Big night for Philly geeks

The Academy of Natural Sciences is home to some of the city's rare fossils and animals, but Friday night the museum saw a different rarity: Philly's premiere technology "geeks" decked to the nines and strolling the red carpet for the first-ever Philadelphia Geek Awards.

The Geek Awards, which organizers plan to hold annually, are the brainchild of the creators of tech website Geekadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences, which hosted the event.

Geekadelphia co-founder Eric Smith, 28, said he wanted to hold the event because the city's "geeks" and tech community are underrecognized.

Friday night, winners were to be chosen in such categories as best new podcast, best new annual local event, and outstanding achievement in locally developed iPhone and iPad apps, among others.

"I think it's amazing" this event is happening, said nominee Chris Illuminati, whose "Message with a Bottle" blog about being a stay-at-home dad is up for best new blog. "I'm very honored. I'm a true geek at heart."

Geekadelphia writer Jo Pincushion, who came to the event dressed as Dr. Who's spaceship, said she was thrilled to be at an event that brought so many members of Philadelphia's young tech community together.

"People laugh, but these are the elite young Philly," she said. "We're smart, ambitious and we're going to run this city."

The awards portion of the night, which featured several presenters from the tech community and local comic Doogie Horner, began around 8 p.m.