It was smaller than I’d expected, but the black bean thing was good and the couches were comfortable, and sure enough their list of upcoming events didn’t disappoint.  Top on my list of things I thought were really cool was that they were working their way through a list of generators and refrigerators and solar ovens… you know, the things that you see online that you’re sure can’t POSSIBLE work?  Well, they’re actually building them and trying them out.

And by "walk you through" I mean that quite literally. They have a very complete and completely spectacular indoor replica of a deciduous rainforest, complete with waterfall. Lots of taxidermied animals inhabit it, which can sometimes be a little weird (it takes a special kind of person to stuff a baby bear) but it's breathtaking display.

Some of them work, some of them don’t – but I Love the idea that they’re at least trying them out. 

The open mic itself was very low-key, the high point for me was a guy who’d brought at least a dozen Native American-style flutes and played them along with a keyboard app on his iPhone…. Which sounded better than the big fancy Roland piano that was played later in the evening.... Well played pants piano.  Well played.  Pun intended. 

Today we’re making the time to go check out the new North Carolina Natural Science Museum.  Unlike Indianapolis’ museum, all of their dinosaurs are apparently on the INSIDE, but perhaps they’ll still be awesome.

Of course, not everything the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences displays is dead and stuffed. They have a huge collection of Live amphibians and reptiles, as well as a truly intimidating "Arthropod Zoo" full of more creepy crawlies than I've seen in quite some time. Apparently, as a state-run institution, they also find themselves responsible for taking possession (and humane care) of any confiscated animals taken in police raids. An interesting problem to have...

April 26th, 2012.
The weather’s been whipsawing betwixt beautiful and dismal – or at least dismal for