By Dathan Kazsuk
Sometimes, we adults need a night to let loose. You know that feeling when you take the kids to a museum or fun park and they’re running wild—jumping into a pit of colorful balls, pressing every single button on an exhibit or gawking at microbes under a high-powered microscope?
You secretly want to do it, too. But no, you sit back like a responsible adult, sipping lousy coffee while they have all the fun.
Well, the Museum of Life + Science in Durham gets it. That’s why they throw AfterHours: Science of Wine—a night where adults get to act like kids, except with better drinks and no one screaming for a juice box.
This year’s event, held on Thursday, February 13, was a sellout. Of course, it was. Give adults a chance to sip wine while playing with science exhibits and we’ll show up in droves. It’s a rare opportunity to explore space travel inside a real command module prototype or sneak a peek at Carolina wildlife—without dodging strollers or greasy little handprints smudging up the glass.
And this event was made for us. A DIY sangria station near the butterfly house? A Bordeaux blending session where we got to mix cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot like mad scientists? A session on qualia—which, if you don’t know, is the study of how we experience consciousness (a little deep for a wine-fueled evening, but still cool). Oh, and let’s not forget the fresh-popped popcorn. Sometimes, it’s the simple things.
But wait—there’s more. The first floor of the museum was transformed into a tasting paradise. Wine Authorities in Durham and Apex’s Cloer Family Vineyards poured samples alongside Chapel Hill Creamery, handing out cheeses. Meanwhile, musician Bill Mann filled the space with smooth jazz, setting the mood for a classy yet slightly tipsy evening.
One of the night’s highlights? The animal meet-and-greet. Have you ever sipped wine while petting a ferret? Or a box turtle? How about a baby ball python? Because I did.
Upstairs, things got even better. Durham’s Moon Dog Meadery served two meads—one traditional and one a warmed spiced pumpkin latte version (because even in February, we can’t escape pumpkin spice). Then there was HERitage Wines, with three wines, and Killer Queen Wine Bar, which had a sparkling wine from Mexico and a barrel-aged Malbec made in partnership with a winery in Paso Robles. Spoiler alert: those were my top two of the night.
And, of course, I had to make my way into the butterfly house—one of the largest on the East Coast. I grabbed an orange cinnamon roll from Lutra Café & Bakery before strolling through the 35-foot glass conservatory, surrounded by fluttering tropical butterflies. Oh, and I got to pet a four-inch caterpillar, which was cool until I learned that before it emerges from its cocoon, it literally loses its head. Nature is wild.
The adjacent insectarium was another level of creepy-crawly goodness. Tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, millipedes and a giant Malaysian stick insect that some brave souls let crawl on their arms.
By the night’s end, I wrapped up my tastings with pours from Honeygirl Meadery and Melanated Wine & Spirits—because, you know, research. And unlike those rushed two-hour wine tastings where you barely have time to grab a second sip, this event lasted 3.5 hours. Just enough time to drink, explore, make new friends and grab one last handful of popcorn before heading out.
This was my first time at AfterHours: Science of Wine, but definitely not my last. If you’re an adult looking for a night of science, animals and wine—without kids tugging on your sleeve—do yourself a favor and get a ticket next year.
