Perot Museum of Nature and Science's Annual Night At The Museum: Ignite Gala Set the Night Ablaze

Photo by Turk Studio

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science’s Night at the Museum: Ignite illuminated Dallas on Nov. 9 for a gala unlike any other. According to a release, more than 1,000 guests attended, including Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Dallas City Councilmember David Blewett, Texas Instruments officials Peter Balyta and Terri West, and philanthropist Sally Hoglund – all on hand to help dedicate the newly reimagined Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall days before its Nov. 12 public opening. “Thanks to our incredible supporters, this year’s Night at the Museum overflowed with opportunities for exploration on every level, igniting imagination and sparking the curiosity of our guests,” said Dr. Linda Silver, the Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of the Perot Museum. “As our biggest fundraiser, this evening supports the Perot Museum’s mission to inspire minds through nature and science, allowing us to successfully lead the charge for STEM education in North Texas.”

7th Annual Great Adventure Hunt Raises Funds For Early Childhood Education

(Press Release) ChildCareGroup hosted its 7th Annual Great Adventure Hunt, presented by Alliance Data, this past Saturday. The fun and clever puzzle hunt at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science grossed nearly $360,000 to support CCG’s early childhood education programs. Following a cocktail hour and dinner, more than 320 guests competed on teams of six to decipher fun and wacky clues and solve mind-bending, unexpected puzzles throughout the museum’s 11 exhibit halls on five floors. This year’s puzzles featured edible clues, a Mother Goose actor, Twister and “The Hokey Pokey”. The masterminds behind the Hunt’s fun and challenging puzzles are Dallas’ own Puzzle Pros John Harris, Joe Mannes, Tom Nynas, Kemp Sawers and Bart and Elizabeth Showalter. This year is the first time they’ve written the Hunt puzzles; however, they’re no strangers to the Hunt. The Puzzle Pros collectively have won or placed in the event at least 10 times. Judges tallied the scores and teams who solved the most puzzles in the shortest time received prizes and bragging rights.

A Night At The Museum Had The Perot Seeking To "Elevate" Fundraising in 2016

photos c/0 Thomas Garza Photography and the Perot Museum


Dancing in the clouds, hot air balloons, flight simulators, hair-raising experiments, dancing birds and floating foods had visitors soaring at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science’s annual fundraising gala, Night at the Museum: Elevate, on Saturday, Nov. 12. Held on all five levels of the Museum, the nearly sold-out soiree featured “play-and-party” activities, live entertainment, delicious science-infused fare and cocktails from Wolfgang Puck Catering, and dreamy décor that had patrons floating on cloud nine. “From aviation and nature’s beauty, to the future of flight, this year’s Night at the Museum will explore the many interpretations of elevation,” said Dan Kohl, the Perot Museum’s interim chief executive officer. “This event supports our mission to inspire minds through nature and science by allowing us to sponsor community outreach programs, fund research, provide financial assistance for students and bring in traveling exhibitions to our visitors.” An invitation-only VIP pre-party, presented by Highland Capital Management, kicked off the evening and in a nod to the Perot Museum’s fall traveling exhibition, Birds of Paradise, where Earth’s most flirtatious birds are visually displayed in a simulated exotic New Guinea rainforest guests got to witness a live bird show.

The Perot Museum Is Looking For Cool Collectibles

My collection of light-up plastic Santa's from the 1960/1970s

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is conducting the ultimate hobbyist’s challenge in advance of its first full-scale, self-curated exhibition, Eye of the Collector. The general public is invited to submit their collections – everything from quirky and crafty to historic and valuable items – for a chance to have their precious possessions on display within the exhibition. Starting today, contestants can upload information and photos of their collections in the categories of “Best Youth” (17 and under), “Most Unique” or “Most Visually Stunning” at perotmuseum.org/contest. The deadline to submit is Sunday, Feb. 21, at 11:59 p.m. CST. “Imagine your personal collections on view for thousands of Museum visitors to see! The big question is – how do you use inanimate objects to tell your compelling story? What is it about your collection and why you collect what you do that moves people?” asks Colleen Walker, Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of the Perot Museum. “That’s what we’re setting out to learn as we gear up for the Perot Museum’s first fully curated exhibition, Eye of the Collector."

Meet Storm Chasers Sean Casey at the Perot Museum on January 10

Coming this January, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science will present Tornado Alley 3D, the most ambitious film ever made to explore the origins and evolution of these fascinating, yet devastating weather systems. In the region of America’s heartland known as “the severe weather capital of the world” where tornadoes tear through towns, cities and people’s lives every year, it’s no wonder the vicious storms carry a terrifying stigma as one of nature’s most destructive forces. Narrated by Bill Paxton (Twister, Titanic), the heart-pounding, 20-minute film will run Jan. 9 - May 21, 2015, in The Hoglund Foundation Theater, a National Geographic Experience. Tornado Alley 3D follows daring filmmaker Sean Casey (star of the Discovery Channel's wildly popular Storm Chasers series) and the researchers of the VORTEX2 initiative on a thrilling quest to witness the birth of a tornado.

Armed with an IMAX® camera, a fleet of customized vehicles designed to withstand gale force winds, torrential rains and unrelenting hail, and an arsenal of the most advanced weather measurement instruments ever created, Casey and the VORTEX2 scientists take audiences on a heart-pounding mission to experience a tornado's devastating power while gathering the most comprehensive extreme weather data ever collected. Carrying a 92-pound IMAX® camera, director Casey and his crew race after storms in TIV-2, a seven-ton armored “Tornado Intercept Vehicle” engineered and built by Casey to help him capture what he considers a cinematic “holy grail,” a shot of a tornado from point-blank range. Tornado Alley 3D is the culmination of Casey’s efforts and will give audiences the chance to ride along – and experience a visual powerhouse of never-before-captured tornado footage on the giant screen.

The Best Events in Dallas for September 2014

The social scene typically follows a feast or famine scenario. When school let out in May, the invitations dried up as folks packed it up and headed out of town on vacation and kids went off to summer camps. A new school year just resumed and the social scene is back with a vengeance. I hope you are well-rested because I've got a full calendar of activities and happenings for you this month!

Thursday, September 4

On Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m., wildlife conservationist and Emmy Award-winning TV host Jeff Corwin will host a special opening night, full-length, 40-minute screening of Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland as part of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science First Thursday Late Night programming when the Museum stays open until 9 p.m. Corwin, who narrated the film, also will participate in an audience Q&A and sign autographs immediately following the screening. The screening will take place in The Hoglund Foundation Theater, A National Geographic Experience. Tickets for the Sept. 4 screening/Q&A with Jeff Corwin are $8 for Museum members and $10 for non-members. The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit www.perotmuseum.org.

Merry Voss is a retail legend in this town for her bold sense of style and ability to turn a cabana (literally) into the hottest retail destination in Dallas. Last year, she opened Canary a few doors down from Cabana on West Lovers Lane and made headlines all over again. Stop by on September 4 between 9am-5pm to view a new jewelry boutique called CUCKOO inside Canary. Canary is located at 4609 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas, 75209

Meet Jeff Corwin at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science on Sept. 4

(Press Release) The Galapagos Islands top many nature-lovers’ bucket lists. Straddling the Equator in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, this volcanic island chain is a paradise unlike any other – home to some 9,000 species. On Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m., North Texans will witness the splendor of this remote and rugged destination with an experienced guide.

Wildlife conservationist and Emmy Award-winning TV host Jeff Corwin will host a special opening night, full-length, 40-minute screening of Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland as part of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science First Thursday Late Night programming when the Museum stays open until 9 p.m. The screening will take place in The Hoglund Foundation Theater, A National Geographic Experience.

Corwin, who narrated the film, also will participate in an audience Q&A and sign autographs immediately following the screening. After the Sept. 4 opening, the 20-minute version of Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland will run daily at select times through May 21, 2015.

How to enjoy a Spring Break Staycation in Dallas

The author's daughter at the Dallas Arboretum

How to enjoy a Spring Break Staycation in Dallas
by Jayne Herring

My kindergartener is on Spring Break this week, and I know we are not the only family having a staycation. Rather than organizing file cabinets and hanging artwork while the munchkin catches up on Disney films, we came up with a list of things we plan to do to keep learning and exploring our city even while school is closed. There are many options around Dallas that will provide fun for the whole family, and quite a few of them won't cost you anything.

Founded in 1888, the DALLAS ZOO was the first zoo in the southwest. Next week, educational interpreters will be available at the stage throughout the day with a variety of animals to provide close-up encounters, answer questions, and help educate Dallas Zoo guests about wildlife. Click HERE to schedule your encounter. We will take DART from Uptown; ride DART to the Zoo Mondays and Tuesdays to receive a $2.00 discount on general admission. Show your same-day DART Pass at the Dallas Zoo ticket booth to enjoy your discount! 

Visit http://www.dallaszoo.com/plan-your-adventure/discounts-offers/ 

After visiting last September, we have been wanted to get back to the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum. Loaded with fun activities and displays to fill up little brains of budding scientists and and even their parents, the outdoor science museum is also a picturesque oasis in the city, on the edge of White Rock Lake.Monday and Tuesday will be sunny with temps in the 70's, so you can bet you will find us there then. Arboretum memberships includes visits to the Children's Garden (number of visits dependent on membership level), and reservations are recommended.  Visit http://www.dallasarboretum.org/.

Scenes from the Perot Museum Opening Gala

Kelly Compton, Margot Perot, Ross Perot, Nicole G. Small, Carolyn Perot Rathjen and Forrest Hoglund

On December 1, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science will debut a new museum on a 4.7-acre site at the northwest corner of N. Field Street and Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Victory Park adjacent to downtown Dallas. VIP guests got to preview this exciting new addition to our city this past Saturday, November 17, 2012.   Co-chairs, Kelly and R. Brock Compton and honorary co-chairs, Sally and Forrest Hoglund headed up the annual fundraising gala themed “Discover the Perot” which marked the first event before the Museum officially opens to the public.