Free Museums in NYC - Museum of Modern Art and Robert (the restaurant)

Many know this, but for those who don't, the Museum of Modern Art - MOMA located at 11 West 53rd Street in Manhattan is free on Friday nights from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. But for New Yorkers, if you apply for your NYCidcard this museum, as well as many others in town - is free all the time for one year after you receive your id card. Plus you get discounts on Broadway shows, sporting events and even movies!

Enjoying a quick visit to some of the current exhibits as well as their permanent collection with my friend Bud, it was great to see the works of Jackson Pollock . . .

 . . . Henri Matisse . . . 

. . . as well as some lesser known but brilliant artists. We stumbled upon Florine Stettheimer.

Family Portrait, II by Florine Stettheimer

Whimsical and almost childlike, her paintings are very exciting to see up close. There are hidden clues as to the idiosyncrasies of each character she paints. Her works reminded use of the Russian painter and costume designer, Leon Bakst. She was also a poet, and set and costume designer.

Stettheimer costume design

From 1915 to 1935, Florine, with the help of her sisters, ran a literary and artists salon. Gertrude Stein was welcomed as well as modernist artists which included Georgia O'Keeffe. It must have been an exciting time to be an artist then!

DIZZY NOTE: With the hoards of people and the design of the museum itself, my vestibular symptoms as well as vertigo were starting to throw me off.

So off we went to Robert. Located at 2 Columbus Circle on the top floor of the Museum of Arts and Design building.

This restaurant has a fantastic view of the circle and Central Park beyond. If planning on having dinner, be clear to specify that you'd like a table up against the window. 

If just having cocktails there is a lounge just a few rows back behind the diners, but you'll still have a good view.

We just opted for drinks but I'm eager to go back and have dinner, as well as spend some time in the Museum of Arts and Design.

CHEERS!