pa r t I E S
John and Carol Russell, Renée Chevalier, Phronsie Dial
Kelsey Smith with Mango
Joan Cheek, Trey Lipman, Laurie Eskind
Hal Cato, Wendi Powell
Caleb Followill and Lily Aldridge, Kerr Tigrett, Butch Spyridon
Living Large The Nashville Zoo celebrates World Rhino Day at Sunset Safari
Greg Hagood, Heather and Drew Robers, Heather Maki, Ann McKinney
Ralph Davis, Julie and Breck Walker, Suann Davis
I
t was an evening of “rhinormous fun” at the Nashville Zoo’s annual Sunset Safari. Scheduled on World Rhino Day, the fall fundraiser celebrated the arrival of two very special — and very large — new residents of the zoo: Mortimer and The Cheetah, male white rhinos weighing in at a respectable 3,700 pounds each. The gentlemen, who will be joined by four females in the new white rhinoceros exhibit opening in 2017, were still in quarantine for the party (mandatory for their first few weeks), but that didn’t stop the festivities from carrying on in their honor. Sunset Safari co-chairs Lisa Henderson, Cile Scanlan and Melanie Tigrett made the very smart decision to move the Patrons Party into the former gift shop, more centrally located in the zoo, giving VIPs a chance to check out several restaurants and other animals on display before popping into the party. Once inside, a rhino ice sculpture was the first thing to catch the eye, but between the two-toed sloth and giant snake being carried through the room and the two clouded leopards in a cage in the corner, there was plenty to entertain. Outside of the Patrons Party, the zoo was filled with hundreds of revelers sampling bites and drinks from local eateries. More than 50 Music City restaurants had tables set up throughout the park, offering tastings of their newest or most popular dishes. There were grits cakes topped with pulled pork from Edley’s, Nutella milkshakes from Flip Burger Boutique, three types of ceviche from Virago, kale salad from Adele’s, a salsa and guacamole bar from Bajo Sexto and ice cream cookie sandwiches from Ben & Jerry’s. And the list goes on and on! Everyone had their fill and then some, pausing between bites to watch fire twirlers, DJs and a metal sculptor. Zookeepers entertained crowds with animals ranging from giant tortoises to a blue and gold macaw, reminding everyone that big or small, the animals at the Nashville Zoo are always worth celebrating! by Nancy Floyd photographs by Eric England continued on page 38
Greg Smith, Jerry Johnson SunsetSafari.indd 37
Jimmy and Frances Spradley
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