pints website.
Profs and Pints founder Peter Schmidt said the events at Highline RxR are expected to run on non-holiday Sundays.
“Highline RxR overlaps in its ownership with Penn Social, which is my chief venue in D.C. and with which I have a great relationship, partly because it runs a tight ship,” Schmidt said. “Highline RxR also has a great reputation, as well as a location which will help me reach people in points south and west who might have struggled to make it to my DC talks before.”
Profs and Pints hosts lectures on various trending topics in bars, cafes, offices and other locations off college campuses. Since then, it has expanded to eight other metropolitan areas. The project held 329 lectures and sold nearly 30,000 tickets last year, Schmidt said.
Schmidt says the series not only removes barriers between higher education and audiences in an affordable setting, but also provides extra income for scholars who may only hold part-time adjunct professor positions.
“It also helps build community, providing people with an opportunity to be in the company of others who are interested in the same things,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of networking, and at least a few marriages, brought about as a result of people meeting each other at Profs and Pints talks.”
