For many out there, the weekend begins on Thursday night. For one, it’s a good night to catch friends before they skip town for the weekend. Also, it’s when most bars and clubs break out cheap specials. In college towns, Thursdays > Fridays–always. In a small city like San Francisco, it’s primed for young professionals to make their way out to the bars. This Thursday night, it seemed like all those yuppies were at… the museum!?
Yes, all the young ladies and gents had made their way out to the newly remodeled California Academy of Sciences on this Thursday night. I had been wanting to visit since they remodeled last fall, but was scared away by the large crowds. Looking on their website, I found that they had just started a new weekly event–Adult Thursdays. From 6:00-10:00 PM, the science museum will be only open to 18+ patrons for $10. Since their normal operating days go for $25 and are most likely to include swarming children in every exhibit, this opportunity to visit the museum “after hours” can be a very welcome addition for the young adult crowd of San Francisco.
A bar in every exhibit
Upon arrival, I found the place very packed in its second week of running Thursday nights. It had a great vibe and a great San Francisco crowd, both equally intrigued by the exhibits and enjoying the lounge-like atmosphere. The center veranda was a social zone serviced by multiple bar tables and filled with mingling crowds. After a Jack and Coke, I was ready to expore the sights.
Tip: You should come early. The Walking Rainforest will stop people from going in after 8 and the Planetarium’s last showing is at 8:30. All the other exhibits seemed to stay open for the duration. Something I had to learn this time, unfortunately. The albino alligator “Todd” also was not in the house this night.
Walking down some stairs, I found myself in a busy aquarium full of exotic ocean animals and the people checking them out. Some interesting things here: Upside-down Jellyfish, eels, and starfish. There’s a tidepool exhibit, a deep dark sea exhibit, and two ridiculously large tanks housing all sorts of creatures. What I really enjoyed about this aquarium was that all the tanks seemed to be convexed or concaved for the viewer’s pleasure. This effect allowed you to feel like you’re about to walk right into the water or feel that the fish are coming right to you.
Off to the living roof! The room of the museum is a living garden of multiple species of plants. At night, it loses much of its meaning, as the darkness keeps you from enjoying the expansiveness of it all. Also, since it’s filled with adults under a starlit sky, the roof has a different vibe. It becomes a romantic retreat for couples to get away from the noisy crowds and have some intimacy under the stars.
Adults and kids both love these floor projector games
Back to the first floor now. Where is this loud techno/house music that I’m hearing coming from? The evolution exhibit is just bouncin’! Who ever thought a bunch of fossils, Galapagos Tortoises, and homo erectus would know how to have a party? An area here is cleared to make way for a dance floor complete with its own pro DJ. You have no idea how entertaining it is to see a mob of people under the influence dancing in a museum exhibit. Props to the museum heads for coming up with all these ideas for a great Thursday night. It makes for one exciting night out that’s also a different experience than we’re all used to.
Street parking can be a bit troublesome, so early arrival would be recommended if you don’t want to have to walk far. Bring friends to this event–you’ll all enjoy feeling like a big kid in this science museum.
Visit the museum website: http://www.calacademy.org/
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