Horatio Street Blog » Highline

The Highline Opens

Horatio Street Blogger — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:48:14 +0000

Monday, the Highline opened to the public, and I managed to sneak my way up there on Monday night. And oh folks, I’m feeling so happy to have this odd little slice of park right out our backdoor!
For now, the only entrance is on Gansevoort street.
Go on up, bring a book and enjoy one of the deck chairs (i especially like the deck chairs on wheels – whee!!!!)… or sit in the viewing balcony and watch the cars go by…. or just smell all the oddly attractive (in a very weedy, overgrown, but lovely) kind of way. Photos posted below with apologies for my lack of camera skills!

HighLine Update

Jo Ann — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:32:40 +0000

The High Line will open next week. The exact date is not set since they are waiting for the C of O. The hours will be 7am – 10pm. No bikes, rollerblades, skateboards nor dogs will be allowed. This first segment runs from Gansevoort St. where there is a staircase leading up the the Highline to 20th street where there is an exit staircase. There are entrances on 14th st. (an elevator – not up and running until July, I think), 16th st. (another elevator) 18th st. and 20th st. There are very limited restrooms with 2 stalls for men and 2 for women near the Gansevoort entrance.

There are plans to control crowds if need be. The maximum occupancy is 1700. If that max is reached, the Parks Dept. has a plan to issue bracelets to people waiting and to control the crowds that way.

The second section of the the park will open in the fall of 2010 and will continue to 30th st.

May 9-19 HighLine Festival – Oh, David Bowie

Horatio Street Blogger — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:12:17 +0000

Ever since I saw David Bowie in Labyrinth, back in 1986, well, I’ve been a little obsessed. So, when I found out he was ‘curating’ the first annual High Line Festival, I went gaga with excitement. But now, I have to admit I’m confused.

The H&M Highline Festival, which bills itself as a new multi-discipline arts festival which will take place in venues close to the Highline from May 9th to 19th, 2007, is actually not happening anywhere near the Highline, from what I can tell. Tickets can be bought at Ticketmaster for events at Radio City Music Hall, the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, Irving Plaza and Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom. Um, even if you really stretch definition of MPD and Chelsea, where the Highline runs, you just can’t get close to any of these places.

I guess that’s the end of my dreams of bumping into Bowie in the streets of our fair hood.

Some proceeds from the event will be donated to Friends of the Highline. For more info, check out the festival website. Maybe more events that are truly located in the fabulous neighborhood of the Highline will be posted.

http://www.highlinefestival.com/home.php

Highline Railbanked

Horatio Street Blogger — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 23:14:00 +0000

The High Line is railbanked, ensuring its future as a public park. “Railbanking the High Line was our most important goal when we started Friends of the High Lines in 1999, and now that huge advance has been accomplished, thanks to the successful completion of the Trail Use Agreement and transfer of ownership from CSX to the City,” said FHL Co-founder Robert Hammond in the FHL press release. Railbanking has been ‘s primary goal since founding in 1999.

Florent/HighLine Ball tix on sale now!

Horatio Street Blogger — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 22:44:00 +0000

LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS FOR FLORENT / HIGH LINE BALL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, AT ROXY
Buy your tickets now for Florent’s Bi-Decade{nt} Ball and Miss Meat Market Gown Contest, this coming Saturday, October 22, at the Roxy. The event celebrates 20 years of Restaurant Florent and the wild celebrations, drag shows, and Bastille Day performances that have made it a New York City institution. Emcees Flotilla DeBarge and Murray Hill introduce a fabulous roster of performers including Lady Miss Kier; Atesh, bellydancer extraordinaire; Live From Las Vegas: Raven-O and Joey Arias; and many, many others. $150 tickets include open bar, buffet, and entertainment. Funds raised benefit Friends of the High Line and the Meatpacking District Initiative.

Florent Bi-Decade{nt} Ball and Miss Meat Market Gown Contest
Saturday, October 22, 7:00 pm â€“ 11:00 pm
The Roxy
515 West 18th Street (just west of the High Line)
Buy Tickets Now

Please Note: The Florent / High Line Ball will be followed by a special event at the Roxy celebrating the return of legendary DJ Peter Rauhofer to this nightclub. Guests at the Florent / High Line Ball can purchase $25 wristbands for this special event during the Florent / High Line Ball without waiting in line outside. Long lines are expected.

Because of elaborate set-up requirements for the “Rauhofer Returns 2 Roxy” party, everyone will have to leave the Roxy between events. Florent / High Line Ball guests will gather informally at a nearby restaurant or bar before returning to the Roxy. If you have purchased a “Rauhofer Returns 2 Roxy” party at the Florent / High Line Ball, your wristband will allow you to re-enter when the later event starts without waiting in line.

Big Bash at Lotus – Friends of the High Line chuggin away….

Horatio Street Blogger — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 17:51:00 +0000

Friends of the Highline project celebrated a massive Federal Authorization victory last night at swanky MPD club LOTUS. Mojitos were flowing as Robert Hammond and Joshua David thanked their volunteers and funders and the local politicians who have helped them overcome this last obstacle blocking their dream to preserve the highline for reuse as an elevated walkway. “Now, we just have to build it” they joked.

Ground-breaking is scheduled for November (things like ‘abatement’ the careful and safe removal of harmful substances like lead and asbestos must come first), and then it is anticipated that the first phase of the High Line to be converted (from Gansevoort Street to 15th Street) will open to the public in late 2007 or early 2008. I can’t wait….

Wanna learn about the history? FHL is sponsoring a walking tour of the high line (street level) and Hudson River Park led by architectural historian Matt Postal.
Meeting Place: Southeast corner of 23rd Street and 11th Avenue
Cost: $10 for the general public – $5 for members of Friends of Hudson River Park
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Want a sneak peek at the designs? On view at the MOMA is a really cool (and widely acclaimed) Preliminary Design for the first phase of the High Line’s transformation (from Gansevoort Street to 15th Street) until October 31, 2005.

Interested but can’t be bothered to leave the air-conditioned comfort of your home/cubicle/desk? The preliminary Design can also be viewed at here and a nifty video of the high line is also available at here. But seriously, get up – it isn’t THAT hot out there.

oh, cute free t-shirt bribe to help the hi-line (hello, win-win)

Horatio Street Blogger — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:03:00 +0000

Free (utterly adorable, limited-edition)FHL T-shirts for those who attend the June 15 City Council hearing where the High Line project will face its most important public hearing to date. Just by showing up, you will play an essential role in the creation of a great new public open space that will benefit New York City for generations to come.

Wednesday, June 15, 9:30am
Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, City Hall
(Subway: C, E, to Chambers/WTC; 1,2, to Park Place; 6, N, R to Bkln Bridge/City Hall)

Wanna learn more? Friends of the Highline website

Wanna help more? Sign up to speak.

Wanna do it the armchair activist way? Send a letter.

APRIL 20 through JULY 18: “THE HIGH LINE” EXHIBITION AT MOMA

Horatio Street Blogger — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:48:00 +0000

APRIL 20 through JULY 18: “THE HIGH LINE” EXHIBITION AT MOMA
The Museum of Modern Art will present new High Line design work by the team of Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro in an exhibition on view April 20-July 18, 2005. The work includes a framework plan for the Line as a whole and a preliminary design for the first stage of the Line to be constructed (from Gansevoort Street to 15th Street). Friends of the HighLine will also host a public presentation during April, with the design team on hand to introduce the material and respond to comments. I’ll post more details on that when I have it.
More exhibition info from MoMA
MoMA address and hours

Help the High Line Project

Horatio Street Blogger — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 03:33:00 +0000

The Cityâ€™s proposed West Chelsea re-zoning , which would ensure the transformation of the High Line into a much needed open public space for our community, is going through a public review process. Friends of the High Line are asking residents to write letters in support of the rezoning’s treatment of the High Line.
Write Letters