Every New Yorker has cabin fever. The endless snow has made us hanker for spring, and for the most part, like everything else, we have to buy it in. Branches of quince and tulips have arrived in the corner delis and crocuses are bursting forth and shivering behind their plastic awnings.
The snow is still melting in piles across the city and more is forecast for next week. But today the sun came out to warm us and for the first day we could shed our feather coats and pretend that spring is here. The squirrels were out foraging at the UN and the birds were making a racket and nesting inside the hollow pipes that hold each street lamp.
It was Graham's second birthday. Being biologists where else would we take him but to Central Park Zoo. We arrived in time for the penguin feeding and caught a glimpse of the cities current pride and joy, a pair of snow leopard cubs.
Then we meandered around to see the red pandas and of course to feed the sheep and goats.
The carousel was closed until March so we trekked back across the snowy park and snuggled into a booth in a child freindly Irish bar, P.J. Clarkes, on the upper west side for steak followed by and ice cream for the birthday boy. It was a lovely day......