Southern California is home to the Mars Rover headquarters and the Space Shuttle Endeavour, so it makes sense that our art and entertainment offerings might take on a somewhat cosmic bent.

The movies have rocketed into space for years, but parties and art gatherings and musical happenings that love on the lab coat set are a bit rarer. Or have been, in the past. Now science, art, hobnobbing, and cocktails are a common quartet seen around town these days, and they'll certainly be in attendance at Galaxy.

Galaxy, an eight-hour art party, will unfurl over 15,000 square feet of LA Mart downtown on Saturday, Dec. 8. The spacey spectacular may not rival a real galaxy in size but it will boast installations, screenings, and experiments, all with a science-forward, avant-garde-y twist.

Bill Nye will be in the house. Doesn't that pretty much say everything? Bowties on, party people.

Music and craft beers and fashion -- someone show up in a classic, B-movie Martian outfit, pretty please -- are all on the bill, too. And as for the art end? Fifteen artists will have a hand in creating "the ultimate cosmic playground."

That sounds good to us. We enjoy it when the cosmos comes down to earth for a day. Because, space? Very chilly. Also, helmets are generally required, for breathing and whatnot, meaning quaffing cocktails can be a challenge.

Galaxy is the creation of the mad minds behind Brokechella, the on-the-cheap answer to a certain mega desert festival. It's sure to have indie flair and downtown-meets-the-Crab-Nebula-coolness. Plus, tickets are eleven bucks, which is a lot less than actually getting to space.