Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thoughtful exhibits related to black culture rotate through, complemented by talks and performances. Call or
check online for scheduling details.
515 Malcolm X Blvd., at Lenox Ave., btw. 135th and 136th sts.
212/491-2200.
www.nypl.org
. Exhibition hours, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. Subway:
2/3 to 135th St.
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (Humanities and Social Sciences Library)
Many local fans of the
writer A. A. Milne don't realize that Winnie-the-Pooh has been a fellow Manhattan resident for over half a cen-
tury. Pooh and friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, and Tigger are all on display here. These are Christopher's actual
stuffed animals, instantly recognizable. They've held up pretty well for 90-year-olds, and they're nicely set near
a mural of the Hundred Acre Wood. The other book- and manuscript-themed exhibits here (they've even got a
Gutenberg Bible) are lovingly displayed and as well written as you'd expect from a library. See p. 128 for inform-
ation on free tours.
Fifth Ave., at 42nd St.
917/275-6975.
www.nypl.org
.
General hours Mon and Thurs-Sat 10am-6pm; Tues-Wed 10am-8pm; Sun 1-5pm (closed
Sun in summer); exhibitions may have shorter hours. Subway: B/D/F/M to 42nd St.; 7 to Fifth Ave.; 4/5/6/7/S to 42nd St./Grand Central.
2 Gallery Scene
Art galleries may be Gotham's greatest free cultural resource. Not only do these minimuseums provide us with
works of inspiration, they also give us free booze and snacks at their openings. Don't be shy about barging into
a show with million-dollar pieces. Gallery owners are almost as happy raising the profiles of their artists as they
are closing a sale; both are essential for upping the prices of the work.
If you want invitations to openings, you have a couple of options. You can sign in when you visit a gallery
and they'll keep you informed, or you can check online.
ArtCat.com
has an easy-to-read collection of the next
week's openings, and
ArtSlant.com
will let you build your own lists of must-see shows.
Artcards.cc
is another
good resource, with the added bonus of custom maps of the events you pick out. Typical gallery hours are Tues-
day through Saturday from noon to 6pm, but check ahead, as times can vary. Summers can be pretty dead in the
art world, and many galleries keep shorter hours, often closing on Saturdays. Many openings are on Thursday
nights.
Watching the Auction Action
Sure, you know all about New York's auction scene, the way you follow a stranger in, take an inconspicuous seat off to the
side, and try to suppress a sneeze just as a gavel comes down to announce you're the proud owner of a $50,000 Ming
vase. But there's more to New York auction houses than expensive misunderstandings and antitrust violations. Viewings
and sale previews are excellent chances to treat upcoming lots as museum exhibits. The current top house is
Christie's,
at 20 Rockefeller Plaza, 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues (
212/636-2000;
www.christies.com
)
.
Sotheby's
runs a close second on the Upper East Side, 1334 York Ave., at 72nd Street (
212/606-7000;
www.sothebys.com
)
.
There are a couple of often-overlooked smaller houses that sell equally intriguing artifacts.
SwannAuctionGalleries,
104 E. 25th St., between Park Avenue South and Lexington Avenue (
212/254-4710;
www.swanngalleries.com
)
, has
been around since 1941, with a focus on works on paper.
Bonhams&Butterields
dates back to England and 1793,
although its presence in New York is on a recent upswing. American art, Titanic artifacts, and natural history rarities have
made their way through the spiffy headquarters at 580 Madison Ave., between 56th and 57th streets (
212/644-9001;
Exhibition calendars for all houses are available online.
Chelsea
