***A bit of blogkeeping: Congratulations to Emilie (Comment #4), randomly-selected winner of 2 tickets to Our Lady of the Wayside’s Grapes and Ale. Please check your email and respond by the end of the day or a new winner will be chosen. If you didn’t win, you can still purchase tickets by clicking here.***
On Friday night, Matthew and I got to experience the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in a whole new light. It was glamorous and elegant and delicious: it was Zippity Zoo Doo.
This fundraiser for the Cleveland Zoological Society celebrated its 40th year this past weekend with an elegant party at the Zoo. We met up with Alicia, Amanda, and Scott under the big Zippity Zoo Doo tent.
There were delicious appetizers and cocktails to start our evening, as we mingled with some zoo critters. One of the best parts of the Zoological Society events is the opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals. We pet a fox and a hedgehog, met a vulture, and saw elephants and meerkats.
We also got to check out a carving demonstration from The Carousel Works, the talented local company behind the Zoo’s in-progress Circle of Wildlife Carousel. The already-completed carvings are breathtaking!
Then it was time for a sumptuous dinner and live auction that raised over $50,000 for the Zoo! We enjoyed a watermelon and herbed feta salad, coffee-rubbed filet with roasted potatoes and vegetables, and a lemon almond terrine.
Throughout the evening we were treated to live music from The Orchestra and dancing under the stars, while also perusing great silent auction items, including exclusive behind-the-scenes zoo experiences.
This certainly wasn’t your typical day at the Zoo, but it was a magical one and brought in a lot of money to help support the Cleveland Zoological Society.
The Cleveland Zoological Society has more great events coming up this summer, including Twilight at the Zoo on Friday, August 2 and Date Night at the ZOOvies on Friday, August 23. Stay tuned for more information on both these events, as well as a ZOOvies ticket giveaway!
***Disclosure: I was asked by the Cleveland Zoological Society to help promote all three of the events mentioned in this post. In exchange, I received one complimentary ticket and one discounted ticket to Zippity Zoo Doo. I will receive 2 VIP tickets to Twilight at the Zoo and 4 tickets to Date Night at the ZOOvies (2 for myself and 2 to give away). As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***
I’m just so jealous you got to touch a hedgehog and can’t WAIT to try and get those zoo tickets in the giveaways!
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