It’s
a classic story of making it big (and beautiful). Dreamed up by passionate
onlookers, The High Line’s inspirational journey began with a neighborhood’s
shared goal of saving an abandoned New York rail line from demolition. After the last train
choo-chooed its way out in 1980, residents observed wild grasses, shrubs and
even trees springing out of the gravel. —
These
pedestrian-only tracks now glitter with plants (maintained by the exceptionally
devoted and aesthetically-inclined, Friends of the High Line) making for the
perfect suspended stroll sprinkled with unbelievable views of the city and the Hudson River.
We
think there’s no better season than the summer to delight in all the wonders
The High Line has to offer. Here’s a few ways to plan in the warm weather!
Weekly Wonders
No
matter the day, High Line packs a daily dose of fresh air fun. Free
walking tours are offered every Saturday at 11am. The High Line Docents will lead your brood on a
nature-packed walk and teach you all about the history, design and
horticultural elements of the park (which now stretches from Gansevoort to West 30th Street) along the way. For a more intimate look, bask in
the early morning sun with walks led by gardener Maryanne Stubbs. Stubbs will
be leading her habitat
tours on July 23 and August 20 (binoculars encouraged!).
If
your youngsters are looking for a more imaginative outlet, then check out Sound
and Movement—a hands-on art series with rotating themes—every Saturday at 10am. If you find yourself more mesmerized by the moon,
then join fellow
stargazers every Tuesday at dusk. There you can gaze at stars using
high-powered telescopes and to top it off, learn all about what you see from
celestial experts. At 4pm on Wednesdays, go wild with an instructive bug
hunt that will have the ages 4 and up crowd discovering critters with the aid of a magnifying
glass. In August, explore Latin music every Thursday as Juan
Morales and his ensemble, Sonido Costeño take over and get
eveyone moving.
If Nature Could Sing
The
High Line frequently presents performances inspired by the park’s scenery. On Tuesday,
June 21 the Hungry March Band gets elevated. The street brass band, among other
musical acts, will take part in a New
Orleans-style Second Line Parade. Kick off the summer season on June 28
with the High Line’s first Summer
Party! Looking for a night out on the town? This is a parents-only event,
starting at 7:30pm with
drinks at sunset, followed by delicious food and a night of dancing. End the
day on July 19 with some music (but not just any music)—the sounds of protest.
Performance artist Pablo Helguera and special guests will perform music
for social change. The lyrics are based on original creations from past
eras that have been rewritten and updated in community workshops.
Art Smarts
The
High Line is known not only for its stunning landscape (a masterpiece in and of
itself) but also for displays of public art. A High Line art
walking tour will be provided on June 22 and led by Lauren Ross, the Curator & Director
of Arts Programs at Friends of the High Line. Second Saturdays are special as they feature programs with visiting
artists. Don’t miss artist Emily
Gibson as she explores the light and visible colors in the park at 11am. Gibson will be back on August 13 and will focus
on inspiring tots to construct their own works of art. On August 31, a discussion
on the art and history on the park will be presented in Spanish.
Lastly,
don’t forget to strut down the newly opened second section (at West 30th Street and 10th Avenue) which features Rainbow City, only open until July 5.
This collection of play-with-me inflatable sculptures (some striped, some
solid) boosts the park playfulness with an urban playspace that aims to spur
your child’s creativity and participation in the arts (as well as your own). Created
by FriendsWithYou, and complete with one bouncy mushroom and one jump-in onion,
visitors are bound to get a kick out of the interactivity of the minimalist
shapes.
Nature Stories
The
High Line is a truly inspiring story of preserving nature, but don’t just take
our word for it! On Tuesday, June 21 at 10am The New York Public Library is coming the park to present Silly
Stories and City Stories. Gather up the troops and watch them delight as
librarians from local branches read funny tales and interact with your tots.
The NYPL will be back to entertain on July 19 and August 16.
Looking
to bring the magic home? Pick up a copy of The Curious Garden
by children’s author Peter Brown, inspired by the suspended oasis’ wildflowers.
The story’s imaginative protagonist, Liam, will take your youngsters on a wild
journey for a greener world when he discovers that the beauty of his struggling
garden is changing the face of the gray world he lives in. Friendly
environmental lessons will bloom in your child as a result of this vibrant
tale. Buy it here.
I Like To Move It
With
activities for the whole family, The High Line didn’t forget about giving you
some time to show off your stellar dance moves. On July 23 at 10am, combine the fun of dancing with a healthy fitness
and movement workshop led by dance artist Naomi Goldberg Haas, open to
groovers of all ages. The Young
Dancemakers Company will dazzle at 6pm on July 28 with original choreography inspired by the pathways and
vistas that make up this one-of-a-kind park.
For an updated list on all of The
High Line’s family programming, click here.
