By Donald Gilpin

In more than 20 different events held last Saturday and also scheduled for today, Princeton is celebrating the 139th birthday of one of its most famous residents. Albert Einstein, who came here from Germany in 1933 and joined the Institute for Advanced Study, with which he was affiliated until his death in 1955, was born on March 14, 3.14, the numeric equivalent of Pi.

The annual celebration, founded and organized for the past 10 years by Princeton Tour Company CEO Mimi Omiecinski, honors Pi, mathematics, science, famous Princeton geniuses, local merchants, and, of course, Albert Einstein, who lived at 33 Mercer Street. 

“Pi Day Princeton is a real treat for anyone who loves Pi, pie, and Einstein,“ said Omiecinski. “The town of Princeton is nuts for this quirky event and hopes the universe will come visit our town to celebrate Pi Day in Princeton.”

Noting the “irrational number of events,” Omiecinski pointed out that, in addition to last Saturday’s activities, today, on Einstein’s actual birthday, there is a tour of Landau’s Albert Einstein Museum on Nassau Street; a fundraiser sponsored by the bent spoon in Palmer Square and Lillipie’s on Harrison Street; Pi Day pop up wedding/vow renewal ceremonies at Princeton Pi pizza shop on Nassau Street; and an interactive STEAM-inspired slime making workshop at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts.

The museum dedicated to Einstein, in the Landau fine woolens shop, is featuring Princeton Tour Company guides telling the life of Einstein, from 10-11:30 a.m., including stories of his years in Princeton. Landau will be selling commemorative T-shirts to benefit the Albert Einstein Museum in Ulm, Germany, the town of the scientist’s birth.

From 3:14 p.m. to 6 p.m. Princeton Pi invites “genius couples Й to an infinitely memorable wedding,” with heart-shaped pizzas and complimentary officiants on site “for irrationally in love pre-registered couples.”

The Arts Council of Princeton’s slime-making workshop, 4-5 p.m., best for ages 7-15, will emphasize science, art, and math, with an exploration of “techniques to create the art of handmade slime.”

Omiecinski said her favorite thing about Pi Day is how the business community, the nonprofits, the academic institutions, and the residents all collaborate so successfully. “Each venue owns its own event,” she said. “The venues make their events bigger and better each year. It’s so Princeton. You can feel the pride.”

She noted the large turnout, which has grown every year. Princeton Public Library hosted the first Pi Day celebration in 2009, with nearly 4,000 visitors showing up. Since then the Nassau Inn, along with a number of other locations around town, has become Pi Day headquarters, with nearly 9,000 participants and spectators attending throughout the events.

“Everything was standing-room only this year,” said Omiecinski. “We need larger rooms for some of these events. For some it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. But for others this is like a major holiday. They don’t miss this event. I love that we have that kind of traction. That’s exciting. I’m always surprised by the high level of enthusiasm.”

Highlights on Saturday included pie eating, pie judging, pie throwing, Pi recitation, and pizza pie and cupcake decorating contests. First place in the Einstein look-alike and Pi recitation won $314.15, as did the winning robotics team in the Johnson Park Elementary School MaikersFaire robotics event.

The Princeton Pi pizza contest winner will receive a free pizza each month for the rest of the year, and the House of Cupcakes contest winner will get a free cupcake each month for the rest of 2018.

Other non-competitive events included a surprise birthday party and Dinky rides with Einstein, an Einstein running celebration, a Pi-rade, a violin demonstration, a Pi Day-inspired family movie, walking tours, and pub crawls.

“I think there’s a twinkle in his eyes,” said Omiecinski when asked how she thought Einstein might regard this light-hearted birthday celebration. “He would know our intentions, and I know he would be pleased.”