Countless individuals assume zoos exist just for school excursions or family get-togethers, yet these venues present much broader, unique value—particularly for aging individuals searching for uplifting experiences. For those in assisted living facilities, visiting the zoo can bring fresh air, mild yet beneficial exercise, and an opportunity to bond with nature.

Besides the animals, zoos increasingly serve seniors through special deals, customized tours, and themed events aimed at keeping each visit truly fun and rewarding.

Enjoy Significant Senior Discounts

Numerous zoos understand retirees and older guests often want affordable entertainment, so they frequently offer very considerable senior discounts on entry. By presenting valid identification, seniors may generally trim costs by 10% to 50% on admissions, making frequent trips very much more feasible under a consistent budget.

Several zoos also provide senior passes that often grant unlimited entry year-round, coupled with appealing extras like free parking and lower prices at cafés or souvenir shops.

Take Advantage of Senior-Friendly Tours

Zoos now closely recognize older guests’ preferences and have introduced especially well-designed guided excursions intended to serve their particularly distinct requirements. These experiences emphasize easy navigation, fully guaranteeing smooth strolls and furnishing consistently enough restful areas throughout the entire route.

Guides typically tailor their talks to include the zoo’s origins, conservation projects, and inside perspectives, delivering an inviting and truly informative adventure for everyone. Small groups enhance engagement and guarantee every participant can hear, see, and join fully.

Attend Special Senior Events

Beyond routine trips, countless zoos now present quite distinct senior-oriented events year-round. These could feature dawn strolls, bird-spotting activities, or private talks led by wildlife experts. Festive events such as holiday illuminations or warm-weather evening gatherings often significantly provide reduced admission rates for older guests.

These programs introduce variety and unify participants, helping seniors connect with peers who share their hobbies while taking in pleasant surroundings in truly meaningful ways.

Enjoy Health Benefits From Regular Visits

Zoo outings go beyond mere enjoyment; they can significantly contribute to enhanced well-being. Strolling between exhibits offers mild physical effort that truly aids both flexibility and circulation. Nature-filled landscapes and wildlife encounters help lessen tension, boost overall spirits, and promote cognitive engagement.

For older adults hoping to keep mobile and involved, routine zoo visits serve as a very pleasing component of a truly beneficial regimen without feeling like formal workouts.

Make it a Group Outing

Zoos offer terrific venues for collective adventures, serving as truly wonderful places to mingle with companions, relatives, or fellow seniors. Scheduling an outing with neighbors or dear ones enables shared experiences and creates truly unforgettable moments together. Group rates are frequently offered, and numerous zoos include communal meal facilities or picnic spots, allowing visitors to spend an entire day, all while relishing good company and truly captivating wildlife.

Summary

Zoos undoubtedly supply more than a quick glimpse at creatures—they grant seniors valuable avenues for enrichment, social mingling, and continued activity. Through worthwhile discounts, thoughtfully guided tours, and tailored gatherings for older patrons, zoos now stand as truly inclusive spots for absolutely every generation today.

Now is the final chance to see the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Work in Progress Gallery at the California Science Center, before the gallery is closed on May 11, 2025.

Launched in June 2024, the Work in Progress Gallery offers a sneak peek at new exhibits and space artifacts planned for the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center addition to the California Science Center. After May 11, the artifacts will begin their relocation into the new building and will remain off display until the Air and Space Center opens to the public.

Among the highlights of the gallery are the Mercury-Redstone 2 Capsule* (1961), the Gemini 11 Capsule* (1966), and the Apollo Soyuz Command Module* (1975), alongside a full-scale engineering model of the Viking Lander**. This temporary location provides the rare opportunity to exhibit these capsules outside of their traditional display cases due to the optimal levels of light, temperature, and humidity inside the Work in Progress Gallery. Also on view is an Electron Rocket donated by Rocket Lab, a Dragon cargo spacecraft donated by SpaceX, and a Space Shuttle Main Engine, donated from Aerojet Rocketdyne, all on final view to the public before they are moved into their future home in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

The Work in Progress Gallery also features exciting video and time-lapse media celebrating important milestones including space shuttle Endeavour’s historic arrival, the journey of External Tank ET-94, the transport of two solid rocket motors (SRMs), and the stacking process to assemble the world’s-only complete Space Shuttle System in launch position (Go for Stack); along with a detailed scale model and colorful large-scale renderings of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

Photo shows L-R: Mercury-Redstone 2 Capsule*, Gemini 11 Capsule* and Apollo Soyuz Command Module*

 * All three capsules are on loan from the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

** On loan from Lockheed Martin Corporation

WHERE: 

California Science Center 

700 Exposition Park Drive 

Los Angeles 

CA 90037 

The California Science Center is a dynamic destination where families, adults, and children can explore the wonders of science through hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs, and awe-inspiring large-format movies. The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission to the Science Center is FREE. The California Science Center is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Visit at https://californiasciencecenter.org for more information.

WHEN: 

The California Science Center is open daily from 10am-5pm (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). 

Work in Progress Gallery is open through May 11, 2025.

ENDEAVOURLA CAMPAIGN:
EndeavourLA is the California Science Center Foundation’s fundraising campaign that enabled the acquisition and previous temporary display of space shuttle Endeavour and supports our plans to build the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center and sustain ongoing exhibits, programs, and operations. The project’s lead donors are the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation and the State of California, joined by principal donors Korean Air and the Kresa Family Foundation, along with numerous individuals, foundations, and corporate supporters.

The California Science Center Foundation is actively fundraising to complete this ambitious project with $375 million raised to date. Everyone can help realize this exciting vision for the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, and donations at any level are welcomed. To contribute or learn more, go to EndeavourLA.org.

Credit: California Science Center.

Pink’s Hot Dogs, arguably one of the most iconic culinary institutions in Los Angeles, is set to open a new location at L.A.’s only zoo. The partnership between the Los Angeles Zoo and Pink’s will bring the world-famous hot dogs to the more than 1.5 million annual zoo visitors beginning Friday, April 11.

“The Los Angeles Zoo and Pink’s Hot Dogs are both deeply rooted in Los Angeles’s history and culture, and this partnership is one that I believe every Angeleno will enjoy,” said Denise Verret, CEO & zoo director, Los Angeles Zoo. “One of the greatest aspects of the Zoo is that we are uniquely L.A., and there is no better place for one of L.A.’s legendary eateries that has been a staple in our community for more than 85 years.”

Known for its long-enduring hot dog stand adorned with signed headshots of its famous visitors on the corner of LaBrea and Melrose in Hollywood, Pink’s Hot Dogs has been a Los Angeles favorite and landmark since 1939. The restaurant boasts a wide variety of hot dogs and hamburgers named after celebrities who have patronized the legendary establishment, including famous Los Angeles Zoo supporter Betty White, who had a commemorative hot dog named for her in 2010. The Zoo’s partnership with Pink’s Hot Dogs deepens the uniquely L.A. experiences for everyone who visits the Zoo.

“Pink’s Hot Dogs does not open locations just anywhere. The L.A. Zoo is a treasured institution in the Los Angeles community, and the marriage of our two brands is a perfect fit,” said Richard Pink, co-owner, Pink’s Hot Dogs. “Pink’s has been a supporter and partner to the Zoo for many years, and now we’ll be able to offer everyone who visits the Zoo items from our one-of-a-kind menu that’s made us famous.”

Opening adjacent to the Zoo’s new Cape Vulture Plaza, Pink’s new Zoo location will offer its staple menu items, including local favorites like Pink’s Famous Chili Dog, the Guadalajara Dog, and of course, the Betty White Dog. The new location will be open to Zoo visitors starting Friday, April 11, 2025.

About the Los Angeles Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is dedicated to providing exemplary animal care and wellbeing. As a trusted leader in local and global conservation efforts, the Los Angeles Zoo is saving wildlife and connecting Angelenos to the natural world by delivering diverse learning opportunities and creating unforgettable experiences. The lush 133-acre campus and its passionate and dedicated team welcomes all to be inspired by the Zoo’s vision to create a just and sustainable world where people and wildlife thrive, together. The Zoo is located on Zoo Drive in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $22 for adults and $17 for children ages 2 to 12. For information, call (323) 644-4200 or visit the L.A. Zoo website at www.lazoo.org.

About Pink’s Hot Dogs, Inc
A Hollywood landmark since 1939, this hot dog stand serves over 1200 hot dogs and 200 hamburgers a day. Pink’s was started in 1939 by Richard’s and Beverly’s parents, Paul and Betty Pink, with a pushcart they purchased for $50, which money they borrowed from Betty’s mother. The land on which the pushcart stood was leased by Paul and Betty for $15 per month. Hot dogs at that time were 10 cents and cokes were a nickel. Pinks attributes its longevity and its success to the tastiness of its hot dogs, which snap when you bite into them, its never ending hot dog menu combinations, its loyal long-term staff of over 24, many of whom have been with Pink’s for over ten years, its unique 1946 open kitchen curb side stand and relaxed dining room and patio seating, its Hollywood location and atmosphere, its appearances nationwide in movies and TV and its commitment to the community through its chili dogs for charity program. Pink’s is often referred to as “A Hollywood Legend Since 1939” but the Pink family likes to say “We are the little hot dog stand that could.” Visit www.pinkshollywood.com.

Credit: The Los Angeles Zoo.

Laguna Art Museum is proud to present Carole Caroompas: Heathcliff and the Femme Fatale Go on Tour, a powerful exhibition showcasing a series of works created between 1997 and 2001 by the late feminist artist Carole Caroompas. The exhibition, guest curated by Rochelle Steiner, will be on view from Sunday, March 30 to Sunday, July 13, 2025, and offers an exploration of Caroompas’s most consistent theme: gender and power relations. This is seen here through her recasting of Heathcliff from Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and other personae, including some stylized in her self-image.

“This exhibition offers a bold and thought-provoking narrative that invites viewers to engage with Caroompas’ unique approach to gender, identity and the dynamics of power,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum “Her fearless exploration of these themes will resonate deeply with those who appreciate the intersection of art and cultural critique.”

With a confident approach, Caroompas used a variety of materials and artistic methods, including painting, collage, embroidery and found imagery, to delve into themes of sexuality, identity and the subversion of traditional constructs. She merged influences from art history, rock music,  literature, film and advertising, creating a body of work that reflected and challenged societal norms. Known for her dynamic compositions and bold use of color, Caroompas utilized techniques often associated with “women’s work” or craft, including stitching and embroidery, bringing them directly into contemporary, feminist discourse.

“Carole Caroompas was a bold, groundbreaking artist whose work was ahead of its time,” said Rochelle Steiner, curator of the exhibition. “Her investigation led her to consider power—between individuals and within society—and to take a stance and propose alternatives that resonate well beyond her era.” 

Consistently throughout her career, Caroompas considered and subverted gender roles, power dynamics and the construction of identity. She did this at a time when opportunities for women artists were considerably more limited than they are now. Against this backdrop, her paintings were tough, noisy and radical.  

Carole Caroompas: Heathcliff and the Femme Fatale Go on Tour is organized by Laguna Art Museum and is guest curated by Rochelle Steiner.

On March 30 at 11 a.m., artist Cliff Benjamin, who leads the Carole Caroompas Estate, and exhibition guest curator Rochelle Steiner will engage in a conversation about the exhibition as a ticketed program. Benjamin and Steiner will discuss the Heathcliff series and her unique—and often challenging—approach to artmaking as part of the talk. Tickets will be available soon at lagunaartmuseum.org/event-calendar.

For more information about Carole Caroompas: Heathcliff and the Femme Fatale Go on Tour, visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum.

 Epic Entertainment Group, a Los Angeles-based company renowned for crafting extraordinary live experiences, is proud to announce it will donate Crayola products valued at more than $60,000 and host a special creativity-focused afternoon for Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica designed to support mental wellness and inspire artistic expression among local youth and families impacted by recent wildfires. This uplifting event is scheduled for April 30th, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the Playground Club at Franklin Elementary School located at 2400 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Charity Hill, Co-Founder of Epic Entertainment Group, shared, “As parents ourselves, Steve and I deeply understand the vital role that creative expression plays in emotional and mental well-being, especially during challenging times. Our hope is that this will offer a meaningful outlet and bring some joy and comfort to these families, especially the children.”

Epic Entertainment Group is donating over $60,000 worth of Crayola creativity kits, a significant contribution aimed at providing lasting inspiration and fostering artistic expression among those most affected. This generous donation reflects Epic’s commitment to uplifting its Southern California community through creativity and compassion. Each child will take home a Crayola creativity kit filled with engaging tools to spark imagination and support continued emotional healing through art, in addition to the hands-on activities at the event.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica expressed their appreciation for the partnership. CEO, Brynja Seagren stated, “The support from Epic Entertainment Group helps us continue providing essential resources to our community. When we encourage creativity, we nurture resilience and emotional strength, empowering kids to overcome hardships with confidence and imagination.”

The event promises an engaging hour of creative activities, fostering a sense of community and providing a supportive environment for children and families to explore and enjoy art as a therapeutic outlet.

Date: April 30, 2025

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Playground Club at Franklin Elementary School

Address: 2400 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

For more information about Epic Entertainment Group, visit EpicEntertainmentGroup.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, visit smbgc.org

Credit: Epic Entertainment Group.

The American Film Institute (AFI) Board of Trustees announced today that Francis Ford Coppola will be the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, America’s highest honor for a career in film. The award will be presented to Coppola at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 26, 2025.

 AFI Life Achievement Award | American Film Institute.

“Francis Ford Coppola is a peerless artist – one who has created seminal works in the canon of American film, and has also inspired generations of filmmakers who now embody his artistry and his independent spirit,” said Kathleen Kennedy, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. “AFI is honored to present him with the 50^th AFI Life Achievement Award.”

Coppola’s THE GODFATHER, THE GODFATHER PART II and APOCALYPSE NOW are ranked among history’s greatest films in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list. He is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time; a six-time Academy Award®-winning (including the Board of Governors’ Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award) director, writer and producer of such films as PATTON, THE GODFATHER TRILOGY, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, THE CONVERSATION, APOCALYPSE NOW, THE OUTSIDERS, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA and his latest epic, MEGALOPOLIS.

As the co-founder of American Zoetrope with George Lucas, Coppola initiated and nourished the careers of talents such as Carroll Ballard, John Milius, Sofia Coppola, and actors Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfus, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Matt Dillon and Diane Lane. As a writer, director, producer and technological pioneer, he created a body of work that has helped shape contemporary American cinema. Coppola’s latest film MEGALOPOLIS is a Roman epic set in modern times with an all-star cast including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne and Aubrey Plaza. This year, the film made its world premiere to a 10-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and was released theatrically and in IMAX globally earlier this fall.

The AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute special will return for its tenth year with Turner Broadcasting to air on TNT, followed by encore presentations on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

The American Film Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. All proceeds from the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute Gala support AFI’s education and arts initiatives.

AFI Life Achievement Award Recipients

The 50th AFI Life Achievement Award Honoree joins an esteemed group of individuals who have been chosen for this distinguished honor since its inception.

1973   John Ford

1974   James Cagney

1975   Orson Welles

1976   William Wyler

1977   Bette Davis

1978   Henry Fonda

1979   Alfred Hitchcock

1980   James Stewart

1981   Fred Astaire

1982   Frank Capra

1983   John Huston

1984   Lillian Gish

1985   Gene Kelly

1986   Billy Wilder

1987   Barbara Stanwyck

1988   Jack Lemmon

1989   Gregory Peck

1990   David Lean

1991   Kirk Douglas

1992   Sidney Poitier

1993   Elizabeth Taylor

1994   Jack Nicholson

1995   Steven Spielberg

1996   Clint Eastwood

1997   Martin Scorsese

1998   Robert Wise

1999   Dustin Hoffman

2000   Harrison Ford

2001   Barbra Streisand

2002   Tom Hanks

2003   Robert De Niro

2004   Meryl Streep

2005   George Lucas

2006   Sean Connery

2007   Al Pacino

2008   Warren Beatty

2009   Michael Douglas

2010   Mike Nichols

2011   Morgan Freeman

2012   Shirley MacLaine

2013   Mel Brooks

2014   Jane Fonda

2015   Steve Martin

2016   John Williams

2017   Diane Keaton

2018   George Clooney

2019   Denzel Washington

2022   Julie Andrews

2024   Nicole Kidman

Learn more about AFI at AFI.com.

About the AFI Life Achievement Award

The highest honor given for a career in film, the AFI Board of Trustees established the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1973. It is presented to a single honoree each year based on the following criteria as mandated through a resolution passed by the AFI Board of Trustees: “The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.”

Most recently, AFI presented the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award to Nicole Kidman on Saturday, April 27, at a Gala Tribute in Hollywood. Lee Daniels, Ava DuVernay, Zac Efron, Cynthia Erivo, Morgan Freeman, Barry Jenkins, David E. Kelley, Joey King, Mimi Leder, Mike Myers, Edward James Olmos, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jane Seymour, Meryl Streep, Brian Tee, Miles Teller, Lulu Wang, Naomi Watts and more filled the Dolby Theatre to celebrate Kidman’s award-winning career and her indelible impact on the moving arts. The event also featured tributes honoring Kidman, including speeches from Zoe Saldaña, Aaron Sorkin, Keith Urban, Reese Witherspoon, among others and taped messages from Hugh Jackman, Jane Campion, Jimmy Fallon, Cate Blanchett, George Miller, Baz Luhrmann and Russell Crowe.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, Twitter.com/AmericanFilm and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About TNT

TNT, a Warner Bros. Discovery brand, is watched by more people than any other cable network and known for big, lean-forward television that takes viewers on a thrill ride of electrifying stories, dynamic characters and premium events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular sports franchises and unscripted and scripted originals including “AEW: Rampage,” “Rich & Shameless,” and “The Lazarus Project”. TNT also presents primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NHL, NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships. Website: www.tntdrama.com

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “where then meets now.” TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 9 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on Max.

 Laguna Art Museum is excited to announce a significant expansion in youth accessibility, admission is now free for all visitors ages 19 and under. The Segerstrom Foundation has generously provided free admission to children 12 years of age and under since 2022, removing the barrier of cost so that children and families can access fun and engaging recreational activities that build academic and social skills. New support given by attendees to the 43rd Annual California Cool Art Auction Paddle Raise t extends this benefit to remove financial barriers for teens and young adults, underscoring the museum’s commitment to fostering creativity and inclusivity for the next generation.

“At Laguna Art Museum, we believe that access to the arts is critical, especially during the foundational years of youth,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “By welcoming visitors 19 and under for free, we aim to spark a lifelong connection with creativity that extends well beyond our museum walls.”

Expanded access to the museum was made possible by the remarkable generosity demonstrated during the 43rd Annual California Cool Art Auction Paddle Raise. In a powerful show of support, attendees rallied behind the call to “Say Yes to Youth,” raising enough funds to ensure free admission for all visitors ages 19 and under. The contributions also enable enhanced training for education staff, equipping them to better serve students and guests of all abilities, and allow the museum to welcome every school group, no matter the location or grade level, that wishes to experience its offerings.

Laguna Art Museum extends heartfelt thanks to The Segerstrom Foundation and all Yes to Youth contributors for making this initiative possible and for believing in the power of the arts to change lives.

This expanded admission policy ensures more young people will have the opportunity to engage with world-class art, discover new perspectives and develop a lasting appreciation for creative expression.

For more information about Laguna Art Museum, visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on X, Instagram and Twitter.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum.