REVIEW: Noon Year's Eve, Science Center of Iowa (SCI)

What a nuthouse. I think the SCI employee at the ticket counter said it best when she shouted to me, “I think they could have waited to pass out the noise-makers.”

Imagine if you will 200-some (my estimate) families, each with two or three kids, including one baby in a gigantic stroller, crammed into the Founders Hall at the SCI. Now give each of the kids a cookie and a paper kazoo. Next, open up a juice stand and let them have lid-less cups of apple juice. For the love of all things holy… I’ve never heard such noise.

At noon, the SCI employees dropped balloons and confetti on this swarm, and I’m pretty sure the noise level exceeded safe levels. The kids freaked. All of them at the same time.

And then, just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any louder, the little scientists got an idea: balloon drop… how about balloon pop? Yes, all 400 children started popping red, yellow, pink, green and orange balloons. Mass hysteria.

All in all, I’d say it’s a cute concept with an even cuter name. But I don’t think I’ll be pack for a few years – probably five. I think I read somewhere that’s how long it takes for your ear drums to regenerate.