This Week in Geek (9/2/19–9/8/19)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, September 2, to Sunday, September 8.

Twin Cities Monday Night Backgammon

What: Gaming
When: Monday, September 2, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Richfield American Legion

Enjoy a night of backgammon with two tournaments. Entry to this event is $5, and this is a great chance for both pros and newcomers to learn this classic game of strategy.

Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Building

Let your creativity shine with drawing, painting, crafting, or whatever your heart desires at Creative Night, a weekly event put on by Crafty Geek and the Geek Partnership Society. This is a free event, so bring some of your own stuff to work on, bring some snacks, and hang out in a collaborative space.

Terror Tuesday: Christine

What: Movies
When: Tuesday, September 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Alamo Drafthouse Twin Cities

Terror Tuesday, a horror-screening series at the Alamo Drafthouse Twin Cities, seeks to liven up weeknights with blood-pumping terror. Tickets are $5, and as always, the Alamo Drafthouse has a variety of food and drink available to enjoy with the film. This week’s screening is Christine, a terrifying John Carpenter adaptation of Stephen King’s classic killer-car novel. Tickets are $5.

Mystic Dawn/Amtgard

What: Gaming, Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, September 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Oak Grove Park

Amtgard, a global organization focused on the sport of medieval-fantasy combat, will be hosting a gathering in Oak Grove Park. Participants can take part in glorious quests, battle, and more, all with the use of foam weapons for the sake of safety. Garb is encouraged, but not required, and loaner weapons are available. This is a free-to-play event, but long-term players are expected to support the organization with $6 or $10 dues.

Books & Bars: Little Fires Everywhere

What: Books, Food & Drink
When: Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Dual Citizen Brewing

Books & 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 Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Nig. The book is set in the author’s hometown, and follows the tale of two families brought together by their children.

Trivia Against Humanity Wednesdays

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Modist Brewing Co.

This regular event at Modist, hosted by Sam Spadino and Bacon, represents the convergence of two geeky favorites: a brewery that geeks out for innovative beer, and absurd trivia. Trivia Against Humanity has other weekly events as well; see the Trivia Against Humanity Facebook page for additional events.

Back to Hogwarts Yoga

What: Books, Sports & Fitness
When: Thursday, September 5, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Real Life Coffee and Yoga (St. Paul)

Fans of Harry Potter and yoga unite for this themed night. Get ready to mix potions, face mystical challenges, and more as all seven years of school at Hogwarts are celebrated. Bring a water bottle and clothes that you are comfortable moving in, and if you have a yoga mat, bring that as well.

Crafty Geek/Make It Sew

What: Arts, Meetup
When: Thursday, September 5, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Building

The Geek Partnership Society’s Crafty Geek club and its sub-club Make It Sew meet Thursday evenings at the Waterbury Building and invite you to “bring your crafty stuff to do” or to “hang out and work with the crafty stuff we have here!”

One-Shot Comics Book Club: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

What: Comics
When: Thursday, September 5, 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 with a discussion of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, a story of young love, and learning to move past obsessive crushes to embrace friendship and true love. One-Shot Comics strives toward the goals of “creating an inclusive space” and “perpetual awesomeness.” As usual, you can pick up a copy for 20% off at Moon Palace Books.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

What: Movies
When: Thursday, September 5, at 7:00 p.m.; screening at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Parkway Theater

Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford’s swashbuckling archaeologist and adventurer, is an iconic 20th- and 21st- century screen presence. Come see an adventure focused on the Sankara stone, an ancient evil. This time, Dr. Jones is joined by companions who assist on his journey. Tickets are $9 in advance, or $11 dollars at the door, for this romp full of great action-set pieces.

Crypticon

What: Convention, Movies, Music
When: Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 8
Where: Hilton Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport

Crypticon returns to the Twin Cities for its 13th-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 Andrew Robinson (Garak from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and well known from Hellraiser); Jesse Ventura (former governor, sexual tyrannosaurus, and more); Doug Bradley and Ashley Laurence of Hellraiser fame; Caroline Munro, Sheryl Lee from Twin Peaks; and many others. Genre-film fans of all stripes will have something to enjoy here. Tickets start at $50 for the full weekend, and there are a variety of ticket choices.

PLAY/TEST

What: Educational, Gaming
When: Friday, September 6, at 6:00 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.

Grease Bats Book Release Party

What: Books
When: Friday, September 6, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Moon Palace Books

Grease Bats is finally getting the release it deserves! Come celebrate a half decade of antics and mishaps with this release party featuring a time to mix and mingle, a reading/Q&A, and signing time. This is a free event, so come on down and have a great time with Archie Bongiovanni, the local artist behind this comic.

UGG FSA BattleTech Tabletop

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Friday, September 6, 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.

GPS UGG Open Gaming at Fantasy Flight Games Center

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Saturday, September 7, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Fantasy Flight Games Center (Roseville)

The Geek Partnership Society’s United Geeks of Gaming group offers its open-gaming session, 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 role-playing games, but the group has amassed an impressive library of its own games as well.

Springboard × Fluevog Fundraiser

What: Community, Arts
When: Saturday, September 7, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: John Fluevog (Minneapolis)

Has the change in season got you thinking of a change in soles? Come support the arts and get some sweet new shoes at this event held at John Fluevog. During this event from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., 50% of all sales will benefit Springboard for the Arts, a St. Paul–based arts nonprofit.

Weekly Comics Chat

What: Meetup, Comics
When: Saturday, September 7, at 3:00 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.

Twin Cities Donut Brawl 2019

What: Food
When: Sunday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Lake Monster Brewing

Donuts are the best. While that may be an undisputed fact, the question of what is the best of the best—the greatest donut—is open to interpretation. Come see this crucial question answered while enjoying some great torus-shaped confections in an excellent local brewery. Tickets are $25, and entitle you to unlimited donuts and coffee, along with a single drink ticket. Do you have it in you to help make this critical determination? Come find out.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, September 8, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics & Games

Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female nerds and geeks at Source Comics & Games. This is a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks. See the calendar for more events!

Flames of the Dark Crystal with J .M. Lee and Sarah Ahiers

What: Books, Family
When: Sunday, September 8, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Red Balloon Bookshop

Fans of The Dark Crystal (original movie or new Netflix show) and great YA novels have a treat in store for them at this event celebrating the release of Flames of the Dark Crystal, the fourth book in J. M. Lee’s Dark Crystal novel series. Enjoy a talk with the author followed by refreshments and an informal meet and greet with fans.

Al Church’s Cinematic Orchestra Presents: The Street Fighter

What: Movies, Music
When: Sunday, September 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Parkway Theater

Al Church, a prolific and versatile musician in the local scene who plays with a variety of bands and has backed up local greats like Gaelynn Lea, brings his musical talents to this monthly movie series. This Cinematic Orchestra will provide live backing tracks to classic films, and September’s film is the 1974 classic The Street Fighter (not to be confused with Street Fighter, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme), in which Sonny Chiba shows off his martial arts expertise, and is also notable for receiving an X rating due to violence.

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!