I need a vacation. I don’t know if it’s because my best friend is in Kauai for a week and I’m uncomfortably jealous, or because my jeans are still wet from my walk to work this morning, but I’d much rather be somewhere tropical sipping a Mai Tai right now. Yes, right now. I know it’s 11am.

Instead, I’m going with the next best thing: Tomorrow night, I’ll spend 10 minutes cooking myself in a tanning bed, and then I’ll head to EM Fine Art Gallery to help judge a Hawaii-inspired art contest. You can come too. There will be appetizers, desserts, and cocktails of the islands; live music by Kalani Kahaialii and Mel Urbanozo (ukulele!); and original artwork by promising local art students. The best student artist will win a trip for two to Hawaii; if you come and vote on the artwork, you will also be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii.

Seattle Met is throwing this shindig ("Picture Perfect Moments") with the Hawaiian Islands tourism bureau, and all proceeds support the Ronald McDonald House of Western Washington and Alaska. Tickets are $15 or $10 for students, available at pictureperfectmoments.eventbrite.com.

It’s a good cause all around, so come hang out with me at an art gallery, where we can sip cocktails and chat about a painting’s dexterity and how badly we need a vacation.

Picture Perfect Moments is Sept 27, 6-8:30pm, at EM Fine Art Gallery.