This Week in Geek (8/10/20–8/16/20)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, August 10, to Sunday, August 16.

Please note: Due to risks from the global COVID-19 pandemic, and in following current health guidelines recommending both social distancing and limited travel, 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

So, You Want to Be Antiracist. Now What?

What: Educational
When: Monday, August 10, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual Event; link will be provided upon registration

In the past few months, many have become increasingly aware of systemic racism in the world and specifically in the United States. This talk seeks to take you to a place where that awareness and sense of injustice can be transformed into anti-racist action. Building a just and equitable society is hard and continuing work, but this talk with Professor Ibram X Keni and Dr. Maurice Sweeney is a great place to explore those next steps. Attendees are encouraged to submit topics and questions ahead of time.

Wizard World Virtual Experiences

What: Convention
When: Tuesday, August 11, and Sunday, August 16; various times
Where: Virtual via Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube

If you’re getting stir-crazy, and want to connect with fandoms, Wizard World’s Virtual Experiences may be able to help bring some of the convention experience to the comfort of your home. Check the website for details regarding particular events, but know that they include a free Q&A livestream and additional options for paid experiences. During the week of August 10, there are events related to Hallmark movies and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.

Online Board Game Afternoon for Teens

What: Gaming
When: Tuesday, August 11, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Teens are invited to take part in a weekly Zoom-based board-gaming session put on by the Ramsey County Library. This is a free event intended for teens, and preregistration with an email address is required in order to receive an invite to the Zoom meeting. This is a great opportunity for young board-game geeks to make new friends and try new games during the quarantine.

Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify virtual launch with Carolyn Holbrook

What: Books
When: Wednesday, August 12, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Local author Carolyn Holbrook will be discussing her new book Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify at this virtual launch event hosted by the University of Minnesota press. With this book, celebrated local author Carolyn Holbrook heeds the call to tell her life story in a memoir full of untold stories previously kept hidden by pain, prejudice, or ignorance. The author’s granddaughters, Tess Montgomer, Nia Davis, and Najah Davis, will read from the book before a Q&A with Carolyn, moderated by Pamela Fletcher Bush and Artika Tyner.

August Writing Accountability Group Meeting

What: Educational
When: Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Twin Cities Writing Accountability Group, a group dedicated to the art of making and keeping goals for writing projects, will have a special guest for its August meeting. Linguist Maria Heath will be discussing the process of creating and writing alien languages. This is of special interest to writers of science fiction and fantasy, but the methods involved should be fascinating for any writer.

Atlas Obscura: The Secret Arts: Wax Carving

What: Educational, Arts
When: Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Secret Arts, a new weekly event from Atlas Obscura, delves deep into the hidden knowledge of one particular craft. This week, the host will be meeting with Heather O’Shaughnessy to learn about her wax carving and techniques inspired by 16th and 17th century European miniature-portrait artists and wax-flower makers. Tickets are $10.

TC Trek Trivia: Phage Against the Machine

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, August 12, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Hosted by Master Trekkie, TC Trek Trivia consists of five rounds: General Trek (questions covering all things Star Trek); Identify the Image; Ships, Technology, and Cultures; Complete the Quote; and a “Wild Card” round. Questions for each of these five rounds are drawn from all Star Trek-television series and all 12 films. According to Master Trekkie himself, TC Trek Trivia is “all ages, no cover, food, drinks, and a whole lot of Trek!” This month takes the crew to a new cyber world. You will receive your trivia via subspace transmission (the internet), and all drinks and food will be enjoyed at home, with proper social distancing. This month’s theme is “Phage Against the Machine,” named after a horrifying illness from Star Trek: Voyager, and celebrating seven years of TC Trek Trivia!

Merlins Rest Pub Quiz

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, August 12, 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.

National Air and Space Museum Live Chat

What: Science & Tech, Arts
When: Thursday, August 13
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.

Literature Responds to Crisis: “Writing in a Time of Crisis”

What: Educational, Books
When: Thursday, August 13, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual; details provided upon registration

The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota will be running a series of webinars focused on the importance of story and meaning during times of crisis. Each week, they will present “short, sharp segments,” from English professors lasting about 15 minutes. This week’s presentation is “Writing in a Time of Crisis,” presented by Professor Ray Gonzalez and Assistant Professor Kathyrn Nuernberger, and delves into their writing practice.

Zoom Life Drawing with a Model

What: Arts
When: Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Gallery Girls is a Los Angeles-based event organizer popular for their themed drawing nights, often featuring models in fantasy, comic-book, and science-fiction costumes. Now, due to the pandemic, they’ve shifted to online sessions that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. This life drawing session is $7 and offers quick sketch posing.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Conventions
When: Friday, August 14, through Sunday, August 16
Where: Virtual via video chat

GalaxyCon, a convention for fans of various genre properties will be returning to live virtual events throughout the summer. These events are a great way to bring the convention experience home with panels, chats, autographs, virtual shout-outs, and more. Check the website for full details and pricing information, but this week includes events for fans of Achievement Hunter, Once Upon a Time, and My Hero Academia.

Twin Cities Queer Black Excellence

What: Community, Educational, Movies
When: Friday, August 14, through Saturday, August 15
Where: Virtual via video stream

This is a two-day-long video series that will allow the Twin Cities Black queer community to gather, celebrate, mourn, discuss, and make change. Critically, the goal is to elevate voices and help get Black queer performers and causes heard and paid. This event is working in close partnership with Minnesota POC pride, Twin Cities Pride, and Black Queer Town Hall (NYC). The event is broken down into two days—Friday is for Conversation and Saturday is for Queer Black Joy. See the event listing for more details and donate at the GoFundMe link.

PLAYfest 2020: A Day of Wonder

What: Community, Arts, Educational
When: Friday, August 14, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

PLAYfest is an event spanning an entire day, celebrating ideas and people with four sessions of talks augmented with hands-on workshops and discussion. All are welcome and this event is free, however registration is required via the website. The day will be broken down into sessions focused on Joy, Whimsy, New Friends, and Surprise, with a large number of speakers and groups for each topic. The day will be capped off with socializing and discussion rooms.

Family Story Time

What: Books, Family
When: Friday, August 14, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Library story time is live in your home with 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. Check the Ramsey County Library page for other virtual events as well.

Comedy Crossing: The Animal Crossing Standup Comedy Show

What: Theater & Comedy, Gaming
When: Friday, August 14, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Add some laughs to your island escape with Comedy Crossing, a recurring stand-up show performed from within the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. This show is free and open to all—no game or Switch console required. Any donations received go toward performers and organizations supporting Black lives.

Leann Rimes: Coyote Ugly 20th Anniversary & Other Movie Songs

What: Music, Movies
When: Saturday, August 15, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Stageit

Fans of Leann Rimes and fans of Coyote Ugly will have a lot to celebrate with this 30-minute concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of the film. This is your chance to hear hits from the soundtrack, as well as other famous movie songs. Tickets are available through the Stageit platform; see the event listing for more details.

Animaniacs in Concert featuring Rob Paulsen & Randy Rogel

What: Music
When: Saturday, August 15, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Looped

Fans of the classic animated series Animaniacs have a chance to see their heroes performing live in concert via the streaming app Looped. This event will feature Rob Paulsen (Yakko, Pinky, and more) and Randy Rogel (songwriter and composer) performing the songs you know and love. There are VIP meet-and-greet packages available as well. Tickets are $25.

How to Launch and Host a Podcast

What: Educational
When: Sunday, August 16, at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual; register for link

In this event put on by Freelancing with Tim, a panel of podcasters will be available to answer questions about the process of starting and hosting a podcast. Geeks are a wealth of knowledge about hyper-specific topics, and a podcast may be a great way to share that knowledge and build a community online. This panel should help you figure out how to record, how to make a post schedule, and how to upload a podcast to an RSS feed.

Daily Events

MSP Film Society Virtual Cinema

What: Movies
When: Daily, various times
Where: Virtual via video stream

The MSP Film Society is continuing to make independent films available to the community while theaters are closed and under reduced occupancy through their virtual cinema. Check out their website for full details, including current and upcoming films, as well as ticket pricing. This week’s films include H is for Happiness and Jazz on a Summer’s Day.

Met Opera Streams

What: Theater & Comedy, Music
When: Daily, at 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 Manon Lescaut and La Bohème. Streams will be available for a full 23 hours and can also be accessed through the Met Opera On Demand apps.

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.

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!