Exploratorium After Dark: Nomadic Communities

Q: What do a mobile diner, an annual arts event in the desert, urban foragers, and bay creatures that arrived by ballast water have in common?

A: Their itinerant circumstances are often the source of their creativity, survival, and even evolution.

While true nomads are rare in industrialized countries, hybrids of whimsical and economically inventive itinerancies are evolving here in the Bay Area. From the underground food cart phenomenon to Wonderarium, a giant floating terrarium planned for Oakland's Lake Merritt, the Bay Area tends to incubate peripatetic creatures and cultures that in turn shape life here and beyond in unusual ways.

Join us for a drink and meet 'Mayor of Black Rock City' Harley Dubois and find out how the infrastructure for Burning Man's fifty thousand celebrants is built each year in the northern Nevada desert. Chat with platinum-wigged waitresses at the Dust City Diner, a 40s style performance piece complete with blue plate specials, learn about wild foods found inside city limits, and take a hands-on tour of exotic species now at home in the Bay.

Featuring:

Building Black Rock City with Harley K. Dubois
Burning Man is about art and community; it also serves as an innovative model of temporary urban infrastructure. Planning for fifty thousand inhabitants to occupy the northern Nevada desert for a week-afterward leaving no trace of their presence-is an interesting challenge. Learn how organizers and highly skilled volunteers lay the foundation for emergency services, civic and public use spaces, and a municipal airport.

A founding member of the Burning Man Board, Harley K. Dubois is one of five members, along with Executive Director Larry Harvey, that comprise Black Rock City LLC, the entity that manages Burning Man. As City Manager, Harley oversees both its Playa Safety Council and Community Services departments. She originated BRC's urban planning component known as "theme camp placement" as well as other important services including a 24-hour, volunteer-run informational radio station; volunteer Greeters that meet and orient Burning Man attendees at the events gate; and Playa Info, which offers participants critical information about their playa address and other event locations.

Dust City Diner
Step up to a 40s style diner, complete with a quilted stainless steel backsplash, red leather stools, chrome finishes, the Ink Spots and the Andrews Sisters on the radio, and-of course-blue plate specials. Oh yeah, they have a few waitresses, too. For one night only this mobile, magical, and performative restaurant will serve up portions of retro goodness.

Created and operated by artists Michael Brown and David Cole with a team of volunteers for Burning Man 2008, the Dust City Diner served hot coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches from dusk till dawn at an unannounced location deep in the desert. Providing a miraculous respite in the middle of the night for those who wanted to sit, read the paper, and enjoy the company of other weary travelers, the diner became somewhat of a legend for those who experienced it. Tonight, you too can savor its homey flavors and the good company at its counters.

Accidental Residents with Dr. Karen Kalumuck
The backyards and Bay of San Francisco provide cozy homes for a diversity of species. While some are native, many were brought here through deliberate means such as importation or accidental means such as ballast water. These exotic visitors can sometimes thrive and out-compete native species for resources. Join Exploratorium biologist Dr. Karen Kalumuck for a hands-on tour of common Bay invaders. While you reach inside a marine touch tank, hear the saga of their wanderings and discover their impact on local ecosystems.

Experience life After Dark, an evening series exclusively for adults that mixes cocktails, conversation, and playful, innovative science and art events. Not a theater, cabaret, or gallery, After Dark contains aspects of all three. Each evening showcases a different topic-from music to sex to electricity-but all include a cash bar and film screenings, plus an opportunity to play with our hundreds of hands-on exhibits. Join us and mingle with inventive scientists, artists, musicians, programmers, and designers. Enjoy live performances, provocative films, interesting music, cutting-edge technology, unexpected extravaganzas, and more, depending on each evening's lineup. Leave the kids at home and meet friends or take a date. Where else can you find an intellectually stimulating playground for adults-with free parking?

This event is included in the price of museum admission.