Printed in the Metropolitan Diary,
The New York Times. March 15, 2004

A couple of years ago, I was walking in a light spring rain through Thomkins Square Park on my way to work. Looking up, I saw sheltered in the V of a flowering crab apple tree a squirrel holding a slice of pizza in it’s little hands & eating contently.

A few days later, again in the East Village, I saw a pigeon on the sidewalk eating a bagel with a schmear.

How charming, and surreal, to see that all the denizens of New York City, big & small, human & non, enjoy the same local cuisine.