Pupper West Side: Wilson Announces the Official Start of ‘Picnic Season’

By A. Campbell

Good morning! My name is Wilson and I’m an 11-year old Yorkshire Terrier Poodle mix. Born and raised in Virginia, I’ve spent most of my life — eight years — living on the Upper West Side. City life has made me street-wise and I’ve developed a finely tuned sense for sniffing out exactly which doormen and local stores have dog treats hidden behind their counters.

Not being much of a morning pupper, I prefer to greet the day slowly. Each morning, I’ll quietly move from my bed to the couch and curl up against a cushion. I’ll hang out with my parents as they sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and then around 10 a.m., I’ll finally gather enough energy to request breakfast. Afterward, it’s a mid-morning walk followed by a lunchtime nap while Mom works. Later on, we’ll take a longer afternoon stroll through the park and then stop in to one of our favorite local eateries.

The Upper West Side boasts some excellent al fresco dining for bon vivants like myself who enjoy café life. One of my favorites is Amelie on Amsterdam Avenue between W. 87th and 88th. The menu and wine selection are très bien and the manager, Olivier, is one of my favorite people. J’adore Olivier! He treats me like a celebrity any time we stop by.

With the warmer weather and long days, I am delighted to announce that “picnic season” has officially begun. Grab your blankets, baskets, baguettes, and brie! There’s nothing better than spending a sunny spring day outdoors surrounded by greenery and snacking on treats. We’ll enter the park at W. 97th Street and head north to find a quiet spot near The Pool to set up our picnic site. I always keep my eyes peeled for Flaco the Owl following reports of recent sightings in that area.

Closing out a busy day of napping, snacking, and picnicking, I’ll request a stuffed toy from my parents and proceed to rip it apart until I’ve found the squeaker. Afterward, I’ll indicate that I’d like to be chased two — maybe even three — times around the apartment before finally curling myself up into a little croissant-shaped version of me and saying goodnight.

Read all of our Pupper West Side interviews here!

If you think your pup deserves a shot at neighborhood fame, we encourage you to reach out to Audrey at pupperwestsideuws@gmail.com to be considered for a future profile on West Side Rag and follow your fellow Pupper West Sider’s adventures on Instagram at @pupper_west_side_uws

If readers are interested in becoming pet owners, we encourage you to consider adopting or volunteering to be a foster parent with one of the many shelters and nonprofits based in and around New York City. These include but aren’t limited to Muddy Paws Rescue; Animal Lighthouse Rescue; Animal Care Centers of NYC; NYC ASPCA; Humane Society of New York; Bideawee; Social Tees; Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue and Animal Haven.