By Jessica Brockington
A 1,000 pound bear was spotted at the corner of 82nd and Columbus Avenue this week.
Nick Bazas, owner of Quality Florist at 447 Columbus Avenue, adopted the traffic island a few years back and has been entertaining neighbors with his whimsical seasonal decorations.
The bear, a chain-saw sculpture by an artist on Long Island, according to Bazas, has been safely secured in the traffic island.
“I’m not worried about someone stealing it,” Bazas said. But he doesn’t want it to tip and hurt anyone so it’s chained and cemented into place.
Neighbors are offering up names but Bazas said he’s been calling it Nick. Named for Dominick, he says, a local cop.
The installation is not quite complete. As the flowers continue to bloom, watch for bees around that hive.
Quality Florist has been a fixture on Columbus Avenue for over 48 years, owned by Bazas and his father before him.
Nick Bazas and the bear.
The bear watches over the bike lane.
I wondered how long it would take WSR to report this. It only went up 2 weeks ago. 😮
Another reason to support our local stores!!!! This Mother’s Day support locally!
That’s why you should send a photo to westsiderag at gmail as soon as you see something like this!
WSR
bravo
Was admiring Nick when I walked by yesterday! Always love their decorations on that island. Keep up the good work!
It looks great – I will have to take a walk and see it in person. Thank you Mr. Bazas!
I love it nick and I have been friends for 25yrs I’m mary from zingones I too adopted my tree on west 83 and columbus and have been decorating it for the past 2yrs it gives such pleasure making our ave beautiful mary zingone vinci 471 col ave
Many thanks to you too Mary! It makes the neighborhood much nicer.
can’t wait to see this in person. love it.
How wonderful!!!
Thank you Nick! That is one of the happiest little pieces of earth on the upper west side. Been a delight to me and to many for a very long time! Thanks again!
Great touch by a local small business owner. This is the kind of thing you don’t get with the other crass big box and bank type of businesses that have been increasingly taking over the UWS storefronts.
Is this the bear who for years blew bubbles in front of Penny Whistle Toys on this same block?
Hey Nick, thanks for making Columbus Ave a nicer place. I love bears and that’s a really unique one.
Fabulous!
Makes me miss the good old days of Bear Bar 🙂