American Visionary Art Museum: We The People

From the sidewalk installation of Baltimore luminaries at AVAM's main building.

Metro Moment

Romeo's Big Spa Day!

Okay, so he only went to get his nails clipped and ground at Petsmart!  But still, he was good boy.  The young man who took care of him even gave him a Handsome Hunk bandana (I know!  Cheap advertising gimmick).  It doesn't change the fact that he is a my handsome hunk! 

Reluctant participant in this little photo shoot...couldn't wait to get over and drink from the hippo's pool...  Finicky little star!

The Legend of Georgia McBride (from July 3)

[Backtracking my backtracking!  I missed an event...ooops.]

Tuesday, July 3rd, saw me back at the theatre to see the final production of the Round House Theatre of Bethesda, Maryland's production of "The Legend of Georgia McBride".  It's a lovely comedy that will inevitably conger up comparisons with "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".  Though it's not a road trip show, and the lead isn't gay, but it is about the idea of Drag writ large.  A desperate failing night club owner on Florida's panhandle coast and his overly ambitious, but otherwise unremarkable Elvis Impersonator star hit rock bottom necessitating drastic measures that for the owner means inviting his Drag Queen cousin and her unstable side kick to town to take over the show.  Only he never mentioned this to his Elvis wannabe and now he and his young wife are expected their first child.  Goodness me!  What will come of this?  High jinx, transformations, betrayals, redemptions and LOTS of drag!  I have to say, it was a helluva lot of fun.

As a hapless and hopelessly sincere bon vivant boy-man, Zack Powell plays his transition from Elvis to Georgia via Edith Piaf with great aplomb and more than a little joyous abandon.  He also learns a valuable life lesson about the true nature of drag in the lives of its devotees.  Charlie Kevin also manages the role of the red necked night club owner with pitch perfect metamorphosis.  But the real star of this rodeo is Rick Hammerly.  Rick in the role of the older wiser transvestite cousin for whom drag is more than just a way to entertain the troops is every inch the part.  His comic timing is atomic-perfection.  If the show had just been a drag review staring him, it would have been every inch as entertaining, but within the context of the show was even better.  The only problem with this show is that it had to end.

Yesenia Iglesias as Jo and Zack Powell as Casey (a.k.a Georgia McBride)

Dezi Bing in the role of the hard drinking sidekick Rexy

Rick Hammerly as Miss Tracey Mills helping Casy discover that Drag isn't as easy as it might seem.

When Rexy passes out, Casey is drafted to perform as Edith Piaf...and a star is born!...well, sort of.

In tough times, don't you mess with Miss Tracey Mills!

In the end...All's Drag that ends Drag, and a good time was had by all!

Virginia Zoo's "World of Reptiles and Friends" (from July 16)

This would be the "feast de la resistance" of my reason for making this particular trip.  I love herpetariums, and this one promised to be state-of-the-art.  In keeping with modern trends at mid-sized/larger zoo's like this, they often extend their reach to include other species like birds and smaller mammals (including smaller primates).  This renovation promised all of that and more.  It also implied that by the fact that it was open, it was ALL open.  This sadly proved to be untrue.  Much of the square footage of the complex was either closed and still in process of being build and/or assembled or was still being assembled.  Of course, I'd already experienced so many wonderful things, but still I was disappointed. 

For such a modest entrance, you are richly reward inside.

What didn't disappoint me in the least was what is open.  It really is a wonderful, state-of-the-art facility with an amazing variety of species--many, if fact, that I have never encountered at other zoos.  I contented myself with the idea that what I didn't see is just a good reason to return again at some point in the future, right?

As well as loving zoos, you have no doubt figured out that I also love maps and plans and even architectural models. Just because I couldn't find a good complete floor plan for this complex didn't stop me from taking the three I was able to locate and using them, my photos and my memory to construct one of my own.  Disclaimer, this is my drawing and it may reflect minor inaccuracies as some things just weren't clear in any of the sources I was drawing upon.  Nevertheless, you do get a sense of the layout and proportions of things in conjunction with my photos.

Fiji Banded Iguana

Looking down the first corridor.

Smallwoods Anole

Green Tree Python

Giant Horned Lizard

Jeweled Lacerta

Plumed Basilisk

Monkey-tailed Skink

Emerald Boa

African Bullfrog

 One of too open labs where visitors can see what goes on behind the scenes.  This one is dedicated to hatching and raising reptiles.  The other features amphibians

Ethiopian Mountain Adder

 The marquee habitat in the herpetarium portion, home to the most endangered member of the crocodile genus and pair of female Siamese Crocodiles.  I presume there will some artificial insemination in their futures...

Siamese Crocodile

Aquatic reptile habbitats

Alligator Snapping Turtle

 From the venomous snake gallery an Aruba Rattlesnake--I bet they don't advertise these in the vacation brochures!  A section of large Reptile habitats was unfinished, but inhabited.  Can you see the animal in the one below?

Crocodile Monitor

Another unfinished habitat--can you see the animal here?  Of course, you can!

Reticulated Python

 The final curving corridor hosted a set of habitats that were home to four colorful species of Tree Monitors form Papua/New Guinea and Indonesia: Black, Green, Blue and Yellow!

Green Tree Monitors

Blue Tree Monitor.

So what did I miss?  Rather than tell you, I just annotated and marked my drawing.

Virginia Zoo's Zoo Farm (from July 16)

The ubiquitous petting zoo (nearly every zoo has one) is called the Zoo Farm.  It is a collection of brightly colored buildings and home to a veritable United Nations of domesticated and (not-so-domesticated) animals.  Some examples from my visit.

Patagonian Cavy (Argentina)

Pens containing Miniature Zebu (Thailand), Alpaca (Peru), and Kune Kune Pigs

 A little Kune Kune Pig (not a Schnauzer!)

Kune Kune Pigs (New Zealand)

Dexter Cows (Ireland)

To extend the United Nations theme (present but not pictured): Guinea Fowl (Kenya), Created Porcupine (South Africa), Nigerian Dwarf Goats (Nigeria), Babydoll Sheep (England), and the missing Binturong (Vietnam, et.al.).  A nice little collection of interesting animals.

Virginia Zoo's Australia Walkabout etc. (from July 16)

As overwhelming as some areas of the Virginia zoo are there small Australian fauna collection is decidedly low key.  Comprise three species: Emu, Grey Kangaroo, and Bennett's Wallaby, the animals share access to the same large habitat.  It's designed to be walked through by visitors with double gated entrances on either end. 

Grey Kangaroo

Hidden in the fig bush, a little Wallaby joey.

 Beyond the Australian Walkabout is a formal rose garden with a gazebo.  No doubt a popular place to stage events like weddings at the zoo.  Events rentals is an important revenue source for many zoological parks.

After touring the garden I walked through the little area of North American fauna habitats.  Basically none of the three species of animals was present, so on to the Zoo Farm and lunch at the newly renovated outdoor cafe, the Beastro.