What’s New at The Detroit Zoo

this is a sponsored post

Did you know, the Detroit Zoo isn\’t just for kids? Located in the heart of Royal Oak, Michigan the Detroit Zoo is not only a fun family place but a great place to go with girlfriends, on a date or just to hang out with friends. You might be shocked to find out that the Detroit Zoo hosts a variety of adult-focused events and let me tell you – you won\’t want to miss out on them. So let\’s take a look at What\’s New at The Detroit Zoo for you!

Yoga at the Zoo
Every Monday and Thursday during July and August
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
$20 + $8 for parking

Bring your cows, cats and downward dogs to the Detroit Zoo this summer with Yoga at the Zoo every Monday and Thursday morning from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. during July and August. This early morning meditative flow is perfect for all skill levels. Each session will highlight a different area of the Detroit Zoo and will feature a zookeeper talk as well as allow guests the opportunity to interact with animal care staff. Sessions begin before the Zoo opens to the public and include Zoo admission.  Anyone else thinking about heading into work late because they want to do Yoga at the Zoo?

Detroit Zoo After HoursThursday, July 18 and Thursday, August 15
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
$14 + Parking

July 18 and August 15 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. step up your date night with Detroit Zoo After Hours. This 18 and older event gives you the opportunity to experience the Zoo after hours… you know when all the kids are gone. All habitats and buildings will be open, and the Zoo is open to explore until dark. This unique experience is perfect for date night or a night out with your besties. 

Bike Safari at the Detroit Zoo
Thursday, July 11
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
$37 and $30 for DD ticket

Pedal your way into an evening of Bicycles, Beasts, and Beers, during the Bike Safari at the Detroit Zoo. This event takes you for a ride through the Detroit Zoo after-hours to give you a look at your favorite animals. Since this is a 21 and older event it\’s the perfect opportunity for you to have a fun date night or night out with the girls. As someone who loves to bike this is probably the event, I am most excited about. Not only will you get to bike a 2-mile pre-planned course, but your Bike Safari ticket also includes a commemorative t-shirt, admission to the zoo for the evening and two 3-ounce beer samples. The course is designed to wrap around the Zoo and pass through a majority of the animal habitats.

Important information to know

Designated Driver (DD) tickets are available for $30. This ticket includes Zoo admission for the evening and a commemorative t-shirt. Please note that DD ticket-holders are not permitted to consume alcohol at the event. As someone who does not drink alcohol at all, I absolutely love the fact that the Detroit Zoo has this option.

Helmets are mandatory.

Guests must provide their own bike and helmet.

All guests must complete a consent waiver.

Tandem bikes, clip-in pedals, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades are prohibited.


Wild Beasts, Wild Wine at the Detroit Zoo
Friday, August 9
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
General Admission: $45
General Admission DD: $30
VIP: $85
VIP DD: $60

Wine down after a long week with Wild Beasts, Wild Wine at the Detroit Zoo featuring more than 50 local and national wineries and vineyards. There will be live music and exclusive access to the Detroit Zoo\’s award-winning habitats at twilight.

Important information to know

General admission tickets are $45, and include a commemorative beverage holder, admission to the zoo for the evening and samples of 10 wines unique to the tasting,

VIP tickets are $85 and include all the features of general admission, plus private admission through the Rackham Fountain Entrance and access to the VIP lounge. Once inside the VIP lounge, guests can take advantage of exclusive food options, four additional wine samples, and a commemorative gift.

General Admission Designated Driver (DD) tickets are available for $30. These tickets include Zoo admission for the evening and unlimited soft drinks. DD ticket-holders are not permitted to consume alcohol at the event.

VIP Designated Driver (DD) tickets are $60. These tickets include the same as the general admission tickets as well as private VIP admission and access to the VIP lounge with exclusive food options and a commemorative gift. Remember VIP DD ticket-holders are not permitted to consume alcohol at the event.

Zoo Brew at the Detroit Zoo
Friday, September 20
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

General Admission: $45
General Admission DD: $30
VIP: $85
VIP DD: $60

Babes, do you need an excuse to get your man to go to the Detroit Zoo with you? Don\’t worry Friday, September 20th the Detroit Zoo presents Zoo Brew. Zoo Brew features more than 130 unique beers from select Michigan craft breweries (I don\’t drink and even I think this is cool), live music, exclusive access to the Zoo\’s award-winning habitats until twilight and zookeeper talks.

Important information to know

General admission tickets are $45 and include a commemorative beverage holder, admission to the zoo for the evening and samples of 12 beers.

VIP tickets are $85 and include all the features of general admission, plus private admission through the Rackham Fountain Entrance and access to the VIP lounge. Once inside the VIP lounge, guests can take advantage of exclusive food options, four additional beer samples, and a commemorative gift.

General Admission Designated Driver (DD) tickets are available for $30. These tickets include Zoo admission for the evening and unlimited soft drinks. DD ticket-holders are not permitted to consume alcohol at the event.

VIP Designated Driver (DD) tickets are $60. These tickets include the same as the general admission tickets as well as private VIP admission and access to the VIP lounge with exclusive food options and a commemorative gift. Remember VIP DD ticket-holders are not permitted to consume alcohol at the event.

With so much going on at the Detroit Zoo this summer there is no reason you and your besties or significant other shouldn\’t be able to make it to the Zoo. Personally, I am super excited about the Bike Safari. Which event are you interested in attending? Click here to see all the events happening at the Detroit Zoo in 2019. Hope to see you getting a dose of Vitamin Z this summer!

Movie Review: Toy Story 4

{Disney-Pixar}

We are just four days away from the release of Toy Story 4, and I am so excited to share my review with you before you hit the theater. Toy Story 4 begins where Toy Story 3 left off. Andy, now a college student, has donated his toys to a sweet little girl named Bonnie. Now, the crew you have come to love is off for a new adventure as Bonnie enters Kindergarten.

Did you know that Toy Story made its debut in 1995, that\’s twenty-four years ago? Toy Story was the first computer-animated movie made by Pixar, and let me tell you the technology has come so far. I was extremely impressed with how realistic the animation in Toy Story 4 looks. Everything from Bo Peep looking like a real porcelain doll to the leaves on the trees.

In addition to old favorites, Toy Story 4 brings several new and exciting toys onto the scene. One question I have had since the first movie, and I am sure most of you have had as well is what makes a toy come to life? Well, we finally get an answer when we meet Forky, a spork with googly eyes. Forky, voiced by Tony Hale, is a cutesy homemade toy that you can\’t help but fall in love with. 2019 is proving to be the year of Keanu Reeves, and his role as Duke Caboom is probably one of my favorites of the year. Ducky and Bunny are hilarious carnival plushies played by none other than the famous comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Even though she isn\’t new, twenty years later we finally get to see Bo Peep again! I am so happy Bo Peep is back, and this time she is in a major role. Bo Peep voiced by Annie Potts is a leader, fighter, adventurer and all-around heroine to the toys – who seems to get her happy ending love story. Bo Peep proves that confidence and adventure will make you a stronger person and I really loved that message, not just for little girls, but children in general.
If you\’re like me and grew up watching Buzz and Woody (thanks to my dad and younger brother), you need Toy Story 4 in your life. Like every Toy Story movie, Toy Story 4 has some great life lessons and ends on a positive note. In Toy Story 3, Lotso proved to be a bad guy and while there are a few creepy scenes when it comes to the antique shop overall Toy Story 4 is a gentler story in comparison. You know the drill, it\’s Pixar you\’re going to need tissues. Other then one good cry (that kindergarten scene though), you\’ll mostly laugh at the light-hearted moments. My two favorite characters make me fall in love with love all over again – and the ending kind of leaves it open for possibly a couple more sequels. Fingers crossed because I want more Bo Peep in my life.


Toy Story 4 hits a theater near you this Friday, June 21.
Make sure you stick around through the credits for a couple of scenes you won\’t want to miss.

Mind, Body and Baseball at Comerica Park

This past Saturday, my Tone It Up bestie Katie and I headed to Comerica Park for Mind + Body + Baseball. The event was put on by Citizens Yoga and The Barre Code of Metro Detroit. This yoga and barre class was held in centerfield before the Tigers took on the Cleveland Indians that night. It was a lot of fun to be on the field where some of my favorite players have previously stood. Janelle Herbert taught the barre portion of the event and Kacee Must taught the yoga part. Previously I have taken barre classes at The Barre Code and have done a few of Janelle’s classes so I was very familiar with her. This, however, was my first time taking something with Kacee, and let me tell you I am adding her to my list of favorite instructors. She is super sweet, kind, down to earth and such an inspiration. If you want to try out yoga I highly recommend visiting Citizens Yoga.


Toy Story 4 Summer Road Trip RV

“Toy Story 4” Summer Road Trip is traveling coast to coast this summer to generate excitement surrounding the June 21, 2019 opening of the movie. The fully-wrapped RV will hit 20 cities, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Denver and more.

Guess what Detroitish friends, this \”Toy Story 4\” – themed RV is headed to Detroit! This family-friendly fun will take place Wednesday, June 19 at MJR Troy Grand Digital 16 and will be jam-packed with photo opportunities, film-themed prizes, carnival games and much more.

Toy Story 4 Summer Road Trip
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
MJR Troy Grand Digital 16
100 East Maple Road
Troy, Michigan 48083

When Bonnie takes the toys on her family’s road trip, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep, whose adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. Woody and Bo are worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, and they soon realize that’s the least of their worries.  Directed by Josh Cooley and produced by Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera, Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” opens on June 21, 2019.

GO RVING is providing the RV for the “Toy Story 4” Summer Road Trip.  They’re teaming up with Disney and Pixar in celebration of the movie with an integrated marketing campaign to inspire RV travel that takes family and friends on unforgettable adventures – just like Bonnie’s family and the “Toy Story 4” friends. RV road trip adventures are as much about forming unbreakable bonds as the travel itself. Now in its 22nd year, Go RVing challenges Americans to ‘find their away’ and pursue their passions more frequently when they travel by RV. Formed by the RV manufacturers, dealers and campgrounds to educate consumers about the benefits of RV travel and camping, Go RVing shares its messages of self-exploration through travel to today’s hurried families and adventure-seekers. Road warriors can get their own RV adventure started by visiting GoRVing.com.

#ToyStory4  #SummerRoadTrip  #GoRVing

Broadway in Detroit Announces Extra Shows in 2019-2020 Season

Get excited! Broadway In Detroit announced today that it will bring six extra attractions to Motor City audiences, in addition to the shows already on its 2019-20 Subscription Season.  The additional shows are: August Wilson’s Jitney at the Music Hall, November 13-17, 2019; Jesus Christ Superstar at the Detroit Opera House, February 4-9, 2020; Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Diaries, with Adam Ben-David on Piano at the Fisher Theatre, February 7, 2020; Fiddler on the Roof at the Fisher Theatre, March 10-15, 2020; and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Fisher Theatre, May 5-17, 2020. The Color Purple will also return to Detroit April 21-26, 2020 at a venue to be announced. Broadway In Detroit is presenting Jitney in partnership with The Detroit Public Theatre.

“More people are experiencing the power of Broadway shows than ever before and we are excited to give Detroit audiences one of the biggest seasons we’ve presented in a very long time,” said Alan Lichtenstein, Executive Director, Broadway in Detroit.  “In addition to our one-week and two-week Broadway engagements, we’re happy to be expanding our programming this season with several one-night-only and weekend events.”
 
 
2019-20 Broadway In Detroit Subscription Season tickets may be purchased now at  www.BroadwayInDetroit.comor by calling the Fisher Theatre at (313) 872-1000, ext. 0.  Season subscribers will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for the extra attractions.

Shows on the 2019-20 Broadway In Detroit Subscription Season are: Cats, at the Fisher Theatre, September 3-15, 2019; Come From Away at the Fisher Theatre, October  1-13, 2019; Hello, Dolly at the Fisher Theatre, November 19 – December 1, 2019; A Bronx Tale at the Fisher Theatre, January 21 – February 2, 2020; Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Detroit Opera House, February 19 – March 1, 2020;  Dear Evan Hansen at the Fisher Theatre, March 24 – April 5, 2020; and, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical at the Fisher Theatre, June 9-21, 2020.
 
Please note that all show dates may be subject to change.
 
Group reservation requests for all season shows and extra attractions are being accepted now for groups of 12+ to 20+ (minimum varies depending on show) by emailing groups@broadwayindetroit.com and using the name of the show as your subject line, or by phone (313) 871-1132, Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
 
For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.comFollow Broadway In Detroit on Facebook, as well as on Instagram and Twitter @BroadwayDetroit.