Tots and Travel - Family Vacations and Reviews » New York Museums

Unicorns at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

Jocelyn Murray — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:30:09 +0000

One of the tapestries at The Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City called, The Unicorn Is Penned, Unicorn Tapestries, c. 1495–1505

The Cloisters’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is turning 75. In honor of this diamond anniversary, unicorns will be present for a special exhibit. That’s right, unicorns! These are not just your ordinary variety of unicorn either. They hail from the late Middle Ages, and are represented by beautiful tapestries of landscapes portraying unicorn hunts. Seven such tapestries composed of silk and wool are included in the exhibit which will run for a limited time from May 15 to August 18, 2013.

The mythical unicorn has long been an intriguing creature that dates back to biblical times. A subject of art, religion and literature, this fabled beast has captured the imaginations of children and adults throughout the ages. These supposed naturally wild and fierce animals are believed to be tamable only by fair and honorable maidens who have the power to subdue them. They are noble, sensitive and tireless, but sweet as lambs in the presence of a virtuous lass. As such, the unicorn is a symbol of chastity and purity. And like the horns of other animals, the single spiraling horn that juts righteously from its forehead was thought to have medicinal and healing properties, at least in theory.

Perhaps it was the idea of this splendid creature that served as a kind of enchantment, rather than the creature itself, as is the case with much folklore, legends and myths. Marvelous ideas that were woven into silken displays of hunting parties against a backdrop of mille-fleur (many tiny plants and flowers that served as a common tapestry theme during the Middle Ages), or an architectural background including gardens. These wall hangings were thought to do more than decorate the stone walls of the manors they graced. They were believed to inspire a kind of virtue and fellowship.

This is a great opportunity to visit The Cloisters: the fantastic division of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that focuses on Middle Age architecture and art. It is a chance to learn more about this mystical creature’s place in history and all that it symbolizes. It is also a wonderful occasion to see these stunning tapestries that have survived centuries in time, serving as a testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness. How exciting to get up close to a piece of the past and let the mind roam freely along the lush gardens depicted in the scenes. One can almost imagine the anticipation of those in the hunting party who believed they would trap the unicorn when it approached a fair damsel and laid its soft and velvety head on her lap, its long mane cascading over the grass. And how she would whisper sweetly to the creature as the hunters tip-toed to catch it and then take it to their own gardens to frolic.

These splendid mythical creatures have been immortalized in art, literature and poetry, heraldic banners, coats of arms, the cinema and more (photo © Catmando / Fotolia)

Although this magical beast never did exist except in the devoted imaginations of people in earlier times, it continues to flourish within art and literature, as do mermaids, fairies, elves and dragons, in the vast and ever-perplexing realm of the human mind.

While at the museum, guests can visit other branches of the Met, take tours, courses and workshops, or participate in the family programs designed for children ages 18 months to 12 years. Things like storytime, art projects, and many other programs are sure to inspire kids and their parents about the wonderful creative world in which we live.

The Cloisters Museum and Gardens is located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park, New York, New York 10040. For more information visit www.metmuseum.org

New York City on a Budget: Best Family Attractions Under $20

Jocelyn Murray — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:59:17 +0000

Whether you live in New York or are visiting on a family holiday, you don’t need to go broke to have some fun. Below is an alphabetically ordered list of great family attractions in New York City that are affordable. Come discover these gems.

American Museum of Natural History – Manhattan

See dinosaurs and more at the American Museum of Natural History

This prominent museum is home to 46 permanent exhibition halls, an IMAX theater, space shows and more, with something for everyone. Although there is a suggested general admission price, visitors can pay whatever they can afford to gain entrance (shows and special exhibits are a separate charge), making it affordable to everyone. See dinosaur fossils, ocean life, mammal dioramas, gems and minerals, meteorites and much more. There is even a Discovery Room for children ages 5-12 to explore. For more information visit their website www.amnh.org this

Modern Art and Modern Ice Cream – New York City Treats

Genie Davis — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:51:51 +0000

A big city – and New York City is certainly one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world – is full of surprises and treats. Some of them are classic attractions, like the many wonders to be found in the multi-level Museum of Modern Art on the upper East side of Manhattan. Some are hidden gems, like Lula’s ice cream, an East Village delight with, gasp, delicious and healthy ice cream.

En route between the two, there’s the wonderful kitsch of King Kong in the lobby and his favorite perch, the top of the Empire State building.

Inside the Museum of Modern Art, NYC - a bird's eye view.

Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art is a treasure of art, and a great introduction to art for small children and the stroller set. The varied and colorful exhibits ranging from the ultra modern — displays of canned goods consumed over the course of a year in an artist’s life, video art, minimalist abstract pieces, to impressionist favorites such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night, will occupy the eye and your over all senses. The spacious layout of the museum also includes a courtyard for a little open air recreation if the children need a break. Rousseau’s naive art style was a particular favorite of my children, and while we were there on a very rainy afternoon with no time built in for an outdoor ramble, the museum more than occupied, it delighted for several hours.

The Museum of Modern Art reaches out to parents and children with some excellent family guides, including website materials you can print out at home and bring with you, as well as guides you can get on site. There are family activity guides, and suggested approaches to art focusing on color and materials. One such guide focuses on looking for plywood art objects in Museum of Modern Art’s design collection. A child-friendly audio guide leads parents and children to kid-friendly art works described in language children will relate to and follow easily. A collection of characters encourage children to closely examine art works, ask questions about them, and even discover “secret information” about the permanent collection. It’s free, too, and designed for children five and up. Younger children are accommodated too, with a weekly offering for three and four year olds with their parents in tow. These programs are docent led to take children on a close look at up to five pieces of art from the permanent collection. The children are encouraged to participate along with their parents in conversations about the art and the creations of their own art work based on what they’ve seen.

Kids of all ages will be thrilled with the view from the top of the Empire State building.

Empire State Building

With the skies clearing and night approaching, it was a good time to visit the Empire State building, which gets overwhelmingly crowded on weekends and afternoons. Our kids enjoyed the King Kong display in the lobby, and the kitsch in the gift shop, with Empire State building snow globes the coveted souvenir. But most of all they enjoyed the view, sparklingly dramatic once night falls. Just hold onto your children’s hands, and if they are small enough that seeing over the edge of the viewing area is difficult, be prepared to carry them. The viewing platform is crowded no matter what time of day or night you are there in clement weather; several years ago we were outside on a bitterly windy March night and even then we were scarcely alone. Bearing the crowds and the carrying factor in mind, the Empire State view is a must see, with its great view of the art deco Chrysler building and the spread of uptown/downtown high rises. Times Square looks like a minute glittery toy from these great heights, and the kids will enjoy being shown this landmark if you’ve visited it already, as we had, from ground level.

Lula’s Healthy Ice Cream – East Village

Need a little sugar fix? How about a healthy one. In the less-tourist-traveled East Village you’ll find Lula’s, offering delicious hot fudge sundaes, soft swirl cones, and a multitude of flavors from cookie dough to pistachio. How is this healthy, if tasty? The ice cream is coconut milk, not dairy, the sugar is natural cane, all fruit and nuts are fresh and organic. The vegan hot fudge sundae will knock your socks off, and nothing leaves an overly sweet taste in your mouth. Cones are fresh, salt and preservative free, and the flavors change frequently. The friendly staffers are happy to create your favorite childhood ice cream treat – only better for you – and create new ones for your kids to remember. Limited stool seating inside had us perched on outside benches watching the neighborhood flow by, which is also, frankly, a lot of fun. Lula’s Sweet Apothecary is located at 516 East 6th Street in New York City’s East Village. This all natural sweet tooth delight is open every day except Mondays from 3pm until late in the evening.

Da Gennaro Restaurant, Little Italy

If you chose desert as a precursor to dinner, or if you prefer to eat in a more traditional fashion, regardless, the place to taxi is the ever-fun Little Italy district with restaurants and shopping galore! Our new favorite restaurant there is Da Gennaro at 129 Mulberry Street, New York City. This open air cafe has economically priced – caveat, for New York – homemade pastas and salads. I had one of the best eggplant parmesans, delicate and not greasy, that I’ve ever consumed. The atmosphere is festive and small children are coddled with quick service on breads, complimentary bruschetta, and special food requests. Adults will enjoy the house-made fresh strawberry sangria, too, the perfect conclusion to a day of delightful big city treats. For reservations call 212-431-3934.

Visiting Ground Zero: An Experience You Will Never Forget

Lisa Fritscher — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 20:00:34 +0000

Ground Zero spurs powerful emotions

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have become one of our nation’s defining moments. Who doesn’t remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they first learned of the attacks? I was at my parents’ house, sleeping off a party the night before.

My Story

On the evening of September 10, 2001, a friend flew home to Florida after spending the summer in California. A large group of us went to the airport to pick her up…10 friends in our 20s, mostly gothic/punk in appearance, laughing and joking as we made our way to her gate. Lots of other families and friends were there, all meeting loved ones on that late night cross-country flight. We gathered back at my parents’ house, along with other friends who had to work late, for a welcome home party. Several of us were still asleep on the living room floor when my dad woke us with a statement I will never forget. “A plane crashed into the World Trade Center. They’re saying it might be terrorism.”

For the rest of the day and well into the evening, we all gathered around the television in my parents’ bedroom. No one wanted to go home. Most of us worked at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando. The rumors were flying that the theme parks might be hit next. Along with the rest of the world, we watched and waited, acutely aware that life would never be the same again.

We were the lucky ones. We had a few acquaintances living in New York City, but no one that would have been anywhere near the Twin Towers on that fateful morning. Our closest contact was my mom’s coworker’s sister, who had originally planned to fly into New York that morning but had changed her plans more than a week before. Nonetheless, the attacks had a profound effect on me. I wanted to visit Ground Zero and pay my respects once it was safe to do so.

Our Visit

The feeling is still raw

As so often happens, life got in the way. But when Dad and I had the opportunity to take a Canada and New England cruise out of New York Harbor in 2008, we jumped at the chance. After the cruise, we spent a few days at a youth hostel in Manhattan, just off Central Park. During that stay, we finally made it to Ground Zero.

Nothing could have prepared me for that moment. We had looked at photos online and basically knew what to expect. But actually being there was more raw and more painful than I could have possibly predicted. There was a reasonably-priced memorial museum nearby, but with limited time we decided to forgo it. Instead, we took the pedestrian walkway over the site.

The fences and rails blocked our view to some extent

It’s a little bit difficult to see clearly from the walkway, due to fences and rails. Dad kept sticking the camera into gaps in the fence, and we probably got our clearest view from the resulting photos. But it didn’t matter. The thoughts and feelings that we experienced were monumental, and frankly overwhelming. All around us were others doing the same thing we were–walking slowly, taking pictures and stopping to speak quietly with one another or have a silent moment of reflection. There were tears all around.

I kept thinking about how I never made it to the World Trade Center when it was still standing. My family had been to Manhattan once before, when we stopped for a few days on our way upstate for Woodstock ’94. But we had so many things on our to-do list, and such limited time. We decided to save the WTC for “next time.” Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this would be the “next time.”

I've been told that New Yorkers feel a sense of renewal at the site

There was a flurry of activity going on at the site, and I’ve heard New Yorkers say that all the construction is a major relief, that it feels like hope and renewal. I can certainly understand that, for those that have been around the site a lot. But to me, it all just felt so sad. All the terrible images I saw on TV in the hours and days following the attacks came rushing back and I felt awful for the families that were left behind.

Dad in a quiet moment of reflection

Soon we had made it across the pedestrian walkway. Dad and I were both uncharacteristically quiet, still in a bit of a stupor from what we had seen. Slowly we made our way down to the waterfront, where we had an excellent dinner at an outdoor café and watched the sun set over the harbor. It was a lovely ending to an emotionally trying day.

Tips for Parents

Explain the events of that day in advance

As we close in on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, many of you may have kids who were not yet born when the attacks occurred, or were too young to remember. But like all dark points in human history, it is crucial that we share our memories with our own children in hopes that history will never repeat itself.

Prepare your children for the visit by explaining the events of September 11th in terms that they can understand. Excellent resources are available on the ClassBrain website. Remember that your kids do not remember the World Trade Center or life before 9/11, so you may need to provide some historical context.

Don’t make Ground Zero your first stop in Manhattan. It would be easy for your kids to formulate an association between Manhattan and tragedy, so take them to make some positive memories first.

Kids may see Ground Zero as an exciting construction site

Be prepared for questions at the site, although they may not be the ones that you expect. While you may associate Ground Zero with the feelings that you experienced during the attacks, kids don’t have the same context. They may see it as a busy, interesting construction site and be more interested in what is coming next than in what happened.

Consider visiting the World Trade Center museum. Although we have not seen it, I understand that the collection of exhibits is geared to visitors of all ages. It may help to further explain the events of that day to younger kids.

Watching the sun set over the harbor helped us relax

Do something nice for your family when you are finished at the site. Have a relaxing dinner, take in a movie or Broadway show, or visit some of the massive shops along Times Square. Whatever you choose, take the time to relax and shift gears before heading back to your hotel.

New York City for Families – Part 2

Genie Davis — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:02:55 +0000

We started our second day in New York by taking a walk through Times Square (See New York City for Families – Part 1). From stopping for chocolates at the Hershey store to staring at the enormous digital bill boards and posing for photos under the glittery theater district marquees, it was all an enjoyable cluster of noise, color, and flashing lights. Times Square is great for walking and very pedestrian-friendly. Broadway is closed to cars from West 42nd to West 47th Street. The kids really enjoyed the indoor Ferris wheel at the massive Times Square Toys R Us. From Times Square we walked over to Radio City Music Hall where we took a tour of the historic venue. Yes, they do offer elevator access if you need it for a stroller; otherwise you walk stairs and can carry the smaller travelers. The history of the tour was fascinating for adults, the kids enjoyed the eye candy of the famous art deco location, sitting down in the theater seats viewing the massive stage, and getting to pose with an actual Rockette at tour’s end.

We enjoyed the art deco atmosphere of Radio City Music Hall

Near by is the awe inspiring beauty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral; the soaring spires and lovely stained glass make a remarkable visit regardless of your beliefs. We walked up to the Metropolitan Museum and enjoyed a long stay there. Our first stop was the completely enthralling Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian Gallery. This enormous exhibit reminded our kids of an Indian Jones saga. Smaller children will simply enjoy being able to carefully explore the area. Another hit were the Medieval galleries and armor galleries. The sculpture gardens and decorative galleries with their all inclusive recreated palatial rooms were also transporting to both the adults and children in our group. The Petrie Court Cafe is a surprisingly good lunch stop, with salads, sandwiches and entrees in a relaxing setting.

We took the museum bus up to the Cloisters, a long ride that may not be your choice for very young children. The grounds are beautiful though, and the quiet and serene atmosphere makes up for the distance. The Cloisters is a replica of a Medieval monastery, and features art and tapestries from that era. The park area around the museum itself offers plenty of gently hilly green space for relaxing or burning off a little steam that well represent that period in time. The stained glass windows are beautiful.

Across Central Park but much closer to the Met than the Cloisters is The Museum of Natural History. The world class planetarium shows, the dinosaur bones, and the classic nature dioramas captivated all ages. And if your children have seen the Night at the Museum movies, they’ll be expecting those dioramas to come to life! The highlights for us were the African, Asian and North American exhibits, the awesome and enormous full-size Blue Whale model, and the Star of India, which is the largest blue sapphire in the world. The kids also enjoyed the Discovery Room with a wonderful two story replica of an African baobab tree. The tree holds bird, insect, reptile, and mammal specimens to spot. Another hit was assembling a life sized dinosaur cast skeleton from the Triassic period. Older kids will like having the ability to use fairly sophisticated microscopes in an interactive display.

The dinosaurs inside the Natural History Museum were awesome.

We left the museum and snacked at Zabar’s Deli which has in my opinion the most excellent bagels in the world; then headed over to Brooklyn for the grand finale. Here we explored a living museum dedicated to one single cultural icon: baseball. We toured Yankee Stadium. While you can tour either on your own or with a guided tour, the latter takes visitors into the clubhouse and batting cage area, the dugout and Monument Park. We also enjoyed the New York Yankees Historical Museum, which provides perspective concerning the original ball park as well as the new, state of the art stadium, and baseball itself. If your kids are of Pee Wee or Little League age, they’ll enjoy this tour tremendously.

All kids will be drawn to the beauty and views from the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s longest suspension bridge when it was built. Now over a hundred years old, the bridge was the first passage by land between Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan. It’s a delightful and easy walk between the two along an elevated walkway. The views are wonderful too, of both harbor and sky line.

We ended our evening dining with friends at the noisy, trendy Tao restaurant. Sharing dishes keeps the restaurant within reach of the cost-conscious, and the enormous golden Buddha surveying the scene was fascinating to our kids. Be warned, its noisy, and if the evening is growing late the family-friendly vibe will dissipate. The varied vegetarian and fish appetizers kept our family happy, and the well-heeled crowd was excellent for people watching.

Leaving Manhattan proper for Brooklyn made us curious to explore other areas outside downtown on the following day. With kids in tow, Coney Island is a natural. Taking the subway is not difficult – it’s a straight shot on the N line – but it does take forty-five minutes. We went on a weekday; summer weekends might be problematic in regard to crowds.

Strolling the beach boardwalk was great fun, the old fashioned signs, traditional carnival rides and sea view from the wooden walkway were a fun stop for the kids. The caramel corn wasn’t bad either.

Back in Manhattan, we piled in a taxi to get to another great walking location – Greenwich Village. Stopping for pasta at an outdoor cafe, watching the chess players hunker down in Washington Square, window shopping boutiques, musical instrument shops, and record stores, and listening to street musician made for a great evening.

While you might not think of the Village as family attraction, we saw many a family pushing strollers and carriages or with toddlers in tow. The street scene is a wonderful panoply of sights and sounds, and kids are comfortable in the outdoor cafes taking it all in.

Whatever view, cultural icon, city park or city street you visit in New York, your kids will have taken a tasty and memorable bite of the Big Apple.

New York City for Families – Part 1

Genie Davis — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:23:26 +0000

New York City is a wonderful place to take the kids. You can spend days just enjoying Central Park and the magnificent skyline that surrounds it. You can push those strollers up and down 5th Avenue, take in the ice skaters swirling through Rockefeller Center. Older kids will love the color and lights and perpetual motion of Times Square. Sure, New York is an expensive town, full of adult activities in fine dining, nightlife, and theater. But it’s an urban reality version of Disneyland for kids, and this “garden of sky scrapers,” as my children once described it, grows many delights.

A great time in NYC - just looking at the sights - like Rockefeller Center

Naturally, you’ll take the kids to Central Park, but there’s a new park in town that children of all ages will enjoy. The High Line is a park built on what used to be a long abandoned rail line rising above the city streets from 20th to Gansevoort on Manhattan’s west side. The walkways of this park make a wonderful ramble and offer a literal birds-eye-view of this part of Manhattan’s sky line and the Hudson River. You’ll love the feeling of being above the streets and so will the kids.

When it’s time for a snack, you’ll enjoy The Standard Grill, under the Highline at Washington and 13th Streets in the New York Standard Hotel. The dining room is old fashioned-diner in style with red leather booths and a floor made of real pennies. The kids will love the small cinnamon and sugar house- made donuts served warm.

Replenished, it’s time to go uptown to Central Park. This is an incredible eight hundred plus acres of refined wilderness and tranquility in the heart of the bustling city, and kids will love being turned loose to take a run across Sheep Meadow or the Great Lawn or taking a ride on the Friedsam Memorial carousel. With many a stroller accessible winding path and echoing tunnel to run through, bridges to cross and flowers or autumnal foliage to admire, Central Park is a destination within the city that can’t be missed. The Central Park Zoo offers lions and tigers and bears, oh my; in the summer you’ll find free and family friendly concerts and arts festivals as well as Shakespeare in the Park. In winter months, you’ll enjoy watching skaters cruise the ice skating rinks. The Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir serves up a lovely lakeside view, and friendly ducks; the walk around it offers a stunning view of the New York sky line.

Another great stroll takes you away from the natural wonders of New York and into the man made variety. Take in the casual, interesting galleries of the Lower East side and the New Museum of Contemporary Art at Bowery and Prince streets. This Japanese-designed structure looks like a collection of boxes, and the colorful, fascinating art inside will keep your kids entertained by its form as you study its substance.

Time for a sugary break? Try Economy Candy on Rivington Street. From pixie sticks to old fashioned boxes chocolates, Nickle Nips and gummi candies in shapes ranging from rat to cat, you’ll love browsing and buying some of these surprisingly inexpensive treats.

And nothing beats a street vendor’s hot chestnuts, hot peanuts, or hot dogs. There’s something purely pleasurable about picking up a snack right on the street and taking it along with you to your next excursion.

Always a hit with the kids – and fairly gentle on the pocket book – you’ll find pizza, pastas, and welcoming wait staff throughout Little Italy perched on the edge of Chinatown. We liked Little Moon with its fragrant pizzas and heaping platters of spaghetti, but there were plenty of attractive and delightfully aromatic cafes to choose from.

We walked off our pasta by heading for the Staten Island Ferry. This free transportation attraction takes you in twenty-five minutes from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island. Along the way you’ll get a great view of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor; and yet another perspective of the lower Manhattan skyline. The fun of a boat trip and awesome views – at no cost. You’ll disembark on Staten Island which has its own pleasures to explore; we got back on the boat and headed to the city again for another view of Manhattan’s flowering skyscape.

Taking a ride on the Staten Island Ferry - great views, free ride

If you’d like a closer look at lady Liberty, the welcoming icon to millions of immigrants in search of a new life in America, you can take a short ferry ride directly to Liberty Island. Here your family will be able to closely admire the monument’s pedestal and observation deck. Note that the crown area of this renowned landmark is only open through a limited reservation; book well in advance. You can also take a second ferry ride and get admission to the nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The museum is housed in the building that was first port of entry to the U.S. for more than twelve million immigrants. In the American Family Immigration History Center you can look through ship manifests for passenger names. Is there an immigrant in your family tree who passed this way, and marveled at the view of Manhattan from the island?

For a view you can marvel at, take a look at the city from above. You have two marvelous viewing choices: the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Both offer unobstructed, gorgeous city views. The Empire State rises higher to an 86th floor observation deck. Top of the Rock affords a view from the 70th floor. Both stay open until very late; an evening view of the sparkling city lights will be something that your kids will remember for years to come. If you come at twilight, you can watch the lights come on in so many windows. It’s great fun to point out some of the land marks you’ve seen from the street or park. Signage at both locations helps you find your way around the islands’ most famous spots.

This New York day is done, but in my next article we’ll talk about more New York City explorations and memory making.