This Week in Geek (9/13/21–9/19/21)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, September 13, to Sunday, September 19.

Please note: Due to risks from the global COVID-19 pandemic, and in following current health guidelines recommending both social distancing and indoor masking, this column will primarily 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, we will be reintroducing in-person events. Please be mindful of the risks when attending in-person events and be sure to follow all safety measures put in place. Ultimately, it is up to you to use good judgment to keep yourself and vulnerable populations safe.

One-Time and Weekly Events

SocietyX: Making a Home for Houseplants

What: Educational
When: Monday, September 13, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual event

Learn best practices for being a good host to your plant comrades in this weekly class taught by Jocelyn Perez-Blanco. Jocelyn Perez-Blanco is the founder of Herban Garden, and an educator, herbalist, naturalist, conservationist, flower-essence therapist, essential-oil coach, and avid gardener with a background in biology, animal husbandry, ethnobotany, and agriculture.

Improvisational Hand Embroidery

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, September 14, at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

This group is meant to foster the freedom and relaxation that comes with practicing hand embroidery without a pattern! These meetups are super casual and meant to be drop in–drop out. Participants work on individual projects while chatting and relaxing. Make sure to peep the supply list in the detailed event description linked above. This event will recur weekly.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, September 15, 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 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, September 15, 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, September 15, and Saturday, September 18, 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).

Gen Con Online

What: Gaming, Conventions
When: Thursday, September 16, through Sunday, September 19
Where: Virtual

Gen Con 2020 was entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the success of that endeavor, Gen Con Online has returned, bringing one of the world’s largest gaming conventions to a virtual space. Registration for convention badges is free, however individual events have varying costs. Check out the catalog to see if there’s any games you want to try from the safety of home.

Brom in Conversation with Alexis Henderson

What: Arts, Books
When: Thursday, September 16, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook and YouTube

Join authors Brom and Alexis Henderson in conversation regarding Brom’s new book, Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery! Brom is an acclaimed dark-fantasy artist and writer with numerous credits, from novels to comics to games (notably, the artist behind Dark Sun, one of the wilder D&D settings). Alexis Henderson is a speculative-fiction writer from one of America’s most haunted cities, Savannah, Georgia, with a penchant for fantasy, witchcraft, and horror.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, September 16, and Sunday, September 19, 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.

Free Online Riff of Cowboy Bebop Live

What: Comedy & Theater
When: Friday, September 17, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

This is a great chance to chill on out a Friday night with the coolest crew of bounty hunters and comedians riffing over the show. Expect jokes, a live chat with other viewers, and drinking games. This event is free to watch, but is Patreon supported; see the event listing for more details.

Astronomy Virtual Family Day

What: Educational, Family
When: Friday, September 17, and Saturday, September 18
Where: Virtual

This educational event is all about bringing the stars home to your family through planetarium events and virtual storytelling. The virtual planetarium show is a great way to understand how to find your way in the night skies, while the virtual story-time reading of There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars is a cautionary tale about light pollution. See the website for individual event sign-ups.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Conventions
When: Friday, September 17, through Sunday, September 19
Where: Virtual via video chat

GalaxyCon, a convention for fans of various genre properties will be returning to live virtual events throughout the summer. These events are a great way to bring the convention experience home with panels, chats, autographs, virtual shout-outs, and more. Check the website for full details and pricing information, but this week includes events and signings for fans of Grease, Land of the Lost, and more.

Drink & Draw—Costumed Model Drawing

What: Arts
When: Saturday, September 18, 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 “Cammy White from Street Fighter” with Inky. Discount tickets are available for students and when buying for multiple sessions.

Gentle Yoga for Terrible Times

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, September 18, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Between the continued global pandemic, distressing news about climate change, and other things in the news, it’s easy to be stressed. This gentle yoga experience aims to help center and calm yourself to move out of the fight-or-flight mode that a distressing world can create. This is a free event, and intended to be accessible to all—however, folks are encouraged to donate if they enjoy and have the means.

KCON:TACT HI 5

What: Music
When: Saturday, September 18, through Sunday, September 26
Where: Virtual event

This event is a great chance to see tons of virtual performances from your favorite K-Pop stars, along with getting to connect on a more personal level thanks to meet-and-greet events. Check the website for details such as performance times.

Virtual Sea Shanty Sessions

What: Music
When: Sunday, September 19, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

If it feels like you’ve been trapped on a boat or lighthouse during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, capitalize on those vibes and join in on a Sea Shanty Session! Feel free to join via Zoom for the ability to sing along, or watch along on Facebook Live.

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.

The Radical Agreement Project

What: Comedy & Theater
When: Weekdays, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Radical Agreement Project is offering free beginner-level improv workshops online. Expect a new improv-comedy exercise with each 30-minute event. Participation is critical, so attendees must be sure to have a camera and microphone set up, and the willingness to have it on.

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.

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!