This Week in Geek (7/17/23–7/23/23)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, July 17, to Sunday, July 23.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Creative Night @ GPS Online

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Google Meet

Let your creativity shine with drawing, painting, crafting, or whatever your heart desires at Creative Night, a weekly event put on by the Geek Partnership Society. This is a free event and a great opportunity to work on projects in great company.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, July 17, 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Schiaparelli and the Surrealists: The Art of Fashion

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, July 18, at 6:00 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 surreal fashion through the lens of Elsa Schiaparelli’s work—as presented by historian and curator Elizabeth Lay. 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.

Science Story Time

What: Family, Books, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, July 19, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join WonderLab for a virtual story time featuring children’s picture books that support STEM skills, scientific concepts, and experimentation. This program is free and geared towards children 3–6 years old.

Twin Cities Playtest

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

This playtest event run by the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developer’s Association highlights games that are currently in development. Participants (either online or in-person) can play the games, demo their projects, or simply watch along to see what the community has cooking. Check out the full details of how to join on the event page.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, July 20, and Sunday, July 23; at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Thursday and Sunday 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.

Friday Night Comics Workshops

What: Comics
When: Friday, July 21, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join the Sequential Arts Workshop community and a guest artist every Friday night for a virtual comics-making workshop. This event is free and open to all skill levels. While geared towards adults, kids and teens are welcome to join with a parent. Participants are encouraged to share their workshop creations with the group or on social media.

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.

Immersive Disney Animation

What: Movies, Family
When: Now through Sunday, August 13
Where: Lighthouse Immersive Studios

Be surrounded by the art and music of Disney’s animated worlds at this immersive, walk-through experience. See scenes from Disney favorites like The Lion King, Encanto, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid projected on the massive walls accompanied by audio and some interactive elements, like bubbles to simulate being under the sea. The experience also features installations exploring the processes behind making the films, like storyboarding, real-life geographic inspirations, and animation effects. Individual tickets start at $28 and discounted rates are available for family and group packs.

Into the Woods

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, August 13
Where: Guthrie Theater

Head Into the Woods on a storybook adventure that explores what happens beyond happily ever after. This award-winning Broadway musical by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim features a cast of familiar and original fairy-tale characters, who also graced the silver screen in the 2021 Disney film adaptation. Tickets are $20–$94.

Lumières Françaises

What: Movies
When: Monday, July 17, through Wednesday, July 19
Where: The Main Cinema

The sixth Lumières Françaises comes to the Main Cinema, timed to coincide with Bastille Day (the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789, one of the critical events of the French Revolution). This event brings a variety of French-language films to Minneapolis. See the website for film scheduling details, but general admission tickets are $12.

Hollywood Fringe

What: Movies
When: Monday, July 17, at 6:00 p.m. (screening at 7:30 p.m.)
Where: The Main Cinema

Come check out the 2021 MSPIFF Audience Choice Winner Hollywood Fringe, a dark comedy about life, fringe festivals, and acting stacked with Minnesota talent. The event includes a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by the screening at 7:30 and a talkback from the filmmakers. Tickets are $15.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, July 18, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Take a specially curated tour through the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection as inspired by books. Each month’s tour will focus on a different book for inspiration, with July exploring Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

Twin Cities Playtest

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Noble Robot

This playtest event run by the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developer’s Association highlights games that are currently in development. Participants (either online or in-person) can play the games, demo their projects, or simply watch along to see what the community has cooking. Check out the full details of how to join on the event page.

Aquatennial

What: Community
When: Wednesday, July 19, through Saturday, July 22
Where: Downtown Minneapolis

The Aquatennial is the official civic celebration of the City of Minneapolis, returning for its 83rd year. Highlights include a Torchlight Parade on Wednesday and fireworks on Saturday. The event is intended to be walkable and bikeable. See the website for more event details.

The Complete Works of Troy McClure (Abridged)

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, July 20, through Sunday, July 23
Where: Phoenix Theater

You might remember Troy McClure from The Simpsons, as originally portrayed by the late great Phil Hartman. This production is a celebration of the career of Troy McClure and the strange films the character was involved in. Tickets run from $20 to $25, and this production is intended for folks who are at least 13.

The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, July 20, through Sunday, August 13
Where: The Luminary Arts Center

Enjoy a world full of zombies, kung fu, demons, and a treacherous quest. This play is written by Saymoukda Vongsay (see our 2017 piece on Saymoukda here ), and directed by Lily Tung Crystal. Recommended market price for tickets is $45, but a “pay as you are” option is available. This play is recommended for people 16 and over due to gore, cannibalism, adult language, grooming, and trauma.

Wild Things Author Event

What: Books, Music
When: Thursday, July 20, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Mill City Museum

This event blends book reading and musical performance to celebrate the book Wild Things by Lynette Reini-Grandell—a story of love, trans experiences, and growth set against the backdrop of Minneapolis and New York’s music, literary, and art scenes in the ‘90s and 2000s. This is a free event—reservations requested.

Pod Meets World: The Kids Wanna Jump! Tour

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Pantages Theater

See a live performance of Pod Meets World, the podcast featuring stars of Boy Meets World, going through the show in sequential order and navigating the weird world of watching their teenage selves on screen. Tickets for the show start at $54, plus Ticketmaster fees.

Music in the Parks: Charlie Doesn’t Surf

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Friday, July 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Loring Park

Enjoy the Music in the Parks series as it continues through the summer. This week features Charlie Doesn’t Surf playing a repertoire of alternative/indie/pop-punk music. This event is free. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

What: Movies, Community, Family
When: Friday, July 21, at 8:45 p.m.
Where: Corcoran Park

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 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the award-winning 2022 animated comedy-adventure film starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Harvey Guillén—check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

The Comic Show

What: Comics
When: Saturday, July 22, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Valley Creek Mall

Come on down to the Valley Creek Mall for a free show with 30 tables of comics! This event is put on by the Minnesota Comic Exchange, and will run for six hours.

The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz Exhibit Opening

What: Comics, Books,
When: Saturday, July 22, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Minnesota History Center

Explore the personal and artistic life of Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. This exhibit will look at Schulz’s Minnesota roots, and track the development of characters and his art. After checking out the exhibit, make sure to take part in fun activities like Peanuts Bingo!

Greenharbor LARP Amtgard—Outdoor Park Day

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, July 22, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Lakefront Park (Prior Lake)

Play games and face off in battle with other live-action roleplay (LARP) enthusiasts. This free event is hosted by Greenharbor LARP, a local chapter of the global medieval-fantasy combat LARP organization Amtgard. New players are encouraged and all equipment is provided for free.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, July 23, 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!

North Star Roller Derby Pride Bout

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Sunday, July 23, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: ROC St. Louis Park

Celebrate Pride with a preseason roller derby bout! Expect two major bouts full of friendly competition. Tickets are $14.73, but kids 10 and under get in free. There will be an after-party at Steel Toe Brewing.

Fire & Nice Game Night

What: Gaming, Food & Drink
When: Sunday, July 23, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Fire & Nice

Come on down to Fire & Nice every Sunday for board games, pizza, and beer. The Twin Cities Board Game Group sets up every Sunday for a community game night, with many games available. Guests are also welcome to bring their own favorites—just walk in, grab a seat, and game!

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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!