The zoo itself is located in the corner of Central Park near 5th Avenue and 59th Street and although small and intimate is a gorgeous gorgeous Zoo and I would certainly recommend a visit to those visiting New York. There is a real surreal feeling seeing such cute animals in the surrounds of a zoo, yet looking slightly along the horizon and seeing the buildings poking up! Particularly when you watch the Snow Monkeys at play. Leaping on tree’s and rocks and when you look at certain angles you can almost superimpose them into the buildings!
The Zoo is one of few homes of the Snow Leopard. The endangered spotted cats are in the zoo's first new exhibit in more than 20 years and have been there for only two or three years I believe. The new enclosure is similar to that of the Panda’s…made to look like natural wildlife they would normally live. Now I believe there should have been 3! Given the weather…low 90’s, the poor things would have been hot…but I could only see one…..and to paraphrase a small child….
“Oooh look at the dead kitty!” The cuddly and cute snow leopard was oblivious to the hundreds coming to see “it” as it plonked itself against the glass for 4 hours!! Yes folks that is right, in the 4 hours I spent at the zoo, I went back regularly to see if it was awake, or had moved and other than moving a paw…it was in the same position!
In similar fashion to the Snow Leopard, the two Polar Bears were finding the heat tough and made minuscule moves in the two hours. Fortunately one who preferred to show his/her derrière moved enough for a front view, but the weather was not conducive for these ‘winter’ animals.
The only ones who seemed oblivious to the heat were the Snow Monkeys who had us all in hysterics watching their antics. A game of monkey chasey with the ‘loser’ being the monkey who was either bitten or slapped over the head and then in turn would turn around and chase the other monkeys.
The highlight of the zoo visit though would have to be the up close and personal with April, Scooter and baby pup Bruiser, the Californian Sea Lions…I was close enough for a kiss. They do a special feeding segment where the trainers also have an opportunity to play with them as they are also checking their eyes, putting in drops, checking flippers etc. The seals hoot, bark and do look like they are having fun even with all of us gawking!
“Oh my, see Bailey that is a Seahorse…cute isn’t it?”
“Yes mamma…it’s a cute horsey...”
Do I correct these people…..nahhhhh! Woe that poor child when he goes back to school at the end of summer and says he saw a Seahorse being fed!
The ticket for the Zoo also included a pass to the Children’s Zoo, but given I had no child with me…I wasn’t prepared to fight the prams and strollers…so instead I took the opportunity to enjoy the afternoon sunshine with a few hours lost in Central Park itself. Walking through the park, clearly my brush with the animals had rubbed off, as my nose wafted into the blue sky towards the “Mall”. This area is in the centre of the park close to the big lake that people can row boats in. the area has big elm trees and wide paths with lots of seating. One can effortlessly imagine the scene hundreds of years ago, dapper dressed women and men in top hats hovering around the Arena/Concert part that stood in the middle. Given my life revolves around food, boy did I pick a good day to venture into the park. It was Korea Day! An inaugural food and culture festival with live Korean Jazz Band. (Female Korean keyboard player, Indian female drummer, and a male Korean cello player) The music was excellent, as was the array of FREE food and Korean samples. I tucked into Kimchi Fritters, a Kimchi and meat taco, some dumpling things that I can only described as uncooked gnocchi with peanut dust on top, aloe vera juice and a green fruit ice block thing! Nothing like watching the world go by with a bit of free food in the tummy!
Central Park has its mix of performers, and I did stop and watch some buff black men do flips for a while. I took more delight in these freaky little dogs that every New Yorker seem to have…. Have no idea of the breed and although not my cup of tea, they are everywhere.
That and what they call teacup pups! Little yorkies the size of well a tea cup that people carry in their hands, bags, purses or on a leash that I regularly almost stepped on!
I took great delight in watching a trash talking softball team and after offering the time to one of the players, he felt the need to continually wave and try and take big catches! It was flattering and very entertaining!
After a lovely afternoon in Central Park and a visit to Strawberry Fields, it was off to visit the iconic Tom’s Restaurant. Iconic for the Seinfeld fans as the front entrance of Monk’s Cafe, but also for the Suzanne Vega fan’s…akin to her 1980’s hit Tom’s diner. da da dada, da da dada, da da dada, da da dada... …you’re singing it aren’t you!
It is a cash only diner and has many Seinfeld photos and posters around. Given I had snacked on the Korean food I wasn’t famished but had already planned the visit. I asked my non English speaking waiter friend for a recommendation. After several blank looks and a shake of this head, I ordered the Special of the Day. Their special ended up being what they called a Chicken Souvlaki which wasn’t bad, just lacked flavour. It was cooked chicken pieces missing serious seasoning and flavour, wrapped with tomato, lettuce in a warm pita bread wrap with tzatziki on the side and a serve of fries. Next time I’d opt for the Ruben or a burger, but I did enjoy the experience!
To work off my dinner, I went for a visit over to Brooklyn Heights to get some nighttime photos of the Manhattan skyline. While there, I noticed lots of people setting up a filming thing…so naturally I plonked down near it to see what was going on. The people next to me were talking amongst themselves and mentioned that they were filming a commercial. Bugger, it wasn’t a TV taping or movie, but I thought I’d stay and watch. It was a Tiffany’s commercial with a handsome dapper guy and the most gorgeous woman! They had to walk up and back and the scene was made to look like a snow defrosting day. So they wet the whole area and put foamy stuff to make it look like snow. They did the take at least 11 times, as her dress kept getting hooked up with the wind machine and then she’d tread on it. She was getting quite annoyed…not sure what happened after as the actors left, so scene two must have been somewhere else, but behind his back, the dapper guy had a blue box. While waiting I met Teesha, (I think…she was black, that’s what I thought she said, but it may have been Mary and I just thought she should have something more stereotypical ‘black! Lol…) as she came and sat next to me to ask what was filming, I said that it was a commercial and then while we were waiting we noticed the box. She was a hoot of a lady and we chatted for quite some time until her partner paid us both out for watching…he said he’d go read his book! Teesha thought she went to school with the actor so I was zooming in with my camera for her to peek! She was a hoot, she said he was a dick at school and I said ‘did he think he was it and a bit’ and she cracked it!! Oh yes sister she shouted while giving me a high five and then shaking her finger…She was going to check on Facebook!
The changing colour and patterns of the skyline was beautiful to watch and only wish I was an experienced photographer to do its beauty justice! Given my days activities, I wasn’t dressed the most fashionable and I had serious hat hair which was a pity, as there was an amazing photographer at the bottom of the DUMBO promenade taking photos of the Manhattan skyline behind for only $10. I managed to find someone to take my photo after many EPIC FAIL attempts of taking them of myself, and although not as good as the guy was doing, well suited for my attire and the day!
Tip if you are heading into Brooklyn at night, discreetly take a map! Walking back from the promenade trying to find the Subway back to Manhattan sent me in a bit of a spin. The Y shape street should have had me veering to the left, only I took the straight road. After a good half an hour walk, and the time ticking to midnight, it was my first Oh Oh moment. Fortunately I did get to the subway before my internal deadline (I had set myself a further 15 minutes to find the subway or would hail a cab and cab it back to Manhattan) and crossed two subways that I missed! Nothing like a bit of extra exercise!
All in all, today felt like a good coverage of New York and despite the small subway hiccup a spectacular day in this beautiful city!
Tomorrow is Greenwich Village, SoHo and China Town….three very different but fun boroughs…and certainly a good opportunity for celeb spotting! Maybe I’ll see my Gossip Girl cast, or Heidi Klum, Anthony LaPaglia, Sarah Jessica Parker/Matthew Broderick or many of the other celebs that choose that and many other NYC areas as their home. I was given this link by a friend, but sadly, no celeb spotting thus far! http://nymag.com/news/people/18842/index4.html
Until the next one,
Lots of love Bee xxx
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