by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com
Take a journey through the African Savannah, get up close and personal with exotic wildlife (including cheetahs, hippos, lions and various wild fowl) and completely immerse yourself in a whole new world, without leaving the city, at Atlanta’s newest attraction, Illuminarium.
Since its debut in July, WILD (the attraction’s first show) highlights a stunningly visceral and immersive experience featuring 4K laser projection, 3D audio and even scent, for a completely one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory experience that you truly cannot find anywhere else.
Several customized options are offered for a personalized way to experience one of Georgia’s most buzzworthy new attractions/
THE BAR AT ILLUMINARIUM:
A full-service bar– set completely apart from its contemporaries in that wall-to-wall masterfully curated visuals take you on a journey from the streets of Tokyo to a lilac hued wonderland- is nestled within Illuminarium for a unique nightlife experience.
Hand -crafted cocktails, a variety of wines and beers, and chef -prepared tapas are available nightly, from 8 p.m. until midnight.
Here is what we recommend:
DRINKS:
White wine (by the glass): Prosecco (Italy)
COCKTAILS:
Citrus Swizzle — Van Gogh vodka, pineapple juice, Owens ginger beer, Simple syrup, lime juice).
Planters Punch– An Illuminarium favorite– Bayou rum, lime juice, Angostura bitters, pineapple juice, orange juice, Meyers dark rum topper.
TAPAS:
Illuminarium Signature Burger Sliders– Blend of beef and bison, escarole, heirloom tomatoes, cilantro-lime aioli and caramelized shallots.
Strawberry and Feta Bruschetta- Strawberry, fresh feta cheese, and a sweet balsamic glaze, topped off with a hint of refreshing mint on a savory pita bread.
Tandoori Chicken Wings- Entree size, lean, at once crispy and tender, chicken wings, topped with a delightfully flavorful garlic yogurt sauce.
Special thanks to our hospitable and knowledgeable server, Shaqualia Christian, for the superb service.
Once you’ve taken in the delectable flavors and stimulating sights offered at the Bar, make your way through the breezeway into Illuminarium, which features an interactive safari experience, showing real life animals in their actual habitat in a beautifully curated presentation, unlike anything you have ever seen before.
Sure to activate and recharge all your senses, Illuminarium can be experienced in the daytime or (as we chose to experience the attraction) WILD After Dark, a 21-plus only experience that is open Thursday-Saturday from 9 p.m. until midnight.
WILD After Dark includes a highly informative booklet, which provides exclusive insights from the executive producers into the making of the videos that you will watch during your experience, exotic African recipes, and photos of the beautiful African Savannah and the wildlife for which it is so widely beloved.
Each WILD After Dark ticket includes a free drink voucher for a beverage that can be redeemed at the first bar, you’ll see upon your entrance into the Illuminarium theater space. (A cash bar where you can purchase a variety of libations is also available.)
An array of specialty wines, beers and cocktails are available to sip and enjoy as you lose yourself in the untamed world of the African Savannah.
Here is what we recommend:
Pinopasso– South African red wine: highly reminiscent of a cabernet aged in a bourbon barrel. Bold, flavorful bouquet.
Usiku Rum Punch- Bumbu rum, cranberry juice and pineapple juice.
Kenyan Dawa- New Amsterdam vodka, honey, lime juice and lemon lime soda.
The production team behind WILD has been in the entertainment and documentary film industry for 40 years. For this attraction, the team utilized a five-camera system featuring a 240-degree field of view to provide a true sense of south, central and eastern Africa’s natural climates. Sixty filming days were scheduled over a five-month period to obtain footage with the highest animal diversity and density.
South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania were the primary locales visited throughout the labor intensive and arduous filming process taken to bring the expert surround sound virtual safari you will experience during your WILD or WILD After Dark tour.
The Cafe at Illuminarium allows you to step off the belt line and into Africa with international cuisine expertly crafted by Illuminarium chef Damon Cundiff and other talented members of Illuminarium culinary staff.
Be sure to follow Illuminarium on all major social media platforms and keep watch on the website for updated videos that will be featured on the 10,000 square foot venue’s impressive surround sound screens, including a space and underwater experience that will debut next season.
WEBSITE: www.illuminarium.com
PHONE: (404)341-1000
Victoria Henley is host of Backstage Pass on IHeart Radio/FCB Radio and a former contestant on “America’s Next Top Model.”
