In the ‘90s, Thursday nights were deemed ‘Must-See TV’ on NBC. Now, Thursday nights are about venturing out after dark to be seen at special events held at museums in cities across the country. Every Thursday, the Exploratorium in San Francisco offers ‘After Dark Thursday Nights,’ featuring unique adult-only programs that enlighten and entertain. Upcoming topics include Everything Matters: Neon, and Full-Spectrum Science with Ron Hipschman : Radioactivity. Tickets are required, but Lab Members can enjoy the evening for free. Washington, D.C. is home to over 50 museums. While most visit these hallowed halls of history during the day, it’s the after-hour events occurring the first Thursday of every month that are attracting a different crowd.

During the winter months, check out Phillips after 5. Held in The Phillips Collection, the evening is billed as ‘a lively mix of art and entertainment.’ The next event takes place on February 4, 2016, and features the topic ‘Opposites Attract,’ which will explore mashups in media. Reservations are highly recommended.

If you’re in Jackson, Mississippi or Detroit, Michigan, you’ll want to check out each city’s after dark events happening every third Thursday of the month. The Mississippi Museum of Art showcases a free, themed evening that’s part pop-up exhibition and dining experience. In January, it’s the Cabin Fever Film Fest, while in February, paper snobs can drool over CrookedLetterPress. Over in Detroit, the Michigan Science Center offers a ‘thinking person’s happy hour’> with its After Dark events. Gamers will love January’s theme: Vintage Video Games (e.g., Duck Hunt) in celebration of the museum’s newest exhibit, Toytopia. On tap for February, Cosplay and Improv. In our opinion, all these options sound more fun than hanging out in a coffee shop talking about nothing.

Have you thought about hosting an after-dark event in your city? Create your next event on Events.com. 

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This post originally appeared on Events.com on January 18, 2016. All dead links have been removed.