Zoo

From a press release:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter she sent yesterday to National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly criticizing the zoo’s decision to change its morning hours, from opening the grounds at 6:00 a.m. to opening them at 8:00 a.m., without holding a public meeting beforehand. Norton said she has heard from many constituents who use the zoo grounds to exercise in the morning and who are outraged that a public meeting with the Woodley Park Community Association was held only after the decision to change the morning hours had been made.

In her letter, Norton wrote, “Making decisions that affect the daily lives of District residents requires you to include them in that process, not simply make a unilateral decision and then attend a community meeting as an afterthought. The long experience of democracy is that such public participation before decisions are made yields better and less contentious outcomes. I ask that you respond to the residents’ pleas for a compromise and that you keep community input at the forefront of your decision-making process in the future.”

Norton’s full letter is below. (more…)

Back in early November we learned about the new later zoo hours effective Jan. 1st. Some folks are pretty pissed and a petition has been launched to reverse the decision:

“Proposed change of National Zoo opening time to 8 AM eliminates a safe place to exercise before work. Keep the 6 AM opening time, which makes the Zoo a fitness resource for all the surrounding Washington DC neighborhoods. Walkers and runners are happy to help keep the Zoo secure by reporting anything unusual to the Zoo police.”

Previously:

via FONZ

From an email:

“Tickets are on sale now for the Smithsonian National Zoo’s first BrewLights, to be held on Thursday, December 3, 2015 from 5 to 9 p.m. BrewLights, hosted by Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), will take place during ZooLights – DC’s brightest holiday celebration. Local favorites such as Brooklyn Brewing and Hellbender Brewing Company will be joined by popular DC restaurants including Smoke and Barrel and Meridian Pint.

Guests will get into the holiday spirit as they stroll through the bright lights of ZooLights and into private BrewLights event areas, including Elephant Community Center, Elephant Outpost, Great Meadow, Great Cats Circle and Picnic Pavilion, enjoying holiday cheers along the way. In addition to sampling great hops, guests will receive a souvenir light-up holiday tumbler, three pours of craft brew, savory samples from local restaurants, and complimentary “Snow Tubing” rides.

Tickets are available now at FONZ.org/zoolights. Tickets are $45 for FONZ members and $55 for non-members. Proceeds for BrewLights benefit animal care and conservation at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and around the world. Now that’s something worth toasting!

This is event is for adults 21 years of age and older. Children of any age will not be permitted into the private event sites. BrewLights will be held rain or shine.”