Museum of Illusions will hold ‘AfterDARK’ 21-plus event
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The Museum of Illusions Pittsburgh on the North Side has been open only since December, but it’s already establishing itself as a destination for kids and their families.
This Thursday, though, the museum’s “AfterDARK” event will be open late only to adults for a night of mingling, music, drinks and fun for every grown-up’s inner child.
“We like to create a space where, from time to time, adults can take a breath away from kids … and enjoy something that’s definitely meant for kids, but with only adults to let you let out that inner kid,” said Kenny McKernan, Museum of Illusions Pittsburgh’s sales and marketing coordinator.
From 6 to 8 o’clock Thursday, adults get free rein of the museum, in addition to two drink tickets and a selection of “light bites” from Tom’s Watch Bar, which is right next door.
The Museum of Illusions concept began in Croatia.
“It just sort of worked its way out through Europe and became so popular that they decided to make the jump over to the States,” McKernan said, with about 10 such museums currently open here and more to come this year.
He added that the same franchise holder who owns Pittsburgh’s museum is opening one in Boston soon.
“Things are constantly growing around the Museum of Illusions, it seems like,” he said.
He and his colleagues refer to themselves as being part of an “edu-tainment” company, meaning that the exhibits found at the museum are meant to both entertain and educate viewers.
“It’s obviously meant to be a very fun experience, a very photo-friendly place, making memories with family,” McKernan said. “What makes us a little more unique, I think, is that we always try to explain the illusions with some sort of scientific explanation on why your brain sees it that way or why your eyes perceive it the way that it is.
“We like to help people maybe experience the world a little bit differently, change their point of view, while also giving them a better understanding of how their brain works.”
The space features illusion rooms and installations, in addition to a variety of eye-fooling images.
“We come off as a very family-friendly place, and we are, absolutely. We want you to bring the kids in … especially kids have the best reactions to the illusions,” McKernan said.
But that’s not the aim of their 21-plus nights, which they intend to hold every couple of months. The first one was held in March, and Thursday’s event will be the second.
“When you’re in an environment where you see a bunch of adults acting like kids, you want to act like a kid, too,” McKernan said. “We reward you for waiting those 21 years with a nice little drink to go with it. Sometimes the illusions can get a little crazier when you have those drink tickets on hand, too.”
The Museum of Illusions holds AfterDARK events on “Thirsty Thursdays” to give adults something fun to do on a weeknight and help them avoid the sometimes-crowded North Side on the weekends.
Each ticket is $39.95 and includes two drink tickets, food and music by DJ Cake. Guests can wander around the museum at their leisure throughout the event. To learn more and get tickets, visit moipittsburgh.com.