Explore New York : The High Line

A week after sharing my summer bucket list I was able to happily cross one item off the list: strolling along The High Line in NYC! 

Thanks to the work of community preservationists, the historic, out-of-use 1930s freight rail line was converted into a gorgeously designed and landscaped linear park, with the first section opening to the public in June 2009. Elevated above the busy and bustling city streets on Manhattan's West Side, it is most certainly the scenic route to take when needing to get around the Chelsea neighborhood.

North to south The High Line runs from W. 34th Street at Hudson Yards to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, between 10th and 12th avenues. After a quick walk from Port Authority, G and I got on the line at 34th Street (though, the Hudson Yards section was closed that day due to maintenance) and sauntered all the way to 16th Street, where we got off to explore Chelsea Market. (More on that later.) It was a muggy (read: frizz-inducing), late August day and the line was fairly busy; the park in the sky is no secret. But the suspended walkway—with its garden vibes, art installations, and surrounding mash-up of architectural styles—is a pleasant and more visually appealing alternative to the city streets below.

Now a few photos from our stroll, if you'd like to see.

Though I'm glad to have accomplished this bucket list item, I'd love to return again and walk the entire line. We had about five more blocks to go to get to Gansevoort Street, which, as it turns out, is where the Whitney Museum of American Art is located. I see another day trip in our future!

Thoughts on a Summer Evening

One of my favorite things about my evening walks in Weehawken (other than the view of NYC) is seeing fireflies dancing around the sidewalk and front yards. As a SoCal native, I had never seen fireflies in person so witnessing one a few weeks ago was quite the thrill. I was in awe with each blink of light.

Now, I have to say, fireflies are not all that pretty in their non-illuminated state. Some insect-phobic people like myself might call them strange looking, ugly even, and maybe a little scary. I truly don't enjoy when they fly up near me or my face. (It's the same way I felt about all the colorful dragonflies buzzing around in Florida, no matter how many times my husband assured me that they wouldn't bite or sting. I like bugs to keep their distance, pleaseandthankyou.)

However, fireflies are incredibly beautiful when they let their light shine. And they are even more stunning when strengthened by a community of their peers, their friends and family.

So, yes, they might just be weird little beetles with glowing lanterns on their tails—that's very scientific of me, right?—but they gave me a lot to think about during my evening walk last night and a few good reminders for us human folk:

Let your light shine. Don't dim your spark. Share your gifts. 

And surround yourself with people who encourage that inner glow.

(Photographs by Tsuneaki Hiramatsu 

via Smithsonian Magazine)

Happy Days : When Friends Visit Florida

Life has been a little lonely since we moved across the country to Florida. We have no family or friends (yet) here in St. Pete, so it’s just me, GT and the dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I love the hubs and the pooches, but it’s nice to see people from our old life showing up in our new life. That’s a bit melodramatic, I admit, but it’s just reassuring to know that it is possible to stay connected with those we love no matter how many miles away or wherever we get moved to next.

Which is why I was thrilled to have my good friend Brittany—who I met during our junior year of college at Pepperdine University and who was a bridesmaid in my wedding—visit for a few days last week with her adorable 1½-year-old daughter Simone in tow. She lives in Seattle and has family in Florida, but she scheduled to spend the first leg of her trip out east in St. Pete with me.

We had about three days to hangout and catch up, and it was so wonderful to see how much Simone has grown, as well as Brittany who is pregnant with baby No. 2. As a bonus, their visit forced me to get out of my apartment bubble and explore more of my new city—the family-friendly places, at least.

All the details (and photos!) of our adventures, after the jump...