We didn't even decide to go until Saturday evening. Late in the week J had learned that kids under twelve ride the train for free. Ahhh, how that smacked of the European public-transit-hospitality to children (although there, it's every day). That's a 66% discount and there is so much to do in NYC; we plan to make repeated trips. It seemed good to go ahead and get started. But where to begin?
J built this first itinerary around the thing I most wanted to do in New York, paired with what the kids most wanted to do. So we began at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and followed that up with FAO Schwarz. Central Park is conveniently between them for a nice walk; and Christmas decorations in NYC was a bonus.
After a hour and a quarter on the train we landed at Penn Station and took a couple of subway transfers to the Upper East Side. We walked over to the museum and were there by noon. It was impressive before we even got inside.
The last time we had been in a big museum was our infamous Night of the Wrecked Ankle at the Louvre. Throughout our entire visit, there were eerie correlations. Like the fact that every time I carried Nutmeg anywhere, we all felt a little skittish. And the stairs. So many stairs. (I was carrying her down a flight of stairs when I fell). Also everyone would groan when I would say, "Let's go see just one more thing…" (just as I had in the Louvre to see an Egyptian statue--which I never saw--instead I saw the inside of a Parisian ambulance).
After fall 2013, our kids have lots of experience in museums. And we also have considerable experience with children in museums, which means that we know there will be no leisurely wandering around all day. There will be burnout and we will have to decide when to cut our losses. After consideration (and a reality-check reminder from J), I built a must-see list of two things only: a work each by Caravaggio (painter) and Bernini (sculptor). My visual art education ended in 5th grade, and was kickstarted again last fall. I have a lot of catching up to do, but chasing down two of my newfound favorites sounded good. Anything else would be icing on the cake.
However, right by the door was the Egyptian exhibit. Wombles entreated. We spent a LOT of time in there and by the time we came out everyone was already tired. And thirsty. There are apparently only two water fountains in this mammoth museum, and we were looking for them. And for the bathrooms. And for items from the Percy Jackson series.
Suddenly, it was 2:00 and everyone who rode for free on the train was burning out. When we came across Marsyas (below) J posted this on Facebook, with the included caption:
Instead of abandoning the museum, though, we headed down to the cafeteria. They had these great kids' meals that came in a taxi box. Chicken fingers, fries, juice. Perfect.
Which was rapidly growing. While it started with two must-sees, once we were in the museum there was always One More Thing. We discovered a short-term visiting El Greco exhibit. There on the wall was Vista del Toledo. I have been to Toledo three times, and on the first trip got abysmally lost in quest of a canvas print of this very painting (that story ends with a car ride courtesy of the policía). I had no idea it was in the Met! What a gift. And a room filled with El Greco!! J and I were excited, but the kids were a little, "Ehhh….you said two things…"
We did eventually find the Bernini. It had the end of a large room to itself, except there was a man sketching it. He was very friendly and kind to the kids, chatting with Wombles about being an artist.
And then the impressionists. I had assumed they would all be at MOMA (future trip). The children enjoyed seeing paintings they recognized; who doesn't? Nutmeg stayed cheerful, although somewhere in a room of Van Goghs she needed a break. And took one. ~supersweet~
I carried her sleeping in my arms for some time, until we came to "the ballerinas," at which point I woke her up.
Because.
She needed to see them.
The sun was already beginning to set as we headed out of the museum and through Central Park, but we could see pretty well. It was cold enough that we kept a brisk pace past playgrounds and ponds.
As it turned out, I think the kids joined me in preferring the Met to FAO Schwartz. The toy store was much more crowded, and we had already finished our Christmas shopping for them, leaving no hope for last-minute requests. It was certainly a spectacle, though!
It was also the perfect place for the kids to get their picture taken with Santa...
A Santa made of Lego bricks, that is. (I would also like to note here that I just looked up the plural of Lego. And found there is considerable online discussion of it. Lego. Bricks.)
Probably I should also note that we did not in fact get out of FAO Schwartz without incident. Nutmeg got her hand caught in the escalator and we had to go into some interior office and get an ice pack and fill out paperwork. She was fine eventually.
We finished our day with a nighttime walk to Times Square. Because…one more thing.
It was a great day, and I can't wait to get back! I am loving living out in the country but a dose of the urban was very nice.
The last time we had been in a big museum was our infamous Night of the Wrecked Ankle at the Louvre. Throughout our entire visit, there were eerie correlations. Like the fact that every time I carried Nutmeg anywhere, we all felt a little skittish. And the stairs. So many stairs. (I was carrying her down a flight of stairs when I fell). Also everyone would groan when I would say, "Let's go see just one more thing…" (just as I had in the Louvre to see an Egyptian statue--which I never saw--instead I saw the inside of a Parisian ambulance).
After fall 2013, our kids have lots of experience in museums. And we also have considerable experience with children in museums, which means that we know there will be no leisurely wandering around all day. There will be burnout and we will have to decide when to cut our losses. After consideration (and a reality-check reminder from J), I built a must-see list of two things only: a work each by Caravaggio (painter) and Bernini (sculptor). My visual art education ended in 5th grade, and was kickstarted again last fall. I have a lot of catching up to do, but chasing down two of my newfound favorites sounded good. Anything else would be icing on the cake.
However, right by the door was the Egyptian exhibit. Wombles entreated. We spent a LOT of time in there and by the time we came out everyone was already tired. And thirsty. There are apparently only two water fountains in this mammoth museum, and we were looking for them. And for the bathrooms. And for items from the Percy Jackson series.  |
| With the Percy Jackson flier |
Suddenly, it was 2:00 and everyone who rode for free on the train was burning out. When we came across Marsyas (below) J posted this on Facebook, with the included caption:
 |
| Up for debate: does this sculpture better represent tired, hungry children being tortured by staying at the museum, or the parents wrangling them? Hmmm... |
Instead of abandoning the museum, though, we headed down to the cafeteria. They had these great kids' meals that came in a taxi box. Chicken fingers, fries, juice. Perfect.
We were ready to continue my list!
Which was rapidly growing. While it started with two must-sees, once we were in the museum there was always One More Thing. We discovered a short-term visiting El Greco exhibit. There on the wall was Vista del Toledo. I have been to Toledo three times, and on the first trip got abysmally lost in quest of a canvas print of this very painting (that story ends with a car ride courtesy of the policía). I had no idea it was in the Met! What a gift. And a room filled with El Greco!! J and I were excited, but the kids were a little, "Ehhh….you said two things…"We did eventually find the Bernini. It had the end of a large room to itself, except there was a man sketching it. He was very friendly and kind to the kids, chatting with Wombles about being an artist.
And then the impressionists. I had assumed they would all be at MOMA (future trip). The children enjoyed seeing paintings they recognized; who doesn't? Nutmeg stayed cheerful, although somewhere in a room of Van Goghs she needed a break. And took one. ~supersweet~
 |
| I loved every second of carrying this girl through the museum. She's mostly outgrown sleeping in my arms. |
I carried her sleeping in my arms for some time, until we came to "the ballerinas," at which point I woke her up.
Because. She needed to see them.
When it was finally time to leave, no-one had broken anything or torn anything and we all walked out on our own two feet. And Lo! and behold:
 |
| One. More.Thing=An Egyptian Statue |
As it turned out, I think the kids joined me in preferring the Met to FAO Schwartz. The toy store was much more crowded, and we had already finished our Christmas shopping for them, leaving no hope for last-minute requests. It was certainly a spectacle, though!
It was also the perfect place for the kids to get their picture taken with Santa...
A Santa made of Lego bricks, that is. (I would also like to note here that I just looked up the plural of Lego. And found there is considerable online discussion of it. Lego. Bricks.)
Probably I should also note that we did not in fact get out of FAO Schwartz without incident. Nutmeg got her hand caught in the escalator and we had to go into some interior office and get an ice pack and fill out paperwork. She was fine eventually.
We finished our day with a nighttime walk to Times Square. Because…one more thing.
It was a great day, and I can't wait to get back! I am loving living out in the country but a dose of the urban was very nice.
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