This Week in Geek (3/8/21–3/14/21)

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

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

GPS Charity Auction at MarsCon 2021 online

What: Community, Conventions
When: Saturday, March 6, through Sunday, March 14
Where: Virtual; link to be posted on Facebook

MarsCon is coming online the weekend of March 12! In the lead-up to that weekend of geeky goodness, there will be an online auction to help support geeky community building. The auction opens to MarsCon members on March 6, and to the general public on the March 12.

United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2021

What: Community, Educational
When: Monday, March 8, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via UN Web TV, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook

Commemorate International Women’s Day with United Nations leaders, international dignitaries, activists, musicians, and inspiring women from around the world. This year’s free program highlights women’s leadership during COVID-19 and Generation Equality, a campaign and forum that focuses on tangible actions toward gender equality. Check out the event page for a full list of speakers and performers.

Online Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, March 8, 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.

The Mads: Phantom from Space—Live Riffing with MST3K’s the Mads

What: Movies
When: Tuesday, March 9, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Join Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu for a night of movie riffing in classic MST3K style. The film of choice for the evening is Phantom from Space. After the riff will be a Q&A with the Mads, along with special guest and fellow MST3K alum Bill Corbett. Tickets are $12.24 (including fees), which also grants access to rewatch and download the stream.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, March 10, 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.

Club Book with John Moe

What: Books
When: Wednesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Join author and podcaster John Moe for a discussion on his new book, The Hilarious World of Depression. Sharing its title and mission with his acclaimed podcast, both aim to reduce the stigma of clinical depression and make conversations more approachable through candid and humorous stories. This event is free and hosted by Club Book and the Carver County Library.

The Broadway Cast Reunion Series: The Lion King

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, March 10, 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 The Lion King, featuring Heather Headley, Max Casella, Tom Alan Robbins, Geoff Hoyle, Lindiwe Dlamini, and Bradley Gibson. Tickets are $15 and includes on-demand access to watch the event over the following four days.

Online Books & Bars: The Chain

What: Books, Food & Drink
When: Wednesday, March 10, 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 The Chain by Adrian McKinty, an intense thriller about a perpetual kidnapping chain and a mother’s actions to save her child.

TC Trek Trivia: Wait, It’s Been How Long?

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, March 10, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom and Facebook

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!” You will receive this month’s themed trivia via subspace transmission (the internet), and all drinks and food will be enjoyed at home, with proper social distancing.

REM5’s TRULY Virtual Comedy Show

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, March 10, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via WebXR

Each month, REM5 hosts a night of laughs in their virtual comedy club with a lineup of local performers. Using WebXR, attendees can enter the club using just a browser and interact within the space similar to a first-person video game. This month’s featured comedians are Wendy Maybury, Tommy Ryman, and Shyloh Blake. Tickets are $10, and an age of 18 plus is advised due to mature themes.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, March 10, and Saturday, March 13, 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).

MinneAMA: I’ve Survived an Outage

What: Science & Tech, Community
When: Thursday, March 11, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

MinneAMA is a free event series where the community can “ask the TECHxpert.” Hosted by the nonprofit MinneStar, each event features a specific technology topic and a panel of local experts. This month is “I’ve Survived an Outage,” which focuses on moments of critical technology failure and tips on how to make it through. Panelists include Kate Agnew, John Engelman, and Jeff Lin.

National Air and Space Museum Live Chat: Stealth

What: Science & Tech
When: Thursday, March 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. Ask questions and learn about different topics with subject-matter experts. This month’s talk is focused on stealth and the science of becoming undetectable.

The Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture

What: Books, Movies, Science & Tech
When: Thursday, March 11, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Stellar

Honor Douglas Adams’ memory and celebrate the 42nd anniversary of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy with an evening exploring fascinating topics. This year features a lecture about creativity and neuroscience by Baroness Susan Greenfield and a presentation by Arvind Ethan David, producer of BBC America’s adaptation of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. The event also includes the debut of Socially Distanced Dirk starring Samuel Barnett and Hannah Marks, who are reprising their respective roles as Dirk Gently and Amanda Brotzman. Tickets start at $6, including access to the stream for a full week, and with proceeds benefitting Save the Rhino.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, March 11, 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. This week will be our inaugural meeting.

The Prairie Gate Literary Festival

What: Books
When: Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join the University of Minnesota Morris for two nights of panels and readings with published authors and poets. Guests include Rebecca Kuang, Joshua Phillip Johnson, Farah Naz Rishi, Deb Mercier, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: Unicorns—Are They Pretty?

What: Theater & Comedy, Educational
When: Thursday, March 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 focuses on unicorns and their varied depictions throughout history.

MarsCon 2021: Forces of Darkness

What: Convention, Music, Books, Film, Arts, Gaming
When: Friday, March 12, through Sunday, March 14
Where: Virtual via Discord, Twitch, and YouTube

MarsCon 2021 has a little bit of something for everyone. Whether your preferred-geek flavor is anime, gaming, cosplay, books, film, or science, you’re in for a treat. This year’s theme is “Forces of Darkness.” Come (virtually) for celebrity guests, such as Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz, the drummer for “Weird Al” Yankovic’s band, and stick around for informative panels, crafting workshops, watch parties, musical performances, masquerade, and more. Check the website for schedule and registration details. This year’s virtual convention is free, but attendees are encouraged to support the event through a donation if able.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Convention
When: Friday, March 12, through Sunday, March 14; 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 Legends of Tomorrow, Tron, Anthony Michael Hall, and more.

Vilification Tennis Interruptus

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, March 12, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via video stream and Facebook

Vilification Tennis, a local structured-improv show focused on insult contests, is taking its show online. The monthly Interruptus is a bit less formal, runs half the length of their full shows, and starts at a more reasonable hour. This livestream is free, but a virtual tip jar is available for those who’d like to contribute.

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 show times and how the StageIt platform works, can be found on their event page.

Fearless Five: Space

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook

See five new plays centered around a single theme: space. Presented by Fearless Comedy Productions, enjoy stories that explore the different concepts of space, from relationships and working from home to astronauts and more. Fearless Five tickets are free this year, but a donation of $5 is encouraged.

Virtual Family Day: Women Weaving Love and Strength

What: Family
When: Sunday, March 14, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via website

The Minneapolis Institute of Art hosts a Family Day every second Sunday of the month with activities, performances, demonstrations, and tours inspired by their collection. During COVID-19 closures, Family Day programming is going digital. This month’s theme is “Women Weaving Love and Strength” in celebration of Women’s History Month. Activities include performances from Give Get Sistet and Beverly Cottman, woven works by women from MIA’s collections, and kid-friendly weaving crafts. A free materials kit is also available for pickup from the museum while supplies last.

Pi (π) Day

What: Science & Tech, Family, Educational
When: Sunday, March 14, at 1:15 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube and Facebook

Celebrate Pi Day with the Exploratorium. This free livestream party will include performances from math artist John Sims, as well as pi trivia, art, stories, and puns. The website also features plenty of pi-based activities, videos, celebration inspiration, and more.

Gastro Obscura: 3.14 Peculiar Pies

What: Theater & Comedy, Educational, Food & Drink
When: Sunday, March 14, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Gastro Obscura (Atlas Obscura’s food series) will be exploring unique and tasty pies for Pi Day. Discover the history of four pies (rounding up for deliciousness), play trivia, hear baking tips, and get the recipes to make your own at home. Tickets for this event are $14.36, 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!