Need an excuse to pull that dusty bridesmaid's dress or funny suit out of the closet?

Come to the Smooches & Pooches Valentine's Dance and do it for the dogs.

Presented by Friends of the Cleveland Kennel and Secondhand Mutts, the dance will be from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, February 6, at Parish Hall, 6205 Detroit Avenue in Cleveland.

Admission is only $10 for guests, while dogs get in free and may enter to be considered for the dance's King and Queen or a member of the Canine Court.

Local restaurants including Happy Dog, Reddstone Tavern, ArteFino Cafe and Gypsy Beans Bakery will provide the food; beer and wine will also be available. With a donation to the cause, Portraits by Martha will also take formal shots for you to take home at the end of the night.

Who doesn't like dances, dogs dressed in suits, raffle baskets, food, drinks AND good tunes from the fabulous DJ RA Washington of Cleveland Tapes?

I don't know about you, but I don't know that person.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com