This Week in Geek (6/12/17–6/18/17)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 12th through Sunday, June 18th.

Movies in the Parks: The Martian

What: Movies
When: Monday, June 12th 9:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant Square Park

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will be presenting movies in various parks throughout the city over the course of the summer, and one of the screenings this week is The Martian, a geek favorite about smart people coming together to solve a problem, plus potatoes. This free showing begins at 15 minutes after sundown.

Universe Criterion Club

What: Gaming
When: Tuesday, June 13th at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Universe Games

Come to Universe Games for an evening of card and board gaming while helping to build an excellent games library. Participants pay $5 for weekly membership and access to a curated (and growing) library of games. The $5 is returned as a voucher to spend in the store. Help build the greatest games library in Minneapolis by providing your expertise.

Books & Bars: Sweetbitter

What: Books, Meetup
When: Tuesday, June 13th at 6:15 p.m.
Where: Indeed Tap Room

Books and Bars is an “open public book club show” hosted and moderated by Minnesota Public Radio senior producer Jeff Kamin that provides attendees with “a unique atmosphere for a lively discussion of interesting authors, fun people, good food, and social lubrication.” The book being read and discussed this month is Sweetbitter.

YogaQuest Continues: The Matrix

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Tuesday, June 13th 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 The Matrix, so get your sunglasses and industrial music ready.

TC Trek Trivia

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, June 14th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Driftwood Char Bar

Hosted by “Master Trekkie,” TC Trek Trivia consists of five rounds: General Trek (questions covering all things Star Trek); Identify the Image; Ships, Technology, and Cultures; Complete the Quote; and a “Wild Card” round. Questions for each of these five rounds are drawn from all seven Star Trek television series and all twelve films. According to Master Trekkie himself, TC Trek Trivia is “all ages, no cover, food, drinks, and a whole lot of Trek!”

Movies in the Parks: Hidden Figures

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, June 14th at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Pearl Park

Another free outdoor screening this week from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is Hidden Figures, the inspiring true story of the black women behind some of NASA’s early successes. This free showing begins at 15 minutes after sundown.

Co-Op Talk

What: Gaming, Educational
When: Thursday, June 15th at 5:50 p.m.
Where: GlitchHQ

Co-Op Talk is a monthly discussion of interactive media and digital games held at GlitchHQ. The event begins with a short time to mingle and chat, with snacks and refreshments, followed by this month’s discussion topic: “Shaping Education with Video Games,” led by Jerika Eppel.

Third Thursday: Pride

What: Arts, Community
When: Thursday, June 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

June is Pride Month, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art is using its monthly Third Thursday event as an opportunity to help people prepare for Twin Cities Pride (which is co-sponsoring this event) with live music from Nick Jordan and Lady Lark. Preview the documentary Out North and meet director Daniel Bergin, make a Pride flag, learn about drag, engage with OutFront Minnesota, and dance to music from Flip Phone.

Crafty Geek/Make it Sew

What: Arts, Community
When: Thursday, June 15th 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!”

SCA Nordskogen Dance Practice

What: Sports & Fitness, Educational, Cosplay
When: Thursday, June 15th at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon

The Barony of Nordskogen (Minneapolis chapter of the Society of Creative Anachronism) is partnering with the Geek Partnership Society for medieval court-dance practice. Participants are encouraged to dress up if they like.

Weekly Comics Chat

What: Meetup, Comics
When: Thursday, June 15th 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.

Blooming Butterflies

What: Educational
When: Friday, June 16th at 10:00 a.m.–Sunday, June 18th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Welcome back the butterflies with this opening weekend of fun. The exhibit comprises a large greenhouse full of butterflies from around the world, including 100 species. Every day at noon, visitors are invited to spend $1 to release a personal butterfly into the exhibit. Otherwise this exhibit is free to the public, and friendly to visitors of all ages.

Stone Arch Bridge Festival

What: Arts, Food and Drink, Music
When: Friday June 16th at 5:00 p.m.–Sunday, June 18th at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Water Tower Park

Enjoy some beautiful weather, live music, art, cars, and more at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival. The festival kicks off on Friday night with a live concert at 5:00 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend, with festivities opening at 11:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. There will be multiple stages full of local bands, so check out the festival website for to find your favorites. Additionally, there will be dozens of booths with local artists, food, a beer and wine garden, and activities for the whole family.

Friday Night Magic

What: Gaming
When: Friday, June 16th 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

What: Gaming, Sports & Fitness, Theater
When: Friday, June 16th at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 17th at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Where: Christ Church Lutheran

As geeks, we seem to be drawn to imaginary sports like 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 rundown of last year’s All-Star Series!)

Spectacular Service Dog Fundraiser and 20-Year Party

What: Community, Nightlife
When: Friday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Historic Mounds Theater

This event celebrates 20 years of survival from a traumatic event with burlesque acts, a circus sideshow, drinks, and a silent auction. Funds are being raised to help a community member afford a service dog to help her continue in the face of PTSD. Entry to the event is free, but participants are encouraged to take part in the silent auction and take part in the online fundraiser. When this community comes together, it can accomplish great things.

PowerPoint Karaoke

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Fantasy Flight Games Center

In Fearless Comedy Productions’ PowerPoint Karaoke, “Come see four people give a PowerPoint presentation using slides they have never seen before and that make absolutely no sense!” Get $3 off your ticket with with a CONvergence badge, Geek card, Minnesota Fringe button, or Fantasy Flight Games Center receipt.

Movies in the Parks: Star Trek: Beyond

What: Movies
When: Friday, June 16th at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Lake Harriet Park

In yet another free showing this week, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will be presenting Star Trek: Beyond, a testament to the true power of the Beastie Boys beginning 15 minutes after sundown.

Level Up!

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, June 17th at 8:30 a.m.
Where: YQdio

After gaining all of this experience with various yoga poses, you’ve earned the right to level up and dive deeper into familiar poses, and even learn new feats (poses). There is a $15 charge for this advanced class.

GPS UGG Open Gaming

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, June 17th 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.

Grand Day Parade: St. Louis Park Parktacular

What: Community, Arts, Sports & Fitness, Music
When: Saturday, June 17th at 10:00 a.m., Sunday June 18th at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Wolfe Park

St. Louis Park s celebrating the return of summer with Parktacular, including music, a park expo, and the Grand Day Parade. (Star Wars group Minnesota Force will have a float in the Grand Day Parade, ensuring at least one solid geek connection.) There is tons of stuff for the whole family, including kayaking, a petting zoo, water slides, and more. See the event schedule to find the right event for you.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

What: Sports & Fitness, Meetup
When: Saturday, June 17th 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.”

Free RPG Day

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, June 17th
Where: Source Comics and Games

There will be RPG gaming going on all day at Source Comics and Games as they take part in Free RPG Day, a worldwide event celebrating RPG gaming in which publishers give out free materials to promote their new games. This will be a great opportunity to try new tabletop role-playing games and meet local gamers. The Source is only one of several local gaming stores participating, so check here to see if your local store is participating as well.

Pirate Pub Crawl

What: Nightlife
When: Saturday, June 17th at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Lyon’s Pub, O’Donovan’s, Mackenzie’s Pub

Shiver your timbers and gather with other like-minded pirates in downtown Minneapolis for the Pirate Pub Crawl. Spend your hard-earned doubloons at various taverns and pubs while hearing other pirates recite tales of adventure and plunder on the high seas. Pirate costuming encouraged.

Seu Jorge The Life Aquatic: A Tribute To David Bowie

What: Arts, Music
When: Saturday, June 17th at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Pantages Theatre

David Bowie’s influence on culture can’t be overstated, and he particularly touched people who didn’t feel like they fit into the greater society, including many of us geeks. Brazilian musician Seu Jorge will be playing a tribute concert to Bowie, using the beautiful Portuguese renditions of classic Bowie songs he wrote for and performed in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. There are a variety of ticket packages available, including meet-and-greets with Mr. Jorge, but regular tickets start at $42 plus fees.

Movies on the Lake: Star Wars: A New Hope

What: Movies
When: Saturday, June 18th at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Como Dockside

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: A New Hope, the film that started it all. 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.

RPG Sunday Game Day

What: Gaming
When: Sunday, June 18th at 12:00 p.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.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, June 4th at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games

Shieldmaiden Sundays is a new dedicated space for female nerds and geeks at Source. This will be a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks.

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. And don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!