Monthly Archive:: November 2021
Nov 29 2021
4 Cocktail Potions to Prepare You for The Witcher Season 2
I was introduced to the Witcher universe by the video game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. I was fascinated with the setting and the lore: I loved the idea of witchers and the complicated place they occupy in the world’s society, the dark echoes of fairy tales in many of the stories, and the Slavic-flavored…
Nov 28 2021
This Week in Geek (11/29/21–12/5/21)
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, November 29, to Sunday, December 5.
Virtual Events
SocietyX: Making a Home for Houseplants
What: Educational
When: Monday, November 29, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual event
Learn best…
Nov 25 2021
The ULTIMATE Minnesota Geek Guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday 2021
Planning to start your holiday shopping, support local geek businesses, or just take advantage of some amazing deals this weekend? Well, we’ve done all the legwork for you and are happy to provide your ultimate Minnesota geek guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! We’ve…
Nov 24 2021
Amazon’s Wheel of Time Makes a Bold Beginning, but Will It Hold Up?
If you know anything about the Wheel of Time book series (written primarily by Robert Jordan and finished by Brandon Sanderson following Jordan’s passing), you know that it’s one heck of a commitment. The 14 books total in the core series—not counting the prequel or companions—clock…
Nov 24 2021
The MN Bookstore Guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday 2021
Between pandemic safety precautions and major supply-chain issues, holiday shopping has looked a bit different these past couple of years. Many stores have been struggling, and now is a great time to support your local independent bookstore! Whether you want to shop in person or online, lots of Minnesota…
Nov 23 2021
House of Gucci Is Style over Substance, but It Does Style Very Well
In House of Gucci, Lady Gaga stars as Patrizia Reggiani, the middle-class daughter of a trucking company owner. In 1970, she meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) at a party. Despite his awkward, unassuming law-student exterior, Maurizio is one of those Guccis: the wealthy, connected, and stylish family…
Nov 23 2021
Encanto Is a Joyous Disney Treat Fit for the Holidays
I have great joy in reporting that Encanto is the beautifully bold jolt that Disney’s computer animation studio so desperately needed. The film still has all the stuff to love about Disney animation—the music, the energy, the charming characters, the magic—but there’s also a more ambitious story…
Nov 22 2021
The Last Duel Is a Surprisingly Nuanced Challenge
Content note: This film portrays sexual assault, which is discussed in this review. The review contains spoilers only in the final portion following the bold disclaimer. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673.
I didn’t particularly want to see The Last Duel. Based on all of the trailers…
Nov 21 2021
This Week in Geek (11/22/21–11/28/21)
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, November 22, to Sunday, November 28.
Virtual Events
SocietyX: Making a Home for Houseplants
What: Educational
When: Monday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual event
Learn best…
Nov 20 2021
Finding Fae by Minnesota Author El Holly Is Thoroughly Average
When I think of El Holly’s new YA novel Finding Fae, what comes to mind for me is Taylor Swift’s “I Forgot That You Existed,” specifically this lyric: “It isn’t love, it isn’t hate, it’s just indifference.” It dwells in the middle ground…