This Week in Geek (6/17/2024–6/23/2024)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 17, to Sunday, June 23.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Beauty and the Beast: A Tale as Old as Time

What: Educational
When: Monday, June 17, 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, take a deep dive into the tale as old as time, and various iterations of the famous story where a girl falls for a hideous monster and the reason the story has such staying power. 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.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, June 17, 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!

Free Virtual Yoga at Union Depot

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Tuesday, June 18, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Get your yoga mat and water ready for a free yoga class streamed from the beautiful Union Depot in St. Paul. This event is taught by Studio 9-to-5. See the page for more info, as well as additional in-person yoga events.

Science Story Time

What: Family, Books, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, June 19, 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.

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, June 19, 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, June 20, and Sunday, June 23; 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.

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.

Stories From Indian Mythology: The Birth of The Pandavas and Kauravas

What: Educational
When: Monday, June 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Hive Collaborative

Join storyteller S. P. Jayaraj in a telling of an epic tale from the Mahabharat. This is the second in a three-part series and follows the brothers Panda and Dritarashtra in their quest for heirs to take over the throne of Hastinapura. Tickets are $12 and are recommended for mature young adults and older.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, June 18, 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 June exploring The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

Pundamonium: The Minneapolis Pun Slam

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, June 19, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Club Underground at the Spring Street Tavern

Pundamonium is a pun slam—a competition of wordplay with 10 contestants, each given two minutes to make puns based on prompts they are given ahead of time. A few lucky audience members act as judges for the night, with their top four pun slingers going head to head in a final pun off. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Catan: New Energies Solar Solstice Celebration

What: Gaming, Educational
When: Thursday, June 20, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: 14601 Ramsey Blvd. NW (Anoka)

Celebrate the Solar Solstice and check out a new version of Catan with this event focused on Catan New Energies. This is a chance to play games and learn about the nuts and bolts of solar power and how it is delivered. In addition to the game, expect to see sheep, wool, a see-through honeybee hive, ginger turmeric honey peanuts, and a specialty beer from Invictus Brewing.

DJ in the Park (DJ Yasmeena)

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Thursday, June 20, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Loring Park

Enjoy an evening of the Music in the Parks. DJ Yasmeena will be providing dance music. This event is free. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

D&D One-Shot Night

What: Gaming
When: Thursday, June 20, 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.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

What: Music
When: Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22
Where: Mears Park

Twin Cities Jazz Fest is returning for its 26th year of music and fun. This is a chance for jazz geeks and music fans to see great music outdoors. This is a free event—see the website for performers and schedule information.

Minnesota Street Rod Association’s Back to the ’50s Weekend

What: Community, Family, Music
When: Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June 23
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds

This is a great weekend for car geeks and fans of old-school vibes. This is chance to check out thousands of classic cars, enjoy music, and take part in all kinds of activities. Adult tickets are $15 and there’s shuttle service to the event from a number of locations. Check the event listing for more details.

Happy Hour BINGO Benefitting Aliveness Project

What: Community, Gaming
When: Friday, June 21, 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.

Video Game Rave—Sonic Symphony Pre-Party

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Friday, June 21, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Boom Island Brewing Company

Celebrate the music of Sonic with a night of hedgehog-friendly EDM and remixes from the games. Expect featured artists like Theology, Euphoric Nation, H808, vendors, and games all for a $10 cover charge.

MNHS Summer Free Admission Day

What: Educational, Community
When: Saturday, June 22, at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Various locations

Enjoy free admission to the Minnesota Historical Society’s historic sites and museums this summer. This is a great chance to learn local history for free. There are four sites in the Twin Cities Metro: James J. Hill House, St Paul (self-guided tours only), Mill City Museum, Minneapolis (Flour Tower tours not available), Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, and the Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River. There are a number of other options in greater Minnesota—see the event listing for details.

Greenharbor LARP Amtgard Outdoor Park Day

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, June 22, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: River Park (Brooklyn Park)

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.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: Mamma Mia!

What: Movies, Community
When: Saturday, June 22, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Lake Nokomis Community Center

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 Mamma Mia!, a rousing jukebox musical rom-com. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

Transvestite Soup Presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show

What: Film, Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, June 22, at 11:30 p.m.
Where: The Parkway

Watch a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the “longest-running midnight movie of all time.” Transvestite Soup is the Twin Cities’ shadow cast for the showings, performing for your pleasure as part of the cult classic’s well-established tradition. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. and tickets are $10.

Cher + Madonna Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, June 23, at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
Where: Crave Rooftop

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week pays tribute to Cher and Madonna. Featured performers include Sasha Cassadine (host), Julia Starr, Onya, and Lilah Doll. Costumes and singing along are highly encouraged. Tickets are $18 and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

MNmicro Film Fest: Pride

What: Movies, Community
When: Sunday, June 23, at 11:15 a.m.
Where: Showplace ICON (St. Louis Park)

The Twin Cities Film Fest is celebrating Pride with a set of feature presentations from local filmmakers. The event will feature interviews with filmmakers, postfilm discussions, and an event to celebrate Pride Month. This event is free to the community, but there is a registration system on the event page to guarantee spots in the screenings.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, June 23, 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!