Photos courtesy of © Andrew Frasz via 6SqFt

It seems nearly every week I get to report on something brand new our city has to offer. This week it’s the just opened High Line-Moynihan Train Hall Connector. The American Ballet summer season is here. There’s a fundraising pop up with Ukraine designers. Go island hopping without leaving NYC. Our roving photographer is roving in Morocco. Valerie Smaldone reviews the new musical on Broadway, Once Upon a One More Time. Our Broadway Babe has more entertaining YouTube picks. And check out Gabrielle Carlson summer sale starting on Monday.

High Line-Moynihan Connector Now Open

Photos courtesy of © Andrew Frasz via 6SqFt

The new High Line-Moynihan Connector is a stunning new elevated pathway for pedestrians in the heart of Manhattan. The Connector knits together new public spaces and public transit surrounding Moynihan Train Hall with the High Line, allowing pedestrians an uninterrupted, accessible and safe path all the way from West Midtown to the West Village.

The connector is 600-feet long with two distinct sections: a richly planted, 340-foot Woodland Bridge that runs above West 30th Street from the High Line’s terminus at the Spur and a 260-foot, one-block-long Timber Bridge, built from sustainably sourced Alaskan Yellow Cedar, that runs north above Dyer Avenue toward the adjacent Magnolia Court pedestrian plaza at Manhattan West. The project also includes significant safety improvements at street level, including new pedestrian signals, lighting, crosswalks, refuge islands and large planters. Read more here.

June 22 – July 22. America Ballet Summer Season is Here!

Love is in the air as American Ballet Theatre returns to the Metropolitan Opera House stage for a spectacular 2023 Summer season. A season full of unforgettable stories and popular favorites that are sure to leave you dazzled.  The season will feature the New York Premiere of two-time Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon’s Like Water for Chocolate, as well as full-length classics Giselle, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet. GET THE DETAILS.

June 23-July 2. Sunflower Network Features Ukrainian Designers

Time Out says…Shop from Ukrainian designers at this new fundraiser pop-up on the Lower East Side, running from June 23-July 2. Five Ukrainian designers will showcase their summer collections at Sunflower Network’s pop-up concept space located at 21 Avenue B.

Featured designers include Bibliotheque, Syndicate Original, Riot Division and Etnodim. All the pieces in the pop-up were designed and manufactured in Ukraine, then hand-carried from Kyiv to New York by Sunflower Network’s own Dean Ross and Jack Chase. The pop-up serves as a fundraising vehicle for “Project Horizon,” Sunflower Network’s new project helping to build a hospital in Western Ukraine. GET THE DETAILS.

June 26-June 30. Fabulous Summer Sale

Head to Gabrielle Carlson Studios next week for a great summer sale. Beautiful clothes in awesome fabrics, in your size, await you. GabrielleCarlson.com

Broadway Babe: A tribute to song writer Sheldon Harnick

Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller, pays tribute to Songwriter, Sheldon Harnick, who died yesterday, June 23 at the age of 99. He was working on his next project, at the time of his death. She’s posted a concert with Sheldon and his wife Margery, from 1981.  In addition, she’s found a hilarious Joan Rivers concert, as well as a delightful documentary about legendary talk show host, Mike Douglas. Also included is the musical, “Song & Dance” starring Bernadette Peters.

Go Island and Beach Hopping in NYC

Aerial view of New York harbor with Manhattan and Governors Island in view

Surrounded by water, the City is a collection of islands. All five boroughs are connected by the NYC Ferry, which costs $4 one way. Here are few spots you might want to visit.

• Brooklyn’s beachfront Coney Islandneighborhood is perhaps best known for its boardwalk, with its Cyclone and Thunderbolt roller coasters, the Wonder Wheel, other amusement rides and games, and Nathan’s Famous hot dogs.
• Orchard Beachin the Bronx, once known as “The Riviera of New York City,” sits on the Long Island Sound and offers view of City Island—the borough’s fishing village.
• Pay a visit to Manhattan’s new public park, Little Island, which offers free access to waterfront views, interactive art, performances and events.
• Another summer favorite is Governors Island, a car-free island with walking and biking paths, a hammock grove and food trucks. Governors Island Arts’ free events and workshops take place on the third Saturday of each month, from May through October.
• In Queens, the Rockawaysare home to NYC’s only surfing beaches. Enjoy the sand and surf and be sure to grab lunch at Tacoway Beach.
• Hop on the free Staten Island Ferry from Lower Manhattan and soak in views of the Statue of Liberty before visiting South Beach and Midland Beach. These waterfront neighborhoods offer beaches, a 2.5-mile boardwalk and a fishing pier.

Roving in Morocco

We’re adding this to our bucket list. Here’s Nicole Freezer Rubens report and photos from Morocco.

I was fortunate enough to travel to Morocco. My first impression was a brief but brilliant stop at the magnificent modern Hassan II Grand Mosque in Casablanca. The scale and detail of the mosaic work was mind blowing.

Then it was off to Fes which is a photographer’s dream. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 8th century. The ancient city is well preserved. It serves as a spiritual, cultural and artisan craft center, capturing the enduring essence of Morocco.

I share with you some scenes from a mosaic studio, the Chouara Tannery, in operation since the 11th century, and of course the Medina. While exploring and wandering through this colorful market and the narrow city streets, the distinct smells of the old city walls, the taste of the unique spices and the sounds of the constant daily calls to prayer, are a gift to all of the senses.

Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of poetry/photo book, “The Long Pause and the Short Breath.” Follow her on https://www.instagram.com/nfrconsult/