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.

Feeding Taiyo has been a challenge lately. Last year when I started this blog it seemed quite promising. Taiyo was quite adventurous eater who would agree to eat at any restaurant, would try every vegetables and most foreign food, and would appreciate different flavors. I thought by now we would be enjoying even fine dining experience. But now, he hardly eat vegetables, especially something green, and doesn't even like most fruits he used to enjoy. So when we go out to eat, the category is usually limited these days. And even if the restaurant falls into his choice of categories, he may still have objection. On Saturday I asked him what he wants to go eat, the answer was pizza. So we went to look for a pizza place. I wanted to sit down and be served, but wanted to try some place new, so the choice was a bit limited. First choice I offered him was not approved. "I want some place cool," he said. "What's wrong with that place?" "It has numbers on it." True, it had numbers in the restaurant name, and somehow it wasn't cool to him. So we went down the street and he agreed to go in.

Nicoletta, on Second Ave at 10th Street, is more of a cool hang-out joint than a family-friendly pizza restaurant. I didn't ask, but there was no sight of high chairs, and we weren't asked if we need one. (We don't need one anyway.) But the place was nearly empty for late afternoon lunch (which was good for us) and the staff was very friendly to Taiyo (which is very nice) and Taiyo was immediately enchanted with the buttons on the table (which were for pizza stands.) He enjoyed rubbing two knives together like he was sharpening them, and messing with the blinds behind him. I ordered to small plates, chickpea fritters, and fingerling potatoes, but he only tried one chickpea fritter. He said it was good, but didn't have any more. We had a 'classica' pizza with mozzarella, pomodoro, and basil, and Taiyo made me pick out basil leaves off his slice. It was pretty good, but bready not so memorable pizza. Well, it was fairly pleasant experience but there was nothing really special that would bring us back there.

On Sunday we made it to Queens to the event I was looking forward to all year- Maker Faire at the Hall of Science. It is this amazing celebration and presentation of every creative talents. I think this event was really made for us.

Taiyo had encounters with robots of every size, shape, and task, was fascinated with every curious sculptures, objects and vehicles, yet kept asking to go play mini-golf which he has enjoyed in the past trips to the Hall of Science. "But you can play mini-golf any other time of the year! This fair is only once a year," I told him. And I was able to distract him with something interesting at every corner. I did feel that last year's fair was even better, but this year Taiyo was able to appreciate and participate more. They had pretty good food option, too. We were in the line for Gerard's Paella for 15 minutes. Taiyo kept saying he wanted something else, but when we finally got our paella and he agreed to taste it, he couldn't stop. He ate most of it, except shrimps. Later we also enjoyed a pupusa and empanada. We stayed til the very end of the event. We'll miss it for another year.