Fun for All Ages Valentine's Day Weekend at the Houston Zoo

By Brian Hill

Houston, TX - From princesses and frogs to a lighthearted look at courtship in the animal kingdom and a fur and feathers brunch, there’s fun for all ages this Valentine’s Day weekend at the Houston Zoo with three separate events.

Princess Day: A Benefit for Frog Conservation

February 13

10:30 a.m. - Noon

What would a princess be without a frog? What would a frog be without a princess? Princesses come together for frog conservation on Saturday, February 13 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon at the Houston Zoo’s first Princess Day: A Benefit for Frog Conservation in the Zoo’s Brown Education Center.

It’s a B. Y. O. T. affair (Bring Your Own Tiara). Costumes are encouraged. Frog kissing is optional. Meet some real frogs (endangered Houston toads, actually) and the keepers who care for them. Princesses can dine on assorted tea sandwiches, pink chocolate dipped strawberries, assorted scones, brownie bites and mini cupcakes and have their picture taken with the Zoo’s frog mascot.

Tickets for Princess Day: A Benefit for Frog Conservation are $25 (member adult), $20 (member child), $35 (non-member adult), $30 (non-member child) and include Zoo admission. Proceeds benefit the Houston Zoo’s Houston toad conservation program. Buy tickets on-line at http://www.houstonzoo.org/princess-day/.

Valentine’s Dinner and Wild for Love Lecture

February 13

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Adults 21+

Courtship and Romance. Dancing, primping, and displays of strength. It’s not just a human phenomenon. Guys show off at the gym. Gorillas beat their chests. When Galapagos Turtles compete for a female, they rise on their legs and stretch their necks- the male with the longest neck wins. Animal mating and courtship rituals can be mild, wild or completely bizarre.

Explore the naturally wild world of animal mating and dating with your special someone at the Houston Zoo’s “Wild for Love” Valentine’s dinner and lecture on Saturday, February 13, at 7 p.m. (Adults 21+ only, please).

Your champagne dinner begins with beet carpiticio salad (baby spring greens, tossed with herbed vinaigrette served atop thinly sliced roasted beets garnished with a peppered goat cheese foam), followed by a grilled beef filet, served atop horseradish mashed potatoes served with baby rainbow carrots. Top it all off with molten chocolate cake for dessert.

After dinner, join Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi and special guests for a lighthearted look at courtship in the animal kingdom! Purchase tickets on-line ($60 members; $70 non-members) at http://www.houstonzoo.org/wildforlove/.

Valentine’s Brunch

February 14

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Adults 21+

Include fur and feathers in your Valentine’s Day plans this year for a naturally wild time! Mix and mingle with Zoo touch animals and keepers during the Houston Zoo’s Valentine’s Day champagne brunch on Sunday, February 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Brown Education Center.

Whether you’re flying solo or traveling with the herd, the Valentine’s Day Brunch at the Houston Zoo is perfect for couples or groups of friends. Let us do the cooking. Guests will dine on a ham carving station, grits and grillades, pancakes, bacon and more.

Tickets for the Houston Zoo’s Valentine’s Day Brunch are available on-line at http://www.houstonzoo.org/valentines-day-brunch-frequently-asked-questions/ ($38 members; $45 non-members).

Recognized by Parents magazine as one of the Ten Best Zoos for Kids, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving 1.7 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. Operated by the not-for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., the Houston Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, the provision of engaging educational opportunities and the creation of stimulating exhibits that broaden the experiences of our guests and encourage their curiosity.

The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Golf Course Drive in beautiful Hermann Park. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Central Standard Time (last admission at 5 p.m.) and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. during Central Daylight Time (last admission at 6 p.m.). The Zoo is closed Christmas Day. Regular admission is $11 for adults, $6 for seniors, $7 for children ages 2-11 and FREE for children under 2. Visit the courtesy booth at your neighborhood Fiesta Mart and purchase an adult Zoo admission for $9 and a child Zoo admission for $6. Zoo memberships start at only $55. For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo member call (713) 533-6713 or visit our Web site at www.houstonzoo.org.

To view Houston Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-727-Houston_Zoo