Kids' Farm at the National Zoo is Saved

Thank goodness: A generous $1.4 million gift from State Farm Insurance to the National Zoo guarantees that the Kids’ Farm exhibit will remain open through 2016.

If you live in the Washington area, we urge you to visit the Farm (as soon as the temperature goes down a bit, oof). If you can't be here now but would like to look around, you can pay a virtual visit to the Farm. There's a slideshow, a Barn, a Pizza Garden (yum), & more.

Have a great Monday!

ciao-meow/GG Central

(photograph by Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo. See the whole set on flickr)

12 Days of Panda Claws in Washington, DC

Panda Claws (the official ZooLights ambassador) will be visiting hot spots in the D.C. metro area over 12 days, between November 29 and December 3 and December 6 and 12. He is very excited to let everyone know that ZooLights is free this year.

GG is excited. She thinks that, finally, this year she will be going to ZooLights. (Doubtful. But you never know.) If you are in the Washington, DC Metro area, visit the link for complete rules & prizes. Personally, we'd choose any prize called The Guppy Gala.

If you're not here but will be visiting, be aware that this is a popular event & though it's free this year, parking is not. Therefore, if it's a mere brisk night, park at an outer Metro station car park & hop on the Metro Red Line to the Woodley Park-Zoo or Cleveland Park stops & follow the hordes. (images via National Zoo website)

ciao-meow/GG's holiday freebie coordinator

Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)

So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen, Tai Shan (from DCist).GG & her editor tried to avoid posting about this but we can't help it. We're big panda fans (forever!)...check out the link to see lots of terrific shots from the National Zoo farewell party for Tai Shan. He leaves for China Thursday morning on a special FedEx "Panda Express." Farewell, Butterstick.

ciao-sulk-meow/GG Central

[The top photograph is courtesy of the National Zoo.The second is by keviikev via Dcist. He has lots of terrific shots via flickr for Dcist. ]

ZooLights 2009 - Bid Adieu to Tai Shan

The annual ZooLights Festival is ongoing at the National Zoo. It's lots of fun & this year if you're in the DC-area, you have a special reason to go. This is adorable panda Tai Shan's last Christmas in America. He will travel to China & take up residence quite soon. Throughout ZooLights, the Giant Panda Habitat will be open for extended hours for those who wish to bid farewell to Tai Shan before he departs for China in early 2010. The Chinese have extended Tai's stay twice due to pleas from the public. This time the departure is for real, so go as soon as you can. [photographs by Rachel Cooper]

ciao-cheery-meow/GG & her editor

Adopt a Lion - Week's End

Adopt a cute lion at IKEA & help UNICEF & Save the Children. There's a new Facebook Fan page for the IKEA Soft Toys Aid 2009 campaign. Or you can read about the Adopt an African Lion program at the National Zoo. Either way (or both), you will be helping out worthy causes. And have fun. What more do you want, really? (You are so difficult to please, some of you cranky pusses!)

Please remember Toys for Tots, too. Here is the video of First Lady Michelle Obama's remarks at the White House for the beginning of the holiday season. She announces the participation of the White House staff in this year's campaign. It's all good.

a ciao-snowy-meow from Washington, DC

[image via IKEA.com]

ZooLights in Washington, DC

The annual ZooLights display opens to the general public on Thursday, 18 December 2008. (Here for all details.) It's so much fun. Fairy lights in the shapes of selected animals. It's very easy to go to the Zoo -- right on the Metro. If you live in, near, or will be visiting, do go. This year the entire display, sponsored by PEPCO again, is constructed of LED bulbs. So no guilt either! (We wish we could take GG, she'd love it. Alas, it cannot be, so here's a tiger photo in her honor. )Photos © Rachel Cooper

bisou!