Gabi On The Go: October 11, 2023: 48 hours in the Big Apple!

Short and sweet!

It all started when I heard that one of my favourite Brazilian artists was doing a concert in NYC. Well, there was a reason to visit the Big Apple. Why not with a wonderful friend, who I haven't hang out too much lately because of the distance - she lives in Montreal, and I am in Toronto. Maybe she will say "yes"! She did! NYC, here we go!

Gabi & Gabi - meeting in person at Toronto airport, after one year.

Entering Manhattan.

HOTEL:

Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Times Square South - 338 WEST 36TH STREET

Right after dropping our bags in the hotel we basically ran to the High Line, towards south - to Chelsea Market.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line

The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long (2.33 km) elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. The High Line's design is a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf. The abandoned spur has been redesigned as a "living system" drawing from multiple disciplines which include landscape architecture, urban design, and ecology. The High Line was inspired by the 4.7 km (2.9 mi) long Coulée verte (tree-lined walkway), a similar project in Paris completed in 1993.

Our first picture together in NYC... and probably my favourite one of the whole trip.

The tree symbolism will follow us throughout these 48 years: the roots of our friendship branching out.

FROM:https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/pamela-rosenkranz/

For the third High Line Plinth commission, Rosenkranz presents Old Tree, a bright red-and-pink sculpture that animates myriad historical archetypes wherein the tree of life connects heaven and earth. The tree’s sanguine color resembles the branching systems of human organs, blood vessels, and tissue, inviting viewers to consider the indivisible connection between human and plant life. Old Tree evokes metaphors for the ancient wisdom of human evolution as well as a future in which the synthetic has become nature. On the High Line—a contemporary urban park built on a relic of industry—Old Tree raises questions about what is truly “artificial” or “natural” in our world. Made of man-made materials and standing at a height of 25 feet atop the Plinth, it provides a social space, creating shade while casting an ever-changing, luminous aura amid New York’s changing seasons.

Here is a YOUTUBE video to learn more about this beautiful piece of art:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=182&v=If7ntcbVjng&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehighline.org%2F&source_ve_path=MzY4NDIsMjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

I love the murals around the High Line.

Lots of people out, enjoying such a pleasant fall afternoon.

Chelsea Market - one of my favourite places in NYC - was already all decorated for Halloween.

Lining up for lunch at one of the most delicious tacos I have ever had: Los Tacos 1.

https://www.lostacos1.com

The line up moves fast, but luckily, there is brewery right beside it, with a suggestive sign:

"Yes! You can drink while in line. Order a beer!"

It was definitely worth the wait.
The stuff - like Jesus here, who served our tacos - were hard workers, efficient and nice to us, tourists.

The moment were were waiting for!!!!

There he was! Arnaldo Antunes!

I have been his fan for almost four decades, since I was a teen listening to inappropriate music with my older siblings. Arnaldo was part of the Titãs, a punk rock band in the 80s/90s.

I immediately fell in love with his punk hair, crazy robot/strange dancing and his deep, deep voice. Titãs was a nine people band, but I only had eyes for Arnaldo Antunes.

This was actually my third time seeing him on stage, on different phases of his artistic career. I saw him on Titas band, back in the 90s. Then I saw him as one of the Tribalistas - with Marisa Monte and Carlinhos Brown - in Italy, just before the pandemic. And now, him and super talented piano player Vítor Araújo, playing their incredibly beautiful album Lágrimas no Mar (Tears in the Sea).

The concert was super intimated, with less than 200 people, which made it even more special. I had the feeling only people who really appreciate his art showed up. I felt special, and lucky. I saw on social media on the next day, that former Talking Heads, David Byrne was there as well. :)

What a inebriating experience!!!

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnaldo_Antunes

Arnaldo Antunes (born Arnaldo Augusto Nora Antunes Filho, September 2, 1960) is a Brazilian musician, writer, and composer. He was a member of the rock band Titãs, which he co-founded in 1982 and left ten years later. After 1992, he embarked on a solo career. He has published poetry and had his first book published in 1983. He has worked with Marisa Monte, Tribalistas, and Carlinhos Brown.

Celebrity spotting around Times Square, after the concert.

We heard the commotion and came to see who was there.

Well, neither of us recognized him. Can you help us????

One of the most fun things to do in NYC is to experience Times Square at night.

It's like all the stress and tiredness of a long day in the big city finds a place to release all the energy.
You can feel the vivacity of the metropole here, at 11pm.