Wednesday, March 22, 2006

BACK TO THE ZOO!!!! so we can sleep late after the big PAPC Opening Friday night

Hello All!

WHAT:     How about a return to THE ZOO!     BROOKFIELD ZOO!    

   WHY:    First and foremost because it doesn't open until 10:00 AM.  That means that for those of us who are going to be at the PAPC Show Opening Friday night -- we can have a few more hours in the sack.     

    Second,   because Saturday is expected to still be COLD and at Brookfield Zoo we can paint Plein Air Indoors, or inshelter, if that is our wish.

Third, because I think it is still too early for the zoo Crowds.  

     Fourth,    IT IS LOADED WITH PAINTABILITY!  AND IT IS GREAT FUN!

WHEN:       This Saturday MARCH 25th.    
BUT IT REQUIRES A DIFFERENT TIME FROM WHAT WE ARE USED TO.   

       The Zoo does not open until 10:00 AM. Soooo, we will paint from:

10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

WHERE:    In Brookfield!   An easy drive West of the City.  Check out the website for Directions, MAP, Restaurants, Fountain and other highly PAINTABLE delights!

http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/default.asp

Learning from past experience (the PAPC - SW nomads of our last trip to the zoo - ugh)  We can meet in the South West Parking Lot at 10:00 AM.   Parking is $8.00 and Admission is $8.00 for non-members.   If you choose to purchase a membership once in the zoo these charges can be deducted as part of the membership fee.    We can travel around the 216 acre grounds FREE on the Snow Express BUS if it is cold enough -- because it is Winter!  If it is a warmer day and they have the open air mobile out, there is a slight charge for a day pass.     

TIPS

BE SURE YOU HAVE WHEELS UNDER YOUR GEAR BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO CARRY!

BE PREPARED FOR INDOOR CHANGES IN CLIMATE!    

CAMERAS REQUIRE 15 MINUTES IN THE HUMID RAIN FORESTS TO ACCLIMATE -- OR YOUR PICTURES ARE ALL FOGGY.    

IN THOSE CLIMATES YOU WILL BE OVERDRESSED IF YOU PREPARED TO PAINT OUT OF DOORS.   CHOOSE YOUR GARB TO BE READY TO STRIP!
  
So, Let's go PLAY and PAINT with the ANIMALS!

See you Saturday! Rita
_______________________________________________________________________________
FYI   RECAP OF LAST VISIT in December FOLLOWS:
________________________________________________________________________________
I am enclosing the email I sent out after our last visit in December for those who have been added to the email since then.

Subject: It WAS -- To the Zoo!


>From the Dolphins dancing on the ceiling....
To the new Macy's Teddy Bear

OKAY -- The Field's Bear.....

We went from Tropical to Polar on our excursion to the Zoo.


The Zoo was an experience!   I have decided to send out a general email about it.

Lessons learned for the next visit -- and there will definitely BE a next visit:

Clearer specifications about the parking lot to use to meet -- (there are 2 lots that go loosely under the name of the NorthEast Lot.   As a result of that there was much driving back and forth and Mary Maloney ended up painting by herself.

Be prepared for multiple environments --   If you want to paint indoors in the winter - don't bundle up and then your body won't be confused when you go into -- around and through the 'tropical' environments.   Bundled as we were, we were frozen one moment, dripping the next -- camera lenses so fogged that blur was the name of the game unless they had about 15" to acclimate -- which would have required us to strip to not swelter as we waited.  These environments -- including thunder and lightning and Monsoon rains -- are so large and skylit that you can paint in them as though Plein Air.  But I dare you to catch a monkey without blur.

You haven't lived until you have walked THROUGH -- No Dividing Nets  -- the Bat House.   Leona thought it would be a challenging place to set up and paint!

Allow yourself a scouting expedition to decide where you want to paint -- rather than schlep around gear from place to place -- it's big!   And the Polar Express Bus doesn't drop you door to door.   It's a great bus service though, where else could you simply raise your hand and have them come fetch you?

Be prepared for wonderful -- wonderful painting opportunities from the amazingly colorful indoor perched birds (one of Judy's favorites), to the almost purple ?rhinoceros?s --- and the Elephants (one of my favorites).

The underground views of the dolphin pools are mystically quiet and compelling.

It is great to get there early -- 10:00 AM because there is almost no one there.   They say that is true in the summer time as well.

It was noon before Leona and Judy and I decided to split up to see things we were each interested in!    At that, when I finally left at 2:00 (having finally run into Mary) I still had not seen several of the things I wanted to check out -- let alone paint.   Judy talked me into buying a membership ($48) from which was deducted our $8 admission and $8 parking fee for the day  ($32)-- gives you a free tee shirt and 15% discount on purchases.   Since we/I will be coming back, it was a terrific deal!  Check out the Membership Benefits:    It really would be worth it.   And the Senior fee is $5 less -- $43.

http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/0.asp?nSection=12&pageid=325&nLinkID=29


Great excursion, way over-stimulating and wonderful painting site.   We could go there every outing for a year and not run out of gas!

Next time -- And there will be a next time -- especially since it is a place where you can paint indoors Plein Air ---  you will see.....
Rita

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