Wild Side

The Party Riviera hosted a VIP pre-party reception for the San Diego Zoo’s annual Food & Wine festival, benefiting its Institute for Conservation Research.The Scene We’ve come to expect a wild time at the zoo, and the packed pre-party in the new Reptile Walk didn’t disappoint! Wandering around the reptile and amphibian habitat, guests experienced intimate encounters with cold-blooded critters like snake-necked turtles and alligator lizards. Whisknladle Hospitality sated appetites with food and cocktail pairings—think tuna tartare crostini and the restaurant’s signature London’s Burning. Later, partygoers sampled bites from more than 175 culinary vendors at the big event.The Highlights On this night, the VIP crowd had exclusive access to the zoo’s Skyfari aerial tram for a bird’s-eye view of the scene. Funds from the festival benefited programs for the zoo’s endangered animals, like the giant panda and the California condor and their habitats. This is certainly where the wild things are! Photography by Tim Hardy, shotbyhardy.com