Last weekend was Columbus day weekend, a long weekend, therefore it was a short work week. It goes by quickly either way. Yes, it was another busy weekend, starting from Addie's birthday. He was somehow reluctant to go, but once he was there, he made sure he was right next to her every minute of it. They crawled under table and shrieked together. They were so cute together. They were such a perfect little couple. On the way home, we caught a last bit of the Carnival for the church on Pitt Street. I watched Taiyo go round and round and round and round on little rides, having some blank moment thinking iPhone may be nice to have sometimes.

We've been also busy trying to make most of the last few warm days before winter. Another bike trip uptown to the Central Park Zoo was met with "Mambo Italiano" from Columbus Day Parade at 5th Avenue. Usually penguins and goats are the only things Taiyo cares at this nice little zoo, but this time he decided to take a hike up the hill. Interestingly, usually hard-to-spot snow leopard decided to come down the hill and sit right behind Taiyo who was sitting against the glass. Some guy was making a sarcastic comment about 'that toddler blocking the view,' but I just let him have his close encounter with the big cat. He was the only kid in the crowd at the moment, and I thought he was the only one who deserved the magical close viewing of the animal. Akiro san's Buddhist service for 49th day after death was in the evening at Village Zendo. It was a beautiful little ceremony with chanting and incense.

Next day, we made it to Clinton St. Baking Co. on Clinton near Houston. This is probably the most hyped restaurant in the Lower East Side, where you'll see a line most of the time. I would not wait for a table at any restaurant right now, especially with a toddler, but three o'clock was late enough for lunch I suppose. We were seated by the window immediately. I've heard this place was kid-friendly before, but I really didn't feel much of kid-friendliness at this visit. There's hardly a room for a stroller- you have to leave it near the door, but a larger SUV type would really not be welcome. The waitress immediately ordered to Taiyo to sit down and not to stand on the bench with such an authority like a teacher, he listened to her. I guess the staff who seems to be experienced with small kids is a sign of a kid-friendly joint, but I felt like she took some fun out of our visit. So fast. But she did bring him a plastic cup with straw for water, which was a point. We went there because Taiyo wanted pancakes, but as soon as we walked in, his mind was set for the scone they had on the counter. And although the sausage sandwich I ordered was very pretty and tasty, he was so focused on his scone and didn't care to try any of the sandwich. I thought it was rather adult flavored anyway. Food was pretty good, service was sufficient, but I would only drop in if I could get a table right away.

Next day Taiyo was still asking for pancakes. I thought they may have some, but Sidewalk Cafe on Avenue A and Sixth Street didn't have any. But we were already settled at a sidewalk table, and it was just nice and relaxing to be there for late lunch at 3pm (again!) so Taiyo compromised for french fries. I got Sidewalk Burger, with egg, avocado, bacon, and stuff. This was one of the neighborhood late night joint to eat and hang out back in my youth, and now it's like a bit fancy hamburger joint that serves towering burger with unnecessary things in between the buns on clean white square plate. I saw some neighborhood type people still hanging out twenty years later, but this was very different joint now. I guess the owner is different. Taiyo did like the fries, and bacon from my burger.