A night at Sydney’s Australian Museum

Museums are typically synonymous with school groups and kid-friendly, interactive features -- but Sydney’s Australian Museum is taking a different approach. Through 3 April, the museum is joining forces with The Festivalists, a non-profit arts event company, for an adults-only event called Jurassic Lounge. Currently in its third season, over-18s can access the museum after hours on Tuesday nights (from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm) for live music, comedy performances, talks, art and drinks, all set against a spectacular backdrop of dinosaur skeletons, precious gemstones and native animals. A winter season will run later in the year. Acts change weekly, but standard installations include karaoke, dance tournaments, a silent disco (a room where participants wear headphones to connect through music), and a walking Muttaburrasaurus named Winnysaur, the interactive dinosaur who steals hearts in the atrium. There are burlesque and comedy shows scheduled, as well as photography exhibitions, like Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 which is currently on display. Each level of the museum contains a bar with moderately priced drinks and cocktails, including Little Creatures beer and cider and Innocent Bystander wines. Light meals and refreshments are available from the museum’s cafe on the ground floor. Entrance costs 15 Australian dollars and includes one free drink. While not necessary, booking in advance is recommended in order to avoid the queues.