This Week in Geek (3/7/22–3/13/22)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, March 7, to Sunday, March 13.

Virtual Events

SocietyX: Making a Home for Houseplants

What: Educational
When: Monday, March 7, 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. 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.

Como Live!

What: Educational, Family
When: Monday, March 7, and Thursday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Tune in twice-weekly for short, educational talks from the zookeepers and gardeners at Como Zoo! Each broadcast features a different topic, including animal profiles, virtual walkthroughs, exhibit previews, and, of course, birthday celebrations for their animal residents. These talks are free and video recordings are available afterwards to watch anytime.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, March 7, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Get your trivia on from the comfort of home with Geeks Who Drink’s online trivia night. Prove your mettle, and maybe learn a little something! Watch for other Monday night virtual pub trivia events going forward.

United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2022

What: Community, Educational
When: Tuesday, March 8, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via UN Web TV

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 and celebrates women’s leadership on the theme of “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” including Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, and Hindou Ourmarou Ibrahim. Check out the event page for a full list of speakers and performers.

Guided Watercolour—Weekly Art Class

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, March 8, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Express yourself on a winter’s Tuesday under the guidance of Cathy Wild in this guided watercolors class. Check the event posting for detailed basic-materials recommendations.

Tuesdays with a Scholar

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, March 8, at 12:30 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, James Dawes will discuss “Artificial Intelligence—Triumph or Tragedy?”

The Mads: The Devil’s Hand—Live Riffing with MST3K’s the Mads

What: Movies
When: Tuesday, March 8, 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 The Devil’s Hand. After the riff will be a Q&A with the Mads, along with special guest Dave Hill (Girls5Eva, Drunk Bus). 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 9, 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. Sessions are recorded and available to view during the week for those who are unable to tune in live.

Club Book with Brendan Slocumb

What: Books
When: Wednesday, March 9, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Join author and musician Brendan Slocumb for a discussion of his debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy. This free event is hosted by Club Book and the Hennepin County Library.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, March 9, and Saturday, March 12, 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).

Epic Reads Virtual Fantasy Meetup

What: Books
When: Thursday, March 10, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

Epic Reads and Oblong Books are presenting a free panel with fantasy authors Akshaya Raman, Claire Legrand, Madeline Roux, Traci Chee, and Deborah Falaye. They’ll be discussing their books: The Ivory Key, Extasia, The Book of Living Secrets, A Thousand Steps Into Night, and Blood Scion. Attendees also have the opportunity to win a $100 gift card to Oblong Books.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Captain Cook and the Pacific: Cook’s First Voyage

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Thursday, March 10, at 6:45 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Smithsonian Institution, home to famed museums and world-class research centers, is bringing educational programs and art courses online for all to enjoy. At this event, learn about the discoveries, drama, comedy, and tragedy that occurred on one of the world’s most famous expeditions led by Captain Cook in 1768. Justin M. Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University, will lead the talk. General admission tickets are $25.

Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week, including topics on Hollywood, art history, and the operatic works of Richard Wagner.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, March 10, and Sunday, March 13, 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.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Conventions
When: Friday, March 11, through Sunday, March 13
Where: Virtual event

GalaxyCon, a convention for fans of various genre properties, is returning to live virtual events throughout the fall. 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 for fans of Karen Gillan, Digimon, and more.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Virtual Public Tours: Current Conversations

What: Arts
When: Saturday, March 12, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Take a specially curated tour through the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection. Each month’s tour will focus on a different topic, with March exploring “Women and Art.” Tours are free, but registration is required.

Philip Glass Three Cities: Chicago

What: Music, Movies
When: Sunday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Mandolin

Celebrate the 85th birthday and iconic career of composer Philip Glass! This concert-film screening is part two of a three-part series featuring performances of his compositions by Glass himself and guest musicians. His expansive body of work includes several symphonies, the opera Einstein on the Beach, collaborations with popular artists like David Bowie and Leonard Cohen, and film scores to The Illusionist, The Hours, and many more. Tickets for this event are $10, or $15 for both parts two and three of the series; part one is free to watch. All events in the series can be watched or replayed through April 20.

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.

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 through their virtual cinema. Check out their website for full details, including current and upcoming films, as well as ticket pricing.

In-Person Events

Please note: Due to the risks from the ongoing pandemic, we urge all readers to take appropriate safety measures when choosing to attend in-person events, such as masking, physical distancing, and frequent handwashing. We also urge all eligible Minnesotans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to wear a mask in indoor settings even if vaccinated. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, please get tested and follow Minnesota state guidelines on isolating from others. See our COVID-19 resources page for more information on vaccination, health and safety, financial and other assistance, and more.

While we cannot guarantee the safety of anyone attending an event we are not affiliated with, our aim is to include only those hosted by groups and venues that list clear, reasonable COVID safety precautions. If you feel something in this column does not meet those criteria, we encourage you to contact us at info@twincitiesgeek.com with your concerns.

The Tempest

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, March 3, through Saturday, April 16
Where: Guthrie Theater

See the Guthrie’s performance of the Shakespeare classic The Tempest. The story follows Prospera on a quest to reclaim her throne and exact revenge with the aid of her magical powers after being usurped and stranded on an island with her daughter. Tickets are $26–80.

Down the River

What: Educational
When: Wednesday, March 9, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Take an afternoon stroll to the Mississippi River with a naturalist and observe wildlife clues along the way. This event is free.

MarsCon 2022: The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be

What: Convention
When: Friday, March 11, through Sunday, March 13
Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America

MarsCon 2022 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 “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be.” Come for special guests, such as TV’s Kyle and Lindzilla of Might MagiSwords fame, film prop fabricator Michael Moore, and author Catherine Lundoff, and stick around for informative panels, crafting events, anime screenings, the dementia track, masquerade, and more. Check the website for schedule and registration details. Rates vary, but the whole weekend costs $70 for adults.

Lúnasa

What: Music
When: Saturday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Pantages Theatre

Enjoy a night of traditional Irish music with Lúnasa. The world-renowned band is joined by special guest Daoiri Farrell. Tickets start at $23 and VIP options are available.

Mystic Dawn’s Return to Outdoor Gamedays

What: Gaming, Sports & Fitness
When: Sunday, March 13, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Riverside Park

Amtgard, a global organization focused on the sport of medieval-fantasy combat, will be hosting a gathering in Riverside Park. Participants can take part in glorious quests, battle, and more, all with the use of foam weapons for the sake of safety. Garb is encouraged, but not required, and loaner weapons are available. This is a free-to-play event, but long-term players are expected to support the organization with $6 or $10 dues.

Wondering why we didn’t include your geeky event? We are only including in-person events from organizers and venues with responsible, clearly advertised COVID-19 safety precautions that meet our standards. If you’d like to be considered for future listings, send your safety info to info@twincitiesgeek.com!