You know an article is worth reading when it refers to us as "joggers."
The latest from the NYT's Well Blog (I guess that's "well" like "healthy," but for some reason I always picture the authors peering down into a deep, dark well of running knowledge - "well" like "baby Jessica") tells us that we should be running New York's High Line.
Hidden in that article is one key point: "a completed High Line would... end at the Jacob Javits Center at 34th Street, making the entire park 1.45 miles." But it's not completed yet. It ends at 30th St, so it's only 1m long. I guess that's not terrible as part of a longer run, but why bother?
For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the High Line is an abandoned, elevated train track converted into a public park. A hugely popular public park. An insanely, hugely popular public park. In fact, seeing the High Line is the only thing on my brother's to-do list when he comes to visit me in a few weeks (except for seeing Showgirls: the Musical).
I seem to be the only New Yorker who doesn't like the High Line. When I first heard about it, before it opened, I had an uncomfortable feeling because it seemed like a crime trap waiting to happen (few entrances! isolated! elevated above street level!). Heavy traffic and limited hours have kept that from being the case, but by the time I realized it was safe, my discomfort had morphed into this general sense of, "Why?" I mean, of all the problems that the city needs to solve - recovery from Hurricane Sandy, high unemployment, giant sodas, rat kings - no place for tourists to go in Chelsea! really wouldn't top my list.
Pro tip: if you want to visit the High Line, do it on gallery night. Go first to the High Line, dodge the crowds of tourists, watch the sun set, see people having sex in nearby buildings. Then go to the free, open art galleries where you can stare at avant garde modern art, feel woefully unhip and old compared to the crowds, and sip small glasses of mediocre free wine.
Incidentally, for those of you from New England, I went to college in Rhode Island and I also hate "WaterFire." Maybe I just hate all public art?
The latest from the NYT's Well Blog (I guess that's "well" like "healthy," but for some reason I always picture the authors peering down into a deep, dark well of running knowledge - "well" like "baby Jessica") tells us that we should be running New York's High Line.
Hidden in that article is one key point: "a completed High Line would... end at the Jacob Javits Center at 34th Street, making the entire park 1.45 miles." But it's not completed yet. It ends at 30th St, so it's only 1m long. I guess that's not terrible as part of a longer run, but why bother?
For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the High Line is an abandoned, elevated train track converted into a public park. A hugely popular public park. An insanely, hugely popular public park. In fact, seeing the High Line is the only thing on my brother's to-do list when he comes to visit me in a few weeks (except for seeing Showgirls: the Musical).
I seem to be the only New Yorker who doesn't like the High Line. When I first heard about it, before it opened, I had an uncomfortable feeling because it seemed like a crime trap waiting to happen (few entrances! isolated! elevated above street level!). Heavy traffic and limited hours have kept that from being the case, but by the time I realized it was safe, my discomfort had morphed into this general sense of, "Why?" I mean, of all the problems that the city needs to solve - recovery from Hurricane Sandy, high unemployment, giant sodas, rat kings - no place for tourists to go in Chelsea! really wouldn't top my list.
Pro tip: if you want to visit the High Line, do it on gallery night. Go first to the High Line, dodge the crowds of tourists, watch the sun set, see people having sex in nearby buildings. Then go to the free, open art galleries where you can stare at avant garde modern art, feel woefully unhip and old compared to the crowds, and sip small glasses of mediocre free wine.
Incidentally, for those of you from New England, I went to college in Rhode Island and I also hate "WaterFire." Maybe I just hate all public art?
Yeah, that description isn't making me super excited to run on it. Also, only a mile? What's the point??
ReplyDeleteSad - I was intending to take you running there when you're in NY this summer! HAHA JK.
DeleteI've never gone up to the High Line. Too far west, so short, why bother?
ReplyDelete-Jaded NYer.
My problem with the High Line is that it was a very expensive use of public funds to enhance an already super-rich neighborhood. The property values of the "friends of the high line" group increased by an average of something like 103% after the park was finished, if I'm remembering correctly.
ReplyDeleteYES. That's exactly it. I remember when I first moved to NYC, before it had opened, I joined the Met - which put me on countless mailing lists for every and any cause. When I got the appeal from the High Line, I was SO confused as to why I should donate to this park... which was basically akin to donating directly to wealthy people.
DeleteHa ha ha. I saw that article and thought "WTF?! Why would they encourage anyone to run there?" Such a bad idea, for many reasons, along with the distance. It's too crowded and zig zags all over! It's not meant for running.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a New Yorker and I really want to see the High Line one of these days, but I'd rather run in the park (and by "the park" I really mean "Central or Prospect, host's choice").
ReplyDeleteI always imagine Well being a conversational Well, as in, "Well, it turns out your choice of exercise is dumb."