Spectacular Saturdays

I will be honest - I was excited when the Taubman Art Museum opened up downtown. How is it that someone so excited has never been? The answer is simple - my children were not ready to attempt something that like until now. I often walk around downtown and I saw that for the entire month of July, the Taubman Art Museum is offering the chance for everyone to check it out. Spectacular Saturdays offers free admission from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. Today, we took the kids to check it out. I was a little bummed that ArtVenture is currently closed, but when it reopens in the fall, we will be sure to check it out. The boys loved the hands-on activities that were set up in the Atrium and in the Art Studio. They had a blast creating collages with the assistance of a museum worker. I enjoyed watching them explore their creative side. I enjoyed heading up to the 2nd Floor to explore the galleries. There were a few reminders that the kids couldn't touch anything (they love to see how things work). My youngest fell in love with a painting of a boxing match. I enjoyed the photographs and the handbag exhibit. My oldest enjoyed the Kiel Johnson: One Thing Leads to Another. I forgot to ask about the Art Activity Bag for the family, but I am sure we will return another Saturday this month, so we'll check it out then. There are summer programs for all ages, Art By Night (I would love to check this out too).

I took a moment to browse through the gift shop. There is such an interesting collection of items for sale. The boys wanted different magnets and other toys. I was fascinated by the figures and other artistic pieces. There is a little cafe located in the museum too. It is called Norah's Cafe. The menu looks appetizing and has interestingly named meals. Roanoke is known for it's ties to the railroad. It seems fitting that the Express Menu has meals aptly called "Caboose," "Boxcar," "Engineer," and "Conductor." I've heard fabulous reviews about this restaurant...eventually I will have one of my own.

Bottom line: If you are looking for a little culture, check out the Taubman Museum of Art. It's a great way to spend at least an hour (more if you get caught up with the activities for children or grabbing a bite at the restaurant). There are also countless galleries downtown to check out.