This Week in Geek (1/5/2026–1/11/2026)

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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, January 5, to Sunday, January 11.

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

Gingerbread Wonderland

What: Arts, Community
When: Now through Thursday, January 8
Where: Norway House

Norway House’s annual Gingerbread Wonderland is a gallery collection featuring cookie recreations of famous locations in Minnesota, fairy tales, and more by local bakers of all ages and skill levels. Tickets are $5–10; kids 5 and under are free.

Free Yoga at Union Depot

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Monday, January 5, and Wednesday, January 7, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Union Depot

Get your yoga mat and water ready for a free yoga class at the beautiful Union Depot in St. Paul. This event is taught by Studio 9-to-5 in the Depot’s Waiting Room or in the East Plaza when the weather is nice. Monday’s class focuses on a total-body sculpt workout, while Wednesday’s class is less-intense general yoga for all levels. See the event page on the Union Depot website for more information.

Musical Settings for Shakespeare 

What: Music, Theater & Comedy
When: Monday, January 5, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: The White Squirrel Bar

What would Shakespeare sound like set to music? Music was originally an important part of Shakespeare’s works, but much of it has been lost. This event will speculate on how a variety of musical styles could be applied to Shakespeare.

Drag Queen Charity Bingo

What: Gaming, Community
When: Tuesday, January 6, and Thursday, January 8, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Roxy’s Cabaret

Support local charities while playing bingo hosted by fabulous drag queens. Event is free. Food & drink available for purchase.

Dragon Paint Party

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, January 7, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: 3rd Dimension Prints & Promotional Products, New Brighton

Choose one of two dragons just waiting to be painted. Models, paints and snacks provided. Sign up in advance to ensure your spot and choose your model.

Coffee Chat: Military Intelligence Service Language School

What: Educational
When: Thursday, January 8, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Fort Snelling

Coffee Chat is an informal discussion series hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society that explores different aspects of Fort Snelling’s history while enjoying a nice cup of coffee. This event will delve into the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) that started at Camp Savage in Minnesota and moved to Fort Snelling in 1944. The school trained individuals of Japanese ancestry to be Japanese linguists to aid the war effort. Coffee Chats are included with regular site admission of $0–12; see website for more information, including a second offering on Saturday.

Walker Art Club: Maggie Thompson

What: Arts
When: Thursday, January 8, 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 features Maggie Thompson (Ojibwe), founder of Makwa Studio, who will help visitors use unconventional materials to create a textile-based project.

Ice Sculpture Opening Party

What: Arts
When: Thursday, January 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

The Mia courtyard debuts ice sculptures inspired by some of Mia’s resident works of art. The opening party will include an ice bar, a live demonstration of how the ice sculptures are created, Nordic music by the Minnesota Orchestra, and some hygge activities, too. Be sure to check out the exhibition “Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway.” Ice sculptures will continue to be available for viewing until they melt.

Cellular Cinema: An Experimental Film Showcase

What: Movies
When: Thursday, January 8, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant Lake Bowl

Cellular Cinema show cases films not often found in traditional theaters, particularly those that are strange, risky or difficult to categorize. Tickets are $10. Full restaurant and bar service available to order from your theater seat.

Bad Choices: A Stand Up Comedy Special about Life’s Fucc Ups!

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Thursday, January 8, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: LITT Pinball Bar

Enjoy some stand up comedy taking a humorous look at things that often make us cry, our more questionable life choices. Tera Kilbride is “an aging hipster living abroad” who will offer some insight into her own Bad Choices. Reserve tickets in advance and pay after the show.

Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Festival

What: Arts
When: Friday, January 9, through Sunday, January 11
Where: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Get your next nerdy ink at the 16th annual Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Festival. Artists will be tattooing, as well as selling art, shirts, and more. Throughout the weekend there will also be tattoo competitions and live performances. Special guests include Tyesha Reels, Alexandra Fische, Mutated Sushi, and many more. Walk-in tattoos are typically available, but attendees are highly encouraged to book ahead of time if they are hoping for a tattoo from a specific artist. Check out the website for the full schedule and artist information. Tickets are $50 for a three-day pass or $25 per day; kids aged 12 and under get in for free.

Tabletop Gaming

What: Gaming
When: Friday, January 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Buffalo Area Community Center

The second Friday of every month, join the Wright County Geeks for fun tabletop games. Games are provided or you are welcome to bring your own, too.

INTERNET KIDS – Hyperpop Dance Party

What: Nightlife
When: Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: 7th Street Entry

Dance the night away with music for Dorks and Weebs, featuring a variety of internet culture subgenres including Hyperpop, Nightcore, Vocaloid, Kawaii Future Bass, and much more. Each night features a different line up of artists as well as digital and live visuals. Event is for 18+. Tickets are $20.59.

Free Admission Day: Minnesota History Center

What: Educational, Family
When: Saturday, January 10
Where: Minnesota History Center and various locations around the state

Learn about our state’s history during one of Minnesota Historical Society’s quarterly free admission days. Select museums and historic sites across the state will waive their fees for the day, including Minnesota History Center, Mill City Museum, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Split Rock Lighthouse, and more. Note that regular tours and programming may not be available, but that some sites have special programming for the day. Check out the website for a full list of participating locations and additional details.

So Cold Book Reading and Science Experiment Day

What: Books, Science & Tech, Family
When: Saturday, January 10, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River

Award-winning Minneapolis author John Coy will read from his new book So Cold, that follows the adventures of a father and son experimenting with the effect of cold on various things, including boiling water, maple syrup, a helium balloon and more. Demos of these experiments will also be presented.

Latin Americans in STEM Day

What: Science & Tech, Educational, Community
When: Saturday, January 10, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Science Museum of Minnesota

The Science Museum of Minnesota is celebrating diversity and creativity in STEM through the Celebration Days event series, which highlights the careers and contributions of women and BIPOC STEM professionals. Each event is included with regular museum admission and will feature demonstrations, hands-on activities, performances, and presentations. This installment celebrates Latin Americans in STEM with event partners and performers Colomba Live, Salsa Del Sol, Juneteenth Speaks, North High School LatinX Club, and more.

Reading Nature’s Signs

What: Educational, Family
When: Saturday, January 10, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Learn which animals have been around lately by reading the clues they leave behind. This event has three parts. The first 30 minutes is an indoor, drop-in program geared to a younger audience. The next 30 minutes is a PowerPoint presentation on how to find and identify nature’s signs. This is followed by a one-hour hike to see what signs can be found. No registration required.

Game Play Saturdays

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Saturday, January 10, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: 3rd Dimension Prints & Promotional Products

A weekly meetup to play games together. Each month will have a theme, although you are always welcome to bring your own games, too. This month’s theme is cribbage.

DIY Book Bedazzling

What: Arts, Books
When: Saturday, January 10, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Arts Creative, Bloomington

Bring a book for some hands-on guidance on how to transform it into a sparkling masterpiece. Snacks and drinks provided. Tickets are $45.

Fargo + Hotdish Potluck

What: Movies
When: Saturday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Eagles Club – Fraternal Order of the Eagle’s Aerie 33, St. Paul

A special screening of the Cohen Brothers’ cult classic Fargo is accompanied by a very Minnesotan hotdish potluck. Admission is $10 OR bring a hotdish to share. Audience will get to vote on best hotdish in Meat, Vegetarian, and Vegan categories.

Hamilton Sing-Along Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Sunday, January 11, at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Where: Crave Rooftop

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week, enjoy the many catchy tunes from the Broadway musical Hamilton. Costumes and singing along are highly encouraged. Tickets are $20.28, and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

Family Day: Around the World

What: Arts, Family
When: Sunday, January 11, 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 is “Around the World,” inspired by the extensive collection of art spanning six continents and 5000 years of world history.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, January 11, 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

The (Not-So) Young Adult Book Club

What: Books
When: Monday, January 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual event

Adults can embrace their love of young-adult literature at this book club hosted on the first Monday of every month by Red Balloon Bookshop. Members choose the monthly book, receive discounts, and have opportunities to read Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs). Anyone interested in joining should head over to the event page for more information, including how to sign up.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, January 5, 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!

Virtual Makers Mornings

What: Community, Arts
When: Tuesday, January 6, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join fellow makers at this morning social hour hosted by the American Swedish Institute. This free event is open to all kind of crafts and is intended as a place to share projects, make some progress, and socialize. Registration is required.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, January 7, 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. Join the server by visiting twincitiesgeek.com/discord.

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs

What: Movies
When: Wednesday, January 7, 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.

The Art, Joy, and Importance of Observing Insects

What: Educational
When: Thursday, January 8, 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 insects, which represent about 80% of all animal species, but are not often observed. Eric R. Eaton, author of Bugwatching: The Art, Joy and Importance of Observing Insects, will share tools for watching insects using all five senses, tips on where to find insects to observe and how to bring desirable insects into your own yard. 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, including fascinating topics like The Future of Seeing: How Imaging is Changing our World (Tues eve) and How to Change a Memory (Wed eve).

Crafty Geek

What: Community, Arts
When: Thursday, January 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Google Meet

Let your creativity shine with drawing, painting, crafting, or whatever your heart desires at Creative Night, a weekly event put on by the Geek Partnership Society. This is a free event and a great opportunity to work on projects in great company.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Saturday, January 10, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

The popular Transmission dance night is hosting a virtual-music video stream every Friday. DJ Jake Rudh will be bringing New Wave, Alternative, and more ’80s-centric greats directly to your home. So, dance, dance, dance to the radio (or, in this case, Twitch stream).

Virtual Dungeons and Dragons for Teens

What: Gaming
When: Sunday, January 11, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom and Roll20

Online D&D for grades 6–12. All experience levels welcome. Registration required.

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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!