This Week in Geek (6/3/2024–6/9/2024)

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 3, to Sunday, June 9.

(Jump to In-Person Events)

Virtual Events

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, June 3, 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 4, 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Literary Theory for Robots: How Computers Learned to Write

What: Educational
When: Tuesday, June 4, 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, hear about recent developments in artificial intelligence, and how humans will be living along with smart technology. This talk is led by former Microsoft engineer Dennis Yi Tenen. 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.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, June 5, 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.

Science Story Time

What: Family, Books, Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, June 5, 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 5, 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 6, and Sunday, June 9; 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.

Cirque du Soleil: Bazzar

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, June 16; various times
Where: The Big Top at Mall of America

Cirque du Soleil is bringing its grand acrobatic storytelling and big-top tent back to Minnesota! Bazzar is its 43rd original production, which reflects the spirit and energy of Cirque du Soleil itself through a story featuring a troupe of inventive performers coming together and creating awe-inspiring displays under the Maestro. Tickets start at $47, and there are special rates available for kids, families, and large groups.

Music in the Parks: Katy Tessman and the Turnbuckles

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Monday, June 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Water Works at Mill Ruins Park

Enjoy an evening of the Music in the Parks. Katy Tessman and the Turnbuckles will be performing captivating Americana with heartfelt songwriting. 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 6, 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.

Monster Science First Thursdays: Music of Monsters of Music of Monsters of Music

What: Theater & Comedy, Educational
When: Thursday, June 6, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bryan Lake Bowl & Theater

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science, a recurring comedic-lecture series with a focus on monsters, returns this month with guest Irene Weinhagen to explore music and monsters and songs about monsters. Tickets are $12 in advance, or $14 at the door.

Happy Hour BINGO Benefitting Aliveness Project

What: Community, Gaming
When: Friday, June 7, 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.

Scream It Off Screen

What: Movies
When: Friday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Parkway Theater

Scream It Off Screen is a short-film contest with an audience interaction element! Come together with other film nerds in one of the Twin Cities greatest revival theaters. Audiences will cry out “Gong!” or “Let it play!” in order to determine which films will be shown in full. Tickets are $13 in advance or $19 at the door.

Pokémon Event

What: Food & Drink, Gaming
When: Saturday, June 8, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Boom Island Brewing Company

Boom Island Brewing Company will become Boom Island Pokémon Gym for one day in June. This Pokémon-themed event will feature vendor booths, gaming on consoles, DJ sets, themed beers, a hotspot for the mobile game, and even a carnival game room.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

What: Movies, Community
When: Saturday, June 8, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sumner Field Park

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 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the follow-up to Marvel’s Black Panther. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

’80s vs. ’90s Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Sunday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m., and 12:30 p.m.
Where: Crave

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week celebrates the 1980s and 1990s by pitting them against each other. 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, June 9, 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!

Pride Makers Market

What: Arts
When: Sunday, June 9, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Boom Island Brewing Company

Celebrate pride with this event featuring a variety of talented artists and makers from the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Expect geeky goodness, creativity, and more.

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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!