We’ve arranged a tour of Chelsea Markets today. We’ve never visited, we hear its busy and the best way to get a good understanding is to undertake a guided tour, so off we go in search of our tour guide.

We head out and catch a subway downtown and then walk across to Chelsea from 14th St. We locate the market and enter the busy tight space in search of our tour guide. We are asked to meet near the fountain. We find the fountain and see an odd thing, a few people not moving quickly through the space, that must be our tour group. We see a gentleman with a clipboard: our tour guide. We introduce ourselves, his name is Bob, which he says “Bawb”. His New York accent is obvious, he’s a local and been in New York his whole like and a tour guide for many years. We are in good hands. This is going to be a great tour.

Bob first explains the history of the Chelsea area, largely industrial over the years which a lot of product coming through New York to service up state and further west. We then begin to walk around and sample some of the delights on offer. Little tubs of soup, pot pie, cup cakes, bagels, and one of our favourites, Chocolate milk from a farm called Ronnie Brooke. Rich, chocolatey and thick, it was certainly a highlight during the three hour tour. 

After the tour we circle back and buy a litre of the chocolate milk and some cup cakes. We then wander up to the High Line, which starts in this neck of the woods and wander the full length. During our walk we find a lovely sunny spot and sit and enjoy some milk and cup cakes. We suit for a while, watching the crowd pass us in both directions, it’s always busy and the High Line is certainly a popular place and a space we very much enjoy.

We leave the High Line and head back to 14th Street and 8th Avenue. The suburb is full of weird little statues. The underground gators — along with dozens of other whimsical creatures — are part of the permanent art installation housed at the intersection of the A,C,E, and L lines.

Titled Life Underground and designed by Kansas native Tom Otterness, the political cartoon-inspired project was commissioned in the 90s along with the station’s renovation.

Many of the other statues play on similar themes of class and corruption, such as the depiction of a worker woman reading a book on top of a possibly dead businessman lying on a pile of money.

A statue with an even clearer message sits at the top of a staircase: It’s a large man in a suit and top hat wrestling away coins from a tiny figure just inches high, adorned in simple dress.

We wander through the artworks, laughing and taking selfies and photos of some of the weird depictions. We then catch the train and head home for a while. Tonight, we are off to see Grace, a state show starring Ed Asner and Paul Rudd.

Grace follows a wide-eyed young couple as they start a new life in sunny, promise-filled Florida, with big plans to open a chain of Gospel motels. An agitated neighbour and a caustic exterminator complete the eclectic foursome as destinies collide in Craig Wright’s play.

It is thought provoking and intense in parts, but otherwise enjoyable and a great way to spend an evening in Manhattan. Part of the reason we love about visiting is finding little gems like this.

For more on Grace see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_(play)We wander home and call it a night.


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