Nina Roberts took this photo of artist Calicho finishing a tribute mural to Flaco the owl in Freeman’s Alley last week. The owl had captured Manhattan’s heart, after someone set him free from the Central Park Zoo, over a year ago, and hanging out in Central Park. He then toured the city, delighting residents while stopping to perch in tall trees, balconies and multiple fire escapes. He even ventured downtown to the Lower East Side to perch on a few air conditioner units.
Flaco met a sad demise when he flew into a tall building on the Upper West Side on February 23rd. Mourners and fans gathered for a memorial tribute in Central Park yesterday. Author and local resident Laurie Gwen Shapiro was on the scene for the event.
