It's so much fun to complain about public transportation that we sometimes forget it's almost just as fun to take it (well, sometimes, anyways.) Here's two events that'll bring a bright ding-ding to your day.

Tonight: NewMindSpace, an interactive public art group (one of whose founders writes for our Canadian cousin Torontoist), has put on bubble-blowing parties in New York, an Easter Egg hunt in Toronto, and a pillow fight in New York's Union Square. Tonight, they're bringing the whimsy to the West Coast, with a MUNI Metro Party.

The party starts at 7:59 p.m. at the N Judah 4th and King stop -- and they'll be turning the N into your second childhood -- Legos, dolls, costumes, and a "renegade sound system." They claim they've never had problems with the authorities before, once they realize that they're "partying out of their love of public transit." We're excited to see how this one turns out (not the least of which is that we betcha the partiers'll have to wait at least 20 minutes for the first N to head out of the station).

And on Saturday: Tired of MUNI's restrictive stroller rules? Well, scoot on across the station and check out BART, who's sponsoring the last of their August "kids ride free" Saturdays. Download a pass (or buy one at Safeway), and be at Powell Street at 10 a.m. The first 10,000 riders get Kids Packs filled with anime, manga, and a Pokemon DVD. We can't promise any kind of renegade sound system at this event, but you can't dispute that it'll also be a re-embracing of childhood.

Picture of not the N Judah from www.newmindspace.com.