One more thing on the High Line

I was reading one of my favorite NYC blogs this morning (gothamist.com) and I saw they had a photo from the other side of the amphitheater at the High Line.

See http://gothamist.com/2009/10/01/extra_extra_1383.php

An Old Abandoned Elevated Railway

The Beginning of the High Line at Gansevoort Street

I made several references in my post on the Meat Packing District to the new High Line Park. In recent years many of the deteriorating piers along the Hudson River have been turned into public parks. Thinking along those same lines, some westsiders worked tirelessly to get the high line, an old elevated railway that used to serve the factories and meat processing plants in the neighborhood, turned into a functional public space.

The park, opened just a matter of months now, is more or less a garden with a network of boardwalks running through it. It has a wonderful design which takes advantage of the different views of the neighborhood and the twists and turns of the railway.

Notice the lounge chairs in the photo above?

I believe that is a building designed by the celebrated architect Frank Gehry

The amphitheater (pictured above) faces a glass wall that looks out on Tenth Avenue. There's not really room for a stage, so I'm not exactly sure what this space will be used for, but it's kind of cool. Currently the park only runs up to 20th street, but there are plans to extend it all the way up to 34th Street, I believe. If you're like me and you're fascinated by interesting uses of public space, and the reimagination of urban infrastructure, it's definitely worth a visit.

Apparently He Plays the Flute Too

Last night, I was invited by my Dad to a fancy benefit at a private New York club on Central Park South to support an Irish cultural center being built by (89 year old) actress Maureen O'Hara in her home town in Ireland. There was a silent auction, lots of Irish-looking people milling about and plenty of Amstel Lights for me. It was quite an intimate gathering -- there were probably fewer than 100 people in the room. When everyone gathered for the evening's entertainment, the master of ceremonies announced there would be a flute performance by one of Maureen O'Hara's dearest friends. When he got up to play us a tune, and then I finally recognized his name -- the flutist was Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance! One of my favorite lines from the TV show Friends involved Mr. Flatley. Apparently he freaks Chandler out because "[Flatley's] legs flail about as if independent from his body!" While there was an impressive performance of Irish step dancing last night by a handsome looking dance troupe after the flute performance, Michael did not dance. He just stood in the back of the room and watched. It's just as well, I might have been freaked out, Chandler Bing style.

Photo from BarkingCarnival.com