Food, sports and comedy fill upcoming weekend

With the Tommie-Johnnie game looming on the horizon, many students are readying face paint, SJU taunts and party buses. Undoubtedly, this year’s matchup won’t be lacking excitement or entertainment, but St. Thomas football isn’t for everyone.

Not traveling to Collegeville, Minn., on Saturday or just looking for ways to sideline the game day anticipation? Check out these upcoming weekend activities.

Thursday: Local foods market, 11:30 a.m. in Lower Quad

In case last week’s Taste of Saints festival didn’t bring enough cuisine to campus, STAR and USG will host a local foods “market” Thursday in the Lower Quad. The two student groups have invited a number of local businesses to come together and share their offerings with students.

Each promoting locally sourced foods, restaurants and stores like Trotter’s Café, Mississippi Market and the Seward Co-Op Grocery & Deli will be present, passing out menus and coupons in addition to a guide titled “Eat Local, St. Thomas!”

The free “market,” which starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until 1:15 p.m., aims to change diets and provide information about getting involved with local foods on campus.

Friday: Comedy Sportz, 8 p.m. in BEC Auditorium

<p>Comedysportz/Muybueno.net</p>
Comedysportz/Muybueno.net

South Campus isn’t known for its sense of humor, but all the math, science and music majors, along with the rest of the student body, will get their chance to see some comedy in action this weekend.

The St. Kate’s Theater Department and St. Thomas is to host two rounds of ComedySportz’s university league. ComedySportz is an improvisational show that features two teams squaring off and a referee who monitors the competition while taking audience suggestions.

This weekend, students from both sponsoring schools will fill out the two teams. The first show is at 8 p.m. in the BEC auditorium, and another performance will be held at the same time Saturday in the OEC auditorium. Students get in free with their IDs.

Saturday: Mac-Tommie cup, 2:30 p.m. in O’Shaughnessy Stadium

Bringing some alternative athletic action to the gridiron Saturday, the UST Ultimate Frisbee Club will host the biannual Mac-Tommie cup in O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

The event, which goes from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., features three games between St. Thomas’ and Macalester’s ultimate Frisbee teams. The men’s B-teams will play first, followed by the women’s teams and finally the men’s A-teams.

St. Thomas won the first Mac-Tommie cup in 2001. Last spring, the men’s team, Purple Reign, traveled down Grand Avenue and swept Macalester on the road, taking the cup and the title for another season. All students are welcome to watch the teams’ battle this weekend for free.

Grant Goerke can be reached at gdgoerke@stthomas.edu