Seven Facts You Did Not Know About NYC’s High Line Park

We’re just a few days away from the Spring Big Adventure! As we inch ever close to this Saturday’s Spring NYC Big Adventure, we wanted to drop some knowledge on you about arguably the most interesting and scenic park in the New York City Park System: The High Line. Built purely from community interest and some dedicated souls, we’re eager to get down to the Chelsea/ West Village/ Meat Packing District sections of town to walk the walk.
       

So, in advance of this Saturday’s visit, we present seven facts about the High Line Park that we think you’ll find quite, er, elevating. Some High Line trivia for you: 

1)   Some history, In 1847, NYC had street-level railroad tracks down Manhattan’s West Side. "West Side Cowboys" were put in place to ride horses and wave flags in front of the locomotives rolling heavy with Cargo.  Due to endless accidents between freight trains and street traffic , 10th Avenue became known as "Death Avenue”. Yikes.

  2)  More History, The High Line opened to trains in 1934 and ran from where Madison Square Garden stands today to Spring Street. It was designed to go through the center of blocks, rather than over the avenue and connected directly to factories and warehouses, allowing trains to roll right inside buildings.

   3)  When the park opened in June 2009, It attracted more than 300,000 people during the first six weeks. Now, many as 20,000 people visit the park every weekend.

   4)  Leave the football at home: Rules prohibit “throwing or moving objects of any kind—Frisbees, balls, etc”. Most because one errant softball of the side may lead a 12 car pile up as your wayward ball shatters a taxi windshield.

  5)  One section has been opened, but two more stretches all the way up 34^th street to complete a 1.4 mile loop are expected to be completed. Phase 2 opens sometime in 2011. Rejoice!

6)   Stole the idea from French: The city of Paris successfully converted a similar rail viaduct into an elevated park called the Promenade Plantée. However, the American version has been such a roaring success that projects similar to the High Line are in early stages in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Jersey City and Chicago.

7)   (and most important) When one hears nature call when one is  on a 30 foot train trestle far from modern conveniences, it is good to know that restrooms are located at the 16th Street access point.

More info and details can be found here: High Line park official site 
  

And for all NYC Park Info, look here:New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

Join us for The Big Adventure on Ice!

The Final Itinerary for The Big Adventure on Ice   

Since we’re about nine days away from our Big Adventure on Ice, all going down next Saturday, December 11th, we wanted to send out the complete itinerary for our frozen day. We’re looking forward to sliding through the city and basking in all things ice. Shockingly enough, we’re not including Ice Skating anywhere. Too easy. Too predictable. The Big Adventure is better than that.

We encourage you to pass this on to anyone and invite everyone from Frosty to Val Kilmer (see Top Gun). As always, feel free join for only part of the day or the whole enchilada for an event we promise will be unique, affordable, social and distinctly NYC.  

Flying Puck – 12:30 PM -364 7^th Avenue at 30^th Street - We’re starting the day with some food, booze and perhaps time in the penalty box. There is no shortage of Hockey related paraphernalia at this recently opened pub near Madison Square Garden. Bonus: rumor has it, Hall of Famer Bobby Orr tends bar on Saturday.

The Polar Exhibit at The Central Park Zoo –2:00 PM - $12 Admission (working on a discount)– Enter the Park at 64^th & Fifth Avenue - Because there are few things more adorable than watching Polar Bears at meal time or Penguins open gifts (really), we’re going to enjoy a small army of ice-loving creatures, including a pair of Polar Bears named Gus and Ida, at this New York City Staple.

Youth Ice Hockey at Chelsea Piers – 5:00 PM - 23rd St. & 11^th Ave on the Hudson - We’ll crowd the bleachers to cheer on your new favorite NY sports team – The New York City Cyclones—as they do battle with the dreaded Mariners. Forget the flashy showings (and price) of the Rangers, Islanders or Devils. These teenagers play with more heart and in a nicer space, really. Plus, we can reenact scenes from The Mighty Ducks. Make the Flying V!

Antarctica Bar- 7:30 PM– 287 Hudson at Spring St. - We’re then heading way down south…well, near the Holland Tunnel..to one of New York’s oldest and best bars. The staff at Antarctica has set up a $3 Ice Shots for us along with space that comes complete with top-tier jukebox, various bar accoutrements and an always colorful crowd. But the best part? The custom built Big Adventure Ice Sculpture and Luge! This thing is just plain awesome.

Kettle of Fish -11:00PM – 59 Christopher St. near 7^th Avenue - Our Ice theme continues to this home away home for all things from the coldest state in the lower 48: Wisconsin. Well, to be clear the people themselves are warm and engaging, This great West Village bar has, for years, been the unofficial Embassy of America’s Daily Land in New York City. Grab someone from Sheboygan and have them tell you how friggin' cold it is there. Also, for a different take on ice, we’ll be showcasing what we believe to be the World’s Largest Diamond while at Kettle of Fish.

The Donut Pub – Late Night- 203 W 14th St at 7^th Avenue - Where there is Ice, there is Icing. And few things are better than a late night donut that meets the pastry trifecta: freshly made, perfectly warm and smothered in the most delicious Icing this side of the North Pole. We’ll ice-cap off our night at this small 24 hour eatery with Boston Cream, Glazed and Chocolate iced treats.

We hope that you’ll join us next Saturday! See you in mittens and scarves on the 11th...

Become our Facebook Fan: http://www.facebook.com/TheBigAdventure

Send us an E-mail: BrookeandPhilsBigAdventure@gmail.com

The Next Big Adventure is Coming!

It's coming...and we're starting to get the engines in gear for another amazing Big Adventure!

Mark your Calendar for Saturday, December 11th and get ready to join us for an entire day (and a good portion of the evening) of an inexpensive, social, incredibly unique and unbelievably fun way to explore New York City.

More details are forthcoming as our staff, various interns and contracted minions are putting everything in place. We'll be providing all of the sorted details in the next couple of weeks well in advance of the day, but we like to keep a lid on thing until all is in place. Let's just say, we'll be celebrating the winter season with one cool theme on December 11th.

Let us know if you'll be joining us by reserving your space on our Facebook Event Page. Hope you can join as this is already shaping up to our biggest and best event yet! http://www.facebook.com/TheBigAdventure?v=app_2344061033&ref=ts

Announcing The Brooke and Phil's Film Big Adventure

Its Time once again...plan to join us on Saturday, March 6th when we’ll be embarking on yet another Brooke and Phil’s Big Adventure.

Brooke and Phil are setting out on the cinematic streets of New York City to determine if life really does move at 24 frames per second. Starting in the eEarly afternoon and adventuring through the wee hours of the night, we'll be paying homage to the finest of American Film throughout the city.

From Midtown to the West Village to Chelsea and beyond, we’ll be making stops that are unique, social and friendly to the wallet. We’ll visit some familiar and not-so-familiar establishments and even have a few surprises along the way. Also, it is no mere coincidence that we’re hosting our outing the day before another bigger film event (see: The 82^nd Annual Oscars)

In two weeks, we’ll be posting all the information, stops and critical details you need right here on the Blog. As always, everyone is always welcome. Check back for specific details including route, locations and times in the next couple of weeks. But for now, Buy your tickets from the box office, save the stub and join us on Saturday, March 6th for Brooke and Phil’s Film Big Adventure. Hoping to see you there...

Questions? We've got something for that now. Feel free to e-mail us anytime at BrookeAndPhilsBigAdventure@Gmail.com