This Week in Geek (6/1/20–6/7/20)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 1, to Sunday, June 7.

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.

In addition, things are obviously very different following the death of George Floyd. This column does not list any planned demonstrations or cleanup or donation events, many of which are fluid and can change or be planned on very short notice. Instead, we encourage you to follow your local organizers as well as social media groups like South Minneapolis Mutual Aid Autonomous Zone Coordination to find out when events are happening and how you can get involved. If you’re looking for something in your area, you can always ask for recommendations in the Twin Cities Geeks Facebook group or Twin Cities Geeks Slack.

One-Time and Weekly Events

Light Grey Art Lab Presents: Senior Show 2020

What: Arts
When: Friday, May 22, through Tuesday, June 30
Where: Virtual

With commencement exhibitions canceled due to COVID-19, Minneapolis gallery Light Grey Art Lab (LGAL) stepped in to create a giant virtual space to showcase the work of 2020 graduates from around the world. Explore a broad spectrum of digital artist installations including illustration, design, animation, comics, and studio art. LGAL also partnered with artists and organizations to provide over 150 scholarships and supportive awards. The Senior Show is free to attend, with viewers being encouraged to share, connect with, and celebrate the artists they enjoy.

Family Story Time

What: Books, Family
When: Monday, June 1, and Friday, June 5; 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.

Christies × Atlas Obscura: Ancient Astronomy by Aldus

What: Books, Educational
When: Tuesday, June 2, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Atlas Obscura is teaming up with Christie’s Books & Manuscripts for a look at ancient horoscopes and astrological woodcuts from the 1499 edition of Aratus, Manilius, and lulius Firmicus. This event also features related pieces up for auction and their unique stories. Tickets are $10.12, which includes fees.

Merlins Rest Pub Quiz

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, June 3, 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.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Convention
When: Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7; various times
Where: Virtual via Facebook

GalaxyCon is hosting free livestream chats with their celebrity friends during these socially distant times. They’re also offering paid experiences including one-on-one video chats, autographs, and personalized videos. Check their website for the most up-to-date scheduling and pricing. This week features chats with Karen Gillan, Gaten Matarazzo, Jennifer Morrison, and the Achievement Hunter crew.

National Air and Space Museum Live Chat

What: Science & Tech, Arts
When: Thursday, June 4, 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 Thursday. 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.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: Raining Cats and Manticores

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational
When: Thursday, June 4, 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 cats, from the prehistoric sabertooths and mythological manticores, to the fictional catbus and crytpozoological mngwa.

Doomtree TV

What: Music
When: Friday, June 5, 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.

First Fringe Friday

What: Theater & Comedy, Community
When: Friday, June 5, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Performing artists are coming together for a series of shows benefiting the Minnesota Fringe Festival and its survival beyond the pandemic into 2021. Just like the festival, performances are 60 minutes or less and attendees will get to choose which of the simultaneous performers they’d like to watch. This week’s line up includes The Fourth Wall, Foxlin Productions, and Reverend Matt’s Monster Science. Shows are free, but viewers are encouraged to support the Fringe through a donation or by purchasing a festival button.

First Free Saturday at Home: Family Pride

What: Arts, Community
When: Saturday, June 6, all day
Where: Virtual

The Walker Art Center’s First Free Saturday program has gone digital while the museum is closed. Stay connected to art and community through curated videos and at-home activities. This month’s theme is Family Pride, featuring a drag story hour, interactive art tour, dance party, and print-making activity.

The Flop House Live

What: Movies, Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, June 6, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Terrible movies (and the ones you love to hate) get the spotlight in The Flop House podcast, and this week hosts Elliott Kalan, Dan McCoy, and Stuart Wellington are going live for a discussion of Howard the Duck. Like their in-person live shows, this free livestream will kick off with a visual comedy presentation. Viewers are encouraged to make a donation to food banks helping with COVID-19 relief; those who contribute $20 or more are entered into a prize-pack raffle.

Prince: Digital Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, June 7, 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 pays tribute to Minnesota-musical legend Prince. Performers include the Vixen, Vincent the Destroyer, Damien D’Luxe, Maxi Glamour, 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, June 7, 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 the final 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 Orfeo ed Euridice and Otello. 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 and Periscope

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!