Follow Slashdot stories on Twitter

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Beer Canada Education Science Entertainment

Museum's Adults-Only Nights Show That Alcohol and Science Are a Good Mix 131

Posted by samzenpus from the hall-of-drinking-man dept.
BarbaraHudson writes Museums and science centers are finding that science nights with bar service are quite popular with the public. "Organizer Merissa Scarlett said almost every science center across Canada opts for adults-only nights, where visitors can explore exhibits with an alcoholic drink in hand. It's also a trend taking off in many museums, including the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, where nights dubbed Nature Nocturne transform the building into a multi-stage bar and club."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Museum's Adults-Only Nights Show That Alcohol and Science Are a Good Mix More

Museum's Adults-Only Nights Show That Alcohol and Science Are a Good Mix

Comments Filter:

  • BYOB? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Frosty Piss ( 770223 ) * on Sunday January 04, 2015 @06:56PM (#48732971)

    The bar is probably spendy. I wonder if i can tote in a 40?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      No this is Canada eh. You bring your own twofer of LaBatts buddy.

    • no but you can get a PBR for $5.50

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dougmc ( 70836 )

      I don't know how the laws are in Canada, but down here in Texas a place can either sell alchohol or it can let you bring your own -- but not both.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Hadlock ( 143607 )

      The last event I went to like this, 12 oz beers were $5 and cocktails were $6. Which for downtown Dallas is average, if not slightly below the median price. And it was pretty fantastic. As a vet, an engineer and a computer programmer we had a pretty fantastic time, A+ would go again. Let the schoolchildren enjoy the museum during the day.

  • The British Museum has been partying for years (Score:4, Informative)

    by accessbob ( 962147 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @07:01PM (#48733005)

    Private parties amongst the relics.

    http://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/nov/08/davidhencke

  • What could go wrong (Score:3)

    by Crashmarik ( 635988 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @07:05PM (#48733025)

    We create programming that's more oriented toward adults," he said, adding that this has included the chance to dissect a pig's heart.

    I mean nothing like giving people who have had a few a knife and telling them to have at it.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by SeaFox ( 739806 )

      I think it's funny they consider an animal heart dissection an "adult" thing.
      Didn't we all dissect similar organs in middle school?

      • Now that you mention it, reminds me a little of Laserium but likely without the long sideburns.

      • Can you imagine someone with less authority than a substitute teacher trying to guide a classroom worth of unfamiliar teenagers through a dissection? You need a special kind of dedication to even attempt that.

        Adults on the other hand - "Here, sign this waver, grab a couple drinks, and lets see what makes these tickers tick."

      • Still shaking my head reading that comment about the "adult activity".

        When I was a kid, my mother ordered a pigs stomach and eyes from the local butcher so we could dissect them in school. That was .... 6th or 7th grade.

        I am so glad I don't have to grow up today.

  • museum-goggles? (Score:3)

    by turkeydance ( 1266624 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @07:06PM (#48733033)
    well, Degas looks better right before closing time.

  • Apparently (Score:2, Insightful)

    by msobkow ( 48369 )

    Apparently catering to alcoholics is big business. :(

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward
      In fairness, it also caters to people who don't like kids.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        My company once rented out a museum for a holiday party, it was a nice experience getting to wander the exhibits with a cocktail in hand and no noisy kids running around.

    • Re:Apparently (Score:5, Insightful)

      by CaptainLard ( 1902452 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @09:12PM (#48733771)

      One need not be an alcoholic to enjoy alcohol.

      • No, but one may well be approaching alcoholism when one cannot enjoy an activity without consuming alcohol.

        The recent littany of "I'm now gonna do this activity because I can finally get booze there!" is a bit weird. Movie theatres, museums... as if these things are unenjoyable on their own, but with booze - fun!

        It may not quite be alcholism, but it's a kissing cousin.

  • A trap for those who don't believe in science, of course. What better way to attract the ignorant and unthoughtful than offer booze? A few drinks in and all the heathenism begins to make sense.

  • But please .... (Score:5, Funny)

    by PPH ( 736903 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @07:34PM (#48733223)

    ... don't mix alcohol and math. Never drink and derive.

  • City Museum of St. Louis (Score:4, Informative)

    by theodp ( 442580 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @07:38PM (#48733243)

    City Museum [citymuseum.org] of St. Louis: Open to midnight Friday and Saturday with bar service. Thrills, Chills, and Lawsuits [slashdot.org].

  • First Fridays - Los Angeles Natural History Museum (Score:3)

    by TarPitt ( 217247 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @07:42PM (#48733269)

    Drinks, food, talks by naturalists, guided tours of exhibits, followed by bands playing in the Hall of Mammals (nothing like seeing a band like Deerhoof in front of a mastedon) :

    http://www.nhm.org/site/activi... [nhm.org]

    Been going on for a number of years and is very popular.

  • ...caters events all the time; my former employer had its Christmas party there every year. Buffet, music, dance band, string quartet, bar service, buskers, and horse-drawn sleigh rides in the adjoining park.

  • The Exploratorium in San Francisco, one of the finest science museums in the world, runs adults-only programs every Thursday night [exploratorium.edu], with 50% off admission too.

  • Five Star Review (Score:5, Interesting)

    by PopeRatzo ( 965947 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @08:55PM (#48733679) Journal

    I can verify that visiting the Museum of Science and Industry here in Chicago after a few toots is nothing but a blast. Get a few of your friends, pass around a liter of vodka in the parking lot and go straight to the gigantic model train set on the first floor. Don't miss the huge pendulum in the stairway and the tours of the German U-Boat and coal mine. Also the "whispering booth" parabolic sound mirrors. If it's spring time, go visit the formal Japanese garden just a few blocks from the museum. When your done, walk West along the plaisance until you get to Laredo Taft's spooky-ass "Fountain of Time" sculpture at the far end of the Midway. Then you can go up to Ribs'n'Bibs on 53rd street for the most magnificent burnt ends or hot links you've ever tasted.

    Best drunk museum experience ever. Highly recommended. Way back in the day I went there on 'shrooms and it was also quite fun.

    Of course, all that stuff is behind me now, but thankfully my memory is still pretty...um... ...what was I talking about?

  • We love their adult programs. Alcohol, live music, demos, lectures, activities, and the museum is open for strolling.

  • Nothing new (Score:3)

    by RogueWarrior65 ( 678876 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @09:21PM (#48733817)

    Who hasn't seen people stoned out of their gourd waiting in line for the Laserium show?

  • I work at a museum where we have been running an adult program called MOSH After Dark (Museum of Science and History and yeah I know that sounds like a Cinemax show) for a few years now. Usually "adult level" topics but that ones that sell out that quickest are Home Brewing and How rum is made (you get to make your own rum flavors and get to have 1 liter of it) It's mostly 20 to 30's year olds and is very popular. Since I work in the plane arium I'm happy they don't have us run shows for them. Laser crowds

  • It's awesome, too. A great way to meet other science minded folk.

  • at Science World (Now Telus World of Science bleh) and the Planetarium in the late 90's in Vancouver.

  • Why would... (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Why would I as an adult want to go to any museum except on adult's only night if it's offered? Museums are annoying when there are children there. A nice cultured night out with adults at a fancy museum with no children sounds like an excellent idea to me. I've been to several private parties at museums that were adults only that were fantastic. Get to see everything and interact with people without tour groups plowing through and wrecking the ambience.

  • For deeper insights (Score:3)

    by troll -1 ( 956834 ) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @11:00PM (#48734211)
    they should allow pot.

  • When you're watching it's 80% entertainment and gimmicks, 20% actual news and science. If you're arguing about how valuable it is the percentages swap places. Though I suppose after gamifying everything else, I guess museums must keep up with the times.

  • ...has been doing this for a few years now, it's called Jurassic Lounge, http://www.jurassiclounge.com/ [jurassiclounge.com] and seems to attrack quite a number of people. If this helps get people more interested in science and at the same time helps raise money for the museum then why not.

  • Why do you think scientists attend symposia?

    symposium [sim-poh-zee-uh m]
    noun, plural symposiums, symposia [sim-poh-zee-uh]
    1. a meeting or conference for the discussion of some subject, especially a meeting at which several speakers talk on or discuss a topic before an audience.
    2. a collection of opinions expressed or articles contributed by several persons on a given subject or topic.
    3. an account of a discussion meeting or of the conversation at it.
    4. (in ancient Greece and Rome) a convivial meeting, usual

  • Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (Score:3)

    by tippen ( 704534 ) on Monday January 05, 2015 @08:47AM (#48735809)

    One of the coolest things I ever got to do during my stint at HP was dinner and drinks at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History as a private event. Various buffets and bars scattered around the museum. Had no idea you could rent the Smithsonian like that.

    Martini bar at the Hope Diamond? How freakin' cool is that?!

  • Science North and Dynamic Earth in Sudbury, Ontario does this every couple of months. And they are themed. First one I went to at Science North was themed for mixology, and it show cased the science behind mixing things together.

    The cool thing about them is that they are catered, so there was food available for purchase, there is alcohol(beer, wine, spirits), there are some shows in the theatre in the middle of the upper floors, and you get to enjoy the exhibits WITHOUT CHILDREN PRESENT!(greatest part ever!

  • The Cleveland Museum of Art has these once or twice a month. They have a bar, a DJ/band and some little DIY art based on the exhibits. It was super classy. I'd highly recommend it.

  • The local museum here offered a series on "Science of Food & Brew" - one night a week during the summer they had different presentations on how to make beer, it's history, different flavors (and how they are made), and basically food & drink pairing. I think Mead and Cider were also covered.

    And of course - each night included samples by local companies.

Slashdot Top Deals

"An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup." - H.L. Mencken

Close