A variety of people came together in the name of the Little Rock Zoo for two days of wining, dining and animal-watching May 5-6. The events, dubbed Wild Wines, are held annually by the Arkansas Zoological Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for the growth and development of the Little Rock Zoo.
The May 5 Reserve Room VIP party drew about 300 wine aficionados to the zoo's Cafe Africa, where they noshed on hors d'oeuvres from So Restaurant, Capital Bar and Grill, Cache Restaurant and Lounge and Yaya's Euro Bistro.
The next night, some 700 people gathered at War Memorial Stadium, where they could sample 240 or so wines and enjoy fare from more than 40 restaurants serving everything from gourmet tacos to steak and shrimp. O'Looney's Wine & Liquor supplied all the vino.
The zoo's animal ambassadors were present at both events, providing partygoers with a close-up look at a penguin, a snake, an owl, a tarantula, a tortoise, an opossum and a hawk. Volunteers trained to work with the ambassadors were on hand to share information about each of the animals.
During Saturday's festivities, Latte the vulture took a flight about two-thirds of the way across the football field at War Memorial. Officials had hoped he'd go for a field goal, but flags flapping in the wind are believed to have distracted him.
Zoo officials estimated the events raised close to $60,000.
-- Story and photos by Cyd King
High Profile on 05/14/2017