This Week in Geek (9/2/2024–9/8/2024)

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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, September 2, to Sunday, September 8.

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

Minnesota State Fair

What: Community, Family, Food & Drink, Music
When: Now 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!

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 Archeology 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.

Music in the Parks: Socaholix

What: Music, Community, Family
When: Monday, September 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Water Works at Mill Ruins Park

Enjoy an evening of the Music in the Parks with a high energy performance of Caribbean dance music by Socaholix. This event is free. Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

Books & Bars: The Librarianist

What: Books, Food & Drink
When: Tuesday, September 3, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Sociable Cider Werks

Books & Bars is an “open public book club show” hosted and moderated by former Minnesota Public Radio producer Jeff Kamin that provides attendees with “a unique atmosphere for a lively discussion of interesting authors, fun people, good food, and social lubrication.” The book being discussed at this meeting is The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt.

The 370 Sets—Thursday Happy Hour Free Music Series

What: Music, Food & Drink, Community
When: Thursday, September 5, 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 Katy Vernon.

History Cruise with a National Park Service Ranger

What: Educational
When: Thursday, September 5, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Watergate Marina (St. Paul)

Enjoy a riverboat cruise on the mighty Mississippi River under the guidance of the National Park Service and guest speaker Annette Atkins, an author and history professor who approaches understanding the past through curiosity, time, and imagination. Tickets are $35 for non-members and $30 for members.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: Attack of the Horny 80s Robots

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational, Family
When: Thursday, September 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant Lake Bowl

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science, a recurring comedic-lecture series with a focus on monsters, returns this month to explore robots from 1980s media and their baffling interest in amorous congress. He will be joined by Josh “Mr. BLB” Carson. Tickets are $12 in advance or $14 at the door.

Furry Migration: Lost in Time

What: Convention
When: Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 8
Where: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Furry Migration is an annual convention for furries held in Minneapolis, and this year’s theme is “Lost in Time.” The convention has a variety of events for furry enthusiasts, including dances, gaming, workshops, room parties, panels, an artist alley, and more. Registration is $75; see the website for programming details.

Connecting Conversations—Unseen Connections: The Anthropology of the Cellphone

What: Science & Tech, Educational
When: Saturday, September 7, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Pavek Museum (St. Louis Park)

Connecting Conversations is a series that explores “the past, present, and future of electronic communications” with guest lectures from topic experts. At this talk, Joshua Bell, a curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), will discuss the NMNH’s exhibit “Cellphone: Unseen Connections” and the stories bound up in this fast spreading technology and answer questions during a Q&A session. Stick around after the event for a guided tour of the Pavek Museum. This event and the tour are included with regular museum admission of $11.

Zoolympics

What: Family, Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Extend the thrill of the Olympics at the Zoolympics, a weekend of animal-themed athletic fun at the zoo. Free activities include comparing your top running speed to a cheetah, bowling with the same type of balls the polar bears play with, measuring your jump distances against tree frogs, and more!

Fourth-Annual Sandhill Crane Arts and Music Festival

What: Music, Family
When: Saturday, September 7, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Graham Family Farm (Zimmerman)

The Sandhill Crane Arts and Musical Festival is back for year four! This one-day festival features two outdoor stages, food and drinks from local sellers, an art pavilion, bonfire jams, and lawn games. Performers include Mae Simpson, High & Rising, Space Monkey Mafia, and more. Tickets are $50; youth 17 and under get in for free with an adult. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Great Lakes Association of Musicians and Artists, which offers mental, physical, and social support and resources to independent artists in the community.

Greenharbor LARP Amtgard Outdoor Park Day

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, September 7, 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 to join in on the fun and all equipment is provided for free.

Prehistoria!

What: Educational
When: Saturday, September 7, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Discover Minnesota’s prehistoric past! Learn about the animals and plants that populated the area and the big changes to the landscape during that time.

Family Day: Familismo

What: Family
When: Sunday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Family Day is a free monthly event at the Minneapolis Institute of Art that gives the young and the young at heart an opportunity to check out performances, hands-on activities, tours, and more. This weekend’s theme celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and will include creative activities with artists Melodee Strong and Savannah Bustillo.

Schitt’s Creek Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Sunday, September 8, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Where: Crave

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week pays homage to the iconic TV series Schitt’s Creek, with host Sasha Cassadine. Costumes and singing along are highly encouraged. Tickets are $18 and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

North by North Loop Music Fest

What: Music
When: Sunday, September 8, at 11:30 a.m.
Where: North Loop (Minneapolis)

North by North Loop is a one-day music festival that celebrates the North Loop neighborhood and the musical soundscape of the city. There will be two outdoor stages featuring performances by The Suburbs, Bad Bad Hats, MAKR AN ERIS, The Flamin’ Ohs, and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Graze Provisions & Libations. Tickets are $35.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, September 8, 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

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, September 2, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Get your trivia on from the comfort of home with Geeks Who Drink’s free online trivia night. Prove your mettle, and maybe learn a little something!

Free Virtual Yoga at Union Depot

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Tuesday, September 3, 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.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, September 4, 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 Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, September 4, 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, September 4, 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, September 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series–Underwater Volcanoes

What: Educational
When: Friday, September 6, at 11:00 a.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 submarine volcanoes including the science behind them, their impacts on humanity, and how there are still many mysteries surrounding them. 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.

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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!