Tag: Zoo Rendezvous

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We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Zoo Rendezvous

Patrick Morris, Kimberly Morris, Brenda Morris, and Herman Morris (Photos: Michael Donahue)

People still wore animal print outfits to the Zoo Rendezvous, but pink definitely was the color of choice at the Memphis Zoo fundraiser.

“Barbie” was the theme of this year’s event, which was held September 7th and drew more than 3,000 people.


Maddie Caldwell and
Andrew Geraci
Greg and Dory Gaston
Jade and Marcus McCall

People were invited “to dress as their own Barbie,” says Erica Kelsey, Memphis Zoo special events and corporate sponsorship manager. They were encouraged to express themselves “in Barbie form.”

The event featured 50 restaurants, 15 food trucks, 17 specialty bars, and five full bars.

Charlie and Emily Sullivan
Katy, Susan, and
Tripp Thompson

Savannah Jeffrey and
Arnold Medal

Paula & Raiford’s Disco was a new addition. The downtown hotspot replaced Blind Bear, which had been a staple at the event until it recently closed. When thinking of what would be a good replacement for Blind Bear, Kelsey thought, “The party is at Raiford’s.”

“It was a great addition to the Zoo Rendezvous this year,” Kelsey says. She says owner Paula Raiford told her, “I’m locked in for years to come.”

What makes the Zoo Rendezvous so special? “I think Memphians have a special love in their heart for the zoo. Everyone wants to support the zoo in some capacity.”

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Zoo Rendezoo Postponed Until Next Year

Al Kapone and Oona Bean at a rainy 2018 Zoo Rendezvous (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Memphis Zoo’s Rendezoo (formerly Zoo Rendezvous), which was supposed to take place September 11th, is being postponed until June 4, 2022.

“It was postponed this year just with the increased risk of Covid and the climate that we’re in,” says Memphis Zoo communications specialist Jessica Faulk. “Our leadership team came together with our board members and decided it was in the best interest of our guests to stay safe and not be that hot spot for an increase in cases.”

There is “an increase in number of cases and it’s spreading,” says Memphis Zoo chief marketing officer Nick Harmeier. “If you’re still vaccinated, you can still spread it.”

Postponing a big fall event in 2021 isn’t something taken lightly. “It’s scary. We’re the first event to do that. But it’s the biggest party in Memphis annually. It’s not a situation we want to put ourselves in. It was a very difficult decision because this is the biggest fundraiser for us. But at the same time, this is a huge party. This isn’t a game where you go sit in an assigned seat. You’re face to face with tens to hundreds of people during the night.

“It’s a very sociable event. And masks are on and off. We know who this is. This is Memphis’ biggest party and we’d rather just play it safe. And that’s the thing, too. We want to be able to continue to be open at the zoo. So, if there’s something that we’re hosting that is a potential threat, then we’re going to pull back on that.”

To make Covid vaccines “more accessible to the community,” the Memphis Zoo “teamed up with  Shelby County. And they have a van they pull out on here on Tuesdays to vaccinate people. It’s from 2 to 6 p.m.”

This was the first year the name was changed from “Rendezvous” to “Rendezoo,” Faulk says. It was going to be a “rebranding year, as we’re coming back from last year and the Covid season.”

Zoo Rendezvous was not held last year due to the pandemic.

The event was to have an ’80s theme. It also was going to be a tribute to the late Nick Vergos and Thomas Boggs, two of the founders of Zoo Rendezvous in 1983, Harmeier says. “So, the whole ’80s theme was kind of a hat tip to both of them.”

The ’80s theme and the tributes will carry over to the June 4th event, Harmeier says.

The late Nick Vergos, left, and his dad, Charlie Vergos, with Michael Donahue at an early Zoo Rendezvous.
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Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Zoo Rendezvous Canceled on COVID-19 Concerns

Michael Donahue

Zoo Rendezvous

The Memphis Zoo announced the “difficult” decision to cancel Zoo Rendezvous 2020 Monday morning.

The event is the zoo’s largest, single-night fundraiser and featured restaurants from all over Memphis. This year’s would have been the 37th consecutive Zoo Rendezvous.

The Memphis Zoo

“Several key factors played a major role in our decision to cancel this event including restaurateurs who have been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic,” reads a statement from the zoo. “The zoo’s two-month closure occurred during the start of our busy season. Our attendance fluctuates throughout the year, and the loss of our spring season will have substantial financial impacts through the end of the year.

“As always, we would like to thank our longtime local restaurant partners, sponsors, and event attendees for their continued support. We encourage everyone to support the bar and restaurant community during these unprecedented times.

“Looking ahead to Rendezvous 2021, we have already set the date for September 11th. At that time, we will have one of the city’s most elaborate celebrations as Zoo Rendezvous will return in full swing with much fanfare and celebration.”  Michael Donahue

Zoo Rendezvous

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Go Wild

On Saturday, September 15th, the Memphis Zoo will close to the public at 3 p.m. to prepare for what promoters like to call “the best party in town,” “a hair-raising good time,” and the biggest fund-raiser of the year.

It’s the annual Zoo Rendezvous, where members of the Memphis Zoological Society pay $200 a ticket to sample food and liquid refreshment from more than 80 local restaurants and bars, including Big Foot, Amerigo, Texas de Brazil, Bari Ristorante, the Melting Pot, and Tsunami. Guests will groove to The Disxtraxshuns/Funk de Ville, The Kathryn Stallins Band, the Bouffants, Doc Shots, and other musicians. Besides all that, they’ll be offered the “Ultimate Tailgating Experience,” courtesy of Jim N Nick’s Bar-B-Q.

Sounds like a swell time — if you’re a zoo member. If not, you can sign up, and join the party next year. Call 333-6757 or go to www.memphiszoo.org.