AMNH Announces Their Social Calendar For 2011-2012

The American Museum of Natural History will be kicking off its 2011-2012 social season in October with the annual Family Party, a favorite event among youngsters. Other highlights of the coming year will include the dazzling Museum Gala; the annual Museum Dance, consistently one of New York City's most popular junior events; the 22nd Annual Environmental Lecture and Luncheon; and a range of fun get-togethers for young professionals. Highlights include:

FAMILY PARTY-Tuesday, October 18
On Tuesday, October 18, from 5 to 7pm, the 18th Annual Family Party-one of the Museum's best-loved traditions-will feature educational activities, entertainment by the Laughing Pizza band, and more. The Family Party is a special opportunity for children and adults of all ages to experience the wonders and magic of the Museum.

The 2011 Family Party Chairmen are Hilary Addington, Diana Roesch DiMenna, Nina Garcia Conrod and David Conrod, Melissa and Carney Hawks, Kim and Greg Lippmann, Joella Lykouretzos, and Allison Mignone.

This year's Family Party is generously sponsored by Tiffany & Co.

Individual tickets are $85 for children and $175 for adults. Ticket packages are also available For event and ticket information, the public can visit amnh.org/familyparty, call 212-313-7161, or email familyparty@amnh.org. Proceeds from the evening help support the Museum's educational and scientific programming.

MUSEUM GALA-Thursday, November 17
The highlight of the fall season, the much-anticipated Museum Gala will be held on Thursday, November 17, from 7 to 11 pm. Over 500 guests are expected to attend this year's dazzling gala. The evening begins with cocktails in the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda followed by dinner, dancing, and live entertainment in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life with a fabulous live auction of extraordinary and priceless items.

Tickets for tables of 10 are $100,000, $50,000, $30,000, and $15,000. For more information and to purchase tickets, the public can call 212-769-5166 or email cconese@amnh.org. Proceeds from the evening help support the Museum's educational and scientific programming.

MUSEUM DANCE-Thursday, March 8, 2012
As New York City's longest-running junior benefit, the annual Museum Dance brings together influential and philanthropic young professionals to celebrate and raise essential funds for the Museum's scientific and educational programs, which enable thousands of underserved New York City school children to visit the Museum annually. Guests will have the opportunity to buy tickets to an intimate dinner or to join friends later in the evening for dessert, dancing, and a silent auction. For more information on this event, please visit amnh.org/museumdance.

ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE AND LUNCHEON-Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Museum's 22nd Annual Spring Environmental Lecture and Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, April 25, from 11:30 am to 2 pm. For more information, please visit amnh.org/ell.

The Environmental Lecture and Luncheon chairmen include Suzanne Cochran, Katheryn P. Kempner, Joanne Prager, Catherine B. Sidamon-Eristoff, Mary C. Solomon, and Constance Spahn.

JUNIOR COUNCIL EVENTS-Tuesday, September 20, and Thursday, December 1
All Junior Council events include special viewings of Museum exhibitions or films, a discussion by Museum scientists, and a cocktail reception.

The Junior Council kicks off its 2011-2012 season on Tuesday, September 20, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, with a private screening of Tornado Alley and a cocktail reception. Narrated by Bill Paxton (Twister, Titanic), this 43-minute film follows two teams on separate missions to encounter the birth of a tornado and gain new insights into these extraordinary and cruel forces of nature. Storm Chasers star Sean Casey and his crew attempt to capture the first up-close images of a tornado, while the scientists of VORTEX2, the largest tornado-research project ever assembled, work to understand exactly how tornados form in order to predict where they will strike and provide better warnings to those at risk.

The season continues on Thursday, December 1, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, with a private viewing of the new major exhibition Beyond Earth: The Future of Space Exploration and a cocktail reception. This exhibition launches visitors into the exciting future of space exploration as it boldly speculates on humanity's next steps "out there" in our solar system and beyond. Beyond Earth features a full-size recreation of a lunar habitat, a model of an elevator reaching up into space, a walk-through diorama of the Martian surface, and challenging computer interactive exhibits.

The season concludes with a special event on Wednesday, June 20, which will feature a panel discussion followed by a cocktail reception and live jazz on the Arthur Ross Terrace.

Tickets to each event are $80 in advance or $100 at the door. For reservations or information on joining the Junior Council, please call 212-769-5986 or email jcmembership@amnh.org. Proceeds from each event help support the Museum's educational and scientific programming.