This Week in Geek (10/30/17–11/5/17)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, October 30th through Sunday, November 5th.

Night of the Living Dead

What: Film
When: Monday, October 28th through Thursday, November 2
Where: St. Anthony Main Theatre

Throughout the week of Halloween, St. Anthony Main and the MSP Film Society will be screening George Romero’s iconic zombie film Night of the Living Dead. This film follows a group of people trapped in a rural farmhouse under siege by the undead and is a cult classic that led to sequels, a well-known remake, and imitators throughout the years. Tickets are $6 for matinee shows, and $8.50 for others.

Star Trek: Discovery Viewing Party

What: Television, Meetup
When: Monday, October 30th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Parkway Theater

Star Trek has returned to the small screen with a new series, Star Trek: Discovery, and this is a chance to celebrate with your fellow Trekkies, Trekkers, and other geeks. TC Trek Trivia is organizing this event, which is free and all ages and will continue every Monday throughout the run of the season.

Halloween Party and Parade

What: Arts, Family, Community
When: Tuesday, October 31st at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Mathews Park

This kid-friendly event invites all kinds of spooky creatures, and other costumed characters to Matthews Park in Minneapolis’s Seward neighborhood for a costumed neighborhood parade starting at 4:00 p.m. sharp, followed by a party with treats and tricks (games) for all.

Knitting Social

What: Arts, Meetup
When: Tuesday, October 31st 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.

Tea and Meeples Halloween Party

What: Food & Drink, Meetup
When: Tuesday, October 31st at 7:00 p.m.
Where: 7512 Pillsbury Ave. S. Richfield

Enjoy a night of community and tea with Tea and Meeples, a weekly gathering of friendly geeks at “Panda Castle” in Richfield. This week’s theme is the Tea and Meeples Halloween, so be ready to chase your tea and company with spooky delights.

YogaQuest Continues: Clue

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Tuesday, October 31st 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 Clue, and Halloween festivities will be afoot. This event costs $15.

Croak: Barebones Halloween Show

What: Arts, Theater & Comedy
When: Tuesday, October 31st at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Hidden Falls Regional Park, North Gate

Come for Barebones Puppets’ annual extravaganza with larger-than-life puppetry, drama, stilts, dance, fire, song, and celebration of life. This event typically includes a public naming ceremony to honor those who have passed. The event begins at 7:00 p.m., but gates open at 6:30 p.m., and you should allow yourself some time to park and find seating. The event organizers recommend a $10 to $20 donation.

Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor present It Devours!

What: Books
When: Tuesday, October 31st at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Grace-Trinity Church

The creators of the hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale, Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, present It Devours!, a noir-esque mystery novel centering on faith and science. This event, organized by Magers and Quinn Booksellers, will feature a reading and signing. It is free and open to the public, but due to a lack of overflow seating, early arrival is encouraged.

Dark Energy Presents Daughters of Darkness: Halloween Edition

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Tuesday, October 31st at 8:00 p.m.
Where: 7th Street Entry

Dark Energy is a group of musicians and DJs focused on the spookier, darker side of dance music who will be putting on a Halloween event at 7th Street Entry. Expect music from Devata Daun, Angelica Ottavia, DJ MISS Q, and Hyperkarma and Halloween fun with prize giveaways, a photo booth, spooky surprises, and VHS visuals by Katie Lee. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. This is an 18-plus event.

First Avenue’s Halloween Party and Costume Contest

What: Nightlife, Music
When: Tuesday, October 31st at 8:00 p.m.
Where: First Avenue

Ian Rans (host of TV’s Drinking with Ian) returns to First Avenue’s mainroom for a night of dancing and costume contests, with over $1,000 in prize money up for grabs. This event is presented by City Pages and Radio K. Expect music from locals, like TIIIIIIIIIIP, DJ Espada and Mike 2600, DJ Keezy, DJ Smitty, and Roy Freedom. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 day-of.

Magic: The Gathering Ixalian Booster Draft

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, November 1st at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Clockwerks Brewing

Come to Clockwerks for a night of beer and Magic with the Ixalian booster draft event, presented in partnership with Dreamers Vault Games. Entry fee for this event is $15, and each attendee will receive three 15-card boosters to make a deck. Win booster packs for winning matches and other special prizes from Clockwerks.

PLAY/TEST

What: Educational, Gaming
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 5:00 p.m.
Where: GlitchHQ

PLAY/TEST is a monthly series hosted by tech nonprofit Glitch that offers the “opportunity to play works-in-progress, debug recent builds, test out new concepts, and connect with community.” At PLAY/TEST, attendees will find “alphas, betas, and even paper prototypes of games made by students and local game developers.” Creators, players, and game lovers of all skill levels are welcome.

Catching Fire Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness, Books
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 5:30 p.m.
Where: YQdio

Catching Fire Yoga is a new class about radical self-acceptance and love based on the messages put forth in The Hunger Games. This new yoga class is open to all body types and experience levels and costs $15. Mats and props will be available.

Back to the Future: A Trans Retrospective in Film

What: Film, Educational
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Trylon Cinema

Gender Reel 2017 pairs with America in Transition’s founder Andre Perez to step back in time with two films that helped develop the tone for the trans and gender-nonconforming movements, Outlaw and Queens at Heart. The event will begin with acknowledgement of Transgender Day of Remembrance (coming up on November 20), and the film screenings will be followed by three episodes of America in Transition and discussion. Tickets are $5 per person, with help available to those who cannot afford to pay.

Crafty Geek/Make it Sew

What: Crafting, Meetup
When: Thursday, November 2nd 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!”

First Thursday Films: Get Out

What: Educational, Movies
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Capri Theater

First Thursday Films at the Capri Theater, a screening and speaking series, will be showing Get Out as part of its Black Cinema: Under the Skin series, a program of films by black filmmakers exploring black culture and experience. Get Out was this year’s surprise-hit speculative thriller about a young black man visiting his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time who uncovers a progression of unsettling discoveries. Minnesota writer, producer, and actor Michael Starrbury will be present for post-show discussion.

Geek Slink Belly Dance

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: YQdio

Geek Slink is a bellydance class intended to be a welcoming and safe space to focus on fun, fusion, and fitness. Classes are open to any level of experience, body type, and gender; the 6:30 p.m. is for beginners, and intermediate classes start at 7:30 p.m. Classes are $15 for walk-ins, or $60 for a five-class punch card. Free trial classes are available.

Weekly Comics Chat

What: Meetup, Comics
When: Thursday, November 2nd 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.

One-Shot Comics: One! Hundred! Demons!

What: Comics
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Moon Palace Books

One-Shot Comics, a monthly comic series devoted to covering a diverse range of comics and graphic novels, returns for November with a discussion of One! Hundred! Demons! by Lynda Barry. One-Shot Comics strives toward the goals of “creating an inclusive space” and “perpetual awesomeness.”

Trivia Against Humanity

What: Trivia
When: Thursday November 2nd at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Clockwerks Brewing

This regular event at Clockwerks Brewing represents the convergence of two geeky favorites: a steampunk-themed bar and absurd trivia. The event is hosted by Sam Spadino and Sidney Oxborough and this week is one of two chances to play.

Minneapolis Donner Party Reunion

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, November 2nd at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Camp Bar

The Camp Bar will play host to an evening of live music, history and entertainment with American Murder Song’s Minneapolis Donner Party Reunion event. This event is put on by cult musical filmmakers Terrance Zdunich and Saar Hendelman and is a historical reenactment of the infamous Donner Party. Tickets start at $30.

Crypticon Minneapolis

What: Movies, Convention, Music
When: Friday, November 3rd to Sunday, November 5th
Where: Hilton Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport

Crypticon returns to the Twin Cities for its 12th annual horror convention. This event is an opportunity to see horror celebrities, vendors, artists, and films and to participate in activities including themed parties, cosplay, concerts, gaming, films, “scary-oke,” and more. Guests of honor this year include Marky Ramone, Richard Brake (Game of Thrones), P. J. Soles (Halloween), and Johnny Brugh (What We Do in Shadows). Eugene Clark will also be running a unique makeup demo in which he transforms into his character from Land of the Dead. Tickets start at $50 for the full weekend, and there are a variety of ticket choices.

Friday Night Magic

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Friday, November 3rd 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

UGG FSA BattleTech Tabletop

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Friday, November 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Fallout Shelter Arcade

Come on down for an evening of tactical mech combat. The United Geeks of Gaming meet Friday nights for a beginner-friendly session of the tabletop mech game BattleTech at Fallout Shelter Arcade in Northeast. FSA’s Virtual World gaming pods also run the immersive video-game version of BattleTech.

Cleve Jones Reading When We Rise

What: Books, Community
When: Friday, Novbember 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: SubText Books

LGBTQ icon Cleve Jones will be reading from his memoir, When We Rise, at St. Paul’s SubText Books. The memoir details the story of Jones’s decades within the movement, moving from the death of his friend Harvey Milk in the turbulent San Francisco of the 1970s to his modern work as a labor activist.

Got to Be Something Here Event at the Mid West Music Store

What: Music, Books
When: Friday, November 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Mid West Music Store (Winona)

Andrea Swensson will be at Mid West Music Store in Winona to support her new book Got to Be Something Here, a work about the rise of the Minneapolis sound. There will be a reading and book signing.

GPS UGG Open Gaming

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Saturday, November 4th 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.

Call to Adventure Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, November 4th at 10:00 a.m.
Where: YQdio

Prepare for your own hero’s journey with this yoga class focused on pose exploration, led by YogaQuest’s Kat. This class will focus on learning yoga poses in depth so that you can be ready for the greatest adventure that’s yet to come. This series will continue into December, with more pose exploration eventually leading into flow. Cost is $15.

Sidereal Sanctuaries: Alpha Playtest #3

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, November 4th at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Christ Church Lutheran

This is your opportunity to help playtest a new LARP in development, focusing on developing either the social or combat track of the game. The focus of the playtest will be seeing that the game stays balanced at higher levels, reviewing the professions, and encouraging social trick mechanics. This is a free event, but donations are encouraged to help cover costs.

Book Club: Dubliners by James Joyce

What: Books
When: Saturday, November 4th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Sixth Chamber Used Books

Join Sixth Chamber’s book club for a discussion of Dubliners by James Joyce, a collection of short stories centering on epiphanies and written during the peak of Irish nationalism. Many characters from this work appear in Joyce’s more famous work, Ulysses. Come on down for a lively discussion and get your book geek on in a friendly environment. RSVP recommended.

RPG Sunday Game Day

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, November 5th 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.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, Month Date at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games

Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female nerds and geeks at the 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.

Gender Jam: Halloween Party

What: Meetup
When: Sunday, November 5th at 12:30 p.m.
Where: The Exchange Minneapolis

Gender Jam, a meetup group for trans, gender-nonconforming, questioning, and intersex youth, invites attendees to “Wear your costume, bring your candy for tradies, [and] bring some spooky something” for a belated Halloween party. There may be a PG-13 horror film screening.

Akihabara II: Anime Swap Meet and Yard Sale

What: Community
When: Sunday, November 5th at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Geek Partnership Society

Anime Twin Cities is bringing back Akihabara, an annual swap meet. This is a free and public event, with a focus on trading or selling anime0related items. Items to be sold must be official merchandise, though unofficial items may be traded. Adult material is not permitted. Enjoy special door-prize drawings ever hour, and concessions to support Anime Twin Cities.

Trivia Against Humanity

What: Trivia
When: Sunday, November 5th at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Can Can Wonderland

This regular event at Can Can Wonderland represents the convergence of two geeky favorites: high concept min-golf/carnival fun and absurd trivia. The event is hosted by Sam Spadino and Sidney Oxborough.

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!