The Zoological Wildlife Foundation is a five-acre facility that adopts and cares for abused, unwanted, neglected and confiscated exotic wildlife. As part of its mission to educate the public about rare and endangered animals both in captivity and in the wild, the Foundation offers appointment-only tours of its facilities, with each one-hour session allowing for limited interaction with the wildlife. Some are taken out of their enclosures for guests to interact with, while elsewhere guests are given access to the natural enclosure of the animal. Current residents at the Foundation include a sloth, tiger cub, clouded leopard, African milky eagle owl and baby primates, making a private tour here a special and varied experience.
Judith Ripka Jewelry intertwines the rich glaze of gemstones with signature beading and rope twists of exclusively alloyed gold and sterling silver. Fingers searching for natural elegance can snuggle up into the ambrosia stack ring, a sterling-silver affair that decorates the pink crystal of an oval stone with double hearts of white sapphire, symbolizing that the heart is not only unbreakable, but has a backup if needed ($175). The linked silver heart charm bracelet with signature lobster claw coddles a canary crystal heart charm ($195), and the small eclipse earrings entice the ears and frame the face with the dark, rich tones of tastefully shaped black onyx stones ($200).