This Week in Geek (2/22/21–2/28/21)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, February 22, to Sunday, February 28.

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 and drive-through events. 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

Art in Ice

What: Arts
When: Friday, February 19, through Sunday, February 28
Where: Multiple Minneapolis Parks

Liven up your outdoor walks with some frozen art! The Minneapolis Institute of Art has transformed five artworks from their collection into ice sculptures and scattered them in parks across the city. These sculptures will be on display throughout February, or for as long as our fickle Minnesota weather allows. Check out their website for more details and park locations.

PlayAway Games Festival

What: Gaming, Music, Science & Tech, Educational
When: Monday, February 22, through Friday, March 5
Where: Virtual via Zoom, Twitch, YouTube

The PlayAway Games Festival is exploring games, their adaptations to the pandemic, and how that might impact not only games, but all sectors in the future. Over two weeks, there will be a mix panels, live music, gameplay, workshops, and a game jam. The keynote speaker is Jane McGonigal. Additional guests and performers include Chipzel, Dan Pinchbeck, Gabriel Elvery, Jon McKellan, Shay Thompson, Tess Tyler, Foxdog Studios, and more. Tickets are pay-what-you-can with no minimum; some workshops have additional fees.

Online Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, February 22, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Google Meet

Let your creativity shine with drawing, painting, crafting, or whatever your heart desires at Creative Night, a weekly event put on by Crafty Geek and the Geek Partnership Society. This is a free event and a great opportunity to work on projects in great company.

Tales from the Museum with Kylie & Zak: The Strong Museum of Play

What: Educational, Gaming, Science & Tech
When: Tuesday, February 23, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The many wonders held within museum walls are brought straight to your home with Atlas Obscura’s “Tales from the Museum” series. Hosts Kylie Holloway and Zak Martellucci dive into a collection, share secret stories behind the displays, and chat with a guest expert. This week’s event features the Strong Museum of Play, which houses the National Toy Hall of Fame, and chief curator Christopher Bensch. Tickets are $17.55, including fees.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, February 24, at 7:45 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Start your morning with yoga at the zoo! Each week the instructor teaches a yoga routine live from different exhibits around the zoo. These classes are appropriate for both beginners and experienced yogis. Each class is $8 for nonmembers, with additional reduced rates available for zoo members or when registering for multiple classes at the same time.

Virtual Tour with Artist Marlena Myles

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, February 24, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join Minnesota-based artist Marlena Myles on a tour of her solo exhibition, Dynamics of Russian Colonialism in Alaska, housed at the Museum of Russian Art. This exhibit explores the interactions between Russian travelers and Alaska Natives before the territory became part of the United States, as well as “how innovative Native art can be through the use of modern technology.” This tour is free, and requires advanced registration.

A Different World: Historically Black Colleges & Universities Geeks

What: Community
When: Wednesday, February 24, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Hear about the intersection of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and geek communities at this free panel hosted by HBCU Con. Panelists Fantastic Frankey, David Hooker, MzzSkittlesTR Cosplay, and Venture Bros Cosplay will discuss the continued relevance of HBCUs today and their geek experiences.

MN Virtual Reality & Human Computer Interaction Meeting—Twins XR Tour

What: Science & Tech, Meetup
When: Wednesday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twins XR

The MN VR & HCI group, a subsection of the local International Game Developers Association chapter, is moving their monthly meeting into VR. This month features a tour of Twins XR, a virtual Minnesota Twins hall of fame, with creators REM5 Studios. This open event is free and can be accessed through mobile devices, computers, Oculus Quest, or PC VR.

Fireside Reading Series: Heid Erdrich

What: Books
When: Wednesday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Get cozy this winter with the Fireside Reading Series presented by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. These free events will feature readings from notable authors over Zoom. This week’s chat is with Heid Erdrich, discussing Little Big Bully.

The Broadway Cast Reunion Series: Hadestown

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual; details provided with ticket

The Hennepin Theatre Trust is reuniting casts of popular Broadway productions with a series of nights filled with backstage stories, gossip, and unscripted chats. This week is Hadestown, featuring Reeve Carney, Amber Gray, Patrick Page, Eva Noblezada, Anais Mitchell, and Rachel Chavkin. Tickets are $15 and includes on-demand access to watch the event over the following four days.

Online Books & Bars: Anxious People

What: Books, Food & Drink
When: Wednesday, February 24, 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 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 discussed this meeting is Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, a story where a failed bank robber takes hostages during an open apartment viewing, which triggers personal revelations among them all and an unexpected chain of events. The next read is The Chain by Adrian McGinty.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, February 24, and Saturday, February 27, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

The popular Transmission dance night is moving to virtual space every Wednesday and Saturday. DJ Jake Rudh will be bringing New Wave, Alternative, and more ’80s-centric greats to the safety of your homes. So, dance, dance, dance to the Radio (or, in this case, Twitch stream).

Crafty Geek/Make It Sew

What: Arts, Meetup
When: Thursday, February 25, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Google Meet

The Geek Partnership Society’s Crafty Geek club and its subclub Make It Sew meet Thursday evenings on Google Meet and invite you to “bring your crafty stuff to do” (online). This is a great chance to show all your creative pals your in-home crafting space.

An Evening with Ransom Riggs and Leigh Bardugo

What: Books
When: Thursday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual; details provided with ticket

Celebrate the release of The Desolations of Devil’s Acre, the final installment of the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series, with author Ransom Riggs and Red Balloon Bookshop. He’s joined on the virtual stage by Leigh Bardugo, creator of the Grishaverse. Tickets start at $30.38, including fees, which comes with a signed copy of the book and surprise swag.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Convention
When: Friday, February 26, through Sunday, February 28; various times
Where: Virtual via video chat

GalaxyCon, a convention for fans of various genre properties, will be returning to live virtual events throughout the year. These events are a great way to bring the convention experience home with a mix of free and premium 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 Dragon Ball Super, Pixar films, Overwatch, and more.

Conversations on Justice with Inamori Ethics Prize Winners

What: Community, Educational
When: Friday, February 26, at 11:45 a.m.
Where: Virtual via livestream

The Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence is hosting a series of free conversations around justice with former prize winners and topic experts. This event’s theme is climate justice with David Suzuki, Hans Cole, Jacqueline Gillon, Ina Martin, and Stephanie Corbett.

Expanding the Frame Live

What: Arts
When: Friday, February 26, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Vimeo

Locally based artists Lee Noble and Jay Afrisando are teaming up to create a performance film while the audience watches in real time. During the event, Noble will be based in the Walker Art Center’s McGuire Theater, while Afrisando is in his home audio studio. This event is free and part of the Walker Art Center’s Expanding the Frame screening series, which highlights experimental films from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists pushing medium boundaries.

The Real Housewives of Vilification Tennis

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, February 26, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook

Vilification Tennis, a local structured-improv show focused on insult contests, is taking its comedy online. This show is free, but a virtual tip jar is available for those who’d like to contribute.

Los Angeles a Cappella Festival 2021

What: Music
When: Saturday, February 27, through Sunday, February 28
Where: Virtual

A cappella fans and vocalists will both be delighted by this two-day festival offering live showcases, competitions, workshops, and awards. The professional showcase features performances from MICappella, Pipeline Vocal Project, Just 6, and Rebel Bit. Tickets for just this showcase are $22.03, or attend it all with a $43.04 festival pass.

Stories for (Little) People

What: Books
When: Saturday, February 27, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube and Facebook

Enjoy a Saturday morning story time with your little ones and the East Side Freedom Library. Videos will remain available on their YouTube and Facebook pages for later or repeated viewings.

Dumb People Town Live with Jack Black and Open Mike Eagle

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, February 27, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Dumb People Town podcast is taking a live comedic look at the dumb things people do. Hosts Dan Van Kirk (Bob’s Burgers, Animation Domination) and the Sklar Brothers (Better Call Saul, The Oblongs) will be riffing with guests Jack Black and Open Mike Eagle. Tickets start at $22.85, including fees.

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.

Alamo Drafthouse OnDemand

What: Movies, Community
When: Daily, various times
Where: Virtual via Scener

The Alamo Drafthouse has taken its curated approach to film online to keep bringing the weird, great, bad, and amazing to the public in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check this space for live events like watch parties, exclusive releases, and more (only this time you’ll be required to provide your own snacks and drinks). Check the website for all of the current and upcoming films, events, and prices.

Sofi Tukker Presents Daily DJ Sets

What: Music
When: Daily, at 12:00 p.m., and Tuesdays, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch, Instagram, and Facebook

House-music duo Sofi Tukker present live DJ sets every day that include popular dance tracks, original music, and community interaction. Noon sets are performed by the duo and guest DJs from around the world. On Tuesday, Sofi Tukker plays an extended evening set. These shows are a great opportunity for a dance break, to interact with other music fans, and see new music evolve before it hits streaming services. Be advised that the music and hosts are not censored and this may not be the best livestream for younger music fans.

Kidz Bop Daily Dance Break

What: Family, Music
When: Weekdays, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Get your little ones moving with Kidz Bop’s daily dance break. Every weekday, they’ll be livestreaming a different dance-along video to help kids stay active and burn off some energy.

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.” Check the website for this week’s schedule. Streams will be available for a full 23 hours and can also be accessed through the Met Opera On Demand apps.

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!