This Week in Geek (8/19/2024–8/25/2024)

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In-Person Events
Virtual Events

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, August 19, to Sunday, August 25.

Although inclusion in This Week in Geek is not an official endorsement of any event or organizer, we do our best to feature events that appear safe, responsible, and consistent with our mission and values. If you feel that one of the events below is incompatible with Twin Cities Geek as an organization, we encourage you to contact us at info@twincitiesgeek.com with your concerns.

In-Person Events

The Pickup Truck Opera: Faust

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, September 15
Where: Various venues

Opera hits the road in a blue pickup truck with a traveling performance of Faust. This show is a futuristic adaptation of Charles Gounod’s 1859 opera and will feature the new-wave music of Depeche Mode. All performances will be held outdoors in natural spaces throughout the state and ingeniously use the truck and trailer as a stage. See the website for a full schedule, including the different locations.

State Capitol Complex Archaelogy Tours

What: Educational
When: Wednesdays & Fridays, now through Friday, September 27
Where: Minnesota State Capitol

See archaeology in action at the state capitol! Excavations are currently underway to reveal any potential buried history and will be used in determining National Register eligibility for a proposed Minnesota State Capitol Mall District. Tours of the site are free and start at the Hubert H. Humphrey statue.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

What: Arts, Comedy & Theater, Educational, Family
When: Now through Sunday, September 29
Where: 12364 Chestnut Boulevard (Shakopee)

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is celebrating its 53rd season, and will be open weekends from August 17 to September 29! Come experience a wide variety of Renaissance-themed activities, including musical acts, comedy shows, artisan markets, food and drink, actors in costume, games, demos, jousting, and kid-themed events. The fest is open rain or shine, and tickets are $27.95 for adults, $25.95 for seniors, and $18.95 for children at the gate, and there are other ticket and pass options available on the website. Please note, those making the drive to the festival will either need to purchase a pre-paid parking pass at $15 to park on the MN Ren Fest Ground or plan on utilizing the park-and-ride lots with round-trip bus rides at $6 per adult.

Summer Puppetry Camp

What: Family, Educational
When: Monday, August 19, through Friday, August 30
Where: In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

At this summer camp, kids can creatively explore the world of puppetry through hands-on activities with expert teaching artists. Each three-hour session will feature new adventures, including shadow puppets, sand art, and papier-mâché. Registration is $150 per child and is recommended for ages 8–13. See the website for additional information.

Music in the Parks: Overdressed Duo

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Monday, August 19, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Water Works at Mill Ruins Park

Enjoy an evening of the Music in the Parks Overdressed Duo performing a fresh twist on selections from operas and musicals. This event is free. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, August 20, 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 August exploring World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

All Systems Go—Game Night

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Arbeiter Brewing Co.

Join All Systems Go at Arbeiter Brewing for a free night of tabletop gaming! They’ll have games available to check out and learn to play. There will also be new and used games available for purchase.

Twin Cities Playtest

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Noble Robot

This playtest event run by the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developer’s Association highlights games that are currently in development. Participants (either online or in-person) can play the games, demo their projects, or simply watch along to see what the community has cooking. Check out the full details of how to join on the event page.

Old Gods of Appalachia: Unhallowed Grounds

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Fitzgerald Theater

The fiction podcast Old Gods of Appalachia is heading out on tour with their show Unhallowed Grounds. Catch the eldritch horrors live in a performance akin to an old time radio play featuring the show’s creators, Steve Shell and Cam Collins, a rotating cast of actors, and live music. Tickets start at $30.

Pundamonium: The Minneapolis Pun Slam

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, August 21, 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.

Minnesota State Fair

What: Community, Family, Food & Drink, Music
When: Thursday, August 22, through Monday, September 2
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Twelve days of fun from August 22 to September 2, famous for its foods on sticks, butter princesses, musical acts (including Ludacris and Matchbox Twenty this year!), prize-winning animals, arts and crafts, and limited-run beer! They don’t call it the great Minnesota get-together for nothing, and geeks of all stripes are likely to find activities that interest them. Adult tickets are $18 (see the ticket site for all costs and deals) for this family-friendly event, with Grandstand performances requiring additional tickets. See the website for more details on planning your trip, and be sure to check out our article regarding the character alignments of the new state fair foods!

Cloud Collectors

What: Educational
When: Thursday, August 22, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Snelling Lake Beach (Fort Snelling State Park)

Gaze up at the clouds, learn about their types, and find out what they can tell us about impending weather. This free event will end with a hands-on lesson of painting the sky in watercolor with all materials provided.

The 370 Sets—Thursday Happy Hour Free Music Series

What: Music, Food & Drink, Community
When: Thursday, August 22, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Osborn370 Patio

This weekly event presented by the St. Paul Downtown Alliance features free music and drinks on the Osborn370 patio in Downtown St. Paul. This week’s performer is Sarah Morris.

Lowertown Sounds: Salsa del Soul

What: Music, Community
When: Thursday, August 22, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Mears Park

Lowertown Sounds is bringing local music, food trucks, and Minnesota-made brews to Mears Park for free all summer long! This week features performances by Salsa del Soul and Tropical Zone Orchestra. Check out the event listing for the food-truck lineup and upcoming performances.

2D Con

What: Gaming, Convention, Music
When: Friday, August 23, through Sunday, August 25
Where: Doubletree Bloomington

Celebrate all things gaming with 2D Con, an inclusive and charitable gaming event held every summer. This community-driven convention features a wide variety of games and activities, including esports, tabletop games, panels, cosplay, arcade games, musical performances, side quests, industry events, and more. This year’s special guests include Samantha Béart (Baldur’s Gate 3), Nick Apostolides (Resident Evil), Carey Means (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), and Kari Wahlgren (Cyberpunk:2077). Weekend badges are $65.

Drop In Skate Deck Art Show Opening

What: Arts
When: Friday, August 23, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Modist Brewing Co.

Celebrate skate culture and great art at Drop In, an art show where skateboard decks are the canvas. The show will feature pieces from over 80 artists with backgrounds in a variety of mediums displayed on the taproom walls, all of which will be available for purchase. The skate decks will be on display at the brewery through September 21.

Park After Dark

What: Educational, Family
When: Friday, August 23, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Crosby Farm Regional Park

Explore the nocturnal side of nature through art, culture, and science at Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul. This free event will include attracting and learning about night-time bugs with an entomologist, ranger-led hikes to spot wildlife, a sound installation that blends the location’s natural and cultural history, an informal bat survey using an ultrasonic detector, and connecting to nature through the Dakota practice of moon journaling. Attendees can also nibble on s’mores at a campfire and sample teas made from local plants.

Teeb Con

What: Convention
When: Saturday, August 24, through Sunday, August 25
Where: Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center

Nerd out in the Northland at Teeb Con, a pop culture and tabletop gaming convention held in Duluth. The weekend features panels, gaming tournaments, a cosplay contest, artist and exhibitor hall, RPG adventures, and a silent auction. Special guests include Leilani Shiu (The Mandalorian), Lori Fetrick (American Gladiators), Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean), and more. Weekend tickets are $50, with additional options available for kids, day passes, and VIP. Please note that tournament entries and the Friday night preview party do require additional tickets; see website for details and specific prices.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

What: Movies, Community
When: Saturday, August 24, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Pershing Recreation 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 the animated film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

Goth Prom XVII: Resurgence

What: Nightlife
When: Saturday, August 24, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Granada Theater

Goth Prom is rising from the pandemic ashes and bringing back their annual celebration of goth culture and devilish delights. Come decked out in your darkest finery and enjoy a night of dancing with your fellow goths. Tickets start at $20.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, August 25, 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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Virtual Events

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Feasting with Royalty: Dinner with Cleopatra

What: Educational
When: Monday, August 19, 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 Cleopatra’s fascinating dinner parties including the foods, customs, and hidden meanings, as well as recipes to try at home. This is part of a series led by food historian Francine Segan with future sessions focusing on Alexander the Great and Caesar. 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.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, August 19, at 7:00 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, August 20, 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 event page on the Union Depot website for more info, as well as additional in-person yoga events.

Movie Jo Night

What: Movies
When: Tuesday, August 20, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Join Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Mary Jo Pehl as she watches and comments on a new-to-her film for the first time. This event is free with ads on Twitch, or available with no ads for Mary Jo Pehl Show Clubhouse subscribers.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, August 21, 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.

Twin Cities Playtest

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via YouTube

This playtest event run by the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developer’s Association highlights games that are currently in development. Participants (either online or in-person) can play the games, demo their projects, or simply watch along to see what the community has cooking. Check out the full details of how to join on the event page.

One Book | One Minnesota—Chapter 12

What: Books
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

One Book | One Minnesota is a free statewide book club that invites residents of all ages to come together through a shared reading experience and join the community in conversation. Chapter 12 features Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn, and will run from July 29 through September 22. This free event will feature a discussion with the author about the book. Check out the website to learn how to access the e-book and audiobook for free.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Wednesday 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.

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, August 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Vimeo

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

Science Storytime

What: Family, Books, Science & Tech
When: Thursday, August 22, 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.

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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!