AMNH Announces Their December Events

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY PUBLIC PROGRAMS DECEMBER 2010

SciCafe: Secrets of the Sleeping Brain
Wednesday, December 1, Doors open at 7 pm
Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth-Enter at 81st Street
Free admission with cash bar, 21+ with ID

Life is filled with distractions that often hinder our ability to unwind and get a good night's sleep. Discover the consequences of a sleep-deprived brain with Matthew Walker of the Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab at University of California, Berkeley, and Amita Sehgal of the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Cocktails, cutting-edge science, and conversation are back at this popular after-hours series, which takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. For more details and information on monthly speakers, visit amnh.org/scicafe.

Proudly sponsored by Judy and Josh Weston.

Sizing Up the Universe with J. Richard Gott
Monday, December 6, 7:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15 ($13.50 Members, students, senior citizens)

Understanding the scale of the universe can be mind-boggling. Join Princeton astronomy professor J. Richard Gott as he discusses his map of the universe, which allows him to plot everything from satellites orbiting the Earth to distant galaxies. Book signing will follow.

Popular Science is the media partner for Hayden Planetarium monthly astronomy programs and lectures.

Adventures in the Global Kitchen: The Lure of Chocolate
Tuesday, December 7, 6:30 pm
Linder Theater, first floor
$25

Delight in the power of chocolate at this tasting led by noted food historian Francine Sagan. Learn about chocolate's history from its New World origins and journey to Europe to its eventual transformation from a grainy, bitter brew into the treat beloved and craved today. Tastings include single-origin chocolate, chocolate with different percentages of cacao, and milk chocolate.

Wild, Wild World: Bird Brains
Saturday, December 11, 11 am-noon, 1-2 pm
Linder Theater, first floor
$10 children, $12 adults (Members' tickets are $8 children, $10 adults)

In this special live-animal presentation, avian behavior expert Aimee Morgana will discuss her research on animal communication with beloved parrot N'Kisi, a unique animal who mimics human language. Five parrots from the Long Island Parrot Society, along with teaching assistants who will show visitors how to properly care for and handle a companion parrot, will join Morgana.

Presented in conjunction with Brain: The Inside Story

Winter Solstice Telescope Party
Monday, December 20, 6:30-8 pm
Arthur Ross Terrace-Enter at 81st Street
$15 ($13.50 Members, students, senior citizens)

Bring your binoculars and telescopes and join astronomers Steve Beyer, Joe Rao, and TEd Williams and members of the Amateur Astronomers Association for the final night of the autumn season. The evening will include hot cocoa and observations of celestial objects from the Arthur Ross Terrace, tips on how to observe the total eclipse of the Moon, which takes place early the next day from 1:30 to 5 am, and a preview of the eclipse in the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater.

KWANZAA 2010! The Legacy Continues...
Sunday, December 26, noon-5 pm
Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, first floor
Free with Museum admission
For details, call 212-769-5315 or visit amnh.org/kwanzaa

This vibrant all-day celebration honors the seven African-based principles of Kwanzaa with performances of song, dance, and spoken word presented beside an international marketplace. This year's event features a traditional "Second Line" parade led by the McCollough Invaders Band; empowering dance performances by Kotchegna Dance Company, Allen Liturgical Dance Ministry, and Gestures Dance Ensemble; and an homage to the traditions of African culture performed by the Restoration Dance Theatre Company.

The Legacy Continues...KWANZAA 2010! is co-produced by Community Works, an arts and education nonprofit organization founded 20 years ago, and New Heritage Theatre Group, the oldest nonprofit black theatre company in New York. KWANZAA 2010! is dedicated to the memory of James Stovall, who served as the artistic director of New Heritage Theatre Group for several years. The marketplace is organized by the Harlem Arts Alliance.

Astronomy in the Dome: Winter Skies with TEd Williams
Tuesday, December 28, 6:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15 ($13.50 Members, students, senior citizens)
Winter season pass: 3 for $40

This time of year affords the best view of some of our neighboring galaxies, including Andromeda. Join TEd Williams as he searches out the visible planets, constellations, and neighboring galaxies and learn what the equinox is all about.

Monthly astronomy programs offer an interactive tour of the universe and a view of the constantly changing night sky. Learn about what is visible in our nighttime sky with the brilliant stars of the Zeiss Mark IX star projector or travel beyond the farthest reaches of the observable universe with the Digital Universe, the world's largest cosmic atlas, which is assembled at the Hayden Planetarium.

Popular Science is the media partner for Hayden Planetarium monthly astronomy programs and lectures.

Museum Information

Hours
The Museum is open daily, 10 am-5:45 pm.
The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Space Show Hours
Space Shows are shown Monday through Friday every half hour, 10:30 am- 4:30 pm except Wednesdays (first show on Wednesday begins at 11 a.m.). Saturday through Sunday every half hour, 10:30 am-5 pm.

Admission
Suggested general admission, which supports the Museum's scientific and educational endeavors and includes 45 Museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, is $16 (adults) suggested; $12 (students/seniors) suggested; $9 (children) suggested.

The Museum offers discounted combination ticket prices that include suggested general admission plus special exhibitions, IMAX films, and Space Shows.
o Museum plus special exhibition, IMAX film, or Space Show: $24 (adults), $18 (students/seniors), $14 (children)
o Museum Supersaver, which includes the Space Show, IMAX, and all special exhibitions: $32 (adults), $24.50 (students/seniors), $20 (children)

Visitors who wish to pay less than the suggested Museum admission and also want to attend a special exhibition, IMAX film, or Space Show may do so only on-site at the Museum. To the amount they wish to pay for general admission, they should add $20 (adults), $16.50 (students/seniors), or $11 (children) for a Space Show, special exhibition, or IMAX film.

Public Information
For additional information, the public should call 212-769-5100 or visit the Museum's website, amnh.org.

Note to Listings Editors: Images are available to accompany some of these listings. Please contact Communications at 212-769-5800 or communications@amnh.org for

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