SEX AND THE CITY ZOO,
A WILD, ADULTS-ONLY VALENTINE’S CELEBRATION AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO,
FEATURES A PROVOCATIVE ANIMAL DATING-MATING-COHABITATING PRESENTATION,
DECADENT REFRESHMENTS, UP-CLOSE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
AND ROMANTIC DINNER OPTION
Saturday, February 13, 5 to 7 pm, 2016
Optional Dinner 7 to 9 pm
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Although the Los Angeles Zoo is best known as one of Southern California’s most family-friendly destinations, adults take their turn with a wild Valentine’s Day celebration at SEX AND THE CITY ZOO dedicated to romance in the animal kingdom on Saturday, February 13, 2016, 5 to 7 pm, in the Zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium. The lighthearted affair for ages 21 and up begins with a reception from 5 to 6 pm featuring decadent refreshments, tempting desserts, alluring wines and “animal walk-abouts,” which include chats with keepers and the chance to observe small animals up close. At the heart of the evening is a provocative “birds and bees” presentation and Q & A from 6 to 7 pm about animal dating, mating and cohabitating by L.A. Zoo General Curator Beth Schaefer, and the event climaxes with an intimate three-course dinner (from 7 to 9 pm for an additional fee) at Reggie’s Bistro inside the Zoo.
“The world of animal mating rituals can be strangely fascinating,” says Schaefer. “I’ll be making comparisons with human courtship and mating rituals as well as sharing some of the more unusual – and astonishing — examples from my years of experience as a zoo keeper.”
On the dinner menu is choice of Kabocha Squash Soup or Octopus Carpaccio; Mache Salad with Strawberries, Balsamic, Golden Beet, Hazelnuts, Basil and Snap Peas; choice of Ribeye Filet with Wild Mushrooms, Pea Shoots, Marrow Butter and Cauliflower or Lobster Tortellini with Peas, Favas, Fine Herbs and Pancetta; Beet & Goat Cheese Risotto; and Blood Orange Meringue dessert.
E. & J. Gallo Winery is a sponsor of Sex and the City Zoo.
Los Angeles Zoo General Curator Beth Schaefer has worked in the field of animal care since 1985, beginning her career as a Veterinary Assistant. After becoming an Animal Keeper Aide at the Charles Paddock Zoo, she progressed from Animal Keeper at the Kansas City Zoo to Animal Keeper and Supervisor at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and then Animal Curator at the Houston Zoo. After 7 years as the Curator of Primates and Carnivores at the Houston Zoo, Schaefer considered her move to the Los Angeles Zoo a real highlight for her career. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in 1990 with a degree in Micro Biology.
The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.75 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered. Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo; one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world; a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants; and much more. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, the Zoo has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife. The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 60,000 member households representing more than 240,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.
SEX AND THE CITY ZOO tickets (open to adults age 21 and up) only, are $40 per person, plus an additional $75 per person for the dinner option, or $30 per person for GLAZA members, with the dinner option an additional $65 per person. A special optional beer or wine pairing is available for an additional $15. Seating is limited, and reservations are required by February 10.
The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Free parking is available. For additional information, contact (323) 644-6001 or visit www.lazoo.org/sexandthecityzoo/
