If you’re shy and sometimes short on words like me, museums can be a great place to take a girl. It’s easy to make conversation when there’s a dinosaur in the room, a Manet on the wall, or a life-size model of a whale hanging from the ceiling. In New York however, there are so many museums that deciding the ideal one for your date can be confusing.Below, I took a handful of museums and wrote a few reasons for and against taking someone special there.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
For: The old stand-by date museum. This museum is one of the world’s largest, holding pieces from some of the most highly regarded artists.
Against: A little predictable as far as museum dates go.
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West and 79th Street
For: I feel like a kid in this museum. There is such a great variety of interesting so many things to see. If your date is not interested in South American cultures, there’s always the thirty-four ton meteorite. Is she not a fan of North American birds? Just continue on to the Hall of Human Origins. By far, my favorite museum.
Against: Often overcrowded and full of real kids.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Madison Ave at 75th Street
For: There is a really great place to get dessert across the street.
Against: As innovative and thought provoking as the modern and post-modern exhibits are, there’s not much room for romance here. The combination of exposed concrete and avant gardefilmdoesn’t set the right tone. In addition, I felt I was constantly at risk of getting into the “What is art?” argument on a first date when viewing exhibit in which consisted of a video game projected onto the wall.
Neue Galerie for German and Austrian Art
1048 Fifth Avenue at 86th Street
For: A smaller, more intimate museum that is much less touristy than the others. Taking a date to such a specific gallery makes you seem as if you really know your art. Also, the hot chocolate in their restaurant is the best I’ve ever had.
Against: The admission fee is a little high for how long it takes to view the entire museum.
Written by: Joe Pera - SpeedNY Dating Resident Blogger
