I do occasionally break out top-level decks and play for fun.
Friday Night Magic is happening at your local comic book store, guaranteed. I'll bet if you call them they'll tell you that you can borrow a deck from behind the counter, just to try the game. It's a great way to get started, and they'll be accommodating of noobs.If only my parents allowed such games in my house (they considered card games to be a waste of time, they instead gave me Shakespeare's collection books and told me to read those).
Was considering taking a dip in the M:TG party but with no money to buy and no knowledge to play and no one to play with, it's rather discouraging.