The holidays may be in the rearview mirror but there’s still plenty of entertainment to be had at OMSI, starting with Science Pub: You Are WHEN You Eat Tuesday, January 13, 7-9 pm. For decades, health and diet professionals have focused on what and how much you eat as a means to a “healthier you.” However, the timing of when you eat, particularly as it relates to your sleep-wake cycle, may be just as important for health, including metabolic function, hormone regulation and heart function. In this lecture, sleep specialist Dr. Andrew McHill will uncover why the timing of your meals is important and take a look at recent trends in intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating. Advance tickets ($8 suggested donation) are recommended.
Reel Eats: Spirited Away takes place Wednesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 15, 7-9:30 pm each night. Spirited Away will be joining OMSI’s Reel Eats series as a prelude to the annual Studio Ghibli Film Festival. A $36 ticket to Reel Eats gets you admission to the largest screen in town as well as a tray full of bites that pair with moments in the film. The immersive experience will prompt viewers to eat certain bites as they correlate with a moment on screen.
The 11th annual Studio Ghibli Film Fest runs Friday, January 16-Monday, March 2, with screenings of 21 Studio Ghibli films, including popular favorites such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle and The Boy and The Heron. The festival launches with an opening celebration of the recent 4K restoration of the iconic Princess Mononoke. Tickets to the opening celebration ($22 adults, $19 seniors, $16 youth) include complimentary movie snacks, beverage, door prizes and a pass for one free OMSI admission on a future date. All other tickets are $9 adults, $8 seniors, $7 youth.
Sunday, January 18, 6-9 pm offers an immunocompromised-friendly evening with access to OMSI’s newest exhibition, Monsters of the Abyss: Aquatic Predators Past + Present. Masked Night is a low-capacity evening that will require all participants (including staff working the event) to wear an N95 or KN95 mask. Free masks will be available in the main lobby. Tickets are $25 ages 14+, $22 senior (63+) and $20 youth (3-13). Children under three are not allowed at this event as they are unable to mask.
Celebrate the Native community with OMSI’s fourth-annual Native American Community Science Night Friday, January 23, 6-9 pm. The family-friendly event welcomes visitors of all ages for a night of museum exploring, science demos, lectures, cultural entertainment, planetarium shows and access to the featured exhibit, Monsters of the Abyss: Science Playground for those six-years-old and under. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 youth/seniors.
Wednesday, January 28, 6-10 pm the museum goes into adult-only mode with OMSI After Dark: Into the Abyss. Delve into the depths of the sea for the first OMSI After Dark of the year with a celebration of life in the oceans. The event complements the featured exhibit, Monsters of the Abyss, looking at what is known, what is yet to be learned and especially the weird stuff down deep below the surface. Tickets ($27) offer guests 21+ the opportunity to have a drink and wander the exhibits after hours, interact with hands-on science experiments and enjoy live performances, lectures and food and beverage samples.
Tickets for all events and additional information at omsi.edu.