High Line 28 Block Association
Seeking the meaning of life around the upper west side of Chelsea. We’ve got a weekly newsletter if you’re so inclined.
Couples trade partners
We love love around here and remain a little perplexed by a tangible romantic recession and relationship pessimism that seems to have really picked up over the last 5 or so years. Thus we’re excited to break the news after it was broken by the New York Times and probably various other publications too that one of your options is just to kind of trade partners with one of your friends.
Nano brewery and restaurant called Future Self Brewing is (likely) coming to West 24th
The owners of Haymaker Bar and Kitchen on 29th Street & 8th Ave are opening a brewery and restaurant called Future Self Brewing on 24th Street & 6th Avenue. As we understand it based on materials filed with the local community board and this article, the brewery would be on the basement level, where guests can do tours and sample craft brews, and the restaurant (which is huge and can seat 165 people) would be on the first floor.
Horses are out (in June 2028)
We wrote a few months ago about a ban on horse-drawn carriages that, in the wake of the death of an 18 year-old passenger this last June, New York City’s legislature appeared to be destined to enact. Yesterday, the legislature (called the New York City Council) voted overwhelmingly to ban the carriages, starting in June 2028. The idea between now and June 2028 is to figure out how to address the unemployed drivers and horses.
Popular* Indian restaurant called Samudhra opening a little above you, on 43rd Street [*in New Jersey]
New Jersey is a state in our general vicinity which we understand has excellent views of New York. As first reported by our sister publication the New York Post, a popular Indian restaurant & lounge called Samudhra in Franklin Park, New Jersey (about an hour away) is opening up a second location on 43rd Street & 8th Avenue, on the ground floor of an apartment building called The Ellery. We took at look at the menu for the new location and it is very close to the menu for the NJ location.
“The Weight of Normal Things” at Sofy Gallery through Oct 24
Beauty hiding in plain sight; it’s what we like to think this whole association is trying to highlight. We’re a little late on this but it’s never too late to do the right thing: From October 1 through October 24, 2026 at the Sofy Gallery on 19th Street & 10th Avenue is a new exhibit called “The Weight of Normal Things,” which bills itself as “a meditation of beauty hiding in plain sight.” A more complete description from Time Out:
Maybe you’ll see Whoopi Goldberg filming “Women Like Us” this Wednesday, October 21st
A new Netflix “dramedy” starring Whoopi Goldberg, Jenifer Lewis, Vanessa Williams, and Vivica A. Fox, is shooting on 27th and 28th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues, on October 21, 2026. I can’t find a trailer for it quite yet, but I can find Whoopi talking about it on The View here. And here’s a description:
Would you like to see a picture of 25th Street & 10th Ave but 100 years ago?
Companion to the post immediately below. Check out what 10th Ave used to be, replete with the train tracks and horse-drawn carriage-taxis. You’re here for just a moment, my friends.
Something a little apocalyptic is going on at a slice of 25th & 10th, formerly Joe’s Tavern
Neighbor John writes in with a question: what’s going on with the dilapidated building on 25th & 10th (pictured here)? We took a walk down there and can confirm that the scene is a bit apocalyptic—we couldn’t even make out what the old bar sign used to say, and we see a Polymarket banner posted with questions that are provocative to the point of insanity (“What are you voting for?” - and then “Retirement” “Gun Control” “Climate” and “Housing,” as though I can hop on my phone right now and make $50 betting against housing…). Anyway, we did a little digging and there is actually quite a bit of history here—here is what we found:
Guys sitting on 21st Street stoop have been out there for a while
Two very old friends spotted on 21st Street between 9th & 10th (right across from the Vanderbilt NYC campus we posted about below).
Olly Olly on 26th & 11th has a pop up flea market this Sunday [SATURDAY, sorry] from 12-4pm
We have written before about the little flea markets that occasionally pop up at Olly Olly, which is inside the historic Starrett-Lehigh building on 26th Street & 11th Avenue. This Sunday, October 17, 2026, a flea market is again popping up at Olly Olly from 12-4pm—this is where you can get your vintage clothes, handmade jewelry, pottery, art pieces, and the like. There is also a ton of incredible food at the Olly Olly; the Thai place called Kinn Thai and pizza place called Honey Pie Pizza are stand outs. Recommend you stop by and browse.
Imagine a world where you don’t have to choose between a coffee shop and a flower shop
The basic problem with getting you somebody who can do both is actually finding somebody who can do both. We at High Line 28 are at your service at least in some respects, including the coffee respect, and so we occasionally take it upon ourselves to do the heavy lifting of life for you. The latest result of those efforts is our discovery of a coffee AND flower shop called Ora La Casa de las Flores, which opened on 24th Street & 9th Avenue in February 2026. Trust us on this; this is your new favorite place to meet a friend, work on a laptop, or even buy a bouquet. Turns out life isn’t always about choices and tradeoffs.
Vanderbilt campus on 21st Street between 9th & 10th will let you walk around this Sunday
We wrote a few weeks ago about the new Vanderbilt NYC campus opening to its first class of students. Mostly understandably, the gates on 21st Street have been shut to the public since we added it to our regular walk around the time of our original post. Neighbor Lauren now writes in informing us that this Sunday, October 18, 2026, Vanderbilt will be opening its gates for an “open house” from 12-4pm. Architects will be on scene to answer your questions about the historic Gothic buildings on campus. We will wander down this Sunday and encourage you to as well.