San Francisco is very excited to have it’s Academy of Sciences back, and especially stoked on the new building. People come from all over to see it, and most weekends the place is packed beyond reason. Which is amazing for a natural sciences museum, but not so awesome for us card-carrying members.
In response—and to garner a little added street cred—the museum also hosts weekly NightLife openings, where they keep the museum open late on Thursdays and feature music, lectures, cocktails, and mingling for a 21+ crowd.
This photo was taken downstairs in the aquarium on one such night. I was awestruck at how well the architects conceived of the complete underground aquatic setup. The walls are all this shimmery blue/purple as you see above, and they project explanatory text in waves over top. The effect is stunning, and (along with hands-on exhibits and the fish tanks themselves) immediately immerses visitors into the realm of fishes.
The Cal Academy is definitely worth a visit, and if you can’t quite make it through the daytime crowds, seriously think about popping in for a lively evening instead.