The High Line and Water - Part One

Good evening everyone!  In case you didn't notice, it is officially Summer!  So, get out there and be summary - I mean summery, if that's possibly a state of being that one can try to be.  Hmm.

I went out yesterday and journeyed to the High Line to witness, again, just how almost incredibly that elevated and derelict former freight line is doing.

And it is busy and bright with happy visitors - mostly young women?!  I didn't notice that so much until just now!

Well, the High Line is busy.

I had come there for a purpose, however.  I wanted to observe a little more closely how water is managed up there on those "old" railroad tracks.  After all, there is an awful lot of lush greenery up there:

This grasses, seemingly reclining in various sensual twists of luxurious green strands, is probably Mexican Feather Grass (as I learned from the gloriously helpful High Line Blog, for it is a Plant of the Week).  The spring rains seem to have really powered them with green juice!

Which made me wonder: how are these rains controlled?  Or do they just come and spread themselves randomly over the ground and everything?  Do they just, well, ebb away?  How do we manage the inevitable dryer periods? 

A drain?  Or part of a catch-basin.  I must investigate! 

A Glorious? Spring!? Or is it Summer Already!

All the talk of Global Warming has, I think, begun to be appreciated by all and sundry, so I expect there will at least be people noticing when there might be energy being wasted when they feel open doors and air-conditioning, or when they see smokestacks belching coal soot and smoke as they drive across the Appalachians on their summer jaunts in - their Priuses! (Or should one write "Prii"?)

Regardless, those of us enjoying the asphalt comfort of the city in Summer - and who are looking forward to Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, and summer movies at the space atop 55 Water Street, as well as numerous events all over the metropolis - will no doubt have reason to get wet.

After all - there's Coney Island!

The familiar Luna Park smiler! 

Oh boy!  Let's fly! 

Ruby's is 80 years old this year - time for a Ruby Beer! 

But you have to go to the beach too, you know - for this is a destination not to be missed.

Unless you want to take a ride on the New Thunderbolt - which, I don't think, is not finished yet - or at least I didn't see it running yesterday (June 7, 2014).  Maybe soon?

You must spend an hour just walking the boardwalk - 

- preferably in suitable attire!

Or ... you could fly over it!

Really - and you don't have to be alone! 

But no one has dropped in a parachute from here in more than 30 years. 

Coney Island - it's a place to see!