THE HERSHEY STORY AT THE MUSEUM ON CHOCOLATE AVENUE
ADDRESS: 111 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA 17033
WEB SITE: hersheystory.org
OLDIE BUT GOODIE: The Hershey Story pays tribute to the Hershey chocolate company's founder, Milton S. Hershey. The museum features 10,500 square feet of exhibit space, some of which is available for special events. The museum can host up to 300 guests reception-style; an in-house caterer is available for events. Several meeting rooms are offered; meetings must be held during museum hours. Private party rooms are available for birthday celebrations; chocolate-inspired activities offer sweet diversions for event guests. The museum has hosted events including galas,corporate events and wedding receptions.
ARTSY AREA: Event guests can be treated to a private tour of the museum; chocolate-tasting is available in the on-site cafe. Chocolate loving-guests will want to experience the museum's Chocolate Lab, which offers hands-on candy-making demonstrations; chocolate tempering and molding classes are available.
Sweet spaces: The Hershey Story's guests explore exhibits to discover how the company revolutionized milk chocolate production (1). Guests learn about the history and science of chocolate while making their own treats in the venue's Chocolate Lab (2).
LONG ISLAND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
ADDRESS: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, NY 11530
WEB SITE: www.licm.org
OLDIE BUT GOODIE: Housed in a converted airplane hangar, the Long Island Children's Museum offers 14 indoor and outdoor galleries and exhibits; interactive studios allow children and adults to create art and music. Event areas include the Bricks and Sticks Gallery — which allows guests to build three-dimensional shapes using blocks and interactive software — and the Pattern Studio. While the museum is a popular children's birthday party spot, its galleries inspire corporate teambuilding activities; trained museum educators are available to lead employee exercises. The museum's state-of-the-art theater is ideal for large gatherings; an outdoor event space is also available.
ARTSY AREA: Young-at-heart event-goers are encouraged to form a “band” in the museum's Music Gallery; playful revelers can immerse themselves in a 6-foot bubble in the Bubble Gallery.
Child's play: The Long Island Children's Museum's hands-on exhibits provide the ultimate icebreaker for corporate events (1). Bright, open spaces and lighthearted decor create a lively atmosphere for birthday parties (2).
GONE WITH THE WIND MUSEUM
ADDRESS: 18 Whitlock Ave., Marietta, GA 30064
WEB SITE: www.gwtwmarietta.gov
OLDIE BUT GOODIE: The Gone with the Wind Museum displays a privately owned collection of “Gone with the Wind” novel and film memorabilia; the collection features original costumes, scripts and contracts from the 1939 movie. Fans of the movie will marvel at the bengaline honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh during her role as “Scarlett”; autographed books and actor Clark Gable's personal items are also on display. The museum can accommodate up to 100 guests seated and 200 standing; the space has played host to everything from wedding rehearsals to corporate dinners. A preferred list of local caterers is provided upon request.
ARTSY AREA: The museum resides in a 1875 carriage house; the original hewn beams and wood plank floors add to the museum's romantic setting for wedding receptions and anniversary parties.
Soaring space: The Corning Museum of Glass' Glassmarket Cafe provides the ultimate view for both day and night gatherings (1). Classic movie fans will delight in the Gone with the Wind Museum's vast collection of film artifacts (2).
CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS
ADDRESS: One Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830
WEB SITE: www.cmog.org
OLDIE BUT GOODIE: Founded in 1951, the Corning Museum of Glass is home to a comprehensive, celebrated collection of glass. Dedicated to the art, research and history of glass and glassmaking, the museum showcases more than 45,000 objects. The museum hosts receptions and dinners; it is also a popular spot for conferences and other special events. Several unique event spaces are available, from glass galleries to conference rooms and boardrooms; a 750-seat auditorium is offered for large groups. The Glass Innovation Center, a cutting-edge architectural space, features three floating pavilions connected by a 300-foot bridge. The museum's Rakow Library Atrium — which features a glass staircase — offers an artistic setting for events; the sophisticated space can accommodate up to 150 guests. The Glassmarket Cafe, which seats 120 guests, is set amid the museum's towering windows.
ARTSY AREA: The museum offers several glassmaking experiences; guests can watch artists work glass rods into intricate shapes. Guests can also try out their own glassmaking skills in the museum's studio; they are sent home with ornaments, drinking glasses and other handmade items.
