Housed in a refurbished former San Antonio nightclub with a castle theme, this lovingly restored pseudo-feudal structure contrasts with and somehow complements the serious collection within. Concentration on magic lanterns from 1700s into the 20th century and their history throughout the world; glass slides, prints, books, accessories & related paraphernalia; worldwide scientific instruments for optical projection.

http://www.magiclanterns.org
210 805-0011

1419 Austin Hwy
San Antonio, TX 78209

It's a 10 minute drive northeast of downtown, right near the airport. By appointment only. FREE.

Frances Kuyper IS "The Cake Lady" and she's been baking and decorating cakes since 1950. Recently retired from teaching and demonstrating, she's now made a dream come true with this confection of a museum in her home. Models of decorating wizardry are on display (tell the food inspectors not to worry, they're all done with Styrofoam and Perma-ice), and they're as zingy as the exuberant Ms. Kuyper's personality.

432Ð434 N. Lola Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91107

From I-210 exit onto Altadena Dr. N, then left onto Villa, and left again onto Lola. Her 5-tiered wedding-cake mailbox is the tip-off. By appointment only. FREE.

If you ever dreamed that your very own paintings might end up on the walls of a museum, this is the museum that proves that dreams can come true! Of course, we aren't necessarily talking about good dreams.... We understand the full meaning of the term provenance when we think about MOBA's prizes, because some of them came straight off the streets of nearby Jamaica Plain, and we used to live along those streets. (Fortunately, we weren't attempting to paint in those days.) But look, the world is full of artists, and, on garbage nights especially, the streets are full of art. All it took was a few geniuses like MOBA's founders to make the necessary connections. They rotate the really "good" stuff in this basement display. The documentation is awesome.

http://www.glyphs.com/moba

Displays: 781 326-1463/ Additional Info: 617 325-8224

Dedham Community Theater
580 High St.
Dedham, MA 02026

Dedham is just outside Boston's southwestern city limits. High St. runs east from US 1 through downtown. MOBA is in the Community Theater's basement. Open during theater hours: Mon.-Fri. 6:30 p.m.-10:30 or 11 p.m. Weekends: 1:30 p.m.-10:30 or 11 p.m. FREE.

Former master plumber Barney Smith had to sell his Winnebago to make room in his garage for his toilet seat art display (411 of 'em at last count). Neatly covering the walls from floor to ceiling, you can appreciate the sweep of Mr. Smith's oeuvre. From the early days of simply decorating the discarded seats with little antlers and a few turkey feathers, to full-scale tableau inspired by his travels, like a recent trip to the Dead Sea, or even one to his dentist. The carefully constructed pieces often use applied bits of oil paintings (his own), and dip into his inventory of finds like boy scout badges, false teeth, sea corals, perhaps a portion of a bowling ball, and, more often than not, motel keysÑanother collecting passion of the eclectic Mr. Smith.

239 Abiso
San Antonio, TX 78209

On the north side of town, in the Alamo Heights section. It's 2 blocks off Broadway, inside the I-410 Loop. Go around to the rear of the house, the collection's in his garage and the entrance is on Arbutus St. He's retired and it's open "whenever he's around." He keeps the garage door open, and you can just stop in. FREE.