This Week in Geek (5/23/22–5/29/22)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, May 23, to Sunday, May 29.

Virtual Events

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Indiana Jones: The Men Behind the Myth

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Monday, May 23, at 5:45 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. In this series, author and educator Justin M. Jacobs explores the Indiana Jones franchise, how it relates to real-life archaeology, and where it overlaps with historical events. This evening’s event dives into the Chinese antiquities trade. Next week offers an in-depth historical analysis of all four Indiana Jones films. General admission tickets are $25 per event, and a discount is available for members.

Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Playing Ancient Games: History & Mythology with John Bucher

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Monday, May 23, at 7:00 p.m.; continues weekly through June 6
Where: Virtual via Zoom

This three-part lecture series from Atlas Obscura explores ancient games, including their histories, psychology, and how to play them. This first session will cover the “Secret Games of the Gods” and how ancient games are closely tied to mythology. Tickets are $241.41 (including fees) for the series. Limited free tickets are available through randomized selection; see the event description for more details.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, May 23, 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.

Minnesota Night Skies in June

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Tuesday, May 24, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook

The Bell Museum will be hosting this Facebook Live event focused on the wonders of spring nights in the great state of Minnesota. Planetarium educators will be present to answer your questions regarding the starry night (including seasonal constellations, the moon, and visible planets). Be sure to visit the website to download a free guide that includes a current star map and dates of upcoming phenomena, like astronomical conjunctions, meteor showers, and more.

Guided Watercolour—Weekly Art Class

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, May 24, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

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

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, May 25, 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.

Hidden Mythology: Decoding Everyday Symbols with John Bucher

What: Educational
When: Wednesday, May 25, at 7:00 p.m., weekly until Wednesday, June 15
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Delve into the deeper meaning behind everyday symbols with this four-part lecture series from Atlas Obscura led by Dr. John Bucher (mythologist, storyteller and creative director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation). Sessions will take place over Zoom, with dedicated Q&A segments. The first session will focus on the mythology hidden in common brands like Starbucks and Subaru. Tickets start at $55.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Wednesday, May 25, and Saturday, May 28, 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 26, and Sunday, May 29; 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.

Into the Cabinet of Curiosities with Mr. Mutter’s Marvels!

What: Books
When: Thursday, May 26, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

This session of Peculiar Book Club will focus on Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz and the amazing collections at Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum. The museum is known today for medical oddities, but this talk will go beyond the oddities to Mutter himself, a flamboyant and compassionate medical pioneer. Tickets are donation based, with at least $1 recommended.

May Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club: The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monae

What: Books
When: Friday, May 27, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Old Town Books’s free sci-fi/fantasy book club reconvenes for May to cover The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe. The book is a collaborative effort from Janelle Monáe and other creators to tell stories focused on the idea of memories and the way they control the future. Tickets are free, but attendees are strongly encouraged to purchase the book to ensure that they stay free.

Society X: Night Owls

What: Arts
When: Friday, May 27, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

Get together with other creative night owls to hang out and make some art. This is a great chance to work, bounce ideas off of folks, and be a little social. Bring your own art supplies.

GalaxyCon Live

What: Community, Conventions
When: Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29
Where: Virtual event

GalaxyCon, a convention for fans of various genre properties, is hosting virtual events and autograph signings. These events are a great way to bring the convention experience home with panels, one-on-one chats, autographs, virtual shout-outs, and more. The Q&A panels are free, but additional interactive experiences or autographs do have variable prices; see website for full details. This includes events and signings for fans of SK8 the Infinity, and Tim Curry.

SolariseCon: Seeding Solarpunk Futures

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Saturday, May 28, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Dark times call for hopeful speculative fiction. Seeding Solarpunk Futures is a day of conversation about a speculative-fiction genre in which humanity has risen to the challenge of climate change, and built a better, more-sustainable future. There will be four main topics: Real Solarpunk Technology, Empowering Future Communities, Is Solarpunk Just Another Style, and What’s Holding Us Back From a Better Tomorrow. This is a free event.

Gentle Yoga for Terrible Times

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, May 28, 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.

Octavia E. Butler Slow Read

What: Books
When: Sunday, May 29, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Eventbrite

Join Sistahscifi.com for a slow and luxurious read of legendary, multiple Hugo- and Nebula-award-winning science-fiction writer Octavia E. Butler’s novel, Parable of the Talents. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon of thought-provoking science fiction from one of the genre’s masters. See the event listing for further readings and links to purchase books. Tickets are $2.00.

Scratch Demo Class

What: Family, Educational, Science & Tech
When: Sunday, May 29, at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

This is a great chance for young geeklings to see Scratch, a coding language designed to teach young people the fundamentals of programming. This free event is put on by Kiddy Online School, an organization focused on building digital literacy for K–12 students.

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.

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.

A Raisin in the Sun

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, April 30, through Sunday, June 5
Where: Guthrie Theater

See the Guthrie’s performance of A Raisin in the Sun, an essential American play which in 1959 was the first Broadway show with an all-Black principal cast. This play follows three generations of a family grappling with visions of the American dream and how to achieve it. Tickets are $15–80.

The Art of Banksy

What: Arts
When: Thursday, May 12, through Friday, June 10
Where: Lighthouse ArtSpace

This is a chance for fans of the mysterious artist and political activist known as Banksy to see over 100 works in person. This will include rare works from private collections that are rarely seen by the general public. Tickets are $39.99 for adults, $29.99 for children 16 and under.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

What: Theater & Comedy, Music
When: Wednesday, May 18, through Sunday, June 5
Where: Orpheum Theatre

The spectacular (spectacular) Moulin Rouge! The Musical is coming to the Orpheum Theatre to share a tale of truth, beauty, freedom, and love. Based on the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film, this production brings all the glitz, grandeur, and iconic jukebox music mash-ups to life in a Broadway extravaganza. Tickets are $50–149.

Transvestite Soup Presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show

What: Film, Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, May 28, at 11:30 p.m.
Where: Parkway Theater

Watch a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the “longest-running midnight movie of all time.” Transvestite Soup is the Twin Cities’ shadow cast for the showings, performing for your pleasure as part of the cult classic’s well-established tradition. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. and tickets are $10.

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!