Symphonic Tastings: Symphony & Rock
Join Tardigrade’s, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Heid Music for Symphonic Tastings—an easygoing, interactive series that uncovers the secrets of the orchestra and connects classical music to the music you already know and love.
POSTPONED | Raising the Meat
Never been to a meat raffle? Don’t worry, we’ll teach you the highly sophisticated art of yelling excitedly while hoping someone hands you a package of meat.
Buy your chances for each round, we draw three winners, prizes are claimed, and then we do it all over again. Take your chances with our Spin-to-Win Wheel for even more opportunities to walk away with something good.
Drop-In Drawing
We’re making art a little more accessible around here. No sign-ups required. No pressure or angst . . . just a table, some pencils, and a real, working artist (and tattooist) ready to help you get started or keep working on your current project.
Join us for drop-in drawing sessions with Jared Weber, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, learn techniques, or just quietly make something with support.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
4–7pm
$10 per session
Ages 14+
Foxy Writers Club
3rd Tuesday of each month 5-7pm
Find more information on the Foxy Writer’s Club:
Appleton Pickle Club
3rd Wednesday of each Month
Looking for a place where bold ideas, weird questions, and progressive minds can actually meet each other off the algorithm?
Same. So we’re reviving something delightfully odd and historically scrappy.
Garlic Bread For The Girls, Gays, And Theys
Come get absolutely feral over garlic bread with us Wednesday, October 21st at 6:30 PM.
For $20, you’ll get:
Your very own garlic butter candle
A loaf of bread for dipping, dunking, tearing apart & sharing
Each garlic butter candle + bread serves 2–4 people, depending on how garlic-bread-hungry you are. And we are making no judgments about whether you share.
There will be a bottle of wine on special to help you from becoming parched.
Bring your girls. Bring your gays. Bring your theys. Bring the person you know will absolutely love a candle made of butter.
Wednesday, October 21 • 6:30 PM • $20
Come light the butter. Eat the bread. Live your best little garlic-gremlin life.
Horror Bookclub
Join us each month as we dive into stories that don’t just haunt but downright terrify—from spine-chilling thrillers to ghastly ghost stories and everything dark in between. This isn’t for the easily disturbed or anyone looking for a light read. Expect gory discussions and grab a nightcap at the bar to keep the chills at bay.
Karaoke Night!
Every fourth Friday in our events hall, hosted by the always charismatic, always charming, Dylan.
Come for the friends singing, stay for the cozy seating and delicious drinks.
Dark Arts: Carnival Confessionals
For nearly two decades, Mandie Savage and Lego My Mego of Dark Arts Circus have been bringing bold, alternative entertainment to the Fox Valley and beyond. In Carnival Confessionals, they strip the circus down for a rare, two-person, up-close experience.
This intimate evening weaves classic sideshow feats, absurd tomfoolery, and raw, hilarious, and sometimes sweet stories gathered from years of adventures on and off stage. Carnival Confessionals has it all: moments of awe, bursts of laughter, and behind-the-curtain confessions you won’t find under the big top!
Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm
Door $15
Table Add On $5
Chords & Coffee
Chords & Coffee is a relaxed pop-in social hangout for local musicians to connect. Meet fellow players, talk shop, swap songs, and enjoy an easygoing music-friendly space.
No signup. No sign-in. No pressure to stay the whole time. Bring your instrument (or just come to listen). Some months include open mic moments, storytelling, or casual jamming—often it’s simply good conversation with instruments nearby.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Sociology Bookclub
Our Sociology Bookclub 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.
Bookless Bookclub
A book club with absolutely no chance of falling behind on the reading. Not that we make you finish a book either way. . .
Just show up ready to talk about whatever you're reading right now, the book that ruined all other books for you, or the one you'll recommend to anyone who makes eye contact.
Bonus weirdness: We only meet when the calendar gifts us a 5th Thursday. They're rare enough to feel special and infrequent enough that you can't complain about another monthly commitment.
A Dark History Basement Tour
This Halloween, descend into the basement of St. Dymphna’s Asylum for an immersive evening where local history, live museum exhibits, film, and storytelling come together.
A Dark History Basement Tour
This Halloween, descend into the basement of St. Dymphna’s Asylum for an immersive evening where local history, live museum exhibits, film, and storytelling come together.
Lab Day
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.
Drop-In Drawing
We’re making art a little more accessible around here. No sign-ups required. No pressure or angst . . . just a table, some pencils, and a real, working artist (and tattooist) ready to help you get started or keep working on your current project.
Join us for drop-in drawing sessions with Jared Weber, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, learn techniques, or just quietly make something with support.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
4–7pm
$10 per session
Ages 14+
Manga Bookclub
Manga Bookclub | First Friday of every Month @ 6pm
Manga Book Club will be MC’d by our resident volunteer and manga enthusiast, Chris. We’ll be hanging out, talking manga, appreciating great art, and probably arguing about characters and plot twists.
New readers, longtime fans, and the manga-curious are all welcome. Come grab a drink and nerd out with us.
LIVE MUSIC | Heather Mae
Heather Mae 🎵 and Singing Resistance Fox Cities!
Doors Open at 6:00pm | Music Starts at 7:00pm
Heather Mae isn’t just writing songs—she’s writing revolutions. A Nashville-based, award-winning artist-activist, Mae blends alt-rock grit, indie-pop hooks, and folk storytelling to create anthems of mental health, queer liberation, and radical joy. Her powerful live shows—part concert, part communal catharsis—are often described as “church without the religious trauma,” transforming any room into a space of healing and belonging.
A song-chant leader often found at the front of protests with a megaphone in hand, Mae has spent over two decades leading crowds in song as a tool for resistance—work that has evolved into her role as the lead organizer of Singing Resistance Nashville, a rapidly growing grassroots collective rooted in nonviolence and the belief that song is a doorway to resistance. Through mass sing-ins, protest actions, and leadership trainings, she transforms individual voices into collective power—building connection, courage, and sustained resistance.
In 2025, Mae released WHAT THEY HID FROM ME (alternative) and kiss & tell (pop)—a genre-defying double album created entirely by women and nonbinary collaborators. Together, these records form a bold concept project: part reckoning, part rebellion. WHAT THEY HID FROM ME is a raw, unflinching rallying cry for those reclaiming their truth—exploring themes of religious trauma, survival, and identity. kiss & tell is its glittering counterpart: a celebration of queer joy, sensuality, and the freedom of living unapologetically.
Mae’s work is a call to connection, courage, and collective power. She isn’t pointing toward the future of social justice music—she’s helping build it in real time.
If you want a sofa or a comfy chair AND guaranteed entry, we have an auction for you here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/heather-mae-cozy-seating-auction
Auction proceeds help us continue offering our event space at little or no cost to LGBTQ+ organizations, mutual aid efforts, educational programming, local artists, and other community events that make the Fox Valley a more connected, creative, and welcoming place.
You'll notice Compassionate Home Health Care as the listed organization; they are our non-profit fiscal sponsor! As a bonus, your winning bid is tax-deductible.
Appleton Seed Library | Seed Swap
Join us for seed swap! Bring seeds and take seeds to swap. Connect with other seed savers and gardeners. Learn about the Appleton Seed Library inside Tardigrades. Learn about seed saving with Kari from The Seed Guild.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Fantasy Bookclub | The Mist Of Avalon
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.
Spicy Bookclub
If you love diving into the steamiest reads around—whether you’re out and proud or a secret connoisseur—this book club is your perfect fit. Join others who revel in the genre, and brace yourself for bold, five-chili books! From historical erotica to otherworldly, devilish romance, we’re exploring it all. Not for the faint of heart—bring your sense of adventure and prepare for an unforgettable, spicy group.
Guest Bartender | Dan Davies
Dan Davies is back again behind the bar!! After he’s done pouring your beer Dan will be doing an intro to his musical, showing the movie, followed by a Q&A!
Ed Gein: The Musical . . . Broadway and true crime had a baby people. Amaze!
Crappy Cinema Club | Ed Gein The Musical
Crappy Cinema Club has evolved.
This is going to be the best movie night EVER! Dan Davie, Ed Gein the Musical creator will be here for a movie intro and Q&A following the movie! Tickets are $7 at the door.
This public screening of Ed Gein The Musical is presented with permission from Davies/Russell LLC. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, distribution, or public performance is prohibited.
Drop-In Drawing
We’re making art a little more accessible around here. No sign-ups required. No pressure or angst . . . just a table, some pencils, and a real, working artist (and tattooist) ready to help you get started or keep working on your current project.
Join us for drop-in drawing sessions with Jared Weber, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, learn techniques, or just quietly make something with support.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
4–7pm
$10 per session
Ages 14+
Foxy Writers Club
3rd Tuesday of each month 5-7pm
Find more information on the Foxy Writer’s Club:
Appleton Pickle Club
3rd Wednesday of each Month
Looking for a place where bold ideas, weird questions, and progressive minds can actually meet each other off the algorithm?
Same. So we’re reviving something delightfully odd and historically scrappy.
Symphonic Tastings: Anatomy of the Orchestra
Join Tardigrade’s, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Heid Music for Symphonic Tastings—an easygoing, interactive series that uncovers the secrets of the orchestra and connects classical music to the music you already know and love.
Trivia: Hunger Games
Welcome, tributes! The Reaping is over, and it's time to see who actually paid attention while Panem was falling apart.
Join us at Tardigrade's Bookshelf for a night of Hunger Games trivia spanning the original trilogy, prequels, books, and movies. Expect questions about districts, tributes, arenas, Capitol absurdities, rebellion, and a few deep cuts designed to separate the victors from the cannon fodder.
Event Details:
7 PM | November 21, 2026
Tardigrade's Bookshelf, Downtown Appleton
Free admission, no registration required
Play individually or as a team
Free drink for the winner
Special "prize" for the fewest correct answers
Our house rule remains in effect, even in the arena: Don't Be a Dick.
Come early to claim the best seats. Or, ensure that you not only have a spot to sit, but that it is a super comfy spot using our online auction: https://www.zeffy.com/.../hunger-games-trivia-night-cozy...
Auction proceeds help us continue offering our event space at little or no cost to LGBTQ+ organizations, mutual aid efforts, educational programming, local artists, and other community events that make the Fox Valley a more connected, creative, and welcoming place.
You'll notice Compassionate Home Health Care as the listed organization, they are our non-profit fiscal sponsor! As a bonus, your winning bid is tax-deductible.
Thanks for helping us keep cool things happening in this space!
May the odds be ever in your favor. You're going to need them
Chords & Coffee
Chords & Coffee is a relaxed pop-in social hangout for local musicians to connect. Meet fellow players, talk shop, swap songs, and enjoy an easygoing music-friendly space.
No signup. No sign-in. No pressure to stay the whole time. Bring your instrument (or just come to listen). Some months include open mic moments, storytelling, or casual jamming—often it’s simply good conversation with instruments nearby.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Karaoke Night!
Every fourth Friday in our events hall, hosted by the always charismatic, always charming, Dylan.
Come for the friends singing, stay for the cozy seating and delicious drinks.
Trivia: Bobs Burgers
Think you know your Belchers? From Bob's endless restaurant struggles and Linda's musical outbursts to Tina's awkward romances, Gene's questionable performances, and Louise's elaborate schemes, we're putting your Bob's Burgers knowledge to the test!
Expect questions about the family, their eccentric neighbors, memorable episodes, running jokes, and the wonderfully ridiculous world of Seymour's Bay.
Play solo or bring a team. Whether you're a casual fan or you've memorized every Burger of the Day, there's room at the counter for you.
Free to play — no registration required
Free drink for the winner
Special prize for the fewest correct answers
Arrive early for the best seats! Cozy seating reservations are also available through our seating auction.
And, as always, our most important house rule:
Don’t be a dick.
No reservations needed, but come early if you want to avoid balancing your drink and answer sheet on your knees.
Our cozy furniture operates under the same laws as the burger of the day: limited supply.
So, if you want a sofa or a comfy chair, we have an auction for you here: https://www.zeffy.com/.../bobs-burgers-trivia-night-cozy...
Auction proceeds help us continue offering our event space at little or no cost to LGBTQ+ organizations, mutual aid efforts, educational programming, local artists, and other community events that make the Fox Valley a more connected, creative, and welcoming place.
You'll notice Compassionate Home Health Care as the listed organization, they are our non-profit fiscal sponsor! As a bonus, your winning bid is tax-deductible.
Thanks for helping us keep cool things happening in this space!
Join us at Tardigrade's Bookshelf in Downtown Appleton for an evening of trivia, terrible puns, and Belcher-level chaos.
LIVE MUSIC | Sunday Flood
SUNDAY FLOOD with SHORT TIMER & SCARLET ESCAPE
Spend your holiday weekend celebrating reunions of 90s local punk-scene bands.
Doors 7 | Music 8
Suggested $5-10 cover
If you want a sofa or a comfy chair AND guaranteed entry, we have an auction for you here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sunday-flood-cozy-seating-auction
Auction proceeds help us continue offering our event space at little or no cost to LGBTQ+ organizations, mutual aid efforts, educational programming, local artists, and other community events that make the Fox Valley a more connected, creative, and welcoming place.
You'll notice Compassionate Home Health Care as the listed organization; they are our non-profit fiscal sponsor! As a bonus, your winning bid is tax-deductible.
SUNDAY FLOOD:
On Thanksgiving Day 1995, after plates of stuffing and meat, four teenagers in an Appleton, Wisconsin basement decided to start a rock band. They called it SUNDAY FLOOD.
Two decades of sweaty shows across the Midwest: questionable vans, late nights, lineup changes, broken gear, and a handful of records.
Now it’s 2026, and somehow—against everyone’s better judgment and collective lower‑back pain—SUNDAY FLOOD is waking back up after an 11 year slumber.
Indie Rock? Post-Hardcore? Midwest Emo? Whatever. The band has always lived in tension and release: pounding rhythms, dissonant guitars, sneaky melodies, and dynamics that swing from barely holding together to falling apart.
One more show. After that…?
Guitar/Vocals: Mike Allen
Vocals/Guitar: Eric W. Krueger
Bass/Vocals: David Kiley
Drums: Eric Laeyendecker
SHORT TIMER:
Some years ago on a cold night in a Longfellow neighborhood bar three Minneapolitans decided that they were not yet finished writing and performing music. An EP, a full length, a pandemic, another EP, and another full length later, and they are still not done.
SCARLET ESCAPE:
Hailing originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, Scarlet Escape was a four-piece outfit rooted deeply in the Fox Cities' local music community. The band carved out an authentic, high-energy presence across Northeast Wisconsin by rolling their shared yet distinct 1990s influences into a dynamic amalgamation of post-modern rock, hook-laden pop, and atmospheric shoegaze.
The lineup featured:
Joe DePaoli – Vocals, Guitar
Kevin Kosterman – Guitar, Vocals
James Wilson – Bass
Mike St Clair – Drums
Driven by layered guitars, driving rhythms, and melodic grit, Scarlet Escape regularly shared stages with fellow Fox Valley acts before slowly disbanding in and around the early 2010s, leaving behind a memorable footprint in the regional scene.
Drop-In Drawing
We’re making art a little more accessible around here. No sign-ups required. No pressure or angst . . . just a table, some pencils, and a real, working artist (and tattooist) ready to help you get started or keep working on your current project.
Join us for drop-in drawing sessions with Jared Weber, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, learn techniques, or just quietly make something with support.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
4–7pm
$10 per session
Ages 14+
Fox Valley Science Society
The early history of photography ran parallel to a revolution in our understanding of the nature of light, and some of the same individuals were important for both. Here I describe (and demonstrate) some of the earliest photographic processes, while recounting some of the history of the evolution of our understanding of light and its interaction with matter, paying particular attention to the work of the important 19th century British scientists John Herschel and Mary Somerville.
Manga Bookclub
First Friday of each month!
Manga Book Club will be MC’d by our resident volunteer and manga enthusiast, Chris. We’ll be hanging out, talking manga, appreciating great art, and probably arguing about characters and plot twists.
New readers, longtime fans, and the manga-curious are all welcome. Come grab a drink and nerd out with us.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Trivia: Taylor Swift
Calling all Swifties! It's time to put your encyclopedic knowledge of Taylor Swift to the test. From Debut to The Life of a Showgirl, we're testing your knowledge of all things Taylor Swift! Albums, lyrics, Easter eggs, iconic moments, relationships, and the lore that requires a conspiracy board and several colors of string.
If you know every lyric by heart or just have a suspicious amount of Taylor Swift knowledge through cultural osmosis, there's a question for everyone.
The Details:
7 PM | Tardigrade's Bookshelf
Free to play, individually or in teams.
Free drink for the winner!
A questionable consolation prize for the fewest correct answers.
No registration required. Arrive early for the best seats or use our cozy seat auction linked below.
House rule: Don't Be a Dick.
Bring your friends, wear your favorite era, friendship bracelets encouraged—prepare to discover whether you're a Mastermind or the Anti-Hero of your trivia team.
It's been a long time coming.
Secure your seats with our cozy seat auction: https://www.zeffy.com/.../taylor-swift-trivia-night-cozy...
Auction proceeds help us continue offering our event space at little or no cost to LGBTQ+ organizations, mutual aid efforts, educational programming, local artists, and other community events that make the Fox Valley a more connected, creative, and welcoming place.
You'll notice Compassionate Home Health Care as the listed organization, they are our non-profit fiscal sponsor! As a bonus, your winning bid is tax-deductible.
Thanks for helping us keep cool things happening in this space!
Drop-In Drawing
We’re making art a little more accessible around here. No sign-ups required. No pressure or angst . . . just a table, some pencils, and a real, working artist (and tattooist) ready to help you get started or keep working on your current project.
Join us for drop-in drawing sessions with Jared Weber, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, learn techniques, or just quietly make something with support.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
4–7pm
$10 per session
Ages 14+
Appleton Pickle Club
3rd Wednesday of each Month
Looking for a place where bold ideas, weird questions, and progressive minds can actually meet each other off the algorithm?
Same. So we’re reviving something delightfully odd and historically scrappy.
Karaoke Night!
Every fourth Friday in our events hall, hosted by the always charismatic, always charming, Dylan.
Come for the friends singing, stay for the cozy seating and delicious drinks.
Chords & Coffee
Chords & Coffee is a relaxed pop-in social hangout for local musicians to connect. Meet fellow players, talk shop, swap songs, and enjoy an easygoing music-friendly space.
No signup. No sign-in. No pressure to stay the whole time. Bring your instrument (or just come to listen). Some months include open mic moments, storytelling, or casual jamming—often it’s simply good conversation with instruments nearby.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Science Bookclub
This bookclub for science enthusiasts celebrates all things science—combining the thrill of science fiction with the rigor and wonder of science-focused non-fiction.
Each month, we’ll explore stories that ignite curiosity, challenge perceptions, and inspire awe. From gripping narratives about scientific breakthroughs to thought-provoking novels where science shapes the future, this book club is perfect for readers who love to ponder what if? and how does that work?
Whether you're a lifelong science fan, an avid reader of speculative fiction, or simply curious about the world around you, this book club offers an engaging and welcoming space to discuss ideas, exchange insights, and spark new perspectives.
Fantasy Bookclub | The Girl With A Thousand Faces
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.
Tech For Tomorrow - International E-Waste Day Market
Come browse, learn something new, grab some food, listen to music, and discover some practical ways to keep electronics out of the waste stream.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Trivia Night
Women They Would Have—or Did—Burn at the Stake
History has a long and storied tradition of looking at a woman who was too smart, too loud, too sexual, too powerful, too independent, too weird, or simply too inconvenient and saying:
Free Clothing Exchange
Build your wardrobe and your community.
This event is presented by The Queer Closet and held in the Tardigrade's Bookshelf event space.
Please note: This is an independently organized event hosted in the Tardigrade's Bookshelf event space. Tardigrade's Bookshelf is providing the venue but is not the event organizer. For registration, refunds, or event-specific questions, please contact the organizer directly at queerclosetfv@gmail.com
Spicy Bookclub
If you love diving into the steamiest reads around—whether you’re out and proud or a secret connoisseur—this book club is your perfect fit. Join others who revel in the genre, and brace yourself for bold, five-chili books! From historical erotica to otherworldly, devilish romance, we’re exploring it all. Not for the faint of heart—bring your sense of adventure and prepare for an unforgettable, spicy group.
Fox Valley Science Society
Fire may be familiar, but what is actually happening when something burns?
In this introduction to fire science, Alex Quintana of the Appleton Fire Department will explore what fire needs, how heat travels, why smoke behaves the way it does, and how a small flame can become a rapidly developing room fire. Along the way, we will examine ventilation, modern furnishings, and how firefighters use science to influence fire behavior.
Drop-In Drawing
We’re making art a little more accessible around here. No sign-ups required. No pressure or angst . . . just a table, some pencils, and a real, working artist (and tattooist) ready to help you get started or keep working on your current project.
Join us for drop-in drawing sessions with Jared Weber, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, learn techniques, or just quietly make something with support.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
4–7pm
$10 per session
Ages 14+
Lab Day
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.
Banned Books Read-In
We’re teaming up with @librofm and Silent Book Club to host a Banned Books Read-In to protest book censorship!
8th Annual Nifa Awards with Dan Davies
The National Independent Film Association (NIFA Awards) is a prestigious film and music awards show held at The Tardigrade's Bookshelf (Seating Capacity 255) in Appleton, WI. The NIFA Awards are an IMDb Award Qualifying Film Festival (Less than 5% of all film festivals worldwide qualify)
Join us in the home of Harry Houdini, Willem Dafoe, and The Mile of Music for a celebration of independent creativity. Hosted by Dan Davies, star of the worldwide Netflix sensation "A Trip to Jamaica", "West of Thunder" (Seen on Hulu & featured in the Tribeca Shortlist), the cult classic film, "Ed Gein, the Musical". Dan is also starring in the reimagined reboot of the 1975 cult classic film, "The Giant Spider Invasion". (Worldwide Release-Summer 2026). The NIFA Awards honor the best in TV, film, scripts and music, including Lifetime Achievement Awards and yearly Best of Awards. Our 2025 Connery Award (named after our inaugural winner Sir Sean Connery) NIFA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Hollywood Director, Michael Sajbel. Michael has been a Hollywood stalwart for almost 50 years and his films (Director/Major Crew) have done almost $400 million in total box office! Come join us!
$12 General Admission
$20 VIP Pass
8th Annual NIFA Awards Show Hosted by Dan Davies. VIP Pass includes the award presentations, live music, award winning films and a World Premiere. Tickets are only $12 & $20 VIP and are still available! 100% of net profits (via ticket sales) go to help the people affected by the Fox Cities, WI tornado.
Manhattan Film Festival
Film lovers in Kaukauna and Appleton will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world during the week of Sept 24 - Oct 4 when the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Tardigrade's Bookshelf on Saturday 9/26 at 6PM, Wednesday 9/30 at 6PM, and Saturday 10/3 at 2PM and 7PM. This event is a partnership between the Kaukauna Public Library and The Tardigrade's Bookshelf.
Manhattan Film Festival
Film lovers in Kaukauna and Appleton will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world during the week of Sept 24 - Oct 4 when the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Tardigrade's Bookshelf on Saturday 9/26 at 6PM, Wednesday 9/30 at 6PM, and Saturday 10/3 at 2PM and 7PM. This event is a partnership between the Kaukauna Public Library and The Tardigrade's Bookshelf.
Manga Bookclub
Manga Bookclub | First Friday of every Month @ 6pm
Manga Book Club will be MC’d by our resident volunteer and manga enthusiast, Chris. We’ll be hanging out, talking manga, appreciating great art, and probably arguing about characters and plot twists.
New readers, longtime fans, and the manga-curious are all welcome. Come grab a drink and nerd out with us.
LGBTQIA+ Ally Bookclub
A welcoming space for readers and allies to explore literature that celebrates and supports the LGBTQIA+ community. Join us each month as we dive into diverse voices and stories that inspire understanding, empathy, and advocacy. Everyone is welcome! We meet at the bookbar, which is 21 and over unless with a guardian.
Manhattan Film Festival
Film lovers in Kaukauna and Appleton will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world during the week of Sept 24 - Oct 4 when the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Tardigrade's Bookshelf on Saturday 9/26 at 6PM, Wednesday 9/30 at 6PM, and Saturday 10/3 at 2PM and 7PM. This event is a partnership between the Kaukauna Public Library and The Tardigrade's Bookshelf.
Bingo, Books & Balls
Join us for an afternoon of drag-hosted bingo, ridiculous banter, prizes, books, drinks, and questionable number-calling etiquette. Every number slays. Some numbers just slay harder.
$5 entry
$10 per set of bingo cards
Manhattan Film Festival
Film lovers in Kaukauna and Appleton will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world during the week of Sept 24 - Oct 4 when the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Tardigrade's Bookshelf on Saturday 9/26 at 6PM, Wednesday 9/30 at 6PM, and Saturday 10/3 at 2PM and 7PM. This event is a partnership between the Kaukauna Public Library and The Tardigrade's Bookshelf.
Symphonic Tastings: Symphony & Films
Join Tardigrade’s, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Heid Music for Symphonic Tastings—an easygoing, interactive series that uncovers the secrets of the orchestra and connects classical music to the music you already know and love.
Karaoke Night!
Every fourth Friday in our events hall, hosted by the always charismatic, always charming, Dylan.
Come for the friends singing, stay for the cozy seating and delicious drinks.
Sapphic Bookclub
Every Fourth Friday of the Month | 6pm
You asked, we listened. This by-request Sapphic Book Club is a spin-off of our LGBTQ Book Club and Spicy Book Club—created to make space specifically for sapphic stories, voices, and joy. Expect sapphic reads, good conversation, and the same welcoming, judgment-free vibes you know and love at Tardigrade’s. All identities are welcome; sapphic stories are centered. An all-around clam jam.
additional social meet-up with your book of choice the 2nd Friday of the month | 6pm
Horror Bookclub
Join us each month as we dive into stories that don’t just haunt but downright terrify—from spine-chilling thrillers to ghastly ghost stories and everything dark in between. This isn’t for the easily disturbed or anyone looking for a light read. Expect gory discussions and grab a nightcap at the bar to keep the chills at bay.
Horror Bookclub
Join us each month as we dive into stories that don’t just haunt but downright terrify—from spine-chilling thrillers to ghastly ghost stories and everything dark in between. This isn’t for the easily disturbed or anyone looking for a light read. Expect gory discussions and grab a nightcap at the bar to keep the chills at bay.
Sociology Bookclub
Our Sociology Bookclub 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.
Get Shit Done
Starting May 13th, come join Kate Moody at Tardigrade's Bookshelf!
It's admin day, getting shit done with others who need to get shit done.
Getting out emails
Pay bills
Cancel subscriptions
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Make apts.
Write cards. That shit spreads joy.
Book flights, air bnb, vacations, travel, etc.
Go through social media accounts and unfriend people who bring down your vibe
Clean your purse
You know, all the tedious stuff.
Nothing on your list. Bullshit, our in house financial advisor has some essential to-do that you have probably never done.
All the stuff that you say you’ll get to eventually . . .
Chords & Coffee
Chords & Coffee is a relaxed pop-in social hangout for local musicians to connect. Meet fellow players, talk shop, swap songs, and enjoy an easygoing music-friendly space.
No signup. No sign-in. No pressure to stay the whole time. Bring your instrument (or just come to listen). Some months include open mic moments, storytelling, or casual jamming—often it’s simply good conversation with instruments nearby.
Trivia Night
Women They Would Have—or Did—Burn at the Stake
History has a long and storied tradition of looking at a woman who was too smart, too loud, too sexual, too powerful, too independent, too weird, or simply too inconvenient and saying: