This Week in Geek (2/24/2020–3/1/2020)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, February 24, to Sunday, March 1.

Pre-K Mornings

What: Family, Educational, Science & Technology
When: Monday, February 24, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: The Works Museum

This morning full of special activities is designed to handle the rapidly expanding minds of some three- to five-year olds. This event will feature activities specifically designed for preschool-age children in order to spark critical thinking and interest in engineering for long-term growth. Kids get in for $4.25, adults for $9.

Australian Fire-Relief Fundraiser at Up-Down

What: Gaming
When: Monday, February 24, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Up-Down Minneapolis

Even though the unprecedented and disastrous fires in Australia are burning on the other side of the planet, folks in Minnesota can help fire-relief efforts with this fundraiser at Up-Down. For the evening of February 24, proceeds from video-game token sales and $1 of sponsored beer sales will go to support three organizations: WIRES, NSW Rural Fire Service, and the Australian Conservation Foundation. So if you have been looking for a way to help the firefighters and rescue animals, come on down, have some fun, and support some great organizations fighting the good fight.

Twin Cities Monday Night Backgammon

What: Gaming
When: Monday, February 24, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Mainstreet Bar & Grill (Hopkins)

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 which has informed game design for centuries. Also a great chance to meet new folks.

Pokémon GO Trainer Tuesdays at Parkway Pizza

What: Gaming, Food & Drink
When: Tuesday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Parkway Pizza

A trainer strives to catch them all, and gain prowess and respect. This weekly event at Parkway Pizza is an opportunity to catch fun drink and food specials, meet other aspiring trainers, and square off against worthy opponents to win status and power. You can and will win, even if winning may just mean having a good time meeting other pocket-monster fans.

Tim & Eric 2020 Mandatory Attendance World Tour

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Tuesday, February 25, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: State Theatre

Tim and Eric, the comedy duo behind Adult Swim shows like Tom Goes to the Mayor and Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, return to Minneapolis for a live night of comedy on their 2020 Mandatory Attendance World Tour. Fans can expect “more spoofs, goofs and insanity, including some very special surprises we can’t talk about right now.” Tickets are $42.50.

Movie Trivia

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, February 26, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Moon Palace Books

This movie-trivia event, presented by If I Only Had a Brain movie trivia, continues at Moon Palace Books. Expect challenging movie trivia, great prize support, and a fun community. Admission is free, and showing up early to grab a coffee or cider at Geek Love Cafe is strongly encouraged.

Wibbly Wobbly Wednesday

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, February 26, 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–themed 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. This month’s theme is “Doc Rock.”

Be Our Geek Live Podcast and Panel with Studio Americana

What: Theater & Comedy, Educational
When: Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: ModernWell

Be Our Geek is a podcast featuring Miss Shannan (myTalk 107.1 radio host and comedian) and Jatin Setia (Twin Cities Film Fest executive director), who discuss everything pop culture and media from the geek perspective. During this episode, they’ll talk “Marketing to Geeks in Movies and TV” with guest Judy Carter. After the recording there will be a roundtable discussion with Studio Americana on podcasts as a medium and their production for those interested in starting their own, or who are just curious to learn more. Tickets are $20 for general admission, or $15 for ModernWell members.

MarsCon 2020: Visions of the Future

What: Gaming, Meetup, Convention, Books, Film, Arts, Music
When: Friday, February 28, at 12:00 p.m.; through Sunday, March 1, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport/Mall of America

MarsCon 2020 has a little bit of something for everyone. Whether your preferred-geek flavor is anime, gaming, cosplay, books, film, or science, you’re in for a treat. This year’s theme is “Visions of the Future.” Come for celebrity guests, such as Lee Arenberg of Star Trek and Pirates of the Caribbean fame, and stick around for informative panels, crafting events, anime screenings, the dementia track, masquerade, and more. Check the website for schedule and registration details. Rates vary, but the whole weekend costs $70 for adults.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour

What: Theater & Comedy, Movies
When: Friday, February 28, and Saturday, February 29,; at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Pantages Theatre

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is returning to Minneapolis on The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour for two nights of live shows. The riffing begins on Friday with the film No Retreat, No Surrender and continues on Saturday to target Circus of Horrors. Series creator Joel Hodgson will be joined on stage by robot pals Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy. Tickets start at $39.50.

Tsuinishi Anime Club

What: Movies
When: Friday, February 28, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Building

Anime Twin Cities has joined forces with the Geek Partnership Society “to bring a little bit of fun to you on the second and fourth Fridays of each month with this cosponsored anime club.” The group will show various anime movies and series.

Vilification Tennis: Vil’s Kitchen

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, February 28, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant-Lake Bowl

Vilification Tennis, a local structured-improv show focused on insult contests, will return to the Bryant-Lake Bowl for their annual amateur show. Performers will take the stage and compete to be the next Vilifier in this audition from Hell. Tickets are $15, or $12 with either a Minnesota Fringe button or CONvergence badge.

Tomicon

What: Arts, Community
When: Saturday, February 29, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Railway Gallery (Hastings)

Tomicon is a free arts event focusing on local artists working in comics, cartoons, fine art, and photography. Guests include Avery Walker, Kat Baumann, Lance Ward, Kao Lee Thao, and more. Vendors will also be on site with collectibles and memorabilia. Tomicon takes place at the Railway Gallery located within the Artspace Hastings River Lofts building.

CatVideoFest 2020

What: Movies, Community
When: Saturday, February 29, at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Where: St. Anthony Main Theatre

Cats are ridiculous, kind-of-goofy, lovable little balls of fur that only sort of understand how to be around people and are the genesis of so much good, good internet content. See these adorable little killing machines in all their glory at the CatVideoFest 2020. Enjoy this communal, theater-exclusive event with your fellow cat geeks. Tickets are $12 for general admission, or $8 for students and MSP Film Society members.

Weekly Comics Chat

What: Comics, Meetup
When: Saturday, February 29, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Midtown Global Market

The Girls Only Comic Club hosts a Weekly Comics Chat on Saturday afternoons where there will be shared opinions, drinks, and fries for comics fans. Additional information about this event is posted on the Girls Only Comic Club’s Facebook group. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to join.

Transvestite Soup Presents: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

What: Film, Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, February 29, at 11:55 p.m.
Where: Uptown Theatre

At 11:55 p.m. on the last Saturday of every month, the Uptown Theatre screens The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the “longest-running midnight movie of all time.” Transvestite Soup is the Twin Cities’s shadow cast for the showings, performing for your pleasure as part of the cult classic’s well-established tradition.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, March 1, 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!

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!