New York best museums
 

I would like your help to schedule a full-time museum trip to NYC. I'll have 7 days, and as I already know the other attractions, I'll devote my time to museums only. I was thinking about the Met, MoMa, Cloisters, Frick, Guggenheim, National Design... I've heard about a Pier One or PS One Museum - I'm ot sure -, do you have any insights about it? Do you think I should spend an entire day in each museum or two per day would do? Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks a lot.

You are serious about the museums and so I think you need more than one day at the Met. The Frick can be done in a day but it is my favorite, mainly because of its intimacy. MoMa is also one that needs your attention. I've only been to the Guggenheim once and I will have to defer to someone else on an opinion on the Cloisters. Sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm jealous. LMF

I highly recommend the Brooklyn Museum! On the first Saturday of each month it's open free of charge, and open late...and they have dancing and performances. It's quite an event.

I have heard good things about PS1, though I haven't visited yet. On the 7 train on the way out there, you'll see a spectacular, impressive display of graffiti from the train windows. I believe it's one of the museum's projects.

You forgot the Whitney!

LilMsFoodie, I'm with you on the Frick - it is a real favorite with me for the fabulous art and wonderful atmosphere.

I've found the Guggenheim to be interesting for its architecture; otherwise hit and miss.

If I was planning a 7-day museum odyssey in New York, I'd schedule (not necessarily in this order) 2 days at the Met, 1 each at MoMA, the Frick and the American Museum of Natural History. Then, I'd research and evaluate all the others in determining how to spend the final 2 days.

I really don't think you'll need a full day at the Frick. It is a lovely, but small museum that you can see easily see in a morning or afternoon.

I agree with KathrynT about the Frick. My point was to lock in a visit there on one of the days.

I don;t think you can leave out the Ellis Island Immigration Museum - incredibly moving - and demonstrative of the diversity that makes this the city - and country - that it is.

I think you could do the Frick and the Neue in one lovely day.

You are so right, nytraveler! How could I forget Ellis Island.

I strongly recommend P.S. 1 and Ellis Island, as others have mentioned. The International Center for Photography is also wonderful.

The Cloisters is well worth a trip - it's far out of the way (way, way Upper Manhattan) and worth spending a leisurely day in the Museum and surrounding park (or do a half-day at the Cloisters and a half day at the Met).

The Met will require a day and a half to two days, but I wouldn't do them back-to-back. Also, admission to the Met will get you same-day admission to the Cloisters (just hold onto your color-coded button).

I'll second the recommendations of the International Center for Photography and the American Museum of Natural History. ICP is a half-day. AMNH can be a full day, especially if you include the Planetarium side, and be sure to factor in the possibility of either school groups and/or large numbers of families escaping bad weather (it's my favorite rainy day activity with my daughter).

Sounds like a wonderful trip - enjoy.

You are the best! Now I have the right information and will be able to organize my "museum days" in the best possible way. Thank you all very much and feel free to add new suggestions.
Thanks!!!!

Here's a link to a list of all or <i>most</i> all the museums

http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html

I think a lot depends on your interests. I mostly agree with what's already been posted but there are some wonderful museums for history like the NY Historical Society, the Museum of the City of NY, the Mount Vernon Hotel museum, the Tenement museum,the Transit Museum.

If you're into modern art the Museum of Contemporary art might interest you. The Forbes museum is small and free and has some wonderful things. I hear the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City is very good and has a shuttle bus from Asia Society on weekends.

I echo the recomendation of the Forbes Museum.


Keith

The Guggenheim has an extensive Maplethorpe exhibition,an Otezia sculpture showing and the Kandinsky. Lots of the other rooms are closed, though. Still well worth a visit, but it won't take you as long as you might expect if you're coming in the next few weeks. Echo others comments about the Met - I could spend a week there! Also the MoMA deserves a good time. I think the entry is good for the whole day if you want to take a breather. The Neue is gorgeous (and don't miss the cafe!) Amongst other things, their Klimts are wonderful. There's a very moving series of sketches by a German war artist. Also some beautiful jewellery &amp; silver pieces.

The Brooklyn is a wonderful place and it is right next door to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and Prospect Park.

If you like decorative arts, on't forget to check the Bard Graduate Center, the Folk Art Museum, and the Museum of Art &amp; Design to see if they are showing something you would be interested in. Ditto the Studio Museum in Harlem. And if you have time for a day trip, although I have no idea what the bus ride is like, try to go to Storm King - a park of sculptures about an hour from Manhattan.

ellis island, city museum of NY, firefighters museum, backstage tour of the Met Opera house, gracie somethingorother mansion?

have a blast!

I have been to all the museums you mentioned, and I personally wouldn't waste the money on the Guggenheim unless you like very &quot;far out&quot; modern art. If you like history,I would highly recommend the tenement museum and possibly the transit museum.

i did something very similar to this the last time i was in new york for an extended time - this was my schedule:

Friday - Met (all day; picked Friday since they're open later)

Saturday - The Cloisters (about 2.5 hrs)
[rest of the day waltzing around 5th avenue &amp; attending la monte young's dream house, maybe of interest to you if you like fluxus]

Sunday - The Jewish Museum (about 3 hours, due to the great Kandinsky/Schoenberg show)

Monday -
1) MOMA Queens (at PS1, during its transition time, about 2 hours)
2) Museum Of The American Indian (about 1.5 hours, nothing on the scale of what has since opened in DC)

Tuesday -
1) The Museum Of American Illustration (small place, more like a gallery, that had an exhibit on Patrick McDonnell &amp; the comic strip Mutts - 30 minutes)
2) The Frick (90 minutes)
3) The Guggenheim (2-2.5 hours not counting the very long line, the only line we suffered on our visit)

Wednesday - Brooklyn Museum (2-3 hours and NOT ENOUGH TIME! especially if you're into egyptian/near-eastern stuff - 4 hours is what i'd recommend)

Thursday - Museum of Natural History (all day)

so you know, my main interests are modern art (1900-1960 or so) &amp; ancient civilizations - the wife's really into the flemish primitives &amp; impressionism...

interspersed with these events were other touristy things, i.e. shopping, going to a few broadway shows, hanging out in particular areas, walking the streets, etc. if you have any questions feel free to ask...

Keep in mind the Metropolitan Museum of Art is an encyclopedic museum spanning over 5,000 years. The other museums highlight areas within that time.

Meaning the Metropolitan Museum of Art will have an incredible section of Modern Art but the Museum of Modern Art is entirely devoted to that genre. Does that make sense?

One biggie, it is easy to museum overload. I once did the Frick in the morning and the Guggenheim in the afternoon.

By 4PM I was a babbling idiot because my brain was so overloaded. Had to head to the Oak Bar in The Plaza and down Bloody Marys and regroup.

I've been checking on temporary exhibtions for my own upcoming visit. The Mapplethorpe and Oteiza exhibitions at the Guggenheim, mentioned above, both close tomorrow. There will be a big Russian exhibition opening in mid-September.

To restate the obvious, your choice really should depend upon personal preference. For example, while I love the Frick and everybody recommends it, I can easily ignore their Fragonards and Bouchers and hustle off instead to the Whitney (mentioned only once in this thread) for their Hoppers. So have fun and remember, you can't possibly see it all.

The Pierpont Morgan Library is, obviously, a library, but many visit it as if it were a museum. If you will be there after Spring 2006, it will be open. (Disclaimer: I've never been there, all my attempts to visit have been frustrated by weather, closings, and other logistical issues, but I hear it's wonderful.) Their website is www.morganlibrary.org.

Scottvan, keep trying! I think that the Morgan is indeed wonderful, and I was totally bummed when I discovered that it would be closed during my visit this time.

Oh, how lucky New Yorker's are to have so many wonderful museums to choose from!

Just a thought to save a half day for any special exhibitions that might be on somewhere that isn't on your list.

The Met, of course!
If the Bi-annual is on at the Whitney don't miss it.
If you can possibly get there, don't miss Storm King, up the Hudson. It's totally uunique. My favorite way of seeing it is to park at the lower lot and work your way up and around till you get to the buildings at the top. (if you park at the top there's a tendency to just look down in all directions, and you'll miss a lot.) This is a all-day trip -there's a picnic area- don't forget bug stuff and sunscreen- depending on the season,
(Also, you didn't say when you're going, but it does close in winter.)

The Cloisters is best on a pretty day, Spring to Fall, when the gardens are also lush. You'll almost think you're in France or Italy...totally delightful. I agree with doing half day at the Met then continue uptown to see the Cloisters, as long as you pick up another day at the Met later in the week.

What can I say? You are more than perfect. It's so much interesting to hear about your experience as I dream about my &quot;museum days&quot;, because I can get the feeling of it and also for the helpful insights on time and logistic.
Thanks to all of you and keep it coming!

Whatever you do, don't miss the Jewish Museum. I went today and it's amazing! Just along 5th Avenue from the Frick etc.

One of the best museums I have been to is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. No art but great history of our ancestors and how they lived. Kind of goes hand in hand with a visit to Ellis Island. Tickets can be ordered on line. It fills up fast so advance tickets are almost a must.It takes about 2 hours to go thru as it is a guided tour of an old tenement building that has been preserved just as it was when our ancestors came over - well maybe not the first batch of ancestors but those that came thru Ellis Island stayed in these fire and rat traps so future generations could have a better life.