Philly Zoo Kicks off Spring with Urban Green, Zoo Key and Creatures of Habitat

April 6, 2019 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

On Thursday April 4, 2019 the Philadelphia Zoo made several exciting announcements which included the ribbon cutting of The Urban Green, an exciting new dining destination and outdoor food marketplace, featuring three food trucks which will debut today, Saturday along with the opening for Creatures of Habitat animal LEGO® exhibit and the return of the Zoo Key.

Creatures of Habitat Rabbit and her hoppy friend at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Rachel Harvey and Suzanne Harvey. Rachel won a contest about her childhood memories of the Philadelphia Zoo Key at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019. She wrote “I was so excited to read that the Philadelphia Zoo decided to bring back the beloved Zoo Keys. Just the other day I was cleaning and found mine (what a great and coincidental timing) and was immediately flooded with great memories of growing up and visiting the Zoo with my mom, brother and Nana. My brother and I always “fought: over who got to use our keys to learn more about each animal exhibit, facts that we had probably already heard, but it didn’t really matter, we were always still so excited. Here’s to hoping my old zoo keys still work when they reinstate them at the zoo this April. #zookeymemory

Zoo Board member Jody McNeil Lewis wore her children’s original zoo keys around her neck to the reception at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Sheila Hess, City Rep at the Press Conference

Vikram H. Dewan, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo

There are the Zoo keepers who recorded their stories and behind the scenes information used in the special zoo key audio books at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Amy Shearer, Chief Marketing Officer at The Philadelphia Zoo, Vikram H. Dewan, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo and Sheila Hess, City Representative cut the ribbon to Urban Green with the help of local school kids at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Executive Chef Oleg Zelenko and his team who oversee the Urban Green food program
at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

The Creatures of Habitat is a gazillion piece animal adventure featuring 12 life-size (and larger than life size) sculptures designed by artist Sean Kenney and meticulously crafted from thousands of individual LEGO® bricks!

The exhibits will spotlight the issues animals in the wild are facing and the heroes working to save them.

A boy trying out his Zoo Key unlocking insider secrets and stories about the magnificent creatures living at Philadelphia Zoo, told by animal keepers who care for them at the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, April 4, 2019. You can use your Zoo Key, or buy one for $3.00 at the Zoo to hear the stories.
For more information or to purchase and print tickets online, visit us at www.PhiladelphiaZoo.org.

The Philly Zoo Key Goes to the Phillies Opening Game

March 29, 2019 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Another winning moment yesterday at the Phillies game was when Kory Aversa, PR for the Philadelphia Zoo, and I walked around chatting about the Philly Zoo Key returning April 6, after it’s absence since 2007.

The Zoo Keys, the animal-shape pieces of plastic synonymous for many with childhood trips to the zoo, returns on April 6 to the Philadelphia Zoo, and will unlock book-shaped boxes throughout the park with prerecorded stories from zookeepers and “insider secrets” about the animals. Yesterday Kory and I were at the Phillies Opener promoting the return. When we approached

Hey Angelica, who’s a PhillyChitChat reader. Thanks for saying hi!!

Mark D. Kuhn IV, ceo Oat Foundry, who’s team created the “30th Station” sign behind the bar.

Before Questlove threw out the ceremonial pitch, he spun a set in the concourse. Tune in next week to see Questlove’s reaction when he saw the Zoo Key. Exclusive photo, and story soon to be published.

Legendary DJ Bob Pantano, a South Philadelphia native, started spinning at the record hops in the late 1960s and then the nightclubs in the ’70s. Every Saturday night you can find him at Adelphia’s in South Jersey, and legendary florist Ann Catania both had Philly Zoo keys when growing up. They’re excited for it’s return.

I loved meeting my greatest fan yesterday. She has the dance moves too.

Brandon Downey says it was the best Opening Day ever. The weather was great. We won, and now the Zoo Key is back.

These guys not only owned Philly Zoo Keys, but they knew the song.

Check out this video I caught of Mayor Kenney singing the Zoo Key song a few years back at the Zoo Gala.

Roberta and Carl Dranoff are excited for the return of the Zoo Key. In April his newest apartment building is opening in Ardmore, and look for a game changing announcement about the property at Broad and Spruce, formerly known as the LLS property, and the Home of the Philadelphia Sound.

What a fun day at the Phillies Opener. Walking around with the Key created smiles in my wake, with people eagerly running up to me to check it out, and they shared so many childhood memories of visiting the Zoo. It was a great Phillies opener indeed!!