Zoobilee 2019
Posted on September 26, 2019 by Ching under Events.
Brian and I attended our 11th consecutive Zoobilee event this year. Every year we say it will be our last but, when we end up getting tickets to a super fun event, it’s really hard to turn down. Even during the years that we would volunteer and have to work until late in the night we’ve had fun. In fact, those were some of our best Zoobilee memories. We have never not had any fun at Zoobilee.
I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t take more photos. Brian and I actually looked pretty good this year. Unlike other years when we either had to volunteer during the event or didn’t expect to go and ended up with last minute tickets, we actually knew we were attending at least two weeks before this time so we could plan accordingly. I even scheduled a haircut that afternoon so I wouldn’t have to do my hair myself. LOL.
We went in early and saw Sherii and her husband Brian. We got there a bit before 5:30 PM when they let the patrons in (general admission is 6:00 PM) but at least they let you in the area outside the gift shop where they actually are serving drinks so you can start drinking while you’re waiting. Brian and I learned a few years ago that we can use this entrance and skip the long line. We’ve done the long line before and it’s not that fun specially when it’s super hot outside.
We ran into my friend Michael early in the evening. Michael is one of several new friends I’ve made playing pickleball. Michael and I are actually playing in the Bob Jackson Friendship Tournamnet together on Saturday.
Here’s pic of us with Caroline, Chet and their daughter. Caroline is also a pickleball player. She isn’t playing right now but she knew about pickleball even before I did.
We also ran into Andrea and James. Andrea also goes to Zoobilee pretty much every year. We’ve ran into her there every year since we’ve known each other.
Brian wanted a picture with the tinman because it’s the name of his gaming page. Of course, I obliged. He always takes pics for me. I got to return the favor.
Ran into my friend Bill from Leadership Wichita. I always love running into my Leadership Wichita classmates. They are the most accomplished bunch of people I know. Bill is an entrepreneur extraordinaire and is involved and many very important business dealings.
We also ran into Augustine and Bianca, owners of Augustino Brewing.
Bumped into Ebony later in the evening.
We multiplied when Mercedes and her friends walked by.
With Travis, Ennidh, Evette and Jimmy. This is the only pic that shows my dress. I’m so sad. I wish I would have gotten more full body pics. It’s a great dress and my current favorite. It’s super comfortable but also nice and dressy because it’s sparkly. I might wear this dress again to another event and take full body pics next time.
Brian and I took one last selfie as we were leaving. Some people stay until midnight because the party goes on forever but Brian and I usually leave around nine thirty or ten o’clock but we are old. I’m not much of a drinker so I pretty much lose interest when all good food is gone. LOL. Besides, I have Zumba classes to teach the next day and I actually have a 10:30 AM class on Sundays now.
That pretty much sums up our 11th Zoobilee. Amazing how time flies. Brian couldn’t believe this was our 11th one. I had to remind him. We have all sorts of pictures online to prove it. In fact, I’ve posted about them every time here.
Until next time. GNG!
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Zoobilee 2018
Posted on September 26, 2018 by Ching under Events.
As much as we say we’re not going to go to Zoobilee again, we always have so much fun. It’s definitely our favorite event to end summer and officially kick off fall. And, despite thinking each year will be our last, we’ve yet to miss one of these since we started attending in 2009. This year marked our 10th consecutive one.
We wouldn’t have gone this year because I didn’t buy tickets. I figured I was getting to old to hang with the YPW folks and felt guilty about buying through their group. They have a really nice private party set up though and early entry so if you’re buying tickets, YPW is definitely the way to go. For the same price, you get in much earlier and don’t have to stand in the ridiculously long line.
Anyway, some of my coworkers got free tickets through work. I was not special enough to get one. The Zoobilee tickets are so popular that there are never any leftovers. I’ve only ever gotten free tickets from work once in the ten years we’ve been going. In the past we’ve attended by volunteering, which I very highly recommend if you want to partake but are limited on cash, or buying our own tickets through the YPW group.
This year Isaac and Crystal decided not to go. I think they had something else going on that day. I ended up inheriting his tickets and so Brian and I were able to attend, though we totally had not planned it.
I may not be the most spontaneous person but I’m always ready for a party. LOL.
Here’s a picture of Brian in line for his first drink of the evening. Success!
So Brian’s face doesn’t look it but he actually has a lot of fun at these events (most of the time). There was one year we attended despite me having a massive headache and we still had a blast. We went because we didn’t want the tickets to go to waste.
Here’s a picture of us with Josh and his wife Jessica pretty early in the evening.
This time we are with Josh, Jessica, Darcy, and Jeff.
And then with Josh, Jessica, Derek, and Vicky.
And then with Andrea and James.
And with Gina’s brother BJ who is always at these events.
Here is Brian enjoying a free cigar from the Humidor.
Group pic with Laura and Chad and Josh and Jessica (again).
We were with Josh and Jessica most of the evening.
Cox Communications had a special sports bar area this year that neither of us remember seeing in years past. We both think it was new this year.
Here’s a picture of us with Johnson, my new favorite massage therapist at Sveta’s.
Here’s a picture of us with Sveta herself and my original favorite massage therapist Michael. He’s not working at Sveta’s anymore but still helps out for special events.
Another group photo, this time with Richard and his wife.
And then, finally, a selfie of just the two of us.
So there you have it. Another fun Zoobilee event in the books. Until next year — or maybe not. LOL.
Click here for more past Zoobilee pics. GNG.
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Zoobilee 2017
Posted on September 22, 2017 by Ching under Events.
I didn’t take as many pictures this year as I’d had in years past. This was our ninth year consecutive year attending the event. In some ways it was more of the same but still super, duper fun. I highly recommend it if you’ve never been.
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Pictures from Zoobilee 2016
Posted on September 14, 2016 by Ching under Events.
Here are some fun pictures from Zoobilee over the weekend…
Me and Mindy (Brian’s favorite massage therapist) with Michael (my favorite massage therapist) and Sveta in the background. Speaking of Sveta, she actually gave me my very first ever full-body massage almost 20 years ago.
Here’s Ebony with her fun party outfit.
Brian with Ronnie and April.
Donavan, Andrea, and me.
Me and Cari.
Cari’s friend Buck.
Cari, Kati, and me.
Cari, Brian, and me with the Nails and Beyond girls.
Me and my Leadership Wichita pal, Stacy.
Me and Liz.
Me and Stephanie.
Me and Andrea.
Donavan, Andrea and me.
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Zoobilee 2015
Posted on September 18, 2015 by Ching under Events.
Zoobilee was a lot of fun this year. Except for the first part of the event when I had a massive headache. I would have skipped it altogether except we actually paid for tickets. For the first time ever, in our seven year history of attending.
Brian was drinking Stellas all night and had a great time.
We ran into several people, including Jeff (above). We also knew of others who were there but we didn’t ever run into them. It’s no surprise, though. Thousands of people attend every year.
Local restaurateur Steve Bacci of Gianni Bacci and Taste & See
Brenda and BJ
Me with Shanda and Nykole
I managed a smile for this photo, despite my massive headache.
This is my gregarious and extremely outgoing Leadership Wichita friend, Bill Ramsey, also known as The Bill Guy.
There were so many people at the event that we didn’t run into the Phelpi and the Dills until almost nine o’clock. The only reason that we knew Dills were at the zoo was because we saw their names on the Sveta’s chair massage sign up sheet.
Thank heavens for that chair massage. It helped my headache go away.
Brian and Kristen at the private YPW area
Jay and Becca
Our crazy, loud bunch
Me with my friend Andrea
I’m glad I toughed it out because I did actually start to feel better and my headache went away later in the evening. I wish it would have happened sooner, before all the food was gone, though. I hardly drank or ate anything because I didn’t want to overdo it. By the time I was ready to cut loose, most of the vendors were gone.
On the bright side, Brian and I once again got really good deals from the silent auction. We got one year of pest control treatments every 60 days for $190, which I thought was a good deal. I also got a gift card for a haircut and some Aveda products for just $65. I love silent auctions! We have a few more fundraising events coming up later this year. We’re both looking forward to seeing what bargains can be had in the silent auctions.
BTW, if you are bummed about missing Zoobilee, fear not. There’s another fun eating and drinking fundraising event next weekend on September 26 — Haus of Brews. Click on the link to purchase tickets. Proceeds go to a great cause. We’d love to see you there!
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