SYRACUSE, N.Y (NCC News) — Bottles of bubbles, charcuterie boards and tables full of chocolate truffles…
This wasn’t your Valentine’s Day date – it was Discovery night at the Museum of Science and Technology. The MOST hosts the fundraising event every year in February, and the ingredient for success was no secret.
“Everybody loves chocolate, right?”
Howie Hollander, Museum of Science and Technology Board of Trustees member
Guests were able to dine on truffles provided by Sweet on Chocolate, sip cocktails and peruse some of the exhibits after hours. The evening finished in National Grid Exploradome, where the MOST presented a special Star Crossed Lovers show in the planetarium.
Howie Hollander, a board of trustees member, said that events like Chocolate Discovery are important to help keep the museum up to date. The museum features hands-on science exhibits that must be consistently updated as breakthroughs come to light.
“We would not be serving the public if somebody came in and, and said, hey, wait a minute… I know for a fact I learned in my third grade class that this is no longer true,” said Hollander. “The kids [that] come in here are pretty smart.”
Updates include the new GROW exhibit, which highlights sustainable agriculture. Learners can “shop” for locally produced food items including maple syrup and apples, interact with a “Farmbot” that teaches them how farmers use technology, and learn about sustainable agriculture practices. According to Hollander, updates to the beloved Dino Zone are also coming down the pike.
But Chocolate Discovery isn’t just about raising money. “Hopefully some of those adults coming in,” said Hollander, “will have children and grandchildren and they’ll come back, you know, and take in the rest of the museum that doesn’t involve chocolate tonight.”
For attendee Kim Allen, the evening was important for far more than satisfying her sweet tooth. “It’s local,” said Allen. “You know, all the stuff [the MOST] do[es] for the children, for STEM, teaching them at such a young age. They give back to the community as well, so I think it’s important… that the community returns that favor.”
The MOST is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Guests can view the events calendar here to plan their visit.
Get an inside look at Chocolate Discovery night at the MOST.
