This Week in Geek (11/18/2024–11/24/2024)

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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, November 18, to Sunday, November 24.

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

A Christmas Carol

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, December 29; various times
Where: Guthrie Theater

The classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol is back at the Guthrie Theater with their fun adaptation that debuted in 2021. This production stays true to the familiar story of Scrooge and his visits with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future, while bringing a fresh perspective and injecting humor from the Dickens original. This year the Guthrie is also celebrating 50 years of this holiday stage tradition with special festivities. Tickets are $29–139. (Read our 2021 review of A Christmas Carol.)

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

What: Theater & Comedy, Family
When: Now, through Saturday, January 5
Where: Children’s Theatre Company

Dr. Seuss’s classic Christmas tale about the holiday-hating Grinch comes to life on stage at the Children’s Theatre. This is CTC’s 12th production of the show, but our reviewer reports that this performance stays fresh with a new director and impressive visual design. Tickets are $15 to $98. Select performances include preshow adventures led by the theater’s teaching artists. (Read our 2024 review of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.)

Gingerbread Wonderland

What: Arts, Community
When: Tuesday, November 19, through Saturday, January 5
Where: Norway House

The 10th annual Gingerbread Wonderland is a gallery collection featuring cookie recreations of famous locations in Minnesota, fairytales, and beyond by local bakers of all ages and skill levels. Tickets are $15; kids 5 and under are free.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Virtual Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, November 19, 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 November exploring The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight by Andrew Leland. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor. Check the event page for additional dates throughout the month and future book selections.

Julie Kim

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, November 20, through Saturday, November 23; various times
Where: Acme Comedy Company

Comedian and award-winning writer and producer Julie Kim is bringing her standup show to Minneapolis for a four-night stint at the Acme Comedy Company. She’s previously performed on tour with Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, Crazy Rich Asians) and at multiple festivals across Canada. Kim has also worked on the writing teams for Kim’s Convenience, Run the Burbs, Still Standing, and Simu Liu’s viral Juno Awards monologue. Tickets are $20 to $25 for the show or $35 to $40 for the dinner and a show package.

Comedy Night at the Mudd Room

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, November 20, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Mudd Room

Enjoy a night of laughs every week at the Mudd Room’s local comedy showcase. This week features Ateh Akinde. This event is 21+ and cover charge is $10, which gets added to your bill. There are no seat reservations or advanced ticketing, so be sure to get there early to grab a prime spot and some tasty bites.

Twin Cities Playtest

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, November 20, 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.

GothiCoffee

What: Meetup
When: Wednesday, November 20, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Hard Times Cafe

The Twin Cities Elysium Society hosts a casual meetup on the third Wednesday of each month. This group is a “community and a resource for all manner of goth, not-goth, darksider, freak, punk, metal, steam, cyber, rivet, Victorian, romantic, grufti, espeluznante, emo, otaku, morbidly inclined, dark creative, what-have-you (you know who you are).”

Pundamonium: The Minneapolis Pun Slam

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, November 20, 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.

GLOW Holiday Festival 2024

What: Family, Arts
When: Thursday, November 21, through Sunday, January 1
Where: CHS Field

Enjoy a fun holiday experience at CHS Field, home of the St. Paul Saints. GLOW is a holiday spectacle featuring over a million holiday lights, illuminated trees, playful activities, and art installations. Tickets are $12.75 for children, and $21.75 for adults.

MCAD 27th Annual Art Sale

What: Arts
When: Thursday, November 21, through Saturday, November 23
Where: Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Held every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, the annual Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Art Sale “is your chance to buy one-of-a-kind art created by students and recent graduates at unbeatable prices.” Tickets to opening night on Thursday cost $175; tickets to the second day of the sale on Friday cost $30; and the final day of the sale on Saturday is free.

Winter Lights 2024

What: Community, Arts
When: Thursday, November 21, through Sunday, January 5
Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)

Take a stroll through the illuminated gardens at the Arboretum. These outdoor light displays highlight the beauty of nature, including flowers, trees, a giant tribute apple, and a weeping willow. Other activities include a color-changing tunnel, live music on select nights, and marshmallow roasting in the S’mores Village. Check out the event page for more information on hours, performers, and theme nights. Tickets are $30 with discounts available for members and indigenous peoples; kids 15 and under are free on non-themed nights with a ticketed adult.

Walker Art Center’s Art Club

What: Arts
When: Thursday, November 21, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Walker Art Center

Get creative at the Walker Art Center’s weekly Art Club during the museum’s free Thursday nights. Explore different mediums and ideas through themed activities designed to be accessible for all ages and levels of experience. Materials are free while supplies last. This week’s theme is “Found Footage & Cameraless Filmmaking with Rhayne Vermette,” which features a workshop in conjunction with the This Must Be the Place: Inside the Walker’s Collection exhibition.

Tinkering After Dark: Robot Date Night

What: Science & Tech, Nightlife
When: Thursday, November 21, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: La Doña Cervecería Brewery

Inject a little science into your date night with the Bakken Museum. Work together to create and customize a small robot pet while enjoying the delicious offerings from La Doña Cervecería Brewery. All materials are provided and Bakken staff will be on-hand to help with robot-building questions and advice. Tickets are $40 per person, with a discount available for museum members.

Game Night: Pegasus Spiele

What: Gaming
When: Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Germanic-American Institute

Join the Germanic-American Institute for a game night with publisher Pegasus Spiele. The award-winning publisher recently set up their North American headquarters in Eagan and will be stopping by GAI with some of their games, including Dorfromantik: Sakura, Intarsia, and Bomb Busters. There will be dedicated tables for both English and German, so this is a great opportunity to practice those German language skills with others in a fun setting. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, which includes a beverage and light bar snacks.

Sun Dogs: Filmmaker and Composer Pairings with Alarm Will Sound

What: Music, Movies
When: Thursday, November 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Northrop

Sun Dogs is an ongoing series from Liquid Music that fosters collaborations between composers and filmmakers to explore how music and visuals can tell stories on equal footing through short-format films and new music with a live orchestra. This event features the musical group Alarm Will Sound; composers Devonté Hynes, Arooj Aftab, Daniel Wohl, and Rafiq Bhatia; and filmmakers Apichatpong Weerasathakul, Josephine Decker, Mati Diop, and Manon Lutanie. Check out the event page for the full program details. Tickets are $30-50.

Dragon Ball Daima North America Tour

What: Movies, Gaming, Family
When: Friday, November 22, through Sunday, November 24
Where: Mall of America

The first stop of the Dragon Ball Daima North American Tour is at the Mall of America! The weekend will feature giveaways, interactive exhibits, character meet and greets, merchandise, game demos, and more.

North Star Roller Derby Season 19 Bout 1: Poultrygeist

What: Sports & Fitness, Community
When: Friday, November 22, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Quincy Hall

Come on down for a roller derby extravaganza at North Star’s new venue! This bout’s theme is “poultrygeist.” In addition to the roller derby action, enjoy halftime entertainment and adult beverages in the beer garden. Tickets are $20, and there are discounted youth tickets available.

Counterspell Minneapolis 2024

What: Science & Tech, Gaming
When: Saturday, November 23, at 8:00 a.m.
Where: Twin Cities Maker

Counterspell is a free beginner-friendly game jam for high schoolers hosted by the nonprofit Twin Cities Maker. The 12 hour event will include workshops, meals, on-site mentors, and open time to create with a team. Artists, coders, and musicians of all experience levels are welcome. Space is limited and registration is required.

Red Balloon Bookshop’s 40th Anniversary Bash

What: Books, Community
When: Saturday, November 23, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Red Balloon Bookshop

Red Balloon Bookshop is celebrating 40 years with an all-day party! Activities include a storytime dance party, costume parade, face painting, live music from Joe Mailander of the Okee Dokee Brothers, a toast with the bookshop’s owner, and a poster reveal. There will also be a 15% discount on all purchases over $40, and special giveaways for those who donate to the Red Balloon Connects fund. Check the event listing for additional events in the week leading up to the bash.

Twin Cities Board Game Marathon

What: Gaming
When: Saturday, November 23, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: 2D Con HQ

Join the 2D Con community for an all-day gaming marathon. Bring your favorite games along to share or try something new from 2D Con’s gaming library. Tickets are $5.

Wicked Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Saturday, November 23, at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:00 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 defies gravity with a tribute to the Broadway hit (and now motion picture) Wicked, featuring songs from the musical along with a few favoritess from The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz. Tickets are $18, and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

Umbrella Academy Exhibition Grand Opening

What: Movies
When: Saturday, November 23, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Enchanted Fantasy Film Museum (Maplewood Mall)

Celebrate the grand opening of Enchanted Fantasy Film Museum’s new exhibition space and new Umbrella Academy exhibit! The new space will host rotating exhibits with its inaugural offering themed on the Netflix adaptation. The Umbrella Academy exhibit will feature props and 17 costumes from all four seasons of the show. Tickets are $25 with discounts available to seniors, kids, and low-income households.

Turkey Talk

What: Educational, Family
When: Sunday, November 24, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Learn all about turkeys and their comeback in Minnesota. Keep your eyes out and you might even spot some of the turkeys that frequent Fort Snelling State Park. This is a free, family-friendly event. Check out the event calendar on the Department of Natural Resources website for more outdoor events in state parks throughout Minnesota.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, November 24, 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, November 18, 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, November 19, 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.

Punk Fashion in Film: From Counterculture to Pop Culture

What: Educational, Movies
When: Tuesday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

Learn about the history of punk fashion from its beginnings in rebellious subcultures to its appearance in blockbuster films and influence on modern mainstream culture. This talk will be led by fashion historian and costume designer Jolene Marie Richardson and will touch on Vivienne Westwood’s London Underground, punk symbols, “lace language,” DIY styling, and films that reflected the punk spirit including Rock n’ Roll High School, Valley Girl, and SLC Punk. Tickets are $12.

Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Wednesday, November 20, 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, November 20, 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, November 20, 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.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series—The Sistine Chapel: A Ceiling that Changed the Course of Art

What: Educational
When: Friday, November 22, at 2:00 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 the frescoes adorning the Sistine Chapel, their evolution from earlier works on the walls to later works on the ceiling, and how Michelangelo’s contributions impacted the course of art in the Western world. General-admission tickets are $25. Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.

Zoom Discussion of Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Törzs

What: Books
When: Saturday, November 23, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Rivendell Discussion Group of the Mythopoeic Society is hosting an online discussion of Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Törzs, which follows two estranged sisters as they are reunited to guard their family’s magic book collection and unravel a dark secret at its core.

Virtual Screening and Live Reading: Tales of the TARDIS: “The Time Meddler”

What: Movies
When: Saturday, November 23, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

In celebration of the 61st anniversary of Doctor Who, the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup Group is hosting a free virtual screening of “The Time Meddler.” This screening will also include the Tales of the TARDIS wraparound sequence released by the BBC last year featuring Peter Purves and Maureen O’Brien. After the screening, there will be a live reading of the essay “One Is the Loneliest Number” by the author, which is about “The Time Meddler” and was featured in the book Outside in Regenerates.

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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!