21+ Night at the Carnegie Science Center

On Thursday, I read a tweet from the Carnegie Science Center that said they were still selling advanced tickets for their 21+ night on Friday. I messaged Adam and begged asked if we could go. I wasn't sure if he'd be into it since it was, sci-fi themed (complete with Star Wars characters and a DeLorean), had booze and was full of people we didn't know. Miraculously he agreed, so I bought the tickets ($10 a piece in advance/$15 at the door).

Friday night, we headed over to the museum at about 7 PM and walked up to not only the DeLorean parked out front, but also the entire "cast" of Ghostbusters and the Ecto-1. 

Inside, we waited in a short line to get our wrist bands and then we walked around to see some of the exhibits on the main floor.

We passed through a wristband checkpoint and this cool gravity bungee jump wall on our way up to the other floors. I was surprised that they had all the floors open, minus the few exhibits like the planetarium.

The first floor we hit had all the robotic stuff, a really awesome model train set, and the live entertainment. Adam really liked this floor - I think it had the coolest stuff to play with. You could play basketball against a robot, use a robot to build a model from beads, and see how a robotic medicine dispensing machine worked.

On the third floor we found Nemo and Dory and I had my picture taken in a submarine. This floor also had a test kitchen where they were teaching how to make ice cream using salt and ice cubes, but they sped up the process using liquid nitrogen. They had two showings, one at 7:30 and one at 8:30. Adam and I hung around to check it out. It was actually the second time in a week that I've eaten ice cream made with liquid nitrogen, oh the life of a scientist! ;)

After the show, we went upstairs to the top floor and found that it was a huge play area (remember this is really a museum for kids ;) ). There was everything from stuff about weather to a giant operation game to a water play area. We also ran into the storm troopers up here.

I stopped at the bar on our way back downstairs and all they had left was mixed drinks and wine. I ended up getting their special drink the "Marty McFly", which was a jack and ginger ale. We also noticed that there was a theater up here where they were featuring something about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but we missed show time. Adam and I also found a few other things we missed on the first go, like this scale showing what you'd weigh on other planets and a few other astronaut related things.

We ended up leaving soon after, Adam and I were getting hungry. I think there were food options there, but the lines were kind of insane so we didn't stop to see, we did notice some people with trays of stuff though. On the way out the Ghostbuster guys were still there, flashing their lights on the Ecto-1.

It was a pretty fun night, it probably would have been better with a bigger group of people, but I'd definitely go again to another one - just Adam and I! 

A Trip to Phipps

One afternoon I decided I had enough of writing (sometimes you just need a mental break) and I decided to head over and check out the holiday display at Phipps Conservatory.

I actually became a member in September, when I had gone twice in one week (once by myself and once with my family who was visiting) and I was really excited to see their holiday decorations this time around. As you walk up the stairs into the Palm Court, you see this pretty fireplace display complete with little Christmas trees.

Last time I was there, a docent told me to keep to the right when walking through the conservatory to keep me from getting lost. Still a good tip! Back in September, this room was filled with lots of greenery and tropical plants. This time it was all dressed up for the holidays with this fun door display and loads of poinsettias. I really liked the different wreaths on the doors. Gives me some ideas for next year! :)

Little potted plants - such a great idea for a wreath!

At the end of this room, there was this gorgeous wreath. I loved that it was mostly greenery, but the sweet little white flowers really made it pop and look amazing.

There were so many lady slippers in bloom in the orchid room!

In the South Conservatory there was a large train and village display that represented the opening of the Phipps Conservatory and the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

I loved this little house with the snow covered roof. According to the sign in the photo below, the Worlds Fair that year was lit by a Pittsburgh based company, Westinghouse. It also mentioned that the tropical plants that were on display at the fair were transported to the Phipps Conservatory when it closed.

How cool is this little replica of the Phipps? The details are so incredible! 

As I worked my way up and around checking out all the little details, I found a train passing by and a horse drawn buggy in the center of a miniature town.

There was a little Ferris Wheel to represent the original one seen at the Chicago World's Fair (I saw this guy's twin at the Carnegie Museum of Art's tree display).

The building in the center of this photo was a miniature version of the Horticulture Exhibit hall, which held all kinds of large tropical plants at the fair.

After I felt like I had seen everything at the train display, I walked around some other rooms and found some cute details. I liked the little squirrels trimming the tree with oranges and the pretty kissing ball hanging from a light.

The Sunken Garden was also made up for the holidays with poinsettias galore.

Poinsettias seemed to be a theme in most of the rooms, including the Broderie Room. I loved the pops of red in the green shrubbery.

The East Room had snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and an adorable little family of bears (with bowties) down by the water.

I wasn't able to get a good photo of the large Christmas tree in the center of the Victoria Room. I think the lighting that day was just not cooperative. Here's a shot of it taken with my iPhone. I loved the reflection in the water.

A few days later, I went back after a brief snowfall to take some photos of the building at night. Look how pretty it is all lit up!

I wish I was able to go at night to see the Winter Light display in the Outdoor Garden, but it just didn't happen this trip. Hopefully next year!