Pride of lions

Maybe it’s because we’re tired of being called a cow town that we’ve decided not to copy Chicago’s Cows on Parade exhibit. Instead, we’ve elected an animal we can be proud of: the lion. More than 60 life-sized lions, painted and embellished by area artists, are currently roaming the streets. The colorful cats are part of Lions on Safari, a region-wide civic art project that hopes to promote public art and increase tourism. The lions will be on display through September, after which they will be auctioned off to raise money for the Sacramento Zoo and the Developmental Disabilities Service Organization. The lions can be found throughout Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo counties. Log onto www.lionsonsafari.com for exact locations. To find “Roosaline,” the rooster-lion hybrid pictured above, head to the American River Bank, 10123 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks. Call (916) 443-0000 for more info.