This Week in Geek (9/30/2024–10/6/2024)

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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 30, to Sunday, October 6.

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

Pinehaven Farm Fall Festival

What: Family, Food & Drink
When: Weekends, now through Sunday, October 27
Where: Pinehaven Farm

Enjoy a weekend of autumnal family fun at Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming, Minnesota. There will be 30+ activities, including picking pumpkins, launching them from a cannon, swimming through a corn pit, and more. There will also be sweet and savory snacks and drinks. Tickets are $14–20.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

What: Family, Community
When: Now through Saturday, November 2
Where: Minnesota Zoo

This is a chance to explore a trail of artistically carved glowing pumpkins at the Minnesota Zoo. This year’s theme is “Naturally Magical,” and features new artists’ creations. Tickets range from $14–24, and members receive $2 off.

The Dead End Hayride

What: Arts, Comedy & Theater
When: Now through Saturday, November 2; various dates
Where: Pinehaven Farm (Wyoming, MN)

Enjoy outdoor scares in a dark, deep, and isolated woodland trail with 200 zombies, monsters, and more. Expect clowns, butchers, pyrotechnics, and spooky ruins on this slow, creepy fright ride. See the website for dates and hours of operation. Tickets run from $19–81.

Club Book: Matt Goldman

What: Books
When: Monday, September 30, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Anoka County Library – Northtown (Blaine)

Join author Matt Goldman for a discussion of his latest novel, Still Waters, a murder mystery that brings two estranged siblings back together at their family-run resort on Leech Lake. Goldman’s previous writings include the Nils Shapiro series and screenwriting credits on Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine. This free event is hosted by Club Book and the Anoka County Library.

Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert

What: Movies, Music
When: Tuesday, October 1, and Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 6
Where: Orchestra Hall

Take a journey to a galaxy far, far away with the Minnesota Orchestra! At this special screening of Star Wars: A New Hope, the orchestra will accompany the film with a live performance of the score. Limited tickets remain for all performances and start at $50.

ConFluence Social and Cosplay Karaoke

What: Meetup, Gaming, Music
When: Thursday, October 3, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Northrup King Building

The next ConFluence convention might not be until 2025, but the community can hang out and stay connected in the meantime through a series of mini-events hosted by the con’s organizers. This social will feature cosplay karaoke and lip-synch karaoke, as well as party games and tabletop gaming. The event is free, but donations to support the next convention are welcome.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: The Doom that Came to Springfield

What: Comedy & Theater, Educational, Family
When: Thursday, October 3, 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 celebrate the iconic “Treehouse of Horror!” episodes of The Simpsons. He will be joined by guest Nissa Nordland Morgan. Tickets are $12 in advance or $14 at the door.

ArneCon

What: Convention, Gaming
When: Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 6
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis

Celebrate the legacy of Dave Arneson, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, and his game group the Blackmoor Bunch with a weekend full of gaming alongside the folks who were there during the invention of role-playing games. Special guests include Robert Kuntz, Alexander Macris, Ronin Wong, and more. Featured games include Into the Wild Blue Yonder, Ascendant, Braunstein, Dungeon! Fantasy Board Game, and Strategos N. Tickets are $50 for the whole weekend, and individual day passes are available at varying rates.

Fall 2024 St. Paul Art Crawl

What: Arts
When: Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 6
Where: Various, see below

The St. Paul Art Crawl is a bi-annual, city-wide event where artists open their studios and invite the public in to view the wide variety of artwork being created in the city. The Fall 2024 event features artworks across more than 30 locations. The Art Crawl is free, but attendees are encouraged to support artists and the community by buying the art they love. Check out the website for a list of participating locations and interactive map.

St. Paul Scary Movies Series: Addams Family Values

What: Movies, Community
When: Friday, October 4, at dusk
Where: Griggs Park

Enjoy a free night of community and movie magic under the stars! Screening this week is 90s classic Addams Family Values, starring Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, and Cristina Ricci. The film starts at dusk, but arrive early to grab a spot and some treats from the Sweet Dairy food truck. The event is weather dependent, so be sure to check the event listing for any updates.

Nymphs & Angels: Music of Renaissance Italy

What: Music
When: Friday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: St. Mary’s Church

Step back in time for a concert of Renaissance-era music from the Mirandola Ensemble. The group’s vocalists and instrumentalists will be performing lively pieces composed by Orlando di Lasso, Claudio Monteverdi, Andrea Gabrielli, Grazio Benevoli, and more. Tickets are $25.

Scream It Off Screen

What: Movies
When: Friday, October 4, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Parkway

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.

Brick Fest Live

What: Convention, Family
When: Saturday, October 5, through Sunday, October 6
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center

Brick Fest Live is bringing LEGO fun to the convention center. This event will feature life-size models, special guests from LEGO Masters, galleries, photo opportunities, and several hands-on activities to let your brick-building creativity shine. Tickets start at $16.99 and children aged two or under get in for free.

First Saturday Science: Plant Science

What: Educational, Science & Tech, Family
When: Saturday, October 5, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Metropolitan State University Science Education Center

First Saturday Science, a monthly program at Metro State, seeks to improve accessibility to science with open programs that can lead folks towards scientific careers, or just greater curiosity. This month, learn all about the science of plants. No RSVP required, though young people under the age of 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Check out the event page for more details, as well as future topics and science resources that can be used at home.

Greenharbor LARP Amtgard Outdoor Park Day

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, October 5, 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.

Lit!Series: An Evening on Banned Books Featuring Carmen Maria Machado

What: Books
When: Saturday, October 5, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine’s University

The Loft Literary Center’s Lit!Series is a community-centric literary event series for both readers and writers to explore new books, authors, ideas through a weekend of themed programming. The October keynote features a conversation with Carmen Maria Machado about banned books, the recent wave book censorship, and its impact on students, teachers, authors, and libraries across the country. Additional author panelists include Safia Elhillo, Jake Maia Arlow, and Ashley Hope Pérez. Tickets are $20 and there is a discount available for St. Kate students.

Bill Nye the Science Guy: The End is Nye

What: Science & Tech
When: Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: State Theatre

Bill Nye the Science Guy is continuing to share science and inspire the public through his iconic style of curiosity and humor. At this live show, he’ll be examining some of the modern advancements in the fight to reverse climate change, explaining how it could prevent catastrophic disaster, and discussing why he thinks it isn’t too late to make meaningful change with the help of science. The event will end with an open Q&A session. Tickets start at $54.50.

Midnight Mayhem: Nosferatu with Radiohead

What: Movies
When: Saturday, October 5, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: The Main

The Midnight Mayhem series returns with a screening of the silent horror film classic Nosferatu with Radiohead’s albums Kid A and Amnesiac synced up for a modern soundtrack twist. Tickets are $10.

Beetlejuice Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Sunday, October 6, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 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 pays homage to the ghost with the most from the Tim Burton classic, Beetlejuice. 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, October 6, 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–Witches in the Grimms’ Fairy Tales

What: Educational
When: Monday, September 30, 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, explore witches from the Grimm’s Fairy Tales and their versatility in folklore, including from “Rapunzel,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Three Spinners,” and more. 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, September 30, 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!

The Great When with Alan Moore and Benjamin Percy

What: Books, Comics
When: Tuesday, October 1, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

New York Times bestselling author and comics legend Alan Moore will be discussing his latest novel, The Great When, with Benjamin Percy. The book is the first in a new series with a story of “murder, magic, and madness” that starts when a mysterious book, from an alternate magical London that exists removed from time and space, finds its way into post-WWII London. Moore’s previous works include Watchmen, V for Vendetta, From Hell, and Batman: The Killing Joke. Benjamin Percy is the author of the novel Sky Vault and has had celebrated writing runs on comics including Wolverine, Ghost Rider, X-Force, and Teen Titans. This event is free and hosted by the Wisconsin Book Festival in partnership with the Madison Public Library Foundation.

Club Book: Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

What: Books
When: Tuesday, October 1, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual

Join author Karla Cornejo Villavicencio for a discussion of her fictional novel, Catalina, which follows a young undocumented student as she is accepted into Harvard and navigates the academic and social complexities at a prestige school. Villavicencio’s previous writings include the viral essay “DREAM Act: I’m an Illegal Immigrant at Harvard” and the nonfiction book The Undocumented Americans that profiled both her own experiences and those of undocumented Americans across the country. This free event is hosted by Club Book and the Hennepin County Library.

Free Virtual Yoga at Union Depot

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Tuesday, October 1, 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, October 2, 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, October 2, 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, October 2, 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.

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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!