MIDWEST TODAY
5
Can you think of a better family activity this summer than a trip to the
zoo? Blank Park Zoo (Iowa's only accredited zoo) in Des Moines, will have
a definite Aussie feel. You'll be hearing "G'day Mate" as the Zoo wel-
comes you to view some Australian exhibits. Mark Vukovich, President
and
CEO
, announces that the theme will be a "Summer Down Under." One
highlight: you'll be able to buy a food stick and feed some of the 250
spectacularly colored Australian parakeets and finches in free flight in the
aviary. (The birds are very tame and even young children will thrill to the
experience). Among the more than 1,000 furry, finned, and
feathered friends at this very fun and fascinating Zoo, new
this season will also be a pair of striped kudu, a flock of
ostrich, a two-toed sloth, some
red pandas, and Japanese
Macaques. At least six baby wallaby joeys have been spotted
in pouches. Look for these to be bouncing around too! You
can even feed a giraffe. Kids
will love the Summer Safari
Day Camps. Beyond the
wildlife, Blank Park Zoo also
features an impressive
botanical collection adults
will enjoy. Buy a season pass
and go to the zoo all year
long. It's a real bargain. Info:
www.blankparkzoo.com or
515-285-4722.
TAKE NOTE
IN VOGUE AGAIN
NEW MILLER MUSEUM
"SUMMER DOWN UNDER"
Debbie Moore from Carbondale,
IL
says "I love my family,
love my job, enjoy doing everything I do...or I just don't do
it! I enjoy cooking and entertaining. I'm enjoying publishing
cookbooks filled with short stories and great recipes." If you
are looking for fantastic cookbooks filled with old-fashioned
ways of doing things, or if you're a busy mom, and you are
looking for quick ways to prepare nutritious family meals,
check out www.sliceofpie.biz (Debbie is simply the best! )
A unique hydromagnetic rocket water coaster is debuting in June at Lost Island Waterpark
in Waterloo,
IA
. Wailua Kapua, which translates to "River Dragon" helps celebrate Lost
Island's 10th anniversary. The park is planning fireworks, live music and other events
all season. Only ten such hydromagnetic water coasters exist in the world. Riders get
in a boat that takes them down sharp drops like other water rides, but then four sec-
tions work like a roller coaster, taking par-
ticipants up hills. It works not by the
weight or the speed of the boats, but through a series of linear induction
motors that propel the boats up the hills at roughly the same speed they
descended them. Instead of a series of stairs to get to the slide, riders take
a conveyor to the top. Info: www.thelostisland.com
A new 5,600 square-foot
Glenn Miller Birthplace Mus-
eum will open at this year's
35th annual Festival in Clarin-
da,
IA
on June 10, 2010. Con-
tributions for the $900,000
museum have come from as
far away as Japan. This year's
celebration will include Larry
O'Brien and the World Fam-
ous Glenn Miller Orchestra;
the United States Air Force
Notables from Offut
AFB
; the
Ballyhoo Foxtrot Orchestra
from Des Moines; Hunter
Fuerste and His American
Vintage Orchestra from Du-
buque; Shinichi Yoneda and
the Tamana Girls High School
Band from Japan; Dai Kimoto
and the Swing Kids from
Switzerland; Adam Swanson,
world champion Ragtime
piano player from Shenan-
doah; Evensong from Clarinda
and the Glenn Miller Birth-
place Society Band. There will
be a parade, Big Band Break-
fast, dances June 10-13. Info:
www.glennmiller.org.
F
Y
I
As cool as a summer breeze, and as hot as the latest
fashion trend, straw hats for men are making a come-
back. The one at left is made of Panama straw with a
pinch front crown and grosgrain ribbon
band. There's also one of Bao straw
with a striped ribbon band with
feather accent. They're sold at
fairs, hunting/fishing shows and
country music fests, or order
online at www.hatcountry.com
BEST COLLECTION OF MIDWEST RECIPES
M
A
K
E
A
S
P
L
A
S
H
!
This ergonomic
gardening stool is
designed to relieve
pressure on your
spine and prevent
your muscles from
knotting up.
www.cleanairgar-
dening.com