The New Whitney

We walked down The High Line to the new Whitney Museum on Wednesday. It has been open since last April and really it was pretty lazy of us not to have got there before.

Dramatic but dull views over the Hudson from the stunning building.

Inside lots of old favorites like Reginald Marsh's drunken sailors and good time girls.

Lots of newer things which make me glad I no longer write art reviews. The interior spaces are gorgeous and cathedral-like.

Dark clothes look rather good with all the white walls and plain floors.

The balls on the Christmas tree thing reflected the people. The white part looked like plastic insulation stuff.

So much to look at!

The painting Robert liked best.

A door to a terrace where you can look down on Gaansevort Street.

On Thursday we continued doing art type things.

This last photo taken without filter the other day at dusk. I'm rather pleased with it!

Tour Guide Mode

I never really explore the city except when we have guests -

So this week I headed north on The High Line for the first time this year and was astounded at the amount of construction going on in the upper 20's and 30's. So much activity - so much glass. This was about 8 in the morning on a very hot day.

I felt like Walt Whitman admiring the energy of the city and thought how many people must have good jobs doing the construction.

Roger is rather a keen walker and strode ahead in his Panama hat.

We stopped on the southern part for coffee in Chelsea Market before all the tourists arrived.

Rather a lot of yellow lately...

Having visitors means going out for swanky drinks at The Campbell Apartment at Grand Central Station...

Then a very good burger at the Shake Shack which I've known about for years but never actually got to. And yes - it was delicious.

Returning to my normal lovely dull life, I discover it's dahlia season at Union Square.

Chelsea on $150 0r Less

I'm often asked by English friends to be a sort of impromptu tour guide. What could one possibly do in New York without lashings of money?

Herewith some local suggestions.

1) Walk on the High Line --it really is a super way to see lots of New York sights without getting run over. And it's free!

You walk on an old railway line above the bustle of the street.

After that you will probably need a cup of tea...or coffee

2) so go to Bergamote on the corner of 9th Avenue and 20th street

and eat a wonderfully fattening cake.

After that......

you may need 

3) a dose of culture: 

(here the David Zwirner gallery on 19th Street and 10th Avenue)

 4) something to amuse you

and then

5) lunch or dinner at The Tipsy Parson

my latest favorite spot. 

Buster would like to follow Ms. Redjacket in but isn't allowed.

For all sorts of travel savings tips and vouchers go here

Seen Around Town

The city is pretty nice when everyone goes away for the long weekend and

the town fills up with tourists and out of towners. This is a rather muddled picture of a garbage truck reflected in the window of the now defunct Viceroy diner on 8th Avenue.

This man is waiting to cross 17th Street. A century ago people would have been aghast to see a woman in pants.....equal opportunity in clothing for all.....

People in general on 14th St and 9th Avenue.

A rather retro dry cleaners.............

I'm not quite sure where this character (seen here on the corner of 23rd St and 8th Avenue) gets his costume laundered. For some reason I sight him about once a year.

We used to have one crossing guard who actually crossed children and handicapped people. We now have three who chat to each other........

Anyway, I managed to walk on the little bit of The High Line between 20th and 23rd Street that for some reason I'd missed. A nice soft lawn for sitting on.....

and a grove of trees to emerge from.......

Some friends have recently enjoyed a Central Park Sightseeing tour

which makes me think that visitors know much more about New York than I do.

Rain until the end of the week - rather a relief after much too hot!

Yellow, and a Morning Conversation

8:30 am on a cold morning on 22nd Street.

8:45 am The West Side Highway a symphony in chrome yellow, 

not to mention the big pails with sand and grit in them

and the traffic lights and the school bus.

I really don't much like bright yellow

 - but I suppose it is used so people notice it.

This van says "TRUCK 'N ROLL" 

The bit of the High Line looms above.

My main blog is now HERE

The High Line Chronicles Continue

White pants, sensible shoes, a bench to sit down on.

Armani dreams between the meadow flowers and 10th Avenue.

10th Avenue seen from above and summer campers making art.

Looking west, what toxic swirls and sand.

Lunch, of course, the most important part of any outing.

Frances and I sit outside at Cookshop.

She has the duck confit with pecans. YUM!

 

I have beets in cream.