Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St., btw. Amsterdam Ave. and Broadway.
212/721-1223.
www.cmom.org
.
Regular admission $11, free 1st Fri of the
month 5-8pm. Tues-Fri and Sun 10am-5pm (5-8pm 1st Fri); Sat 10am-7pm. Subway: 1 to 86th St.
Children'sMuseumoftheArts
Kids have hands-on experiences with art at this sleek new incarnation of the CMA. The
WEE Arts Studio is designed for toddlers, while older kids get creative in studios dedicated to disciplines like clay, media,
sound, and fine art. There are three to four gallery shows every year, many showcasing art by kids. 103 Charlton St., btw.
Hudson and Greenwich sts.
212/274-0986.
www.cmany.org
.
Regular admission $10, pay what you wish Thurs 4-6pm.
Mon and Wed noon-5pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; Thurs-Fri noon-6pm. Subway: 1 to Houston St.; C/E to Spring St.
Museum of Arts and Design
Craft design gets its 15 minutes inside the towering new home of this Midtown
museum. Exhibits focus on emerging artists and new ideas of form, especially as the latter follows function. Clay,
glass, wood, metal, and fiber are among the materials represented. For big spenders, the artisans on display often
have their wares available in the shop.
2 Columbus Circle, btw. Broadway and Eighth Ave.
212/599-7777.
www.madmuseum.org
. Regular admission $15; pay what you wish Thurs
after 6pm. Tues-Sat and Sun 11am-6pm; Thurs-Fri 11am-9pm. Subway: A/B/C/D/1 to 59th St./Columbus Circle.
Museum of Chinese in America
The Chinese-American population of New York City has more than doubled in
the last 20 years, so it's no surprise MOCA left its original digs in a crumbling old public school for a new space
six times as large. Maya Lin's design balances past and present, playing off the building's industrial history, most
dramatically in the raw brick courtyard. A core exhibit on the Chinese-American Experience is supplemented by
oral history projects, photo shows, and art installations.
215 Centre St., btw. Grand and Howard sts.
212/619-4785.
www.mocanyc.org
.
Regular admission $7; free Thurs. Mon and Fri 11am-5pm;
Thurs 11am-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. Subway: J/N/Q/R/Z/6 to Canal St.; B/D to Grand St.
The Museum at Eldridge Street
To look at the immaculate stained glass, carved wood, and starry ceilings inside
this 1887 synagogue, you would never guess it spent decades on the verge of collapse. Guided tours are the way
to go here, showing off the intricate restoration, along with a hidden snuff compartment and a massive central
chandelier turned upside down when the building's lighting was converted from gas to electric. Mondays are
free, although there is a
tzedakah
box if you'd like to leave a contribution (the fix-up cost some $20 million and
took 20 years).
12 Eldridge St., btw. Canal and Division sts.
212/219-0302.
www.eldridgestreet.org
.
Regular admission $10; free Mon. Sun-Thurs 10am-5pm;
Fri 10am-3pm. Immigrant experience tours hourly 10am-4pm, architecture and preservation tours at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm. Subway: F to
E. Broadway; B/D to Grand St.
Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
This institution's unwieldy name reflects
its dual callings as museum and memorial. The six-sided original building has a permanent exhibit that puts a
human face on the Holocaust. A new wing houses ambitious temporary exhibits. The renovation also brought
sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, who audaciously planted dwarf oak trees inside a series of boulders. This
Gardenof
Stones
has been growing for a decade now, and resonating as a living memorial. Although the museum charges
admission most times, access to the Goldsworthy installation is always free.
36 Battery Place, near Little West St.
646/437-4200.
www.mjhnyc.org
.
Regular admission $12; free Wed 4-8pm. Sun-Tues and Thurs
10am-5:45pm; Wed 10am-8pm; Fri 10am-5pm (closed 3pm during non-daylight saving time and on the eve of Jewish holidays). Subway: 4/5 to
Bowling Green; R to Rector St.; 1 to South Ferry.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
MoMA's nothing-left-to-chance makeover has resulted in a structure with the
overall feel of a Fortune 500 headquarters. Of course, for $650 million, the finishes
should
look pretty damn nice.
The stars of the permanent collection (Cézanne, Hesse, Mondrian) are joined by high-wattage temporary exhibi-
tions. You'll pay through the nose for the privilege of wandering these sepulchral halls, except on Friday nights,
which are free courtesy of Target and feature appallingly long lines. Is it just me, or could they have spent a little
less on top-grade marble, and let the art be more accessible?
