ANIMAL INSTINCTS
We know summer parties can be a bit of a zoo, so why hang at the zoo? That’s what 900 animal lovers did at this year’s Beastly Ball. Walk-on-the-wild side revelers broke out their best safari gear and helped the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association raise more than $1 million for the zoo and its exhibit, conservation and education programs.
Folks got in the spirit sporting tribal prints, pith helmets, bush jackets and camouflage cargos. And while many Hollywood A-listers look to Balenciaga and Etro for inspiration, Beastly buds count on classic patterns brought to you by the always-in-style zebra, leopard, tiger and cheetah.
The zoo is the perfect place to park yourself on a warm summer night and a great place to escape the confines of the basic hotel ballroom where two-legged party animals receive a steady diet of cold mashed potatoes and rubber chicken.
Under a canopy of bougainvillea vines, towering eucalyptus and banana palms, we advanced through the jungle visiting with a crew of critters along the way. Amid a cacophony of crickets, songbirds and monkeys, we strolled past the meerkats, greeted the gorillas and met up with Nubian Ibex. This all led to the digs of LAZ’s most popular pals, a few 14-foot giraffes who were doting over their newest addition, a six- foot baby with eyelashes Madonna would die for. “She grows 1/8 of an inch everyday,” said caretaker Mike Bona. “You can just sit here and watch her sprout.”
Servers made the rounds with minty mojitos while golden cheeked gibbons swayed to the music of a reggae band, apparently favoring tunes by Bob Marley. Some of LA’s best eateries set up shop all along the way.
La Poubelle was dishing out rock shrimp with mango and cold tomato basil soup-a cool choice for a warm summer night. Pinot had a delicate quail egg with Blis maple syrup and Yamishiro featured ahi tuna with lotus root chips.
We arrived just in time to visit with the Sumatran Rhino who was settling in for an evening snack. The big guy is one of just 300 left and is about to be returned to the wild in Indonesia. “He’ll be in a reserve and will be safe,” said Patricia Stein. “This is one of the rarest animals in the world and we want to come up with a survival plan.”
Soon it was time to sit down under the twinkling star lights of the outdoor dining room. In a nod to Disney who made a generous $100K donation, the place was done up in a Lion King theme.
The live auction included a jaunt to Brazil and the chance to name the zoo’s new baby giraffe.
Finally, crooner Steve Tyrell serenaded us with old school tunes like “A Wonderful World” and animal lovers danced the night away hoping to keep the world wonderful for their scaly, slimy, furry, fuzzy and fine-feathered, four-legged friends.