I've walked by the Ukrainian Institute of America many times on my way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and often admired the beautiful French Gothic mansion. The building itself is a piece of New York history, passing among the ownership of many high-profile New Yorkers. With its fairy-tale glass gazebo and carved stone arches, the building has sent my imagination on many adventures wondering what stories those walls could tell.
The vast mansion has plenty of room to tell many stories, indeed. The galleries extend across four floors, each containing a different exhibit. The focus, of course, is on Ukrainian Culture. When I visited, they were showing the sculptures of a Ukrainian cubist. Another room was filled with seaside watercolors from an artist living on the coast of the Black Sea. My favorite paintings were inspired by the stylized graphics of religious icons, depicting famous Ukrainians in history.
There is also an exhibit explaining the history of the building itself, telling the story of the architecture and ownership. I enjoyed the freedom of exploring the mansion, which was empty aside from myself and the man at the ticket desk. The dreamy content of the artwork, mixed with the antique splendor of the architecture, continued to fuel my imagination long after I left and continued my walk across the street to Central Park.
Find your way with 301 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"The Elevated Acre" is in the middle of the Financial District in NYC, but you would never see it when passing by - this park is hidden above street level!
by
John's Pizza is situated inside a former tabernacle with a domed stain glass ceiling about 50 feet above, and ‘sliced’ into 8 sections, just like a pizza.
by
On Broad Street stands a bronze sculpture named Fearless Girl which exudes bravery, pride and strength but not, according to the artist, 'defiance'...
by
The space functions day to day as a bright and modern-looking upscale deli and on certain evenings, it doubles as a performance space for stand-up comics.
by
It’s all free, on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll get a life jacket, a paddle, a 'kayak', and a locker, for a session of approximately 20 minutes.
by
"Amsterdam Billiards" in New York has a nice bar, nice service and soft couches. It's a well-known place to play (and watch!) billiards, darts, foosball...
by
The Cage in West Village is a chain link fenced, bagel-sized basketball court in New York. Here you can also find handball, a citywide spectacle...
by
"The Seasoned Vegan" in New York is crowded (in a good way), energizing and really fun. I got the Harlem Chopped Cheeseburger, and I'd order it again...
by
"TAP - NYC" makes Brazilian tapioca from yuca! I really love their Pão de Queijo, tangerine-sized, feather-weight bread-puffs with molten cheese...
by
"Bethesda Terrace" in New York's Central Park is home to Bethesda Fountains, sculptural balustrades and breathtaking magical depictions of wild animals...
by
"Bodegas" are NYC convenience stores that are as much an essential part of urban culture as are chippies in Whitley Bay or curry shops in London, England...
by
You can see eight of the thirty-six paintings by "Johannes Vermeer" in New York City. There's a ninth one, but it's behind closed doors...
by
301 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 301 Insider Tips