Find your Marbles.

We are fortunate to live near a fabulous children's museum. It's a given stop on the Dirt & Noise itinerary for any and all out of town guests. It is more than the interactive, hands on blah blah blah that others in the ilk tout. Marbles has clever exhibits that challenge kids (and adults) of all ages to experience new things, see the world from a new perspective, inspire curiosity, and most of all, have a damn good time.

Bird loves whooping it up in the pirate ship the best, while Deal can't tear himself away from the train table that has waaaaayyyy more hoopla that the lame figure eight track that takes me a day and a half to complete. And me, I'm all over the pint size grocery store and cafe. I love me some play food. For that matter, I love me some real food too.

Our family has a membership to the museum, which is a steal. We more than get our money's worth. Any time I see people there who paid admission, I resist the urge to tell them to just pony up for the annual membership. It will more than pay for itself. Plus, it's pretty cool for Bird and Deal to learn about patronizing the arts and supporting non-profits from an early age.

We do our part to support Marbles. The annual Black & White Bash fundraiser is yet another way we totally get our money's worth. It's a great night out (sans kids!) with delectable food, flowing cocktails, knee slapping, toe tapping tunes, and auction items galore to tempt even the scroogiest penny pinchers out there. We scored an heirloom worthy train toy box for Deal last year. Best of all, it's a chance to dress up in something not meant for sticky jelly hands and phlegmy noses. Who doesn't feel pretty and decidedly un-matronly in a kicky little black silk number with strappy heels and luxuriously long dangly earrings? Can you say, "dry clean only?"

For those readers in my zip code, go ahead and drag your LBD out of the closet. Support your kids while enjoying a date night away from them, sauvignon blanc in hand. That's my kind of irony.

Here are the particulars:

April 17, 2008
Marbles Kids Museum
{201 East Hargett Street}

7:00pm

Live & Silent Auction
Fabulous Food by Catering Works
Music by Fantasy

Black & White Cocktail Attire
{Tickets $50 Per Person}
Visit Black & White Bash to purchase tickets.

All proceeds support Marbles Kids Museum
Questions? Contact Taylor Anderton at 919.857.1021