Ulises the Greek

Ulises landed in New York with his family when he was three years old, from his early years he enjoyed cooking and used to help Grandma in the kitchen while she was preparing with all her love this wonderful Greek dishes for the entire family, it was then where he learned all the of Greek cuisine.

Growing up, his natural passion and talent for fine cuisine lead him to open a Cafe in his neighborhood, Astoria. He named the place "Ulises's Soul Cafe" he believes that "Good food not only feeds the stomach but the soul".

Larry is a regular customer at Ulises's Cafe, his favorite dish is the homemade spinach pie.
Every Thursday night Ulises makes a very special spinach tart just for Larry, in return Larry sets up an amazing juggling act with the restaurant's cups and dishes to entertain the Souls Cafe's clientele.

As Larry's birthday approaches, Ulises will bake a unique and Sumita's size cake for this special occasion. Larry will be gladly surprised with this huge cake.

Oscar the Sea Urchin

Oscar is an outstanding maracas player, he has the rhythm dancing through his blood straight from his Dominican Republic roots. He grew up in Brooklyn where he and Larry were classmates in elementary school.

After a couple of years Oscar's family moved to Washington Heights, it was there where he developed his musical talent and started a merengue band called "Oscar Erizo y sus Players". From the beginning he was quite successful, gigging in little restaurants and cafes in the hood. Now his band has gained more popularity. He and his band have been very busy particularly in summer time when they have the party started all over the city.

For Larry's birthday he has come up with a cool present, a pair of handmade maracas he brought from the Dominican Republic. Larry will love this present, he always wanted a pair of maracas.

Sumita the cirque elephant

Sumita came from India with the Great Royal Circus troupe to perform in New York. She decided to go to Coney Island one afternoon for hot dogs. She got lost in the subway on the way home, and their troupe returned to India without her.
Now she is living in New York doing her circus act on the subway platform at 42nd street.
She loves to perform classical Indian folk dance that she was trained for. But she gets her biggest laugh when she stands on her head or twirls the hula-hoop around her voluminous belly. Juggling Larry, who she bumps into all the time underground, says her swinging hips are the funniest thing in town.
Sumita has been thinking and thinking what would be a great gift for Larry's birthday, finally she came out with a great idea!. She is going to jump out of the cake at Larry’s party if she can find a bakery to make one big enough!

Sumita Details

Henrik the hare

Henrik's parents came to the United States from Ireland a long time ago. Shortly after they arrival, Henrik their new born son opened his dreamy eyes for the very first time in the Brooklyn twilight.
Unlike his practical, business-minded parents, Henrik had the ability of finding beauty in everything he sees, even in the city rats! he is very romantic and sensitive. He loves to write slow moving, lyrical poems and he can spend many hours contemplating the stars.
Lately he has been very inspired by the graffiti walls of his neighborhood. On his way to Larry's birthday the dirty street walls brought him the muse for a new poem. This is just great! he said! just in time, now I have a cool present for Larry, he will love it!

Henrik Details

Jin the marten

Jin is from Korea, as her name means brightness she brights like a star wherever she goes.
She came to New York several years ago to visit some relatives in Flushing. She liked it so much that she decided to stay.
Jin is a great artist, however, she never went to art school she learned all she knows by herself...practicing all day long... and practicing over... and over... and over until she gained the knowledge she now enjoys. Larry admires her work and her patience very much.

Being in New York has been a great experience for Jin. It has expanded her horizons as an artist and, more importantly, as a marten. She feels that she doesn't belong exclusively to her country anymore, now she is more like a citizen of the world...with no boundaries. So she says!

Tonight is Larry's birthday party and she picked the perfect gift for him, a painting she had hanged in her wall that Larry liked so much. This is a very special gift and there is nothing more valuable that she can give to him than a piece of her own art.
Larry is gonna love this gift!

Jin is inspired in my dear friend Mariola Paen who is the coolest world citizen I have ever met. Mariola is a great self-taught artist and just like Jin they both bright like stars.