Hey all! I know too-much-time-on-my-hands has been MIA for a while. I guess my thirst for creativity has been recently quenched by my new obsession: crocheting Amigurumi “plushies”. Anyway, as a result, I’ve fallen way behind on blogging (and that’s not good for an old lady like me because then I forget the details). I shall begin my backlog with one of our recent adventures: a visit to the Highline.
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in our neighborhood, but the kids and I were sitting around the living room with screens and snacks and crochet hooks surrounding us (as usual). Renato finally managed to rouse us at around 3:00. We drove down to the Highline, and (of course!) couldn’t find a parking spot anywhere, so we had to splurge for a garage.
Getting Onto The Highline
We had no idea that, as a COVID restriction, there are only three ways to enter The Highline on the weekends (see specifics in the link above). Luckily, we weren’t far from the Gansevoort Street entry point. We scanned the bar code provided and were grateful that there was no cue to wait on. (Note that you can make a reservation in advance online if you’re proactive (unlike us haha)).
COVID safety
Despite the COVID measures, the narrow portions of the Highline were still pretty crowded when we were there. Also, due to the latest CDC guidelines, many people were maskless. That said, since the elevated park is completely outdoors, I felt safe.
My favorite Things about the Highline:
* The coexistence of nature and industry
* The view of my old Chelsea stomping grounds from above
* The ability to glimpse classic New York scenes like these:
* The juxtaposition of ancient (not really) and modern
* The fact that interesting art abounds
Hudson Yards
Our journey on The Highline culminated at “New York City’s newest neighborhood”, Hudson Yards. It was our family’s first visit to the area, and I felt as if I had been transported to some strange futuristic planet. Anyway, we saw The Shed, an entertainment space with a removable roof (I can’t wait to see a performance there someday!). We also viewed the famous/infamous sculpture-climbing-structure called The Vessel, but we didn’t visit because it is currently closed. (Read why here.)
We went to look around in the mall which was also a bizarre experience. The luxury shops were eerily empty and the wide, sparkling new hallways were almost completely devoid of humanity.
We window-shopped a little and went in to see Camp, a children’s store and play-space that is frequently mentioned on my Facebook Mommas pages. At 10, Nina and Alex are just a couple of years past the target age group for Camp, but I definitely recommend a visit here if you have young kids…it was really cool!
What’s to Eat?!
It was time for dinner, and we had no clue where to go. We took the escalator down to street level and found ourselves in Mercado Little Spain. It was very similar to Eataly, except with all Spanish delicacies instead of Italian. There, we found many kiosks serving snacks and selling specialities of the region; sadly, most of them were closed when we were there.
The Spanish Diner was open. Although the outdoor dining space was packed, the space inside was airy (huge window walls were open), and the tables were placed with social distancing in mind, so we decided to have a seat. The barcodes provided on the tables allow diners to order from their devices, but the waitstaff was plentiful and very helpful. The food was a welcome deviation from our regular type of meal. It came quickly and was delicious!
We had a lovely day on The Highline and at Huson Yards. I highly recommend a visit!