An unexpected oasis encircled by a concrete jungle, the High Line lifts visitors above the sprawling city of Manhattan. Running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 23th street, between 10th and 12th Avenues, the roughly 1.45-mile elevated greenway was once a forgotten railway. But through the tenacious efforts of the Friends of the High Line nonprofit, it has transformed into a shared space for the community, with an emphasis on agriculture, art and urban conservation.
I first experienced the High Line in 2011. Between the crisp autumn air (a welcome treat for a visiting Angelino) and the continuous din that felt deliciously and quintessentially New York, I had to make a strong effort not to let my excitement rush my visit.
Turning the corner and catching sight of this vibrant mural, however, fully stopped me in my tracks. Still located at 25th street and 10th Avenue, the large-scale art was painted by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra. A playful interpretation of the renowned 1945 photograph "V-J Day in Times Square," the piece fits right in with the neighborhood's charms of both old and new.
