I have a friend who has a rabid aversion to technology. He recently told me he has only sent about three or four emails his entire life. He refuses to have anything to do with Facebook or any type of social media, and quite frankly, doesn’t even use the internet that much. I’ll at least give him points for having a cell phone and a DVD player, I suppose.

This week through Sunday the 25th, Storefront-In-A-Box is hosting the Internet Variety Store at their “storefront” on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.

At the Internet Variety Store, you can experience the internet through events, classes & interactive installations. You don’t need to be tech-savvy because you’ll have the opportunity to learn through decidedly “analog” presentations such as Paper Twitter, a Real Life Facebook Wall, a board game that teaches you about the internet Saturday night from 8 to 9:30pm, Open Source Candy Aisle, and according to the website, “something involving cupcakes.”

During the daytime (Tuesday July 20th through Saturday the 24th), you can be creative and make stuff that helps explain computer programming. No computers or programming required, just an interest in drawing, photography and a love for sharing ideas.

Tuesday through Friday night from 7 to 10pm, the store will feature Community Coder Lounge, a co-working space for those participating in the Drupal Open Garden Project. It will also be open to those who volunteer on open source projects for communities. Welcome to the Coder Lounge are Coders (obviously), and so are designers, writers, community builders. These folks can meet one another and geek out. They will have special awesome blue chalkboards and chalk. How very analog.

Saturday night from 7 to 10:30pm is the Internet Artisan Marketplace. This will be a craft fair featuring open source creations. You will be able to check out the installations, meet the people who actually make the internet, and get stuff from them.

From 10am to 8pm on Sunday will be Trade School Day (Internet Version). This will be a barter-based knowledge exchange. In other words, in exchange for the classes the teacher might ask for something in exchange. Don’t worry the trades won’t be difficult or expensive.

Storefront-In-A-Box is located at 2441 Lyndale Ave. South in Minneapolis. More info at storefrontinabox.com.
More info on the Internet Variety Store at the event website.