Gail and I visited Brooklyn from September 18 until September 22 to help celebrate Morgan’s 3td birthday. We had previously attended his first birthday amd his second birthday. Each was special, and so was this one.

We arrived in Brooklyn early enough that we could great Morgan as he got out of his new Pre-K school. The new school is much farther from CJ’s home than last year’s daycare. The new school requires a bus ride and a long walk. CJ often takes Morgan to school on her bike but that will be more difficult as winter approaches.

TGIF and Grandma and Grandpa are here!	A long walk from school to the bus

On Saturday, we went to the New York Transit Museum’s Bus Festival for a second year. A new highlight at the Bus Festival was a 1918 double-decker. No one was allowed to climb on or into it, a disappointment for a hands-on guy like Morgan, but it a window into the world of 100 years ago for the older generation. The other buses on display included “Betsey”, the 1931 double-decker bus. Morgan was able to go into that one, but not to the upper level. There were a lot of buses to be sampled.

Later Morgan’s friend Manny and Michelle, his mother, joined us. Morgan had even more fun at the Bus Festival with Manny. Later, we visited a playground where the two enjoyed themselves.

Then, we had lunch at the historic Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, getting in without any waiting.

The 1918 double-decker bus. It has to be hand-cranked to start.	“Betsy”, the 1931 double-decker bus
Morgan, a very experienced bus rider, on 1969’s Bus 4727	Ice Cream Break!
Manny joins Morgan at the bus show	Grandpa Al with Morgan at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

After lunch, we walked through the Cadman Plaza Park to get to a subway station. Both Morgan and Manny fell asleep in their strollers.

As we neared the Brooklyn-Borough Hall, an incredible sight turned the corner near us: a herd of full-sized bison puppets. We were astonished! I was too far away to get good closeups, but these photos give you some idea of the stunning appearance of them on the city streets. The Return of the Buffalo art spectacle was created by Amir Nizar Zuabi in partnership with Elders from Lenape and Lakota Tribes to inspire a new period of healing.

Two relaxed boys (composite image)	Bison puppets turning the corner from Court Street to Montague Street
A bison and its guides	Approaching bison puppets

We celebrated Morgan’s first and second birthdays at the Greenwood Playground, but this year there was rain so CJ held the party in her apartment. Nine adults and four children attended, and everyone found space. As is CJ’s custom, no presents were necessary, but those that came were opened after the party ended. Presents included new clothes, books, and BEST PRESENT IN ALL THE WORLD, a circus train pulled by Thomas and a set of wooden tracks for it to run on.

Party People	Izzy reads to Manny and Morgan
Manny and Avery playing	Bagels, Morgan, and Izzy
Having fun with bubbles	Happy Birthday, Morgan!
Click on the photo to see the action	Click on the photo to see the action
Izzy wearing cool party favor	Morgan and his circus train
Click on the photo to see the action

The day after Morgan’s birthday was a holiday for the New York Cityschool system. Morgan started it by jumping out of bed in the half-dark to play with his train. For us, the day was quiet, ordinary: visits to playgrounds, lunch at a pizza parlor, shopping for produce.

Morgan and his new train in the early morning	Some home acrobatics
	Click on the photo to see the action
Morgan loves pizza! He ate TWO slices while the adults ate only one each	Shopping for fruit at Carnival

At night, Gail and I slept at an Airbnb just a little north of East 8th Street. It was only a short walk to CJ’s. The hosts were friendly and they even provided us with off-street parking, a precious item in this part of Brooklyn.

On Saturday, the city posted announcements that the street where we were was going to be repaired starting on Monday and that cars parked on the street would be towed. Since we were parked in the driveway, we were not worried about being towed, but we were concerned that we would be blocked in by construction equipment on Tuesday when we planned to leave. Therefore, on Sunday we moved our car, Noki, to an open space on E 8th Street. On Monday, someone parked a big van right tight behind Noki. There wasn't even enough room to open the hatch to put our luggage in. We were in a tight spot! Fortunately, I had left a little space between Noki and that car ahead, so that on Tuesday morning, I was able to wiggle Noki back and forth, edging ever closer to the street and at last going free. I only hit the car in front once.

On Tuesday, we waited to leave until 9 AM in hopes that rush hour traffic would have died down. But then I took the wrong exit from the Prospect Expressway - Exit 1 instead of Exit 2 - and we found there was still plenty of rush hour traffic heading for Manhattan and we were in it. Gail’s SmartPhone found us a U-turn so we were able to find our way back to the ramp to the southbound BQE. Once there, everything was easy because all the rush hour traffic was going the other way.

Our host’s home with parking in front	The bed in our room, a little too close to the wall for me
Our breakfasts were at Der Pioneer on Church Avenue	The squeeze on our car (a composite photo)
	Are we stuck? Do we have to rent our room another night from our hosts? No, we were able to wiggle our way out.

POTPOURRI

He likes shows with trucks, trains, buses, and Paw Patrol	Party Favorite with party favor	At the French Fry restaurant
Jess and Liz	Going to the Bus Festival	Elena, CJ and Michelle
Looking at the East River	Gail and Amanda	Jeremy
Morgan doing peek-a-boo	CJ and Morgan at home	A distant Statue of Liberty

It was great to share another birthday celebration with Morgan.

Responsible: Albert Holm
Created: 8 October 2026