The High Line New York Section 2 Opens
The High Line New York opened its hugely anticipated half-mile extension this week, giving us all 10 more blocks of glorious beloved High Line goodness, including a lovely new lawn, pictured above! We were fortunate enough to get an early afternoon viewing yesterday, and are pleased to report that the extension is every bit as spectacular as the original. Maybe even more so. Now running all the way from Gansevoort to 30th Streets, the High Line NYC continues to totally transform this once-neglected part of Manhattan, beautifully mixing the old with the new, and delighting both the locals and literally millions of visitors from all over the city and around the world.
Anyway here's a quick tour of some of our favorite High Line section 2 features, starting at 20th Street and heading north all the way to Rainbow City, a bright and bouncy 40-piece installation (picture above) by the great Friends With You crew, AND Chef Tom Coliccho's beer garden and food-truck hangout, The Lot on Tap. Clearly, there's a ton of great stuff going on in west Chelsea, so let's get right to the highlights….
The High Line New York, section 2 begins at 20th Street, and looks very much like the High Line, section 1.
Soon, however, new things start to pop-up on the New York High Line park, like this cool sculpture/bird feeder, a pair of which flank the pathway.
If anything, the High Line section 2 has more seating than the original section, including these familiar benches.
The so-called Chelsea Thicket. Really great how they kept the tracks in the pathway, but this might get a little cramped, and the going a little slow, during peak hours, which'll be MOST hours for a while now.
At 23rd Street, an oasis of cool refreshing sweetness on a super hot day: La Newyorkina popsicle stand, featuring freshly-made gourmet Mexican ice pops in flavors like Coconut, Horchata, Raspberry, and Cucumber Lime. These are excellent, by the way.
The High Line NYC bleachers, as the park widens.
More seating in this area, below the historic REVS/COST tags.
The lush and lovely High Line section 2 lawn, probably the section we were most excited about seeing, and it's even better looking, and more comfortable, than we imagined. And because it's elevated, you can get some great views.
More lawn.
As you stroll the New York High Line park you walk right past lots of interesting architecture, both classic and contemporary.
This hulking factory, for instance, is pressed right up against the High Line, which not only looks really cool, it also gives the pathway some shade.
We love these little "spurs" with benches, which were mostly in the High Line 2's Flyover zone, where the walkway rises above the trees and plantings below.
At 26th Street, a place to sit and gaze out onto the city below.
Finally, the High Line New York ends with this beautiful, long, curving bench. We are smitten all over again. So great, the High Line section 2. All of it.
And from now through July 5th, the great collective Friend With You offers the 40-piece installation Rainbow City, right at the northern terminus of the High Line, and it's almost ridiculously grin-inducing, for both kids and grown-ups.
The Rainbow City "Gift Box".
Inside the Rainbow City Bouncy Mushroom. "The kids" loved this.
Here's top Chef Tom Colicchio's The Lot on Tap, a beer garden with a pair of lengthy bars and tons of niftily-angled seating. Also on hand: food trucks such as the Taco Truck and the folks from the Red Lobster Pound. Expect huge crowds.
And after all that, get yourself one of the best ice cream sandwiches in the city from the Cool Haus truck.
The High Line 2, Rainbow City, and Tom Colicchio's The Lot on Tap details
The High Line New York runs between 20th and 30th Streets, basically following 10th Avenue, and is open from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. every day. Rainbow City by Friends With You is located at 30th Street and 10th Avenue, and is open (and free) on Monday to Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Thursday and Friday from 11:00 11:00 p.m., on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00, and on Sunday from 8:00 until 10:00. The Lot on Tap is open on Sunday through Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on Thursday through Saturday until 11:00 p.m. For more information about everything, please see the High Line website, here.
Posted in NYC Dining, NYC Events, Other Neighborhoods | Tagged Friend with You Rainbow City • High Line section 2 • New York High Line park • The High Line New York • The High Line NYC • Top chef Tom Colicchio
