Wild Idea

First holographic zoo in the U.S. without animals opens in Texas

Zoocade, the US's first completely holographic zoo, is now open in Austin.

Photo from zoocade.com

A completely holographic zoo has opened in Texas: Called Zoocade, it's a zoo experience but without animals that has opened its first location in the U.S. in Austin.

One ofTime Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2023," Zoocade was previously only available in Australia, China, and Canada.

"At the hologram zoo you don’t just see an elephant – you see a herd of elephants that stampedes toward you and then runs through you," says the write-up. "What’s more, it’s a way for the public to see and learn about wildlife that doesn’t involve keeping animals captive."

Guests can put on 3D glasses and peruse Zoocade's 60-foot holographic tunnel, where they'll come face-to-face with hippos, giraffes, and even long-extinct prehistoric animals. Smaller groups of four to five can also experience Zoocade's smaller holographic rooms for a closer look at some of the animals.

Aside from lifelike animal encounters and holographic photos, Zoocade also includes an arcade with more than 30 games, a gift shop, and more.

It's no secret that unless it's a rescue or rehabilitation zoo, most zoos are not doing wildlife any favors. At best they're stressful for animals that need much more space; at worst they're neglectful or cruel.

So, perhaps not only is a holographic zoo a fun family-friendly use of our advancing technology, but it's also a useful one. As long as it doesn't go the way of Ray Bradbury's The Veldt, of course.

Zoocade comes to Austin by way of local entrepreneur Reva Enzminger. As soon as she learned about this award-winning tech, she jumped on a plane to Australia to experience it for herself and was amazed by its capabilities. Since Austin is a growing tech hub, she knew it would be a great fit.

“From the minute I stepped inside the holographic tunnel in Australia and heard the shrieks of joy, I knew Zoocade would be a hit in Austin," Enzminger says in a press release. "Holographic technology and Zoocade is the future of family-friendly entertainment, and I’m thrilled to be the first to offer this in the United States."

Zoocade is located at 11000 Middle Fiskville Rd. #A1, and normal hours are Thursdays from 5-8 pm, Fridays 10 am to 9 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 am to 9 pm. Reservations are available online and range from $25-$65.

animals kids families technology

Movie Review

The life of an actor is far from rosy in dramedy Misty Green

Photo courtesy of A24

Rosalind Eleazar in Misty Green.

For every well-known/successful actor in Hollywood, there are thousands of others whose lives are more tenuous as they struggle to find work. The new film Misty Green is about one such actor who, after a period in the limelight, now finds herself on the outskirts of the industry, just hoping to find her way back in.

Misty (Rosalind Eleazar) won an Emmy for a 2000s-era TV show that still gets her recognition, but not much work. Still living in the apartment of a recently-deceased man with whom she was having an affair, Misty spends her days sleeping in and her nights getting blitzed on alcohol and drugs. She seems to be heading nowhere fast until a few things coincide to break up her routine.

The man’s wife (Amy Landecker) shows up and tells her she has seven days to vacate the apartment; Misty’s brother, Jay (Daniel Kaluuya) — who is bipolar — arrives after being kicked out of his facility for non-payment; and Jordan (Chris Rock), a former colleague with whom she had a falling-out, reappears in her life, offering a possible chance to rehabilitate her image.

Written and directed by Rock (his first feature since 2014’s Top Five), the film is a funny and excruciating look at how the entertainment industry might actually work. Misty is her own worst enemy thanks to late nights fraternizing with unsavory characters like Zach (Adam Driver), who deals in drugs and women in equal measure, but her frustration proves warranted when her agent, Randy (Topher Grace), and casting directors like Rhonda (Tracie Thoms) hardly give her the time of day.

Misty tries her best to stay positive, but when jobs like singing in a bar are the best she can do, the mountain seems insurmountable. Rock does an effective job of demonstrating the elements that are within and without Misty’s control that affect her ability to regain her position in the industry. The chip on her shoulder is almost as big as the bias some have against her, and other negative circumstances don’t help matters much.

There are many small touches that Rock and his crew put in the film to give it an air of authenticity. Filming in Los Angeles (a rarity these days), Rock uses both subtle and overt shots of homeless people in the city, suggesting that the line between the haves and have-nots is a fine one, especially with Misty on the verge of not having a place to live. He also has cameos from a few of his funny friends, including a bit of meta-casting of Anthony Anderson (who has faded a bit after starring in Black-ish) in a bit part as a cop.

Eleazar, a British actor best known for appearing on the Apple TV show Slow Horses, is a magnetic presence as Misty. The character herself is somewhat cringey in her decision-making, and Eleazar sells every bit of her righteous indignation and self-defeating actions. The supporting cast is great across the board, including Rock, Driver, Kaluuya, Thoms, Grace, Anna Kendrick, and Rich Sommer.

Misty Green makes you rage against the Hollywood machine, laugh at the various ways different people deal with its maddening quirks, and hide behind your fingers as Misty chooses options that don’t help, either voluntarily or because her back is against the wall. It’s a powerhouse of acting that gives a unique angle on the inner workings of Hollywood, one that ironically might be competing for awards at year’s end.

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Misty Green is now playing in theaters.

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