This Week in Geek (5/25/2020–5/31/2020)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, May 25, to Sunday, May 31.

Please note: Due to risks from the global COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tim Walz has declared a state of Peacetime Emergency, recommending social distancing (six feet from others in small gatherings), advising against nonessential travel, and ordering the closure of entertainment venues. In following current health guidelines, this column will exclusively share virtual events that can be enjoyed from the comfort and safety of home. During this time we will be including local, national, and international events, as well as separating them into weekly and daily categories. As time goes on and guidelines change, in-person events may be reintroduced.

One-Time and Weekly Events

Family Story Time

What: Books, Family
When: Monday, May 25, and Friday, May 29; at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Library story time is live in your home twice a week from the Ramsey County Library. Expect story-time staples like colorful picture books, toy props, and large easels for learning fun. Videos of the streams are available for 24 hours, so you can watch it when it works best for your schedule, and have the opportunity to hit repeat on family favorites.

Shannon Blowtorch Memorial Day Stream

What: Music
When: Monday, May 25, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

DJ Shannon Blowtorch, one of the big names in Twin Cities dance nights, will be bringing the tunes for Memorial Day in this livestream. Expect an afternoon that begins with throwbacks before moving into house music and other genres. This is a donation-based event, and attendees are encouraged to donate if they can afford to.

Nerd Search

What: Arts
When: Monday, May 25, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Think American Idol, but way nerdier, for this event where a panel of supernerds seek out the ultimate nerd. Expect a host of strange nerdy questions and games all designed to reveal the passions of those involved. Tickets run from $5 to 50.

That Word Chat

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, May 26, at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

That Word Chat is a series of Zoom-based chats led by a editor Mark Allen in conversation with various interesting guests. This week, Allen will be talking with Lynne Murphy,linguist and author of The Prodigal Tongue: The Love-Hate Relationship between American and British English.

National Air and Space Museum Live Chat

What: Science & Tech, Arts
When: Wednesday, May 27, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Join the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution for a live chat with one of their experts every week. Ask questions and learn about different topics with subject-matter experts. This series will continue until the museum reopens; check the Facebook page for up-to-the-minute information.

N. K. Jemisin and Rebecca Roanhorse for Borderlands Books

What: Books
When: Wednesday, May 27, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

COVID-19 has presented some challenges for bookstores. This event hosted by Maggie Tokuda-Hall is intended to benefit San Francisco’s Borderlands Books, and features a conversation with two lauded authors: N. K. Jemisin and Rebecca Roanhorse. N. K. Jemisin is best known for the Broken Earth trilogy, and Rebecca Roanhorse is best known for her novel Trail of Lightning. Tickets range from $0 to 100.

Books & Bars: Recursion

What: Books
When: Wednesday, May 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Books & Bars is an “open public book club show” hosted and moderated by former 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 Recursion by Blake Crouch, a novel focused on false memories. Next month’s book will be The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Torton.

Merlins Rest Pub Quiz

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, May 27, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Merlins Rest will be presenting its weekly pub quiz via Facebook! Get ready to quiz and have some fun with pals from the safety of your own home. Karina will be running the quiz.

Home Fitness with Justice Draconis

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Work out at home with a free online fitness class lead by Justice Draconis of Dragons Lair Performing Arts, a Twin Cities studio dedicated to circus arts. This 60-minute class focuses on flexibility, habits, and body-weight exercises, so no equipment is needed to participate. For those wanting more workout options, Dragons Lair also offers paid virtual classes in flow arts, belly dance, contortion, and yoga.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: Weirdos of Middle-Earth

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational
When: Thursday, May 28, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science is a recurring comedic-lecture series that focuses on monsters. This week’s free livestream explores the inspirations that J. R. R. Tolkien drew from in the creation of the various fantastical beings that populate Middle Earth.

Trivia Mafia Beer and Pizza Party

What: Trivia
When: Thursday, May 28, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Trivia Mafia is teaming up with Pizza Lucé and Summit Brewing Co. to host a weekly party with just-for-fun quizzing, random prizes, and pizza discounts.

Doomtree TV

What: Music
When: Friday, May 29, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Local hip-hop collective Doomtree will be presenting weekly episodes. This is your chance to see at-home performances, comedy, and more from this band of longtime collaborators and friends.

BookConline

What: Books, Educational
When: Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31; times vary
Where: Virtual via Facebook

BookCon, a convention that normally runs in tandem with the Book Expo America industry trade show, is going online during the COVID-19 pandemic under the moniker BookConline. This two-day convention features a variety of sessions focused on the world of books, guests, trivia, and more. For more specific information, the website has a list of sessions, and describes how to participate in each session.

Great International Scavenger Hunt Presents: The One-Day Play-at-Home Scavenger Hunt

What: Arts, Community, Family
When: Saturday, May 30, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Website and GISH App

Misha Collins, Supernatural actor and creator of GISH (short for the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt), asks “Why stay-at-home when you could play at home?” This year, GISH is hosting a bonus, no-pressure mini hunt created in response to COVID-19 that is full of wacky challenges to inspire creativity and kindness while supporting those struggling during the pandemic. All activities can be done at home with common household items. Participants must be 14 years or older to register, but folks are encouraged to have their friends and family (including kids!) help with challenges while adhering to stay-at-home and quarantine orders. Registration starts at $15, with a portion going towards nonprofits providing COVID-19 relief, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 25.

Atlas Obscura: Step-by-Step—Writing a Personal History

What: Arts
When: Saturday, May 30, at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Use this class as a springboard for the process of telling your personal tale. This is the first in a three-event series which can help you elucidate a topic that means something to you, whether it’s an obscure piece of family history, or that one building you keep passing on your social-distance walks. This course will be led by Hadley Meares, an LA-based historical journalist. See Atlas Obscura’s Eventbrite page for other events this week as well.

Dark Energy DJ Set: featuring Riki, Kris Baha, Endif, and Light Asylum

What: Music
When: Saturday, May 30, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Dark Energy, a Minneapolis DJ night focused on dark electronic and dance music, will be hosting a virtual DJ night on Twitch. Guests include Riki, Kris Baha, Endif, and Light Asylum. Attendees are encouraged to pay a virtual cover of $5–10 via PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App.

Mamma Mia: Digital Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch and Zoom

Flip Phone is taking their popular drag-brunch events digital while everyone is stuck inside. This Sunday’s performance celebrates Mama Mia. Performers include Chad Michaels, Darienne Lake, Jaidynn Diore, Sasha R Cassadine, and more. This event is free, but viewers are highly encouraged to tip performers. Check the Flip Phone Facebook page for more drag events and themed dance parties throughout the week.

The Guild Plays Dungeons & Dragons

What: Gaming, Community
When: Sunday, May 31, at 9:00 p.m. CDT
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Enjoy a night of streaming D&D with the creative team behind The Guild, including Felicia Day, Sandeep Parikh, Jeff Lewis, Robin Thorsin, Amy Okuda, and Vincent Caso. The game begins at 7:00 p.m Pacific Time (9:00 p.m. CDT) and is part of a four-session adventure arc.

Daily Events

Met Opera Streams

What: Theater & Comedy, Music
When: Daily, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Video Stream

Even though the Metropolitan Opera in New York has gone dark in these challenging times, the show will go on. “Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming on the Met website.” This week’s performances include La Damnation de Faust and Les Troyens. Streams will be available for a full 23 hours and can also be accessed through the Met Opera On Demand apps.

LeVar Burton Reads

What: Books, Family
When: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; various times
Where: Virtual via Twitter

LeVar Burton is once again sharing the joy and adventure of reading. The former Reading Rainbow host will take a look in a book and livestream a story narration three times a week. Mondays at 11:00 a.m. will feature children’s books; Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. will be stories geared towards young adults; and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. will include selected readings for adults. For even more stories narrated by Burton, he also hosts a podcast with the same name.

Get Your Pets

What: Community
When: Daily (most days), at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Instagram

John Hodgman, humorist, writer, actor, and Webby Award-winning podcaster best known for his performances on The Daily Show and performances as “a PC” in Apple advertisements, has been hosting a pet-focused talk show on Instagram Live. On the show, participants will video chat with the host and allow him to chat with their pets.

#ASonnetADay

What: Books, Theater & Comedy
When: Daily, various times
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Sir Patrick Stewart projects stability and calm, two things much needed in this time. This virtual event is an opportunity to see Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek, X-Men, and I, Claudius fame) return to his Shakespearean roots as he reads a sonnet daily. Times vary for the event. Also please note that per Patrick Stewart’s Twitter feed on May 21, he anticipates a small hiatus due to a project; check his Twitter for up-to-date information on the return of this event.

Vienna State Opera Livestreams

What: Theater & Comedy, Music
When: Daily, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Vienna State Opera Live App

Another opportunity to watch world-class opera and ballet while at home comes from the Vienna State Opera. Through their streaming app platform, recordings of previous live shows will be available to watch for 24 hours. The service usually has a subscription fee but is “free of charge until further notice.” This week’s performances include Don Giovanni and Salome. See the full schedule and program details in their announcement post.

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!