This Week in Geek (7/31/23-8/6/23)

–
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, July 31, to Sunday, August 6.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Creative Night @ GPS Online

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, July 31, 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 31, 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.

Science Story Time

What: Family, Books, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, August 2, 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Exploring the Arts of Latin America

What: Educational
When: Thursday, August 3, at 11:00 a.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 art of Latin America, with this session primarily focused on the Arts of Ancient Mesoamerica. This event is part one of a four-part series. General-admission tickets are $90, and a discount is available for members. Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Gaming Thursdays for Teens

What: Gaming
When: Thursday, August 3, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Ramsey County Library is hosting a free virtual game night for teens in grades 6–12 on Thursday nights. Titles played will include both video games and tabletop games.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, August 3, and Sunday, August 6; 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, August 4, 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.

The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, August 13
Where: 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 recent piece on the saga 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.

The Pickup Truck Opera: Romeo & Juliet

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, September 10
Where: Various

Opera hits the road in a blue pickup truck with a traveling performance of Romeo & Juliet. This show is adapted from Bellini’s 1830 opera, and will feature popular music with passionate feuds and romance including Fleetwood Mac, The Pixies, and The Fugees. All performances will be held outdoors in natural spaces throughout the state and ingeniously use the truck and trailer as a stage. See the website for a full schedule, including the different locations.

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.

Opera on the Lake: Die Csárdásfürstin

What: Theater & Comedy, Music
When: Tuesday, August 1, Thursday, August 3, and Friday, August 4; at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Como Lakeside Pavilion

Opera often conjures up images of grand stages and theaters, but this classic music style has found its way into unexpected places like nightclubs and canning factories. Taking inspiration from those exciting venues and embracing her Minnesota roots, professional opera singer Anne Wieben is bringing opera to the lake. This year’s performance is an English adaptation of Die Csárdásfürstin, or The Csardas Princess, which tells the story of a cabaret performer and a nobleman who fall in love, and the societal pressures they face. Tickets are $35.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: Thor: Love & Thunder

What: Movies, Community, Family
When: Tuesday, August 1, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Keewaydin 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 Thor: Love & Thunder, a Marvel film with a focus on parenthood. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

Music in the Parks: RuDeGirl

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Wednesday, August 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Loring Park

Enjoy the Music in the Parks series as it continues through the summer. This week features RuDeGirl, a female Clash tribute band. This event is free. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

Meet New Friends at the Starcade!

What: Gaming, Community
When: Friday, August 4, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Starcade (Keg & Case building – St. Paul)

Meet up with like-minded geeks for an evening of classic arcade games, pinball, and comeradery. The Keg & Case building has lots of food and drink options (including the excellent Clutch Brewing), so this is a great chance to eat, drink, and be merry with fellow geeks. This event is put on by the Twin Cities Arcade Social Group. Mention the group for $10 entry. Nametags available for approachability!

Scream It Off Screen

What: Movies
When: Friday, August 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Parkway Theater

Scream It Off Screen is a short-film contest with an audience interaction element! Come together with other film nerds in one of the Twin Cities greatest revival theaters. Audiences will cry out “Gong!” or “Let it play!” in order to determine which films will be shown in full. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

Greenharbor LARP Amtgard—Outdoor Park Day

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, August 5, 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.

Gravity Still Totally Sucks!!!

What: Food & Drink, Gaming, Nightlife
When: Saturday, August 5, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Modist Brewing

Rally against gravity with this launch event for Wallride Gaming’s new game. Expect an outdoor party with food, a pop-up skatepark, a beer launch, great food, and a videogame cave. This is an all-ages event!

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, August 6, 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!

Fire & Nice Game Night

What: Gaming, Food & Drink
When: Sunday, August 6, 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!

(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!