• New York Aquarium

  602 Surf Avenue, Coney Island, Brooklyn, 718-265-FISH; nyaquarium.com

  The ever-playful sea lions have taken center stage at the Aquatheater, and they’re making waves. That party animal, Otis, hauls his 600 pounds up on the dock in one slamming move and barks like John Belushi in The Blues Brothers. Then he scans the bleachers looking for lucky audience members to smooch. The trainer leads him and his pool buddy Fonzie through the crowd, and if your budding marine biologist is one of the chosen ones, she’ll feel that hot breath and whiskered nuzzle on her cheek. Osbourn, the daintiest of the troupe, eventually joins in, jamming to the high-energy music, slapping around the perimeter, climbing towers, whacking balls, having a grand ol’ time. Like you.

From the 2004 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine