[Originally published October, 2015]

Will the zoo ever go out of style? I don’t think so!

I grew up with the Como Zoo and Conservatory as a major player in my childhood experience. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Como Zoo was a small urban zoo, and by today’s standards somewhat below expectation as far as providing a quality habitat for the animals.

But I didn’t think of those things when I was ten years old, and all I knew was I was fascinated by the polar bear, the lion, the giraffe, the huge tortoises, and couldn’t wait to throw fish to the seals in the mote around monkey island.

Como has gone through many renovations since then, and it’s a wonderful place to visit. I get a kick out of watching Janet’s granddaughter – now age 8 – experience the same wonderment I felt when she goes through the primate house, or the big cat exhibit.

My favorite animal remains the giraffe. But any of the animals that mugs for my camera gets my vote. Here are a few smiles from our most recent visit on an amazingly warm October day.