This Week in Geek (8/15/22–8/21/22)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, August 15, to Sunday, August 21.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

The Radical Agreement Project

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational
When: Monday, August 15, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Learn a new improv exercise in this series of 30-minute Zoom improv classes. This event is free, but participation is critical, so attendees will be required to turn on their cameras and microphones to join in.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, August 15, 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.

Movie Jo Night: A Taste of Evil

What: Movies, Comedy & Theater
When: Tuesday, August 16, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Join comedian Mary Jo Pehl (original Mystery Science Theater 3000 writer and cast member) for a night of unscripted live commentary as she watches a film for the first time. This month’s movie is 1971’s A Taste of Evil. This event will not be available for later download, so catching it live is critical.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, August 17, 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.

Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium Live Stream: August Constellation Story Time

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, August 17, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

The Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota Duluth presents August Constellation Storytime, a place to learn about the constellations visible in August, along with the stories that they tell.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series– Seeking the Lost Colony of Roanoke

What: Educational,
When: Thursday, August 18, 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. At this event, dive into the mystery of the lost colony of Roanoke, archeological answer-seeking, and context for the time period. General-admission tickets are $25, and a discount is available for members. Check out the streaming-series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, August 18, and Sunday, August 21; 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.

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 government and business policies change frequently and we cannot guarantee the safety of anyone attending an event we are not affiliated with, we do avoid featuring organizers or venues we believe to be following unsafe practices. 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.

Emma

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, June 18, through Thursday, August 21
Where: The Guthrie

See the Guthrie’s performance of Emma, based on the classic Jane Austen novel. This playful new adaptation leans into humor and twists tropes from both the Regency era and modern romantic comedies. Tickets are $26–80.

Book Launch for May Tomorrow Be Awake

What: Books
When: Tuesday, August 16, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Moon Palace Books

Celebrate the release of Chris Martin’s book May Tomorrow Be Awake with the author along with Mark and Max Eati. This will be a chance for a bit of a chat and some readings from the book, followed by a Q&A and signing. The book is focused on the way poetry may provide a helpful tool for people on the spectrum to communicate their experiences, as opposed to traditional language structure.

Wicked

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, July 27, through Sunday, August 28
Where: Orpheum Theatre

Journey to the Land of Oz for a story of magic, friendship, and rivalry that defies gravity. This Broadway musical follows the story of witches Elphaba and Glinda long before Dorothy and Toto ever arrived. Tickets are $54–194.

Lowertown Sounds: Malamanya

What: Music, Community
When: Thursday, August 18, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Mears Park, St. Paul

Lowertown Sounds is bringing local music, food trucks, and Minnesota-made brews to Mears Park for free all summer long! This week features performances by Jaedyn James. Check out the event listing for the food-truck lineup, as well as other upcoming concerts.

St. Paul Movies in the Parks: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

What: Movies, Community, Family
When: Friday, August 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Como East Pavillion

Enjoy a free night of community and movie magic under the stars! Screening this week is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first in the series of adaptations of the popular YA novels about a young wizard. Check out the St. Paul Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: The Wiz

What: Movies, Community, Family
When: Friday, August 19, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Lake Harriet Bandshell

Enjoy a night of community and movie magic under the stars! Movies start at dusk, and are free and open to the public. Screening this week is The Wiz, a reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with an all-Black cast, and the adventures of a young schoolteacher in the fantastical land of Oz (which is much like a fantasy NYC). Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

Guided Birding Walk with Minnesota Ornithologists Union

What: Educational, Family
When: Saturday, August 20, at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Bell Museum

Enjoy a guided bird walk with the Minnesota Ornithologists Union. The group will depart from the main entrance of the museum at 8:30 a.m., and will travel over some challenging terrain, so be ready for an outdoor adventure. Bring binoculars if you have them, though some will be available. See the website for registration details.

GPS Open Gaming

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Saturday, August 20, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Building

The Geek Partnership Society’s United Geeks of Gaming group offers its Open Gaming session, to which gamers of all ages and abilities are invited in order to “spend the day hanging out with fellow geeks playing, learning, and teaching games.” Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite board games, card games, and/or role-playing games, but the groups has amassed an impressive library of its own games as well.

Minnesota Toy Posse End of Summer Sale

What: Arts, Community, Family
When: Sunday, August 21, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Fraternal Order of the Eagles

Seek out vintage and new toys and other plunder to bring back to your home! This event at the Fraternal Order of Eagles will be a great opportunity to track down rare stuff you might not otherwise find, and get in contact with other toy geeks. There will be over 80 tables worth of goodness.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, August 21, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games

Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female-identifying (including trans women/femme) and nonbinary nerds and geeks at Source Comics and Games. This is a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks. Be sure to check out the Source calendar for additional events!

Music in the Parks: Lose Rebeldes

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Sunday, August 21, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Lake Harriet Bandshell

Enjoy an afternoon of live music in the park! This week features some “danceable music not usually heard” by Los Rebeldes. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

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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!