Metropolitan Museum Of Art

I was in NYC for new years 2008 and only had a few days to see as much as I possibly could. I whizzed through the Met and was simply astonished at the number of types of art and artifacts. I could have easily spent years looking at their collection. It was absolutely fascinating and I can’t wait to go again, hopefully at a quieter time if there even is one at the Met.

I didn’t bother with a map and just wandered around taking it all in. Visiting on a rainy weekend morning was a mistake but I still got a chance to see everything. . . just had to be a little more patient. Klimt’s “Girl in White” was one of my favorite finds but the design/architecture section was surprisingly interesting as well.

My many years in NYC have allowed me the opulent luxury of knowing the MET intimately; sometimes going with the intention of seeing just one gallery room that i’m less familiar with, or one artist’s works.

Sunday mornings are bliss and can be preempted or followed by a stroll into Central Park, on Friday and Saturday eves the Astor, Temple of Dendur, and The Charles Engelhard (American Wing) courts are sublime; and suprisinginly few people take advantage of the bottomless well of the MET’s Thomas J. Watson Library.

I was a docent for corporate and student groups for years, so you might expect me to say this, but joining one of the many brilliant gallery tours is also a terrific feast.

(Even the sales area of the MET shop is a treasure trove for great birthday gifts that support the museum’s ambitious goals.)

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes; don’t use flash photography (which flash-by-flash destroys paintings) when you see a restroom, consider using it – they can be quite a hike to find.

So, go—and if you can, go often.

I made you take time to look at what I saw and when you took time to really notice my flower, you hung all your associations with flowers on my flower and you write about my flower as if I think and see what you think and see and I don’t.
—Georgia O’Keeffe

I love art. The best part of this place is you can stand a foot away from an original piece of art by Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, etc and see the actual brush strokes. You get a sense of “being there” when you do this. I was awed by the absolute magificence (?). It is definitely a 3 or 4 day trip. When you go, go to one particular area, because you can spend all day just in that section. Check out the weapons & armor and Frank Lloyd Wright. Can’t say enough good things!