🧠 Science Through the Decades Trivia

This New Year’s Eve, time is what you make of it. ✨
Join us at Tardigrade’s Bookshelf for a cozy celebration built for the curious, the nerdy, the introverted, and the science-loving.

🔬 Trivia rounds spanning discoveries from the '50s to today. WINNER PRIZES!

🥂 Toast whenever you want—because time is relevant
✨ Toast with whatever you want—because some of us want to remember New Year’s Eve

If you’re having with us to reflect on the past year, connect, or just sip something clever, we’re making space for you.

📖 Sober-friendly | ADA accessible | Sci-curious encouraged

One Night Only: Jazz + Bourbon (or Hot Chocolate!)

This cozy Tuesday, we’re turning the bookbar into a jazz lounge with a local trio and expert-selected bourbons available for one night only.

Two ticket options:
Bourbon Ticket — $18
Includes one pour from our lineup of three featured bourbons.
NA Ticket — $8

Includes a mug of our house-made hot chocolate—crafted with actual care and zero powdered sadness.

At the door: $20 bourbon / $10 NA

Whether you’re here for jazz, bourbon, cocoa, or just escaping sports bars yelling at TVs, we’ve got a seat for you.

If your soul needs a little seasonal defrosting, swing by the bookbar on Tuesday, December 30, 5–7 PM, where our local musician and songbird Tami Johnson will be gracing us with Christmas favorites — and yes, you are absolutely encouraged to sing along. That’s what this is, people. (We believe in you. Probably.)

Got a beloved holiday song of your own? Bring it, request it, belt it, whisper it — we’re here for all forms of festive expression.

See you there, merry makers. ✨

3rd Wednesday of each Month

Head over to our neighbors at The Velvet Fox for some holiday cheer — then come decompress at the bookbar when you’re done! ✨🦊📚

They’ll get you in the festive spirit; we’ll keep you cozy, caffeinated, and delightfully unbothered by holiday chaos.
Swing by, sip something good, browse a book or three, and make an evening of it. 🎄☕📖

Tardigrade Members:
Hit up WARM WISHES: A Holiday Makers Fair & Gift Drive → Come to the bookbar → Get a free glass of wine.
Holiday cheer = achieved. 🍷🎄📚

Not a member yet? Want the nerd perks?
Please, join us 👇

🍹 Guest Bartender Night with PJ Fiala
📅 Thursday, December 12 | 4–6 PM

Local author PJ Fiala is trading pen for pint glass and stepping behind the bar at Tardigrade’s! Will she dazzle us with mixology magic… or just pour a very enthusiastic whiskey neat? Either way, it’s bound to be a good time.

✨ Come for:

• PJ’s signature storytelling charm (and pouring skills)

• The usual Tardigrade’s warmth, wit, and weirdness

• A night where “plot twist” might happen in your glass

Join us, cheer her on, and let’s see what happens when a romance author gets behind the bar.

Fantasy Bookclub | Every Second Wednesday of the Month

Grab your cloak and your beverage of choice—we’re venturing past the Shire. In partnership with Arkana Books, the keepers of the fantasy collection right here at Tardigrade’s, this club explores worlds filled with dragons, daggers, and deliciously complicated moral choices. Expect lively discussion, minimal gatekeeping, and just enough magic to make Wednesday night feel epic.

January’s Pick:

Every 2nd Tuesday @ 5pm

Love ridiculous movies? Love watching them with equally ridiculous company? We stole this idea fair and square from old VFW event nights—turn off the music, throw a delightfully questionable film on the bookbar TV, and let the chaos unfold. Think Mystery Science Theater 3000, minus the robots (for now). Sometimes we even pretend to be organized and announce the film ahead of time. Either way, it’s fabulously dumb, and you’re invited.

Have a ridiculous movie suggestion we could stream or pop into the DVD player? Leave it in the comments—we’ll see if we can track it down.

1st Sunday of every month

Lab Day: Because Someone Has to Drink the Weird Shit First
Join us as we test bold flavors and unexpected creations for future bookbar menus. Your $15 ticket includes multiple rounds of experimental mocktails and coffee drinks—some might be genius, some might be... learning opportunities. Either way, you’ll sip, savor, and help us shape the madness.

Seating is limited, so grab your ticket early! If there’s space left, tickets will be available at the door.

Holiday Movie Trivia at Tardigrade’s Bookshelf

Join us for a cozy, low-stakes night of holiday movie trivia at the bookbar—aka, the place you go when you want cheer and conversation without a TV blaring a game in the background.

We’ll be tossing out questions from all the classics and not-so-classics: think Elf, Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol, rom-coms, weird ’80s specials, and the eternal “Is it a Christmas movie?” debates.

• Cost: Free

• Vibe: Casual, drop-in friendly, teams or solo

• Difficulty: Somewhere between “I watch this every year” and “I have strong opinions about minor characters.”

• Prize: Winner gets one free drink. If you’re on a team…you gotta split it, pals. Choose wisely.

Come grab a drink, team up with some fellow movie nerds, and show off how much perfectly good brain space is occupied by holiday film quotes. No sports bar energy, just cozy chaos, good company, and maybe a little friendly smack talk.

This Might Hurt (But Maybe Not): How Your Brain Decides What Pain Is

Sociology Bookclub | Every Fourth Wednesday of the Month

Our Sociology Book Club delves into the social and historical forces that shape how we live, work, and connect—with each other and the world around us. We read a mix of fiction and nonfiction that explores themes like identity, inequality, institutions, culture, politics, and change. From contemporary novels to groundbreaking research and historical accounts, each book sparks meaningful conversation and fresh perspectives. We strive to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and constructive dialogue in a welcoming, thoughtful space.

Join songwriter Tami Johnson for an inspiring workshop on lyric writing. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting to explore songwriting, this is a welcoming space to play, listen, write, and celebrate local creativity.

Bring your instrument (if you have one) and any ideas or lyrics you’re working on. Together, we’ll share original music, exchange feedback, and spend some time crafting our own songs.

Leave feeling inspired, connected, and ready to write your next lyric!

3rd Wednesday of each Month

1st Sunday of every month

Heads up: Lab Day in November is unable to the on the first Sunday, it is rescheduled to November 16th.

Lab Day: Because Someone Has to Drink the Weird Shit First
Join us as we test bold flavors and unexpected creations for future bookbar menus. Your $15 ticket includes multiple rounds of experimental mocktails and coffee drinks—some might be genius, some might be... learning opportunities. Either way, you’ll sip, savor, and help us shape the madness.

Seating is limited, so grab your ticket early! If there’s space left, tickets will be available at the door.

Come for the grown-up book fair vibes, stay for the snacks, crafts, drinks, and cozy conversations. We're partnering with Tardigrade's Bookshelf and Pages & Plots to bring the ultimate afternoon […] Tickets | $5