
ONE STELLAR CELEBRATION
Occasionally you hit a Los Angeles party that’s so crazy you almost feel like you are in the bar scene of Star Wars. But at the California Science Center’s Discovery Ball, we actually were in the bar scene of Star Wars.
The center’s out-of-this-world extravaganza was tied into its wildly successful Star Wars exhibit and had gala-goers over the moon.
The force was with us as we were issued our intergalactic passports and checked into the airport departure terminal accompanied by a battalion of serious looking storm troopers.
Inside, the center was dressed up for deep space with a gazillion glittering stars and familiar planets from the solar system hanging overhead. Upon arrival, we shared Day-Glo cocktails and interplanetary gargle-blasters that were artfully arranged and came in electric shades like Mars red and Pluto purple.
The welcoming committee was made up of 70 Star Wars characters including cuddly Chewbacca, esteemed Obi-Wan and quirky droids C-3PO and R2-D2. With Princess Leia and Han Solo in tow, revelers made their way up the escalator and into the reception area, which was transformed into the infamous pirate hang called Mos Eisley Cantina on the planet of Tatooine. A jazzy eight-piece combo just like Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes played the bar theme to greet incoming space travelers.
Next we checked out the Science Center’s new “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” show, which runs through April 29. The 10,000-square-foot exhibit explores the realms of fantasy and reality using characters and props from the popular Lucas films. With creative exhibitions like this, the CSC excels at making science and learning fun with appeal for kids of all ages.
“Whether it’s medical technology or robotics, we always like people to get excited about science,” said Senior Vice President of Exhibits Diane Perlov. “And for us, Star Wars was a great hook.”
Perlov, who has been with the center for 22 years, is especially proud of the way the center has evolved from a local institution into a valuable educational resource for the entire state. “We really reach a diverse audience,” Perlov explained. “One-point-four million people visit the center each year. Our goal is to keep it free, make it accessible and continue to grow.”
After exploring the new exhibit, luminaries-including Congresswoman Diane Watson and Wallis Annenberg-joined locals like Bill and Cheryl Chadwick on board the Imperial Star Destroyer for a gourmet dinner and live auction.
Bill, who works tirelessly as the chairman of the California Science Center, placed the winning bid on the ride of a lifetime aboard a L-29 military jet, a gift he promptly donated to a local school as an educational incentive.
Well-armed troopers guarded the activities from a raised platform as we tucked into a dinner of Kobe beef tenderloin accompanied by parsnip and spinach cakes.
After dinner, gala-goers took their light sabers and went off to view the IMAX film “Destiny in Space” and danced the night away at the Darth Vadar nightclub.
The ninth annual Discovery Ball wasn’t just a blast, it was a record breaker too. The center’s far out fling raised more than a million bucks to further education-and imagination. And that’s a mission that’s heavenly indeed!