Cal Academy is resuming NightLife series

The California Academy of Sciences is relaunching NightLife, its inperson afterhours series for people 21 and older.

On select Thursdays starting May 13, guests can stay at the San Francisco institution as late as 10 p.m. to visit exhibits including “Venom: Fangs, Stingers, and Spines” and “BigPicture” (which features the winners of a natural photography competition), take in starry (or foggy) vistas from the museum’s living roof, or meet the colorful creatures in the Philippine Coral Reef, all accompanied by special lighting, DJs and craft cocktails.

“Now that the Academy has safely reopened its doors, we’re excited to extend hours on Thursday evenings for NightLife guests,” said senior manager of NightLife Jackie Zappala. “This will very much be an experimental year for NightLife, and we encourage guests to come along for the ride.”

The academy, which reopened to the public on March 17, is limiting guest capacity to 20% and requiring reservations and timed entries.

Signage and loudspeaker announcements remind visitors about masking and maintaining social distancing, and staff are trained to issue polite reminders when they see unsafe behavior.

Additionally, the academy is allowing eating and drinking only in its cafe and outdoor West Garden.

For those who prefer digital offerings, the academy is continuing its free NightSchool classes on its YouTube and Facebook pages.