Bronx, N.Y. – May 26, 2010 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is the place to be for Memorial Day weekend as the zoo introduces a year-round discount for members of the military and welcomes a full line-up of patriotic guests to “Animal Tales Extravaganza,” including representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy and the newly crowned Miss USA® 2010, Rima Fakih.
Beginning Saturday, May 29, WCS’s Bronx Zoo will offer military discounts* to any active duty or reserve members of the U.S. Military when they present a valid military ID at the admissions gate. The discount includes a FREE Total Experience Ticket or General Admission ticket for the active or reserve member of the U.S. Military and a 50 percent discount for up to three family members included on the same admissions transaction.
Saturday and Sunday May 29 and 30 will feature readings of Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle at the zoo’s Asia Plaza. On Saturday, Nubs will be read by two special guests – a U.S. Marine and a U.S. Navy Sailor – and on Sunday, it will be read by Miss USA.
“I am so thrilled to be attending the Bronx Zoo’s ‘Animal Tale Extravaganza,’ said Rima, Fakih, Miss USA 2010. “I am also honored to be here on Memorial Day weekend in support of our troops with a reading of Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle. I am grateful for the troops that fight every day for our country and I am proud to represent the United States of America.”
Once zoo-goers have had a chance to hear the amazing story of Nubs, they can head over to Astor Court where Dave Grover and Grover’s Gang will be entertaining the crowd with a special brand of family-friendly folk music from New York Life’s Main Stage.
Over the course of the 13-weekend extravaganza, renowned children’s authors from notable publishers including HarperCollins, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Macmillan, Penguin Group (USA), Random House Children’s Books, and Simon & Schuster will be hosting special story-time readings of their books at the Asia Plaza Theater. Families will be able to meet their favorite children’s book authors and listen to them read their new and classic works then head over to New York Life’s Main Stage on Astor Court for live entertainment by some of the top-rated children’s entertainers.
Kids can walk through larger-than-life pages of real books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle at the Butterfly Garden and Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet at the Reptile House. At the Bear Overlook, walk through the new children’s book, Moon Bear, by Brenda Z. Guiberson and award-winning illustrator, Ed Young and enjoy a wild ride with Wild About Books by Judy Sierra at Astor Court. These interactive, walk-through book experiences have been underwritten by the publishers of the books featured; Penguin Group (USA), Simon & Schuster, The Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Random House Children’s Books.
The experience also includes an opportunity for children to make their own “animal tale” book and “animal tail” bookmark based on Big Babies, Little Babies, which is published by DK Publishing, one of the event sponsors.
This weekend’s line-up for the Animal Tales Extravaganza includes the following:
**Saturday, May 29
New York Life’s Main Stage – Musical Performance
11:30am, 2pm
Dave Grover & Grover’s Gang has been called “the Jerry Garcia of the elementary school set.” Grover’s style has been compared to Mr. Rogers, Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Raffi. He’s won countless awards spanning two decades, including a Grammy and Emmy nomination. Performing at the White House, the Goodwill Games, The United Nations, and The Today Show. It is folk-rock for every generation.
Wild Asia Plaza – Special Guest Reading for Memorial Day Weekend
11am, 1pm, 3pm
Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle
by Major Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery, and Kirby Larson (Little, Brown)
To be read by a United States Marine and a United States Navy Sailor
Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person of his own. He was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs's life changed when he met United States Marine, Major Brian Dennis. The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis's willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before. Nubs became part of Dennis's human “pack” until duty required the Marines to relocate a full 70 miles away – without him. Nubs had no way of knowing that Marines were not allowed to have pets. So began an incredible journey that would take Nubs through a freezing desert filled with danger to find his friend.
In honor of Memorial Day, the Bronx Zoo is bringing in a United States Marine to read this New York Times Bestselling story.
**Sunday, May 30
Dave Grover & Grover’s Gang
(Description Above)
Wild Asia Plaza – Special Guest Reading for Memorial Day
11am, 1pm
To be read by Miss USA® 2010 - Rima Fakih
(Book description above)
The Miss Universe®, Miss USA® and Miss Teen USA® Pageants are a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture. Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education such as the Latino Commission on AIDS, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Gilda's Club, the women who champion these causes during their reign are armed to impact women today. The titleholders of the Miss Universe Organization personify the combination of beauty and intelligence that defines the 21st Century.
** Scheduled times and performers subject to change without notice.
New York Life is the featured sponsor of the Animal Tales Extravaganza and is hosting a Child ID event every weekend during the festivities. The Child ID program provides peace of mind to parents who are concerned about the safety of their children and want to take action to protect them. A complimentary Identification Card, complete with the child’s photograph and fingerprints will be given to the parents.
MEDIA NOTE(S):
* This military discount will also be offered at the New York Aquarium.
* Military discounts are not applicable on Wednesdays at the Bronx Zoo or on Fridays after 3:00 PM at the New York Aquarium as admission by pay-what-you-wish donation is offered to all guests during these times.
* Military discounts are only available for on-site purchases, not for online purchases.
Contact:Max Pulsinelli – 718-220-5182; mpulsinelli@wcs.orgSteve Fairchild – 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Adult admission is $15, children (3-12 years old) $11, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $13. Parking is $12 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit www.bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.
New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States* and one of the largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings from all four of the major credit rating agencies. Headquartered in New York City, New York Life’s family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments** provides institutional asset management and retirement plan services. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as institutional and retail mutual funds. Please visit New York Life’s Web site at www.newyorklife.com for more information.
*New York Life is the largest mutual life insurance company based on the Fortune 500, ranked within industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual), Fortune magazine, May 4, 2009.
**New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC.
Join more than one million wildlife lovers working to save the Earth's most treasured and threatened species.
Thanks for signing up