Happy birthday to the Menil!

If we had a million dollars, we'd definitely party with people whose names we recognize from buildings all over town: the Sarofims, the Hobbys, etc. Unfortunately, running a popular city blog doesn't pay as well as it should, so we'll have to sit out the Menil's 20th Anniversary Masked Ball tonight. And unless you can scrounge up $1500 real quick, you will be too. Unless President Carter or the French ambassador will let you sit at his table.

The ball includes a silent auction with artwork donated by a number of very generous artists. To continue the eventporn, you can check out the art you'd bid on if you had the cash here. Sigh.

For something a little more in our price range, and probably yours, you can hear Renzo Piano, the architect of the Menil, speak tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. in front of the museum's main entrance. The Menil Collection is Piano's first American work, and is often cited as his finest. We'll have to agree.

Masked Ball
When: Tonight
Price: $1500-$2500

Renzo Piano Lecture
When: Saturday April 21, 10 am
Price: Free

Photo from Flickr user DrPantzo.