parking for jungle queen riverboat

The park stretches along the banks of the Moscow River, and is divided into two parts. The first is primarily of interest to children or those trying to entertain them, as it contains a range of funfair rides and rollercoasters - some safer looking than others, although they are being upgraded all the time. You can also hire boats or horses, go bungee jumping, and there's a sports club with tennis courts. In winter the whole area becomes a vast skating rink with skate hire, disco lights and music to match. In summer the "beach" area is hugely popular with sun-worshippers, and becomes an open air club in the evenings.

The other, older, half of the park is considerably more restrained, consisting of formal gardens and woodland that combine the former Golitsynskiy and Neskuchniy Gardens, names that crop up regularly in Russian literary classics. There are a number of fine old buildings dating from the late 18 and early 19 Centuries, including two summerhouses by the great Moscow architect Mikhail Kazakov (who designed the Senate Building in the Kremlin), and the first City Hospital. Nearby is the enormous Green Theater, an outdoor amphitheater that hosts various gigs and concerts in the summer months.

Gorky Park's attractions are generally more appealing for locals than for tourists but it's the place to come if you want to find out how the majority of Muscovites spend their free time. Across the road from the main entrance, in front of the House of Artists, is the Graveyard of Fallen Monuments, a ramshackle but intriguing collection of old Soviet official statues and other homeless sculpture that's well worth a brief inspection.

9, Krymskiy Val, Moscow, 117049, Russia.

Park Kultury or Oktiabrskaya Metro Stations.

Daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (most of the rides are closed in the winter).

Place important notice here.

Select the cruise you would like to be on. You will be prompted to select the day and time and number of guests. You may pre-purchase drink tickets and parking validation prior to the cruise, or purchase on the cruise. 

Cruises Rain or Shine

Jungle queen.

The Jungle Queen Riverboat has been enjoyed by many since 1935.

In addition to the famous Island Dinner & Show Cruise, the Riverboat offers a 90-minute Sightseeing Cruise.

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• 954-462-5596
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• 10am-5pm (Mon) 10am-6:30pm (Tues - Sun) Subject to change during peak & holiday season.

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Bahia Mar Yachting Center 801 Seabreeze Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33316

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Matthew Perry’s Assistant and Doctors Charged With Getting Him Ketamine

Five people have been charged with a conspiracy to distribute the powerful anesthetic that led to the death of the “Friends” star. Three of them are pleading guilty.

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Authorities Charge Five People For Giving Matthew Perry Ketamine

Matthew perry’s personal assistant, two doctors and two others have been indicted and charged with providing the ketamine that caused his death..

Following Mr. Perry’s death in October of last year, law enforcement, my office and our partners represented on this stage began an in-depth, wide-ranging investigation. That investigation has revealed a broad, underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr. Perry and others. This network included a live- in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors and a major source of drug supply known as, quote, the ketamine queen. We’ve charged five defendants in this matter. These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyways.

By Matt Stevens

Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors and two others have been indicted and charged with providing the ketamine that caused the death of Mr. Perry , a star on the television show “Friends,” the authorities said on Thursday.

In documents filed in federal court in California, prosecutors said that Mr. Perry’s assistant and an acquaintance had worked with two doctors and a drug dealer to procure tens of thousands of dollars worth of ketamine for Mr. Perry, who had long struggled with substance abuse and addiction.

The actor, who gained sitcom superstardom as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” was discovered floating face down in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 28. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said in an autopsy report that Mr. Perry, 54, had died of “acute effects of ketamine .”

An indictment filed in federal court on Wednesday detailed grand jury charges against Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors said was known as “the Ketamine Queen,” and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as “Dr. P.”

Ms. Sangha maintained a “stash house” in North Hollywood, the indictment said, and Dr. Plasencia, a physician at an urgent care center, was among those who worked to get the ketamine to Mr. Perry despite knowing he had a history of drug abuse.

Court documents say that Mr. Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected him with at least 27 shots of ketamine in the five days leading up to his death, including at least three on the day he died. An indictment said that the defendants used coded language to discuss drug deals, referring to bottles of ketamine as “Dr Pepper,” “cans” and “bots.” And it said that when Dr. Plasencia texted with another doctor about how much to charge Mr. Perry for ketamine, he wrote, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets find out.”

Ketamine, a powerful anesthetic with psychedelic properties , is increasingly being used as an alternative therapy for depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. It is also used, and abused, recreationally.

Three people have already pleaded guilty in the case, officials said.

Mr. Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

Dr. Mark Chavez, who admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Dr. Chavez obtained ketamine by making false representations to a wholesale ketamine distributor and by submitting a fraudulent prescription in the name of a former patient, officials said.

Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Mr. Perry’s, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, officials said. They said he admitted to obtaining the ketamine from Ms. Sangha and distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Mr. Iwamasa.

“We’re sending a clear message,” Martin Estrada, the United States attorney for the Central District of California, said at a Thursday news conference in downtown Los Angeles. “If you are in the business of selling dangerous drugs, we will hold you accountable for the deaths that you cause.”

The charges against Ms. Sangha and Dr. Plasencia include conspiracy to distribute ketamine; distribution of ketamine resulting in death; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation.

If they are convicted, Ms. Sangha, 41, faces between 10 years and life in prison while Dr. Plasencia, 42, faces up to 10 years in prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years for each count of falsifying records.

On Thursday afternoon, prosecutors announced that both Ms. Sangha and Dr. Plasencia had been arraigned and had pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered Ms. Sangha jailed without bond and set Dr. Plasencia’s bond at $100,000; their trials were scheduled for October.

Mr. Iwamasa, 59, faces up to 15 years in prison and Mr. Fleming, 54, up to 25 years. Dr. Chavez, 54, has been charged in an information pursuant to a plea agreement and will be arraigned on Aug. 30; he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Attempts to reach the defendants were not immediately successful.

Anne Milgram, the head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, said at the news conference that Mr. Perry had sought treatment for depression and anxiety and, after visiting a local clinic, had become addicted to intravenous ketamine.

Mr. Perry wrote about his history of drug and alcohol addiction in a memoir. Officials declined to explain whether the ketamine treatment he initially received was legitimate and would not say how he became connected to Dr. Plasencia and Dr. Chavez.

“When clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous doctors who saw Perry as a way to make quick money,” Ms. Milgram said of the actor. “Dr. Plasencia and Dr. Chavez violated the oath they took to care for their patients. Instead of do no harm, they did harm so that they could make more money.”

The autopsy report said that Mr. Perry had been on ketamine infusion therapy but that the level of ketamine found in his blood was equivalent to the amount that would be used during general anesthesia.

Dr. Plasencia was accused in the indictment of misleading officials about Mr. Perry’s treatment. Prosecutors said he “provided a falsified document purportedly showing the medical treatment plan for Victim M.P.” that claimed he was being given a maximum dose of 60 milligrams over 24 hours. They added that, “in fact, as defendant Plasencia then well knew, defendant Plasencia injected Victim M.P. with ketamine dosages far in excess of 60 milligrams.”

The police in Los Angeles acknowledged this year that they were working with the D.E.A. to investigate the source of Mr. Perry’s ketamine and whether it was obtained legally. The United States Postal Inspection Service assisted with the investigation.

“The Postal Service will not be an unwitting accomplice to anyone using the U.S. mail to distribute illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, said Matthew Shields, the acting inspector in charge of the service’s Los Angeles division.

In the weeks leading to Mr. Perry’s death, the indictment and law enforcement officials said, Dr. Plasencia sold roughly $55,000 worth of ketamine to Mr. Iwamasa and personally injected Mr. Perry with the drug at Mr. Perry’s residence.

During one visit, a large dose caused Mr. Perry to “freeze up,” prosecutors said, causing the doctor to advise against a similarly sized injection in the future. Dr. Plasencia also injected Mr. Perry with ketamine while inside a vehicle in a public parking lot in Long Beach, Calif., according to court papers.

At one point, the doctors charged Mr. Perry $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that cost Dr. Chavez roughly $12, Ms. Milgram said.

Court documents also outlined the days leading up to Mr. Perry’s death.

Mr. Fleming, who shared a mutual friend with Mr. Perry, texted him offering to sell him ketamine for a “good price” as long as he received a “fair tip for bringing it.” Mr. Fleming later told Mr. Iwamasa that his source, Ms. Sangha, dealt with “high end” celebrities.

“I guarantee it’s going to be amazing,” Mr. Fleming texted Mr. Iwamasa.

Mr. Fleming delivered a sample vial to Mr. Perry’s home, and then Mr. Iwamasa agreed to buy 25 vials, advancing Mr. Fleming $500 for “logistics.” He delivered 25 more vials on Oct. 24, four days before Mr. Perry’s death.

In March, Ms. Sangha was charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; she has pleaded not guilty. Law enforcement raided her home in North Hollywood that month, seizing 79 bottles of liquid ketamine and nearly 2,000 grams of methamphetamine pills, along with other drugs, according to court documents.

The two doctors charged in Mr. Perry’s death have known each other for years, one of them said in a post on social media.

Dr. Chavez has built a brand for himself as what he calls “The Health MD,” describing himself online as a longevity coach, medical doctor, entrepreneur and fitness trailblazer. Having started his career as a medical chemist, Dr. Chavez recently listed himself as a medical director at a company specializing in regenerative medicine . His website offers a 12-week weight loss program for $1,500 involving the drug Ozempic.

Dr. Plasencia described Dr. Chavez on LinkedIn as a mentor of his for 15 years, writing that Dr. Chavez had been “extremely helpful to me as I navigated my own path as a medical entrepreneur.”

Jill Cowan contributed reporting from Los Angeles, Julia Jacobs from New York and Glenn Thrush from Washington. Kirsten Noyes contributed research.

Matt Stevens writes about arts and culture news for The Times. More about Matt Stevens