This Week in Geek (6/8/20–6/14/20)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 8, to Sunday, June 14.

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 8, and Friday, June 12, 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.

The Shared Room Virtual Launch Event

What: Books
When: Tuesday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join authors Kao Kalia Yang and Xee Reiter as they celebrate the launch of their new book, The Shared Room. This event will feature a conversation with the authors moderated by University of Minnesota Press’s regional editor, Erik Anderson. The Shared Room is the tale of a Hmong American family living with loss and love, and the words are accompanied by drawings by Hmong American artist Xee Reiter.

Racism and Inequality in the Face of COVID-19

What: Educational
When: Wednesday, June 10, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

We live in a time of global pandemic and systemic racial injustice, and this is an event to help participants gain a greater understanding. This webinar will help participants understand how the pandemic has hit communities of color hardest with a conversation with experts. This is your chance to hear from Danyelle Solomon, vice president of race and ethnicity policy at the Center for American Progress; Joia Crear-Perry, founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative; Derrick Beetso, general counsel at the National Congress of American Indians; and Jamila Taylor, director of health-care reform and senior fellow at The Century Foundation.

Christies × Atlas Obscura: Lost and Found Paintings

What: Books, Educational
When: Wednesday, June 10, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Atlas Obscura is teaming up with Christie’s Books & Manuscripts for a look at the re-discoveries of lost paintings around the world, and the extensive research involved in tracking them down. 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 10, 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.

TorCon 2020

What: Conventions
When: Thursday, June 11, through Sunday, June 14
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

Stay home and take part in TorCon 2020 with Den of Geek and a variety of authors covering nerdy topics. This is your chance to see conversations with Neil Gaiman, Nnedi Okafor, and more. In addition to famous guests, this con offers an eclectic mix of events, including discussions on inspirations, a screening of Night of the Living Dead, and more. Check the website for more details and to find what TorCon has for you.

History of Pride Virtual Workshop

What: Educational
When: Thursday, June 11, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual

It’s Pride month, and it’s also a time of mass protest across the United States against racial injustice. Learn the story of the Gay Liberation Movement and its beginnings with the spark of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride events, and Pride over the past half century.

National Air and Space Museum Live Chat

What: Science & Tech, Arts
When: Thursday, June 11, 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.

DCC Days Online

What: Gaming
When: Thursday, June 11, through Sunday, June 14
Where: Virtual via various platforms

If you’re feeling cooped up and starved of tabletop-gaming goodness, DCC Days from Goodman Games is a weekend-long virtual-gaming convention. DCC Days features RPGs from the Dungeon Crawl Classics and Mutant Crawl Classics lines, two game systems that push for fast, chaotic action, and weird events while using the basic framework of modern D&D. Badges are $5, and event registration is handled via Tabletop events. The con is localized to Atlanta, Georgia, so make note of that when considering event times.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: Beholders and Illithids and Pals

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational
When: Thursday, June 11, 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 strange monsters created for Dungeons & Dragons, including Beholders, Flumphs, Thri Kreen, and Illithids.

Doomtree TV

What: Music
When: Friday, June 12, 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.

Saturday Night Space Opera: Sword & Planet Adventures

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, June 13, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Local sci-fi RPG night Saturday Night Space Opera returns with a focus on sword and planet adventures like the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs tales. This is your chance to try Modiphius’s John Carter of Mars or FATE Accelerated. This is a free event, all rules will be taught, and no materials are required—just RSVP on the Facebook event to snag your spot.

Dolly Parton Digital Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, June 14, 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 Dolly Parton, featuring Ginger Minj, Jaidynn Diore, Nina DiAngelo, Sasha Colby, Kat Sass, Tygra Slarii, Justin Scott Novak, and your host: Sasha R Cassadine. 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.

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 Bluebeard’s Castle and The Ghosts of Versailles. 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!