Now OUT
KID TESTED, ADULT APPROVED
Youthful attractions turned grown-up playgrounds after dark Just because an attraction is meant for kids doesn’t mean it’s only for kids. Several seemingly “kid-focused” venues work hard to put on special events, programs and even exhibitions with a more mature crowd in mind. See what’s in store at these playful places – with a dash of full-grown fun.
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
NightLife at OdySea Aquarium On select dates each month, Odysea Aquarium hosts an after-hours adventure designed for adults. Taking place this month Feb. 1 and 15, full beverage service is available at three bars as well as five “strolling” food stations throughout the aquarium. Plus, its Lighthouse Café offers a dinner menu for two with specialty pricing. Beyond taking behind-the-scenes tours, guests can enjoy an “after-dark” ambiance with two NightLife “Chill Zone” Lounges featuring comfortable seating and dimmed overhead lighting, while the 3-D theater features live acoustic entertainment and love seats. Tickets start at $29.95 per guest. www.odyseaaquarium.com. Polar Play Located next to Odysea Aquarium, Polar Play is the Valley’s first ice bar, and starting at 7 p.m. daily, it becomes an adults-only zone. The $15 admission includes a parka (with an option to upgrade to a faux fur coat), gloves and entrance into the bar. The wintry wonderland has walls, a bar, and benches all made from ice. Special lighting and music further enhance the chilling experience. Plentiful games, such as shuffleboard, corn hole and checkers, add to the fun. www.polarplay.com. Roars & Pours Its happy hour gone wild – literally! Starting March 1 and then continuing on the first Thursday of each month, the Phoenix Zoo will partner with a brewery (Ballast Point on March 1, Oskar Blues Brewery on April 5 and Heineken on May 3) to offer a 21 and over experience called Roars & Pours. Held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Roars & Pours will feature craft brews, wine and food plus animal encounters on select zoo trails, yard games, live music, and entertainment. Admission is $10 and includes entrance into the zoo and access to games and entertainment. Food and beverages are available for purchase, with $5 beer and wine. www.phoenixzoo.org. Science With a Twist On the third Friday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m., the Arizona Science Center hosts an interactive party for adults. Dubbed “Science With a Twist,” each 21 and over event has a central theme and features music, a cash bar, live demos, and interactive adult-themed activities with a unique science spin. The Feb. 16 theme is Pompeii, and as a special treat, its blockbuster exhibit, POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION, will be open late for an added fee. Admission starts at $12 and includes entry, entertainment, and access to several exhibits. Beverages and food are available for purchase. www.azscience.org.
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So Scottsdale! February ‘18