This Week in Geek (4/5/21–4/11/21)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, April 5, to Sunday, April 11.

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

Online Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, April 5, 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.

Tuesdays with a Scholar

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, April 6, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join the Ramsey County Library and a guest scholar for an educational dive into their specialty every Tuesday through April. This week, University of St. Thomas School of Law professor Teresa Collett discusses “The Supreme Court and the Theater of Judicial Politics.”

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, April 7, 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 reduced rates available for zoo members or when registering for multiple classes at the same time.

Online Books & Bars: Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre

What: Books, Food & Drink
When: Wednesday, April 7, 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 Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks. The next meeting’s book is Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam.

The Broadway Cast Reunion Series: Jersey Boys

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

The Hennepin Theatre Trust is reuniting the folks behind popular Broadway productions with a series of nights filled with backstage stories, gossip, and unscripted chats. This week is Jersey Boys, featuring authors Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman, and director Des McAnuff. Tickets are $15 and include on-demand access to watch the event over the following four days.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, April 7, and Saturday, April 10, 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).

Virtual Family Trivia Night: Disney Movies

What: Trivia, Family
When: Thursday, April 8, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Brush up on your Disney knowledge and join the Washington County Library for a free night of themed trivia. Questions will focus on animated and Pixar classics. To play along, participants will need to register in advance and have two separate devices.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, April 8, 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.

Die Laughing Halftime

What: Comedy & Theater, Community
When: Friday, April 9, through Sunday, April 11; various times
Where: Virtual 

Die Laughing, a comedy marathon to raise funds for Fearless Comedy Productions, is going virtual! Expect 25 hours of comedy including stand-up, improvisation, music, storytelling, and more, as well as fundraising challenges and a silent auction. The comedy events in the marathon range from kid friendly to raunchy, and the website includes a filter for event type and kid friendliness.

Minnesota Geology

What: Science & Tech
When: Friday, April 9, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Learn about the rocks, fossils, and land formations that make up Minnesota. Graduate students Christine Newville and Evan Whiting are discussing the state’s geology live from their lab, sharing close-up looks, and encouraging questions. This event is free and hosted by the Bell Museum.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Convention
When: Saturday, April 10, through Sunday, April 11; 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 Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once Upon a Time, and more.

JoCo Virtual Cruise 2021

What: Convention
When: Saturday, April 10, through Wednesday, April 14
Where: Virtual via Discord 

In prepandemic times, the JoCo Cruise was “a nerdy summer camp at sea” full of panels, musical performances, gaming, cosplay, author readings, live podcasts, workshops, dance parties, and more with Jonathan Coulton and friends. This year, they’re taking the cruise to digital waters and making it free for everyone. Expect similar featured events every night, as well as full-day programming and gaming throughout the weekend. You can join the Discord server here.

Astronomy Hour

What: Science & Tech, Family
When: Saturday, April 10, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Learn about astronomy—and get your space questions answered—with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Guest speakers include the museum’s space-history curator Dr. Samantha Thompson and astrophysicist Dr. Rodolfo Montez, Jr., as well as museum educators. This discussion is appropriate for all ages and knowledge levels, and includes resources for families with young learners.

Backline Presents: Set Break

What: Music
When: Saturday, April 10, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Enjoy live music for a good cause. The Set Break livestream concert is supporting and raising funds for mental health within the music industry. Performers include Ben Folds, Alanis Morissette, Dawes, Sara Bareilles, Grandson, and many more. There will also be special appearances from musicians and health organizations, as well as immersive wellness experiences. While the livestream is free, viewers are encouraged to make a donation to support the cause. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit organizer Backline, as well as Crew Nation and Sweet Relief’s Mental Health Fund.

The Global Supernatural: A (Spooky) Scavenger Hunt

What: Family, Gaming
When: Sunday, April 11
Where: Virtual via Google Earth

Teens can discover and explore the real-world places behind spooky anime, movies, and pop culture through a Google Earth scavenger hunt. Those who complete the free hunt have a chance at winning a supernatural-themed prize pack from the Brookdale Library.

Profs & Pints: Spring’s Bird Migrations

What: Educational
When: Sunday, April 11, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

The Profs & Pints series continues with “Spring’s Bird Migrations.” Learn all about our avian friends, their annual travels, and the dangers they face during migration. This talk will be led by Peter English, an avian scholar, well-traveled bird guide, and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Tickets are $12.

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 or guest DJs from around the world. On Tuesdays, 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!