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Cooper-Hewitt Museum
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
2 East 91st Street
(between 5th Ave & Madison Ave)
New York, NY 10128
(212) 849-8400
2 East 91st Street
(between 5th Ave & Madison Ave)
New York, NY 10128
(212) 849-8400
- Nearest Transit:
-
96th St (6)
86th St (4, 5, 6)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
52 reviews for Cooper-Hewitt Museum
When you come to New York City and plan to visit its museums, there's a high probability that you'll totally skip this one.
Not on purpose, of course. You just won't know it even exists.
Despite being part of the Smithsonian Institution, the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum does a fantastic part of not advertising itself. Had I not been brought here back in 2003 as part of a course, I never would have known about it.
I recently re-visited the museum again today, and I wasn't all too impressed.
The museum is located in a stately old mansion on 5th Avenue overlooking Central Park. That being said, it's small. Very small. Even if you're a serious museum-goer, you'll still find yourself making your way through the place in under an hour. There really isn't that much there.
The exhibit that we saw is called "Design for a Living World." This was fun and interesting - for about 10 minutes. It's not that we weren't interested, or just dense when it comes to matters of art and design. It's just that this exhibit really didn't do it for us. There just wasn't much there to see. We felt gipped, in a sense.
My girlfriend and I paid $10 a piece for discounted admission with our student IDs. We tried hard, honestly. But we just didn't feel like we got our money's worth. After an hour, we were looking at each other with one of those "That's it?" expressions.
I guess you can't really fault the museum itself, you can only critique the exhibits. However, I think my girlfriend said it best - "It just doesn't live up to the Smithsonian name,"
Overall, this is a place to go to ONLY IF you're interested in the current exhibit. Otherwise, stick to the other museums in the city. You'll have a much better experience.
I had such high hopes for this museum, but, alas, I was quite disappointed. Fortunately admission was free all this week, so I am not poorer for the experience.
With the rain on Saturday, every other New Yorker had the same thought, "Why not go to a museum?" And being free at the time, this one saw its share of visitors. One could not stand still anywhere on the first floor at all, as you were constantly being bumped or asked to move aside so someone could pass. This became quickly annoying. After all, museums are about open spaces, and having sufficient room to perceive and reflect upon what is before you.
The ground floor exhibition featured award winning designs across a host of media. There were award winning chairs, award winning logos, award winning architecture, well, you get the idea. With names like Apple, Google, and Target featured prominently, it felt like a room in appreciation of modern marketing. So many awards, so little space, this was cramped to be sure.
On the second floor, there was an exhibition held in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy. I have some good friends who work for them, so I was probably predisposed to like these exhibits. I liked how they showcased different natural materials in the world and new innovative ways they could be used. For example, bamboo as speaker stands or used to make a bookcase by having books hang off of hooks emanating from an axis of bamboo. Similarly, Isaac Mizrahi made a dress out of salmon leather, and there was a room dedicated to chicle, and so forth. Interesting, but I was able to visit the entire museum in less than an hour having seen everything even with the tight crowd. So very disappointing in terms of breadth and scope.
Worse, there were a number of security guards there who take their jobs very seriously. As soon as I took one interior photo (see bamboo photo), I was immediately chastised and informed that no pictures are allowed inside. Really? If your innovative idea is being showcased in a museum, chances are people have already heard about it, and I doubt my flashless photo had an effect on the bamboo. In another room, a lady was chastised for having her hand on a display case. Not one of the objects on display, but rather a transparent case holding one of the objects on display. That seemed extreme to me. Oh well, I saw all that I needed to see. Having more time left over in my day than expected, I sensibly walked over to the Met and had a grand time.
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I've heard more than one person say the Cooper-Hewitt is his or her favorite museum. I can't quite say that myself (I don't want to Met or the American Folk Art Museum to get mad), but I can understand the sentiment.
The Cooper-Hewitt is a veritable oasis in NYC. Imagine walking into a rich (and nice) elderly relative's beautiful house. Now imagine this house is on 5th Avenue. And the relative is Andrew Carnegie. And the year is c 1900 (but you're still wearing your H&M sundress... we won't take this TOO far). This is how it is to enter the museum.
Granted, it's a bit dark and chilly inside, so after you make your way through whichever exhibition(s) you've come to see (we'll get to those shortly), take a walk out back in the garden. Feel the sun on your face. Take a break from noise. Read a book, or just sit and flower-watch.
The exhibitions, though, as promised. On my last visit, I went to see Design for a Living World and Fashioning Felt. Both exceeded my expectations. Just... go.
Make it snappy for the Felt -- it'll be gone in a week. Be sure to enter the Yurt and sit down for a while.
Take some more time with the Living World, which is there though January '10. Organized with The Nature Conservancy, this exhibition is accessible, beautiful, and smart. The wall texts and videos are fascinating -- not your standard or obvious fare.
Now is the time in my review when I request Christmas presents: a few of Christien Meindertsma's sheep's wool tiles, and a Micronesian vegetable ivory bracelet by Ted Muehling.
But back to the Coop. I suppose different people have different expectations of what a museum experience should be. Maybe you like to spend a whole day immersed in a broad survey of art and history. Or maybe that would overwhelm you, and you'd prefer to focus for just a few hours on one or two thoughtfully presented exhibitions, then get back outside for a walk in the park and a leisurely digestion of what you've just seen. The $15 it costs to do the latter at the Cooper-Hewitt is well worth it. Well, well, well worth it.
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As a design museum this museum is hard to beat.
My two cents:
Do not miss the jewelery collection or the sword fittings- They are the most engaging collections in the museum.
Memberships begin in $75 and Patronships are $1000.
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last weekend, i went to the cooper-hewitt national design museum with my dad who was in town. it was my second trip there. the cooper-hewitt museum had one exhibit about sustainable design.
they had an exhibit titled design for a living world. it featured 10 sustainable materials taken in new creative ideas....everything from cotton to cocoa. i recognized a few of the designers, isaac mizrahi (salmon leather), kate spade co. and maya lin who designed the vietnam memorial as well as the university of michigan wave field. it showed the design plans to the finish product. i really liked the chinese bamboo design by ezri tarazi. he took bamboo stalks converting them to lamps, clothes hangers (sort of a coat rack) and speaker and CD stands.
the one unfortunate thing with this museum is that if they are working on one exhibit that only leaves one other exhibit to see. if you go to this museum at the wrong time, you really don't have much to see.
times visited: 2
time in the museum: 45 minutes
overall: B+
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This is my favorite museum in NY.
Although the collections are not as large as some of the more popular museums, it always has interesting exhibits regarding design and architecture. I remember when they housed the exhibit on the design of the new world trade center and the high line which are now happening and I thought it would be so far out into the future!
There was another exhibit I went to in 07' that really stood out in my mind called Design for the other 90% and it detailed how simple things such as clean drinking water could be made possible by new designs such as the "life straw" which was like a tiny version of a brita filter which would make it possible to drink water without worrying about disease etc.
The exhibits really appeals to the future of design and I would recommend this place to anyone!
Plus you can't help but feel like you are back in the turn of the century living the good life when you walk around!!
I was so excited to visit Cooper-Hewitt. A Smithsonian design museum in New York seemed like it would be a total hit. However, when I left the museum I felt as if I had been involved in some scam. Allow me to explain:
We entered the museum and went to the admissions counter to find the secretary typing away on her phone, after five seconds she realized we were standing there. We were told the entrance fee is $15, a price I felt was a bit high for any federally-sponsored museum. Nevertheless, I was willing to pay.
After paying, we were given our stickers and left to wander without direction, which we did.
The first exhibition we came onto was the current exhibition on felt, yes, felt. It was fine, but nothing more. There were a few nice rugs to look at and that's about it. It was small and uneventful.
After that, we aimlessly wandered upstairs to find the remainder of the museum space dedicated to eco-design. The eco-exhibition featured artists and innovators who use sustainable products in their work...or something.
While I'm a proponent of sustainable design, I don't care to pay $15 to see an exhibit on a topic that, as an American, I am inundated with on a daily basis. Wandering throughout this eco-exhibit made me feel like I was at a benefit for the Save the Rainforest.
A bamboo settee? Great, maybe Ikea will come out with a line of them. A kuava nut necklace? Yes, I think I bought one at a flea market.
The exhibit could have had been slightly redeemable had the curation been more thoughtful. While there was continuity in the exhibit, this existed only because all of the rooms had the same layout, and this became rather boring.
...and then it was over.
huge museum that looks like a scene out of Cruel Intentions. The exhibits are really cool here! They use all sorts of materials to create art such as salmon leather, felt, vegetable pearls, chairs?
I'm more of an objects person and when I can see things and objects made into art I have a more appreciation for it!
definitely come here! especially when u can get in for free!
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If I were the type of person to become a member of a museum and live in Manhattan I would consider being a member here. But I'm not so I won't.
The GED security guards are many times more insightful than the PhD curators. I ask them which is their favorite. After spending hours and hours of days and months in these rooms, they see things we don't see by strolling through and reading the captions. They see it. I took one of the guard's advice and took some time with a piece I barely paid attention to. It's absolutely amazing. I take a few steps back and it's another mood, step back again and it develops even more. I stand in the doorways, in the security guard positions and look back at the painting. Absolutely beautiful. I can spend hours and days like this.
More paintings than I thought it would be, being a design museum. While I prefer design in 3 dimensions, most had thorough explanations and backstories in the captions, so I did get some perspective after all.
One of my favorite pieces was the bouquet of flowers made out of shells. I looked around that thing for about 10 minutes, finding "oh cool"s and "oh man"s every 30 seconds. Of the paintings, I find I prefer the ones of rooms of unknown artists to those of kings and queens. Maybe becuase I don't bother with what is unattainable. Maybe because it irks me to show so much admiration to the riches lounging while their not forgotten but neglected were dying.
On a positive note, with the proliferation of laptops and elimination of ugly desktops, rooms are now back to that timelessness of the 1800's. It seems that for 200 years, styles seemed to be consistent. I mean, what could change really? Tables, chairs, rugs. One difference is the amount of paintings of their ancestors on the walls. At this turn of the century, it seems most people delegate their relatives to a table or a ledge with nothing bigger than an 8x10. Is it the cost which prohibits? Or were they more family oriented in the past? Or is the ability now to shrink our memories and past into a pocket sizes more desirable? I don't know, but right now I just don't want to put holes in my wall.
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Gotta get the trailers off the garden lawn.
Nice museum. Lovely to see how the rich lived not too long ago (and still live today) with the architecture and ceilings, etc of this beautiful building.
The musuem was much smaller than I expected it to be. It seemed like my trip was over relatively quickly. Not sure what is locked away in all of the hidden spaces that the general population does not have access to. Just kind of suprised.
They have a basement - a small space where I saw a Google exhibit that showcased a kids contest. The first floor is the largest - but was still pretty small compared to other musuems. The second floor is small too. The exhibit was cool and laid out well though.
The gift shop is pretty much a joke. Unless you want to drop a few hundred dollars I wouldn't even bother. Even if I was loaded I would maybe have purchased two items. You may want to pay a visit, though just to pretend that you are still looking at musuem pieces because that is how it is laid out. It will make the total musuem seem bigger - if nothing else. : - )
For the usual admission price of $15 - probably not worth the trip - unless there is a particular exhibit that you really want to see. But I went for free - so I think it was worth it. : - )
The space is really nice, I feel like I stepped foot in the mansion from the Clue board game... without the creepy who's going to get me with what weapon in which room vibe.
The exhibits ranged from good to decent to boring. The children's illustration and animation room was interesting. The Tudou exhibit was... not really my thing. The exhibit layout was good, as well as the slide show, but the pictures and the model were decent... but I felt something was lacking. Like a big fat beating heart.
I like design, I enjoy design. If they have a new exhibition I will probably check it out. It just didn't jump out at me. Greater chance of seeing the butler with a candlestick in the coat check than an inspirational piece that would make me want to pick up that HB pencil.
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A few blocks from the Guggenheim and part of the Smithsonian, I was excited to see the exhibits at this museum as the guide books say its more about various designs than just art. The current exhibits on working with felt, sustainable designing by international global icons and designers were interesting, but it left me wanting more. The gardens were small and not worth more than a stroll. No pictures are allowed in the entire museum which was a major bummer since I would have loved taken shots at the architecture and interior of the building itself. Great for exhibits that would not be featured at the other museums, but not worth the admission fee.
Wow, was this a disappointment. If I paid the $15 admission, I'd be pissed.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but this was totally not it. The Carnegie Mansion is beautiful and I can't imagine what it was like to actually live here. However, that was about the end of my awe.
There were a total of 4 exhibits being displayed. I didn't expect so many photographs of rooms or objects. I wanted to see actual artifacts demonstrating different types of design. They had very few artifacts. This is a very small museum and you can probably walk through in a half hour.
It's strange that the gift shop was full of things I figured I'd see in the museum.
Also, don't bother bringing a camera - they aren't allowed. No real loss.
I gave the museum 2 stars - 1 for the Carnegie Mansion and the second is for the "pay what you want" on Sundays in January.
Goto the MoMa.
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4 stars for the bldg and the felt exhibit, which was awesome.
docked a star for not getting a discounted admission for having ONLY ONE exhibit open due to construction.
Seriously?
15 bucks per person to see one exhibit?
If I lived here I would say fuck you and come back.
Alas, I said fuck you and paid and will come back.
such is my dual nature.
I agree with Joanna B.-- seriously Cooper-Hewitt, the website says free admission on Sundays through January 25, 2009-- which means that we are expecting to donate... taadaa... nothing! Oh well, I don't mind paying a few dollars to support the arts, etc. Good karma all around.
I enjoy smaller museums because they are manageable and allow decent time for "absorption" or osmosis, if that makes sense. The architectural details of the Carnegie Mansion is worth a look. Anyone else have fantasies of gliding down the big ol' heavy staircase in a flowing silk gown, preferably in cobalt blue? Ok, that's just me.
The cafe area was decent for nursing a cup of illy coffee with friends and maintaining a conversation in our hush hush library voices. The seating is located in this hallway that echoes like crazy, so if you're too loud, you might get dirty stares from the other patrons. Also, what's up with the TWO private bathroom stalls for the entire museum?! Good lord, plan accordingly for the line.
Overall, I thought the current Tulou exhibit (circular affordable housing prototype currently being built in Guangzhou, China based on ancient Hakka village housing) was decent. Small gripe, but I didn't like the way that you walk out of this modern architecture exhibit and then you encounter an exhibit on children's wallpaper in the next space over. We were a bit thrown off.
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We went here under the guise that Sundays are free through February. So free for an hour of browsing wasn't a bad idea. Except the website was wrong. It is donation basis. 'Oh yeah, the website is wrong. How much do you want to pay?' the cashier said.
How much do I WANT to pay?? NOTHING. Don't tell me something is free and then guilt me into paying. But I got the awkward glare down and handed some money over. Had I realized that the museum takes maybe an hour to walk through, I would most definitely have fought the stare down.
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Old meets new.
The Carnegie Mansion is old world elegance. The mansion's structure is a museum in itself. From the grandiose staircase (where you'd imagine you were a character in one of Edith Wharton's novels), to the intricate wood carvings & gorgeous wood panelings. Back garden area is worth a stroll through in the warmer months.
Pros:
-CH goes against the trends--trust them to have unique exhibits you can't find anywhere else in the city. More recently went to the "Children's Stories & Wallpaper" exhibit which was wonderful. The modern arch study next door on "Tulou/Affordable Housing for China" was pretty interesting. They have a model unit inside so you can see what the interior of the apartments are like.
-enjoyed their ongoing exhibits as well-- first floor showcase everything from arts/craft & fine china, to a unique chair collection ranging from the bizarre to modern. I loved the little pieces of jewelry.........and so on..
Cons: exhibits seem a bit incohesive, explanations sparse, it's a you-make-what you will of it interpretation.
Tips: Go here for an intimate museum experience. Make sure to look up current exhibits beforehand as the museum usually only presents about 2-3 max at a time.
Go here if:
- you have a particular exhibit you want to see
- you want to make a quick trip & do not want to spend all day in a museum
- you are you curious to visit New York mansions from the robber-baron era.
NOTE ON "FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION" (as advertised by the website).
On my most recent visit, I also received the same rude welcome as Joanne B. below. Upon entry, we proceeded to the exhibits and were stopped by a rather arrogant prompt "..and your tickets?". The website attempts to lure visitors in by falsely advertising free admission from "Dec. to Jan. " I have no gripe about making a "donation" to support the museum; however, if a mandatory donation is what you want, then just say so! (Minus 1 star for uncourteous staff and insincere marketing tactics).
If you are a designer or have an interest in design, you must go. Each exhibit will captivate you.
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Really disappointing.
A museum completely devoted to design...Sounds cool, right?
Unfortunately, there's not enough room and there were too many small exhibits at once. They should really just do one at a time and do it right. I've seen much, much more engaging items at museums not focused on design, like at the Brooklyn Museum.
The best thing about the museum is the beautiful detail of the building it is in. Although it's an inadequate space for the museum, it is a masterpiece of design. They should take out the exhibits and give tours.
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Extremely disappointed with this place.
For $15, you can see every piece in the building in about twenty minutes.
I love design, I love aesthetics, but there simply isn't much of it to see here, and what I did see did not impress me.
The main exhibit, Rococo, sounded sumptuous but was just so-so.
The other exhibit of some Brazilian furniture designers was in one small room. I took a while to confirm that it was the actual exhibit.
There are no pamphlets to illustrate the museum's layout or explain what you are seeing. The information on the wall accompanying the pieces is minimal.
Downstairs in the basement was an exhibit that was supposed to bring to life the designer's process from conceptualization to completion. Instead, it was just some sample books under glass and a few buttons with nothing to illuminate me into the "process" whatsoever.
There's a giftshop with wildly expensive items if you're into ugly, $2K paperweights.
I was seriously bummed that I wasted a trip here with so many cultural offerings in NYC and limited time and resources to get to them all. I think this is a museum for people who don't really like museums or culture.
Check out the Morgan Library instead.
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I saw my fave print design show here in 2000, impacting my career beyond belief. I've always had fond memories and high hopes for this anitque gem of a museum. The victorian achitecture, stained glass, sun-lit rooms, vegetative garden gallery in the back- it's all lovely.
The staff-- not so much. I got told I was walking the wrong way to view the art... As if I had to start with a certain piece.. WHAT?! That really pissed me off.
A couple other museum and store staff members gave me some gruff. I think I was the only one there under the age of 60 and apparentally, that deserved some 'tude.
On my recent trip, I caught an American landscape and memoribilia show, as well as a silverware design show. Both were relatively lackluster.
The Cooper-Hewitt is great packaging, but the details could be sketched out a bit further.
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This former Carnegie Mansion is worth a visit.
I went with my friend's design class for the Design is not Art exhibit. Her professor gave us a tour herself and even though I'm not into anything related to design, it was quite an interesting experience.
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I really had wanted to see the Design for the other 90% exhibit from about a year ago, but alas, never got a chance until this past weekend to stop by the Cooper-Hewitt.
What a miss!
Only two galleries were open while the rest of the place was undergoing an upcoming installation, but I have to admit the two open galleries were a bit ho-hum. Sample books from recent and not-so-recent history were minorly interesting if not a bit banal, except for the buttons. Oh the buttons! Those were pretty cool and intricate. The Campana Brothers selections from the permanent collection were varied and somewhat intriguing, but I think I was grasping for something to make the subway ride and $7 reduced admission worth it. There was that red rope chair that I wanted to climb into and feel but I was thwarted by the "DO NOT TOUCH" sign. Sheesh, isn't that sort of obvious in a museum? Enjoyed the Japanese stencils gingerly held together with human hair. Amazing technical skills there!
Had fun but spent a good amount of time in the gift shop ogling the book on the Design for the other 90% exhibit. Full of regret for missing that one. (Does anyone know where it went?)
Still, I cannot give less than four stars for a museum. I value museums too much in general for that.
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The Cooper-Hewitt knows how to curate the best exhibitions. Never over the top, and always well executed. It's one museum that makes you feel like the curators actually pay attention to the museum experience. Fashion in Colors, Extreme Textiles, etc, the exhibits are always easy to follow, specimens are well lit, and are thoughtfully labeled.
I was so impressed after seeing Extreme Textiles, I bought a membership. And that's cool because they have a lot of design events that are members only and an invitation to their annual Garden Party. Which I missed because I lost track of the date! Damn.
They also have a great giftshop with a kickin' selection of design books (graphics, fashion, typography, industrial, etc.) from all over the world. I like doing my Christmas shopping here, too!
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The polished wood panels gives this museum an unique look, especially when there are contemporary items on display.
I didn't buy anything, but the museum store is an exhibit itself. Full of ideas and one-of-a-kind items.
Inspiring, and isn't that why we go to museums?
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the exhibits was far more diverse than i'd thought they'd be, ranging from children's books to contemporary architecture to victorian interior design. from what i could gather, there was no permanent collection, though it would be nice to see one used perhaps in tying the otherwise disconnected exhibits together.
the museum shop was certainly the busiest and best curated part of the cooper-hewitt. bonus star for that.
This place is a must-see for designers of all walks of life. Especially their design triennial. When I went they just had about everything design: information design, graphic design, interior design, furniture design, motion design, fashion design, light design, social design, industrial design, architecture design, interaction design, experimental design, concept design, animation design, toy design, technology design, design design design.
The outside of this historic building is decorated with these hand crafted flowers. It sure is a whimsical sight to see. I'm glad the museum doesn't follow the more serious side of design (modernism, haha). The back area hosts a small outdoor garden lounge area where there might be more installations, like the "design for the rest of us" buildings and objects. The back area is surrounded by fences with their billboards stating the latest exhibit. You can only exit from the back.
Since this is not your traditional museum, but more of a building, it feels like a brand new experience. Somehow the objects feel more intimate, like they're a part of my existence rather than museum objects.
The two-story building isn't huge, but it will certainly take you a few hours to get through if you take your time. I was on tourist time, so it took me about an hour and a half. They also have a lower level cafe.
Their gift store houses the general museum store knick-knacks. Cooper-Hewitt publishes their own books, so be sure to check them out if you're interested.
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A designer's museum. Great fun for non-designers and kids as well.
This is my favorite musuem in New York, because it is just so DOABLE. I love to take friends from out of town here, partly because the quirky exhibits always win them over, but mainly because you really feel a nice sense of accomplishment when you are able to see everything in a musuem in only a matter of hours. In the same vein, if you're looking to take a date to a museum, this is the place to go.
The security guard told me that this building was the Rockefeller's mansion. The building is gorgeous, both outside and inside, where it has been beautifully restored to its original, extravagant state.
Best of all, admission is only $10 with a student ID.
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For the $9 admission price (for students), this place is pretty small. You can walk though it, reading everything, in about half an hour. I did enjoy the Design Life Now exhibit, the museum's triennial. There was an interesting section on mimicry/robotics.
Depending on the exhibit, I could add another star. The space is gorgeous and the garden is a nice retreat right on 5th Avenue.
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Delightful former mansion of Andrew Carnegie, once the richest man in America, which is now a lovely museum with a verdant garden and small cafe. P.S. He endowed many NYC public libraries.
We saw exhibits on Winslow Homer and other American painters of the 19th century and on dining implements (more interesting than it may seem).
Tour on tableware exhibit was given by an excellent volunteer docent.
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The museum was ok. We went to see the "Design for the other 90%" exhibit about interesting design ideas for developing countries. The exhibit was interesting and the things exhibited there no doubt make a huge impact on people's lives, but the actual exhibits themselves were not that great. It would've been nice to have more videos showing these items in action, and more descriptive captions detailing the history and use of the devices.
The rest the museum was more of your normal run-of-the-mill thing. It's good for architecture buffs because there are lots of things about the intersection of design and architecture. The rest was kind of a blur and not so memorable.
Perfectly sized museum to keep your attention, and allow you to see all the exhibits in one trip. There is something strangely fantastic about the juxtaposition of new design against the backdrop of an old mansion.
There is currently a National Design Triennial up through July 07 that I would strongly recommend that features a significant number of concise and informative displays highlighting important achievements and innovations in architecture, animation, science, fashion, graphic and industrial design over the last three years.
Inspired by the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, the Cooper-Hewitt - opened in 1897 - is the only museum in the country devoted exclusively to the study of historical and contemporary design, with a substantial collection of scrapbooks, patterns, drawings, prints, and decorative objects. In 1969 the museum became part of the Smithsonian Institution, and in 1976 it moved to its present location in the former Carnegie mansion. Admission is free every Tuesday evening between 5:00 and 9:00pm.
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Beware the happy hour parties!!! Seven bucks for two drinks--but there is only one thing to drink, and that evening it was Saint Germain and Soda--ick!!! The hors d'oeuvres were 3 bucks a piece--that was annoying. I do recommend the happy hour thing if you are a guy looking to score with a non prostitute "in da club". If you are looking to score with a girl like Charlotte from Sex and the City.
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My friend who attends Cooper Union and is an architecture major is obsessed with this place. She seriously comes here every week. But I don't blame her. There is so much...STUFF here, you will get inspired whether you're an art, music, english, or architecture major. Don't go on a guided tour though. The one I went on was extremely boring. Explore the place on your own...or with your dorky architecture major friend.
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One of the most elegant old mansions on Fifth Avenue holds not the classic art of the Frick Collection, but rather the history, present, and future of product and graphic design. Extraordinarily-well curated exhibits make this one of the best museum experiences around. While small, they pack a lot in, so plan on a couple to three very fun and interesting hours admiring the exhibits, the mastery of the designers and inventors showcased, and the artistry of the mansion that holds it all in.
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As a designer, I'm always looking for inspiration in the city. Cooper Hewitt is a place where I can visit to feel proud of what I do. (Personally I think designers are way underrepresented in art institutions.) That said, I feel that the space is a bit smallish for the world of design. I'm left wanting to see more. But the space is great, cutting edge design exhibits juxtaposed in an old-world mansion turned museum. It's worth an afternoon trip uptown on the weekend.
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I was bummed, I arrived at 5pm for the free entry. Per their website, free entry on Tuesdays from 5-9pm. Was told they were closed and don't offer free entry on Tuesdays, come back on Friday.
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too small, TOO SMALL!
people always leave feeling innovated, but I didn't quite.
the selections are interesting, but It could've been better.
the store was quite sad too, i think, personally.
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