This Week in Geek 10/30/23–11/05/23)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, October 30, to Sunday, November 5.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Creative Night @ GPS Online

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, October 30, 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, October 30, 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.

Haunted Hellenism

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, October 31, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

Chicago’s National Hellenic Museum is celebrating Halloween by telling ancient ghost stories from Greek myth and history, including tales of a ghostly war messenger and a haunted house in Athens. They’ll also be discussing how these stories have impacted the Greek identity and inspired later generations. This event is free.

American Halloween: A Century of Spooky Fun Pop Culture

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, October 31, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

Dive into the light-hearted and uplifting history of Halloween in America with this webinar hosted by the New York Adventure Club. They’ll be discussing classic songs like the “Monster Mash” and Sinatra’s “Witchcraft,” Halloween cartoons from Betty Boop to South Park, horrifying moments in Broadway, Halloween comedies like Abbot and Costello, cheesy B-movie trailers, and more. Tickets are $10 and include access to the recording for one week.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, November 1, 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. Classes are $8 each 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.

Orbit Presents: How to Write Your First SFF Novel—A Method in the Magic: How to Develop Magic Systems

What: Books, Educational
When: Wednesday, November 1, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

This fall, the book publisher Orbit will be hosting a free event series exploring the different aspects of writing science-fiction and fantasy novels. Each week will feature a different topic and panel of authors, giving attendees a great opportunity to improve their writing skills and learn how published authors approach their craft. This week looks at the creation of magic systems. For those unable to tune in live, all events in the series will be recorded and available to watch for free.

Selected Shorts: A Celebration of Ray Bradbury 

What: Books, Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, November 1, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

Celebrate the works of Ray Bradbury and his enduring influence with a night of readings hosted by Neil Gaiman. Readings will be done by actors Yetide Badaki (American Gods), Javier Muñoz (Hamilton), and Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds). Livestream tickets are $26.

Club Book Presents: Fiona Davis

What: Books
When: Wednesday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

Join author Fiona Davis for a discussion of her latest novel, The Spectacular, which follows a young dancer chasing her dream of joining New York’s famed Rockettes who finds herself in the middle of a city-wide search for a terrorist. Her previous books include The Lions of Fifth Avenue, The Magnolia Palace, and The Masterpiece. This free event is hosted by Club Book and the Dakota County Library.

Smithsonian Streaming Associates—From the Battle of Tippecanoe to the War of 1812

What: Educational, Books
When: Thursday, November 2, 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 the conflicts over indigenous lands between William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh, and how the friction between these two men culminated in the War of 1812. 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.

Navigating Worlds: Five Writers Talk Bias, Barriers, and Bans in Children’s Literature

What: Books
When: Thursday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Authors from the MN BIPOC Kidlit Creators collective will be discussing why representation matters in children’s literature, as well as issues they face while writing and publishing for kids in the current political and social climate. Panelists include Kao Kalia Yang, Art Coulson, Shannon Gibney, Ty Chapman, and Anika Fajardo. This event is free.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, November 2, and Sunday, November 5; 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, November 3, 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.

Autism Society of Minnesota Connections Jigsaw Puzzle Competition

What: Gaming, Community
When: Saturday, November 4, at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Put your jigsaw-puzzle skills to the test! Compete for fun or for a chance to take home prizes from Games by James. This event is open to all ages and puzzling abilities, and includes both 500-piece and 1,000-piece divisions. Players can go solo or participate on teams of two. Registration is $40–60, which includes a puzzle from PuzzleTwist. The deadline to receive puzzles by mail has passed, but virtual competitors are still able to register and pick up their puzzle at the AuSM office in St. Paul by November 1.

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 hand washing. 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 Haunted Avalon: A Puppet Theatre Showcase

What: Comedy & Theater
When: Now though Monday, October 30
Where: Heart of The Beast Puppet and Mask Theater

Enjoy a night of spooky and kooky puppetry and music as six teams of puppetry artists revisit Halloween. Expect varied vignettes that employ a variety of puppetry techniques. The event organizers warn that these thrills and chills are rated PG-13.

BareBones 30th Annual Extravanganza

What: Comedy & Theater, Family, Arts, Community
When: Now through Tuesday, 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.” There is a suggested donation of $20, but this event is intended to be open to all. Dress warm and bring chairs, as this is an outdoor event without seating.

Nowhere Haunted House

What: Arts, Comedy & Theater, Family
When: Now through Tuesday, October 31
Where: 300 South Robert Trail, Suite 300, Inver Grove Heights

This haunted house returns for a second year, with the addition of an arcade and spooky minigolf outside the main attraction—check out our review from a haunt veteran to learn a bit about what to expect. October 26 has an 18-plus night from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., October 28 has “low-scare” tours from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and October 29 has fully lights-on, kid-friendly, behind-the-scenes tours from 1:00 to 4:00. Details on the various options are available on the Nowhere website.

The Dead End Hayride

What: Arts, Comedy & Theater
When: Now through Tuesday, October 31
Where: Pinehaven Farm (Wyoming, MN)

Enjoy outdoor scares in a dark, deep, and isolated woodland trail with 200 zombies, monsters, and more. Expect clowns, butchers, pyrotechnics, and spooky ruins on this slow, creepy fright ride. Tickets run from $24–77.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

What: Family, Community
When: Now through Saturday, November 4
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 “Naturally Magical,” and features new artists’ creations. Tickets range from $14–24, and members receive $2 off.

Emo Orchestra Featuring Hawthorne Heights

What: Music
When: Monday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Theater

Emo Orchestra pays tribute to emo music by bringing iconic songs to the theater stage with full orchestral arrangements, including tracks by My Chemical Romance, AFI, Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, and more. On this tour, they are joined on stage by Hawthorne Heights. Tickets start at $37.50.

Trick or Treat? Exploring Nature’s Look-Alikes

What: Educational, Family
When: Tuesday, October 31, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Humans aren’t the only ones who disguise themselves in costume. Stop by the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center at Fort Snelling State Park to explore the masterful mimicry found in nature. This event is free, and costumes are welcome.

First Avenue’s Annual Halloween Party and Costume Contest

What: Nightlife, Music
When: Tuesday, October 31, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: First Avenue

Head to First Avenue’s mainroom for a night of dancing and costume contests, with over $1,000 in prize money up for grabs! Expect music from locals, including dj izzie p, DJ Michael Grey, DJ Espada, Dj Rowsheen, and DJ Smitty. Tickets are $15.

Navigating Worlds: Five Writers Talk Bias, Barriers, and Bans in Children’s Literature

What: Books
When: Thursday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: East Side Freedom Library

Authors from the MN BIPOC Kidlit Creators collective will be discussing why representation matters in children’s literature, as well as issues they face while writing and publishing for kids in the current political and social climate. Panelists include Kao Kalia Yang, Art Coulson, Shannon Gibney, Ty Chapman, and Anika Fajardo. This event is free but space is limited, so early registration is recommended. The event will also be broadcast virtually via Zoom.

Twin Cities Con

What: Conventions
When: Friday, November 3, through Sunday, November 5
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center

Twin Cities Con is a 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, vendors, and a costume contest. Special guests include Jason Lee, Kevin Smith, Rachel Leigh Cook, Danny Trejo, Ashley Eckstein, Tony Todd, Janet Varney, and many more. Event tickets range from $40 to $350. Be sure to visit the Twin Cities Geek table!

Phantom Chorus Theatre Presents: Trippy Triptych Vol. 1: Blacklight

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 4, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant Lake Bowl

Trippy Triptych Vol. 1: Blacklight is a collection of three original one-act stories performed completely in blacklight with a mix of glowing costumes, masks, props, and puppets. Stories include the psychedelic musical “The Center of Everything,” the madcap comedic tale of “The Button,” and the dark fable “The Alchemist’s Bargain.” Tickets are $15.

Autism Society of Minnesota Connections Jigsaw Puzzle Competition

What: Gaming, Community
When: Saturday, November 4, at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Mall of America

Put your jigsaw-puzzle skills to the test! Compete for fun or for a chance to take home prizes from Games by James. This event is open to all ages and puzzling abilities and includes both 500-piece and 1,000-piece divisions. Players can go solo or participate on teams of two. Registration is $40–$60, which includes a puzzle from PuzzleTwist.

Collector’s Day 2023

What: Community, Family, Educational
When: Saturday, November 4, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Bell Museum

Check out a wide variety of collections from the community and nerd out with others over the passion and act of collecting. Collection displays will include action figures, Minnesota fossils, Pez dispensers, gemstones, The Little Prince novellas (including a copy in Klingon), and more! This event is included with regular museum admission, which is $12–15.

Diwali: Festival of Lights

What: Community, Family
When: Saturday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Midtown Global Market

Celebrate Diwali, India’s most important festival of the year that marks the victory of light over darkness, with the Hindu Society of Minnesota. This free and family-friendly event will feature live music, skit performances, a fashion show, and plenty of dancing including Bollywood, folk, and semi-classical styles.

First Saturday Science: Evolution

What: Educational, Science & Tech, Family
When: Saturday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Metropolitan State University Science Education Center

First Saturday Science, a monthly program at Metro State, seeks to improve accessibility to science with open programs that can lead folks towards scientific careers, or just greater curiosity. This month, learn about evolution. No RSVP required, though young people under the age of 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Check out the event page for more details, as well as future topics and science resources that can be used at home.

LARP House Presents—Strictly Between Us: The Blues Dance LARP

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, November 4, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Center for the Performing Arts

Enjoy a live-action roleplaying experience organized by LARP House. Strictly Between Us: The Blues Dance LARP is a game played out on the dancefloor that explores the dynamics of relationships through movement, interactions with dance partners, and storytelling. The event will open with a one-hour dance instruction session, so no prior dancing experience is needed. Tickets are $10–30 and participants are highly encouraged to register in advance.

The CONTina

What: Convention, Nightlife, Food & Drink
When: Saturday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Lakes & Legends Brewing Company

CONTina is the official Star Wars-themed after party for Twin Cities Con and is hosted by the 2D Con crew. The party will feature a cosplay contest, food trucks, prizes, local DJs spinning tunes, and more. It’s free and open to the public, so if you are unable to attend the full convention this is a great opportunity to join in on the festivities—just be aware that some prizes may only be available for those who are registered for Twin Cities Con.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, November 5, 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!