Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

MoMA is truly gorgeous -- its so fun to go and walk through the galleries (and weave in/out of tourists). They also have awesome events throughout the year for young people which are really fun! 

If you love modern art, or any kind of art, be sure to add MoMa to your list- They have great special exhibits, and a fantastic permanent collection- Despite all the amazing art in the museum, my favorite part is the sculpture garden- It's a peaceful escape from the bustling city, and the (usually) busy galleries. 

Frank Lloyd Wright at 150

I felt privileged to be among the first to view the much anticipated exhibition ‘Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive,’ opened at MoMA this morning, in celebrating his 150th anniversary. Privileged, I say, because this is clearly another triumph of its curator Barry Bergdoll (who also curated the unforgettable Mies in Berlin in 2001), an important moment that will be remembered. It seeks to examining, interpreting and contextualizing the various themes and projects that had come to shape the career, intellect, contribution, and vision of the most prolific and renowned American architect of all time. The complexity of his evolution, from the late nineteenth century, through the turn of the 20th century, the Great Depression, to the postwar years, and the themes of his work -- urbanism, building systems, ecologies, landscapes -- just to name a few of the sections included, the richness of his sources, from Native American living to Mies’ glass skyscraper, make this task not simple at all. The exhibition is divided into unites, each of which investigates a key object or cluster of objects from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives and other collections. There is no better place to present this pivotal show, as we have to remember that it was here, at MoMA, that the first retrospective of Wright opened in 1994, the first attempt to critically examine his architecture, because his legacy was totally ignored in the 60s and 70s. ‘Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive’ a show to be remembered for its contribution to scholarship, and for its reflection of the how we study architecture history in the 21st century. 

If you love art and work in Midtown, get a membership for yourself ASAP.  Aside from being one of the world's best art museums, it's the perfect place to spend your lunch break - or those pesky few hours that you need to kill before meeting up for drinks.  You'll never know exactly what you'll find here - I've stumbled upon impromptu jazz sets and interior design lectures alike - making it the ideal place to be in NYC.

As someone who is not a huge fan of art/art museums, this museum is not my favorite in the city but it is definitely still an enjoyable experience every time I visit. They always have interesting exhibits with unique art. My favorite that I've ever seen there was the Tim Burton exhibit from a few years ago. 

I love art, and wish I were more artistically talented, so coming to this museum is great for inspiration. They usually have free admission on fridays and often run other specials. Be aware that both times I tried to go for free fridays there was an endless line, so go early. They have a wide variety of exhibits with different themes that change seasonally. There are lots of beautiful pieces, and one can spend many hours just wandering this place. It is THE place for modern art (as it is so adequately named). They do give audio tours for purchase, but I just like going and leisurely wandering.

Big fan of modern art - one of my favorite museums globally, and certainly an NYC institution. Keep a look out for specials, discounts, and 'free' days/nights. There may be longer waits, but it's always fun to know places like this can be accessible to everyone (especially if the cost is a limiting factor - it can add up for fees, membership, audio/guided tours, gift shop runs, food ,etc.) There is always something new to see with rotating exhibitions (which I think are wonderfully curated and add a special emphasis to some of the existing collection - past favorites of mine have been retrospectives on the modern/post modern periods and dadaism), but don't forgot the legendary standing galleries, set-ups and famous pieces (Dali, and Warhol are standouts for me). Audio (and especially guided) tours are absolutely worth it - to help provide context and meaning, though there is so much, it can also be pleasant to just browse and follow up on the pieces that pique your interest. The gift shops and cafes are certainly up to snuff (in terms of quality, service, cleanliness, etc.) but are more of a supplementary experience if you have the time.