Brooklyn Wildlife

A Manhattan couple recently moved to DUMBO, one of Brooklyn's newest, hippest neighborhoods, reports today's Times. One night after a snowfall, they ventured out to Brooklyn Bridge Park, to watch the twinkling lights of the city across the East River. They spotted a small animal frolicking in and out of the snowdrifts.

A toy Chihuahua? A white squirrel? NO! Just a rat, playing in the snow.

In the same column a subway ride is recounted by a passenger who watched an artist sketching people sitting across from him. He tried to finish the sketches quickly, before his subjects could depart. He kept starting drawings and then, sigh, the stop would come up and the rider would leave.