Presidents Day Stroll

With a stressful week ahead, I decided to clear my head by taking a long stroll around the neighbourhood today via the High Line, a park built on an old elevated rail line that runs along the West Side. The air was brisk as I head out into the streets of Chelsea, which were lined with piles of snow. 

Passing by the Episcopal Seminary, I noticed icicles hanging from the rooftops while the snow in the garden was undisturbed. Come springtime, the grounds will be filled with beautiful blooms but today there was just a blanket of white.

Up on the High Line, the combination of pine trees, holly, and snow lent a Christmas appearance to some sections while the surrounding buildings offered up interesting sights from graffiti art and old ghost signs to glimpses of the Empire State Building and lovely green trim on a classic brick building.

Back down on the street, I ran across a memorial to soldiers and sailors from Chelsea who fought in World War I, a fitting symbol on this day that celebrates two presidents associated with two of our greatest wars. Hope everyone had a relaxing Presidents Day.

Photos by Michele.

Sunday on the High Line

Sunday afternoon I decided to take a stroll on the High Line. Although I live a few blocks away, I have to admit that I don't visit often enough. But the sun was shining and there were loads of butterflies out in force flitting between the 'Pink Delight' sage, and the 'Rhapsody in Blue' sage and 'Blue Ice’ bluestar.'

The paths were crowded with tourists and locals alike but I didn't mind as I was too busy taking in the 'Mount Everest’ ornamental onion and spotting a lone orange poppy.

The view from the elevated park was lovely as well, from the traditional brick buildings to the east to the modern Frank Gehry I.A.C. Building to the west.

Afterwards, I walked through the Meatpacking District before heading over to Chelsea Market to pick up some supplies for dinner. Along the way, I saw a musician moving his piano down the street with his little dog hitching a ride. A perfect ending to a great afternoon.

Photos by Michele.

Take a Walk on the High Line

On Labor Day I took a walk on the High Line. A former elevated rail line, the High Line is a park unlike any other where people can wander and explore way above the city streets. Originally running from Gansevoort to 20th Street, a new expansion that opened in June now extends the park to 30th Street. I've visited the High Line before but this time I went to check out the new section.

The new expansion includes more flowers and some denser plantings. There is also a much needed swath of grass and bleacher style seating along with art installations and gourmet ice cream carts.

One of the beauties of the High Line is being able to see up close the evidence of New York's history from cool modern buildings to fading advertisements on brick warehouses.

The High Line also offers great views whether it's looking out across the city or watching the action down on the streets below. So the next time you're in Chelsea, make sure to check it out.

Photos by Michele.

The Bells Are Ringing

Chelsea is a neighborhood synonymous with art in New York. Yet on a recent morning, when I wanted to visit a musical art installation I had read about, I found myself climbing the steps not to a building but to a park that winds through the air 30 feet above the ground—the High Line.

A former elevated rail line built in the 1930s, the High Line was in disarray when a group of Chelsea residents suggested a novel recycling idea—turn it into a space that the public could enjoy. And so the High Line was saved and reborn. 

Black-eyed Susans growing amongst the tracks.

Strolling along the High Line.

Currently running from Gansevoort Street to 20^th Street, the High Line is like no other park in the city. Wide wooden paths are bounded on each side by sturdy plantings that grow amongst the original rail tracks. On one side, visitors can get close-up views of architectural features hard to discern from street level while views of the Hudson River open up between the buildings on the other.

"The River That Flows Both Ways" by Spencer Finch.

Besides the art of the park itself, there are installations like the amazing “The River That Flows Both Ways” by Spencer Finch. Composed of 700 panes of glass, each pane represents the color of the water during a 700-minute boat trip on the Hudson.  No matter how many times I visit, I always find myself stopping to gaze at the variety of colors and marvel at the great beauty that water holds.

But my interest that day was in the newest installation, “A Bell for Every Minute” by Stephen Vitiello. Every minute, speakers in the tunnel near the 14th Street entrance play a different bell that Vitiello recorded from around the city, culminating on the hour with a combination of select bells. From the lush peal of the Trinity Church bells to the tiny ting of Cara’s bicycle bell from the Upper East Side to the apropos closing bell of the Stock Exchange at the 59^th minute, the bells remind us how much their sound contributes to the heartbeat of the city. I have always loved the sound of bells, especially church bells, and so I sat and listened to them all, amazed at how even the tiniest clang can be completely beautiful.

If you go, try to visit in the morning before it gets too hot. And when you’re done, don’t forget Chelsea Market located nearby. The former Nabisco factory has been converted into a home for a variety of restaurants and food shops; it’s the perfect place to stop and grab some lunch. And if you listen carefully, you’ll probably hear a bell ringing somewhere.

Photos by Michele.