From 'Office' trivia to 'professionally sexy' pole show, 5 things to do this weekend

Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune
·3 min read

A Columbia weekend, especially the first Columbia weekend after school starts, offers all manner of things to do.

If you still have some energy left after 5 p.m. Friday, here are our five best bets for under-the-radar fun before Monday comes.

Friday: 'The Office' Trivia Night at Fretboard Coffee

John Krasinski (from left), Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Steve Carell in "The Office."
John Krasinski (from left), Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Steve Carell in "The Office."

If you think Scranton, Pennsylvania, is dope and pretty, spend your Friday night recalling how the Dunder Mifflin crew lived it up in the Electric City.

Sign-ups for this trivia night dedicated to the iconic NBC sitcom (2005-2013) start around 6 p.m., and Fretboard promises to pour its signature coffee drinks — better than anything you'd get at Dwight's Caffeine Corner — and a variety of frosty Logboat Brewing Co. beers till around 9.

Find the event page over at https://www.facebook.com/FretboardCoffee.

Friday and Saturday: Vertical Desires at The Blue Note

Billed as "the largest professionally choreographed pole show in the Midwest," Vertical Desires offers two chances to see performers from Columbia and across the country perform "professionally sexy" routines in "a concert dance setting." The show, blending athleticism, artistry and allure, is more than seven years running.

Doors open at 7:30 each night, and tickets range from $15-$50. Must be 18 or older. Visit https://thebluenote.com/ for more details.

Saturday: Celebrate five years of Skylark Bookshop

Puppies interact with yoga instructor Sarah Judd during a puppy yoga session with Sarah’s Yoga Studio on Feb. 18, 2023 at Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, Mo.
Puppies interact with yoga instructor Sarah Judd during a puppy yoga session with Sarah’s Yoga Studio on Feb. 18, 2023 at Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, Mo.

Bookshop birthday parties have been a popular occurrence on the south side of Ninth Street this summer. First, Yellow Dog turned 10 — now, Skylark turns five.

Skylark is a boon to local literary lovers, hosting a wide variety of in-person and online author events; story times and yoga sessions with everyone from first responders to drag queens and even puppies; and truly personal reading recommendations. The store has garnered various honors, from inclusion in the book "150 Bookstores You Need to Visit Before You Die" to Midwest Bookseller of the Year honors for Alex George.

Skylark and friends will party down with a raffle, new T-shirt reveal, a buy-one-book, get-a-gift-book-free offer and much more. Visit their website, https://www.skylarkbookshop.com/, for more details about all the goodies.

Saturday: Kaleidospoke at Flat Branch Park

Just in time for relatively cooler weather comes this annual bicycle glow-up. The approximately 8-mile ride takes cyclists from Flat Branch Park down the MKT Trail to Twin Lakes Recreation Area and back, over illuminated bridges, and into a delightful party with s'mores, entertainment and more.

Helmets and front and rear lights are required; more creative lighting is encouraged. Registration is $18 and needs to be completed by 10 a.m. Friday. Find the event page on Facebook or call (573) 874-7460.

Sunday: Sunny Sundays at Cafe Berlin

Part of an expanded evening slate at Cafe Berlin, this promises to be a good hang: spinning vinyl, happy-hour offerings, board games and more. The fun should last from around 5 to 7 p.m. Find the event page over at https://www.facebook.com/cafeberlincomo.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: From 'Office' trivia to 'sexy' pole show, 5 things to do this weekend