Page 89 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

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John Hughes decided to build floors, almost twice that of the
a cathedral here in 1850, many old museum. Expanses of glass
criticized his choice of a site allow abundant natural light
so far from the city’s center at into the building. MoMA’s
the time. Today, the church collection includes more than
rises over the heart of bustling 150,000 works of art, ranging
midtown Manhattan. from Impressionist classics to an
unrivaled collection of modern
b Museum of and contemporary art, including
Modern Art paintings, sculptures, prints,
drawings, photographs, and
graphic designs. Some of the
Map E2. 11 W 53rd St. Tel (212) 708-
9400. q 5th Ave–53rd St. @ M1, M2, highlights of the collection
The Great Bronze Doors in St. Patrick’s M3, M4, M27, M50. Open 10:30am– include well-known works,
Cathedral 5:30pm Sat–Thu, 10:30am–8pm Fri. such as Picasso’s Les Demoiselles
v St. Patrick’s Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & free d’Avignon (1907), Van Gogh’s
Starry Night (1889), and Monet’s
for under 16s; free entry for all 4–8pm
Cathedral Fri. 9 8 groups. - 0 = Water Lilies (c.1920).
∑ moma.org
Map E3. 5th Ave & 50th St. Tel (212)
753-2261. q 6 to 51st St; E, V to Fifth One of the world’s most n Fifth Avenue
Ave. @ M1, M2, M3, M4, M27, M50. comprehensive collections of
Open 7:30am–8:30pm daily. 5 modern art is on view at the Map E2. q 5th Ave–53rd St, 5th
frequent Mon–Sat, 7, 8, 9, 10:15am Ave–59th St. ∑ visit5thavenue.com
& noon, 1, 4 (Spanish), 5:30pm Sun. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
7 8 Mon–Fri = 8:30am–8pm Founded in 1929, it set the From its inception in the early
Concerts & lectures. ∑ saintpatricks stan dard for other museums of 1800s, Fifth Avenue has been
cathedral.org its kind. It was also the first art the territory of New York’s rich
museum to include utilitarian and famous. Then, it was lined
New York’s finest Gothic Revival objects in its collection, from with palatial mansions built
building was designed by James ball bearings and silicon chips by the Astors, Vanderbilts,
Renwick Jr. and completed in to household appliances. Belmonts, and Goulds, giving it
1878. This is also the largest Following a $650 million the sobriquet Millionaires’ Row.
Catholic cathedral in the US and expansion project, MoMA But, as retail and commercial
seats more than 2,500 people reopened in 2004. The building ventures set up outlets here in
every Sunday. When Archbishop provides gallery space over six the 1900s, society moved
farther north.
Lady Chapel honors the Today, the heart of New
Blessed Virgin.
Baldachin over the high altar York’s best-known avenue
Pietà is made entirely of bronze. Great extends from the Empire State
Organ and Building (see p83) to the Grand
Rose Army Plaza, presided over by
Window the 1907 Plaza Hotel. Along this
stretch are a range of famous
stores that have made Fifth
Avenue synonymous with
luxury goods throughout
the world.
The Cartier store, at 52nd
Street, is housed in a 1905 Beaux
Arts mansion, originally the home
of banker Morton F. Plant, who
supposedly traded it for a
perfectly matched string of
pearls. Other well-known
jewelry and accessory stores
include Tiffany’s, made famous
by Truman Capote’s 1958 Break­
Cathedral
façade made of fast at Tiffany’s, Harry Winston,
white marble. and Henri Bendel. Among the
high-quality department stores
are Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf
Great Bronze Doors are Goodman, and the iconic Apple
adorned with important
religious figures of New York. store with its entrance near
Central Park.

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