The end of a season of the beginning of another. Of course I had to take a long weekend off to celebrate it. Unfortunately the weather was not so glorious, and we didn't miss going to the beach at all.

On Sunday, we made it out to the borough we least visit- Staten Island! We were heading to the Richmond County Fair at Historic Richmond Town, where I've never been to. No wonder I never got there- it's far! Bus ride to the ferry, then ferry across to catch anther bus for 45 minutes- total trip was two hours. It was the longest trip we took since our vacation in spring. On the bus ride to Richmond Town, Taiyo fell asleep. But I wasn't going to turn around and head home since we came so far. I just enjoyed a little bit of not so quiet time in the busy fair among the rides with a cup of beer. Then he woke up and enjoyed kiddy rides, then his first pony ride. He also loved petting bunnies, sheep and goats, and munched on zeppole. Unfortunately rain started coming down and we decided to head home only after an hour and a half.

Next day he wanted to go to the zoo. The sky was cloudy again but we took a chance and headed uptown to the Central Park. We did our routine of watching sea lions, laughing at penguins, then he wanted to go have french fries at the cafeteria. At least he was fine with skipping the gift shop. Then he said, "I forgot to feed the goats." Of course we can't forget that before leaving the zoo! So we went to feed the goats then spent some time at the playground nearby where he went crazy with the beautiful stone slide. Then we climbed the rock behind it and enjoyed the scenery in this urban oasis. I spent so much time running through the park before Taiyo, but now I'm discovering other beautiful things this park offers. We beat the rain on the ride back home.

How ironic was the title of my last entry. A week ago, my dear neighbor from the salon next door, Akiro san, passed away after years of battle with cancer. His farewell party was on Saturday night, which I had an honor of serving some food. It was quite a turn-out as expected. Many of his loyal customers also became mine, since he often sent them my way, and I also befriended his employees who were also my neighbors. Seeing all the people who took over the sidewalk Saturday night, I realized the depth of his six-degrees. He was mostly a quiet neighbor, not extremely chatty, but still sweet and generous. He was also a character, everyone will tell you. For many years, he would go with his dog to dine out, which I was invited to join them one night. I also got many hair-cuts from him, but he always wanted make me look like a 'lady' which I didn't feel appropriate for me. I met so many people through him, and some people I've met already knew him anyway. But the most painful memory associated with this event was the fact that I've lost a dear friend in that very space next door years before Akiro moved in. It was in the spring of 2001, before 9-11, before SOY. I never told Akiro, but he left a part of the space raw, a large mirror near the back wall, that he used while cutting hair to see the side view. I always loved to see that still there while getting my hair-cut. So this weekend was so overwhelming with memories of Akiro and Bartholomew. I know that Bartholomew's spirit tried to protect Akiro, since he was a cool good neighbor, but Akiro couldn't beat the disease. He loved my Tofu Steak and Cod with ginger sauce. Sometimes he would ask for ramen with a croquette on top, which is a funny thing in Japanese standard. Farewell, and rest in peace my friend Akiro. His six-degrees will continue for many years to come.

Although it's been such a long hot summer, now that the end is approaching it feels like we haven't had enough. So last Saturday we headed out to enjoy another weekend of "Summer Streets," traffic-free ride through the city on Lafayette to Park Avenue all the way up to the park. But we made a late start, and we had only 20 minutes left to enjoy it. They were going to open the streets at 1 pm. "We have to go really fast." I pedaled heading uptown. "Faster! Go faster!" Taiyo chanted in the back seat. We almost made it to the Grand Central, but at 10 minute before one o'clock they already closed the coolest section of the course on the upper level where it's normally inaccessible to bikers. We continued on to the Central Park Zoo and did our usual routine of viewing of penguins and feeding of goats. Despite of heat Taiyo fell asleep in the bike seat on the way back, and of course some motorists told me he was sleeping. "I know," I replied.

Thanks to the hundreds of toy cars I scored on ebay, Taiyo is making a progress on his potty training. This was a tip I got from his pediatrician, to use a reward to encourage potty use. One of the 'present' he got was this little potty car, quite appropriately, which is the most hilarious potty on wheels equipped with a plunger! He used to jump up and down clapping his hands saying "I love it!" every time he got a little reward. Now it's getting a routine to get another toy car after using potty. By the time the supplies run out, I hope he's going to know that he's not going to get a reward after each toilet use.

Today, we almost headed out on bike to Brooklyn's Children's Museum, but I was so glad we didn't since it began to rain when we got out of subway. I had to buy an umbrella a few blocks down, because it began to pour. When we arrived at the museum, my pants were all wet knees down, but my sandals were the most uncomfortable for the first time in the second season. Taiyo spent quality time in the toddler section, then we went 'shopping' at the grocery store, and of course he had to make some fake pizza at the pizzeria. We always love this place with so many cool things to do, and he was totally knocked out when we left although the rain was coming down the hardest on the way back to subway. I was seriously drenched after 15 minute walk, but Taiyo was comfy enough under the rain cover. It was my chance to get wet since we haven't made it to beach or swimming pool this summer.

Only one more month of summer left! We've been still busy getting out despite of the stifling heat. On Saturday we headed out and enjoyed riding in the "summer streets," traffic free green streets in the middle of the city. It must be so terribly annoying for automobile travelers, but I think this is one of the best cool experience for cyclists and runners in summer. It was a bit too hot to make it all the way uptown, so we stopped for lunch at Big Daddy's on Park Ave and 20th Street. Diner is always Taiyo's favorite choice, and this one was definitely more fun than the other usual diner.

As we entered, Taiyo caught a sight of muffins on the counter, and his mind was so set on it. Very friendly waitress brought him a cup with a straw for water, and there were crayons and a coloring sheet waiting for him at the table. Themed Americana decor was fun and cute, and there were enough room for him to run around. We dined next to portraits of Pamela Anderson and John Wayne, and Taiyo also loved to study Trivia cards (for young people) on the table. Other diners, mostly young or family, were enjoying the sight of this little caped boy bouncing around. Food was ok, a little better kind of diner food, and I did enjoy my bloody mary and he did very much enjoy his muffin, although I thought they were a bit dry. He didn't need one any more, but there were plenty of high chairs in the back, and this is certainly a good place to hang with a little one. Recommended. On the way home we caught a bit of theater acts on 10th street. There's so many things we stumble upon in summer it's really fun time of the year.

On Sunday he was quite undecided. First we were thinking of going to Intrepid, but by the time we were ready to go out he wanted to go to the zoo. But when we went downstairs he changed his mind again, and we settled for a movie- which was good for me. It was damn hot and humid again. So hoping to have some relief, appropriately, we went to see Ice Age. There was a Simpson's short movie titled "The Longest Daycare" starring Maggie Simpson. I thought this was the funniest, cleverest thing I've seen in a while. It was the thing that made it truly worth seeing Ice Age, which was ridiculously over-the-top kind of movie. Oh, yes, it was entertaining, but every minute was action, disaster, fights, running, sliding, crashing, and so on. Taiyo enjoyed it very much after all, although he always gets a bit whiny in the second half, and we stayed until the very end of the end credit, which always make us the very last to leave the theater. He held the bit of remaining popcorn in a bag in his hands as we mounted on the bike outside.

In the evening, we made our trip to the South Street Seaport, which has often been our Sunday night outing. Since it started pouring out, the kiddy rides in the food court was especially busy this week. After spending some time around the ride, we tried to get some burger downstairs at Johnny Rockets, but after 15 minutes there were no sign of getting any service, so I said, let's go to another place. We went a block down to Paris Cafe, a place that's been there forever.

Fairly empty dining room was perfect for us. We got a big table by a fish tank, where Taiyo enjoyed watching some colorful fishes. Although he asked for a burger, he didn't have any of it, not to my surprise, and he only had some fries and bread and oyster crackers that came with seafood chowder which I enjoyed very much. The older waitress was so nice to him and before we left the guys playing golf game in the bar area let Taiyo mess up their game a little. As we left the place Taiyo said, "That was a good place." Recommended.

I thought it was really long and hot summer, but now we're approaching the end of July, it doesn't feel so bad. The air has been more comfortable than not in the past week, and of course we've been busy enjoying it.

On Saturday Taiyo wanted to go to the "Dinosaur Museum" so that's what we did. We biked uptown to the Museum of Natural History. He was in his caped t-shirt (he calls it a "spider-man shirt"), rain boots, and a blue plastic back scratcher as his "sword." His attire was added entertainment around the museum. He had a blast running through the dinosaur exhibit and also planet stuff in the lower level. Then of course he enjoyed having french fries in the cafeteria. This cafeteria has a little better options of food than most other museum. But still, french fries and juice were suffice for Taiyo. Such an American boy.

Next day, per his request, we went out to Hall of Science in Queens. When we entered the toddler playroom, Taiyo went straight to his favorite area: kitchen and dining. He laid out bowls and plates, and placed some food around the table. After spending quality time there, we checked out some exhibits upstairs. There's so much to explore in this museum, but we probably cover only a quarter of it at each visit. It's never so crowded, and it's one of the best place to go with him. I wish it was a bit closer.

I don't know if the heat wave had something to do with it, but my bulky old TV's tube burnt out last week. One morning, a light went across the screen and it went black. First I thought it was the cable, but no. There was audio but we were no longer able to see the image on the screen. It's still sitting there, but we've been TV-less for the first time, very first time for Taiyo, and in the summer heat we've been busier with activities once again.

Last Saturday was actually very comfortable. Per Taiyo's request, we took a bike ride uptown to the Central Park Zoo. After our usual routine of visiting the gift shop (I warn him that we're not going to buy anything, but somehow he always wins), viewing and talking to the penguins, feeding of sheep and goats, and having a hot dog and french fries at the cafeteria, we headed home.

On the way back, we stopped at Madison Square Park, where there's always some interesting sculpture. Taiyo totally loved these colorful blobs that made cool sounds and music when he touched! This is definitely must-see public art this summer with a little one. They would go nuts!

Next day, Taiyo wanted to play some golf, so that's what we did on Governor's Island. As we headed to the ferry, Taiyo started singing on the back of the bike, "Going on a boat, going on a boat.." He's so good at making up a song these days. The boat was a lot emptier than the beginning of the season. Every time I go there, this island's forgotten old feel, colonial buildings, cannons and forts remind me of Cuba, especially with this heat. When we got to the parade ground, Taiyo headed to his favorite tree house, then we practiced some patting at mini golf. But heat with suffocating humidity was just brutal, and I asked him if we could just go for a bike ride, at least to get some breeze. He suggested lunch instead, and we headed to the food court nearby.

It's a perfect outdoor dining area with some food trucks, and he picked a sandwich, fruit salad (although he only liked pineapple chunks), and orange/mango juice. He couldn't eat much of the sandwich, but he surely was thirsty. We made a quick round of the island and headed home. He gets so excited at this beautiful little island and never lasts more than two hours. Of course he was fast asleep as soon as we got off the boat.

So we certainly had some fun in the past week when I wasn't washing years of grime off the walls and the floor at SOY.

It's been so hot and a movie theater was an attractive option. And we both wanted to see the new Pixar movie Brave. It was so wonderful. I loved it. He loved it. And he wanted to see it again, so I sent him back to the theater with Yuka later in the week. I was able to wash some more grime off the floor that afternoon.

We met with Tim and Claire in the cozy little back garden at 1492 at 60 Clinton. It was perfectly quiet and almost empty early monday evening. To my surprise, Taiyo didn't even try watermelon gazpacho nor paella. Gazpacho was refleshing but paella was a bit undercooked. He did really like chorizo. He also took a picture of his feet. I had a very nice blueberry mojito and sangria. Mojito was much more interesting than sangria.

We were hanging out with Kathy on her roof on 4th of July, although it didn't seem we get any glimpse of Macy's fireworks on the West Side. But someone was shooting up fairly big fireworks right in the neighborhood. Taiyo was immediately scared and he just rushed out to the stairs saying, "Let's go home!"

On Friday we took a bumpy ferry ride across Hudson to Liberty Science Center. I recently realized that it can be a short trip crossing the river with the bike- although the ferry wasn't on time and we waited 30 minutes to get on one. And yes, Taiyo had a blast with every exhibit, and this is the only decent picture of him, laying down pcv pipes to polish his plumbing skills. It was wonderful, but turned out to be an expensive one, since they didn't honor my membership from Brooklyn Children's Museum. But nice change of scenery, and he enjoyed having a hot dog at the cafeteria.

This week I made three trips to a paint store, and four trips to Home Depot. After the last trip to Home Depot to finish my renovation job on Sunday, we stopped at Lenny's for a bite. He ate half of the big chicken sandwich, even with some lettuce and tomato. And of course this kind of casual quick dining is always easy for us, with plenty of room for him to jump around in between bites. And the sandwich was pretty good and filling. This is going to be one
of our trusted stop around town.