Who Knew: The High Line Has A Homo History

I suppose it makes sense: The area along the now swanky raised park known as the High Line in the Meatpacking District (all too ironic, eh?) used to be the same nabe that offered New York's most deliciously grimy gay haunts, like Spike, the original Eagle and Roxy.

A new book, "High Line: The Inside Story of New York City's Park in the Sky," tells the storied past of the project and documents its history and the completed park in photos.

Last week, its authors Joshua David and Robert Hammond, co-founders of the Friends of the High Line, offered a discussion based on the book, "Behind the Bushes: The Secret Homo History of the High Line," which covered the historical and contemporary relationship between gay men and changing neighborhoods, preservation and design—and how the gay community has influenced and been influenced by the High Line. More about the book here. *

La's Fabulous New York Adventure: Union Square, Warhol

One of La's great loves is Andy Warhol, since she grew up in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Seeing the Andy Warhol Monument in Union Square was an obvious must... And away we go!The Decker Building, one of the locations of Warhol's famous Factory.Two rather discordant views of Union Square. Your diddy on the left says hi!Statues: Ghandi and George Washington.Onward to the Union Square Greenmarket.Look, your mammer was also in the park!Leonard, who grew up in New York, was acquainted with many of Warhol's minions, which La soaked up with glee. We made a stop by his pad near Union Square, where her hubby Jack joined.

A Walk In The Park: Union Square

Ah, how I love summers in New York, relishing every warm day... because heaven knows before I can blink three times, it will be cold and snowy again in this increasingly arctic city. No, really.

Earlier this week, I took a walk through Union Square Park, from 14th to 16th streets, snapping away at New Yorkers doing what we love best when it's climate-friendly: hanging, people watching and soaking up our urban green spaces.

Union Square Park opened in 1839, and includes the oldest sculpture in all of New York's parks, a bronze equestrian statue of first U.S. Prez George Washington (right and below). It was dedicated in 1865.Along with Washington, Union Square's other ornaments include the Marquis de Lafayette (1876), the James Fountain (1881), Abraham Lincoln (1870), the Temperance Fountain figure of Charity and a gruesome statue of Mahatma Gandhi, added in 1986.Held four days a week since 1976, the Union Square Greenmarket offers an outlet for regional family farmers to sell fruits, vegetables & other farm products, and for New Yorkers to pay exorbitant prices for their wonderful wares.