Museum of Ice Cream Pops Up in Los Angeles

People are used to pop-up shops and art exhibits, but pop-up museums? One such pop-up venue was a hit in New York City last year and is coming to Los Angeles soon: The Museum of Ice Cream.

An ice cream-themed hands-on experience, the Museum of Ice Cream will be in Los Angeles from April 22 until May 29. The facility will be at 2018 East 7th Place in the DTLA Arts District.

Unlike museums that focus on history or art, this “museum” is more of a fun sensory experience. The Museum of Ice Cream offers a brightly colored excursion into a fanciful land celebrating the ever-popular frozen treat. The Los Angeles location is four times the size of the Manhattan version. It features 10 reimagined installations. They include a “banana split” comprised of 10,000 “bananas”, a special California room, a melted popsicle jungle, and a mint “grow house.”.

One highlight from New York sure to be popular in Southern California is the iconic swimming pool filled with 100 million plastic “sprinkles” custom designed by the Museum of Ice Cream. Visitors can take off their shoes and wade in.

Besides tempting senses visually and tactilely, this venue promises to delight an additional sense – taste. Admission includes two tastings from a curated ice cream selection and other surprise edible treats. The museum has partnered with creameries in California to showcase a “scoop of the week” from a rotation of providers including Salt & Straw, McConnell’s, Coolhaus x Cuisinart and CREAM. There will also be a special mochi ice cream from My/Mo. They have also partnered with Dove Chocolate and promise to feature a special “golden chocolate.” (Sorry vegans and those looking for gluten-free options. They do not have tasting options for everyone.)

The Museum of Ice Cream was the brainchild of Maryellis Bunn, a creative strategist who helps clients understand and reach millennial audiences. Her concept was to create a venue that transforms childhood fantasies into real life experiences that delight the senses and bring people together. The success in New York led to the Los Angeles residency. Pop-up ice cream museum visits are being planned for other cities in the future.

The April-May timing for the Los Angeles version does seem strange with children in school until June. But, that may make the experience more enjoyable for grownups wanting to free their inner child.

Besides the school issue, another reason people might hesitate to make it a family excursion is the price. Admission tickets are $29 per person ($18 for those ages 3-12 or over 60). On top of the ticket cost, they will have a museum shop tempting visitors. The ice cream-themed products for sale include gourmet sprinkles, ice cream scoopers, enamel pins, and iPhone cases.

Tickets for the Los Angeles Museum of Ice Cream pop-up site go on sale soon. (The New York venue reportedly sold out in five days.) Tickets will be available for purchase to American Express Platinum cardholders starting on Thursday, March 30 at 9 a.m. PDT, then to other American Express Card members 24 hours later. Tickets for everyone else go on sale on Monday, April 3, at 9 a.m. Pacific time via the museum’s website.

By Dyanne Weiss

Sources:
Museum of Ice Cream
New York Times: The Museum of Ice Cream Is Sold Out. Here’s What You’re Missing.
New York Daily News: The Museum of Ice Cream may be sold out, but it doesn’t live up to the hype

Artwork courtesy of Museum of Ice Cream