'The museum has never sparkled so much," Deborah Cowman beamed as she detailed the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History's latest exhibit "Carnaval!"
OK, I know there are some of you saying, "The what at the what?"
But I figure that with the new team -- Cowman, the director, and Bess Manning, the curator -- the museum will soon no longer be just a rumor, but maybe even a destination.
Cowman arrived in April and Manning two months later. Both have a goal to make the museum more than just a wing of the Brazos Center.
"Carnaval!" is the current allure, but for years they've offered such attractions and, with a little help from a few more friends and visitors, they will continue to do so for years to come.
The museum has a board of directors comprised or people you know in town -- educators, newspaper editors, book and toy sellers, home sellers, weathermen and medicine men.
Every couple of months they sit around a table for a group head-scratching, trying to figure out a new way to market their highly educational, interesting, fun and family-friendly product.
"We have 25,000 natural history specimens in our collection," Cowman said.
They demonstrate that museums do not have to be boring. For example, "Carnaval!" -- an exhibit of artifacts, masks and much more from Mardi Gras-type celebrations around the world -- is a hands-on exhibit where kids indeed can -- and must -- touch much of what they see. There are videos to watch and games to play.
"We try to make everything we do fun" Cowman said, fully knowing that science isn't always that way. "It isn't like going to class. It's informal, it's fun."
Now, if you prefer, there's no disputing that Houston has a bigger natural history museum ... where you can see everything for only 34 bucks per adult and 26 per kid -- plus gas, plus the time, plus the fun of the exciting Hermann Park weekend game of "find a parking space."
Or, you can keep it simple and stay right here in the Brazos Valley.
"Carnaval!" will be at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History until Oct. 23. The museum at the Brazos Center is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with admission (for everything) just $5 for adults, and $4 for children ages 4 to 17, students and seniors.
Try it, you'll like it. And if you do, consider becoming a Friend of the Museum for as little as $25 a year. That's less than the fine for illegal parking at Hermann Park.
At the gallery
The J. Wayne Stark Galleries at Texas A&M's Memorial Student Center has two special exhibits on display.
Until Oct. 30, "A Breed Apart -- The Heritage of Livestock in Art" will be shown.
Until Nov. 6, "Sum of the Parts," an exhibit of the Surface Design Association membership, will be featured.
For more information, call 845-6081 or go online to stark.tamu.edu.
Scarecrow Festival
The 32nd Annual Scarecrow Festival is Oct. 11 and 12 in Chappell Hill.
More than 300 exhibitors will be selling home decor, holiday items, artwork, clothing, jewelry, gardening items and a whole lot more.
There will be live music and other entertainment, and a special children's activity corner with pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, barrel train rides and more.
And there will be plenty of food booths around, too.
It's from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 12.
Admission is free; parking is $5. Chappell Hill is on Texas 290, about 10 miles east of Brenham.
For more information, call 1-888-BRENHAM or go to brenhamtexas.com.
Concerts on
Carter Creek
A couple of concerts at First Presbyterian Church in Bryan are this week, both at 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, it's Christina Jenkins on the flute, and Friday it's the Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
Both events are free.
For more information, call 823-8073.
Bush forum
The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum presents a forum called "Too Many Children Left Behind: How Do We Close the Gap?" at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
To learn more, go to bushlibrary.tamu.edu or call 691-4014.
Busy week at the Children's Museum
Monday is the first "Monday Madness!" of the month at the Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley in downtown Bryan. Special crafts are offered every Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tomorrow, the young'uns will celebrate "Doc-tober" by making their own doctors bag.
Tuesday is Recycle Day, with half-price admission to the museum for bringing a recyclable product. Tuesday is also "Traveling Tuesday" -- a chance to see the world in a whole new way, with a different region highlighted each week.
For more information anytime, call 979-KIDS or go to mymuseum.com.
Save the date
Oct. 5-16: Art exhibit by Todd Reynolds, Texas Gallery at Arts Council of the Brazos Valley (696-ARTS; acbv.org); Oct. 6-Dec. 14: "Siempre! Hispanics at Texas A&M Celebrating 130 Years," Forsyth Galleries at A&M's MSC (845-9251; forsyth.tamu.edu).
Oct. 7: 7 p.m. TAMU Performance Studies Faculty Recital presents Prudence McDaniel and Friends at Rudder Theater (823-8073); Oct. 12: Brazos Valley Symphony presents "Classical Favorites" at Christ United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. (696-6100; bvso.org); Oct. 12: "Klezmer Music" at the International festival Institute at Round Top (249-3129; festivalhill.org).
Tom Turbiville is sports director for WTAW-1620AM Radio. His e-mail address is
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