This Week in Geek (3/29/21–4/4/21)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, March 29, to Sunday, April 4.

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

The Dr. Dolittle Delusion: The Language Lectures with Dr, Pauline Foster

What: Educational
When: Monday, March 29, at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Events@UWC-london.com

The University Women’s Club of London presents the Language Lectures with Dr. Pauline Foster. This lecture series focuses on the science of human language, and the way complex sounds can be combined in rule-governed ways to convey meaning. The final lectures will focus on the common assumptions that language is fragile enough to require vigilance, and simple enough for non-humans to learn.

Online Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, March 29, 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.

TCoffeeAndCode Tuesday Sessions

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Tuesday, March 30, at 7:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual

Start your morning with a hot cup of java (or tea, or cereal) and some code. This is a great chance to catch up and share news from Embarcadero, Delphi, C++Builder. Let your code be social and global.

Profs & Pints: Pinball’s Wizardry

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, March 30, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

The Profs & Pints series continues with “Pinball Wizardry,” a lively talk about the history of a beloved American pastime. This talk will be led by Adam Ruben, author of Pinball Wizards: Jackpots, Drains and the Cult of the Silver Ball. Follow pinball’s storied history, including a period in which the game was made illegal in many areas.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, March 31, 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 Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, March 31, and Saturday, April 3, 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).

National Geographic Live: Mysterious Seas

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, March 31, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Center for the Arts

This National Geographic Live event provides an opportunity to glimpse the darkest reaches of the deep sea. In this event, marine biologists David Gruber and Dvia Amon will search for life in the depths, including bioluminescence and complex deep-sea habitats. The event will also feature a Q&A with the speakers!

Minnesota Night Skies in April

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Thursday, April 1, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

The Bell Museum will be hosting this Facebook Live event focused on the wonders of April nights in the great state of Minnesota. Planetarium educators will be present on Facebook Live to answer your questions regarding the starry night (including seasonal constellations, the moon, and visible planets).

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, April 1, 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.

Tales of Great Lakes Shipwrecks

What: Educational
When: Thursday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

Great Lakes and/or ship geeks should find the history of shipwrecks on the Great Lakes fascinating. Over 30,000 sailors have lost their lives in the icy waters over the years. Hear their tales, along with legends of ghostly shipwreck victims, in this online event.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Convention
When: Friday, April 2, through Sunday, April 4; 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 Don Bluth, Doctor Who, and more.

Anime Detour Online

What: Conventions
When: Friday, April 2, through Saturday, April 3
Where: Virtual

Anime Detour, a beloved annual convention that brings together fans of all things anime, will be going virtual for safety during the continued pandemic. Attendees can expect virtual events, an exhibition hall for gear, and an artist alley to celebrate art. So, come check out this virtual free event to celebrate cosplay, art, and the anime you love.

Atlas Obscura: Dino 101—Becoming a Twitter Icon

What: Nightlife, Science & Tech
When: Friday, April 2, 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, learn the basics of social-media fame from America’s Favorite Murderbird™️, Sue the T. Rex.. Tickets are $7–10.

This Is Minnesota Orchestra: A Musical Passport

What: Music
When: Friday, April 2, 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 “A Musical Passport” show will feature ensembles performing a variety of works from around the world, celebrating locales like Brazil, Cuba, Italy, Russia, and Armenia. Learn more about the series and its upcoming events on the Minnesota Orchestra website.

First Avenue 51st Anniversary with Bad Bad Hats, Nur-D, and More

What: Music
When: Saturday, April 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube and Facebook Live

Celebrate the 51st anniversary of Minnesota’s danceteria with this online event, featuring special performances recorded at First Avenue, and livestreaming from Bad Bad Hats and Nur-D. This event is hosted by Sophia Eris, and features performances from Charlie Parr, Curtiss A, Dizzy Fae, Hippo Campus, Soul Asylum, Trampled by Turtles, and more.

Internet Cat Dance Party

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Saturday, April 3, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Brighten the darkness and isolation of your long pandemic year with the greatest of all unifiers: CATS! This night of great DJs will be going all out on the cat theme; expect cat visuals, an interview about a beloved internet cat, cat-themed commercial breaks, and a CAT DANCEFLOOR where you can show off your cats via webcam. This event is in partnership with St. Vitus, so expect rad visuals from the club. Donations are appreciated.

Sapphic Pop-Culture Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Sunday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

This trivia night is the chance to prove your knowledge of queer content in pop culture, and brings together Lavender and Sapphic Sundays for the ­“Crossover event of the pandemic!” Fans of Xena: Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the original The L Word should have a lot of fun with this trivia event. The event is free, but organizers urge folks to sign up via Eventbrite.

In Conversation with Sir David Attenborough

What: Educational
When: Sunday, April 4, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

Earth Optimism Cambridge presents Sir David Attenborough (renowned broadcaster and natural historian) as he discusses his hope for the future of the planet with Liz Bonnin. After the talk, Sir David will be answering a number of questions regarding the topic of conservation.

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: Community, Movies
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: Music, Theater & Comedy
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!