The New York City Traveler

The Whitney is so much more than just a biennial.  The Whitney Museum of American Art is the leading collection of 20th-century American contemporary art located right in the heart of Manhattan on the Upper East Side.   
The Whitney was founded in 1931 with the donation of 700 objects from Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.  Whitney, herself a well regarded sculptor, initially attempted to make the donation to the Metropolitan Museum of Art but the donation was declined, leading Whitney to be the founding member of the Whitney Museum of American Art. 
Currently, the permanent collection consists of over 12,000 works, …read more

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Memorial Day weekend is just beginning and New York is preparing for the summertime influx of visitors to the Big Apple.  The city can be a pricey destination, but with careful planning, substantial discounts can found to top attractions.  The New York CityPass is one of best the deals in New York City tourism.   
The New York CityPass gives you admission to six of New York’s top attractions:

Empire State Building Observatory
American Museum of Natural History & Rose Center
Guggenheim Museum
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Metropolitan Museum of Art & Cloisters
And your choice of Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises -or- Statue of …read more

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Met Holiday Mondays returns to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this Monday, Memorial Day.  The Met is usually closed on Mondays, but with the support of Bloomberg, the Met and all of its galleries are open on select holiday Mondays. 
This is your chance to catch temporary exhibits that are currently on display:

Jeff Koons on the Roof
Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
American Landscapes
Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum
Tiepolo Drawings from the Robert Lehman Collection
Anatomy of a Masterpiece: How to Read Chinese Paintings
Radiance from the Rain Forest: Featherwork in Ancient Peru
Beauty and Learning: Korean Painted Screens

All …read more

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At last count there are well over one hundred museums in New York City.  They range from the well-known and world famous (Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art) to the provocative (Museum of Sex) to the virtually unknown (African American Wax Museum).
In an attempt to make sense of all of the museums in the city, and based on The DC Traveler’s immensely popular postings entitled “Monument Monday,” I am starting a regular weekly post featuring a different museum… so think of it as “Museum Monday!” 
Housed in an impressive 5-floor Neo-Georgian-Colonial style brick and limestone building, Museum of …read more

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New York City’s first large-scale event dedicated solely to the art of photography, the New York Photo Festival (NYPF), is kicking off this week. 
Featuring contemporary photography with curated pavilions, satellite shows, and the New York Photo Awards, the festival promises a full schedule of events.  The NYPF festival seeks to celebrate contemporary photography in all its forms, document the future of photography, as well as celebrate the people who produce the work.
Here is a quick preview of the event in an ad created by those every-creative DUMBO residents and famed Sprint commercial directors, the Snorri Bros.:
 

 
Location:  New York …read more

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Fashion designers have always been fascinated by the idea of how clothing can transform the body, and even the perceived character, of the wearer.”  Giorgio Armani 
Fashion is inspired by many things and art is not just two-dimensional objects for your viewing pleasure.  The newest exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and part of the museum’s Costume Institute, looks as how movie and comic book superheroes have inspired fashion.  Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy displays over 60 clothing ensembles, including movie costumes, active sportswear, and couture.
The exhibit is divided into very eight very distinct themes that discuss …read more

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Children’s Day in Japan is fast approaching and New York City’s own Japan Society is inviting children and adults to celebrate this historic Japanese national holiday. 
Festivities include performances of Japan’s classic stories for children: Peach Boy (Momotaro), Golden Boy (Kintaro), Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Blossom (Hanasaka jiisan), and The Monkey and the Crab (Saru-kani gassen). 
Following performance, visitors can enjoy traditional snacks (kashiwa mochi) and create their own samurai helmets (kabuto) and carp streamers (koinobori), traditional Children’s Day decorations. 
Location: Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street (map)
Subway:  6 to 51st Street; 4, …read more

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New York doesn’t have to be expensive.  The city has some great bargains– if you know where to find them.  At least once a month, there there are dozens of museums and galleries that are free or nearly-free, asking you to “pay what you wish.”  
Always Free

Public Art Fund
Center for Book Arts
The New York Public Library: Humanities and Social Sciences Library
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Forbes Galleries
Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
National Museum of the American Indian
Museum of American Illustration
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Tuesday

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Wednesday

Bronx Zoo
New York Botanical Gardens

Thursday

Museum of Arts and Design …read more

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Visit the rainforest of Brazil without leaving the jungle of New York City.  Amazônia Brasil has a four-part exhibit that provides insight into the complex Amazon of Brazil.  Learn about how climate change is affecting the diverse ecosystem of the rainforest, visit a re-creation of an Amazon village, and meet indigenous artisans and shamans.    
Amazônia Brasil – Main Exhibit:  South Street Seaport, Pier 17
South Street Seaport has been transformed into a re-creation of the Brazilian rainforest.  In the 13,000-sq.-foot experience, visitors can see the sights and sounds of the Amazon and walk through a replica of a Amazon village.  Lending …read more

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DUMBO, once a sleepy neighborhood of warehouses on the “other” side of the Manhattan Bridge, has quickly become an art lovers destination.  Galleries abound, this small enclave of Brooklyn boasts dozens of art centers, galleries, and studios that display, sell, and create some of the most avant-garde art in the five boroughs.
The first Thursday of each month, serious art collectors and casual browsers convene on the streets of DUMBO for the First Thursday Gallery Walk.  Area galleries and artists’ studios are open for visitors and area restaurants and bars often have live music.  There are a number of artist …read more

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