A Wonderful Weekend in Manhattan

Visiting High Line in New York City

Arriving in style from JFK to the Upper East side with Groundlink, I knew I started my weekend well. I loved my airport pickup with Richard in his brand-new Mercedes. Groundlink’s app is easy to use and their service will be starting soon in Los Angeles. I can’t wait. On this trip I ventured to a new neighborhood and enjoyed the Downtown Westside Meatpacking District scene. Be sure to check out the very happening Eataly. Wander the aisles full of tasty treats and buy fresh pasta, see the great dining options and definitely taste the salted caramel gelato. Enjoy the worldwide wine selection at Eleven Madison Park: I decided to pick my wine from where I want to travel next; I selected a Greek vintage. It was simply delicious!

For a bit of nature during my trip to the big city, I checked out the recycled train tracks of High Line. This comes from the friends of High Line site:

The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan’s largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park.

Only in New York!

One section opened to the public in June 2011 and the one-and-a-half-mile walk with over 200 types of plants is beautiful. The breeze off the water was a bit chilly at first, but I really enjoyed our stroll.

Lisa, Barb, and the birds!

Don’t miss out on the New York Burger Company on West 23rd! I missed the magical Sunday lunch with the Great Lerdini, as I was there on a Saturday, but I am ready to order a Flatiron burger and have it sent to me in Los Angeles! I hope a branch of the restaurant makes its way to my town or I am going to have to fly back for lunch.

How can you not love a place that says, “What we’re made of: our main ingredients include love, passion and a healthy measure of obsession.” Their website also states: “By consistently meeting and then exceeding expectations, New York Burger Co. convincingly raises the bar for the quick service/fast casual meal experience.” My expectations were more than exceeded!

Another must-see New York experience is the fabulous world of the Voca People. My sister, her teenage son, and I fully enjoyed the eight aliens from Voca perform in a musical extravaganza of “Life is Music and Music is Life.

”The Voca people require energy from music to power their rocket ship and return home. For eight people to create so many sounds and so much music was astounding! I loved the audience involvement, and when the cast walked the aisles to sing up close to us. This a capella experience was described as “…if Blue Man Group had a baby with Stomp, and that baby was both a big Glee fan and also a weirdo,” with a painted white face. I loved it! Go see the show!