Fort Worth Date Night: Good Grief: A "Wild" Date Night

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

April 15, 2010

Margaret Mead once wrote, "When a person is born we rejoice, and when they're married we jubilate, but when they die, we try to pretend nothing has happened." There is a place in Fort Worth, that for more than 20 years, has faced grief head on.

Of course, I'm referring to The Warm Place. Perhaps, one of my favorite organizations in the whole world. The work they do and the lives they touch are indescribable. Often times, The Warm Place flies under the radar and without anyone knowing the angelic feats they achieve.

According to their website, "The WARM Place was founded in 1989 and now, more than twenty years later, we continue our mission of providing grief support services to children ages 3-18 and their families, as well as young adults ages 19-25, who are trying to find a new way of living after the death of someone they love."

So you may be asking, "What in the world does this have to do with "Date Night?" Everything! On, Friday, April 23, The Warm Place is holding the 8th Annual "Friday Night at the Zoo." While this event at the Fort Worth Zoo is kid-friendly, it's also one of those dates that will bring out the kid in the both of you.

Some of the events planned are: Treasure hunt, party games, hair painting, face painting, Wild Wonder animal show, carousel rides, Texas weather barn and the train ride. You can expect a silent auction, a live auction, a taco bar dinner and a cash bar. And, perhaps, the coolest of the cool, for the 3rd year, the classic rock band, King Creole, will be playing your favorites from the 60's, 70's and 80's. There's also a rumor they will throw in some chart-toppers from the 50's and 90's, as well. So, there is something to enjoy for everyone.

Friday Night at the Zoo is offering up some very sweet raffle items. Three different packages will be offered. First up, an instant wine cellar! This is 50 bottles of fine wine including Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and much more.

Package #2 is from Cowboy Cuisine Chef, Grady Spears. Grady will come to your home and prepare dinner for you and 10 of your closest friends. How cool is that? Can you think of a better "Date Night?" Oh yeah, all the is food is included and the package also consists of several bottles of wine.

Package #3 is an amazing weekend at Possum Kingdom Lake. Enjoy two nights for a family of four at the Harbor on Possum Kingdom Lake's 18-room boutique hotel. Included in this package is a Continental breakfast, lunch and dinner for four at The Grille. Horseback rides for two should make your stay complete.

Rarely do you find a "Date Night" that is o.k. to include the kids. This one is one of those rare occasions. But, by all means, if you are kidless, you guys will also have a blast. Great food, great entertainment and great people. But, the biggest reason to go is because of The Warm Place. The word "great" doesn't even come close to describe the importance of this organization. Mother Teresa once wrote, ""There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those." And, happy are those who have attended The Warm Place, worked at The Warm Place or volunteered at The Warm Place.

For complete information on Friday Night at the Zoo and The Warm Place, please visit: www.thewarmplace.org

Fort Worth Date Night: Built-in Tuxedo

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

February 05, 2010

Do the names Burt Ward and Adam West ring a bell? When I was a child, I could not wait to get home from school so I could watch these caped crusaders fight crime every afternoon. These were the actors who portrayed Batman and Robin in the TV series.

Several movies have been made based on these comic book characters throughout the years. Often fighting evil wrongdoers such as Mr. Freeze, The Joker, The Riddler and, one of my personal favorites, The Penguin, played brilliantly by Burgess Meredith.

The Penguin was just cool. He had a little bit of swagger to him. Always carrying a sort of calm and laid back confidence while wearing a formal tuxedo. Much like that of a real penguin. Fortunately, for real penguins, they arrive donning the formal attire.

I'd be remiss if I didn't start talking about Valentine's Day. It's one week from this weekend. Sure, there are still reservations available at some great eateries around town. Or, you could opt to stay in an celebrate in a more private manner and cook for the just the two of you. Or, you could celebrate by giving her a penguin. Yep, I said it. A penguin.

Not only a penguin, but, an entire zoo. Well, you won't exactly get to keep a penguin, but, you can adopt one. This year, the Fort Worth Zoo is offering up some great packages for Valentine's Day. Four different packages, two of which include two very hip parties, one on Saturday, the 13th, and one on Sunday, Valentine's night, the 14th. Here are how the packages are broken down.

Penguin Pals - $40

This package includes $25 "advocate" level adoption benefits, plus photo - Personalized Adoption Certificate - Animal Fact Sheet - One Zoo publication - 4x6 color photo11" African black-footed penguin plush animal Gummy penguins from Dylan's Candy BarWrapped up in a red gable box and tied with grosgrain pink ribbon and penguin scallop-edged sticker

Love Birds - $75

$50 "sponsor" level adoption benefits - Personalized Adoption Certificate - Animal Fact Sheet - One-year subscription to Zoo publications - 4x6 color photo11" African black-footed penguin plush animal Gummy penguins from Dylan's Candy BarTwo general admission Zoo passes to visit the penguins! Wrapped up in a red gable box and tied with grosgrain pink ribbon and penguin scallop-edged sticker

Penguin Party - $175

February 13, 2010 at 7 p.m.$50 "sponsor" level adoption benefits - Personalized Adoption Certificate - Animal Fact Sheet - One-year subscription to Zoo publications - 4x6 color photo - 11" African black-footed penguin plush animal - Milk chocolate penguin from Schakolad Chocolate FactoryWrapped up in a red gable box and tied with pink grosgrain ribbon and scallop-edged penguin sticker Invitation for two to the February 13 Penguin Party, which includes: - Passed Hors d'Oeuvres and seated dinner - Open bar - Interactive game - we'll need audience participation! - Meet and greet with our penguins - Photo with one of our penguins by photographer Jill JohnsonPlus, each couple will get to take home from the party: - A bottle of "Little Penguin" wine - An African black-footed penguin favor box filled with gummy penguins from Dylan's Candy Bar

Tux Club - $250

February 14, 2010 6 p.m.$50 "sponsor" level adoption benefits - Personalized Adoption Certificate - Animal Fact Sheet - One-year subscription to Zoo publications - 4x6 color photo - 11" African black-footed penguin plush animal - Milk chocolate penguin from Schakolad Chocolate FactoryWrapped up in a red gable box and tied with pink grosgrain ribbon and scallop-edged penguin sticker Invitation for two to the February 14 Penguin Party, which includes: - Seating for two at your own table - Passed Hors d'Oeuvres and seated dinner - Open bar - Interactive game - we'll need audience participation! - Meet and greet with our penguins - Photo with one of our penguins by photographer Jill Johnson Plus, each couple will get to take home from the party: - A bottle of "Little Penguin" wine - An African black-footed penguin favor box filled with gummy penguins from Dylan's Candy Bar - A keepsake Valentine's Day ceramic plate with hand-painted penguins

The Valentine’s Penguin Party and Tux Club invitations are for two adults, 21 and over only. No exceptions. The parties have limited availability and historically sell out quickly, so don’t wait to order.

Want to do something outside-the-box this year for the most romantic weekend of the year? Do you want to be just the average couple or do you want to be the pair that your friends refer to as the "cool ones?" Do you want to be arrested for committing a relationship crime and not planning a great Valentine's? If so, and you see the Bat Signal in the sky next weekend, you know who they are looking for.

For complete details on the Fort Worth Zoo's Valentine's packages, please visit: www.fortworthzoo.org