Baltimore Zoo Opens for the Season

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore opened the gates on the 2010 season Saturday. Although the rainy day opening limited the turnout, those who attended enjoyed seeing the animals, and reportedly the animals enjoyed the company. As a result of the recent heavy snows some of the exhibits, like the Marsh Aviary and African Aviary will remain closed until they can be repaired. Even with the damage to some parts of the zoo there is still plenty to enjoy. Start Spring early by getting out of the house and enjoy a cost saving adventure. Going to the zoo is a great way to connect with nature, your family and even yourself.

Mark Saturday, March 20th, on your calendar to celebrate Sampson, the baby elephant's, second birthday. Participants will sing happy birthday to the zoo's youngest elephant, get their faces painted, and enjoy a slice of cake from Charm City Cakes. The celebration will be from 11 AM to 1 PM. Don't forget to sign Sampson's birthday card while you are there.

The Maryland Zoo’s African Journey is the largest exhibit area on the 160 acre zoo, dedicated to the animals and birds of the African continent. A few of the many exhibits include leopards, cheetahs, warthogs, giraffes, elephants, lions, chimpanzees, vultures and West African cranes.

A favorite feature in the African Journey is the giraffe feeding plaza where you can feed the giraffe’s everyday between 10:30 and 3 pm. Be aware the giraffe feeding areas may be closed if the field remains too muddy for them.

The Maryland Wilderness is featured in the Children's Zoo and represents the animals, birds and reptiles of the state. Included in the exhibit are domesticated animals like goats and sheep and typical farm animals. This part of the zoo has a lot of interaction to keep young kids interested in discovering more about animal and their habitat. They have Plexiglas enclosures to watch river otter’s underwater, a cave to see bats and snakes and even an ecological tree built with stairs that you walk up inside. At the top of the tree is an optional slide, a favorite with the kids.

One of the first exhibit areas in the zoo, after taking the tram from the entrance, is the Polar Bear Watch. From here you can see the largest predators in the world, Alaska and Magnet, and their newest addition, Anoki. Anoki is on loan from the New Mexico Biological Park in Albuquerque. A unique aspect of this exhibit is an actual Tundra Buggy that is air conditioned and overlooks the water and bear habitat.

Not only is a trip to the zoo a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends it is an opportunity to learn about and discuss how we take care of animals and our surroundings. The zoo is a good day trip that can be educational in many ways. On my last visit, my daughter asked me who was faster, a cheetah or a leopard. I now know it is the cheetah, running at up to 70 miles per hour for long distances compared to about 40 miles per hour in short bursts for the leopard.

The zoo is open every day ten months a year, from March through December, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hours are 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. Online adult tickets, and weekday gate prices are: $14, children $10 and seniors $12. Weekend rates are: adults $16, children $11, and seniors $13. Parking is free.

Consider an annual family membership for $99 and enjoy a year of great visits.

American Visionary Art Museum - Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD. - What are the threads that connect Sadaam Hussein’s reluctant personal physician, a 1919 Japanese immigrant, and the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy? The answers reside within the American Visionary Art Museum exhibit running through September 2010, in Baltimore, Maryland.

This is where the creative work of more than 50 visionary and self taught artists come together to display the intimacies of their cultural quest for human rights, civil rights, freedom and happiness. While the American Declaration of Independence is the thread for this monumental exhibit, the underlying concept is the human struggle, throughout the world, for freedom, equal dignity and basic rights. Contemporary and historical artists from disparate backgrounds use a variety of media to tell the stories of their experience and heritage.

Doctor Ala Bashir, renown plastic surgeon and Iraq's most famous painter, has three paintings on canvas and a terra cotta sculpture on display. His sculpture, The Cry, was the model for the 32 foot bronze monument erected in Iraq to commemorate where 400 women and children were killed in the first Gulf War. Basher was the personal physician and artist for former Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein until his overthrow in April 2003. When his vivid, twisted images of human suffering are compared to surreal painters, based upon his style, he is quoted as saying "My duty was to compete with death, the surrealists artists were dreaming dreams, I am painting what I saw."

Henry Sugimoto, a Japanese immigrant to the United States in 1919, captured his pursuit of the American dream experiences through a paint brush. His impressionistic paintings took on new meaning after his forced internment in the Fresno detention center in central California and Jerome and Rohwer concentration camps in Arkansas . His poignant style documents the experiences of Japanese Americans held behind barbed wire on American soil.

Early Native American art sheds light on the historical significance of the Iroquois nations that influenced the U.S. Constitution. Early natives had a democratic process in place generations before the Declaration of Independence. In fact George Washington and Benjamin Franklin invited representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy to Philadelphia in 1776, which likely served as an opportunity for them to learn about the Iroquois very successful form of government.

The struggle for America's civil rights, by African Americans, is creatively captured in thirteen letters sent to Charles Morgan Jr. in 1963. This is a collection of letters: hate mail and encouraging letters, juxtaposed against the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham that killed four young black girls. He spoke the day after the bombing to white leaders and businessmen whom he blamed for creating an atmosphere of racial hatred. After leaving Birmingham, he led a successful life as a civil rights lawyer.

The quest for freedom is also immortalized by Pedro Martin Declet, a former inmate who found his voice through art. He depicts his personal struggles and those of society through collage and assemblages, like his collage "Portrait de Genocide".

Experiencing the exhibit:
The entire exhibit combines history and art in a very unique and interactive manner. For teachers or students, the American Visionary Art Museum is a fascinating land of discovery with permanent exhibits that complement the traveling shows. Lesson plans for grades 5 through 12 are available on the AVAM website. Even if you are not a student these plans will help to navigate, focus, and get more out of your visit to an extraordinary spot.

Spend the day and plan on staying for lunch or dinner (or both) at Mr. Rains Funhouse, located in the museum.

The American Visionary Art Museum is located at the base of Federal Hill, south of Baltimore's Inner Harbor at 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230-3940. The museum is open 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday-Sunday, except Christmas and Thanksgiving day. Cost is $14 for adults, $8 for students and there are discounts for seniors and groups of ten or more.

Invasion of the Jellyfish

BALTIMORE, MD - Most people recognize jellyfish, or sea jellies, by their unique transparent bell shape and long dangling tentacles. Gently they float along with the current, waiting to sting an unsuspecting swimmer or washing up on the beach, flattened and rather yucky looking.

A new exhibit, "Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance" opens this Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Here is your chance to learn more about these mysterious creatures and see their beauty up close, without fear of being stung. There are seven different species in a separate exhibit area that showcases their diverse structure and colors. Interactive displays in the area provide short video clips, photos and text, to highlight the devastating impact these animals are having on our world today.

Related to Anemones and Corals, the early stages of the jelly look more like plants on the ocean floor. The familiar shape and texture of the jellyfish we see in the ocean are the free-floating adult medusas. Most of us wouldn't recognize the early stages of their development, as they change dramatically, through several body changes until they become the wandering adults we know as jellyfish.

Jellies have survived some 650 million years and are the largest of the plankton family. The title of the exhibit "Jellies Invasion" isn't a marketing catchphrase but a warning of the damage being caused around the world by increasing populations of Jellies. The introduction of North America's Leidy's comb jelly in the Black Sea has devastated the local fishing economy and was responsible for the collapse of the anchovy industry. We often hear about non-native species invading America but seldom hear the reverse. It is suspected that ships traveling from North America picked up the Leidy's comb jelly in their ballast tanks and were later discharged into the Black Sea. Capable of producing 2000 to 3000 eggs per day, it is almost impossible to eradicate the jellies once they are established.

Other factors suspected to be the cause of increased jelly populations are global warming and overfishing. There is plenty of debate over global warming, add this to controversy. Overfishing and pollution leave a void of fish where jellies can reproduce without predators keeping them in check. Remember the publicity about fishing nets catching and killing sea turtles? One of the mainstays of the sea turtle diet is jellies; a single sea turtle eats hundreds of pounds of jellies a day. Less sea turtles equals more jellies.

The exhibit is small but very well appointed with interactive learning tools and roving experts who are happy to address your questions. The creative lighting and placement of cylindrical tanks highlight the grace and beauty of these floating gelatinous zooplanktons.

Getting there: The National Aquarium in Baltimore is located in the Inner Harbor of downtown Baltimore. opens Saturday, May 23 at 501 E. Pratt St. Tickets are $14.95 - $24.95 for general admission. Call 410-576-3800 or go to aqua.org. Included in the price is the Austrailia exhibit, Rain Forest, other attractions. The Dolphin show and 4D theater are an added charge.

Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race 2009

BALTIMORE, MD. - While much of the world was keeping an eye on the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby, hundreds turned out in Baltimore, Maryland for a race of a different kind. The 11th annual Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race is one of the wackiest races on the East coast. Well attended by a friendly and fun loving crowd, the race is advertised as "a race of totally human-powered works of art designed to travel over land, sand, mud and really deep water."

The moving creative sculptures are made by teams from such diverse backgrounds as the the Physics and Sculpture departments of the University of Virginia, Roland Park Elementary School's 8th grade class, and individuals looking to win big. Hosted by the American Visionary Art Museum , this championship race had 33 registered kinetic sculptures by race time.

To win this race the entrants, often called Kinetinauts, because of their fearless artistic and engineering skills, must human-power their creations over a 15 mile course. The course is through downtown Baltimore and includes some interesting obstacles: Kinetinauts must swim their sculptures in the Baltimore Harbor, traverse a sand pit, push through a mud pit and return in one piece.

At the Canton Waterfront the sculptures drive down a ramp into the harbor, where there are plenty of kayaks and safety boats making sure everyone gets out of the water as healthy as they entered. Where land meets water is where the seaworthiness of these sculptures are tested. There are some who sink , some who flip on hitting the water, and some who have trouble getting out and up the ramp. The rules are strict regarding outside help to help push or pull the kinetic sculptures out of the water.

Following some great achievements in the water test, the pilots drive their strange vehicles several blocks to Patterson Park, where an obstacle course is set up. The pilots and crew must drive their vehicle through a sand pit while the crowd cheers. I was amazed how the crowd would open a pathway for the vehicle to race into the pit then close ranks behind it for a better view. No one was run over and the fluidity of the crowd seemed rehearsed. After the sand pit it was on to the mud pit, located on an uphill part of the course, just to add a little challenge. The mud tenders seemed to get the worse part of the dirt, having to shovel the mud back into a nice wet, oozy pile for the next racer. Many made it through with some pushing by their team, some were bogged down. All had fun.

The spectators are as fun to watch, and photograph, as the movable artwork. The crowd is enthusiastic, yelling and encouraging all entrants as they brave the water, sand and mud courses. Many dress for the occasion in colorful and outlandish costumes. If you're in the market for a puppy or dog this is a great place to check out the different breeds. We saw probably a hundred dogs, of all sizes and shapes, enjoying the outing in Patterson Park and along the race course. All were friendly and seemed to enjoy the outing as much as their leash mates.

Returning this year were a number of favorites from previous races: Fifi, the giant pink poodle, Bumpo the Indian elephant, last years' Grand Mediocre East Coast Champion Rat Rod, and the ever popular P.L.A.T.Y.P.U.S. (Personal Long-range All Terrain Yacht Proven Un-Safe). New creations included the Happily Never After, Rocky Horror Picture Shoe and The Oregon Trail, based upon the pilots' favorite childhood computer game.

There are at least 14 awards that are just as much fun as the wild and crazy sculptures. There is the most prestigious honor, the ACE Award, that recognizes a pilot who has "conquered not only the race course, but his machine and himself." This award also entitles the pilot to be addressed as "Most Visionary Pilot", and for people to stand when he or she enters the room. I did say these people were a lot of fun, but not modest. There is the "Next to Last" award to keep the race interesting to the end and the "Golden Flipper" award for the best water crash or flip.

The idea of a Kinetic Sculpture race started with Hobart Brown in 1969 in California. An artist and gallery owner, Hobart reportedly got started with in the Kinetic Sculpture race field when he modified his son's tricycle to a five-wheeled decorated "Pentacycle." He was challenged by another artist to race down Main street on Mother's Day. Other artists joined in the race and each year it grew a little more. Soon the race was the longest human powered sculpture race in the world with a course covering 42 miles from Arcata to Ferndale, California. Hobart went on to help set up Kinetic Sculpture races throughout the United States and Australia. There are about ten races annually, including the Baltimore race that Hobart help setup in 1999.

The Kentucky Derby is billed as, "the most exciting two minutes in sports." The Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race takes a bit more than two minutes to finish. It takes about 7 hours and 58 minutes longer than the Derby, so it could be billed as, "the most exciting, creative, and fun-filled race day anywhere."

RACE RESULTS

At the end of the day "Goin Griswold", a takeoff of the Chevy Chase Vacation movie, complete with the mother-in-law on the roof, was the Grand Mediocre East Coast Champion by the Gottwald family of Great Falls, Virginia. "Happily Never After", by the Make Believers team, won the Art Award and was one of my favorites.. Before the race started a giant pumpkin was transformed by the Fairy Godmother into the gothic carriage that wowed the crowd.

The Engineering Award went to "Cheese Racer," designed and engineered by students from Sollers Point Technical High School. "P.L.A.T.Y.P.U.S." by David Hess and his Horkology Foundation took the People's Choice by popular vote. This is a returning entry from last year with a few improvements and style changes. Platypus also holds the record for the largest crew with eight pilots pedaling and a driver.

Going where no man (or woman) has gone before the Speed Award was beamed up to NCC-1701 and the It Cain't team, returning for their fifth year. The Golden Flipper, for capsizing in the harbor went to a wet "Green Racer" crew. "Hot Beef Injection" was cooking food along the way in their chicken leg, spatula and other food costumes. They won The Best Pit Crew Award. Or should it have been the "Best Pit Beef Crew" award?

It's not too early to mark your calendars for next years 12th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race in Baltimore - May 1, 2010.

All Aboard a Magical Ride at the National Aquarium

With pocket watch in one hand and oil lantern in the other, the mid-twentieth century train conductor greets us with a drawn out baritone "alllll aboard." Not the usual greeting one would expect at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, where people from around the world come to view the more than 16,000 animals, fish, birds and marine life that represent over 660 species.

This particular visit to the aquarium was unlike any other visit to see the many aquatic themed exhibits. This night was a magical night filled with the multi sensory film experience of the "Polar Express." This classic animated film is a fifteen-minute 4-D experience that will take you on a train ride in the aquarium's Immersion Theater. I have seen the full length "Polar Express" in 3-D IMAX that is quite a show, but nothing like this 15 minute, eye popping, in your face version.

I've been to several 3-D movies with varying reviews of quality and I wasn't sure that even with the 4th dimension this would be much different. While I anticipated a few scenes that would make the audience duck as something flew out of the screen, I had no way of knowing what was in store. I was blown away with the fourth dimension. From the opening scene, when the boy is awakened by the arrival of the Polar Express outside his bedroom, I was hooked. Not only was the sound realistic but the seat and entire theater seemed to rumble as if a train had just rolled in. You feel the wind of a passing train on your face and whoosh of the escaping steam cloud from the brakes on your legs. As the steel wheels grind to a stop, the snow that is gently falling in the film is also falling in the theater.

One of best features of this experience takes place in the dining car as dancing waiters break into song and acrobatics as they pass out hot chocolate to the wide-eyed passengers. As the drinks are poured on screen, you can smell the hot chocolate. There are more special effects in the movie and in the previews of coming attractions. While the "Polar Express" may not be what you would typically expect at the aquarium it is fast becoming a holiday tradition to get in the holiday spirit and a chance for audiences to experience the amazing 4-D Immersion Theater. This is a must see film for the family, whether you have kids or not. The "Polar Express 4-D" runs through January 4, 2009.

Remember this theater experience is only one facet of the hundreds of exhibits at the aquarium. Visitors can trek through the Australian outback in the Animal Planet Australian - Wild Extremes exhibit, experience the tropical rainforest, explore the undersea world of aquatic life and see a live dolphin show. This is an excellent adventure for the whole family.

Getting There:
Located at the Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland

Hours of Operation Mon-Thur: 9am-5pm Fri: 9am-8pm Sat: 9am-6pm Sun: 9am-5pm Throughout the year, visitors may tour the Aquarium for up to 1 and 1/2 hours after the ticket center closes.

Holiday Closures - Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Admission Rates: From $13 to $29 Total Experience Package includes Aquarium admission, 4-D Theater and the Dolphin Show! Purchase tickets online to ensure entry at your desired time.

An African Safari in Baltimore

With the economy in turmoil, now is a good time to get out and enjoy a cost saving adventure. All you need is a little creativity and a trip to your local zoo. You will undoubtedly learn more about our world and the many rare and exotic creatures that live here. I took a day trip to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore with my kids and found that it’s a great way to connect with nature, your family and even yourself. Most large cities have a zoo and if you haven’t visited one lately there is plenty to see and a variety of activities to educate and entertain.
The Maryland Zoo’s African Journey is the largest exhibit area on the 160 acre zoo, dedicated to the animals and birds of the African continent. A few of the many exhibits include leopards, cheetahs, warthogs, giraffes, elephants, lions, chimpanzees, vultures and West African cranes.

A new feature in the African Journey is the giraffe feeding plaza where you can feed the giraffe’s everyday between 10:30 and 3 pm. We ventured past the rhinos, vultures and camels to Further into the African Journey is an expanded area for the African elephants. On March 19, 2008, Felix, a 24 year old elephant gave birth to the first ever baby elephant at the zoo. Sampson, the 290-pound newborn, was named by vote.

The Maryland Wilderness is featured in the Children's Zoo and represents the animals, birds and reptiles of the state. Included in the exhibit are domesticated animals like goats and sheep and typical farm animals. This part of the zoo has a lot of interaction to keep young kids interested in discovering more about animal and their habitat. They have plexiglass enclosures to watch river otter’s underwater, a cave to see bats and snakes and even an ecological tree built with stairs that you walk up inside. At the top of the tree is an optional slide, a favorite with the kids.

One of the first exhibit areas in the zoo, after taking the tram from the entrance, is the Polar Bear Watch. From here you can see the largest predators in the world, Alaska and Magnet, and their newest addition, Anoki. This year the zoo added Anoki to the exhibit in hopes of breeding with Magnet. Anoki is on loan from the New Mexico Biological Park in Albuquerque. A unique aspect of this exhibit is an actual Tundra Buggy that is air conditioned and overlooks the water and bear habitat.

Not only is a trip to the zoo a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends it is an opportunity to learn about and discuss how we take care of animals and our surroundings. The zoo is a good day trip that can be educational in many ways. Who knows what you may see the animals doing that will spark questions from your kids, leaving you stuttering, or checking

Wikipedia from your iphone. On my last visit, my daughter asked me who was faster, a cheetah or a leopard. I now know it is the cheetah, running at up to 70 miles per hour for long distances compared to about 40 miles per hour in short bursts for the leopard.

Many people stay away from zoos because they don’t like to see the beautiful animals caged or restricted from running, swimming or flying free. Zoos have been around at least 3500 years and so have the debates on whether zoos are sanctuaries for the protection of the species, educational centers, or circus sideshows, where animals are held captive against their will. There is enough evidence to support all of these arguments and that is where visiting a zoo can help you to connect and reflect on your own feelings.

Day Trip Specifics:
The zoo is open everyday ten months a year, from March through December, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hours are 10 am to 4 pm and costs $11 for adults and $9 for children, weekends slightly higher. Parking is free and souveniers abound.
Special note for those who join the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, or are members of participating zoos, there is most likely a Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP) that lets you can gain free admission to other zoos in the association. For example Friends of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. can get free admission to the Maryland Zoo and vice versa. Check your membership for details.