February in New York: cold, wet, germy. But. No tourists.
OK, just to update on an earlier post about the American Museum of Natural History's nighttime shenanigans. In addition to SonicVision, the Rose Center also hosts One Step Beyond one Friday a month. This past Friday, Kanye West made a surprise appearance! He took the stage with main act Kid Sister (whom ya'll should know for "Pro Nails"), then performed some hits off Graduation. Kudos to one of our faves, Flavorpill, for their ongoing sponsorship of the music series. Expect even longer lines at the next One Step Beyond, Feb. 29 (9 p.m.-1 a.m.).
It's $20 per, but it includes entrance to the museum later, which is normally $15 or $11 for students, so not bad.
Anyway, I just finished an overnight shift, so I gotta sleep but just wanted to post this since it's a little late anyway and I thought it was worth knowing. 'Night! ('morning?)
American Museum of Natural History
81st St. between C.P.W. and Columbus Ave.
212-769-5200
Subway: C to 81st St.; 1 to 79th St.
Last week we took advantage of a couple Friday night museum deals. You can see some priceless works of art for free and drink after. Take a date -- you can be cheap without looking cheap (you're deep) -- and it'll give you something to discuss over wine. That's right, wine. You think art aficionados drink Bud Light (sp: Lite?)? Uh uh.
Anyway, first we went to the International Center for Photography, which is pay-what-you-wish from 5-8 p.m. They presented a collection of Mapplethorpes with criticisms from sociologists, other artists, etc. between the photographs, which I found the most interesting. Perhaps not something you want to visit with Grandma. In addition to photographs, they also have some film projects. One room hosts a collection of 9/11 front pages from around world. We've seen these before, but it's still a punch in the stomach, knocking the wind out.
Then we trekked uptown to the Guggenheim. Because of renovations, only two galleries were open so the ticket distributor was nice enough to suggest donating just $1 per person. The spaces that were open held Expressionists, Bauhaus, Post-Impressionists, and I'm sure other movements I'm excluding. Some of my favorites were Picasso's Woman with Yellow Hair and Rousseau's Football Players. And all the Kandinskys make me smile!
Details on these museums and others are listed below. Unfortunately, many of the free/suggested donation Friday hours are at the same times, so you may want to be smarter than we were and go to several in the same area instead of traipsing about town. But your call :)
International Center for Photography
Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 5-8 p.m.
1133 6th Ave. (at 43rd)
Subway: B, D, F, V to 42nd St.; 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W to Times Square; A, C, E to Port Authority
Guggenheim
Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 5:45-7:45 p.m.
*Last tickets at 7:15 p.m.
1071 5th Ave. (at 89th and Central Park)
Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th or this is a time when you might actually want the bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 stops across the street
MoMA
Free Fridays 4-8 p.m.
11 W. 53rd St. (between 5th and 6th Aves.)
Subway: E or V to Fifth Avenue/53rd; B, D, or F to 47-50 Streets/Rockefeller Center
*If you want to get in the most famous works in the short time, take the elevator to floors 4 and 5
American Folk Art Museum
Free Fridays 5:30-7:30 p.m.
45 W. 53rd St. (basically next door to MoMA)
Subway: (same as above)
Whitney Museum of American Art
Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 6-9 p.m.
945 Madison Avenue (at 75th)
*Walkable from Guggenheim
Subway: 6 to 77th or M1, M2, M3, M4 bus
The last thing I'd expect from the American Museum of Natural History is a rave party. Set to a soundtrack of Moby and David Bowie. With a light show.
Every Friday and Saturday night at 7:30, the museum opens up its Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center to an early bird crowd for SonicVision, a weird, trippy (I know I already said that, but is there any other word? Seriously, take a gander at the video) music and light extravaganza. Actually, I think the museum says it best -- it's a "mind-warping musical roller-coaster ride through fantastical dreamspace." Yes. Bring it on.
I know you're curious too. Try it, just once, and maybe dust off those tiny glowsticks from college for the occasion. Plus, this wouldn't normally qualify for the frugal Frugle Bugle but right now there's a two-for-one coupon, bringing the price down to $7.50 each if you split the cost with your friend (or $15 if you spring for your date, you cheap bastard).
American Museum of Natural History
81st St. between C.P.W. and Columbus Ave.
212-769-5200
Subway: C to 81st St.; 1 to 79th St.
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