This Week in Geek (11/7/22–11/13/22)

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

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Kid Koala: Music to Draw To

What: Music, Meetup
When: Monday, November 7, 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, November 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.

The Radical Agreement Project

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational
When: Tuesday, November 8, 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.

The Mads Are Back: The Devil Bat

What: Movies
When: Tuesday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Join Mystery Science Theater 3000‘s Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu for a rebroadcasted night of movie riffing in classic MST3K style. The film of choice for the evening is The Devil Bat. After the riff will be a Q&A with the Mads, along with a to-be-announced special guest. Tickets are $12.24 (including fees), which also grants access to rewatch and download the stream. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friends In Need Food Shelf in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, November 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.

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

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Facebook Live

Learn about the constellations, and the stories they tell with this event from the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota—Duluth. This virtual session is free.

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, November 9, 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–The Legacy of the Gettysburg Address

What: Educational
When: Thursday, November 10, 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 the legacy of the 1863 Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous acts of Lincoln’s presidency. Journalist Chuck Raasch will discuss the shock and ridicule it faced at the time, and the way it reverberates through history to this day. General-admission tickets are $25. Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, November 10, and Sunday, November 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.

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.

Autumn Festival, An Arts and Crafts Affair

What: Community, Arts
When: Thursday, November 10, through Sunday, November 13
Where: Canterbury Park

See hundreds of the finest artists and crafters selling their works at Canterbury Park. This is a well-renowned touring show with food, drink, and hourly gift-certificate winners. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and free for children under 10. See the website for daily hours.

Twin Cities Con

What: Conventions
When: Friday, November 11, through Sunday, November 13
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center

Twin Cities Con is a second-year convention celebrating TV, film, comics, cosplay, and all things nerdy. This three-day event will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center and includes panels, celebrity guests (including Elijah Wood and Sean Astin of The Lord of the Rings fame), vendors, and a costume contest. The event ranges from $20 to $99.

The Black Foxes Film Screening

What: Movies
When: Friday, November 11, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Cedar Cultural Center

See The Black Foxes, a short film about an international collective of Black cyclists reclaiming their narratives, in the outdoors. After the screening, Minneapolis-based Black Fox Raeqwan Wilson will host a discussion and Q&A regarding the film. This event is free, with general-admission seating. RSVP on the website.

Tsuinishi Anime Club

What: Movies
When: Friday, November 11, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Building

Anime Twin Cities has joined forces with the Geek Partnership Society “to bring a little bit of fun to you on the second and fourth Fridays of each month with this cosponsored anime club.” The group will show various anime movies and series.

Funlab: STEAM for Ages 7–11

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Saturday, November 12, 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.

A Walk In The Park

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, November 12, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Head over to Fort Snelling State Park for an afternoon of nature hiking! This is a great chance for brisk outdoor activity. Check out the event calendar on the Department of Natural Resources website for more outdoor events in state parks throughout Minnesota.

Next Chapter Booksellers Manga Club

What: Comics
When: Saturday, November 12, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Next Chapter Booksellers

Discuss a new manga title every month at Next Chapter Booksellers. This free manga-book club also provides tasty Japanese snacks and discounts on manga purchases in the store. Check out the event page for more information, including the tentative upcoming schedule. For October, the read of choice is Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back.

Family Day

What: Arts, Family
When: Sunday, November 13, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

This free monthly event is intended for kids and the young at heart in order to get young minds inspired. On the second Sunday of every month, expect hands-on art activities, live music, dance, demonstrations and more around a theme. November’s theme is “Festival”.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, November 13, 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!

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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!