This Week in Geek (10/24/22–10/30/22)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, October 24, to Sunday, October 30.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Kid Koala: Music to Draw To

What: Music, Meetup
When: Monday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

This free virtual version of the long-standing event series in Montreal provides a cozy atmosphere for attendees to make art and work on projects quietly together with a calm soundtrack of ambient music performed live by Kid Koala.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, October 24, 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.

The Radical Agreement Project

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational
When: Tuesday, October 25, 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–500 Years of Anne Boleyn: The Woman Who Changed England’s History

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, October 25, 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, learn about Anne Boleyn, and the way her life and death have echoed through history. General-admission tickets are $35. Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, October 26, 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: Monsters in the Sky

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

Learn about the monster we see when we look at the sky from staff from the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota—Duluth. This is a great chance to nerd out about space while embracing the spooky season. This virtual session is free.

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

Enjoy a free screening of an obscure film with Miss Emmy Martian and other cinephiles on Discord, every Wednesday night.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, October 27, and Sunday, October 30; 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.

Ghostly Gala

What: Nightlife, Community, Family
When: Friday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center Grand Rooms

Enjoy a night of spooky celebration organized by Reach for Resources! Fun includes pizza, games, prizes, music, dancing, and a costume contest. This is an all-ages and all-abilities event! Tickets are $10 for preregistration, or $15 at the door.

Star Party

What: Science & Technology, Education, Family
When: Friday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bell Museum

We stand at the edge of an endless cosmic ocean, and Star Party is an opportunity to gaze into infinity with fun activities like a planetarium program, fun activities, and a chance to look into a telescope. This Star Party is a free event, and provides a great opportunity for folks of all ages to explore space.

#WhoItYourself LIVE: The Power of the Doctor

What: Community
When: Saturday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual Via Facebook

Join CONsole Room for their latest #WIYLIVE panel on October 29 to discuss “The Power of The Doctor,” an extended Doctor Who special celebrating 100 years of the BBC, and serving as a finale to the Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall era.

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.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

What: Family, Community
When: October 1, through November 5
Where: Minnesota Zoo

This is a chance to explore a trail of artistically carved glowing pumpkins at the Minnesota Zoo. This year’s theme is a “Night at the Library,” and features new artists’ creations. Tickets range from $18–24, and members receive $2 off.

From The Bowels Of Heck!

What: Comedy & Theater
When: Thursday, October 27, through Sunday, October 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bakken Museum

Enjoy a spooky spectacular full of puppet poltergeists at the Bakken Museum! Enjoy gothic heavy metal, puppet sacrifices, arcane rites, and comical demons in a seance-mockumentary concert. Tickets are $20, and the event is recommended for folks 14 and up due to scary imagery.

BareBones Puppets 2022 Extravanganza

What: Comedy & Theater, Family, Arts, Community
When: Friday, October 28, through Monday, October 31, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: On The Midtown Greenway

BareBones celebrates the season with the larger-than-life puppetry extravaganza. This annual event “honors the circle of life by celebrating its seasonal arc of death in the fall.” The theme of this show is growing larger to hold grief. There is a suggested donation of $20, but this event is intended to be open to all. ASL interpretation is provided for the October 29 show. Dress warm, and bring chairs, as this is an outdoor event without seating.

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

What: Music
When: Thursday, October 27, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Theater

Horror geeks will know Goblin from their astounding soundtrack to the classic Italian Giallo film Suspiria. This is your chance to see that incredible score performed live at the Fitzgerald Theater. Tickets start at $35, with a VIP meet-and-greet offer as well (for $165).

Halloween Adult Night – Sip and Skate (Ages 21+)

What: Nightlife
When: Friday, October 28, at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Cheap Skate

Enjoy a spooky trip to the roller rink with this Halloween-focused evening of fun at Cheap Skate. Expect a costume contest with cash prizes, photo booth, candid shots, roller rentals, and more. This is an evening for folks 21 and older.

Murder on the Vilification Express

What: Comedy & Theater
When: Friday, October 28, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant Lake Bowl

Enjoy an evening of Vilification Tennis’ trademark silliness with a murderous twist! This evening of insult comedy will be focused on identifying the murderer on stage in something of a locked-room mystery. Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door.

Costume Contest & Our 7th Birthday Party

What: Community
When: Saturday, October 29, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Mischief Toy Store

Celebrate Halloween and seven years of Mischief Toy Store with a costume contest and celebration. Folks who stop in the store from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm will be entered in the costume contest, with a $50 gift card for the winner, and $25 for the runners up. Additionally, as part of the seventh-birthday celebration for the shop, there will be cookies available.

Nature Walk

What: Educational, Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, October 29, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Enjoy a beautiful walk that takes on Minnesota in all its autumnal colors and fall chill. This is a great chance to see wildlife before further snowfall.

Funlab: STEAM for Ages 7–11

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Saturday, October 29, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Dayton’s Bluff Library

FunLab is an event for kids 7–11 to learn STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) principles through fun in a drop-in session with crafts, games, projects, experiments, and movies. The event is free, and will serve kids so long as supplies last.

Running Aces Laugh your Ace Off Season Kickoff

What: Comedy & Theater
When: Saturday, October 29, at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Where: Running Aces Casino

Help kick off the Laugh Your Ace Off series at Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack. Laugh Your Ace off is a monthly comedy series with a mix of national and local performers. For October, see headliner Wendy Maybury (veteran performer and number one on Amazon’s Comedy Charts) with Kevin Cahak and host Pege Miller. Tickets start at $25.

All Hallows Eve with Jeremy Messersmith

What: Music
When: Saturday, October 29, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Theater

Celebrate All Hallows Eve with an evening of music led by Jeremy Messersmith (a musician known for carefully crafted stories full of melancholy) and featuring his friends. Tickets for the event start at $25.

BOOnion Depot

What: Family
When: Sunday, October 30, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Union Depot

Enjoy a spooky family-friendly day in the transformed Union Depot! This free event features a bunch of fun activities, including pumpkin crafting, dancing to a DJ, face-painting, and more. Costumes are encouraged!

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, October 30, 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!

(Jump to Top)

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!