Join The Gossip: NYC Must-Sees, As Told By a New Yorker

Today is my first full day in NYC! Woo hoo! I have a bunch of fun stuff planned, including a blogger dinner with a bunch of great ladies, including today's guest blogger - Kelly from Sparkles and Shoes. So let's get right to it. Kelly is here to give some sightseeing tips on her hometown, New York City!

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Hello, Join the Gossipers' I am Kelly from Sparkles and Shoes. Leeann asked me to guest post while she is in, of all places, my hometown of New York City. As I eagerly count the hours until we actually meet in person tonight for dinner I want to share with you the top "must-sees" of one of my favorite places, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met has so, so much more than just art and is one of my favorite places to escape in the Big Apple.

The first insider tip - the admission is recommended, not required! As I visit the museum often I usually pay $5 that goes towards conservation and restoration of the pieces but I know that really, they do not need my money, as they have hundreds of millions in grants and donations! When you visit the Met here are my top six "must sees.

Egyptian Wing - The Temple of Dendur tops my list and most people I know would agree with me – this is a don’t-leave-without-seeing attraction. The Sackler Wing of the Met has AMAZING floor to ceiling windows that over look Central Park and they cast beautiful natural light on the temple all day. Go ahead and pose with it before stepping into the back temple and then look directly opposite the window and read the amazing story of how this temple came to live at the Met. Before you go on to the next room though, do not forget to see the famous Sphinx of Hatshepsut located to the left of temple.

The Tiffany Glass I would argue that the Tiffany glass on display at the Met is the prettiest stain glass in the world. From their collection my favorite is the View Oyster Bay glass panel, seen above. You can find this piece along with some of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s other amazing works in the Met’s American Wing and if you are looking for more beautiful pieces, the New York City flagship is located a mile down 5th Avenue.

Arms and Armor This section might have to be my favorite wing of the Met! When my younger brother and I came here as children the soldier’s armor seemed so big but as an adult you realize that none of these men were over 5’5″!! The gallery consists mainly of armor from European warriors in the Middle Ages complete with wooden shields, spears, swords, axes, and bows.

Astor Court Chinese Garden - It is hard to find but worth the search, tucked away on the 2nd floor the garden is a beautiful place to sit and think and admire some truly wonderful Asian Art. It is an added bonus that Astor Court was the first permanent cultural exchange between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China in 1981, however, I admire it for its serenity rather than it’s diplomatic meaning.

Two Young Girls at the Piano - This piece by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, completed in 1892, has been one of my favorite since I was a little girl despite not having a sister or a musical gift. This oil on canvas painting is located in the Robert Lehman Collection along with many other great works of impressionism that I love.

Sparkles and Shoes - Kelly and Erin - Roof of the Met

After absorbing all of the art goodness knows you will need a little break and the roof is the perfect place.

The Roof - Despite dozens of trips to the museum I visited the seasonal bar on the roof for the first time in June with Erin of Two Thirds Hazel. While the drinks are overpriced and there are not any good seating options the view is unprecedented.

If this was not enough for you make sure to check out all of my posts about New York City on my blog and my recommendations for a perfect tourist day in the Big Apple!

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