Museums hold some of our country’s most valuable objects, which is why it’s so puzzling that schoolchildren and hyenas are their main patrons. Behold breakable beauties with today’s Groupon to the Museum of Glass in downtown Tacoma. Choose between these two options:
- For $6, you get admission for one person (a $12 value).
- For $37, you get a one-year family membership for two adults and any accompanying children or grandchildren under 18 (a $75 value).
Housed in a 90-foot-high glass cone in downtown Tacoma, the Museum of Glass harbors ongoing live glassmaking and exhibitions by contemporary glass artists in 13,000 square feet of gallery space. The Hot Shop’s masters of molten material blow glass during museum hours (minus an hour lunch break) using two furnaces that can hold up to 1,000 pounds of glass and reach temperatures up to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit, the equivalent of running on a treadmill in a skin-tight snowsuit.
The permanent collection forms a solid base of highly breakable art upon which the museum adds rotating exhibitions, such as the eye-tricking pieces by Richard Meitner and a haunting and spectacular ice forest constructed by Ingalena Klenell and Beth Lipman. A 210-foot-long reflecting pool and permanent outdoor sculptures allow visitors to view how glass captures natural light and holds it prisoner until it gets a written apology from the sun.
Family (or dual) membership covers admission for the year for two named adults and any accompanying children under the age of 18, along with a translucent treasure trove of perks. In addition to four one-time-use guest passes and invitations to museum special events, members receive 15% off at the museum store and 10% off at the café. Subscription to the unbreakable e-newsletter and a discount on GLASS Quarterly magazine make sure the shaky-handed get something to hold on to. Benefits at hotels and other museums are included as well.
Reviews
More than 90 Yelpers give the Museum of Glass a 3.5-star average rating, and TripAdvisors give it an average of four owl eyes. Five Citysearchers give it a four-star average.
- Watching the artists in the Hot Shop was the best part. – Kathryn S., Yelp, 11/19/10
- We loved the Hot Shop where the glass is produced before your eyes with commentary and video. – paprikaj, TripAdvisor
Groupon Says
The Groupon Guide to: Resting in Peace
The human body doesn't run on steam like it used to. Make sure it gets the rest it needs by following these tips:
- Before pulling over at a rest stop, remove all road signs indicating the existence of said area so that no one else can show up to disturb your 16-hour road nap.
- If necessary, use a sleeping mask and ear plugs to block out light and sound, and a whole apple to block out the thousands of spiders that would love nothing more than to crawl inside your sleeping mouth.
- Get the important REM cycles you need by crying yourself to sleep to the sound of "Everybody Hurts," then scaring yourself awake to "It's the End of the World as We Know It."
- Napping in a hammock is a great choice for those living in a temperate climate or a cartoon. Do not sleep in a hammock around dogs, as they will undoubtedly mistake you for a hanging sausage and then wait patiently for you to give them permission to eat you.
- As soon as you get a chance, find out what your sleep number is. This is very important, as it is also the number of months you have left to live.
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