Pupper West Side: Poppy Is Passionate About Halloween and the Beauty of NYC In the Fall

By A. Campbell

Happy Halloween!! Well, almost. It already feels like Halloween on the Upper West Side when you look around and see how many fabulous decorations are out. My name is Poppy and I’m a two-year-old Havapoo, but next week you can call me Holly Golightly. In fact, you may catch sight of me prancing around the neighborhood dressed as my favorite character from Breakfast at Tiffany’s with my Mom accompanying me as the cat.

I’m always delighted to see how our neighbors get creative with Halloween decorations. Have you seen the brownstone with rats crawling up it and overflowing trash cans hanging down? I adore a New York City-themed Halloween brownstone. And there’s another beautiful stoop on W. 82nd Street where I always like to pose. Recently, I ventured downtown with two of my best friends – Josie and Shai. The three of us like to pal around together and explore the city. We trekked down to the South Street Seaport to check out their Halloween displays.

Without a doubt, fall is my favorite time of year. I think it must be the beautiful blending of traditional brownstone architecture with the soft sunlight and brilliantly colored leaves. Every block looks cinematic. A casual stroll through Central Park becomes something magical when you’re surrounded by all that natural color.

My friends and neighbors tell me I’m a bit of a fashion plate. As you can see, I own many bandanas which I like to coordinate with my seasonal surroundings. I’ll admit that I love to shop and to take long walks, so Nordstrom is a favorite haunt. They’re so dog-friendly! Mom and I will take the subway down to Nordstrom and then wind our way back uptown by popping into all our favorite local shops like Shakespeare & Co. and Little Creatures.

Weekends are dedicated to enjoying all that the neighborhood has to offer. I like to arrive at the 79th Street Greenmarket bright and early to snag a treat from the meat stand while Mom selects organic vegetables. Afterward, we’ll head over to Central Park to stretch our legs. Once I’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for al fresco brunch with friends at Elea or Good Enough to Eat.

Speaking of local restaurants and Halloween – have you heard that there will be a dog-centric trick-or-treating party on Friday, October 28th? Pup parents can take their dogs around the neighborhood in costume and get treats at many participating local businesses including Lululemon, SoulCycle, PaperSource, OrangeTheory, AG Jeans, Insomnia Cookies, Levain Bakery, Bond Vet, Black Lab Café, Alice’s Tea Cup and Arc’teryx among others. Can’t wait to see everyone dressed up this weekend!