Secrets of the City

I’m a Como Zoo fan. Smaller, easier to get to and free to the public (donations welcomed), the Como Zoo is one of the gems of the Twin Cities.  It’s the Zoo for Everyone.

The ring-tailed lemurs are a fav of mine.

” It’s the Zoo for Everyone.”

I’ve never noticed a snobbish air of exclusivity at the Minnesota Zoo. But it’s been a long time since I’ve been there. The cross country skiing there is not what I expected.

Would like to go to that aquarium at the Mall of America.

I like looking at the trout at the DNR building at the State Fair. Stop there every year.

I had a bad run-in involving the camels at the Como Zoo. Also, those monkeys with the red butts at the MN Zoo make me uncomfortable. Regardless, I liked the peacocks and giraffes at Como. Those peacocks seemed so down to earth and non-elitist, unlike peacocks I’ve encountered elsewhere.

I’ve never had a good time at the Minnesota Zoo. The aisles are all clogged full of double-wide strollers and the displays are crowded with children who are not being taught how to share.

Once we went into a show (must have been seals or dolphins or something) and all the double-wide suburbanites in their winter coats were sprawled out and wouldn’t move over to make room for me and my wife. There was plenty of room, but they looked at us in absolute terror that they might have to scoot over. So we stood in the back and some lady told us that wasn’t allowed, so we had to leave.

Like a lot of things, the zoo is completely ruined for me by other people who enjoy it.

My dad helped design a few of the exhibits at the MN Zoo so I have a soft spot for those.

I do remember a seal or sea lion bouncing beachballs when I was a kid at Como, not sure if it was sparky or not?

Just outside my office there is a photo of an earlier Sparky, posing with a beach ball on his nose with a local television personality from the 1950s. There is a message on the beach ball that reads “Christmas Seals Fight TB.”

That’s right, Sparky once worked for the American Lung Association in Minnesota. He was our official “Christmas seal.”

Sparky was also an avid environmentalist.  He also was likely the model for this hockey mascot, designed by our own Charles Schultz. He was even nominated as one of the “150 most important people” in MN history.

I don’t think Sparky believed in the smoking ban – likely that’s what killed him.

Everyone knows animals will smoke ‘em if they got ‘em.

Ah, sparky. Fond memories.. I like the MN Zoo.. the little baby monkeys are very entertaining.

There is something more egalitarian about the Como Zoo vis-a-vis the MN Zoo. MN Zoo just seems more corporate and theme park-ish, and is considerably more expensive. Plus, it’s out in Apple Valley and doesn’t really feel a part of anything else.

Part of Como’s appeal is its smaller size. It’s really designed as a casual, family destination. Bonus points, too, for its location right within the city, across from a lovely urban lake. Como Town, the pint-sized Midway adjacent to the zoo, keeps everything in scale with its kids-focus and kid-friendly atmosphere. And it doesn’t hurt that the Conservatory is a part of the complex.

The Zobata cafeteria at Como also is quite nice. The menu has a gourmet flair (or did, the last time I ate there last fall) with reasonable pricing. A brat dinner, with sauerkraut and German potatoes, cost under $7 IIRC, and there was plenty to eat. The zoo area also has its own concession stands with nothing too outrageously-priced. One of the best-kept secrets of Como, though, is the gift shop. I bought a really nice straw gardener’s hat there last year for under $10! It’s definitely worth your time to browse.

@Rat: Underwater World at MOA is … okay. I’d love to see this aquarium, though, in Okinawa:

Here’s video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw

I forgot who I was talking to about this but you can have sleepovers in Underwater World for the right price. First MNSpeak Slumber Partay Evar?

Also, Noodleman, do you write for Zagats in your spare time?

Anyway, I think it was pretty obvious from listening to his bark that Sparky was a smoker. And “Sparky”? Really? That sea lion was fooling no one with his ALA support. Still, he was very nice and provided laughs for children of all ages and he will be missed.

I’m no kind of PETA activist (in fact, if I’ve had a few, I’ll go on a rant about PETA that will curl your hair) but it always strikes me that maybe the animals at the Como Zoo aren’t being that well treated. Last time we were there, my girlfriend spotted an animal — a bear maybe? I forget even which animal — with a major, infected, weeping sore. We let zoo management know, and they seemed a) very surprised and b) very unconcerned. They don’t have a hell of a lot of space to roam where they’re not in, y’know, cement cages.

It’s old school, and I like old school, but sometimes old school is bad.

I like the MN Zoo because of the nice, large, awesome environments the animals get to stay in. But I too hate the PEOPLE. I’m misanthropic enough that it’s my problem with just about every venue in town, but the zoo is worst of all. Nevertheless, I always enjoy myself there.

Also, is the replacement sea lion who has been headlining at the Como Strip named Sparky VI? Because, if this is true, they really didn’t even need to tell us he died. Like that episode of the Simpsons with Snowball.

My sister’s dog is named Sparky. Now that I think about it, he often slinks around to hang out by the side of the garage. Rotten teenaged dog.

Cute name for a seal or a dog, though. Or an electrician.

Bixby: We at the ALA love the smokers, but hate the smokes. Yes, Sparky had many bad habits (including the bottle, some say) but the children of Minnesota loved him.

Based on Jonny’s comments, you could say the animals at the Como Zoo are a lot like us city dwellers. Pushed together in smaller spaces.

The suburban animals the Minnesota Zoo have more space in more comfortable surroundings. They can get away from nosy gawkers, just by moving to another part of their environment.

kurtis, I think you need to change your mnspeak password. It appears the rat has hacked your account.

Yes, but they have mass transit at Como, Rat.

Justpb, I really don’t think that a sea lion who hit the bottle could be as coordinated as Sparky was. I really wish you’d stop spreading such misinformation about our dearly departed sea lion. I was going to send a nice clearance fruit basket to Sparky’s surviving relatives at Como but it turns out there’s nowhere in town to get one. Le sigh.

Give Sparky some credit people..

Sparky was what we call a “highly functioning alcoholic pinniped.”

That said, who are we to judge him, especially now?

I was going to send a nice clearance fruit basket to Sparky’s surviving relatives at Como but it turns out there’s nowhere in town to get one.

Eisenberg’s, bixby. They’re right in downtown St. Paul.

Beat that, Minneapolis!

I was just down to the MN Zoo on Sunday. Stupid mute animals.

The MN Zoo is always a disappointment to me when I go. Probably because growing up, we’d hit Brookfield Zoo in Chicago almost every summer. So much more to see at Brookfield.

Here’s another alcoholic juggler for you midday entertainment.

To make the Como Zoo more accesable to everyone, there is a $23 million federal project to teach the primates on exhibit American Sign Language.

Be warned, the oranutan now swears like a sailor in sign language. In the photo below, he is requesting more funding to make the zoo more accesible to the blind.

What’s he doing with that foot?!

Run, children!

@Bixby – My wife was sad when she heard the news. “Now our children will never get to see Sparky.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, “I think there will be a miraculous resurrection.” I, too, have assumed it’s like Snowball. There’s always been a Sparky, regardless of which seal it is. More publicity for Como, though, to spread news of this one’s demise.

My favorite thing at Como? I was glad for the opportunty to sniff the corpseflower, but generally I enjoy the polar bear pacing its way-too-small tank. Silently watching its neurotic, hypnotic movements brings me to a state of bliss.

I’d never heard of Sparky until it died. I don’t like animals.

Why do you hate American sea lions for their freedom, Kwatt?

Cute name for a seal or a dog, though. Or an electrician.

Not sure I’d want to hire an electrician nicknamed “Sparky.”

Or a doctor named Bones.