I've visited both the Met and MoMA numerous times and knowing my son's interests (since this is his first trip to NYC and we have limited time) MoMA is the choice for this visit. He has been to Provence, loved St. Remy, so is super excited to see Starry Night in person. Then I read an article about a new exhibit opening this week which seals the deal: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/a...-is-queen.html

Thank you for all the restaurant recommendations, especially in Greenwich Village. It's definitely one of my favorite New York places and my son wants to do an "unofficial" college tour of the NYU neighborhood.

williamscb13, it's great to have feedback from a recent visitor. We do have tickets to see David Bryne's American Utopia at the St. James on our last night. My son LOVES great live music; I was a teenager raised on Talking Heads on MTV in the 80s and have followed his career since, so we're both very much looking forward to the experience.

anyone know of a good private tour guide

Natural History Museum is totally different than Metropolitan Museum of Art...Although are in the same general area(CentralPark).
If only moderately interested in Art then NHM best all round
MOMA is much smaller and often has very Avant-Garde presentations. mixed with the usual Picasso, Matisse,
Warhol, Wyeth etc.(summary of exhibitions online @MOMA.org.)
Do-not mean to sound flippant, just happen to be a person who loves art..."The Met" is by far the best Art Museum in the USA...At least for me but out of the 15 I have visited.
There last month and had to have a "timed" ticket reserved in advance.
NYC is truly a magical place...

The OP's trip was seven months ago

Hyamaguchi: You've tacked your question on to a thread from last year. Your question isn't related to the OP's topic and is sort of buried. It would be much better to start a new thread of your own.