This Week in Geek (1/8/24–1/14/24)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, January 8, to Sunday, January 14.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Vegetable & Herb Growing for Beginners–Part Two

What: Educational
When: Monday, January 8, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

While the winter creeps in, you might be thinking ahead to gardening in the spring. This class focuses on feeding and watering, including mulches, manures, and compost. This is a free event.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, January 8, 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 Mads Are Back: A Night Of Shorts 14

What: Movies
When: Tuesday, January 9, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

Join Mystery Science Theater 3000‘s Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu for a night of movie riffing in classic MST3K style. This show will feature a variety of short films. After the riff will be a Q&A with the Mads and some very special guests. Tickets are $10, which also grants access to download the riff and rewatch the bonus features.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, January 10, 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.

TC Trek Trivia: More Sci, More Fi

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Driftwood Char Bar & Virtual

Hosted by Master Trekkie, TC Trek Trivia consists of five rounds: General Trek (questions covering all things Star Trek); Identify the Image; Ships, Technology, and Cultures; Complete the Quote; and a “Wild Card” round. Questions for each of these five rounds are drawn from all Star Trek television series and all 13 films. According to Master Trekkie himself, TC Trek Trivia is “all ages, no cover, food, drinks, and a whole lot of Trek!” All ages are welcome and costumes are encouraged.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–The Secret History of Women at the CIA

What: Educational, Books
When: Thursday, January 11, 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. During this event, author Liza Mundy will discuss the contribution and impact of women at the Central Intelligence Agency, including women who thrived as spies despite discrimination, built critical archive systems, and ushered in modern intelligence methods like data analysis. General admission tickets are $25, and a discount is available for members.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, January 11, and Sunday, January 14; 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.

CONsole Room

What: Conventions
When: Friday, January 12, through Sunday, January 14
Where: Hilton MSP Airport—Mall of America and Virtual

Regenerate into 2024 with this annual gathering of Doctor Who enthusiasts! This is a year to celebrate 60 years of Doctor Who and 11 years of CONsole Room, so you know they’ll be pulling out all the stops! Expect guests of honor from the show (like the seventh doctor Sylvester McCoy!), local professionals, panels, and vendors. This year features two virtual ticket options. A free Cybermite ticket will grant access to the Discord community and a limited amount of virtual panels. A Cyberman ticket is $35 and grants access to the Discord community, regular virtual panels, and most guest panels.

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.

Nerd Nite: January Edition

What: Educational, Food & Drink
When: Wednesday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Black Hart of St. Paul

The organizers of Nerd Nite invite you out for a night of “nice drink, good company, and some cold. hard. facts.” Those cold, hard facts come in the form of “nerdy TED talks” where community members dive into a topic they are passionate about. This month’s topics include Ferengi-nomics, getting lost in the Himalayas, and the history of JELL-O. Admission to this event is free.

TC Trek Trivia: More Sci, More Fi

What: Trivia
When: Wednesday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Driftwood Char Bar & Virtual

Hosted by Master Trekkie, TC Trek Trivia consists of five rounds: General Trek (questions covering all things Star Trek); Identify the Image; Ships, Technology, and Cultures; Complete the Quote; and a “Wild Card” round. Questions for each of these five rounds are drawn from all Star Trek television series and all 13 films. According to Master Trekkie himself, TC Trek Trivia is “all ages, no cover, food, drinks, and a whole lot of Trek!” All ages are welcome and costumes are encouraged.

Transmission Presents: Sound & Vision (A Bowie Tribute)

What: Nightlife
When: Wednesday, January 10, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: James Ballentine “Uptown” VFW – Post 246

Celebrate musician and pop-culture icon David Bowie with a free dance night hosted by DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission! Expect to hear the Starman’s top hits, b-sides, and deep cuts along with tracks from his musical influences, collaborators, and side projects.

D&D One-Shot Night

What: Gaming
When: Thursday, January 11, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Dreamers Vault Games

This beginner-friendly event is a great way to experience Dungeons & Dragons in a bite-size format. This will be a self-contained session of the game. Tickets are $5 per session.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Thursday, January 11, at 6:30 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 January exploring The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

CONsole Room

What: Conventions
When: Friday, January 12, through Sunday, January 14
Where: Hilton MSP Airport—Mall of America and Virtual

Regenerate into 2024 with this annual gathering of Doctor Who enthusiasts! This is a year to celebrate 60 years of Doctor Who and 11 years of CONsole Room, so you know they’ll be pulling out all the stops! Expect guests of honor from the show (like the seventh doctor Sylvester McCoy!), local professionals, panels, and vendors. Preregistration is closed at this point, but there should be tickets available at the door for $65–250; see the website for details. There are also virtual ticket options available for $0–35.

Happy Hour BINGO Benefitting Aliveness Project

What: Community, Gaming
When: Friday, January 12, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Black Hart of St. Paul

Chill out after the work week with bingo for a good cause! This event will benefit The Aliveness Project , a local non-profit with the mission to encourage self-empowerment, and provide direct services for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Stephen Shaskan Pizza and Taco: Wrestling Mania!

What: Books, Family
When: Saturday, January 13, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Wild Rumpus

Author Stephen Shaskan will be discussing and signing copies of his latest children’s graphic novel, Pizza and Taco: Wrestling Mania! at Wild Rumpus. This event is free and copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Winter on the Move

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Saturday, January 13, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Discover the enduring ways that people in the past moved through the world, even during harsh conditions, and how nature has impacted transportation technology. This event is free.

F1rst Wrestling Presents: Wrestlepalooza

What: Sports & Fitness, Music
When: Saturday, January 13, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 14, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: First Avenue

Pro-wrestling is back at First Avenue with two back-to-back nights of Wrestlepalooza! Expect plenty of action in the ring, live music, and more. Saturday night features Dillinger Four, Mistress Victoria DeVille, and Dick Von Dyke. Sunday night features Tightwire, Phoenix de la Rosa, Deeva Rose, and Petty Treason. Tickets are $30 in advance, or $40 at the door.

Glee & Pitch Perfect Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, January 14, at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
Where: Union Rooftop

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week, get into the aca-spirit with a tribute to Glee and Pitch Perfect. Costumes and singing along are encouraged. Tickets are $18 and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, January 14, 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!