Aquarium emporiums

On my visit to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago last September, I went into three different shops, one of them twice, or maybe there were only two shops and I hit one of them three times. Each time I found penguin items that I missed on the earlier visits. I ended up with a penguin cooking spoon rest, a penguin t-shirt, penguin shorts and three penguin Christmas tree ornaments. Check out the other two ornaments in the last two older posts in case you missed them. This one wasn’t unique to the aquarium or marked with the Shedd name in any way. I was surprised to find a Merck penguin that I didn’t already own, because I see them a lot and try to keep up with the new ones as they come out. They are escellent ornaments, usually small, but decorated nicely with an old-fashioned look. My labels list indicates I only have three Mercks, but I’m pretty sure it’s a lot more than that.

Merck Family Old World Christmas glass Playful Penguin with red Santa hat and glittery green scarf

Acquired: September 20, 2011, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago

Number: 0927

Size:2.5 inches tall

Price: $9.99

Looks familiar

I knew this ornament looked familiar, but I also knew that I didn’t have a snow globe from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Sure enough, here’s the same ornament from the Central Park Zoo, a gift from my good friend Anne, who has a few snow globes of her own. As I’ve said before, I don’t mind having duplicates, especially when they remind me of good friends and fun places. I wouldn’t mind having one of these from every zoo and aquarium in the world.

29 Tonight snow globe ornament, Shedd Aquarium Chicago

Acquired: September 20, 2011

Number: 0926

Size: 2.25 inches tall

Price: $9.99

Seeing penguins

On a recent trip to Chicago, I visited the Shedd Aquarium. Click here for a gallery of photos. It looked like I was going to miss the penguins because the exhibit was closed, but they came back right before I left. I also came out with a couple of bags full of penguin junk, including some cool ornaments. I like this kind of ornament that says where it came from and doubles as a souvenir of the place where I got it. I also like it because it's going to look good on the blue penguin tree.

Shedd Aquarium ornament

Acquired: September 20, 2011, Chicago, Ill.

Number: 0925

Size: 4 inches in diameter

Price: $9.99