The Thea Award recognizes the "Real-Cost Cafe" as the outstanding aquarium exhibit of 2006 created on a limited budget.

This entertaining yet educational exhibit invites aquarium visitors to "dine" inside a 1950s-style cafe. Touch-screen menus "serve up" a variety of seafood dishes as a video chef, waitress and waiter comment on whether or not the seafood is sustainable.

According to the judges, "The effect is surprising and the take-away message is undeniable. The result is a seamlessly integrated blend of story and technology that entertains as it informs visitors about how they can be part of the solution to this important global issue. Comments are served up in a lighthearted tongue-in-cheek manner, while delivering important conservation messages."

The "Real-Cost Cafe" was created by the aquarium's exhibits and education teams in collaboration with Cortina Productions of McLean, Virginia. It has also been honored by the American Association of Museums.

The exhibit can be found in the aquarium's Ocean's Edge galleries, which opened in May 2005 to high praise from visitors. The dramatic transformation of the aquarium's original galleries features exhibit experiences including a walk-through wave crash, larger exhibits for giant octopuses and more hands-on activities than ever before. Ocean's Edge also puts people in the picture of ocean conservation in meaningful and engaging ways. -- www.mbayaq.org