VIBE

When the Met declined sculptor and art collector Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s gift of 700+ works of modern American art in 1931, she took matters into her own hands and founded the museum that is today the Whitney. Housed since 1966 in a powerful stone and concrete inverted pyramid by Marcel Breuer (it really stands out on its tiny Upper East Side block), the 18,000-strong collections cover 20th and 21st century American art and include works by Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keefe, Jasper Johns, and Mark Rothko. Peak season at the Whitney comes at the highly regarded Biennial, which focuses on the works of young and emerging artists.

GO HERE WITH

Modern art fans; a date; friends; family

WHY WE LIKE IT

It’s small compared with other modern art museums in the city, but it really packs a punch thanks to top-notch collections. Our favorite pieces are the early 20th century works, although the excellent curatorial work often wins us over to the more contemporary pieces too. We generally come mid-week when it’s not so crowded.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The lines for popular exhibitions can be really long. Also, some fabulous pieces of the permanent collections occasionally aren’t on display, which can be disappointing.

GOOD TO KNOW

There’s a plethora of free daily tours available; check the website for details, as tour times change frequently. Backpacks, packages, small luggage, and laptops must be checked, and no food, drink, photography, or mobile phones are permitted in the gallery space. Danny Meyer’s group recently opened up a new coffee shop, Untitled. Also, the Whitney has decided that it will move to the Meatpacking District in May 2015; the groundbreaking for the new site took place in May 2011.

CLOSEST COMPS

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York); The Museum of Modern Art (New York); MoMA PS1 (New York); New Museum (New York)

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