First Fridays: Ventucky & LA’s Natural History Museum

I guess if the first Friday is Jan 2, First Friday events get moved to the SECOND Friday…at least this is the case for Ventura’s First Fridays Arts events and for LA County Museum of Natural History’s First Friday extravaganzas…

Rumour has it that Ventucky’s February’s First Friday may be marked by a Critical Mass ride—a warm up the winter Red Hot Riders dress in red & lingerie ride through downtown Ventura with stops at various art galleries! The question is, will it then be possible to make First Friday at the LA Natural History Museum?? Stay tuned for details!

Tour of the Ornithology Collections with Kimball Garrett

NHM Ornithology Collections Manager Kimball Garrett takes guests on a tour of intriguing, variable bird groups that Darwin would have observed, and talk about how the Museum’s collections – even those that are very old – are used in modern day research.

6:30pm, DISCUSSION (includes a Book Signing):

“Darwin’s Evolution” with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Using little-known letters, diaries, and notebooks, writer Lyanda Lynn Haupt explores Darwin’s own evolution – from his beginning as a fumbling neophyte student of the natural world to his emergence as an original, creative naturalist who could draw complex scientific truths from the observation of life around him.

Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Each theme will be moderated by Michael W. Quick, Ph.D. (Department of Biological Sciences and Executive Vice Dean, University of Southern California College of Letters, Arts & Sciences)

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7:00pm-10:00pm, MUSIC:

The Little Ones Plants and Animals

DJs in the African Mammal Hall:

The Phatal DJ and DJ Kutmah (dublab.com)

Darwin’s Origin of Species: From a Theory of Evolution to a Cultural Revolution

This year Charles Darwin turns 200 and his world-altering On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection turns 150. Often considered one of the two or three most important – and misunderstood – texts published in the sciences, The Origin of Species is also one of a handful of scientific works that has reverberated beyond science, shaking the foundations of art, literature, philosophy, religion and society. This season’s First Fridays celebrate “Darwin Year” through entertaining and fascinating conversations with six of the world’s foremost authors and experts on the life of Darwin, the science of evolution, and the revolutionary impact of the man and his work. Participants include author Lyanda Lynn Haupt (Pilgrim on the Great Bird Continent: The Importance of Everything and Other Lessons from Darwin’s Lost Notebooks), paleontologist Donald Prothero (Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters), biologist Neil Shubin (Your Inner Fish), zoologist Michael Ryan (The Túngara Frog, A Study in Sexual Selection and Communication), paleoanthropologist Donald C. Johanson (Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind) and Skeptic Magazine editor Michael Shermer (Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design).

DETAILS ON UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS:

FEB 06, 2009

MAR 06, 2009

APR 03, 2009

MAY 01, 2009

JUN 05, 2009

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• Museum admission: Adult $9, students (w. ID) $6.50, Members FREE.
• Capacity of discussion, music, and tour is limited and awarded on a first come, first served basis. Please arrive early to ensure participation.
• Dinner and drinks for sale starting at 5:00pm. Organic and handmade food by Mission Bistro.
• Public parking available on Menlo Avenue across from the Museum.
• For more information e-mail performances@nhm.org.

Of course this Darwin exhibit ties in perfectly with preparations for this year’s Burning Man which takes off from Darwin as well!