After two years of renovations, The Metropolitan Museum of Art finally opened their new living room in 2014. Featuring two fountains, new trees and red umbrellas to add a splash of color, the new public plaza in front of The Met is a sweet little spot to spend an hour or two enjoying the bustle of New York. The steps of the museum have always been an important meeting place for New Yorkers (like the clock at Grand Central), and the expansion provides even more options for hanging out.

Sometimes, I don’t even go into the museum to look at the art (even though it’s cheap with a pay-what-you-wish policy). I just sit on the steps or on the edge of the new fountain and soak in the city atmosphere. The new plaza may not be the most cutting-edge design, but the functional layout is a welcome addition to the Upper East Side which needs a few more space like this to encourage mingling among tourists and locals. So take a seat, plan to linger awhile and then figure out your next move.