Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 26th through Sunday, July 2nd.
Spin with Cyn: Complicated Fun Party
What: Nightlife, Books
When: Monday, June 26th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Grumpy’s Northeast
Help Cyn Collins celebrate the release of Complicated Fun: The Birth of Minneapolis Punk and Indie Rock, 1974–1984, a book devoted to the Twin Cities music scene, by enjoying DJ sets from the author at Grumpy’s NE. She will also be selling and signing copies of the book. (Cyn spoke to Twin Cities Geek about Complicated Fun last month—click here for the article!)
Lea DeLaria (“Big Boo”) Sings Live
What: Music
When: Monday, June 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant
Lea DeLaria may be best known for her excellent work as Big Boo on Orange is the New Black, but she has had a multifaceted career that includes acting, comedy, and jazz. It’s the last one that she’ll be performing at the Dakota in downtown MInneapolis on Monday night. Tickets range from $41 to $62.
Knitting Social
What: Arts, Community, Meetup
When: Tuesday, June 27th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Minnesota History Center
Get social with fellow knitters at the Minnesota History Center. This event is an opportunity to hang out, knit, and chat with other folks, so bring a project and be ready to hang out. The group meets in a circle on the third floor of the center. Needles and yarn are available.
Story Forge
What: Games, Educational
When: Tuesday, June 27th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: GlitchHQ
This monthly event by local tech nonprofit Glitch focuses on teaching the art of storytelling in games. This event focuses on the special challenges of writing for interactive fiction and provides a space where game storytellers can meet and work together. Every skill level is welcome.
Bar Trivia
What: Trivia
When: Tuesday, June 27th at 6:45 p.m.
Where: New Bohemia Uptown
United Geeks of Gaming will be assembling for Sporcle-based trivia at New Bohemia in Uptown on Tuesday nights. Sporcle is a team-based trivia night with a focus on general trivia, so whatever you geek out about, you may be able to help your team. United Geeks of Gaming has a regular team, and attendees can also form splinter teams or go solo. The trivia itself is free; the food and drinks are not.
Geek Date Night Presents: Summer Rental
What: Movies, Trivia
When: Tuesday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Clubhouse Jäger
Come for a fun and geeky night complete with trivia, a movie screening, and punnery with host Rob Callahan. Trivia starts at 7:00 p.m. and the movie begins at 9:00 p.m. This is a free event.
YogaQuest Continues: Labyrinth
What: Sports & Fitness
When: Tuesday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: YQdio
Come and experience YogaQuest, a blend of yoga and fanfiction storytelling led by certified yoga instructors. Experience a yoga workout experience and a story at the same time. This week’s theme is Labyrinth, so prepare yourself for impossible crystal-ball tricks and magic dancing.
Adult Coloring Day at Inbound BrewCo
What: Meetup
When: Wednesday, June 28th from noon to midnight
Where: Inbound BrewCo
Stop by Inbound brewery on Wednesday to “grab a beer, some colored pencils, and the coloring sheet design of the day.” Turn in your finished masterpiece with your name and email for the chance to win a free growler of beer.
Anne Margaret Daniel Presents I’d Die for You: And Other Lost Stories
What: Books
When: Wednesday, June 28th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Common Good Books
Come to Common Good Books for a reading of I’d Die for You:And Other Lost Stories, a collection that features previously unpublished writing by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This evening is presented by Anne Margaret Daniel, the editor of the work, and scheduled in conjunction with the 14th International F. Scott Fitzgerald Society Conference.
Tabletop Tester Night: Hounded
What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, June 28th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Clockwerks Brewing
Clockwerks Brewing presents the second installment of Tabletop Tester Night, a series in which they invite local game designers to lead guests in playing a new game. This month is Hounded, by local designer and film-maker Clint Bohaty. Can you outfox the hounds?
Wibbly Wobbly Wednesday
What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, June 28th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Driftwood Char Bar
Join your fellow Whovians and trivia fanatics at the Driftwood Char Bar on Wednesday night for Minnesota’s only regular Doctor Who trivia night, brought to you by the creators of TC Trek Trivia. This is an all-ages event with no cover, so expect seats to go quickly.
Movies in the Park: The Princess Bride
What: Movies
When: Wednesday, June 28th at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Van Cleve Park
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is presenting movies in various parks throughout the city over the course of the summer, and one of the screenings this week is The Princess Bride, a tale of swashbuckling adventure, embellishment, and love. This free showing begins 15 minutes after sundown.
Crafty Geek/Make It Sew
What: Meetup
When: Thursday, June 29th at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon
The Geek Partnership Society’s Crafty Geek club and its sub-club Make It Sew meet Thursday evenings at the Waterbury Center and invite you to “bring your crafty stuff to do” or to “hang out and work with the crafty stuff we have here!”
Weekly Comics Chat
What: Meetup, Comics
When: Thursday, June 29nd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Kitty Cat Klub
The Girls-Only Comic Club hosts a Weekly Comics Chat on Thursday nights at the Kitty Cat Klub, where there will be “Coffee! Comics! Waffles! Talking!” Additional information about this event is posted on the Girls Only Comic Club’s Facebook group. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to join.
Trivia Against Humanity
What: Trivia
When: Thursday, June 29th at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Clockwerks Brewing
Another event at Clockwerks Brewing this week represents the convergence of two geeky favorites: a steampunk-themed bar and absurd trivia. This event is hosted by Sam Spadino and Sidney Oxborough.
Movies in the Parks: Back to the Future
What: Movies
When: Thursday, June 29th at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Lyndale Farmstead Park
Another free outdoor screening this week from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is Back to the Future, a film for DeLorean enthusiasts and time-travel geeks. The showing begins 15 minutes after sundown.
Twin Cities Antiquarian Book Fair
What: Books
When: Friday, June 30th at 3:00 p.m. to Saturday, July 1st at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Progress Center, Minnesota State Fairgrounds
The 27th annual Twin Cities Antiquarian Book Fair brings dozens of sellers of “first editions, fine bindings, children’s books, local history, vintage books and advertising, ephemera, maps and more” to the fairgrounds. There will also be speakers from the Quatrefoil Library, the Minneapolis Athenaeum, and Twin Cities Sisters in Crime. Friday admission covers both days; Saturday-only entrance is also available.
Friday Night Magic
What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Friday, June 30th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Mischief Toy Store
Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul invites you to experience some Magic with them this Friday night. Entry is $5; all players will receive prizes. This weekly event is limited to 24 players and typically lasts until about 9:00 p.m. All skill levels are welcome.
Human Combat Chess 2017
What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, June 30th at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 1st at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Where: Christ Church Lutheran
As geeks, we seem to be drawn to imaginary sports such as Quidditch, zero-g laser tag, brutal bloodsports involving child tributes, and pod racing, so come and see the greatest sport that never was: Human Combat Chess. This game looks like chess on the surface, but unlike chess, the results of moves are not certain and come down to choreographed fights between the human pieces involved. General admission is $18, while kids can get in for $5. (Want to learn more about Human Combat Chess? Check out our piece on this year’s performances here!)
Cosplayers/Costumers Social Hour at Ground Zero
What: Nightlife, Meetup
When: Friday, July 30th at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Ground Zero Nightclub
At this social event for cosplayers, costumers, and other crafters, you can “talk about how-to’s, where-do-you-get’s, and anything else cosplay/costuming, or just life in general.” Meet up, have a drink, and hit the dance floor. The gathering officially ends at 11:30, but you can stick around afterwards for the midnight lip-sync contest. No cover if you’re in costume.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
What: Sports & Fitness, Meetup
When: Saturday, July 1st at 10:00 a.m.
Where: YQdio
Another event held at the YogaQuest YQdio this week is Saturday Morning Cartoons, which features “classic (and not-so-classic) Saturday morning cartoons, plus yoga, plus the stupidest cereals in existence!” The yoga practice will consist of “some gentle wake-me-up vinyasa followed by a session of stretchy, restorative yoga, all set to cartoons, and wrapped up with a bowl of delicious technicolor goodness.”
United Geeks of Gaming Open Gaming
What: Gaming
When: Saturday, July 1st at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Event Horizon
The Geek Partnership Society’s United Geeks of Gaming group offers its open gaming session on the first Saturday of every month, to which gamers of all ages and abilities are invited to “spend the day hanging out with fellow geeks playing, learning, and teaching games.” Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite board games, card games, and/or role-playing games, but the group has amassed an impressive library of its own games as well.
Bars, Bootleggers & Booze Bus Tour
What: Educational, Food & Drink
When: Saturday, July 1st at 1:00 p.m
Where: Minnesota History Center
Educate yourself while enjoying some of the newest distillers in the Twin Cities area. This tour will take history and booze enthusiasts 21 years or older on a tour with stops at 11 Wells Distillery, the restored Commodore Bar and Restaurant, and the Du Nord Cocktail room; samples are included in the ticket price, which is $50 for the general public or $40 for members of the Minnesota Historical Society.
Tarot History through a Rare Tarot Collection
What: Educational
When: Saturday, July 1st at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Future MPLS
Take in a short and sweet presentation about the history of Tarot presented by Jeanette Roth of the Tarot Garden. See rare Tarot decks and learn.
Movies on the Lake: Return Of The Jedi
What: Movies
When: Saturday, July 1st at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Como Dockside
Yet another free outdoor movie screening this week will be shown at Como Dockside and is first-come first-serve for seating. The movie will be an old geek favorite, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of The Jedi, and we promise that it’s not a trap. The venue has seating for roughly 300 people, but capacity for around 700, so feel free to bring picnic blankets and chairs. May the force be with you.
Galaxy Quest: A Drinking Game
What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, July 1st at 10:30 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Theater
Come see great local actors perform a live staging of Galaxy Quest based on the film, with comedy, music, and drinking. Galaxy Quest is a work that means a lot to many members of geeky fandoms, because it only effectively parodies Star Trek out of a real sense of love for the work. This is an all-ages event, but obviously participants who intend to take part in the drinking game portion need to be of age. Tickets are $8.50 online.
RPG Sunday Game Day
What: Gaming
When: Sunday, July 2nd at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Event Horizon
The United Geeks of Gaming group invite you to RPG Sunday Game Day! Whether you are an experienced game master wanting to run a game or someone entirely new to the world of role-playing games who wants to join a game and learn as you go, this is the Sunday game day for you.
Bikes + Beers + Bites
What: Sports & Fitness, Food & Drink
When: Sunday, July 2nd at 11:00 a.m.
Where: South Lyndale Liquours
Celebrate the beginning of Sunday liquor sales in Minnesota with Tangletown Bike Shop and South Lyndale Liquors. Try out some cool demo bikes, legally buy beer, and grab a bite to eat. The far-future utopia where people don’t drive to Wisconsin on Sunday for beers is almost here.
The Saber Legion MN Meet
What: Sports & Fitness
When: Sunday, July 2nd at 4:00 p.m.
Where: USA Karate
Lightsaber group the Saber Legion hosts meets at USA Karate. Come on down to just check it out, or get involved in formwork, dueling or sparring to get your Jedi on. See the website for protective gear requirements and rules for this demanding and geeky martial art. There is a monthly fee of $10 for use of the space.
So, which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below, or contact us via email. Don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!
