Yuri's Night at Great Lakes Science Center

Since 2001, an international community of scientists, researchers, and self-styled geeks has been celebrating manned spaceflight with Yuri's Night, a festive commemoration of where we've been and where we yet may go. Cleveland joined that federation in 2009. Tonight at the Great Lakes Science Center, flighty types will have another chance to tip their helmets both to namesake U.S.S.R. cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and to the brave crew of the first U.S. space shuttle. The cosmic cocktail party launches at 8 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, dancing, space-related exhibits from NASA Glenn, a trivia contest with a real, live astronaut, and a midnight showing of the Omnimax movie Hubble. You can also get a load of the storm troopers from the 501st Legion — “the world’s definitive Imperial costuming organization”; we told you geekiness was involved — as they parade around in their Star Wars finery. Your $60 entry fee gets you unlimited beer and wine; the Jell-O shots and specialty cocktails cost more. For tix and more info, check out the website.