Friday night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.. Magical.

I still get a ridiculous thrill every time I walk up the many, grand steps of the Metropolitan Museum. And then there's Friday night. There's simply nothing like a Friday (or, second choice, Saturday) night at the Museum. Fewer people (days are filled with class trips and tourists), a string quartet and piano playing upstairs, the evening sky from the Roof Garden, a walk back through Central Park to the west side; all make for a magical experience. There are several unique exhibits at the Met right now. Here are a few:

• Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective (thru Aug 16)-powerful, and disturbing. Not for kids. Don't go to this last or you'll leave wanting to slit your wrists.
• Roxy Paine on the Roof-Maelstrom (thru Oct 25 and weather permitting...) The Roof Garden is always spectacular. The view of the park is amazing. But this sculpture -Maelstrom--is the best I've experienced on the Roof. And I do mean experienced. Crowded but worth it. Go. Go. Go.
  
• The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion (thru Aug 9th) --Wow ! This was a blast. Lots of fashion photos--but the clothes are the stars of this one. So well-done--each era has its own room, accompanied by music of the era. The 60's room, with Rudi Geinreich dresses, was too, too trippy! This is just plain FUN.
  
• The New American Wing. FINALLY it is open! I love the American Wing! I love golden Diana with her bow and arrow. I love the FL Wright reconstruction. I love the Tiffany windows. And the new, open roof design is fantastic. I didn't get to go through...just visited the Engelhard Court. But I can't wait to see what they've done.
  
• Michelangelo's First Painting. This is the FIRST showing of this in the US.
• New Greek and Roman Gallery. More Roman sculpture than Greek. Not the same. Bah. But still lovely.
  
  

So much to do here one post can't do it justice. I love living close enough to walk to the Met, so I don't feel guilty for only going for an hour or two. The fact is there is TOO much to see in one trip. So you have to pick and choose. And honestly not spend too much time on one thing. The best part about the museum is just walking through and letting it wash over you. Personally I like blocking out the noise with my iPod as well. It kind of adds to the experience.

Eat in one of the cafes--the cafeteria downstairs has some great food, though it's pedestrian and pretty crowded. The American Wing has a blah cafe with sandwiches. Upstairs you can get cocktails on Friday and Sat. night while the quartet plays...The Petri Court Cafe in the Sculpture Garden is the prettiest, with a view of the park.

Hours and location 1000 Fifth Ave. at 82nd St. Museum Hours Monday: Closed (Except Holiday Mondays) Tuesday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Restuarants/ cafes Petrie Court Café and Wine Bar ($$) Hours: Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. (last seating at 8:30 p.m.) Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; wine bar on Friday and Saturday evenings, Afternoon tea begins at 2:30 p.m.; Closed Monday (except Holiday Mondays). To make reservations (dinner and brunch only), please call 212-570-3964. See sample menus. The New American Wing Café ($$)—Opening May 19, 2009 Hours: Friday and Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Closed Mondays. Great Hall Balcony Bar ($$) Hours: Friday and Saturday; 4:00–8:30 p.m.; last call at 8:00 p.m. Details: Waiters serve appetizers and cocktails from our full bar, accompanied by live classical music. See a sample menu. Not appropriate for children. the cafeteria ($) Hours: Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Closed Monday (except Holiday Mondays.)