Go figure that on the day we round up 12 weird Milwaukee drinking locations, the Milwaukee Public Museum announces an event that combines the simple joys of alcohol with the not-so-simple joys of lectures about octopus souls. Finally. Yes, on Friday, June 12, the museum will kick off its Science on Tap series with a chat from naturalist and best-selling author Sy Montgomery. Montgomery will discuss her latest book, The Soul Of An Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into The Wonder Of Consciousness, which expands on her popular 2011 piece for Orion Magazine. According to Amazon:
The intelligence of dogs, birds, and chimpanzees was only recently accepted by scientists, who now are establishing the intelligence of the octopus, watching them solve problems and deciphering the meaning of their color-changing camouflage techniques. Montgomery chronicles this growing appreciation of the octopus, but also tells a love story. By turns funny, entertaining, touching, and profound, The Soul Of An Octopus reveals what octopuses can teach us about consciousness and the meeting of two very different minds.
Covering the alcohol portion of the evening will be a social hour at 6 p.m. featuring light hor d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. and a book signing will follow. Tickets are $10, or $5 for MPM members. Lengthy discussions about Davy Jones in those Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, and/or the deleted octopus scene from the Goonies will be anticipated, but probably not included.