SVENGOOLIE: New Coffin Prototype Available for Public Viewing at Upcoming Zoo Fundraiser!

Anybody who knows me, and has followed this blog for any length of time, knows that I have a deep love and commitment to Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. As an animal lover, I strongly believe in the conservation endeavors that mine and all AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) accredited institutions perform as well as their work in educating and ingratiating the public to nature during their recreational visits. It may seem that nature loving and the horror genre are like “night and day,” interest-wise, but here in Chicago my worlds have been known to collide with the presence of our local-gone-national horror host, Svengoolie!

With Svengoolie (small & full-sized) at a 2011 AAZK Fundraiser

For the last several years, Svengoolie has been appearing at Brookfield Zoo’s “Creatures of the Night” event (covered HERE and also featured in Scary Monsters Magazine #84 ) in October as well as helping its local AAZK (American Association of Zoo Keepers) Chapter raise money for Vital Grounds in March. Vital Grounds is the appropriately named organization that obtains land for sale out west in grizzly bear territory. Instead of turning it into a strip mall or parking garage, they return the land to its pre-human, natural state so that many animals (including bears) have a larger range and less undesirable human contact. In 2010, Brookfield Zoo opened their “Great Bear Wilderness” exhibit and I urge all my local readers to visit and take the time to read its informative signage detailing these initiatives.

Pledge your support for the Grizzlies!

Although firmly on the road to recovery, Svengoolie’s health scare last November will prevent him from making his usual appearance for AAZK’s annual Spaghetti Dinner/Vital Grounds fund-raiser on Thursday March 21st (they will, however, be resuming next month at C2E2). This is not to suggest, however, that Svengoolie fans don’t have good reason to make the trip out…

Last October I covered Sven’s visit to Elgin’s Nightmare on Chicago Street (in several posts but the Sven-related ones are HERE and HERE) and the unveiling of his new coffin! As the maroon drape was lifted, fan’s (and Sven) ogled the new design created by Ryan Guenther and the talented folks at Acme Design. Inc (get a closer look at Acme by clicking HERE). What fans saw that night was the prototype coffin with the completed box still in the works and promising all kinds of neat “bells and whistles.” My photos taken at this event were used by both the mainstream media as well as the upcoming cover of Scary Monsters Magazine #87 – a Svengoolie extravaganza! That landmark issue will be available this April!

Coming SOON!

Fans will not only be given a rare opportunity to see this amazing horror host creation in person, but also get a photograph (taken with your own camera) with it, ONE NIGHT ONLY, at the AAZK Spaghetti Dinner! This was made possible through the incredible kindness of Elizabeth Haney and the folks at Acme Design as well the direct blessing of Svengoolie himself!

Now YOU can have a photo like this!

Here are the yummy details…

Date:  Thursday, March 21, 2013

Time:  Dine in/Take out service begins at 4:00 PM – Seating is first come, first serve.

Food service ends at 7:45 PM.  Event ends at 8:00 PM.

Place:  The Brookfield Zoo Discovery Center.  Please park in the Northeast parking lot.

Cost:    $9.00 per adult; $4.00 per child between the ages of 5 and 12.  Children under 5 eat free. Tickets must be purchased at the door.

Menu:    Pasta with vegetarian or meat marinara sauce, bread, salad, desserts, soda, coffee, water.  Beer and wine available for $4.00 per serving – must be 21 years old with valid photo i.d.

What can I expect to find there besides food?

• Silent auction: You can bid on many quality items available only during this event.
• Educational displays: Learn all about bears before and after you eat.
• Merchandise:  Both Brookfield AAZK and Vital Ground merchandise will be available.
• Music: A fun DJ will be spinning records for you.
• And Svengoolie’s coffin!

The coffin will be presented by Elizabeth Haney & Ryan Guenther from Acme (on hand to answer questions) and myself! You may get a picture with it as well (but you gotta bring your own camera and photographer). If you dress up like Svengoolie, I’ll take a picture of you next to the coffin myself  (with your permission) and include it on THIS site!

Come on out for a great cause and a RARE opportunity to stand next to a piece of Chicago TV history!

Additional donations for the Vital Ground Foundation will be gratefully accepted.
Make checks payable to:
Brookfield AAZK
3300 Golf Rd
Brookfield, IL  60513
Please write “Vital Ground” on the Memo line.

Do I have to pay admission and/or parking to get into the Zoo? Not if you arrive via the South Gate after 3:30 PM.  Tell the parking attendant that you are here for the AAZK Pasta Dinner, and you will be admitted without charge and given directions to the NE Parking lot and the Discovery Center.

Do I have to be a member to attend? No. Everyone is welcome!

For more information about The Vital Ground Foundation go to their website: http://www.vitalground.org.

Remember…ALL animal lovers who like to work at raising money for conservation efforts are welcome to join AAZK, you don’t have to be a zoo-keeper! You can join this amazing organization by clicking HERE.  Then contact your local AZA Accredited Zoo and link up with your specific chapter! Chicagoans interested in joining Brookfield’s Chapter can contact me through this site for details.

Also PLEASE take the time to “Like” my AAZK Chapter on their Facebook page by clicking HERE!

Joking with Brookfield AAZK Chapter president, Bill Steele, at a paper mache’ event!

We hope to see you all on March 21st!

Dave Fuentes (Terror Dave and proud member of Brookfield’s Chapter of AAZK) ~