Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
subtle spiritual air pervades. The museum's motto,
PaxCultura
(Peace through Culture), gets expressed in a full
schedule of free concerts and poetry readings. Music generally plays Sundays at 5pm; check online for additional
dates and times.
319 W. 107th St., btw. Riverside Dr. and Broadway.
212/864-7752.
www.roerich.org
. Tues-Fri noon-5pm; Sat-Sun 2-5pm. Subway: 1 to 110th
St.
9/11 Memorial
Having to endure the rigors of a security checkpoint only heightens the contrast of quiet
and calm you experience on this memorial's leafy plaza. Two austere squares mark the footprints of the World
Trade Center towers, with water flowing into dark center boxes whose depths can't quite be plumbed. Watching
the cascade (these are the largest man-made waterfalls in North America), it's hard not to think of the iconic im-
ages of the towers' collapse. Names incised on the outer rim reflect the cross section of New York that bore the
brunt of the attacks, nowhere more poignant than when you see a name appended “and her unborn child.” I re-
commend a dusk visit, when the crowds have eased, and the subdued lighting lends itself to reflection.
Advance passes are required, and easily reserved online for free. Limited same-day passes are distributed at the
9/11 Memorial Preview Site (20 Vesey St., at Church St.); the NYC & Co. kiosk at City Hall; and the NY Water
Taxi booth at the South Street Seaport.
Albany and Greenwich sts.
212/266-5211.
www.911memorial.org
. Daily 10am-6pm, extended to 8pm Mar-Oct; last entry 1 hr. before close.
Subway: A/C/J/Z/2/3/4/5 to Fulton St./Broadway Nassau; 2/3 to Park Place; E to World Trade Center; R or 1 to Rector St.
Onassis Cultural Center
Aristotle Onassis—or as most of us know him, Mr. Jackie O.—was the man
behind this Midtown institution, which supports Hellenic art and culture. Winding stairs in the middle of the
Olympic Tower atrium's south side lead to a warren of galleries with unexpected waterfall views. Samples from
Byzantium show of the flat faces of a world before linear perspective was invented. Modern Greek efforts can
often be found here as well. On the lobby floor, a long-term display shows of rare casts of Parthenon marbles.
The Olympic Tower atrium, 641 Fifth Ave., entrance just east of Fifth on 51st or 52nd sts.
212/486-4448.
www.onassisusa.org
. Mon-Sat
10am-6pm. Subway: E/M to Fifth Ave./53rd St.
Pratt Galleries
The fruits of Pratt Institute's prestigious arts and design programs can be found in the gal-
leries the school runs. Current student shows are mixed in with alumni and faculty exhibitions, as well as those
of other artistic innovators.
144 W. 14th St., btw. Sixth and Seventh aves.
212/647-7778.
www.pratt.edu
.
Tues-Sat 11am-6pm. Subway: 1/2/3 and F/M to 14th St.; L to
Sixth Ave. Other location:
SchalerGallery,Prattcampus,
200 Willoughby Ave., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.
718/636-3517.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sub-
way: G to Clinton-Washington aves.
Scandinavia House
The Midtown headquarters of the Nordic Center in America is as stylish as the north-
ern nations that spawned it. A third-floor gallery hosts contemporary art from the Norse nations, interspersed
with historical material, like recent shows on Swedish actress Greta Garbo and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallen-
berg.
58 Park Ave., btw. 37th and 38th sts.
212/879-9779.
www.scandinaviahouse.org
. Tues-Sat noon-6pm. In summer, call ahead for schedule
changes. Subway: 4/5/6/7/S to 42nd St./Grand Central; 6 to 33rd St.
Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Sony sucks in new generations of technology addicts with this four-level
supermodern demonstration center, which was recently overhauled. Kids can try their hands at robotics, medical
imaging, and video game design, among other expensive toys. Free movies round out the stimuli; see p. 248 in
chapter 7.
Tickets are free, but are required. A few walk-up tickets are distributed, but the better way
to go is with an advance reservation, made between 7 days and 3 months in advance.
550 Madison Ave., at 56th St.
212/833-8100.
www.sonywondertechlab.com
.
Tues-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm; last entrance 30 min. before closing.
Subway: E/M to Fifth Ave./53rd St.; 4/5/6/N/Q/R to Lexington Ave./59th St.
