How a marine scientist’s beer nights became an East End tradition

Chris Paparo was just hoping to liven up a slow Thursday night.

Back in 2015, the Long Island marine scientist and wildlife photographer pitched an idea to his friends at Moustache Brewing Co. in Riverhead — what if he brought a food truck and gave one of his marine wildlife talks?

They called it Drinking with the Fish Guy. That first night drew more than 100 people.

Ten years later, it’s called Geek Talks, and it’s one of the most beloved local lecture series on the East End.

Now hosted every other Thursday at übergeek Brewing Company in Riverhead, the series attracts average crowds of 60 — and sometimes over 150 — depending on the topic. The subject matter has expanded far beyond sea creatures: astronomy, cooking, baseball, birds, bugs, even bats.

If it’s something you can geek out over — especially if it has to do with sharks — it’s probably been featured.

And through it all, Paparo — aka Fish Guy Photos — has remained at the heart of it.

A Long Island native, Paparo has spent more than three decades exploring and documenting the island’s natural world. He manages the Marine Sciences Center at Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus, holds a degree in marine science, and is an award-winning member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the New York State Outdoor Writers Association.

His mission? Raising awareness about Long Island’s rich biodiversity — from the Pine Barrens to the Peconic Bay.

He also happens to be a crowd favorite with a camera, mic and a beer.

To mark the 10-year anniversary, Paparo brought back the original talk that started it all: Exploring Long Island’s Underwater World, complete with stunning photos and stories from beneath the surface. The first-ever food truck, Maple Tree BBQ, returned too.

The event, held July 10 on the front lawn of übergeek, felt like a reunion of friends, fans, and fellow science nerds, many of whom have been coming since the beginning, Paparo told Greater Long Island.