The new Museum of Arts and Design
photo: Hélène Binet
After one of the more vocal preservation fights in recent New York memory (even Tom Wolfe got in on it), the new home of the Museum of Arts and Design (née the American Craft Museum) will open on the southern tip of Columbus Circle tomorrow – and it's free to the public all weekend (10 AM–6 PM). Whether you like architect Brad Cloepfil's take on the famed "lollipop building" or not, MAD's new home with spectacular views of Central Park is worth a visit. It's got more than twice the exhibition space than before plus a new Tiffany-sponsored gallery for contemporary jewelry. But after seeing all of that craft, where to eat? After the jump, we pick a few nearby spots to pair with your museum-going (Wednesday and Friday–Sunday 11 AM–6 PM, Thursday 11 AM–9 PM; $15 per adult; $12 per student/senior; children age 12 and under are free; 2 Columbus Circle, NYC; 212-299-7777).
A Longer Lunch
308 W. 58th St.; 212-397-0404
The latest from the Blue Ribbon team provides a serene, woodsy setting to contemplate the art you've just seen, and its Japanese fare stands up well to its sibling's reputations.
356 W. 58th St.; 212-554-6000
Though it's no longer the epicenter of hip, the Hudson Hotel's restaurant still offers a stylish spot to sit back and think about MAD's exhibits. Its outdoor area is especially welcome on a warm day.
10 Columbus Circle, 3rd fl.; 212-823-6123
Kids get free cotton candy for dessert at Marc Murphy's New American bistro at the Time Warner Center. Its wine list, rated one of the best in the city, makes it a fun choice for grown-ups too.
1 Central Park W. ; 212-299-3900
One of the top restaurants in the city, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s flagship is also home to one of the best deals in the city: a three-course prix fixe lunch in the Nougatine Room for only $24 (available Monday–Saturday).
A Faster Lunch
10 Columbus Circle, 3rd fl.; 212-823-9366
Though on the pricey side, Thomas Keller's cafe/patisserie offers a variety of high-end sandwiches and salads with a take-out area for those really in a hurry. And, there are few better views of the new MAD building than from the windowed front of the Time Warner Center.
10 Columbus Circle, downstairs; 212-823-9600
Yes, it's a food court/salad bar in a grocery store. But the quality and scope of its selections (from sushi to gazpacho and back again) makes it a no-brainer when your party can't agree on a cuisine.
1800 Broadway; 718-784-7364
Expected to open any day now, this outpost of Marcus Samuelsson's AQ Cafe promises to bring a smörgåsbord of Scandinavian goodies to Columbus Circle for reasonable prices (compared to Samuelsson's Aquavit, at least).