NHM FIRST FRIDAYS 2023: March
Date
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 5pm
Location
Tickets
Free for Members
First Fridays 2023 season is here!
Explore the Museum after hours with live music, DJs, topical discussions, signature cocktails, pop-up experiences, special NHM collections displays, and more.
2023 Theme: Fandoms & Fantasy
The Natural World vs. Fantasy Worlds: This season we focus on how nature and science influence the creation of our favorite imagined worlds. From dragons and witchcraft to superheroes and giant monsters, First Fridays 2023 is where the fans come out to celebrate the intersection of pop-culture fandom and the work and collections of NHM.
March 3: Witches, Wizards, and Magical Powers
Live Music by:
ZSELA
DJ SETS BY:
Francesca Harding/KCRW
Bianca Lexis
featuring OUR Host AND Moderator: Dr. Yewande Pearse
Dr. Yewande Pearse is a neuroscientist and science communicator with over 10 years of research into understanding rare genetic brain disorders at both King’s College London and The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA. Host of "Sound Science" on Dublab Radio and Inside Biotech, a podcast from Biotech Connection Los Angeles. She has also worked with Headspace, Seed, Deem Journal, NAVEL, Fathomers, Massive Science, TEDMED, and more.
Cosplay Welcome!
Cosplay as your favorite fantasy and fandom character and get a chance to win a prize for favorite costume! Extra points for representing this month's theme of Witches, Wizards, and Magical Powers.
*Rules and info below.
DISCUSSION: Witches, Wizards, and Magical Powers: Creature Making from the Natural World
Level 2, north American Mammal Hall | 6:30 pm–7:30 pm
Explore the magical world of witches, wizards, and fantastical creatures with experts on creature-making. How closely do these made-up creatures resemble their natural counterparts? How do creators find inspiration in real life when building worlds populated with magical beasts and otherworldly beings? Join our discussion featuring creature and character designer Jordu Schell and biologist, paleontologist, and multimedia consultant Dr. Stuart Sumida with our moderator Dr. Yewande Pearse.
SEATING IS LIMITED FOR THE DISCUSSION, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jordu Schell has been in the fantasy art and sculpture field for nearly forty years, lending his talents to such diverse film projects as Avatar, Edward Scissorhands, Galaxy Quest and The Mist. Out of his Chatsworth, California studio, Schell creates his own high-end art collectibles and masks as well as designs for film, television, and video games. He has been teaching the art of creature and character design out of this facility, abroad, and online for nearly thirty years as well. Considered among the best "monster men" in the business, Schell is proud to be affiliated with NHM and the opportunity to share his craft with a wider group of people.
Dr. Stuart Sumida is a biologist and paleontologist working out of CSU-San Bernardino. He has excavated fossils in the U.S. and Europe and has acted as an anatomical consultant on over fifty films involving animation and visual effects, as well as on video games and theme park rides.
LIVE MUSIC AND DJ SET IN THE NATURE GARDENS STAGE
Zsela | Nature Gardens | 9:00 pM
Say "zhhh" like a phone on the table, like a bee says hush, then put on an “ayla” and that’s Zsela who cried so spooky as a baby that all the neighbor dogs would pace outside her house. For three years, with producer Daniel Aged, Zsela refined her songs into recordings. They broke through quickly with a molten love eulogy called “Noise.” Turning heads bought them space to perfect the rest of Zsela’s song stash, but the odd anticlimax of fanfare also seasoned what was to come—an EP called Ache Of Victory.
DJ francesca harding | NATURE GARDENS | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Francesca Harding is a DJ, radio host and music supervisor based in Los Angeles, California. You can catch her live, on-air every Tuesday night at 10 pm on 89.9FM KCRW.
DJ bianca lexis | NATURE GARDENS | 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bianca Lexis' versatile approach to finding music from all over the world is echoed in her biweekly show on NTS Radio, which produces some of her most eclectic recorded sets. Outside radio, you can catch her playing at late-night parties like A Club Called Rhonda, Into the Woods, and Moony Habits.
POP-UP EXPERIENCES
NHM'S RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS | OTIS BOOTH PAVILION - GROUND LEVEL
Explore the work and collection of NHM with special displays from our Dinosaur Institute, Ornithology, Herpetology, and History Departments. We'll be looking at scales and flight in the fantasy world vs. the natural world as well as other selections from our collection.
Alf Museum’s Cosplay for Science Initiative | OTIS BOOTH PAVILION - GROUND LEVEL
The Alf Museum’s Cosplay for Science Initiative assembles scientists, educators, and cosplayers to bridge the connection between science and pop culture. Brought to you by the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology. Visit the Alf Museum's Cosplay for Science Initiative at the Otis Booth Pavilion on the Ground Level for a special Dragons, Lore, and More Pop-Up Experience and join in the science and fantasy fun.
Golden Apple Comic and Art Foundation | LEVEL 1 FOYER - DUELING DINOS
The Golden Apple Comic and Art Foundation was started by Kendra and Ryan Liebowitz, owners of the world-famous Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The foundation's purpose is to preserve, safeguard and showcase private collections and ensure that comics, books, art, and collectibles are secured for future generations to enjoy. Visit the Golden Apple Comic and Art Foundation's table next to the Dueling Dinos for more information, special display, and on-theme items for sale.
PODCAST CORNER
THE WELCOME PARTY | LEVEL 1 FOYER - NEXT TO DINO HALL
The Welcome Party is a subsidiary of Perception Studio, and is a weekly live stream & podcast billed as "Your Exclusive Invitation to Pop Culture!" The show focuses on the introduction to pop culture staples and recent releases, and is themed where the audience is attending a party representing the media they'll be learning about/enjoying! Visit and chat with The Welcome Party Podcast at the foyer on Level 1 next to the Dino Hall and talk about all the wonders and enjoyment found at the intersection of fandoms, fantasy, and science.
MUSEUM EDUCATOR POP-UPS
M.E. Pop-Ups | East Entrance—Welcome table | 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Join one of our knowledgeable Museum Educators in a series of 30-minute pop-up presentations throughout the Museum to get some first-hand insights about our illuminating exhibits and vast collections. Meet the M.E.s at the Welcome Table located at the East Entrance.
Lani Quintana (she/her) is a Museum Educator at the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits. Spending a majority of her life in the Inland Empire, she studied Anthropology and Theatre at UC Riverside. She enjoys spending time in Angeles National Forest and using her love of nature to inspire wonder and curiosity with museum guests.
5:30pm: This is the Skin of a Killer, Bella: Animal skins, taxidermy and mythology
Diana Sanchez (she/her) is a Museum Educator at NHMLA and the La Brea Tar Pits. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she studied Art and Art History in the Bay Area. She enjoys making art inspired by nature and sharing stories that reveal the everlasting connection between nature, culture, and history.
7:30pm: BYOB- Bring Your Own Broomstick: Exploring alcohol production and witches
This Month's Featured Food Trucks
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. PLEASE READ THE FULL COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES
accepting all credit cards, Apple Pay, Cash App, and CASH.
COSPLAY RULES
First Fridays welcomes and celebrates the creativity of cosplayers. Please follow these basic guidelines for a safe, inclusive, and family-friendly experience for everyone. Guests who do not follow these guidelines are not allowed entry or will be removed from the event.
All Museum rules still apply.
- No functional props or weapons are allowed.
- No masks that cover the entire head and face.
- No costumes may be realistic depictions of American law enforcement, current American military uniforms, first responders, emergency medical personnel, or any official government agent.
- Costumes must not obstruct or impede the flow of traffic or entryways.
- First Fridays is an All Ages/Family Friendly event and all costumes must be respectful of all guests.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FEBRUARY 3RD FIRST FRIDAYS
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