Discovering New York's
Chelsea Market, Meat Packing District and High Line
The Meat Packing District (above) was once just that -- a place where large cattle carcasses were hung and hastily cut up, and then packed and shipped to restaurants and food suppliers. When I first moved to the city 20 years ago, this area was not a destination, except late at night, where a few dance clubs pumped up throbbing music, lots of pots and pan beats here, where men and women (but mostly men) dressed in all kinds of tight, leathery, lascivious attire, and where you wouldn't leave unless you had assembled a large group for protection. Oh, and after leaving, and before going to Restaurant Florent, club goes needed to dodge the slimy streets, the animal slurry, and the smelly air. Enough said.
Today, it is a crowded, trendy area of the city filled with luxury retail shops and star-studded hotels. The former slaughtered animal warehouses have been replaced with high-priced art galleries and shops that carry $15,000 tufted Belgian linen sofas. New York is like this -- it always has been -- a place that is constantly transforming itself. It never gets old. It's a continuous evolution, vital and vibrant, even for those of us who live here.
With the first day of school still almost 4 weeks away, and the words "no more screen time" echoing in my head, I commandeered my daughter, one of her good friends, and her fine arts educated parents, whose own sense of wanderlust surpasses mine, for a field trip to this thriving area.
First stop:
Lunch!
Chelsea Market, a former Nabisco factory taking up an entire city block, is one of the largest, most trafficked food halls in the country. Located just a block from the Hudson, on 15th Street and 9th Avenue, it offers numerous lunch options, with over 35 vendors. Our choice -- the Seafood Market, filled with fresh fish, prepared sushi and for the kids, Clam Chowder:
Savory & Sweet!
The main concourse at the Chelsea Market has vendors catering to every palate - from the Manhattan Fruit Exchange, to Amy's Bread, to Eleni's Bakery to a variety of smaller specialty shops such as Savory Pies and Doughnuttery (below):
Next up:
A stroll on the High Line.
The High Line, once an elevated railroad track, sat unused and in disrepair for years. It hadn't accommodated a train since the 1960s. Almost demolished over a decade ago, and stretching at least 20 blocks above the street, today it is one of the city's most popular and celebrated public spaces, it has helped resurrect the meat packing district, and has spurred the development of over $2 billion in luxury condo and office buildings. It's incredible, and after the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, etc. should be "high" up on any tourist's to do list.
There are all kinds of activities, tours and events on the High Line, daily. Check out the website:
As soon as you walk off the elevator and into the new Whitney Museum of American Art, you know you are in for a treat. As expected, there are the works by American staple artists, Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper. Intermixed with these masterpieces are lesser-known (as yet) pieces that charmingly keep up with the big boys. Oh, and this museum is perfect for kids, it is filled with vibrantly colored works like this one by by Elizabeth Murray, Children Meeting:
The Meat Packing District, High Line and Whitney can get congested, especially on weekends. Restaurants in the area remain crowded most of the day and often it's even hard to find a seat on park benches. So after enjoying these sights, we headed south, to the quieter streets of the West Village. One of our favorite rest stops -- Cafe Cluny:
...where an espresso drink, iced tea or better yet, a nice glass of wine can be enjoyed -- in a beautiful French cafe. Cafe Cluny also has a new ice cream line, perfect for the kids.
As one of the largest outdoor horse shows in the United States, The Classic is a grand event unto itself, for both horse enthusiasts and casual spectators alike. It is a bit like a beautiful outdoor fair, albeit a very civilized one. At its core, it is ostensibly a horse competition. But don't be fooled, it is much more than just that. It is an event -- with the Bridgehampton countryside as the backdrop, where celebrities walk around anonymously, where high end shops set up booths, where equestrian skills are showcased, where delectable food can be savored, where exciting polo matches can be observed and where animals trot about freely in an unthreatened environment.
