Liszt Concert in the Hungarian Cultural Garden

After an 80th anniversary program including singing of the Himnusz, a retrospective on the Garden and introduction of dignitaires and people present at the 1938 dedication, Hungarian Cultural Garden president Carolyn Balogh turned the program over to Vera Holczer, founder and president of the Aurora School of Music.

Several performers played pieces by Liszt, Bartok, Debussy and Brahms.  

A highlight was the piano duet of the popular Hungarian Dances Number 5 by Liszt by Vera Holczer and  Ruth Desiree Logan.

Click on the white arrow to watch the video of the Hungarian Dances. 

See more photos and videos of the Liszt Concert in the Hungarian Cultural Garden

Hungarian Cultural Garden 80th anniversary

The Hungarian Cultural Garden was formally dedicated in 1938 making 2018 the 80th anniversary of the Garden. The Hungarian Cultural Garden is one of about 30 ethnic gardens in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

The Hungarian Garden held an 80th anniversary event with singing of the Himnusz, retrospective on the Garden's history, introduction of dignitaries and more.

It was great that several people who were in attendance at the dedication in 1938 were at the 2018 event.

Violet Sarosi, Richard Fleischman, Jenny Brown, Ted Horvath and Frank Dodish
were present at the 1938 dedication and 80th anniversary

Photos and videos from the Hungarian Cultural Garden 80th anniversary 

Asian Highlands Exhibit Opening at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Asian Highlands, the new state-of-the-art destination at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, is now open to the public.

The immersive addition is home to Amur and snow leopards, red panda and a new species to the Zoo, takin.

Takin at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Red panda at Asian Highlands at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

One of Asian Highlands’ residents, the Amur leopard, is the most endangered big cat species on Earth with fewer than 100 animals estimated to remain in the wild.

Amur leopard at Asian Highlands at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

See photos and videos of the new Asian Highlands exhibit 

Asian Lantern Festival Preview at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announced Asian Lantern Festival presented by Cleveland Clinic Children's that will light up the zoo for five weeks this summer. The limited engagement will take place evenings, Thursday thru Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., from July 19 to August 19, 2018.

Guests will enjoy more than two dozen large-scale, colorful lantern installations placed throughout the zoo that will illuminate starting at dusk. Guests will be immersed in Asian culture, dining on Asian inspired cuisine, watching Asian performers on the Fifth Third Bank stage, and shopping an authentic marketplace sponsored by T-Mobile.

More about the Asian Lantern Festival at the Zoo

Traditional Hmong Dances at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo opened a new Asian Highlands exhibit and celebrated with some Asian performances.

Paj Tawg Tshiab (which directly translates to "blooming flower" in Hmong) is a traditional dance group focused on preserving the performing arts of the Hmong people. Paj Tawg Tshiab is based in Akron, Ohio.

Pictures and videos of the Hmong dances at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Bharathanatyam Classical Indian dance at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

A new state-of-the-art destination at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is called Asian Highlands and is home to Amur and snow leopards, red panda and a new species to the Zoo, takin. The new destination includes significantly larger and more complex habitats for the animals. Asian Highlands will also feature several glass viewing areas where guests can get nose to nose with some of their favorite animals. The architecture of the structure is designed with elements representative of central China, the region these species are native to.

To celebrate the grand opening of the new Asian Highlands destination there were several Asian performances including a Bharatanatyam dance from Tamil Nadu in southern India by 7th grader Deepa Raman.

Performing in front of a bear habitat, Deepa began by balancing and dancing on a mudpot and then told the story of the 10 avatars of Vishnu and three animals - deer, peacock and snake - in her dance.

See more photos and video of the Bharatanatyam dance