Party Like a Rock Star ... with a bunch of nerds

CES -- the Consumer Electronics Show -- is upon us, and that means one thing: The nerdiest parties in America are about to go down.

Thomas PR has once again taken the challenge out of CES party crashing, and has published its list of CES parties and events. Many are invite-only, but that shouldn't stop you. (It didn't stop Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn.)

The complete list is available here, but here are my personal favs:

• Barenaked Ladies at Rain on Wed. Jan. 4 (9 p.m., $70, click here to register for the conference, which gives you a ticket.) BONUS: I think there's a dinner before the show.

• Showstoppers on Thurs at Wynn's Lafitte Ballroom. Invite only and hard to crash, but free and totally worth it. It's the best of the best of CES -- and free booze! 6-10 p.m.

• Mashable Awards on at the Zumanity Theatre at New York-New York. Thurs. from 7-10 p.m., tix were $50 and included an hour-long open bar to kick it all off, but the event has sold out.

• The official 2011 CES Tweet Up at the Las Vegas Hilton's Space Quest Lounge. Friday from 4-7 p.m.

• The It Won't Stay in Vegas Blogger Party at the Atomic Testing Museum (755 E. Flamingo). It's free via RSVP, but the list is full, so you'll have to talk your way in to take advantage of this super-fun event and its legendary swag table.

... there are many, many more parties that aren't on that list, but this is a solid start. Have fun!!