Elegant bamboo and cherry blossom centerpieces
Mark and Allyson Bass
Rita and Craig Lashmet
Rita and Craig Lashmet
Animal sanctuaries served as a backdrop to the evening festivities.
Guests mingled around the zoo grounds.
Matthew and Janet Haplin
Shilpi and Nupur Gupta
Shilpi and Nupur Gupta
The Party
The 37th annual zoo ball commemorated the new addition of Japanese snow monkeys to Regenstein Macaque Forest, the first new animal exhibit in nine years. This year’s Monkey Business gala raised more than $1.2 million for the zoo’s expanding endeavors.
The Scene
As the jungle cats roamed about their dens in the near background, more than 850 guests were welcomed to a reception of exotic cocktails and appetizers as they passed through the East Gate and into the courtyard. Later, a gong encouraged attendees to take their seats, where they enjoyed an Asian-inspired three-course meal.
The Highlights
The party took off when the 16-piece Rendezvous Music band took to the stage, playing today’s pop hits and classics. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Garrett Popcorn Shops provided late-night munchies as guests roamed the zoo’s open exhibits. And what safari would be complete without lots of pictures? Guests were encouraged to visit one of several picture stations, grab their friends and some crazy props to create flip-book photo albums—the perfect mementos for an unforgettable night. -Photography by James Gustin
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