When word leaked out last September that a “pet adoption center” was opening at 307 W. Broadway, formerly the Soho Garden deli, it seemed like a possible miscommunication. An animal shelter in Soho? Sure enough, James noticed a sign in the window saying it’ll be a “Best Friends Pet Adoption Center/Animal Society.” From the Best Friends website: “For over 30 years, Best Friends Animal Society has been running the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and building effective programs all across the country that reduce the number of animals entering shelters.” The main sanctuary is in Kanab, Utah, and there are adoption centers in L.A. This appears to be the first brick-and-mortar location for the New York program.

I emailed the media rep to confirm all of the above, but he’s away: “One of the many perks of working for Best Friends is that I get to travel to our animal sanctuary a few times each year.” Lucky guy! My husband took his mom there for a volunteering visit a few years ago, and they really enjoyed it.