New York Recommendations: Part 4: Sights and Museums

May 29th, 2007 by May

This is part four of my New York Recommendations series.

Museums/Cultural

Museum Mile
Metropolitan Museum of Art Truly my favorite place to spend many hot summer days in NY. I’ve never ‘finished’ seeing this museum. It’s just too big to see it all, but I’ve managed to see most of it. Place you have to plan and just go see what you must see. A really wide range of art from historical collections to modern to fashion. The quintessential museum with a little something for everyone.
American Natural History MuseumA family favorite. I find that while I enjoy the historical and nature aspect, the displays were more aimed at children than for any serious anthropological or archaeological study. The dinosaur bones really are a lot of fun though.

Frick Collection, a wonderful small museum full of great rooms of decorating arts and Fragonard paintings. It’s one of my favorite museums in the world. Mostly because of it’s wonderful collection of decorative arts.
The Museum of Modern Art: MoMA. I hear from my friend that the new restaurant Modern is a great place to eat, but I’ve never been. It’s great to be up close to some of the most famous piece of art. The scale of a lot of the reproduction is so wrong that it leaves one surprised at how small some of the actual pieces actually are! Highlights in Painting. My favourites room is of all the design highlights. The museum shops stocks some great unique gifts.
Brooklyn Museum, small and easy to finish. An excellent collection of Egyptian, period rooms and also a full set of The Hundred Famous Views of Edo woodprints.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, come for a concert, ballet, the opera, or the occasional craft fair.

Financial District Go on a week day and maybe around lunch time to experience the people and the hustle bustle of Wall Street. Of course, there are people who will want to go the ground zero. Having been there on on the day, I don’t think it’s right to go look at the site as so many tourist did the days and years since. However, perhaps it’s interesting to see the building work that’s going on there. I’m looking forward to seeing the new buildings completed.
Bowling Green Post Office Beautiful painted ceilings to look at while you wait in line at the post office.
Bowling Green Bull All the tourist gets their photo taken here!
New York Stock Exchange: NYSE.
Central Park Really a great space if you love nature. I am not a big outdoors person but did enjoy the park once in a while.
Grand Central Terminal Beautifully restored space. Other than the beautiful architecture, enjoy dinning and shopping
St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Here’s the highlights of what I loved in New York for the Holiday season:

Tree at the bull at Exchange Place Downtown.
The NYSE all dressed up in the lighted flag and Holiday lights.
The Tree right in front of the NYSE with all the lights up.
Of course, 5th ave and Madison ave above 47th with all the shops. My favourites each year?
- Cartier
- Saks 5th Ave
- Bergdorf Goodman
- Barneys
- Tree at Rockefeller Center and the skating.
- New York public library lions wearing their wreaths.
Walking down the shopping streets absorbing the spending vibe.
Going to the opera on New Year’s Eve at Lincoln Center.
Staying home and watching the ball drop being happy that you’re no where near with everyone at Time Square.