Marbles remakes its popular Around Town exhibit

The first floor exhibit that kids can enter by sliding out of an old city bus features a kid-sized grocery store, boat, car, hospital, vet, stage and more.

Of all of the exhibits in Marbles, I've probably spent the most hours in Around Town from the time when my eight-year-old was little and she spent hours "shopping" in the store. In fact, we remember many of these exhibits from the former Playspace, which became Marbles in a merger with Exploris more than five years ago. (Anybody else remember that?).

The exhibit has been closed for a few weeks as construction has progressed. Changes include a new On the Farm space sponsored by the United Soybean Board, North Carolina Soybean Producers Association and the North Carolina Pork Council.

There also will be bigger train tables, a new performance stage and seating. A grand reopening is scheduled for Saturday.

Marbles sent over some pictures of the work. Check out the image gallery to see what's going on in Around Town.