Dinoquest2!

What do you get when you combine dinosaurs, baby elephants, and a bangin' buffet? Obviously, a Yelp Elite Event at Lowry Park Zoo! Tampa Bay Elites were treated to an exquisite breakfast/lunch combo at Yelp's Brunch at the Zoo – just ask Miranda E. "I was so pleased with the food. I got a plate full of sausage and chorizo potatoes(my fav dish), fresh fruit, mac and cheese bites, lobster dip, and red velvet cake pop bites. Yum! We remembered the bartender from their last event- super nice guy!" Jen K insists on elaborating about her after-meal. "Ok now let's talk dessert. I've mentioned before that I have a chocolate problem. I have a huge love affair with chocolate. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the red velvet cake balls gazing at me. Wow, just wow. I could have easily eaten them all. The bread pudding was a very tasty too."

Of course, it wasn't all about the food – there were totally real Dinosaurs here! Ok… maybe they weren't actual Dino's, but Chris W points out an attention to detail. "I even noticed that some of them had moving eyeballs. They were also much larger than I expected them to be. One part was particularly impressive to me. There was a dinosaur that had caught a fish that was standing in a pond. Behind it was a massive waterfall that the zoo workers had constructed. It was an example of something that didn't have to be there but shows how the zoo goes above and beyond in its creations. I was so impressed with this area." Brad S continues the gush-fest toward our favorite animal-haven. "This event introduced me to Lowry Park Zoo for the first time in my 13 years of living in Tampa. Wow! I am so impressed with this fabulous zoo. I've seen them all, from San Diego to the Bronx, to Washington DC. Ours in Tampa is right up there in that league. So many endangered species. So many fantastic habitats recreated. So much to see and do. And the flora is just as incredible as the fauna. I am looking into becoming a member. I think it would be worth it." Psh, yeah it would!

Of course, the people are always the X-factor at these events. Steve E remarks on hangin' with his fellow Yelpers. "Martic R, Chris W, Cece C, Coty S, her hubby Paul, and I wandered through the abandoned lab, and suddenly found ourselves facing a ferocious dinosaur that had escaped it's cage and was leaping out at us as we turned the corner. It was so much fun to visit with Yelp friends and share some laughs about our experiences. That is one of my favorite parts of these Yelp events." You know who agrees with that sentiment? Said Cece C. "I was a little nervous going here solo but it ended up being a good decision because being on your own forces you to meet new people and not bask in anti-socialness with your +1. I had a great time meeting a few new yelpers in person and exploring the park with them." 

As always, a humongus thank you goes out to Lowry Park Zoo for rolling out the red carpet for us. I especially want to thank Jason Davis, who has been a dream to work with on organizing these events. When a venue understands the value of Yelp, it's a priceless situation, and Jason has been our biggest cheerleader. A huge e-hug to the entire Lowry Park team!

SYOY

Brett N