A Perfect Philly Day, according to Philadelphia Zoo CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman

There isn’t a single week when Philadelphia Zoo CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman doesn’t stop to enjoy the world’s natural wonders.

From the cardinals and bald eagles that circle the city skies, the squirrels that scale the long-limbed sycamore trees, and the Eastern cottontails that roam Philly’s urban parks.

She cherishes witnessing the beauty that exists among Philadelphia’s bustling cityscape. It reminds her of childhood, observing the world’s wonders from her porch on Chicago’s South Side.

She carries that same curiosity wherever she goes, including miles-long walks along the Schuylkill on weekends. “It’s amazing to me how dense it is here, so I’m fascinated by the wildlife that shows up,” Mogerman said. “You spot all sorts of things you wouldn’t ordinarily see.”

These moments also remind Mogerman of her civic duties as a protector and champion of animal life as the leader of the nation’s first zoo.

But that’s not all that fills Mogerman’s days. The night owl is a lover of fresh baked goods, Dough Head Pizza slices, and comfy movie nights with her husband and corgi-Jack Russel mix, affectionally named Boogie Demarcus.

Here’s how Mogerman would spend her perfect day in Philly.

I’m a night owl, so I’m waking up around 10 in the morning. Then I walk my dog. He likes to sleep in, too. I’ll take a dog walk, then hit one of the many Starbucks around my house in Graduate Hospital for some iced tea.

I’ll see what’s going on in the neighborhood, then I come back home. Assuming it’s nice weather, I go for a two-to-three mile run. I’m not fast, but I’ll walk over to the Schuylkill trail and see how far I get. Sometimes I get to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Sometimes I can get a little farther running down Kelly Drive.

Then, I come back and treat myself at the Bake Shop on 20th, and get a BLT or baked good. There’s also a Mighty Bread Grab & Go on 17th and Pine Street. I love their morning buns. I’ll pick up one of those, come home, and take a shower.

I’m still exploring Philly, so I love checking out the small business and local boutiques like M Concept [on South Street]. I may walk to the Delaware River and see what’s going on. All the while, I’m looking for birds and seeing which ones are overhead or in the river.

I head over to Saigon Grace Cafe. They have a really good Cobb salad and good tea packages.

I’ll take the dog with me on another walk, and check out the Bok Dog Park park on Ninth and Dudley. I’ll hang out for a little bit, and probably come back home and take a nap.

There’s always a dinner discussion in my household. If we’re in a cheesesteak mood, we’ll walk over to Angelo’s Pizzeria and bring it back home.

If my husband’s feeling “beery,” we’ll head over to Monk’s Cafe. And coming from Chicago, we’re a little pizza picky. I love Dough Head Pizza, especially their tomato salad.

If I have a sweet craving — which I always do — I will drive to Mount Airy to go to the Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe for their carrot cake. The carrot cake is the bomb. But if I’m going to have carrot cake, I should walk it off along Forbidden Drive.

Then, it’s probably time for another night walk with the dog around Graduate Hospital, Rittenhouse, and South Philly. And then I come home and watch a movie. [My husband and I] are trying to catch up on our Philadelphia movies, so we can learn a little bit more about the city. Then, catch Saturday Night Live if it happens to be on.

At this point, it’s time to go to bed.