Like most of us past our prime, Joice has slowed down through the years and her advancing age requires some vigilance. Though she still walks uphill, her pace is not as fast as it once was. And time has taken a toll on her hip joints, first the left side, and now the right, leading to stiffness, decreased flexibility, and range-of-motion issues. To strengthen the muscles around her hips, she does physical therapy daily and gets ibuprofen when the arthritis is really acting up.

Born on May 17, 1972, in Orange Park, Florida, 52-year-old Joice, a chimpanzee, is The Maryland Zoo’s oldest living mammal. Despite being 12-plus years past her life expectancy, Joice has been an integral part of the “troop” since she first arrived in 1995.

“She has good days and bad days,” says Ellen Bronson, the zoo’s senior director of animal health, conservation, and research. “When animals are aging, the goal is to have the good days far outweigh the bad.”

On this late August afternoon, the sun is shining, the crowds keep coming, and Joice seems to be living her best life. At the sight of her keepers, Erin Dombrowskie and Ruth Collier, she places herself at the center of the high-spirited troop—among them, there’s a young chimp named Lola and her mom, Violet, and a couple of fellow adults, Raven and Louie (at 29, they’re youngsters compared to Joice) and their daughter, Bunny—all of whom vie for a spot on the fence facing the groups of visiting two-legged animals with their own broods in tow.

Today, Dombrowskie is here to do physical therapy with Joice. Holding a dowl rod, she points to an upper part of the fence where she wants Joice to reach with her left leg. Hoisting her leg high in the air, and with her right foot still grasping the fence where it meets the ground, Joice eagerly obliges, extending her long limbs like some simian ballerina.

“Good,” says Dombrowskie, as she presses her training clicker to signal that Joice is about to be rewarded with walnuts and grapes dropped in through the mesh fencing.

A few minutes later, Dombrowskie taps Joice with the dowl in the center of her chest to elicit another behavior. This time Joice thrusts her chest and hips forward. Dombrowskie clicks again and another shower of snacks ensues, as the rest of the troop reaps the perks of the PT session.

These daily stretches, designed specifically for the aging chimp, have made a visible difference.

“The last time she was under anesthesia, we noticed that when she was laying on the table, she was no longer lying flat on her back with her legs up in the air [a sign of loss of range of motion], which is what we previously saw when we had her under anesthesia,” says Bronson. “She looked pretty close to what we see in other chimps. We were amazed by that— it’s having a direct effect.”

Due to a variety of factors, including protection from predators, disease, and weather, animals in “human-managed care” (the term “captivity” is no longer used at zoos) are living longer than their wild counterparts.

“They live longer because they don’t have to work for anything,” says Erin Grimm, curator of mammals at The Maryland Zoo. And within the past decade or so, animals in zoos across the United States are living even longer lives, thanks to new technology, top-quality health care, nutrition planning, enrichment activities, and even customized wellness programs for individual animals across the entirety of their lifespan.

And, much like the ways in which the aging human populace has influenced everything from social security to health care, elderly animals are impacting the zoo’s infrastructure. There are fewer spaces for breeding, because elderly animals are living in them. And all the zoo habitats need to be adaptable to every stage of an animal’s life.

“Animals living longer, healthier, happier lives is a trend we’ve been seeing for a long time, at least as far back as the ’80s,” says Dr. John Sykes, a Bronx Zoo veterinarian, who also serves as chair of the Animal Health Committee for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). “We are learning a lot more about how to care for them in their older years and how to keep animals happier and more comfortable for a longer period of time. That’s a great problem to have, but it does present us with new challenges. We have to think about how to care for the individuals and the populations as a whole—and sometimes those needs are synergistic and sometimes they are in conflict.”

At The Maryland Zoo, founded in 1876 and the third oldest zoological park in the United States, a significant number of the mega-fauna—that’s the term for large animals—are living well above the life expectancy for their species. Though zoo employees like to joke that the oldest living mammal is an animal specialist named Bill who has worked there since the 1960s, when it comes to the non-human mammals, there are quite a few geriatrics in their charge.

In addition to Joice, there’s Anna the African elephant, 49, and Caesar the reticulated giraffe, 18. (The median life expectancy for a female African elephant is 39.4 years, while the median age for a male giraffe is 15.1.) Other seniors include African elephants Felix and Tuffy, both born in the wild and estimated to be 41. There’s also Clyde, an elderly stork who is an estimated 36 years old (AZA lists the median life expectancy of a stork at 13.1 years), and a 64-pound spurred tortoise named Buttercup, who is estimated to be 58, thus earning her the title of the oldest animal at the zoo out of a population of some 1,300.

Although every animal—from macaws to millipedes—receives ongoing assessments, with so much of the zoo’s population living longer, geriatric care has become a big part of animal care. In that sense, it mimics human health care.

“We are trying to push the envelope on zoo medicine,” says associate veterinarian Andrea Aplasca, while standing in the zoo’s surgical suite in the on site animal hospital. “We have individualized plans for each animal. It’s a cool time in medicine, as we think about more advanced treatments or diagnostics.”

Following a trend in human medicine, veterinary medicine has become more specialized, too, allowing for more case-specific management as animals age.

“We are ready to take on almost anything, but there are board-certified specialists in zoological medicine now,” says Aplasca. “There are vets in cardiology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, surgery, similar to human fields—they’re an amazing resource.”

Zoo vets have reached out to human physicians to brainstorm on certain cases, too.

“We consult regularly with [Dr. Donna Magid,] a radiologist at Johns Hopkins,” says Bronson. “She’s worked with vets at the zoo for over three decades. Her expertise is helpful for assessing chimpanzee and other primate X-rays.”

“WE ARE BASICALLY THE JOHNS HOPKINS OF ANIMAL CARE.”

New advances include using on-site diagnostic tools such as ultrasounds and echocardiograms. For advanced diagnostics such as CT and MRI scans, the zoo partners with local medical facilities. (If an animal is small enough, it is taken off-site; if not, the scans are brought in.)

“We are basically the Johns Hopkins of animal care,” sums up Mike Evitts, the zoo’s senior director of marketing and communications.

On another August day, Joey Golden, the zoo’s curator of animal behavior programs, peers out over the newly expanded elephant area known as the Savanna Overlook, where Anna the African savanna elephant is relaxing and middle-aged Tuffy shows his trainers various parts of his body, including his mouth and feet, as part of a daily check-in.

Golden’s primary job is to observe—and monitor—the animals and their interactions with their environment. Golden, along with the zoo staff, tracks the behaviors of many of the animals in the zoo’s collection, from waste output to hours of sleep to where in their habitat they hang out. Organizing his observations into graphs and heat maps, everything becomes a data point.

“I try to track everything from the temperature to the number of tickets we sell every day,” says Golden, who shares his data with animal care teams. “I look at where the grizzlies spend their time when we are closed to the public versus on a day we sell 2,000 tickets, for example. The nice thing about behavior is that it’s the common language.”

For certain animals, remote cameras operating at night give additional information. Margaret Rose-Innes, the zoo’s general curator, says that 24-hour monitoring is a relatively new tool that has proven to be very useful.

“Having all this historical data that we can then go back to and look at is so helpful. Their behavior lets us know what direction to take.”

Like other large mammals, including giraffes, Anna’s size—at last weigh-in she was 7,830 pounds—makes her prone to joint and hoof or foot issues, especially as she loses muscle density with age. As part of Anna’s care in her advancing years, with the help of video, the elephant team might look at the quality of her sleep from the night before.

“If she had a rough night and she’s stiff, or if it’s muddy and it has rained, they might scale back on activities or they might not take her up to the marsh yard,” says Golden. “They’re constantly planning.”

The video might also help inform an exercise plan. “I can pull up video of Anna walking a decade ago,” says Golden, “and then we can compare it to a video of her walking today and we can say, ‘There seems to be a bit more stiffness in that front right leg, maybe we can talk to hospital staff about adding physical therapy components.’ That baseline data is important because they allow us to see change over the course of the lifetime.”

Meanwhile, across the zoo in the giraffe area, the sleep cycle of 16-foot-tall Caesar, who has arthritis in his joints, is monitored every night.

“The keepers log what side of his body he’s resting on,” says Golden. “They log how many times he lies down or the duration of the rest. I’m able to pull up a graph that will show how much he slept on, say, July 9, 2023, and how that compares to July 9, 2024.”

To keep his joints well-lubricated, Caesar is regularly injected with anti-inflammatory medications and takes joint supplements orally to help with mobility. He gets pain medication as needed and sometimes the staff needs to alter his habitat.

“Just like people with arthritis, there are medications you can give to make him more comfortable,” says Rose-Innes. “If he’s not lying down much, do we want to give him logs to lie against so he can prop himself up? As giraffes get older, they might lie down for shorter periods of time and they might sleep standing up, so we need to change the kind of surfaces we are giving him. We are looking at installing a new soft surface inside of the giraffe pens to help with that.”

Having aging animals as part of the population presents a new set of creative challenges for the zoo staff. Exhibit A, giving injections. Not all animals submit to injections, but it’s the preferred method, the animal version of “consent.” If that’s impossible, the animal is sedated. To avoid sedation, Caesar has been trained to voluntarily come to the fence and lean in for his injections.

“He doesn’t travel around his space as much as he used to, but otherwise his mental clarity and acuity is normal,” says Amy Botke, who has worked with Caesar for 13 years and says she “loves everything about him.” “We give him toys that he enjoys and he wants to immediately bop them with his face.”

Caesar does injection training even on days he’s not getting an injection. On this day, Caesar is in fine form as he struts toward the fence, where Botke dons a bucket on her hip that’s brimming with lettuce leaves and chunks of apples. She holds a long stick with a blue rubber ball affixed to the end. She also wears a whistle.

From time to time, another trainer rubs Caesar’s hindquarter with a bristly brush in the spot where the injection will go to desensitize him from being touched in that area.

“He knows he has to keep his nose on that ball, so he has learned a hold-still behavior,” explains curator Grimm. “The whistle tells him he did what she asked him to do. He understands that every time that whistle blows, it’s paired with a snack.”

Caesar has also been assessed by a physical therapist who has recommended strength- and mobility-enhancing exercises. “Basically, he needs to learn to walk in a serpentine pattern so his hips can move across the exhibit to help him turn and use those back legs,” says Grimm.

In this case, you can teach an old giraffe new tricks. “Despite his age, he’s still willing to learn a new behavior,” Botke says. “He’s up for anything.”

For all the interventions to improve and extend life, end-of-life discussions are also a part of the planning.

“Euthanasia is one of the hardest things we have to do,” says Bronson, “but it’s also one of the best things we can do. I’m so grateful I can do that for animals, because we don’t allow animals to go through the suffering that humans have to go through at the end. Vets don’t have an easier time with that than animal owners.”

While many animals at the zoo die a natural death, knowing the right time to euthanize weighs heavily on the staff, many of whom have worked with the animals for years. And once an animal hits a certain age, the vets set up quality-of-life checks and touch base with keepers and curators.

With Anna, for example, there have been instances where she has slipped and fallen.

“If she can’t get back up, she’s in a tough position,” says Bronson of the nearly four-ton elephant. “We have teams here who can pick her back up, then we watch her carefully to see if she’s healing or has any internal stuff going on. We’re not saying we would choose to end her life, but we want to make sure that everyone is prepared for those conversations.” (Sadly, two months after we visited the zoo, Anna, who had multiple medical issues, was, in fact, euthanized after a fall.)

Bronson says caring for the zoo’s animals from beginning to end is one of the many perks of the profession.

“I’ve known so many of them as babies,” she says. “When they took their first tumbles, I patched them up. I’ve been there when they’ve had their own offspring, and then I’ve been there with them at the very end. It’s very hard, but it’s also a wonderful thing to be able to do, accompanying the animal through its entire life.”

Kirby Fowler’s daughter, Victoria, has spent more than 300 hours volunteering at The Maryland Zoo. Often, when he came to pick up the 18-year-old environmental studies major from her shifts, he was regaled with behind-the- scenes stories, as she told him about the fast bonds she made with the zoo’s animals.

The idea of this type of camaraderie and place with a mission like the zoo’s slowly started to appeal to Fowler. When he reached his 15th year this May as the president of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, the 53-year-old began to take stock of his future. As soon as he became aware this summer that Don Hutchinson, the president and CEO of the zoo, was stepping down, he expressed his interest. And this past week, Fowler was announced as The Maryland Zoo’s new president and CEO, effective June 30th of next year.

“I’m so excited to learn so much about zoology,” Fowler says. “I was able to see the zoo in a different way from the experience of my daughter. I’m not an expert—I won’t pretend to be—but I’m going to learn a lot over the next several months and take those lessons out in the world.”

Whatever firsthand knowledge Fowler might lack when it comes to working directly with animals, he makes up for in leadership experience. At Downtown Partnership, he and his team of more than 100 helped transform Downtown Baltimore into the city’s fastest-growing neighborhood, oversaw the creation of arts districts in Station North and Bromo Tower, and worked on revitalizing many of the city’s markets.

He also collaborated with city and state officials and the private sector to renovate McKeldin Square, and encouraged the overall development of Downtown Baltimore as a residential and commercial center. It’s this initiative that drew the zoo’s board to Fowler, who was selected after an extensive search process.

“Kirby’s history and success with major initiatives through Downtown Partnership were an important consideration,” says Jennifer Lowry, president of The Maryland Zoo’s board. “We were looking for someone who had a strategic approach as well as an ability to interact with state and local government officials and business leaders. Kirby rose to the top with his engagement, energy, and passion.”

A Baltimore resident for 29 years, Fowler feels there is a good amount of overlap between the skills required for his soon-to-be new job and the one he’s held for 15 years. In April, he will begin to shadow Hutchinson, as he prepares to take over an institution steeped in tradition as the third-oldest zoo in the country.

“I have tons of ideas,” Fowler says. “But I need to spend a decent amount of time learning how zoos work. My main job is to keep the zoo’s progress going, to continue to draw attention to its important conservation work, and keep drawing people to experience all the zoo has to offer.”

In the past decade-plus, the zoo has had over $65 million in renovations and upgrades, including the addition of lemur and penguin exhibits as well as infrastructural improvements like water and gas lines. The zoo receives an annual $5 million state grant as part of its funding, along with contributions from the City of Baltimore and its surrounding counties.

Fowler will still be hard at work in his current post before he officially steps down—most notably continuing to transform Lexington Market, a project that will pick up steam in 2020. Downtown Partnership has yet to name a successor, but is currently looking for his replacement.

As for his new role, Fowler will assuredly receive help from all those around him, whether on the professional or personal side. Not surprisingly, his daughter was especially excited to hear the news of her dad’s new job.

“Victoria can’t work at the zoo because I’ll be president,” he says with a laugh. “But she’s already given me special tours given her experience and lessons—and it’s been wonderful.”

EAT

Oct. 20: World Food Festival: Mera x Fadensonnen

Fadensonnen, 3 W. 23rd St. 5-9 p.m. Free.

On a snowy night last January, chef Iman Alshehab—co-founder of Mera Kitchen Collective, a co-op that empowers refugees to tap into their culinary heritage—cooked and served shawarma out of a food truck for the first time while parked at Fadensonnen. That evening, crowds of people came out to the beer garden and natural wine bar to sample her food, and since then, Mera’s chefs have hosted rotating pop-ups at the popular Old Goucher spot. This Sunday, chefs Iman, Emilienne, Anna, and Mona will come together to prepare a meal in Fadensonnen’s courtyard, featuring two new dishes from each chef. Don’t miss the chance to try new authentic eats inspired by cuisines from across the world, including dishes like Syrian lamb kibbeh, Salvadoran chicken soup, and lemon tahini shrimp.

DRINK

Oct. 19: OktoBEARfest

The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. 12-5 p.m. $29-69.

The Maryland Zoo is known for its wide variety of furry, slimy, and flying friends, but we also love it for its boozy fundraisers that make it (a little too) easy to support the local institution. This fall-inspired beer festival offers unlimited samplings of more than 50 seasonal brews, along with tons of eats, wares by area artisans, and the chance to get up close and personal with a few of the animals.

SEE

Oct. 18-19: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. $12-15.

We’re already shivering with antici…pation for this interactive screening of the weird and wild cult classic at Creative Alliance. Tighten your garters for a night filled with the traditional movie callbacks and costume contests, as well as special burlesque, drag, and tap performances by beloved local drag queens Betty O’Hellno, Venus Fastrada, and Baby. Come up to the Highlandtown lab and see what’s on the slab during this Halloween tradition that’s sure to leave you wanting more, more, more.

HEAR

Oct. 19: Off the Cuff: Brahms Symphony No. 4

Joesph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 7-9 p.m. $25-80.

It’s only been a few weeks since the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra returned to the Meyerhoff after three months of tension between the symphony’s management and musicians over contract disputes, and this Saturday’s performance of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony is a fitting nod to both the past and the future of the orchestra. After watching world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop lead the musicians through this 20th century masterpiece, stick around to sip on brews by Peabody Heights, snack on eats by Midnite Confection’s Cupcakery and Noona’s, and listen to live music by local artist Brooks Long as you talk with fellow music-lovers about the evening’s performances.

DO

Oct. 19: Baltimore Running Festival

Paca & Camden Sts. 8 a.m. $60-280.

One thing that we love about citywide festivals is there’s usually something for everyone, and the Baltimore Running Festival is the perfect example. Since this event features five different events ranging from an all-ages 5K to the BaltiMORON-a-thon, runners of all skill levels can come together and celebrate the beauty of hitting the pavement. There’s still time to register, so secure your spot at the starting line and get ready to show off that crab-shaped finishing medal.

EAT

May 26: Momo X Sandlot

Sandlot, 1000 Wills St. 3-7 p.m. Free.

Skip the typical Memorial Day backyard barbecues (sorry, Mom) in favor of this culinary star-studded cookout at Harbor Point’s waterfront oasis. Hit the “beach” and spend Sunday afternoon sampling eats from some of the best grillmasters in the city, including Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen, Steve Chu of Ekiben, David Thomas of Ida B’s Table, and Carlos Raba of Clavel, as well as special guest Tae Strain of Momofuku CCDC in Washington, D.C. Jam out to live music by local troubadour Caleb Stine and, once the food coma has passed, indulge in sweets from Pure Chocolate by Jinji Fraser and David Alima of The Charmery.

DRINK

May 25-26: Brew at the Zoo

The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. 1-7 p.m.$24.99-75.99.

We can’t think of a better way to kick off Memorial Day weekend than hanging out with Maryland Zoo’s polar bears and penguins while sipping on local brews. In between unlimited samplings of beers from more than 80 regional breweries, bop along to live music by artists like Ballyhoo! and Amish Outlaws and soak up the suds with eats from dozens of food vendors. Best of all? Every dollar raised goes directly back to the zoo.

SEE

May 25: Baltimore Drag Awards

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. $18.

If you thought this year’s Met Gala featured the best campy couture looks around, think again. Follow the trail of glitter and false eyelashes to the Creative Alliance for the annual Baltimore Drag Awards, hosted by powerhouse MCs Brooklyn Heights and Betty O’Hellno who will lead the camp-tastic audience through a cocktail mixer, awards ceremony, and a series of fierce performances. While it’s too late to sit VIP, snag tickets to be in the company of the city’s best drag performers and see if you can spot the standout entertainers featured in our June Pride issue.

HEAR

May 26: Sowebo Arts & Music Festival

1100 Hollins St. 12-8 p.m. Free.

Summer in the city is full of street festivals, but after 36 years this Sowebo arts and music extravaganza continues to stand out among the pack. Held on the streets around Hollins Market, this neighborhood-wide affair boasts three stages of music—with sets by local bands like Deaf Scene and Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band—along with tons of family-friendly activities, including a craft rumble, a petting station with furry friends from Irvine Nature Center, and a puppet performance by Black Cherry Puppet Theater.

DO

May 24: Art After Hours

The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. 8-11 p.m. $20-25.

When visiting hours end, the real art party begins. To commemorate the final weekend of the Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s exhibition, pack the Baltimore Art Museum to experience sound art, musical performances by artist Hans Berg, Surrealist-inspired games, and pop-up activities through the night. After downing signature cocktails and bites from Gertrude’s Restaurant, take advantage of late-night access to the galleries and spend some time with works by artists like Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso before the exhibition closes on Sunday.

When our power goes out because of pesky branches in our neighborhood, we tend to only think of certain negative four-letter words. But a new partnership between BGE and The Maryland Zoo will turn these limbs that would otherwise be trash into animal treasure.

Beginning this summer, the program will provide branches from healthy trees to the animals at the Zoo for food. In addition to BGE, a number of Exelon’s other companies provide to zoos around the country, including ComEd in Illinois to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, and PECO in Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia Zoo.

“Normally, we would just be putting these branches through a wood chipper,” said Dan Mance, BGE’s browse program coordinator. “It’s far more beneficial to help the Zoo than to turn it into mulch.”

Once the BGE vegetation management crews identify the healthy trees—only 50 species of trees in Maryland qualify for the program—the branches are bundled, washed, and delivered to the Zoo twice a week. It is then spread throughout various animal enclosures—feeding tortoises, giraffes, and elephants.

Across the state, BGE has cleared more than 2,300 miles of tree lines in 2017 to prevent power outages, and now those trees are helping to feed dozens of animals. The program will save the Zoo nearly $2,000 a week, money that was typically spent to procure out-of-state vegetation for the animals.

“What it’s providing us is the ability to feed out a larger quantity and more variety than I would otherwise have means to,” said Andrew Young, commissary manager for the Zoo. “Just the sheer quantity of what they’re able to bring us is a huge cost savings.”

Young also explains that this browse program, named for the plant material that feeds the animals, has richer nutritional value than hay that had previously been used as a substitute. The animals are also able to get some of their favorite snacks like mulberry and tulip poplar, which would normally be too costly to order. Not to mention, visitors can get a better idea of what the animals’ eating habits look like in the wild.

“A giraffe walking across the prairie in Africa would come upon a tree and just eat directly from it,” he said. “What we’re able to do is hang it on fences and scatter it in other ways based on the animal’s specific needs and manipulate it so they can mimic that natural foraging behavior.”

This long-term partnership will run each year from the beginning of spring to as late in the fall as possible. During the winter months, the browse will be purchased but at a lower quantity and will also be supplemented with other nutritional items.

“Not only are the animals benefitting from the super fresh food,” Young said. “We are able to spread the funds we are saving to other parts of the Zoo.”

Whether you’re planning to spend the day planting trees, cleaning playgrounds, yoga posing, nature journaling, or learning about proper plastic disposal, give back to the planet this Earth Day by participating in one of the many eco-friendly happenings all over Charm City this weekend.

4/19: Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank Earth Day 2018
Partner with more than 100 Ravens and M&T Bank staff members to help build a new football field in the Johnston Square and Ambrose Kennedy Park community. Roll up your sleeves to clean streets and remove concrete and leftover materials from demolished houses as part of the exciting revitalization. Ambrose Kennedy Park, 921 E. Chase St., 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 410-701-4268

4/21: Earth Day Playground Cleanup
Volunteers ages 2 and up are invited to help clean and play at the playgrounds at Patterson Park, where tools and refreshments will be provided. Friends of Patterson Park, 27 S. Patterson Park Ave., 9:30-11 a.m., 410-276-3676

4/21: Celebrate Earth Day! A (Cool) Progeny Play Date
Kids of all ages are invited to join The Waldorf School of Baltimore for the ultimate Earth Day Eve celebration that will include seed planting, hula hooping, ferret petting, beekeeping, a drumming circle, farm education, snacks, and live reggae music. The Waldorf School of Baltimore, 4801 Tamarind Road, 10 a.m.-12 p.m, $5, 410-367-6808

4/21: Earth Day Service Day
Students are encouraged to come out for a day of collecting urban bird data (and getting volunteer hours in) at Patterson Park, which is known to house over 200 different bird species. They’ll learn how to use binoculars, study breeds, and share their findings with the greater scientific community. Plus, there’s free lunch. Patterson Park Audubon Center, 2901 E. Baltimore St., 9-11:30 a.m., 410-558-2473

4/22: Earth Day with Waverly Street
Help WLIF 101.9 give the 32nd Street Farmers Market Lot a little makeover this Earth Day. You’ll be planting trees and flowers, weeding, mulching, and participating in a community clean-up walk, all the while enjoying live music, food, raffles, and other activities. Also, volunteers 21 and older will get a free beer courtesy of Peabody Heights Brewery. Waverly Main Street, 432 E. 32nd St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 410-889-8100

4/21: Professor Trash Wheel Blinded Me Wit Science-Launch Party
Speaking of Peabody Heights Brewery, the neighborhood bar is teaming up with Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative to debut its second-ever Trash Wheel-themed craft beer, “Professor Trash Wheel Blinded Me Wit Science” (named after Thomas Dolby’s  1982 hit song “She Blinded Me With Science”). The release will debut to the public during the Earth Day Launch Party, where guests will be able to enjoy specialty all-you-can-drink brews, food trucks, and ’80s jams. Proceeds from each beer will be go towards Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative. Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 East 30th St., 7-10 p.m., $30-35, 410-467-7837

4/21: Party for the Planet
Take a trip to the Maryland Zoo for an Earth Day-themed celebration among the animals that will include activities like penguin feeding, a chat about bear keeping, and a puppet show. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Place, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Free-$11, 410-396-7102

4/21: Nature Fest at Catoctin Creek Park
Get out of the city and head to this Frederick County wonder for an Earth Day filled with crafts, campfire activities, face painting, live animals, and a walk on the sensory trail. Catoctin Creek Park, 2929 Sumantown Road, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Free, 301-600-2051

4/21: Real Food Farm
Best known for its mission combating food deserts in Baltimore, this local urban farm at Clifton Park is seeking volunteers to help with planting, weeding, and other projects on Earth Day Eve. Real Food Farm, 2801 St. Lo Dr., 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 443-531-8346

4/21-22: Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Follow the clues on the map during an hour-long, self-guided hike around Oregon Ridge Park where you’ll learn the best Earth-care practices to date. Plus, you’ll receive a prize at the end. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $2, 410-887-1815

4/22: Earth Day Family Yoga
Kids ages 5-10 are welcome to come to yoga class with mom or dad for a partner-pose session themed around Mother Earth and all of her creatures. All levels and abilities are welcome. Lift Yoga + Strength. 202 E. Madison St., 3-3:45 p.m., Free-$25, 443-873-3269

4/22: Earth Day Festival 2018
Pollinator tours, a seed ball station, a rain barrel workshop, and a children’s nature library are just a few of the many happenings taking place at Herring Run Nursery this Earth Day. Also, expect to bring home a free tree. Herring Run Nursery, 6131 Hillen Road, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 844-756-8688

4/22: Echotopia: Earth Day Every Day Pop-Up
To promote the green approach in everyday living, B. Willow will be hosting a pop-up at its Remington garden shop that features Echotopia’s trash-free kitchen and bath cleaning product line. All supply items are eco-friendly, aroma therapeutic, and ethically sourced from organic gardens. B. Willow, 220 West 27th, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 443-873-8414

4/22: Earth Day Fundraiser: Hangout and Potluck at Hidden Harvest
Join Hidden Harvest Farm for the ultimate “no work required” celebration where you can enjoy the rural grounds, food, socializing, and live acoustic performances by Free Bird Society, Middle Kid, and Leena Rhodes of Middle Lungs. Donations of $5-$20 will be collected—which will help with the farm’s operating costs and give you access to the potluck. Hidden Harvest Farm, 1825 N. Calvert St., 2-6 p.m.

4/22: Earth Day with Dovecote Cafe
The neighborhood cafe in Reservoir Hill will be paying tribute to farmers, conservationists, and herbalists with a specialty event featuring local produce and honey, a live petting zoo, face painting, and educational seminars for home gardeners and house-plant enthusiasts. Dovecote Cafe, 2501 Madison Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Free, 443-961-8677

4/22: Nature Journaling
Grab your gear for yet another hike (this time, a slower one) that will challenge you to hone your observation and meditation skills as you walk and journal your way through the woods. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $4-$6, 410-887-1815

4/22: Annapolis Earth Day Celebration
Take advantage of the free cyclist valet and pedal over to Chesapeake Bay Brewing Company to celebrate “End Plastic Pollution,” an event where you’ll learn about proper plastic disposal along with the benefits of bird and bat feeders. Plus, there will be food, vendors, activities, and informational sessions hosted by local environmental nonprofits. Chesapeake Bay Brewing Company, 114 West St., 2-6 p.m., $5, 410-268-0000

4/28: Mayor Catherine E. Pugh’s Spring Cleanup
Grab your gardening gloves and join more than 235 communities for the city’s 18th annual spring cleanup event, where locals are encouraged to sweep, rake, and plant with their neighbors to beautify Baltimore for springtime. Baltimore City Department of Public Works, 100 N. Holliday St., 9 a.m., Free, 410-396-3310

4/28: Earth Day Stream Clean-Up
Clean up litter from local trails and streams, and learn how to turn the found objects into crafts. Carrie Murray Nature Center, 1901 Ridgetop Rd. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 410-396-0808

The world is a scary and uncertain place. But some things remains pure and good—like baby penguins! 

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore announced today the two latest additions to its award-winning Penguin Coast exhibit. The African penguin chicks, hatched on October 13 and 14, respectively, are the first hatchlings of the 2017-2018 penguin breeding season. One chick is being raised by its parents (male and female penguins take turns caring for their young) while the other is being raised by zookeepers because it wasn’t gaining sufficient weight. 

“The chicks will stay behind-the-scenes in the Penguin Conservation Center for a few months until their juvenile feathers have grown in and they pass their swimming lessons,” says Jen Kottyan, the zoo’s avian collection and conservation manager.

Zookeepers are especially excited about this breeding season, as it marks 50 years since the zoo began working with the endangered penguin species that is indigenous to South Africa. Over the intervening decades, the zoo has hatched more than 900 African penguins, many of which have been given to other zoos to increase species diversity in breeding programs. The two latest hatchlings represent numbers 988 and 989, and several more eggs are incubating.  

“If our penguin pairs hatch eleven more healthy chicks this season, then we will hit the 1,000 mark, enthuses Kottyan, adding, “We really have high hopes of hatching at least eleven chicks, if not more, this season.”

We’ll be rooting them on. The world can never have enough cuteness. 

ELLICOTT CITY LABOR DAY RUNNING CLASSIC 
9/2. 12290 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City. 8 a.m. $10-35. Soak up the bucolic charm of Ellicott City in this 5K and 10K race.

UNDER ARMOUR CHARLES STREET 12
9/2. 800 Kenilworth Drive, Towson, 410-321-1901. 7:30 a.m. $75-90. This 12-mile course starts up at the Shops at Kenilworth and weaves its way south by Towson University before heading downtown via Charles Street. Runners finish with a post-race celebration at Under Armour headquarters.

SPARTAN RACE
9/9-9/10. 27861 Budds Creek Rd., Mechanicsville 7:30 a.m. $79-174. Journey through jagged terrain in this endurance-testing obstacle course.

NIGHT NATION RUN
9/23. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville. 4:30 p.m. $30-60. DJs deliver electronic beats as you walk, run, or dance. 

CHARM CITY RUN 20 MILER
9/24. Northern Central Railroad Trail, Freeland. 8 a.m. $40-55. Embrace the great outdoors in this 20-mile run along the NCR Trail.

RUN WILD FOR AUTISM
9/24. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 7 a.m. Free-$40. Charge or stroll through the zoo for a
worthy cause.

THE COLOR RUN
9/30. Camden Yards Sports Complex, 333 W. Camden St. Free-$35. Dash through splashes of color during this festive 5K.

It’s a quandary most working parents face: Your kids have the day off, but you don’t. Keeping them safe and happy while you work can be challenging. But two local working moms have a new option: Tripster. 

Founded by Jamie Seward and Heidi Kenny-Berman, Tripster offers activity-based child care for ages 6 and up at a cost comparable to babysitting. Activities range from sleeping overnight with the penguins at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore to visiting Philadelphia’s The Franklin Institute. Each activity includes a healthy meal and snacks, and is supervised by background-checked staffers certified in CPR and first aid. 

“We like to keep the ratio [of kids to adults] really small, so that we make sure the kids are well-supervised,” says Seward, who met Kenny-Berman through their kids, who all attend Calvert School. (They each have two children.) 

For the holidays, Tripster is offering a “Day After Thanksgiving Fun Day” at Roland Park’s Mathnasium, and Seward suggests logging on to their website, for further events. “We’re hoping that people continue to check us out and see what we have to offer.”

JASON’S WOODS
OCT. 3-NOV. 8: Jason’s Woods, 99 Stehman Rd., Lancaster, PA. Fri-Sat. 7-10 p.m., Sun. 7-9 p.m. jasonswoods.com. Six attractions, including a Horrifying Hayride and a cursed corn maze.

MAKE-YOUR-OWN GLASS-BLOWN PUMPKIN
OCT. 23: Corradetti Glassblowing Studio & Gallery, 2010 Clipper Park Rd., Ste. 119. 6, 7, and 8 p.m. corradetti.com. Create your own four-inch pumpkin. Wine served!

ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
OCT. 24: Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. 6:30-8 p.m. cromwellvalleypark.org. Learn wilderness survival skills you would need if modern technology fails. Ages 10 and up.

ZOMBIE HORDE SCAVENGER HUNT
OCT. 24: Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 7 p.m. relpnc.org. Escape zombies and win prizes for collecting items along the trail.  Ages 12 and up.

ZOOBOOO!
OCT. 24-26:The Maryland Zoo, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$17.50 marylandzoo.org. Celebration full of trick-or-treating, fun carnival games, and live entertainment. 

ANNUAL HALLOWMARINE CELEBRATION
OCT. 25-26: National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. aqua.org. Celebration with crafts, a costume parade, and animal encounters.

SPOOKY SCIENCE
OCT. 25: Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 12-4 p.m. mdsci.org. Enjoy creepy crafts, activities, and fang-tastic demonstrations.

HARRY POTTER HALLOWEEN
OCT. 25-26: Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. 1 p.m. oregonridgenaturecenter.org. Enter the world of Harry Potter with wizard crafts and a visit from a magical creature. Ages 5 and up. 

15TH ANNUAL GREAT HALLOWEEN LANTERN PARADE & FESTIVAL: KALEIDOSCOPE
OCT. 25: Patterson Park, 3:30 p.m. creativealliance.org. Annual lantern parade and festival. Parade at 7 p.m.

GLOW BALL DANCE PARTY & COSTUME CONTEST
OCT. 25: Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 8:30 p.m. creativealliance.org. Adults-only Lantern Parade after-party.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN HIKE
OCT. 25: Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 6:30-8:30 p.m. relpnc.org. Solve a Halloween mystery while encountering witches and wildlife along the way. Costumes welcome. Ages 5 to 12. 

15TH ANNUAL GOODWILL GRIDIRON HALLOWEEN PARTY
OCT. 27: Dave & Busters, 7000 Arundel Mills Cir., Hanover. 7 p.m. goodwillgridiron.com. Party with the Baltimore Ravens that includes food, open bar, a costume contest, dancing, games, and a silent auction.

TRICKS AND TREATS AT OREGON RIDGE
OCT. 31: Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. 4:30 p.m. oregonridgenaturecenter.org. Wear your costume and discover the tricks and treats that plants and animals present along the way. Ages 5 and up. 

HALLOWEEN 2014
OCT. 31: Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $35-65. halloween-baltimore.com. In its third year, this Halloween extravaganza features craft beer, live music across four unique areas, a costume contest, all of the science exhibits open, and a new art gallery.

Poet William Cullen Bryant once described autumn as “the year’s last, loveliest smile.” We suggest getting in touch with nature before that smile fades and you’re faced with winter’s scowl. 

Ladew Topiary Gardens celebrates the season with its annual Children’s Day on September 6. This year’s event will highlight Ladew’s new, unique-to-the-region Butterfly House with a special “Caterpillars & Butterflies!” theme. Sing-a-long performances and magic shows are included in the fun-filled day, plus tours of the serotinal gardens. Still, the biggest treat will be a stroll through the Butterfly House, which is filled with the colorful critters and their caterpillar forerunners. Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$10. 410-557-9570. ladewgardens.com.

Take in the sights of autumn and celebrate the 2014 harvest at Boordy Vineyards’ Crush 14. A series of events held over four consecutive weekends in late September and early October, participants can ride a wagon through the picturesque vineyards, watch winemaking demonstrations, enjoy samplings, and get down to live music. Boordy Vineyards, 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes. Sept. 21-Oct. 12. Times vary. Free-$15. 410-592-5015. boordy.com.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore’s long-awaited new African penguin exhibit, Penguin Coast, opens September 27 and is sure to delight. Visitors will get to watch the waddling cuties closer than ever before as they swim, eat, and frolic in their new almost 2,000-square-foot space. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$17.50. 410-396-7102. marylandzoo.org.

Another Easter filled with egg-hunting, chocolate-eating, and
(hopefully) warm weather is right around the corner. (It’s Sunday, April
20, if you want to get technical.) From the Inner Harbor all the way
out to Frederick, you can’t go anywhere without finding a scavenger hunt
or bunny breakfast. Be on the lookout for these events:

>> APR. 11-21: 7TH ANNUAL PEEPSHOW
Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org. Enjoy treats, souvenirs, and a sweet display of hundreds of works of art made from the marshmallow candies.

>> APR. 12: BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY
Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 8:30-10:30 a.m. $5-12. 410-727-4808. thebmi.org. Munch a continental breakfast, search for eggs, watch a holiday film, and get your picture snapped with the Easter bunny.

>> APR. 12-13, 17-19, 21, 26-27: 19TH ANNUAL BUNNYLAND
Butler’s Orchard, 22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $6.75-8.75. 301-972-3299. butlersorchard.com. Take a hayride in Bunnyland, hunt for eggs, participate in the Rubber Ducky Derby, and visit Butler’s very own Country Bunny.

>> APR. 13 & 19: EASTER ON THE FARM
Crumland Farms, 7612 Willow Rd., Frederick. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$9. 301-845-8099. crumland.com. Hop on down for egg hunts, a mini-carnival, hay rides through the Bunny Trail, and visits with the Easter Bunny.

>> APR. 18-19: BUNNY BREAKFAST & TRAIN RIDE
B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. 8:30-9:30 a.m. $21-34. 410-752-2490. borail.org, Reservations required. Enjoy a buffet in the Roundhouse, story time, and carousel rides, plus photos and a train ride with the Easter bunny.

>> APR. 18-20: MARY SUE CANDIES BUNNY BONANZOO
Waterfowl Lake Pavilion at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free with admission ($12.50-17.50). 443-552-5276. marylandzoo.org. Live entertainment, games, crafts, and free egg hunts. Each participating child can redeem his or her eggs for Mary Sue chocolate eggs.

>> APR. 19: BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY
Mansion House at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 8:30-10 a.m. Free-$35. 443-552-5276. marylandzoo.org. Enjoy a hot breakfast, plus photo-ops with the Easter bunny and animal encounters.

>> APR. 19: CROMWELL VALLEY PARK EASTER EGG HUNT
Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-887-2503. cromwellvalleypark.org. There will be four egg hunts divided by age groups, plus crafts, family games, and egg dyeing.

>> APR. 19: EASTER BASKET MAKING
Enoch Pratt Free Library, Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. 2-3 p.m. Free. 410-396-1580. prattlibrary.org. Celebrate with a program about international Easter traditions, an Easter story, and basket-making.

>> APR. 19: FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNTS
Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 6-8 p.m. (ages 5-12), 8-9 p.m. (ages 10 and up) $3-5. 410-887-4156. relpnc.org. Registration required. Use your night vision and a flashlight to find hidden eggs along the Robert E. Lee Park trails.

>> APR. 19-20: EGG HUNT AND CRAFT WEEKEND
Clark’s Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. 410-730-4049. clarklandfarm.com. Enjoy continuous egg hunts for varying age groups, Easter crafts, gem-mining, and geode-cracking.

You may see a lot of new faces—and places—when The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore opens its doors seven days a week starting March 1.

Over
the winter, the zoo gained a boatload of new animals, through births
and acquisitions—including adorable lion cubs Luke, Leia, and Zuri; a
baby black-and-white colobus monkey named Gonzo; and two 1-year-old
reticulated giraffes Anuli and Juma, pictured.

“We are
very happy to have them join the herd,” says Carey Ricciardone, mammal
collection and conservation manager. “The two young females have been
acclimating nicely to the Giraffe House and are very cooperative with
the keepers.”

Additionally, in the spring, the zoo is reopening
its Marsh Aviary and African Aviary, both of which sustained extensive
damage in the 2010 blizzards.

Another long-term build is the new
$10.4-million African Penguin Exhibit, which debuts in the fall and will
double the number of birds and include underwater-viewing features and a
wave pool.

The viewers will be able to see the penguins from
every angle possible,” says Don Hutchinson, the zoo’s president/CEO. “We
think this new exhibit will redefine the zoo.”

Perfect For: Platonic Pals

FRIENDSHIP TEA AT MONTPELIER MANSION
FEB. 15: Food and Dining. Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 1:30 p.m. $25-29. 301-377-7817. pgparks.com. Bring your best friend or sweetheart for tea in Montpelier’s elegant South Wing. In honor of Black History Month, the mansion will feature African-inspired treats. Guests are encouraged to wear African clothing.

Perfect For: Sexy Singles

LOVE SUX PARTY
FEB. 14: Music. Howl at the Moon, 22 Market Pl. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Free-$10. 410-783-5111. howlatthemoon.com. Come celebrate anti-Valentine’s Day at Howl at the Moon’s Love Sux Party! Go stag or with a group and enjoy drink specials and games with $500 in cash and prizes for the taking. Bring in a mutilated photo of your ex before 10 p.m. for free cover.

Perfect For: First Dates

BOEING BOEING
TO FEB. 9: Theater. Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann St. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $15-20. 410-276-7837. fpct.org. Handsome bachelor Bernard is having the time of his life juggling three gorgeous flight-attendant fiancées. But when the schedules change, all hell breaks loose in his Parisian love nest in this sexy ’60s romp.

Perfect For: The Totally Smitten

JENNIFER BLADES IN MY FUNNY VALENTINE
FEB. 14: Music. Cabaret at Germano’s, 300 S. High St. 7:30 p.m. $15. 410-752-4515. germanospiattini.com/events. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Jennifer Blades as she sings a cabaret about looking for love, finding love, losing love, confusing love, and loving love with songs by Rodgers and Hart, Sondheim, Gershwin, and others.

Perfect For: The Newly Betrothed

VALENTINE’S DAY CRUISES
FEB. 14-15: Tours. Spirit of Baltimore, 561 Light St. Fri. 7 p.m., Sat. 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. $33.95 and up. spiritcruisesbaltimore.com/Baltimore/valentinesday. Set sail for a romantic trip close to home during which you can wine and dine your valentine as the Inner Harbor’s landmarks glide by.

Perfect For: Longtime Loves

MODERN LOVE: STORIES ABOUT 21ST-CENTURY ROMANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS
FEB. 3: Theater. Centerstage, 700 N. Calvert St. 7 p.m. $20. 410-332-0033. stoopstorytelling.com. The Stoop Storytelling Series presents an all-ladies show, with seven female storytellers sharing tales of love and loss. Men can sign up to tell a three-minute story.

Perfect For: Permanent Pairs

SEX AT THE ZOO
FEB. 14: Lectures and Classes. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 6-9 p.m. $80-130. 410-396-7102. marylandzoo.org. Learn about the birds and the bees—literally!—at this adult-oriented event discussing the mating rituals of the animal kingdom. Enjoy open bar, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and live jazz.