Turkey Head, "Smelly Cat" and the couch: "The Friends Experience" is in Boston

Steph here. I got an early look at "The Friends Experience," an exhibit that opens Friday in Boston and runs until mid-January.

The intrigue: If the 2019 Friends pop-up at Time Out Market is any indication, the installation will draw "Friends" superfans from across New England to celebrate the TV show's 30th anniversary.

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• The tour was wasted on me, a casual fan at best, but the spokesperson who guided me insists it's a good time for anyone vaguely familiar with the show. She wasn't wrong.

What to know: The installation opens Friday morning at 343 Newbury St., down the street from the Central Perk coffee shop that opened last year.

• Tickets start at $22, plus taxes and fees, with bundles and photo packages available for more.
• The gift shop is open to the public, even if you don't buy a ticket.

The interactive displays span three floors (there's escalator and elevator access) and range from a replica of both apartment sets, wigs depicting Rachel's hair and the infamous "pivot" couch.

• Here's what I saw.

This recreates what the first live studio audience ticket for the show looked like before the showrunners even finalized the title. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios Some of the initial set designs and art that would appear on the Central Perk set. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios Each character had a specific color palette that determined what their wardrobe would look like. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios An autographed copy of the pilot episode, which at the time had another name. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios Wigs showing Rachel's hairstyles throughout the series. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios A replica of the infamous couch (before it was split in half). It'll also be a big photo-opp spot for visitors. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios A replica of the guys' apartment, complete with Hugsy. Visitors are encouraged to take a seat or pore through the room in search of Easter eggs. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios The foosball table and doodle boards. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios The ladies' apartment set, looking Monica-level clean. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios A handy timeline of everyone's relationships. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios A corner dedicated to Phoebe and the "Smelly Cat" song. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios Would it even be a "Friends experience" without turkey head? Photo: Steph Solis/Axios

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