Just a few more days until the Raphael exhibit leaves The Met. I'm so happy I had the chance to see…read moreit. The landmark exhibition Raphael: Sublime Poetry runs through June 28 at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 899. It is the first comprehensive exhibition on the Italian Renaissance master in the United States, gathering over 170 of his paintings, drawings, and tapestries from 62 global lenders. The Met is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, museums in NYC. Grand, opulent, rich in history and gorgeous. Raphael exhibit has been running for three months and showcases the celestial beauty of his work. Whether it's his famous portraits or the multiple Virgin Mother and Child paintings, his stunning work will leave you breathless. Raphael, along with Michelangelo and Da Vinci were known as the Supreme Masters of the High Renaissance. Exquisite Master artists. In addition to this gorgeous exhibit which is included in the standard admission, there's always so much to see at The Met. The last day of the exhibit is June 28--catch it!

Fabulous museum! A must see if you're a museum lover like me. Tip: best to visit upon opening…read morehour, as it gets quite busy later in the day. No need to buy tickets online, as they do sell tickets there. But, do plan and set aside a good chunk of time to visit, because this museum is quite large! So much to see and beautiful vast exhibits. This museum held a large collection and we didn't get a chance to explore all, but was able to see our musts. At the time of our visit, Raphael was the special exhibit coming to a close. The exhibit was extensive and interesting, but frustrating because it was over crowded with people. We actually had to bypass many areas, as there were too many people congregated around most of the pieces. Bought some nice souvenirs at their gift shop- Van Gogh neck scarf, beautiful apron, and stickers. Well worth museum visit, we had a great time and they offer a very generous Military discount , thank you!

May 18th 2026 we got kicked out of our timeshare at 10:00 a.m. but had the rest of the morning…read morefree. What's open on Mondays and close to our timeshare on 57th Street? Museum of modern art. Purchase our tickets online beforehand $22 for seniors and $30 for adults. Good thing as there was a line at 10:30 when they opened all of people with prepaid 10:30 a.m. tickets. Headed directly for the 5th floor with works from 1880 to 1950 including Vincent van Gogh, Henry Mattese, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Alfred stieglitz, and Frank Lloyd wright. Famous individual works include Henry Matisse women dancers, Salvador Dali The persistence of memory, Claude Monet water lilies, Vincent van Gogh Starry night, and Pablo Picasso Les Demoiselles D'Avignon More modern works on the 3rd and 4th floors. Got through the entire museum seeing what we wanted to see by 11:45 a.m. Plenty of time for lunch at Blue and then the 2-hour journey by walking, subway, and air train to our gate at JFK airport

Date of visit: April 14, 2026…read more The Met's hipper cousin, The Museum of Modern Art is a New York institution, from its expansive collection to its vast and varied gift shop. If you've not been, it's definitely interesting, though your interpretation of art will likely determine just how much time you spend here. Speaking of the gift shop, there's an amazing number of things to see there, at a variety of price points, so if you're looking for a souvenir to bring back home or a gift for an upcoming event/occasion, there is a little something for everyone here. In terms of the art, again, variety is the spice of life, but it may be best to come up with a plan of attack first. The galleries themselves can be a bit labyrinthy (I know it's not a word, but it really fits here) and it's easy to miss things. Recommend going up to the top floor and working your way down, too.

It has been years, actually decades, since I visited the Frick. I wasn't even aware the mansion was…read moreclosed for five years until last year and its art collection temporarily moved to a more contemporary building (the former Whitney Museum). So it was good timing that I suggested to Jamie W that we visit the reopened Frick mansion in all its Gilded Age glory. What we appreciated was how the art was presented like it would in a private residence rather than a museum. The Beaux-Arts mansion was built in 1914 for industrialist Henry Clay Frick, and it turned into a museum in 1935 to preserve his vast art collection. We were lined up on the sidewalk for our timed 11AM entry. Once inside, we were struck by the refurbished Garden Court with its light-filled curvilinear ceiling and limestone interior (Photo 5). The permanent collection is presented in a series of rooms furnished with fine pieces of decorative art. The European paintings span between the 14th and 19th centuries covering the Dutch Golden Age, the Italian Renaissance, the Spanish masters (like the Prado). French Rococo and Impressionism, and most significantly, British Portrature and Landscapes. In fact, there was a special exhibition of British artist Thomas Gainsborough's works focused on 18th-century fashion through portraiture. Admission for non-members is $30 and well worth it. RELATED - Exploring NYC? Here's a collection of non-culinary places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/sQyiVNCfYP

May 17th 2026 Sunday purchase tickets in advance on the internet app $22 per person for seniors $30…read moreper person non seniors arrived at 10:30 opening to find a line of 40 people waiting all with advanced tickets. There are guards in each of the rooms mainly to remind you of no picture taking the only place outside of theaters were pictures are not allowed. My pictures are from the add banners in the waiting areas and from the internet of paintings that I remembered. I was there mainly to see impressionist paintings from Europe in the late 1800s. A couple of Rembrandts and renoirs only. Turn my attention to the Thomas Gainsborough exhibit of two dozen paintings from the 1700s largely of portrait paintings and those days it was the thing to do to have your portrait painted in your best clothes among the aristocrats. Lots of beautiful paintings particularly of the attractive women in their fine clothing. Some scenes from outdoors such as hunting scenes families with men with rifles for hunting, We'll have to remember to come on Wednesdays 1:30 to 4:30 for pay as you wish entrance to escape the $30 adult entrance fee.

I found Skyscape museum while walking in the area and trying to get out of heavy snow. I wasn't…read morefully sure what to expect but I left really happy we got to experience it. Skyscape is a really engaging and a well designed experience. Theres a lot to see and do, with interactive spy style missions that kept both me and my son entertained the entire time! My son was completely locked in the whole time and I was right there pretending I definitely understood the instructions on the first try. It's mostly a hands on experience, you're not just walking through exhibits, you're actually participating, solving challenges and learning as you go. Even better, it didn't feel crowded, which made it comfortable to move through at our own pace. We were able to go back and redo some of the exhibits we enjoyed, which made the experience even more fun the second (and third) time around. Overall, a great mix of entertainment and learning, especially for kids but enjoyable for adults too. 10/10. My son loved every second. I loved pretending I knew what was going on.

This was such a fun and unique experience! I surprised my boyfriend with this for his birthday, and…read morehe absolutely loved it. The challenges, puzzles, and games really make you think--you definitely have to process the clues carefully! There are multiple levels to complete, and throughout the experience you're asked questions that determine what type of agent you are, which was a really cool touch. It was challenging, but in the best way. Now that I understand how everything works, I definitely want to go back and do it again to see if I can do even better! If you're looking for something interactive, different, and a lot of fun, I highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back!

We had an amazing time at the Color Factory. Two teenagers (moody and hard to please) and two…read more"uncool" moms. We all had a great time. Pictures, dancing, confetti! So much stinking fun. The medium is reasonably price and hats off to April who was kind and explained how to make this the best experience. We definitely recommend this while in New York.

We spent a nice, chilly afternoon at this spot and the kids loved it. This is similar to the selfie…read moremuseums out there like the Ice Cream Museum, Museum of selfies, etc. But I enjoyed the explanation of all of the colors, and shades. There were so many interactive elements and we all loved the confetti room. You're also given a QR code where you can scan it and get copies at the end (after purchasing them). The location in Soho is fun, with so many great shops and restaurants nearby. The hit of the place was the ball pool at the end (again, similar to the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream). My kids spent hours here. The ball pool kindof smelled like poop. Not gonna lie, it was definitely a stinky spot. There was a sign nearby that explained the balls were disinfected by some type of filtration system. Okay! Regardless of the poop smell, we all had a great time! And used lots of hand sanitizer afterwards.

This place was excellent for my son. It reminded be of the Teamlabs I visited in Tokyo. Each room…read morehad its own theme that was visually stunning and interactive. My son enjoyed the room with the led lights hanging from the ceiling, creating a rain of light effect. He was mesmerized by lights falling down and up and then side to side at the same time. He didn't want to leave the room and just watched in awe. The entire experience for us was about an hour. A nice break to get yourself recharged for the day.

I finally went to Mercer Labs after planning to go for months. I had originally reserved tickets…read moreearlier, but the weather kept me from going so I really appreciated how the front desk staff honored them when I showed up later on. During my visit, they were running the Maestros and the Machines themed experience. Overall, it was just okay. There were definitely more rooms than I had expected, which was a nice surprise, but I wouldn't say the experience was worth the price. I was lucky to get the bogo deal which made it more worth it. There were a couple of highlights like the ball pit and especially the room with the sand like mateial. Those moments really brought out the child in myself. Unfortunately, a lot of the other rooms felt underwhelming. The 4D room, didn't live up to its expectation. Another downside was the lack of staff engagement. It didn't seem like they were paying much attention or enforcing any of the rules. For example, visitors were supposed to wear shoe covers in certain areas, but many people didn't and the staff didn't seem to care at all. Overall, it had a few fun moments, but I left feeling like it didn't quite live up to the hype.

This place was really cool. Lovely cafe for a rainy day as well as a stunning museum that won't…read moretake you too long to get through. Only had time to try the later but it was good. Would definitely recommend and hoping to come back to try the high tea.

This place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves history, books, and unique architecture. The…read morecombination of a library and museum makes it a fascinating place to explore. One of my favorite features was the collection of old books and the hidden staircase, which added so much character and charm to the experience. There are plenty of beautiful spots for photos, and every room feels like a step back in time. Whether you're interested in history, architecture, or simply looking for a unique place to visit, this is definitely worth the stop. I enjoyed walking through the exhibits and learning about the history while admiring the impressive collection of books and artifacts. Highly recommend for history lovers, book enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a memorable experience.

After six years I have come back to the Whitney Museum to look at what they have. This place was so…read morebusy that it was packed with so many people looking at the art. I was a little shocked since the last time it was quite empty but it was fun to walk around all the levels to see what had changed. Or what has been stated is the same. The view is still amazing so please check that out!

The Whitney Museum of American Art in the Meatpacking District remains a vital bellwether for…read moretechnology and culture, and its AI-related exhibitions and acquisitions present several distinct talking points: Some like I do may note that much of the recent work reflects "polycrisis" and a culture shaped by machine learning. The sheer volume of AI-influenced and digitally-derived works has prompted deep critical debate about authorship, originality, and influence in the digital age. To contrast modern Generative AI, the museum has championed some pioneers exhibiting their AI-based drawing program. This highlights a longstanding dialogue between tech and brushwork. The museum has started aggressively acquiring machine learning and algorithm-based art, bringing digital-native phenomena into the permanent American art historical canon. Designed by Renzo Piano, the building I compliment its staggered outdoor terraces and expansive glass walls that seamlessly integrate the surrounding New York cityscape with the art. While the building's architecture and views are universally acclaimed, visitor reception of ultra-modern and digital exhibits can be polarizing. However, the museum's permanent collection remains a cornerstone draw.