isappointed that the Mars Polar Lander mission didn't
go quite as planned, that no one will get a chance to
hear what the surface of Mars sounds like? Well, all
the Earth-bound need do is go to New York
City (and soon Chicago and elsewhere) in order to
experience the sounds, sights, smells and
tastes of the Red Planet. Mars 2112 is one of the newest theme restaurants to
land in the Big Apple. Buried below street level in
Times Square, it offers its patrons "interactive event dining" or "eatertainment."
Diners enter the restaurant via a 22-passenger
spacecraft simulator, which ferries them on their
journey through space and time. A large video
screen displays the route they travel, while the
craft itself tilts, pitches and shakes them on their
way. Having "arrived" on Mars, passengers exit into a
tunnel hewn from red rock and accented with industrial
mining fixtures.
Past the "Mars Bar" and "Cyberstreet"--a rather
well-stocked video arcade--is the dining area,
which consists of a large, high-ceilinged cavern
and a couple of more intimate side rooms. One large and
several small video screens pump in Martian news and
other visuals, like views of the Martian surface.
Music is of the late 20th century Earth pop variety.
The menu actually comes as a
newspaper, the Martian Times, which includes
articles about everything from Mars' ruler, Empress
Gloriana, to the Martian bobsled team and weather reports.
The "Global Fusion" nouvelle
cuisine comes in categories like "First Contact"
(appetizers), "Soylent Greens" (salads), and "Primary
Orbits" (heartier entrées).
After consuming the nutrients, during which time
diners may have the good fortune of being visited by one
of the "locals," it's time to return to Earth. Departure
from Mars 2112 consists of entering the MTCV, or Martian
Transport Compression Vehicle, a chamber that "beams"
diners back to present-day Earth--right into the Mars 2112 gift
shop.
A trip to Mars isn't cheap
Combining science fiction camp and coolness, Mars
2112 delivers a
fun and appealing dining experience, though it's neither perfect nor inexpensive. The restaurant is loaded with ambiance, and there are plenty of activities to keep
all ages entertained. In fact, the two main types of
patrons seem to be tourist families and the younger
substrata of local businessfolk.
And while there's no extra charge for the simulator
ride, the food and drink prices might seem somewhat
alien to many Terrans. It bears mentioning, though,
that people could definitely do worse at a theme
restaurant in touristy Times Square--the menu is not only relatively varied, but a number of the dishes
and drinks border on the truly delicious. Also, the
service is friendly and
fast.
The atmosphere of Mars 2112 is obviously its main
attraction. Its cavernous rooms, columns
of glowing rock and technological accents are for the most part stunning and exciting. But it has an
awkwardly disparate aesthetic. It appears cobbled
together from elements of Total Recall, the
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and Mars
Attacks!, or, perhaps more accurately, a B-movie
like Attack of the Eye Creatures. The costumes
and masks of the "Martians," though
colorful and alien-looking, are kind of cheesy. The video
displays, which are difficult to see from a few of
the tables, vary from the very cool to the very
average. The gift shop also reflects this eclectic
mix, offering everything from National Geographic
books on the Red Planet to freeze-dried astronaut
food to bins and bins of large-headed, large-eyed,
thin-limbed aliens in all sizes and colors. As well as, of course, plenty of T-shirts.
None of this may matter, though, to those
who aren't too picky about the finer points
of science fiction restaurant aesthetics. Most kids
seem to absolutely love it, for example. There's
always something to be said for that.
