Over 2,000 party-goers are expected to attend the “Out of Africa”-themed fundraiser, the attire for which is “safari chic”.  The evening includes a strolling supper featuring tastes of signature dishes from 40 of the area’s finest dining establishments.  Guests will cut the rug to the sounds of the Jerry Ross Band and also will be able to visit the Zoo’s animal habitats as the sun goes down. 

The live auction will include such items as a gourmet dinner for 12 with the giraffes at the Zoo’s new Giraffe Encounter (opening in June), the Ultimate Zoo Birthday Party, and a custom piece of Zoo-themed jewelry from Jules R. Schubot Jewellers.  Guests also may purchase Sunset Keys for $25 each or five for $100 and attempt to unlock a prize box. 

New to this year’s Sunset at the Zoo is an online auction preceding the event where the public can bid on celebrity-decorated and -signed African-themed masks.  The auction will include one-of-a-kind masks decorated and/or signed by Tim Allen, Lem Barney, Jennifer Hudson, Elmore “Dutch” Leonard, and Forest Whitaker, among others.  The masks will be auctioned on eBay May 31 through June 10, with proceeds benefiting the Detroit Zoological Society.

Tickets for Sunset at the Zoo range from $125 to $500 per person.  A Benefactor Party will be held on Wednesday, May 23, at the Bloomfield Hills home of Marilyn and Ken Way for those purchasing $500 tickets.  A VIP Reception will be held on Friday, June 15, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., for those purchasing $500 and $250 tickets. Tickets are available for purchase by phone at (248) 541-5717 ext. 3750.

Co-chairs for this year’s Sunset at the Zoo are Beverly Bantom of Farmington Hills, Melanie Duquesnel of Northville, Linda Gillum of Bloomfield Hills, Margaret Ogden of Grosse Pointe and Lois Shaevsky of Bloomfield Hills.

Sunset at the Zoo is also supported by Comerica Bank, Compuware, Dining in the Wild, Henry Ford Health System, Hour Detroit, Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C., and JP Morgan Chase.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056.