Zoo + Raku!

Ok - what a great day!

We went into the city to go to the zoo because the weather was so great today. We got there around 3pm and our friend Vance joined us.

I talked up the pandas to Vance, but alas, lo and behold, the pandas were in their secret panda bat cave, and were not available for viewing.

 

The background to the pandas is that anyone who grew up around DC, grew up with Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling. Everyone in the area was THRILLED with them. They were the lamest and most boring animals. I never saw the fascination. They ALWAYS seemed to be asleep. I'm not sure they were even real - they may have just been stuffed animatronic fake pandas.

The "fake" pandas passed away. Several years ago - the zoo "rented" two pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. Rented for $1,000,000  a year! Yes - that is correct - one MILLION dollars a year. Based on my experience with the fake pandas, I was horrified. Mmmm...maybe we should build a library or help the homeless instead. Renting a panda seemed like a crazy idea to me.

On July 9, 2005, they had a baby panda named Tai Shan. Tai Shan has reaffirmed my opinion of pandas. He rocks!!! The dad panda, Tian Tian, reminds me a lot of the fake pandas - he sleeps a lot in his panda cave set up. He is not in the same enclosure with mom and baby. Rumor has it he gets cranky at times, so they keep them apart.

Tai Shan, and Mei Xiang, the mom, run around and romp. I've even seen Tai Shan climb trees and play with balls. Vance has never been to the zoo, so my big marketing campaign promoting the pandas was a little disappointing because they were not there - but you should go and see them, they are really cool now.

Then, we went to my favorite restaurant Raku. It's down in Dupont, and I have not been there in years. Sooooo yummy - you must go get the green beans. Mary will be so jealous.

There was a brief incident where Connor actually crawled under the chair of the woman at the next table and was crying when I told him to get out - inside my heads, I was like "noooooooooooo, you must get out now, you CANNOT get us banned from Raku". I'm sure the city folk were like "mmmm...when will they wander bk to the suburbs and let us eat in peace".

Overall - the kids were great and we had a really fun day. Throw in a craft project, and it might be on like the top 25 list.