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OHNY on the High Line.

For the seventh year, Friends of the High Line will participate in the annual openhousenewyork weekend; the largest architect and design event in America. This year, our first year of participation with the park open to the public, we invite guests to join us on the High Line for a series of eight engaging talks led by people involved in various aspects of the design, planning and construction process. These lectures will provide deeper insight into the story of the transformation of the High Line from an abandoned freight line to a successful public space.

This years OHNY weekend will take place on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th. Please note: an error in the OHNY brochure asks guests to RSVP. RSVP's are not being accepted for this years OHNY weekend on the High Line. All lectures are first come first served.

All talks will take place in the 14th Street passage on the High Line, just South of the 14th Street stairs. All talks will take place rain or shine. We look forward to seeing you there!

[Read more for a full schedule.]

At Friends of the High Line, we love anything that celebrates artists who work in the High Line neighborhood.  So we are excited about the annual High Line Open Studios, coming up on October 15 through 18.  Using a map, participants take themselves on self-guided tours of artist studios in the area.

BBC Correspondent Jonathan Marcus was in New York a couple of weeks ago, and took a walk on the High Line with Robert.

He produced a 5-minute "From Our Own Correspondent" piece on the High Line, which was broadcast in the UK last week, and will be on the World Service in the coming days.

On Friday, new signs were installed to mark the naming of one of the High Line's most beloved features, The Diller - von Furstenberg Sundeck. A generous gift from The Diller - von Furstenberg Family Foundation made this feature possible, and it's quickly become an extremely popular gathering spot, especially on sunny days and at sunset.

Photo credit Joan Garvin.

It's officially fall. Mornings are brisk, sunsets are early, and much of the landscape on the High Line has taken on an airier, golden brown look as its grasses go to seed. Remembering, of course, that brown is also a color, there's a lot to look for in this new fall landscape.

Via christiNYCa's flickr.

If you've been up to the High Line recently, you may have noticed a particular scent coming mostly from Chelsea Grasslands. It's been described as smelling like coriander, a combination of honey and cilantro leaves, or popcorn.   I've also overheard it described, strangely, as a "burning crayon smell", or a "strong chemical odor".

Photo by David B. Smith

Spencer Finch's The River That Flows Both Ways is the spectacular installation of 700 panes of colored glass that covers the western wall of the Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line.  Come hear this articulate and engaging artist speak about that piece and others, this Wednesday evening at 6:30 in the 14th St. Passage.  FREE.  RSVP recommended but not required.

At the end of July, we went to the opening of No Longer Empty, an exhibition inspired by the High Line and located nearby the  in an empty storefront space.

Now, in conjunction with that exhibition, the show's organizers  are presenting a panel discussion on public art and alternative art spaces, featuring 7 speakers... including me!