Date Wars: Margaret's Date

I know our blog has pretty much missed out on the rest of our summer (but hopefully that means we have been having too much fun to blog). Sometimes (usually) this is true, but occasionally (the rest of the time) it's because I'm too lazy to get all my thoughts down (since I spend so much time in front of the computer at work...). Anyways, I think our last blog post talked about our date wars.

Well to remind you of the rules...

1. must be between 6-10pm
2. must spend under $50
3. must include dinner (if you cook dinner, $$ is not deducted from the $50)

Anyways, my date came first. I picked Thursday...because on Thursdays, at the California Academy of Sciences, they host Nightlife. Nightlife lets you into the Academy of Sciences (for only $12/person) to explore, drink, laugh, learn, etc. It's a museum + a fun theme. The week I picked (this was a selling point for me), the theme was Prohibition. We LOVE the Prohibition (because nothing makes you want a drink more than remembering that back then, it was like a game trying to get a cocktail). Plus everything from that era is so fun. They have better drinks (well at least more unique drinks) and everyone got to wear such spectacular clothing. Nothing says A+ date like dressing up :)

Because I was spending money on the tickets (and I wanted to be able to get us each at least one of the specialty drinks), I decided to make dinner. At the academy, they were serving a roasted pork dish (to go with the Prohibition theme) so of course, my first thought was....pulled pork! So on Wednesday overnight, I made my pulled pork in my crockpot (never thought you would hear that word again huh?). I came home in a rush on Thursday and heated up the pulled pork and lathered them onto buns. Then I served dinner with roasted potatoes and apple sauce. What's more prohibition than that? (I know...just about everything else). Anyways, as an added bonus, I decided to get us a little bit dressed up for the theme. We stopped by this great secondhand chain store in our neighborhood called Crossroads. This place has the best stuff. I know it's a little nerdy, but we had so much fun trying on "costumes." Unfortunately, I couldn't include Matt's vest and my dress in the date tab (so maybe I cheated a little bit), but you will not believe these finds. I told him his vest would have been great with a pageboy hat but he didn't believe me. I found this great simple black dress for $7. What a steal.

Anyways, we finally got to the Academy at 7, which was perfect. We snagged some tickets for the planetarium at 8:30 and then headed into the rainforest. If you haven't been to the Academy, I highly recommend it. I loved the rainforest. The best part is that you walk all the way up to the top and then take an elevator all the way down to the bottom to the underground aquarium. I don't know what it is...but I LOVE aquariums. It was so unique. And incredible. There were butterflies and birds and snakes and bugs (ok, that part isn't that cool) and then you see sharks and fish and everything. It's like being in a whole different world. I was in awe.

in the jungle...the mighty jungle...

adapting to our environment

blending in....

making friends with starfish

We grabbed a few drinks (one for each of us) and watched a demonstration of a bartender making a pisco sour. Everyone was so into the prohibition thing. I think any other week would not have been as magical. We walked around and explored the museum a little bit more until it was time for the planetarium show. I've seen a show in there before and it's cool...but there are cooler things at the Academy. Like the living roof. It was freezing outside (and it was dark), but you can just tell that the living roof is INCREDIBLE. I think it's one of the biggest living roofs in the country (correct me if I'm wrong). But it would be spectacular to see during the day. 

hahahhahahah no words.

Honestly, this is one of the best dates I've ever been on (probably because I'm such an excellent planner). But it was just a new experience for us. I picked it because we walked through Golden Gate Park one day and Matt was yapping about how cool it would be to go in there, so I think it was perfect for our date. Definitely one of the best ways to spend our last few weeks in San Francisco.

Hopefully Matt had as much fun as I did :)