The High Line Is The Drunkest, Kissiest Park In The City

Case in point (Katie Sokoler/ Gothamist)

A toast is in order to the High Line today, which just took top honors in terms of drunk people, or at least drunk people who get caught drinking. The Parks Department has given out more summonses this past year—113, to be exact—for illegal drinking in the High Line than at any other park in the city. That's a lot of tickets for a petite seven-acre park—certainly enough to warrant a fresh bottle of bubbly, don't you think?

Unsurprisingly, many of the offenders were couples, particularly tourists, who like to sip champagne at sunset and get a little frisky. “This is the make-out park of New York City,” said a Parks enforcement officer, which we've known since Day One. What's more, adds the officer, the tipsy horndogs are usually “the philharmonic crowd and the upwardly mobile,”the kind of people who think they're above the law. This is America, people, not some godforsaken European free-for-all! Sorry, we can get a little nasty after too much gin on the esplanade.

There is a bit of good news, however: first off, you can legally imbibe at a small open-air bar called The Porch on the West 15th Street stretch of the High Line, and secondly, thanks to the city's fiscal cuts, fewer officers are patrolling the parks. To play it extra safe, just pull the old "vodka-in-a-waterbottle" trick and carry an extra pack of Altoids—it might not be as romantic as Dom Perignon, but there's a good chance you'll still get lucky after a few shots.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jamie Feldmar in Food on December 12, 2011 3:13 PM

Comments [rss]

ohgodkillmenow

That's right, Mr. Officer, go ahead and bash "the philharmonic crowd and the upwardly mobile." I'm sure underachieving trash like yourself appreciate the chance to knock people who have goals, aspirations, a sense of culture, and a hint of intelligence. That's right, you stupid fucking animal, keep talking shit while the world in all its complexity and splendor passes you by.

nomadnewyork(Adrian)

Hmmmm.

What?

Vas

The High Line At Night
http://vimeo.com/32763108

tsol

“the philharmonic crowd and the upwardly mobile,”the kind of people who think they're above the law."

This reminds me of a huge Dominican birthday party in one day Central Park- a few dozen drunken revelers were whooping it up and falling all over a pathway. One bored cop leaned against a nearby tree, pointedly ignoring all of the open bottles and stadium cups.

They weren't dressed for the Met...

schmeep

You misspelled douchiest and yuppiest.

AaronRed99

And if you even USE Rockaway beaches after 6pm Bloombag's troops have you arrested. The philharmonic crowd should be happy with just a summons.

masterjarvis

i spent the whole summer on the beach in rockaway this year and i stayed past 6 quite often and i was never approached by police or parks dept people even one time

Inspector Spacetime

Possibly he means 'go swimming in the water'?

FunTimesInNYC

this is so stupid. the rest of the world drinks outside but in this supposed "free" country you cant.

knayte

Saw some German tourists at the South St holiday market who were incredulous that the traditional German spiced wine they ordered at a booth was non-alcoholic. I was all "sorry guys, welcome to America."

delicats

You can in some cities!

Otherwise I agree. I visisted London this summer and their "booze laws" are basically the opposite of NYC- you have open containers on the street, but you can't be obviously intoxicated. In NYC, you can be visibly drunk but you can 't be drinking.