This Week in Geek (5/17/21–5/23/21)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, May 17, to Sunday, May 23.

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

40th Annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

What: Movies
When: Thursday, May 13, through Sunday, May 23
Where: Virtual

The 40th annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival will feature over 150 films and shorts from around the world that explore this year’s theme of “Common Ground.” Check out the website for the full list of films, as well as how virtual screenings work. Tickets are $15 per film for general admission, or $10 for members; all-access streaming passes are also available with additional discounts for students and industry professionals.

Online Creative Night

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, May 17, 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.

50 Movie Posters that Changed Entertainment Marketing

What: Movies
When: Monday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Explore 50 iconic movie posters and learn about the mark they made on the entertainment industry. Guest speakers will discuss the posters, the craft of key art, and their careers. Speakers include Massey Rafani (Warner Bros), Molly Albright (Amazon Studios), Dawn Baille (BLT Communications), Kenny Gravillis (Gravillis Inc.), and Adam Waldman (the Refinery). This event is free and hosted by Poster House in partnership with the Clio Entertainment Awards’ 50th anniversary.

Tuesdays with a Scholar

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, May 18, 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. This week, award-winning history author Tim Brady will discuss his book Three Ordinary Girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins, and WWII Heroes.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, May 19, 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.

Twin Cities Playtest

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, May 19, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

This online-only playtest event ran by the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developer’s Association highlights in-development games by streaming them to Twitch, and by allowing participants to test them with a service called Parsec. See the event for all of the details on how to participate as a developer or a player.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, May 19, and Saturday, May 22, 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).

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, May 20, 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.

Seven Deadly Sins Soiree

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Enjoy a spooky night of theater while supporting the Twin Cities Horror Festival. The Seven Deadly Sins Soiree will feature themed performances, guest appearances, a silent auction, and a reveal of the festival’s season X line-up. Tickets are donation based with a suggested amount of $15.

Blackness Is… Arts Festival

What: Theater & Comedy, Music, Community
When: Friday, May 21, through Sunday, May 23
Where: Virtual via YouTube

The Blackness Is… Arts Festival celebrates Black voices from the local community with three days of theater, music, workshops, talkbacks, dance, poetry, and more. Programming centers on the theme of “What is Blackness?” as well as honoring the rich history of Twin Cities Black theater. Guest speakers and performers include Ashley DuBose, Denzel Belin, Tearra Oso, Mohammed Ali Ojarigi, Tiffany Cooper, and more. This free event is a collaboration between MN Black Theatre Circle and the Guthrie Theater.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Convention
When: Friday, May 21, through Sunday, May 23; 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 Yu-Gi-Oh!, Star Trek: Enterprise, and more.

Profs & Pints: The Social History of EDM

What: Educational
When: Friday, May 21, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

The Profs & Pints series continues with “The Social History of EDM.” Learn all about the electronic dance music scene, from its early days as a subculture, through controversies of deviance and drug use, to its solidification as a billion-dollar industry in modern mainstream culture. This talk will also look at what the scene has lost and gained over the years in regards to the music, as well as the communities at its core. Tickets are $12.

Atlas Obscura: Dino 101—Dinosaur Prom

What: Nightlife, Science & Tech, Arts
When: Friday, May 21, 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, get fancy, celebrate with an extravagant party, and vote for your dino prom court. The master of ceremonies and DJ is Maynard Okereke. Tickets are $7–10.

World Goth Day

What: Community, Music
When: Saturday, May 22
Where: Virtual; platforms vary

Celebrate World Goth Day, and everything that makes the community and scene great, with livestreams from around the globe. Check out the website for a collection of links to virtual parties, DJ sets, and more. There are also a few events leading up to, and in the days following, the holiday.

Bilingual Story Time: IntersecciónAlianza: Hacemos Espacio Para Todxs

What: Books
When: Saturday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Authors Carolyn Choi, LaToya Council, and Chelsea Johnson, along with translator Dario Valles, will read their children’s book IntersecciónAlianza: Hacemos Espacio Para Todxs (IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All). They will also talk some more about intersectionality and answer audience questions. This free event is hosted by Wild Rumpus. Registration is required and includes a 15% off coupon code.

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!