This Week in Geek (3/15/21–3/21/21)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, March 15, to Sunday, March 21.

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

St. Patrick’s Week with Celtic Thunder

What: Music
When: Saturday, March 13, through Wednesday, March 17; various times
Where: Virtual via StageIt

Start your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations early with nightly Celtic Thunder concerts leading up to the holiday. Enjoy fan-favorite songs, along with Irish history, culture, and traditions. Each performance is unique, with a different principal member leading the show. Tickets are $15. Performance details, including showtimes and how the StageIt platform works, can be found on their event page.

Online Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, March 15, 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.

Not-So-Silent Planet: Consciousness

What: Books, Arts
When: Tuesday, March 16, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual; details provided upon registration

The Twin Cities’ “first open-mic dedicated to speculative interpretations of myth” returns with stories of consciousness. The featured performers for March’s session are regulars Ben San Del, the Reverend Pat D, Jeff Henry, and Joshua English Scrimshaw, with Bryn J. Tanner of Albino Squirrel Productions as our special guest teller! Tickets are free and there is a suggested donation of $5.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, March 17, 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.

St. Patrick’s Day at Home

What: Music, Community
When: Wednesday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook live

Discover Ireland will be bringing the joy of St. Patrick’s Day to the safety of your homes. This event is a great chance to enjoy live music and dancing straight from the iconic Johnnie Fox’s pub in Dublin.

Blood Moon Book Release Party

What: Books
When: Wednesday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

Celebrate the release of Blood Moon with author Catherine Lundoff. This event by Queen of Swords Press will allow fans a chance to hear the author read from her new book, and generally discuss her menopausal-werewolves series. There will be a drawing for signed copies and other prizes.

Online Awkward St. Patrick’s Day Concert

What: Music
When: Wednesday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom and Facebook Live

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with local favorites The Dregs, as they engage in “awkward online singing.” The group will be streaming on Facebook Live, but feel free to jump on their Zoom call to make requests as well. The band encourages you to bring your own green beer.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, March 17, and Saturday, March 20, 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).

What’s New in Aerospace: NASA’s X-59 Program

What: Science & Tech
When: Thursday, March 18, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Join the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution for a live discussion on the future of aerospace. Ask questions and learn about different topics with subject-matter experts. This month’s talk is focused on the X-59 Program, a prototype commercial supersonic flight.

Minnedemo: Back to Campus

What: Science & Tech, Community
When: Thursday, March 18, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

Minnedemo is a free showcase focused on Minnesota-made technology. Hosted by the nonprofit MinneStar, each event features a specific technology topic and a panel of local experts. This month is “Back to Campus,” highlighting the talent of students and recent grads in the MN tech community.

A Conversation on Reclaiming Bde Maka Ska

What: Educational, Community
When: Thursday, March 18, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube and Facebook

Join the Minnesota Historical Society for their “Shared Spaces & Public Places” conversations of discussions on renaming and reclaiming. This is the first event in the series, focused on the process of restoring and renaming Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis. Panelists will include Dr. Kate Beane (Flandreau Santee Sioux Dakota), Carly Bad Heart Bull (Flandreau Santee Sioux Dakota), and Tracy Nordstrom.

Q-STAGE: New Works Series—Excerpts from The Fawn

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, March 18, through Sunday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Vimeo

Q-STAGE: New Works series is an annual experimental-incubator program dedicated to local queer and transgender artists. Q-STAGE: New Works will be presenting excerpts from The Fawn, a play written and directed by Yoni Tamang, about alien wage laborers trying to strike back at oppression and the aftermath. This is a chance to take in parts of The Fawn as it is work shopped into a full-length drama. Suggested ticket donation is $5–25.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Twin Cities Geeks Discord. Hop on voice or video and chat while you create art, then share your finished pieces on the #art-club channel! This event is open to all. You can join by visiting twincitiesgeek.com/discord.

The Pogues Cover Show with the Langer’s Ball

What: Music
When: Friday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

This is a great event for fans of The Pogues or The Langer’s Ball, as The Langer’s Ball will be performing a number of covers. Any and all songs by or played by The Pogues are on the table!

This Is Minnesota Orchestra: Television, Radio + Streaming

What: Music
When: Friday, March 19, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via website, Facebook, TPT, and Classical MPR

This Is Minnesota Orchestra is a reimagined concert series for COVID times. These free performances will be livestreamed on their website and Facebook, as well as broadcasted on Twin Cities PBS and Classical MPR. The “Television, Radio + Streaming” show will feature ensembles performing a variety of works, including Walker’s Lyric for Strings, and Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G.” Learn more about the series and its upcoming events on the Minnesota Orchestra website.

Atlas Obscura: Dino 101—Female Unf***withables of Politics and Paleontology

What: Science & Tech, Nightlife
When: Friday, March 19, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Dino 101 is an interactive, socially distanced party for adult dinosaur and science fans. This event series is hosted by Dustin Growick from the YouTube channel the Dinosaur Show and features weekly activities like trivia, drawing, scavenger hunts, and games. This week, celebrate some of the greatest women to ever bring bills and bones to the public with the illustrious Erin Ryan (Hysteria podcast, the Daily Beast, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Tickets are $7–10.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Convention
When: Friday, March 19, through Sunday, March 21; 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 Attack on Titan, Jon Lovitz, and more.

Drink & Draw—Costumed Model Drawing

What: Arts
When: Saturday, March 20, 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. Each session is $10 and offers a mix of posing times. Artists of all levels are encouraged to dress up (if they like), grab a drink, and share their work on social media. This week’s theme is “GALAXY GIRL” with Mia Lynette Bunn.

Dance Theater of Harlem’s Sunday Matinée

What: Arts, Comedy & Theater
When: Sunday, March 21, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Dance geeks rejoice as the Dance Theater of Harlem’s Sunday Matinée series is now virtual due to COVID, so you can enjoy the event via Zoom! Expect an inspiring afternoon of artistry and dance. This event is hosted by Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, an alumna of the Dance Theater of Harlem. Tickets are $7 and include a link to the Zoom performance.

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!