Who is interested in going to the Body Worlds exhibit at the Franklin Institute? I’m thinking March 10 or March 17, around 6 pm, with the possibility of dinner afterwards.
Body Worlds is an exhibit featuring displays of real human bodies preserved in plastic. The Franklin Institute’s webpage is at http://fi.edu/bodyworlds/index.html. Tickets are $14.75. They are fixed-time tickets, so we will need to get advance tickets to ensure we all have the same admission time.
I’ve been to see it twice already, or I’d join you. It’s awesome!!
I recommend allowing a minimum of 2 hours or more if you want to get the best experience. I took a lot of time looking at every single exhibit and reading everything.
Let us know how you like it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I bought the dvd they have for sell as well which has additional info.
Also keep in mind the various ticketing options they have available. You can do Body Worlds, the Institute, the IMAX movie, or any combination of the three. The Institute closes long before BW, so if you want to do both, check the times first.
DC
I’m too squeamish for this one. Oh well… maybe next time.
Littlecats and I went to the FI and saw that exhibit right before Christmas-it was fabulous.
We’ve been twice to the Body Worlds 2 in Toronto. It’s a very well curated show. They start you off slowly for the squeamish, and ease you into the exhibit. Just be warned that here in Toronto, they’ve been selling out like crazy. First time, we just showed up, and had a three hour wait. Second time we bought our tickets three days in advance, and still couldn’t get the time we wanted.
I was not really excited about seeing flayed bodies in plastic, but Deb the nurse just had to, so I went along. I was not bothered by any of the exhibits and I found it pretty fascinating. I cannot promise that you would have the same experience I did, but I would encourage you to give it a try.
(We saw Body Worlds 2 in Cleveland.)
You can get somewhat of a preview at the Body Worlds home page.
I’d love to, but I, uh, can’t. I have an, uh, urgent dentist appointment for the toothache I’m going to get that day. 
Did anyone else notice the “Four Seasons Hotel Cooking Demo” on the Franklin Institute’s page?
Robin
I have one of the brochures sitting in front of me right now. For those who have seen it, I have a question- Is there a limit on how long you can stay? One of the reasons I’ve put off going is that I fear that after having spent two hours studying four specimens, I’ll be kicked out.
I saw it in Singapore and loved it to pieces. It’s quite possibly the most engaging exhibit I’ve ever seen. Highly reccomend it.
No time limit was in effect the day we went and I’m glad we weren’t rushed, as my daughter’s questions were numerous. We went through Body Worlds first, and IIRC spent ~ 3 hours, filling out the remainder of our day in other parts of the museum. The only thing that disappointed was their prohibition on photography within the exhibit- probably because it would create even greater backups. You’ll love it, Doc.
I assumed photography and videotaping were prohibited. The exhibit and the museum’s need to make money. They sell a lot more Body Worlds books, postcards etc if people can’t take their own pictures. Light fades things (especially things that have been colored red using iron). Putting up signs prohibiting flash photography does not work. Some people either forget to turn off the flash, or just don’t bother. It’s much easier to ban all photography than to have employees watch all visitors to be sure the flash is off.
What in the hell is that apostrophe doing there? If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to beat myself with a copy of the Elements Of Style.
Self-flagellation really isn’t necessary. For apostrophe abuse, mortification of the flesh is more like it. 
Robin
Just saw it at midnight on Saturday (in Toronto), it was the last days of the show and I went on an impulse. Very cool. Spend the extra five bucks and get the headset, it makes a big difference.
I think it would have been improved with a few dynamic displays, like a video showing how the muscles move, or a model that we could take apart and put back together. I can look at twenty different biceps but if I can’t see them moving I don’t really understand how they work. The Science Centre (the venue) is usually very good at doing hands-on stuff and I was a bit disappointed that this exhibition didn’t have any.
But overall, definitely worth the price of admission. Even at midnight.
My excuse is that I just woke up. I also just reported somebody for making a GD post in a GQ thread. Then, I realized that I was looking at the wrong window and had actually reported somebody for making a GD post in a GD thread. :smack:
Re Franklin Institute
Just in case any of the people who end up going haven’t been to the Institute before, I strongly advise you to skip the Futures Center. It requires an extra admission fee, and is very disappointing. Constructed in the late eighties, the Futures Center was outdated in a few years. For example there is a computer display demonstrating a fascinating thing called a LAN. This involves a simple, monochrome game running on 486 machines. IMO The Futures Center was disappointing even when new.
The old Franklin Institute, however, is well organized, entertaining, extremely educational, and timeless.
Cowgirl
I see your point. But, odds are good that every patron had two working models showing how biceps move. Hmm, I said that mostly in jest but now I wonder if that was actually the artist’s intention. Did Von Hagen intend for visitors to look at a muscle, bone, or other part and then examine that part on their own body? It does fit with the interviews I’ve read.
DancesWithCats
I would have really liked to go to this exhibit with my sister and niece. My sister has always loved this kind of thing. Last time we were at the Franklin Institute, we spent a very long time watching a monitor showing reconstructive surgeries. She has a copy of Grey’s Anatomy on her bedroom bookshelf. My niece only five, but she loves to watch ‘the surgery show’* with her mom.
*This is any number of regular series on TLC, the Discovery Channel, or that Beverly Hills plastic surgery show.
Have you taken your sister to the Mutter Museum yet? I’ve become a bit squeamish of late, but the Mutter looks fascinating.
Robin
I’ve been to the Mutter a few times, and at least once with my sister. She bought me the Mutter Museum calendar. I brought along a book containing montage that incorporated several photographs of Mutter Museum specimens.
I’m too squeamish for this exhibit, but did enjoy the Mutter. Most of that stuff is old and funky, which definitely brings down the squickiness level significantly.
Twickster I don’t understand your point of view. Many of the Mutter’s specimens are dead things in large jars of formaldehyde. I would think that would disturb and disgust the squeamish much more than something that has been enfused with plastic.
Less realism.