Skip to main content

25 Things To Do Near the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

(updated 2016) The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) at 11 W. 53rd Street is near many other New York City attractions, so before or after a trip to the museum, a short walk in any direction could easily take in additional experiences. Drawing a square on a map with the museum at the center, a shape bounded by 58th Street to the north and 48th Street to the south, with 7th Avenue to the west and Park Avenue to the east, proves the point of the area's cultural richness. (A map follows the list below.)


While well-known sightseeing stops fall with these boundaries, most notably Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the great swath of famous Fifth Avenue stores, cultural visitors may also want to check out places such as the Austrian Cultural Forum, the 57th Street galleries, the Onassis Cultural Center, and the Municipal Art Society.

The image above shows an intriguing glimpse of the tops of two Beaux-Arts buildings through an opening of the wall inside MoMA's sculpture garden. These townhouses at 7 and 5 W. 54th Street are part of a longer row representing a time when millionaires lived in this part of Midtown. The building at 7 W. 54th dates from 1900 and was built for Philip Lehman of Lehman Brothers.

25 Things To Do Near The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

1. Paley Park, 3 E. 53rd St.
This small urban park built in 1967 on the site of the former Stork Club is considered a model of successful public places. William S. Paley, the founder of CBS, donated the park and named it after his father. The waterfall at the back of the space, when turned on for the season, softens the noise of the street. A frequent gathering place for a sack lunch.

2. Austrian Cultural Forum, 11 E. 52nd St.
Before entering, please step back to look at the acclaimed architecture of this 2002 building. Architectural theorist and practitioner Raimund Abraham designed the slender 24-story building on E. 52nd Street, built in 2000.

3. King Cole Bar, St. Regis Hotel, 2 E. 55th St.
Order the signature Red Snapper at the King Cole Bar inside the St. Regis Hotel. Enjoy Maxfield Parrish's Old King Cole, the delightful mural stretching behind the bar.

4. Henry Bendel, 712 5th Avenue.
The roots of Henri Bendel rest not in Paris but in French Louisiana, but as a famous designer and retailer, Bendel would cultivate Parisian connections. Speaking French greatly helped his cause. According to all reports, Bendel maintained a personal connection to the citizens of his native Lafayette, Louisiana throughout his life. While here, be prepared for running the gamut of perfume representatives.

5. Rockefeller Center, 48 to 51st Street, from Fifth to 6th Avenue.
Architect Raymond Hood, as head of the design team, bore the main responsibility for negotiating among the many interests to make "the City within a City" a reality in limestone. While speaking the language of cost and efficiency, he argued that Rockefeller Center needed roof gardens, open spaces, and works of great art if it was going to succeed. Almost everyone else at the time thought it was going to fail. They were wrong.

6. Paris Theatre, 4 W. 58th St.
See a movie here for a charming experience. The Pathé Company opened this arthouse cinema on September 13, 1948. The company owned the theater until 1990.

7. Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave.
The great 57th Street cultural corridor began in 1891 with the opening of Carnegie Hall, the symbol of music world success. A year later, the Art Students League moved into the new American Fine Arts Building, an elegant French Renaissance building at 215 West 57th Street. Developing by small increments, by the late 1920s the blocks of West 57th Street between 8th Avenue and 5th Avenue had become a major center for cultural life in the United States.

8. Public Art, various locations
Look for public artworks near MoMA by notable contemporary artists, including Robert Indiana's "LOVE" and Jim Dine's "Looking Toward the Avenue."

9. 57th Street Galleries
In addition to MoMA, visit the contemporary galleries along 57th Street, including Marian Goodman, Marlborough, and Laurence Miller.

10. Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 550 Madison Ave.
An interactive museum highlights the visual culture of the high tech age.

11. Halal Guys, corner Sixth Avenue and W. 53rd St.
At the corner of Sixth Avenue and W. 53rd St in Midtown Manhattan, the Halal Guys dish out gyros, sandwiches, and platters to a steady line of patrons. They have two carts set up on either side of the street.

At the corner of Sixth Avenue and W. 53rd St in Midtown Manhattan, the Halal Guys dish out gyros, sandwiches, and platters to a steady line of patrons. They have two carts set up on either side of the street. - See more at: http://www.walkingoffthebigapple.com/2015/11/on-sixth-avenue-and-w-53rd-st-corner-of.html#sthash.MXQXPQK4.dpuf
At the corner of Sixth Avenue and W. 53rd St in Midtown Manhattan, the Halal Guys dish out gyros, sandwiches, and platters to a steady line of patrons. They have two carts set up on either side of the street. - See more at: http://www.walkingoffthebigapple.com/2015/11/on-sixth-avenue-and-w-53rd-st-corner-of.html#sthash.MXQXPQK4.dpuf
12. St. Patrick's Cathedral, 14 E 51st St.
Designed by James Renwick, Jr., the Gothic Revival-style St. Pat's remains the heart of the city's Roman Catholic community. According to the church, five million people visit the cathedral every year. (Event note: This coming Saturday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day, several thousand people wearing green will march down Fifth Avenue toward the cathedral.)

13. Onassis Cultural Center, 645 5th Avenue.
Olympic Place explicitly asserts a connection to classical Greece as it serves as the home to the Onassis Cultural Center. The newly renovated center (see related story) features galleries with free admission and is open to the public Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

14. Paley Center for Media, 25 W. 52nd St.
Revel in the history of television, radio, and emerging media. The Paley Center frequently gathers the casts of popular TV shows to talk about their programs.

15. Lever House
The 1952 building is famous for introducing the world to the glass curtain wall, and while some may hate them for their evil spawn, the building has aged well. The Lever House Art Collection displays works of art in the building's courtyard and adjacent spaces.

16. St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, 1 W. 53rd St. The Episcopalian "high church" features stunning Gothic architecture and a world-famous music program.

17. IBM Building, 590 Madison Avenue, atrium
Edward Larrabee Barnes designed the tall wedge-shaped office building to accommodate a ground level open space atrium. Enjoy the indoor bamboo trees while grabbing a drink and a snack.

18. Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave.
The flagship Saks store on Fifth Avenue, directly across the street from Rockefeller Center built a decade later, won many accolades upon its opening in 1924. The store was one of the first to seriously use elaborate window displays as a form of merchandising. Later renovations included the installation of escalators and the construction of a commercial tower.

19. Explore the midtown arcades.
This area of Midtown, around the hotels and places in the Theatre District, between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue, features several walking arcades. Just to the east of 7th Avenue, four arcades run north and south linking W. 51st and W. 55th.

Food: Midtown Manhattan features not only landmark places to shop and explore but also some stellar dining opportunities. Many additions could be made to the list below.

20. Petrossian, 182 W. 58th St.
On the ground floor of the ornate Alwyn Court Building, enjoy caviar and French-inspired food in a spectacular room decorated with Lalique glass and Limoges china. Dress up.

21. 21 Club, 21 W. 51st St.
This clubby historic New York spot for cocktails will make you feel like you're in a New York movie. Good spot for the horse set. Drink a Manhattan, by all means.

22. Carnegie Deli, 854 7th Ave. #1
Note: The famous deli is scheduled to close by the end of the year. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, so you can walk off absurd portions of pastrami sandwiches and slices of cheesecake.

23. Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridian, 119 W. 56th St.
Line up for one of the best burgers in the city. A simple hamburger-centric menu with drink choices of water, milkshake, wine, and beer. You may order a brownie for dessert.

24. Radiance Tea House and Books, 158 W. 55th St.
Extensive selection of teas in a calm, serene atmosphere. A welcome respite from busy Midtown streets.

25. Bar American, 152 W 52nd St.
Brasserie by Bobby Flay offers reliable regional-inspired fare including smoked chicken pot pie, shrimp and grits, and grilled pizza with bacon.


View Things to do near MoMA in a larger map

______________

Images by Walking Off the Big Apple.

Popular posts from this blog

Museums in New York Open on Mondays

Please see this post for current announcements of reopenings . Please consult the museum websites for changes in days and hours. UPDATED September 23, 2020 Advance tickets required for many museum reopenings. Please check museum websites for details. • The  Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)  reopened to the public on  August 27 , with new hours for the first month, through September 27: from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday to the public; and from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.  on Mondays for MoMA members on ly. Admission will be free to all visitors Tuesday through Sunday, through September 27, made possible by UNIQLO. See this  new post on WOTBA for a sense of the experience attending the museum . •  New-York Historical Society  reopened on  August 14  with an outdoor exhibition, "Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine,” in the rear courtyard. The exhibit by activist Kevin Powell and photographer Kay Hickman will highlight how New Yorkers weathered the quarantine

Visiting New York on a Monday

Mondays are OK. Let's have a look at some of the museums open Mondays - • American Museum of Natural History • Jewish Museum • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) • National Museum of the American Indian • Neue Galerie • Guggenheim Museum • South Street Seaport Museum Any of these museums could be paired with a nearby restaurant or bar, making a complete full afternoon or day in New York. Monday is especially good for a museum visit, because the crowds tend to be thinner, and restaurants, too, tend to be less busy than on a weekend. A fun museum and bistro walk on the Upper West Side would be a combination of the American Museum of Natural History and the nearby Cafe Lalo on W. 83rd St. I also would suggest a pairing of the Neue Galerie with a nearby cafe, but the two cafes inside the musuem are so good, why go anywhere else? Image above: The Guggenheim on left and Beaux-Arts townhouse on right. View from E. 88th St. by Walking Off the Big Apple.

25 Things to Do Near the American Museum of Natural History

After visiting the American Museum of Natural History, explore attractions on the Upper West Side or in Central Park. Visitors to New York often run around from one major tourist site to the next, sometimes from one side of the city to the other, and in the process, exhaust themselves thoroughly. Ambitious itineraries often include something like coffee in the Village in the morning, lunch near MoMA, a couple of hours in the museum, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry in the afternoon, cocktails at the midtown hotel, a quick dinner, and then a Broadway show. It's a wonder people don't pass out at the theater. While sitting on the steps of the American Museum of History, consider exploring the Upper West Side and nearby sites of interest in Central Park. There's a better way to plan a New York trip. Consider grouping attractions together geographically. Several posts on this site address this recommended approach. The Wild West of the Tecumseh Playground Groupin

25 Things to Do Near the Metropolitan Museum of Art

(updated) Sitting on the steps in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of those iconic things to do in New York City. On a sunny day, the wide steps can become crowded with the young and old, the tourist and the resident. It's tempting to stay awhile and soak in the sun and the sights. Everyone has reasons for lingering there, with one being the shared pleasure of people watching along this expansive stretch of Fifth Avenue, a painting come to life. Certainly, just getting off one's feet for a moment is welcome, especially if the previous hours involved walking through the entirety of art history from prehistoric to the contemporary. The entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue The Metropolitan Museum of Art should be a singular pilgrimage, uninterrupted by feeble attempts to take in more exhibitions along Museum Mile. Pity the poor visitor who tries "to do" multiple museum exhibitions in one day, albeit ambitious, noble, and uplift

Taking a Constitutional Walk

A long time ago individuals going out for a walk, especially to get fresh air and exercise, often referred to the activity as "taking a constitutional walk." The word "constitutional" refers to one's constitution or physical makeup, so a constitutional walk was considered beneficial to one's overall wellbeing. (Or, as some would prefer to call it, "wellness.") The phrase is more common in British literature than in American letters. As early as the mid-nineteenth century, many American commentators expressed concern that their countrymen were falling into lazy and unhealthy habits. Newspaper columnists and editorial writers urged their readers to take up the practice of the "constitutional" walk. One such essay, " Walking as an Exercise," originally printed in the Philadelphia Gazette and reprinted in New England Farmer , Volume 11, 1859, urges the people of farm areas to take up walking. City dwellers seemed to have the

The High Line and Chelsea Market: A Good Pairing for a Walk

(revised 2017) The advent of spring, with its signs of growth and rebirth, is apparent both on the High Line , where volunteers are cutting away the old growth to reveal fresh blooms, and inside the Chelsea Market, where new tenants are revitalizing the space. A walk to take in both can become an exploration of bounty and surprise, a sensual walk of adventure and sustenance. A good pairing for a walk: The High Line and Chelsea Market Walking the High Line for a round trip from Gansevoort to W. 30th and then back again adds up to a healthy 2-mile walk. Regular walkers of the elevated park look for an excuse to go there. Especially delightful is showing off the park, a model of its kind, to visitors from out of town. A stroll through Chelsea Market. Time check. If you haven't stopped into Chelsea Market lately, you may want to take a detour from the High Line at the stairs on W. 16th St. and walk through the market for a quick assessment or a sampling. Among the sampli

14 Useful Mobile Apps for Walking New York City

Texting and walking at the same time is wrong. Talking on the phone while strolling down the street is wrong. Leaving the sidewalk to stop and consult the information on a cellphone, preferably while alone, is OK. What's on Walking Off the Big Apple's iPhone: A List Walkmeter GPS Walking Stopwatch for Fitness and Weight Loss . While out walking, Walkmeter tracks routes, time, speed, and elevation. This is an excellent app for recording improvised or impromptu strolls, especially with many unplanned detours. The GPS function maps out the actual route. The app keeps a running tally of calories burned while walking, useful for weight loss goals. Another welcome feature is the ability to switch over to other modes of activity, including cycling. An indispensable app for city walkers. $4.99  New York City Compass , designed by Francesco Bertelli, is an elegant compass calibrated for Manhattan, with indications for Uptown, East Side, Downtown, and West Side. While facing a cert

From Penn Station to New York Landmarks: Measuring Walking Distance and Time in Manhattan

(revised 2017) How long does it take to walk from Penn Station/Madison Square Garden to well-known destinations in Manhattan? What are the best walking routes ? What if I don't want to see anything in particular but just want to walk around? In addition to the thousands of working commuters from the surrounding area, especially from New Jersey and Long Island who arrive at Penn Station via New Jersey Transit or the Long Island Rail Road, many people arrive at the station just to spend time in The City. Some have questions. Furthermore, a sporting event may have brought you to Madison Square Garden (above Penn Station), and you want to check out what the city offers near the event. This post if for you.  The map below should help you measure walking distances and times from the station to well-known destinations in Manhattan - Bryant Park , the Metropolitan Museum of Art , the Empire State Building , Times Square , Rockefeller Center , Washington Square Park , the High Line

A New York Spring Calendar: Blooming Times and Seasonal Events

See the UPDATED 2018 CALENDAR HERE . Updated for 2017 . At this time of year, thoughts turn to spring. Let's spring forward to blooming times, the best locations for witnessing spring's beginnings, and springtime events in the big city. While the occasional snow could blow through the city, we're just weeks now from callery pears in bloom and opening day at the ballpark. In The Ramble, Central Park. mid-April Blooming Times •  Central Park Conservancy's website  lists blooming times within the park. During the month of March we begin to see crocus, daffodils, forsythia, snowdrops, witch-hazel, and hellebores. Species tulips will emerge in several places, but the Shakespeare Garden and Conservatory Garden are particularly good places to catch the beginning of Spring blooms. Central Park near E. 72nd St., saucer magnolia, typically end of March. •  Citywide Blooming Calendar from New York City Department of Parks & Recreation April is u