This Week in Geek (11/27/23–12/3/23)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, November 27, to Sunday, December 3.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Creative Night @ GPS Online

What: Arts, Community
When: Monday, November 27, 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, November 27, 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–Europa: Jupiter’s Habitable Moon?

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, November 28, 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 Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons that is believed to have an ocean under its icy surface. This talk will be led by Samuel Howell, a project scientist on the upcoming NASA Europa Clipper mission that will explore the moon’s geology, structure, and potential habitability. This event is part of the “A Grand Tour of the Solar System” series. General-admission tickets are $30, and a discount is available for members. Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, November 29, 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.

Minnesota Electronic Theater 2023

What: Movies
When: Thursday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

The Minnesota Electronic Theater is an annual celebration of locally made animation, visual effects, and motion graphics. This year’s free showcase will be held in person at the Pourhouse, and broadcast online via the Nice Moves YouTube channel.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, November 30, and Sunday, December 3; 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.

Pen Pals: Ed Yong

What: Books, Science & Tech
When: Thursday, November 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Friends of the Hennepin County Library are bringing Ed Yong to Minnesota for a discussion of his books and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism. Yong is the author of An Immense World, which explores the sensory worlds of animals, and I Contain Multitudes, which looks at the microbes within humans and how they fit within the grand fabric of life. He has also contributed to National Geographic, Wired, Scientific American, and more. Tickets are $35.

Friday Night Comics Workshops

What: Comics
When: Friday, December 1, 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 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.

A Christmas Carol

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Saturday, December 30; various times
Where: Guthrie Theater

The classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol is back at the Guthrie Theater with their fun adaptation that debuted in 2021. This production stays true to the familiar story of Scrooge and his visits with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future, while bringing a fresh perspective and injecting humor from the Dickens original (read our full 2021 review here). Tickets start at $44, and discounts are available.

Sever’s Holiday Light Show

What: Community, Arts
When: Now through Sunday, December 31; various times
Where: Sever’s (Shakopee)

Millions of holiday lights come to life every night at Sever’s! This drive-through experience features illuminated tunnels, animated characters, and seasonal favorites all synchronized to holiday music. Tickets are $30–60 per vehicle.

Winter Lights 2023

What: Community, Arts
When: Now through Sunday, December 31; various times
Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)

Take a stroll through the illuminated gardens at the Arboretum. These outdoor light displays highlight the beauty of nature, including flowers, trees, a giant tribute apple, and a weeping willow. Other activities include a color-changing tunnel, live music on the weekends, and marshmallow roasting in the S’mores Village. Check out the event page for more information on hours, performers, and theme nights. Tickets are $25 with discounts available for members; kids 15 and under are free on non-themed nights with a ticketed adult.

GLOW Holiday Festival 2023

What: Family, Arts
When: Now through Sunday, January 1, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: CHS Field

Enjoy a fun holiday experience at CHS Field, home of the St. Paul Saints. GLOW is a holiday spectacle featuring over a million holiday lights, illuminated trees, playful activities, and art installations. Tickets are $12.75 for children, and $20.75 for adults.

Gingerbread Wonderland

What: Arts, Community
When: Now through Sunday, January 7; various times
Where: Norway House

The annual Gingerbread Wonderland is a gallery collection featuring cookie recreations of famous locations in Minnesota, fairytales, and beyond by local bakers of all ages and skill levels. Tickets are $15; kids 12 and under are free.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Virtual Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, November 28, 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 November exploring Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

“Drawn” to Nature with Urban Sketchers

What: Arts, Educational
When: Tuesday, November 28, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park – Shelter A

Enjoy a free afternoon of art and nature with a park naturalist and the Twin Cities chapter of Urban Sketchers! This group sketch-out will feature views of cottonwood trees, the backwater channel of the Minnesota River, and area wildlife, as well as information about the park’s history and ecology. People of all ages and drawing skills are welcome. There will be very limited sketching materials available, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own supplies.

Minnesota Electronic Theater 2023

What: Movies
When: Thursday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Pourhouse

The Minnesota Electronic Theater is an annual celebration of locally-made animation, visual effects, and motion graphics. This year’s free showcase will be held in-person at the Pourhouse and broadcast online via the Nice Moves YouTube channel.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, November 30, through Saturday, December 2, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 3, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Creative Arts Secondary School

Students from the Creative Arts Secondary School are presenting a stage adaptation of the award-winning novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which follows a 15-year-old math savant as he works to solve the murder of a dog and the resulting journey filled with discoveries about the people around him. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Vanaheimr: Stories of the Lesser

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday through Saturday, at 7:00 p.m., weekends through December 9
Where: In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater

Vanaheimr: Stories of the Lesser is a stage production that explores the story remnants of ancient Scandinavian gods from before the Viking, Iron, and Bronze Ages through a mix of shadow puppetry, live Nordic folk music, classical poetry, and modern dance. Tickets start at $25.

St. Paul European Christmas Market

What: Arts, Community, Food & Drink
When: Friday through Sunday, weekends through December 17
Where: Union Depot (East Plaza)

Enjoy the warmth of your community at this open-air, European-style Christmas market in St. Paul, with handmade local gifts and decor, European-inspired food and delicacies, and of course, Glühwein (spiced mulled wine). These markets are popular in Germany and Austria during the advent season, and bring warmth and cheer in spite of looming winter. Check out Union Depot’s Holiday Hub webpage for more seasonal events and free Metro Transit ride passes.

First Saturday Science: Natural Disasters

What: Educational, Science & Tech, Family
When: Saturday, December 2, 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 natural disasters. 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.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, December 3, 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!

Uncanny MCE Mixer

What: Meetup, Food & Drink
When: Sunday, December 3, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Gambit Brewery

The Uncanny Experience and the Minnesota Comic Exchange are teaming to host a free mutant-themed mixer at Gambit Brewery in St. Paul. The event will feature games, food, and drinks, as well as X-Men door prizes including comics, collectibles, and tickets to next year’s Uncanny Experience.

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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!