By Yvonne V ávra

We’re a bear. Here, in the temperate region between 59th and 110th Streets, dwells a remarkable urban species: the Upper West Side Bear. By day, it’s rarely seen—off on long hunts, until it returns to its den at dusk to be with its cubs. It feels deeply, speaks sparingly, and thrives on calm habits and strong family bonds.

At least that’s what I learned from a laminated field report taped to a lamppost at 72nd Street. The sign seems to be part of a project called “The Grid Zoo,” which imagines every New York neighborhood as a distinct habitat with its own native species and behaviors. While we’re the bear, you’ll find flamingos in the West Village and crows in the East Village, while SoHo is home to peacocks and the Lower East Side to rats. Looks like we got off pretty

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