This Week in Geek (3/4/24–3/10/24)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, March 4, to Sunday, March 10.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

The (Not-So) Young Adult Book Club

What: Books
When: Monday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

Adults can embrace their love of young-adult literature at this book club hosted on the first Monday of every month by Red Balloon Bookshop. Members choose the monthly book, receive discounts, and have opportunities to read Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs). Anyone interested in joining should head over to the event page for more information, including how to sign up.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, March 4, 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.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, March 6, 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 $15 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.

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

Enjoy a free screening of an obscure film with Miss Emmy Martian and other cinephiles on Discord every Wednesday night.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, March 7, and Sunday, March 10; 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.

Transcendence Cabaret: Cosplay Cred!

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, March 9, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

Transcendence Cabaret lights up the stage with a night of burlesque, drag, and spoken-word performances starring BIPOC and LGBTQ artists. During this show, they’ll be geeking out and showcasing their cosplay cred. Tickets are $12–22, and tipping is encouraged.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Great Horned Owls: Hiding in Plain Sight

What: Educational
When: Sunday, March 10, at 1:00 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 all about great horned owls, a silently flying bird of prey that lives in nearly every state (including Minnesota). This talk will be led by naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw and include plenty of photos, videos, and audio clips. 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.

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.

Disney Trivia

What: Trivia
When: Monday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Blackstack Brewing

Put your Disney knowledge to the test and compete against other fans for trivia prizes. This event is free and the Mirasol Mexican Grill food truck will be on-site selling food.

2024 Women’s History Month Speaker: Alison Bechdel

What: Comics
When: Monday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: O’Shaughnessy Education Center Auditorium

In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Luann Dummer Center for Women at the University of St. Thomas has hosted a distinguished woman speaker every year since 1994. This year’s speaker is Alison Bechdel, a critically acclaimed cartoonist who’s work inspired the Bechdel Test, which measures gender bias in film. She is the author of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, which was adapted into a Broadway musical that went on to win five Tony Awards. This event is free, but has limited seating and requires registration; registration closes at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 4.

Toddler Puppet & Music Time

What: Family
When: Wednesday, March 6, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy eight weeks of fun puppet programming and socializing. Sessions will be led by a puppeteer teaching artist and will feature puppets, familiar songs, and play. Registration is $80 per family, which includes one session per week for eight weeks.

Kate DiCamillo & John Schu at the University of St. Thomas

What: Books
When: Thursday, March 7, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: O’Shaughnessy Education Center Auditorium

Join authors Kate DiCamillo and John Schu for a discussion of their latest releases and a book signing. Kate DiCamillo is the author of the beloved children’s classics The Tale of Desperaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, and The Tiger Rising. Her latest book is Ferris, a “hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.” John Schu is a traveling librarian and author of the children’s picture books This is a School and This is a Story. His latest book is Louder than Hunger, which “explores anorexia—and self-expression as an act of survival—in a wrenching and transformative novel-in-verse.” Tickets are $22.79–28.49 and include your choice of book; see the event page for a full list of ticket options.

D&D One-Shot Night

What: Gaming
When: Thursday, March 7, 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.

MarsCon 2024: That’s Classified!

What: Convention
When: Friday, March 8, through Sunday, March 10
Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America

MarsCon 2024 has a little bit of something for everyone. Whether your preferred geek flavor is anime, gaming, cosplay, books, film, or science, you’re in for a treat. This year’s theme is “That’s Classified!” Come for special guests, such as actor Maggie Egan (Babylon Five, Quantum Leap), musician and voice-actor Andy Merrill (The Brak Show), and author T. Aaron Cisco (The Unbanished). Stick around for informative panels, crafting events, musical performances, anime screenings, a masquerade, and more. Check the website for schedule and registration details. Rates vary, but the whole weekend costs $70 for adults.

Arcade Day 

What: Gaming
When: Friday, March 8, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Boom Island Brewing

Boom Island Brewing is transforming into an arcade! There will be a slate of retro and modern arcade games available for free play, happy-hour specials, and prizes for the top scorers. This free event goes until 10:00 p.m., but be sure to check the event page for schedule details.

Power Up! Women’s Day Music Fest

What: Music
When: Friday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge

Power Up! is a celebration of women and gender-expansive musicians in Minnesota. The concert will feature performances by MAYDA, Jillian Rae, the Muatas, Spit Takes, Atim Opoka, and Laura Hugo. The event is hosted by KFAI’s Krista Wax. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

International Women’s Day at Excelsior Brewing

What: Music, Food & Drink
When: Friday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Excelsior Brewing

Celebrate International Women’s Day and help empower the next generation of women and gender-expansive musicians. This free event will feature live music from the Rebel Queens, a pop-up shop, and a new beer release. They will also be collecting donations of music gear in good condition, including instruments, amps, and cables, on behalf of She Rock She Rock, a non-profit organization that provides inclusive music programs for girls, women, and gender-expansive folks.

Sensory Friendly Day at the Minnesota History Center

What: Community, Educational
When: Saturday, March 9, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Minnesota History Center

Explore Minnesota’s history in a sensory-friendly environment. Sensory Friendly Days feature exhibits and activities modified to reduce sensory overload, including lowered media volumes, special programming, and being closed to the public. This free event includes access to the museum’s latest exhibit, The Life and Art of Charles Schulz. Head to the event page for more information and to reserve your spot.

Bedrace for Bridging

What: Community, Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, March 9, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Buck Hill (Burnsville)

Every year, hundreds of people dress up in costumes and race mattresses downhill to support Bridging, a Twin-Cities nonprofit that supports people who are pursuing housing stability by providing essential furniture and home goods. Folks can join the race by building a team and fundraising, or they can watch the races and cheer along as a spectator. Check out the event site for full details.

Next Chapter Booksellers Manga Club

What: Comics
When: Saturday, March 9, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Next Chapter Booksellers

Discuss a new manga title every month at Next Chapter Booksellers. This free manga-book club also provides tasty Japanese snacks and discounts on manga purchases in the store. Check out the event page for more information, including the tentative upcoming schedule. For March, the read of choice is Cuisine Chinoise: Five Tales of Food & Life by Zao Dao.

Saturday Night Space Opera

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, March 9, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games

Join Saturday Night Space Opera on the second Saturday of every month for an evening of sci-fi role-playing games. This is a free event, all rules will be taught, and no materials are required—just RSVP ahead of time to snag your spot.

Transcendence Cabaret: Cosplay Cred!

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, March 9, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Theater

Transcendence Cabaret lights up the stage with a night of burlesque, drag, and spoken word performances starring BIPOC and LGBTQ artists. During this show, they’ll be geeking out and showcasing their cosplay cred. Tickets are $12–22, and tipping is encouraged.

Marvel vs DC Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, March 10, at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 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 features a showdown of heroic proportions in tribute to comic books and their iconic characters. Costumes and singing along are highly encouraged. Tickets are $18 and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, March 10, 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!

Mario Day

What: Gaming, Music
When: Sunday, March 10, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Can Can Wonderland

Celebrate Mario Day with Can Can Wonderland! There will be a Mario Kart tournament, live music, open gaming, a cosplay contest, and prizes. This event is included with regular admission of $14.

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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!