I’ve written about going to sit in the spacious pre-war apartment of Majorie Eliot to listen to her play jazz with her friends. There are a few ways to observe the other end of the economic spectrum including one of Fifth Avenue’s most formal private houses, The Frick Mansion on the corner of 70th and Fifth Avenue.
Now called The Frick Collection, it contains the tycoon’s preciously curated collection. But nothing Frick himself acquired---about ⅔ of the collection---can be loaned, so I advise going at least once, to see for yourself. There is no other way.
Binge on such riches by simplifying: use this visit to begin your pilgrimage to see eight of the thirty-five paintings attributed to Vermeer, eleven of which reside in American public collections. If you schedule your time you can see eight of the nine that are in New York, only about nine blocks apart.
There are four here; five others are in The Metropolitan Museum at 80th and Fifth Avenue. The mansion is closed for a two year renovation. PLease check its website for updates.
At the Frick:
Officer and Laughing Girl, Mistress and Maid, Girl Interrupted in her Music
At The Metropolitan Museum of Art:
Study of a Young Woman, The Allegory of Faith, Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, A Maid Asleep, Woman with a Lute.
Finally, the one you cannot see, in a private collection:
A Young Woman Seated at the Virginal, pictured.
Plus: The Frick is Marvel Comics' Avengers Mansion !
Find your way with 304 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.
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Their prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: a plate of two eggs, two pancakes, 'home' fried potatoes and your choice of sausages or bacon, is $12.
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There are three houses not far from each other in NYC of three icons: James Dean, James Baldwin, and Dorothy Parker...
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"Heckscher Field" in Central Park, New York, is used for softball. Here you can see games played for the Broadway Show League. Celebrity stars may be seen.
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Among its offerings are a $10 breakfast special and its enormous $15 lunchtime hamburger, a price unobtainable anywhere else within walking distance.
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This sun soaked park bench is a destination neighborhood residents know, spending time there in observation. It’s one of the more fabulous NYC stages.
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"Monumental Women" has erected this monument in Central Park, NYC to especially important figures in the United States women's equality movement...
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"Der Krung" in Hell's Kitchen in New York City is by far my favorite Thai place around. One of the best things about it is the $9.75 lunch special...
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"Apthorp Cleaners" in NYC is different from the dozens of other neighborhood cleaners by its permanent but ever-changing window display of Barbie dolls...
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Taco toppings include cheese (Cotijam, oaxaca and mozzarella), pineapple, jalapeños and pico de gallo. Norteñas & Cubanos sandwiches are not to be missed.
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"Studio Museum in Harlem" in New York focuses on local, national and international artists of African descent and other work inspired by black culture...
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"Dinastia" is a great Cuban-Chinese restaurant in New York City. They definitely make soul food here. Consider the squid and rice: it's always good...
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