NightLife at the Academy

Birds & Bees NightLife

In the mood for some cross-pollination?

Event Schedule

Pollinators at the Project Lab
6:00-9:00 pm, Science Love Stories: Bird specimens presented by Academy Scientist Jack Dumbacher

6:00-10:00 pm, Play a round of Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary, a mobile game where you care for your own rainforest and raise butterflies through their incredible life cycle-- then adorn yourself with butterfly wings and get snapped in the Say Ya! photo booth

Pollination Exploration in the East Pavilion
6:00-10:00 pm, Meet the folks from the Conservatory of Flowers, Pollinator Partnership and San Francisco Botanical Gardens and learn how plants adapt to attract and accommodate pollinators with fun hands-on activities

The Science of Hooking Up in African Hall  
6:00-10:00 pm, Meet the folks from The Bold Italic, designer toy-maker Crave, dating app Swoon, and then taste samples provided by SF chocolate maker TCHO

7:30 pm, Talk by Crave toy designer Ti Chang

8:30 pm, Talk by Paul C. Brunson, presented by Swoon

Sex Ed in the Swamp & Forum Theater
6:00-10:00 pm, Meet the folks from Planned Parenthood
7:00 & 8:00 pm, Health and sex education presentation in the Forum Theater (2nd floor) by Planned Parenthood and San Francisco Sex Information

Music in the Coral Reef
6:00-10:00 pm, Sweet Cheeks DJs

Music in the Piazza
6:00-10:00 pm, DJ Eric Sharp

Birds & Bees Cocktail Tour
6:00-10:00 pm, Bars Throughout (Piazza, East and West Pavilions, Swamp, Aquarium and Aquarium)

Planetarium
6:30 pm Universe Update
7:30 & 8:30 pm, Earthquake

RSVP on Facebook

Planetarium

Enjoy the following planetarium shows this week at NightLife:

Science Tonight: LIVE @ 6:30pm
Universe Update
Take a tour of the Universe with a sprinkling of the hottest news stories from astronomy and the space sciences!  Ryan Wyatt, Director of the Morrison Planetarium, pilots you through the stars and beyond the galaxies, explaining the latest space headlines in easily-digestible terms, and returns you safely to Earth in less than an hour.

7:30 & 8:30pm Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet
Excite your senses with a new, visually stunning planetarium show that journeys through the San Andreas fault, delves into the Earth's core and explores the seismic science of earthquakes throughout our world.

Passes to planetarium shows are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Pick up your pass at the Planetarium Kiosk.

Pride NightLife

Music by Hard French vs. Stay Gold, and Viennetta Discotheque

NightLife is back and better than ever!  This year we have a spectacular drag show and “transpecies” costume contest with special guests Pandora Boxx and Willam, stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race! San Francisco drag super stars Heklina and Peaches Christ will host the show featuring a rare duet by legends Juanita MORE! and Glamamore.

Plus, fascinating talks by the founders of the Center for Sex and Culture, Carol Queen and Robert Lawrence. In the Piazza, it’s Hard French DJs vs. Stay Gold DJs Pink Lightnight and Rapid Fire.  Additional music in the coral reef is by Viennetta Discotheque DJs Stanley Frank and Robert Jeffrey. Learn about flamboyantly-colored opisthobranchs (a group which includes sea butterflies, pelagic sea angels, and sea slugs to name a few) from graduate students Josh Hallas and Ryan Hulett.

Then make some flair of your own to wear all night—think sparkle pins and personal pride emblem—at stations by SCRAP and Friends of Sharon Art Studio.  Artist Jeremiah Jenkins will also be on-hand to host his popular “ego-system” social experiment.

RSVP on Facebook

Planetarium

Enjoy the following planetarium shows this week at NightLife:

Science Tonight: LIVE @ 6:30pm
Stargayzing
For millennia, people have told tales about the constellations… And much of the mythology touches on queer themes, including crossdressing heroes and jilted lovers. Elise Ricard will give stargayzing tips for a new experience the night sky.

7:30 & 8:30pm Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet
Excite your senses with a new, visually stunning planetarium show that journeys through the San Andreas fault, delves into the Earth's core and explores the seismic science of earthquakes throughout our world.

Passes to planetarium shows are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Pick up your pass at the Planetarium Kiosk.

Food

A variety of food options are available each week at NightLife from 6-9:30pm.

Academy Cafe, Level 1 (across from Rainforest)
Sit and enjoy bites and drinks crafted by San Francisco’s renowned chef Charles Phan. Special guest DJs rotating weekly.

Academy Cafe Food Cart, Lobby
Grab small bites on the go.

The Moss Room, Lower Level (enter at Academy Cafe)
Sit and enjoy an artisan cocktail or variety of local beers and wines with bites from the cafe.
For large groups, please dial:
415.876.6121

Drink

Birds & Bees Cocktail Tour

Please note all bars now accept credit cards!

Ask the bartenders about our featured craft spirits on tap as well as the new artisanal wines at each bar.

Piazza Bar
Bees Knees
Mixi's Handcrafted gin-fusion of 360 organic vodka with local botanicals, house-made fresh lemon cordial and local honey

Aquarium Bar
Blackbird Gimlet
Skyy vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, blackberries, lime juice and Mixi's handcrafted Bird's Eye chili tincture

Planetarium Bar
Thunderbird Sour
Bulleit bourbon, ruby red grapefruit juice, lemon juice, creme de cassis, Amaro Nonino bitters and  sliced grapefruit

Swamp Bar
Eternal Sunshine Sangria
Cristalino sparkling cava rose, El Jimador silver tequila, Cocchi Americano apertivo, watermelon, cucumber, lime juice and a pinch of rosemary hibiscus pink salt

Earthquake Bar
Busy Bee
Pisco Portón, Velvet Falernum, Guayaki Yerba Maté, pineapple juice, lemon juice, organic cane juice and bitters

Living Roof/ 3rd Floor Bar
Rum & Honey
Brugal Añejo rum, wild local honey and house-made bitters

NightLife VIP Tour

Want an entirely different NightLife experience? Join us on our NightLife VIP Tour.

Tickets include:

• Admission to NightLife with express entry
• One-hour behind-the-scenes tour with a private viewing of the Academy's renowned gem and mineral collection
• Open bar in a reserved cocktail area prior to the tour
• Meet and greet with Academy researchers in the project lab
• VIP access to the Rainforest, and a reserved pass for the 8:30 Planetarium show

$59/person – limited tickets available each week

6pm - 8pm (event ends at 10 pm)

For tickets and details, please click here.

NightLife Private Lounge

Looking for a great space to celebrate landing that big account, throw a birthday party, or just gather with all your old friends, all while enjoying San Francisco’s most exciting Thursday night event?  Rent out the NightLife Private Lounge. You’ll get early access to a premium private room with catering and bar service and access to our Thursday NightLife event.

For more booking information contact Dan Kalin at (415) 379-5837 or dkalin@calacademy.org.

NightLife Group Bookings

Click here to buy NightLife tickets for a group of 10 or more people.