Let Me Entertain You February 5, 2023
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, art exhibitions, Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History, nostalgia, photography, ruby red slippers, travel, Washington DC
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I assure you we were most definitely entertained by this fun exhibit at the National Museum of American History On my recent visit to DC we were fortunate to be there on opening day. ‘Through the National Museum of American History’s extraordinary collection of theater, music, sports, movie and television objects, the exhibition Entertainment Nation will feature a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences. Through the objects and their stories, the exhibition will explore how, for over 150 years, entertainment has provided a forum for important national conversations about who we are, and who we want to be’. The museum has 1.8 million objects that document our culture. Next time you are in DC I encourage you to visit. It is lots of fun and filled with nostalgia.
Tradition, Tradition! November 6, 2022
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Daylight Savings Time, fall foliage, nature, photography, Southwick's Zoo, travel, wildlife, Zoos
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Our annual tradition of visiting the always fun Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon MA continues. The visit did not disappoint and the foliage was glorious. For those that miss my traditional photo montage about daylight savings time, clocks, etc – here is last year’s post. 
Chilling Out with Penguins June 5, 2022
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Antarctica, baby animals, Central Park Zoo, Chinstrap penguins, Gentoo penguins, King Penguins, Macaroni penguins, nature, photography, South Georgia, travel, wildlife
13 comments
Some of the recent very hot NYC days got me thinking about chillin’ with penguins. Enjoy some of my cool penguin photos that include a few I took while on our 2005 Antarctica trip of a lifetime. Stay cool.
Another West Side Story April 24, 2022
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Google, High Line, Little Island, Manhattan, NYC, photography, Pier 57, Publc space, The Edge, travel, West Side
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The West Side of Manhattan is growing and changing in a mostly good way. Pier 57 is the latest free, public space opened this week (thanks to Google)and I decided to check it out early on Earth Day. The food hall is not open yet but it surely will draw a crowd and is located right next to the wonderful Little Island. I decided to walk home via the High Line which is also one of my favorite spots (if you can get there early). Since it opened in 2009 the surrounding area has encroached ever closer to this lovely public space and the construction seems endless. Hudson Yards is at the end of the High Line and has an observation deck called The Edge which I went to a little over a year ago. Get out and explore Manhattan if you can. It is great exercise and the views are outstanding. Hint: go early because the tourists are back.
Zoo Lover’s Day April 10, 2022
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, National Zoo Lover's Day, nature, photography, travel, wildlife, zoo babies, zoocation, Zoos
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April 8th, was National Zoo Lover’s Day. Needless to say – I am a big zoo fan. I stopped counting but think we have been to about 150 zoos and aquariums on our wonderful, fun zoocations that came to a screeching halt when COVID arrived. Looking forward to returning to those trips someday soon. Today’s photo montage features some photos from those adventures.
– It is estimated that over 600 million people visit zoos each year.
– There are more than 2,800 zoos and aquariums in the world.
– Germany has more zoos than any other country – 414!
– The US has more than 350 zoos. The total number of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums is 238.
– Over 30 US zoos have more than 1 million visitors a year. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the most with 9.5 million visitors each year.
– The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the US. It opened on July 1, 1874.
– The oldest running zoo in the world is the Vienna Zoo in Schonbrunn. It was founded in 1752.
Why not go out and visit your favorite Zoo today, enjoy the outdoors and see some amazing animals?
Bright Lights, Big City January 16, 2022
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: city views, NYC, One Vanderbilt, photography, The Summit, travel
7 comments
Last November my friend Robyn and I went up to The Summit during the daylight hours. We had a great time and vowed to return at some point for an evening visit. An opportunity arose and we jumped at the chance to visit one more time right before Christmas. We did not enjoy this visit as much as our first experience. We felt it was too crowded (even though there is a timed ticket maximum). There were also way too many posers hogging the window views and also too many maskless people. Despite my grumpiness we had a good time and the city does sparkle at night. We ended our visit with one of three offered cocktails on the 94th floor. My tip is if you visit The Summit, go during the daylight hours or visit at night during an off time of year. That said, the margarita was exceptional.
A Walk in the Woods November 21, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, photography, raptors, rehabiliated raptors, travel, Vermont, VINS, wildlife
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I am a city gal. The country frightens me. A good friend of mine (thanks Bonnie) coined the phrase ‘Outside begins with OW.’ I am much more comfortable walking the concrete canyons of NYC than the forests or woods. However, on a recent trip to visit friends in New England we drove up to Vermont to visit the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS.) It is a non-profit environmental education organization based in Quiche, Vermont. Its mission is to motivate individuals and communities to care for the environment through education, research, and, avian wildlife rehabilitation. It was a wonderful experience seeing their raptor collection, education center and beautiful, very accessible, forest canopy walk. Am I a convert to the country? No – but every now and then it is good for the soul to get outside of one’s comfort zone. 
Red Pandamonium September 19, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: International Red Panda Day, nature, NYC, photography, Photography Workshop, Red Panda, travel, wildlife, zoo babies, Zoos
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Yesterday was International Red Panda Day. The Red Panda Network launched International Red Panda Day in 2010. At that time, 16 schools and a few zoos participated in red panda activities. Currently, more than 60 zoos around the world participate, with over 100,000 visitors on Red Panda Day. On our many zoocations we have come across lots of red pandas with Tennessee seeming to have the most. The very bottom of today’s red panda montage features photos of the Central Park Zoo’s pandas, Jen and Goodwin with their offspring, Scarlet and Rose. I took these photos back in 2004. Other than being absolutely adorable it is almost impossible to take a bad photo of a red panda. Speaking of photos, I am happy to announce the the Central Park Zoo will once again be holding adult photo sessions. The first one is Sunday, October 31st from 8:30 to 10:00am. Click here to sign up. We will obviously be featuring my favorite enrichment – pumpkins! Hope to see you there. 
Franklin Park Zoo – May 2021 May 23, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: baby animals, Franklin Park Zoo, gorilla baby, photography, pygmy hippo baby, travel, wildlife, zoo babies, zoocation
10 comments
After almost 18 months sticking close to home due to Covid19 I finally packed a suitcase, boarded an Amtrak train and headed off to Boston to visit good friends. We had a grand reunion, visited some of our favorite places, ate, laughed and generally felt normal once again. First up…the Franklin Park Zoo. I hope that your lives are also slowly returning to normal and those smiles are broad. 
Library of Congress May 16, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Library of Congress, photography, Putti, travel, Washington DC
4 comments
This photo folder has been on my desktop since January of 2014. Not sure why I decided today would be a good time to post this photos…but here they are. All I remember about our day at the Library of Congress was that it was a great tour with truly interesting facts. Sadly I remember nothing that I learned that day. Sigh. However – thanks to the internet I was able to link some fascinating info for you here and here. That same trip we also went to the National Zoo to see baby panda Bao Bao. For those that need an animal fix each Sunday here is the link to that photo montage. 
While at the Zoo 