A glorious Spring day -- at last!

Okay, I have to start off with this "Fun with PhotoBooth" shot I took of Petey. He's a star!

On our way to the dog run, I had to take a photo of these two beautiful townhouses with their delicate ironwork and gorgeous pots filled with geraniums and hydrangea.

A planter full of flowers in the Meatpacking District.

I was startled to see azaleas blooming in the park across the street - ours on Hilton Head were all over by the third week in March.

 Ah yes! Back to what you came here for -- super cute photos of Petey with his new hairdo.

Yes, this butterfly was indeed in the heart of New York City.

On Saturday, there was a neighborhood "yard sale" on Perry Street. Since we city dwellers don't actually have yards or garages, they blocked off a block on Perry Street and residents could set up tables to sell their trash and treasures. There were some remarkable handcrafted and vintage items. As well as a man making (and selling!) Polaroid transfer photos. Petey decided to lie down on the sidewalk right in front of him so of course, I had to get a photograph. It came out really beautiful, looking like an old vintage photo. So I took it today to my friend John Esty's framing store.

John currently has two dogs - a seven-year old Bernese Mountain dog named Huff. (A bit of background - when I first met John 14 years ago when I moved to New York, he had a pair of Bernese Mountain dogs, a male named Hudson and a female named Madison - "Maddie." John had a pair of chairs in the store and the two dogs would sit on them as if on thrones.  There was a pet shop nearby and I'd always stop by and pick up a treat for his dogs before I dropped in. Hudson was very ill with cancer when I got Petey, so I gave Petey the middle name "Hudson" so he'd have the nobility of Huddy. Hudson survived long enough f to meet his namesake and even play a bit with puppy Petey. Very soon after Hudson passed, the breeder contacted John and told him that she was not going to be breeding her dogs again for quite awhile however she did have a puppy available. Though John was still grieving and not quite ready to get another puppy, he couldn't resist and so Huff came to live in New York.)

Huff and Petey are old pals.

Just look at that gorgeous face. Now...

And then!

What a little knucklehead!*  *Knucklehead is a term of endearment.

Look how little Huff is compared to Petey. (And that's the same chair in the background.) Petey's around 23 lbs. and he looks enormous in these photos.

"Hey Petey! Got any good tricks to teach me?"

"How about just a little kiss?"

Huff was adorable and loveable then and he still is, a sweet, happy fellow.

And yes, he's still a big knucklehead.

Look at those gigantic paws. Previews of coming attractions.

And here's John giving Maddy some love. She wasn't quite sure what to make of Huff when he arrived but very quickly, her mothering instincts took over. She and Hudson were both extraordinary dogs. They set the standard for Bernese Mountain dogs for me. Loyal, gentle giants with enormous heart and soul.

I always love a photo of a waggy tail in action. Petey loves to come visit John and literally pulled me up the steps to his store.

Huff's partner-in-crime is this sassy girl, Millie. She's a Chihuahua-mix rescue that John and his partner adopted a few years ago. She's a love muffin but a bit territorial when it comes to other dogs - she's a scrapper. Fortunately, Petey pretty much ignores her and doesn't possess much of threat so they've been getting along okay.  We just make sure that Millie gets lots of love and praise when she's minding her manners.

John is one of the handsomest men I know, but I couldn't resist posting this absolutely adorable photo of his and his girl Millie.

I'll be sure to post a photo of Petey's masterpiece when John completes the framing!

John's partner is designer and animal-rights advocate John Bartlett. Together they've worked tirelessly for the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund which helps get dogs and cats out of high-risk kill shelters and find them foster families until they get adopted. The fund provides medical attention, training, and socialization so these animals can get a second chance at a loving home. Please check it out. John B. also donates 10% of the proceeds from his uber-cool clothing and accessories line to the Tiny Tim Relief Fund. Because helping our furry friends is always fashionable!

Mother's Day and Petey gets a $160 stripper!

We've got to begin this post with a greeting to all the Moms out there, whether your kids are 2- or 4-legged, we love you. I particularly love this photo of my Mom and Petey. They had quite the loving relationship despite my Mom's initial trepidation about me getting a dog. 

The weather in New York this weekend was gorgeous. Warm and sunny, cloudless blue skies. At last! Spring seemed to disappear right after Easter weekend so it was nice of it to reappear again before the heat and humidity of summer kicks in.

Petey hadn't been to the groomer since late October when an over-zealous hand-stripper left him looking as pink as raw bacon and with a bloody paw to boot. Now Petey is delighted to go to the vet - he'll pull me in there when we walk past, in large part to get a cookie. When we went into the animal hospital following his eye surgery, he was wagging his tail and wriggling with delight.  But whenever we'd even walk near this particular groomer, he'd cower, stop in his tracks and insist on going the opposite direction. Time for a change.

So we booked an appointment with a professional stripper at Downtown Doghouse who has worked on dogs at Westminster! Now my boy is handsome, but he's no show dog -- I just wanted to make sure he looked neat, comfortable for the warmer months, and had the least aggravating experience possible.

Here's his BEFORE photo.

The groomer is located on 9th Avenue and 21st Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. This street, from 14th Street to 23rd, is now sprinkled with some delightful Mom-and-Pop shops and cafes -- vanishing species as rents soar and bigger brands become the only ones who can afford to open stores. (You think I'm exaggerating? Rumor has it that Michael Kors is paying $50,000 a month for a space that's about 1,000 square feet on Bleecker Street. I read recently that Bleecker Street now has the most expensive per-square-foot rental real estate anywhere in the U.S.)

Anyhow - I digress. If you're planning a trip to New York this summer, don't overlook this area as well as the galleries on 10th Avenue. Fewer tourists, plenty of charm (plus you can always hop on the High Line nearby!)

 Here's Petey about to go in for his 4 1/2 hour grooming appointment! Yes, I know that sounds like a long time, but I was relieved to hear that they work on him for brief periods at a time rather than all at once, which is a lot less stressful when a dog is getting hand-stripped. Since many wirehaired terriers don't shed, they need to have their hair manually removed when their coat gets "blown" or loosely rooted. It's not really painful - like running your hand through your hair and getting a few loose strands - just tedious. It's also a specialty, so it can be hard to find a really good stripper - and yes, I know the irony of that statement, living in New York!

 I loved this sign in the window of Knickerbockers Meat Market! They were closed by the time Petey was finished with his appointment, but I think we'll have to walk over there and get him a nice juicy marrow bone this week.

Since I had four hours to kill before I went back to get Petey, I decided to walk through Chelsea Market - another "must-see" for foodies visiting New York. The former home of the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco), Chelsea Market is now filled with wholesale bakeries and food stalls, while retaining many of the original industrial elements, like this waterfall that cascades down from a pipe a story above. Hard to get a good shot with all the tourists snapping photos.

I love this big clock, just chained to a beam and the rough edges of the blasted out brick walls.

The bakeries were quiet today but there were still a few bakers and a rack of bread  just loafing around.

 I love great cookery stores, but with a tiny NYC apartment kitchen, I have to be very judicious as to what I bring in. But that doesn't stop me from admiring all the colors, textures and implements.

Ummm! These glossy chocolate molds look almost good enough to eat!

I like this poster of New York icons in the window at the Fat Witch Brownies.

How about a dress made out of Eleni's cookies? You'll look good enough to eat, even if you're feeling crumby!

I had an iced coffee in a patisserie across the street while the groomer spent an extra half hour finishing up Petey's 'do, then I picked up my wriggly, smiling happy boy. He looked gorgeous! Like a velvety pup, not a scruffy scrappy street dog.

I've never dined at this little cafe but I love the name -- and their pretty container garden spilling out onto the sidewalk.

I'll have to go back to the Tipsy Parson and give you report on their "belly-filling goodness."

Shaking off his afternoon spent at the groomers, Petey was eager to show off his new haircut at this "no dogs allowed" bodega....

This shop has changed names and ownership but still is packed with fabulous French goodies, like the best finds from a Parisian flea market.  I bought a copy of a incredibly detailed map of Paris in the 1700's here --  it came in a portfolio with 25 segments.   I had them individually framed and hung in my living room on Hilton Head where my ceiling is high enough for it's 6 1/2' x 8' size.

Having failed to get into the bodega, Petey tried his luck at a nearby bar.  While he wasn't allowed in, their open sliding doors onto the sidewalk allowed him to walk right up to three young men drinking mimosas and park himself under their table, much to my embarassment. The more I tried to lure him away, the more comfortable he made himself, giving me a "go head on home, I'll catch up with you later."

Outside the Maritime Hotel, Petey agreed to pose by this vibrant sign for Hiro restaurant.

The Maritime Hotel was once the home of the National Maritime Union, due to its promity to the piers on the Hudson River. There is a 5' round window in each guest room, which have been designed to make you feel like you're in the cabin of a luxury yacht.  It's a striking building and I like the center courtyard with its dog-friendly casual dining and great pizzas.

A stop-off at the dog run for a little tennis ball action, then home for  dinner and well-earned nap. So here is the side-by-side comparision of his BEFORE and AFTER photos!

Scruffy or fluffy, I think he's just perfect!

Saturday in SoHo (What was I thinking?)

Okay, I may have been crazy to venture down to SoHo on a Saturday afternoon, but the weather was a bit warmer and I thought Petey would enjoy a nice long walk, so off we went.  

The bodega on the corner has peonies (3 for $10 - ouch!) and lilacs ($19.99 for a bunch) available for a very short time. They are two of my favorite flowers and I can never resist getting a bunch or two while they're in season. 

The James Perse store had done quite a bit to raise funds and awareness of beagles being used in labs. With our deep affection for the Dughallmoor beagles, this is a cause near and dear to us.

Hey, what are all those people doing, lined up around the corner? It's Magnolia Bakery, made famous by a 5-second appearance in one episode of Sex & The City (and briefly featured in the Saturday Night Live video "Lazy Sunday") and the self-proclaimed instigator of the world-wide cupcake craze. As any local West Villager will tell you - they're not that good! (Although I'll begrudgingly admit that their banana pudding is pretty darn tasty). Go to Billy's Bakery on 9th Ave instead or Sweet Revenge for cupcakes with wine or beer pairings. (yes!)

Time out for a water break (and a tug inside the door for a dog cookie - one of Petey's regular stops on Bleecker Street.)

Ooh! Some fabulous necklaces at Alexis Bittar...

I loved this hand-painted mural on Bleecker Street (even after I discovered it's advertisement for Coach!)

Who doesn't like a bold hatmaker? Are there any other kind???

After crossing 7th Avenue, Bleecker Street becomes less about the boutiques and more about the great food shops and little restaurants that have been there for decades. I love Murray's Cheese, especially their window in the sidewalk that gives you a peek into their cheese cave. (I wonder if it's possible to have a wine & cheese cellar?)

And what's next door to Murray's Cheese? Amy's Bread! What a great couple!

The weekend brings out the street vendors. While many won't allow photos, I loved the variety of bright colors and styles of these Ray Ban wannabes. And at $9 a pop, you can buy a pair to match every outfit.

We've finally made it down to SoHo. I vastly prefer the quieter side streets where you'll find small Mom & Pop shops and tiny boutiques to the big brands on Broadway and West Broadway.  On the corner of Thompson street is this little bodega that has been featured in countless movies and television shows. Like Place de Furstenberg in St. Germain, this corner has become the iconic New York street scene.

Dashed into Space NK to get away from the texting hordes on the sidewalk, especially after Petey nearly got stepped on several times. Get me outta here!

Another iconic SoHo building - generally seen as the home of some young bohemian just arrived in New York, when in actuality, the lofts in this building sell for millions and millions of dollars.

Hmmm, I wonder if I know any of these authentic fossils.... could be a description of my high school reunion!

We finally made it to one of our actual, planned destination - Purl Soho, an amazing knitting and sewing store that began as a tiny storefront on Sullivan Street and has now grown into an enormous store (and several marvelous books!) 

It's like a candy store with an entire wall of the most delicious colors and textures of yarn - this is just a tiny sampling.

 I like the wall art of embroidery frames with fabric swatches. Great idea, huh?

Back on the street - had to pose with the elephant, even if he's not of our political leaning...

 ...and try to "walk like an Egyptian".... tut, tut!

Had to convince Petey that there were better ways to spend his $10.

Mad crowds on Broadway - had to take a break out of the way.

One of our other official stops was at the Converse store to get a new pair of black Chuck Taylors. Thought I'd captured a shot of their enormous American flag just inside the entrance, it's made entirely out of pairs of Converse sneakers. Here's the one I stole from their website. I bought my last pair of All-Stars in Paris (!) when my feet were so worn out I couldn't walk another step. I took them with me to Europe on my trip last autumn but they felt uncomfortably small, so I left them in my hotel room in England - hope they fit one of the maids!

The store was crazy busy, mostly with European tourists stocking up. The variety of shoes is overwhelming - I just found a sales assistant and told him basic black low-tops, size 7 and got outta there!

 Time to start heading home - let Petey lead the way and we ended up walking past this rather non-descript little park which I really love because it's been created to show what Manhattan originally looked like, in terms of topography and plant life. A little strip of forest.

I also love a labyrinth, such a great metaphor for life! Sometimes we walk alone, sometimes someone shares our path for awhile then moves away. We think we're backtracking, not moving forward and yet we always are progressing.

The labyrinth is between two gardens - the park I just showed you and a more traditional garden on the NYU campus. Sadly, it looks like their days may be numbered as the university is trying to develop the property. On the one hand, I can understand the incredible value of this prime piece of New York real estate, but I feel even more strongly that we really need as many green and peaceful places in the city as possible!

Petey has probably been to Washington Square Park a dozen or more times in his 9 years, however he has an uncanny way finding his way from blocks away to the park. They have a small dog and a larger dog run there, but we seldom go because I find the parks to be either dusty or muddy, depending on the weather and the dog owners aren't too attentive about cleaning up after their dogs or breaking up fights. All Petey cares about is finding a tennis ball. If he can't find one, he doesn't understand why we're there and gives me a "I don't make you go shopping without a wallet, why did you bring me here without a ball?" look.

Check out this poor Frenchie in his jeans and tee shirt!

The famous arch and some hip-hop acrobatic dancers taking advantage of the empty fountain to create an arena for their performance.

While waiting for the show to begin...

...we met these two Cairn terriers, on their way back from the groomer! They were very cute and friendly - a Cairn party! - and while they were smaller than Petey, they weighed more than he did. Petey has a nice trim waist from his runs on the beach. (Wish I could claim the same!)

I love these stately Henry James/Edith Wharton-era Greek Revival townhouses on the north edge of the park.

Hey look! Another Cairn terrier! We're going to outnumber the West Village Westies soon.

Another "hidden old New York" scene - the marvelous Washington mews, now offices and housing for NYU faculty.

 A stop for iced coffee on West 10th Street,  then a visit to one of our favorite bookshops, one of the last of dying breed in the Village.

Naturally, Petey skipped the bestsellers and local biographies and beelined for the dog cookies behind the counter!

We were almost home, walking past Morandi, a very chic/rustic Italian restaurant with tables filled with beautiful people drinking chilled white wine, spilling out onto the sidewalk, when Petey decided he didn't want to go any further. (I think he wanted to investigate under the tables to see if there was any dropped focaccio to gobble up!) I gave him a bit of a tug and he lay down smack in the middle of the sidewalk, in front of the entrance. "C'mon, Petey, let's go" I pleaded. And with that he rolled over on his side to take a little nap. The waiters and busboys were laughing as they walked around him, while he completely ignored them - and me, as I tried to get him up and walking. The more I tried, the more he resisted. Ah, terrier tenacity...

All in all, a splendid afternoon. And like the gratitude expressed by the little bit of Petey's wagging tail in the bottom of this photo,  Thanks NYC!