It will be interesting, when she's writing her memoirs, to see if the giant pink poodle had the impact I'm afraid it did.

The giant pink poodle escorted by bicyclists in tutus careening its way down a Baltimore street, on its way to the water-test.  Closely followed by a number of other creations, at various levels of coming apart.

Each year, the American Visionary Art Museum throws a huge party on wheels.  The Kinetic Sculpture race.  (This year, May 3).  It is well worth being at the race's start - for all the goofiness that accompanies the event.  Then, move as fast as you can to the water test - which is truly sink or swim.  But if you happen to just be driving along a city street and see them pass by, the whimsy value is way up there.  Especially with an impressionable toddler in the back seat.  But being part of the event is part of the fun. 

Other places to catch spring and summer's funniest thing on wheels:

Kensington, Philadelphia does a race also -  the Kinetic Sculpture Derby. This year (2008) it's Saturday, May 17.

California's Kinetic Universe sponsors the Kinetic Grand Championship on May 24-26.

And Corvallis, Oregon?  They make it even bigger, with DaVinci Days:   July 18-20.