Empire State Essays: Love Notes From Beloved NYC Writers

David Sedaris - "Understanding Owls"

Another New Yorker and New York frequenter, David Sedaris' personal essay "Understanding Owls" hops from New York City to Paris but has a clear Valentine's Day theme - and features a taxidermy owl.

I wound up on February 13th calling a London taxidermy shop and asking if they had any owls. The person who answered the phone told me he had two of them, both recent specimens, and freestanding, not behind glass as most of the old ones are. The store was open only by appointment, and after arranging to come by the following afternoon, I went to where Hugh was packing books in the next room and said, “I am giving you the best Valentine’s Day gift ever."

For the rest of the essay, go HERE! [Photo via]