Edit by Brice R.
4/11/2008
After a 2007 event that drew over 4,000 attendees and global attention, the NASA Ames Research Center in the San Francisco Bay Area is ready to hold a party even bigger and better than last year's. Over the course of 12 hours (1:30 PM - 2 AM), NASA Ames' Moffett Field will host dozens of speeches, presentations, artistic exhibitions and musical acts on four separate stages.
At its heart, Yuri's Night Bay Area is a giant party, and the all-star musical lineup is sure to satisfy any space enthusiast with a dancing urge. Prominent acts include indie synthpop band Freezepop, the 17-member percussionist Gamelan X, acclaimed electronic artist Amon Tobin and Telstar, featuring former Grateful Dead guitarist Phil Lesh. Over 25 different acts will be performing throughout the day, not including the ambient DJs playing round-the-clock in the relaxing Orbital Lounge. Bring your best space outfit to party in--the best outfit, as decided by the audience, will win a free flight in zero gravity (ERV: $4,000).
There's more to celebrating space than partying, though, and NASA Ames has a dazzling array of scientific and artistic installations. Notable displays include: the 2008 Tesla Roadster, the world's first high-performance production electric vehicle; the BD-5 Jet, the world's smallest jet airplane; Burning Man Earth, a 3D virtual representation of the annual outdoor festival; and many artistic displays and exhibits. Live performances include interdisciplinary dance company Capacitor, multimedia performance group Bad Unkl Sista and the mesmerizing LED displays of Flowtoys. Don't forget to catch Aeronautika at 6 PM, an hour-long aerobatic display with two Soviet-era aircraft and the venerable American Pitts Special biplane.
Finally, make sure to take some time for the ongoing speakers and events. Will Wright, game designer of The Sims and the fifth inductee into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, will be speaking on and giving demonstrations of the highly-awaited game Spore. NASA astrobiologist Jonathan Trent, green entrepreneur Saul Griffith and The Long Now Foundation co-founder Stewart Brand. Other events include the Festival of Ideas, a continual group discussion session on issues related to the future of humanity, and the S.T.E.A.M. Screen Documentary Program.
This only scratches the surface of the ridiculously wide variety of events going on at Yuri's Night Bay Area this Saturday. If you're anywhere in the area, make sure to try your hardest to stop by. Tickets are $40 on the YNBA website (http://sf.yurisnight.net) or $50 at the door.