The one where it's Summer in Chelsea

Let me begin by saying that Chelsea is one of my favorite areas of Manhattan; many people may knock it, but I will continue to showcase the blooming flowers among the thorns which is the remnants of the meat-packing district.

One such place is the Chelsea High Line: this used to be nearly 1 1/2 miles of freight railroad before it was slowly converted & opened in 2009 as an open-air walkway/park above the streets of the lower-west side.

It's an idyllic little place, almost like a secret garden. It is progressive in that traffic moves along the walk; however, along the way there are many little sitting areas, bird-houses, theater-like seating, & lounge areas which seamlessly blend together. I think the most remarkable thing, is the way in which the design allows both urban & wild to co-exist & nearly merge together. It's a wonderful spot to chill, walk, enjoy the sun, chat with friends, or just escape for a while. They even have performances along the High Line: Autumn Crossing. Regardless of your reason, I will suggest over & over that you check it out, it's a fun community of sorts.

We stopped by Chelsea Brewing Company, which is a little-known-spot which I used to adore. Sadly, the menu has changed & my favorite items (gourmet burgers & sweet potato fries) have been evicted. I was thrilled to experience their new item -- Prosciutto bread -- this ingenious bread has pieces of prosciutto baked into it, with a garlic & parsley dipping oil!! YUM! Needless to say, it's still a great spot, with brewed on the spot beer, water-front setting, & a chill atmosphere. A relaxed dinner for a warm summer evening!

Later as we took the subway uptown, we encountered the most obnoxious human in Manhattan, yea, we found him. I had the urge to pose this question "Exactly how many times in a day do you get slapped? On Average?" I truly had to remind myself to be a good person in order to refrain.

No friend afternoon would be complete without trying on ridiculous outfits together. To the left is 80's reincarnate (stay-tuned for the work-out video) & on the right is a magenta kangaroo in dress-form.

The train ride back from the city was the picture of any NJTransit advertisement. Divouring gourmet cupcakes (Chocolate fudge w/mocha icing) & drinking individual bottles of rose wine! Sure Grand Central has God's view of the heavens, but Penn Station sells cold-single-serve Wine!! Childish-Adult fun at it's best!