We had some really surprising hail last week and then thunder and lightning (so, seeing as I live in SoCal it was surprising)! It seemed like it was very close to our house. Only two of us were home, so my mom went up and sat in her pretty big (for our size of house) closet. I left the computer and went to sit on my bed upstairs. It's finally seeming like it's maybe (?) getting spring-like here. C'mon, weather, it's almost April! XD;
I heard about a Beatrix Potter exhibit at the Morgan Library, called ‘Drawn to Nature.’ My kids are itching to see Egyptian artifacts at the Met. Have fun!!!
Visit the Morgan Library in NYC. The last stop of the Beatrix Potter Drawn to Nature tour. The Bemelmans bar and restaurant at the Carlisle hotel is like nothing you had ever seen. Actual illustrations created on the walls by the Madeline creator. Visit in the early afternoon when it’s not busy. It’s an unforgettable experience. Also, the Orchid Show at the NYBG is a must see. This years show features flowers in fashion. Pretty cool 🤩
The Museum of Illusions is super fun and easy, especially with kids. Also, there is the real Winnie the Pooh and friends at the NYPL, if you want to weep.
If you’re willing to go down to Battery Park City, the Staten Island Ferry! It’s free and a nice way to see it the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline. You can just ride it there and back and imagine you’re in Working Girl.
That’s so great that you do separate mom-son trips! My 17 y.o. and I are going to NYC too, May 3-5 for our first ever mom-son trip. We went there as a family when he was small, but he barely remembers it. We haven’t decided what all we’re doing yet, but bagels and pizza are definitely on the list! Maybe one or two museums. I also hear some indy folk band might be playing in Brooklyn the night we get there, so I *guess* we’ll go see them. 😂 (it’ll be the boy’s first Decemberists show, he’s very excited!) 😍
Well of course go to the American Museum of Natural History on CPW. If not for the blue whale, amazing dioramas of NA and African mammals, then to see a colonial collection struggling for present day relevance and the brand new science center
I loved the Es Devlin exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt - it gives you the behind the scenes into her creative process of stage design, but not sure if that would be interesting to children.
Saw the Gustav Klimt exhibit -- It is only 2-3 rooms, was done in 30-45 minutes - no photos allowed. No food or water allowed. Security asked people to dump out their drinks and throw away their food basically at every museum.
The MoMA has the Monet Lillies on display as well as Van Gogh but I found that museum experience to be the worst out of all of the museums I visited -- the security people are extremely strict and the staff is not as friendly as at the other museums...it was a "modern" experience.
American Folk museum exhibition is also very small but free -- took between 30-45 min to get through -- focusing mostly on paintings. I was personally hoping to see quilts on display but they do not have any currently.
There is a pizza place on the upper west side called Motorino with nice cozy family vibes that could be a stop after the American Folk Museum.
The Met is fantastic -- I got the yearly membership and went a few days in a row. Loved the East Asian and Islamic Art wings -- lots of interesting Japanese and Chinese calligraphy which you might like post your Japan trip.
I have not taken someone that young to NYC, but I have visited NYC a couple of times with my son who is now 18. Pizza is spot on, and the bagels and pastries are all good, too. The Museum of Natural History is really cool. Top of the Rock is a great place to visit at night to see all the lights. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (and the ferry ride) are interesting. The Morgan Library has a great little museum of literary treasures, and you must say "hi" to Patience & Fortitude the magnificent lions in front of the museum. Grand Central Terminal is beautiful place to see, and there are lots of great places to eat. The Grand Central Oyster Bar is like stepping back in time, and we went for the oysters and ended up also having a lobster which is a family experience we will never forget. Depending upon where you are in Central Park, the campus of Columbia University is also a beautiful place to walk as well.
When we took 11 yo Max to NYC he loved the elevator ride up to the World Trade Center observatory. Once you’re up there it isn’t as great as the Empire State, but the ride up is something else. Also, he loved the subway! We took it all the way to Yankee Stadium for a tour, which was great but max loves anything baseball.
Here are my recs for NYC right now: Brooklyn Museum has a really great show of living Black artists and also their Egyptian collection is very cool and well-presented with good context, I think. I liked my visit there more that the Met this time, it was less overwhelming. BEST PASTRAMI, if you're a meat eater, and generally fabulous vibe at S & P lunch near the Flatiron. BEST BAGEL at Absolute Bagel on the UWS, cash only. So good. I know that it's controversial to express such strong opinions about pastrami and bagels but I stand by them. Have fun!
We had some really surprising hail last week and then thunder and lightning (so, seeing as I live in SoCal it was surprising)! It seemed like it was very close to our house. Only two of us were home, so my mom went up and sat in her pretty big (for our size of house) closet. I left the computer and went to sit on my bed upstairs. It's finally seeming like it's maybe (?) getting spring-like here. C'mon, weather, it's almost April! XD;
Cloisters. It might take a bit to get up there, but it's damn fine.
I heard about a Beatrix Potter exhibit at the Morgan Library, called ‘Drawn to Nature.’ My kids are itching to see Egyptian artifacts at the Met. Have fun!!!
Visit the Morgan Library in NYC. The last stop of the Beatrix Potter Drawn to Nature tour. The Bemelmans bar and restaurant at the Carlisle hotel is like nothing you had ever seen. Actual illustrations created on the walls by the Madeline creator. Visit in the early afternoon when it’s not busy. It’s an unforgettable experience. Also, the Orchid Show at the NYBG is a must see. This years show features flowers in fashion. Pretty cool 🤩
The Museum of Illusions is super fun and easy, especially with kids. Also, there is the real Winnie the Pooh and friends at the NYPL, if you want to weep.
If you’re willing to go down to Battery Park City, the Staten Island Ferry! It’s free and a nice way to see it the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline. You can just ride it there and back and imagine you’re in Working Girl.
That’s so great that you do separate mom-son trips! My 17 y.o. and I are going to NYC too, May 3-5 for our first ever mom-son trip. We went there as a family when he was small, but he barely remembers it. We haven’t decided what all we’re doing yet, but bagels and pizza are definitely on the list! Maybe one or two museums. I also hear some indy folk band might be playing in Brooklyn the night we get there, so I *guess* we’ll go see them. 😂 (it’ll be the boy’s first Decemberists show, he’s very excited!) 😍
I WANT TO GO TO NEW YORK SO BAD FOR A JEWISH DELI BAGEL!!! (I've never had one and my Jewish-Ness just like needs it so bad lordy)
Well of course go to the American Museum of Natural History on CPW. If not for the blue whale, amazing dioramas of NA and African mammals, then to see a colonial collection struggling for present day relevance and the brand new science center
I loved the Es Devlin exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt - it gives you the behind the scenes into her creative process of stage design, but not sure if that would be interesting to children.
Saw the Gustav Klimt exhibit -- It is only 2-3 rooms, was done in 30-45 minutes - no photos allowed. No food or water allowed. Security asked people to dump out their drinks and throw away their food basically at every museum.
The MoMA has the Monet Lillies on display as well as Van Gogh but I found that museum experience to be the worst out of all of the museums I visited -- the security people are extremely strict and the staff is not as friendly as at the other museums...it was a "modern" experience.
American Folk museum exhibition is also very small but free -- took between 30-45 min to get through -- focusing mostly on paintings. I was personally hoping to see quilts on display but they do not have any currently.
There is a pizza place on the upper west side called Motorino with nice cozy family vibes that could be a stop after the American Folk Museum.
The Met is fantastic -- I got the yearly membership and went a few days in a row. Loved the East Asian and Islamic Art wings -- lots of interesting Japanese and Chinese calligraphy which you might like post your Japan trip.
I have not taken someone that young to NYC, but I have visited NYC a couple of times with my son who is now 18. Pizza is spot on, and the bagels and pastries are all good, too. The Museum of Natural History is really cool. Top of the Rock is a great place to visit at night to see all the lights. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (and the ferry ride) are interesting. The Morgan Library has a great little museum of literary treasures, and you must say "hi" to Patience & Fortitude the magnificent lions in front of the museum. Grand Central Terminal is beautiful place to see, and there are lots of great places to eat. The Grand Central Oyster Bar is like stepping back in time, and we went for the oysters and ended up also having a lobster which is a family experience we will never forget. Depending upon where you are in Central Park, the campus of Columbia University is also a beautiful place to walk as well.
Anatomy of a fall and Gorilla? Haha you’re pretty damn cool 48er
When we took 11 yo Max to NYC he loved the elevator ride up to the World Trade Center observatory. Once you’re up there it isn’t as great as the Empire State, but the ride up is something else. Also, he loved the subway! We took it all the way to Yankee Stadium for a tour, which was great but max loves anything baseball.
Here are my recs for NYC right now: Brooklyn Museum has a really great show of living Black artists and also their Egyptian collection is very cool and well-presented with good context, I think. I liked my visit there more that the Met this time, it was less overwhelming. BEST PASTRAMI, if you're a meat eater, and generally fabulous vibe at S & P lunch near the Flatiron. BEST BAGEL at Absolute Bagel on the UWS, cash only. So good. I know that it's controversial to express such strong opinions about pastrami and bagels but I stand by them. Have fun!
If the weather is nice nothing is more NY than eating lunch in Tompkins Square and absorbing humanity.
https://toymuseumny.org perfect for the kid in all of us. History of toys and invention space as well for kids to create.