
“Migration Patterns” map by an anonymous contributor, sent to Becky Cooper, and printed in “Manhattan of the Mind” by Zachary Sniderman, New York Times Magazine, Feb. 17, 2013.
When MA visited NYC last week, he filled each day with an ambitious art itinerary. It reminded me that I used to try to make the most of of my trips to New York. But since moving here, I’ve become lazy, and too borough- and subway-line-centric. I’ll take MA’s inspiring lead and resolve to get out into my own city more often. Here’s a list of places that I would like to visit, but have not yet been—and which I hope to see in 2013.
It’s better to set goals along with strategies, so I’ll include personal notes to make getting there easier.
The Morgan Library
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
A short walk from one of my favorite places to eat, Koreatown. Also, not far from Grand Central Station where Nick Cave’s horses will be on view March 25–31 as part of its centennial celebrations.
The Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park
A bit out of the way, in a northernmost part of Manhattan—yet by bicycle, it turns out to be just 10 miles from my house.
Wave Hill
West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx
This is even further out of the way in the western edge of the Bronx, but I could make a longer bike and art day out of it, as it’s only 5.2 miles north of The Cloisters. Thirty miles round trip is nothing for serious riders; I am not a serious rider, but maybe I’ll start to up my mileage come spring.
- Visited August 4. Read on.
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
This was not high on my list of places to visit, but it turns out that they’ve got a current exhibition on the 1930s World Fairs called Designing Tomorrow. World fairs are generally fascinating to me, but I am especially keen to learn more about the 1930s fairs in Queens (Didn’t I mention I’ve become borough-centric?) for their spectacle, futurism, modern design, typography, as well as the numerous bits and bobs of memorabilia.
- Visited March 31. Read on.
e-flux
311 East Broadway
Who knows why East Broadway runs at an angle to, and detached from, Broadway. But I know where e-flux is, having made a pilgrimage to its neighboring dumpling restaurant. Now I just need to combine my dumpling craving with astute contemporary discourse.
Museum of the Moving Image
36-01 35th Avenue at 37th Street, Astoria, Queens
My own borough; I hang my head to admit that I’ve been to the multiplex around the corner.
- Visited April 6. Read on.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
150 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn
Not art; visual nonetheless. In Prospect Park next to the Brooklyn Museum. Another nice bike adventure come warmer weather and new blooms.
- Visited May 17. Huge, lovely, and well worth a visit.
Update: August 13. There’s still 4.5 months of 2013 left. Am I being too ambitious to add two more to the list?
Museum
Cortland Alley, b/Franklin & White, lower Manhattan
Mini museum of stuff/ephemera.
CSS Bard
Annandale-on-Hudson
Gallery that I never quite make it to, because it’s 2 hours’ drive north. But the Haim Steinbach show sounds good. It’s up through the end of the year. This might be perfect for a leaf-peepin’/art day trip.