On Saturday, August 20, the Orlando Science Center will host the premiere of the giant screen film, Arabia during its quarterly social event Cocktails and Cosmos from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will offer guests a unique social experience with themed entertainment, food and drink as guests experience debut screenings of Arabia in the Dr. Phillips CineDome.
Narrated by Helen Mirren, the film examines the history, culture and landscape of Arabia through the eyes of Saudi Arabian film student, Hamzah Jamjoom. Born and raised in Jeddah, Hamzah came to the U.S. at the age of 17, accompanying his college-age sister. Now 24 years old, and approaching the end of his own film studies at Chicago’s DePaul University, Hamzah’s driving dream is to join a youthful generation of scientists, thinkers and innovators in Saudi Arabia who he believes will fulfill on the potential for a new Golden Age for his country. Hamzah will be on hand to engage guests in discussion about the film throughout the event.
Arabia paints a portrait of the three Golden Ages of Arabia: the age of the sophisticated, enterprising Nabataean Empire and the unbound scientific discoveries that came from the Islamic Age. Come see how these early cultures helped lay the foundation for the Renaissance and forge a high-tech, modern world with a vast amount of wealth and booming populations. In between screenings, guests will experience performances by the award-winning Orlando Bellydance Performance Company.
This group specializes in authentic Arabian dances and other global dance forms including Polynesian, Samba, Bollywood and Romani. Guests will also have the opportunity to adorn themselves with Henna artwork, provided by Ron Jaffe from Red Moon Henna and Body Art. Jaffe’s experience in both traditional and contemporary henna patterns allows him to incorporate a large range of indigenous styles, using all natural ingredients and essential oils.
Prior to the film premiere, enjoy traditional Mediterranean style fare provided by Tony’s Deli and experience the distinctive sounds and music of DJ Khalil. Drinks will be available for purchase from Ember and Espresso Events. Thanks to the Bahia Shriners, guests will enjoy encounters with Sir Gus the camel. He stands at 8 feet tall and weighs in at 1,300 pounds and has been known to blow kisses to his more adoring fans.
During the evening, venture to the top of the Science Center and enjoy stargazing in the Crosby Observatory through one of the state’s largest publicly accessible refractor telescope. In addition, tour the new exhibit, GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World, making its world premiere at the Orlando Science Center this summer. This exhibition explores the history and evolution of the guitar - from lutes and lyres to modern high-tech instruments - and illustrates how the instrument became the cultural symbol it is today.
Check out ancient stringed instruments from the Arabic region like the Tanbur from Persia or the Oud from Mesopotamia and see their modern counterparts. The guitar exhibit will also host special guest singer/songwriter Sandy Shugart during the event. He will perform a selection of his original work on a stage within the exhibit.
Tickets to the event are $13 and will include admission to the premiere screenings, performances and exhibits. Admission is free for Science Center members. For parents looking for that special “date night,” the Science Center will be providing an excellent childcare program that includes dinner and an array of fun activities. Cost is $25 for the first child and $20 for siblings.
For more information on the childcare option, please call 407-514-2112. For more info on Cocktails & Cosmos, please call 407-514-2000 or visit www.osc.org.
Narrated by Helen Mirren, the film examines the history, culture and landscape of Arabia through the eyes of Saudi Arabian film student, Hamzah Jamjoom. Born and raised in Jeddah, Hamzah came to the U.S. at the age of 17, accompanying his college-age sister. Now 24 years old, and approaching the end of his own film studies at Chicago’s DePaul University, Hamzah’s driving dream is to join a youthful generation of scientists, thinkers and innovators in Saudi Arabia who he believes will fulfill on the potential for a new Golden Age for his country. Hamzah will be on hand to engage guests in discussion about the film throughout the event.
Arabia paints a portrait of the three Golden Ages of Arabia: the age of the sophisticated, enterprising Nabataean Empire and the unbound scientific discoveries that came from the Islamic Age. Come see how these early cultures helped lay the foundation for the Renaissance and forge a high-tech, modern world with a vast amount of wealth and booming populations. In between screenings, guests will experience performances by the award-winning Orlando Bellydance Performance Company.
This group specializes in authentic Arabian dances and other global dance forms including Polynesian, Samba, Bollywood and Romani. Guests will also have the opportunity to adorn themselves with Henna artwork, provided by Ron Jaffe from Red Moon Henna and Body Art. Jaffe’s experience in both traditional and contemporary henna patterns allows him to incorporate a large range of indigenous styles, using all natural ingredients and essential oils.
Prior to the film premiere, enjoy traditional Mediterranean style fare provided by Tony’s Deli and experience the distinctive sounds and music of DJ Khalil. Drinks will be available for purchase from Ember and Espresso Events. Thanks to the Bahia Shriners, guests will enjoy encounters with Sir Gus the camel. He stands at 8 feet tall and weighs in at 1,300 pounds and has been known to blow kisses to his more adoring fans.
During the evening, venture to the top of the Science Center and enjoy stargazing in the Crosby Observatory through one of the state’s largest publicly accessible refractor telescope. In addition, tour the new exhibit, GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World, making its world premiere at the Orlando Science Center this summer. This exhibition explores the history and evolution of the guitar - from lutes and lyres to modern high-tech instruments - and illustrates how the instrument became the cultural symbol it is today.
Check out ancient stringed instruments from the Arabic region like the Tanbur from Persia or the Oud from Mesopotamia and see their modern counterparts. The guitar exhibit will also host special guest singer/songwriter Sandy Shugart during the event. He will perform a selection of his original work on a stage within the exhibit.
Tickets to the event are $13 and will include admission to the premiere screenings, performances and exhibits. Admission is free for Science Center members. For parents looking for that special “date night,” the Science Center will be providing an excellent childcare program that includes dinner and an array of fun activities. Cost is $25 for the first child and $20 for siblings.
For more information on the childcare option, please call 407-514-2112. For more info on Cocktails & Cosmos, please call 407-514-2000 or visit www.osc.org.