Help me plan a trip to the Whitney!
September 7, 2015 3:10 PM   Subscribe

In less than three weeks I'll be in New York City. I am ridiculously excited. Of the less than stellar times I have free, when is best to visit the Whitney?

I very much want to visit the Whitney, and while I’m assuming it’s been consistently mobbed since re-opening in May in its new building, I’d like to figure out the quietest time to visit. Unfortunately, the main exhibit closes during my trip, so that leaves me choosing a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday for visiting.

I see they offer pay-as-you-wish on Friday nights starting at 7, but don’t I need more than three hours? How big is the museum? I do art museums really slowly, especially modern and contemporary art. Would a Friday night be crazy with extra people?

They’re open until 10pm Fridays and Saturdays – would that be quieter than a Sunday morning? There are also a couple galleries in the neighborhood I was considering visiting, which wouldn’t be possible on a Sunday. Any recommendations on how to pair the two activities?

Any other things I’m not considering? I live on the opposite coast so this is a special trip, and I don’t know when I’ll be in New York again.
posted by missmary6 to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (8 answers total)
 
I think you're probably overplating these beans. All the major museums in New York City are crowded most of the time; they are reliably most crowded when they're free (if they're not usually). If your top priority is to save money, by all means go Friday night. If your top priority is to have a leisurely visit that is as uncrowded as possible, go at (or slightly before) opening, preferably on Friday but Saturday or Sunday would be best at opening as well.
posted by telegraph at 3:18 PM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]


The Whitney is a beautiful building, but there's somewhat less art in it than other museums you might be used to, unless they've added some since I last visited. A few floors are reserved for special events, galas, and offices. So I think 3 hours might be enough time unless you are going to contemplate the paintings like a monk.
posted by vogon_poet at 3:35 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]


If you're thinking about quietest times, don't do the pay-as-you-wish nights - they're super busy! Do a Saturday or Sunday morning.

Also, the new Whitney is huge, and three hours sounds about right. Make sure you pair it with the High Line (which is right there) and get a chance to wander upwards to Chelsea afterwards.
posted by suedehead at 5:14 PM on September 7, 2015


If Fireflies on the Water is still on at the Whitney go at opening to get an early "slot", you can only view it at your appointed time.
posted by Iteki at 5:29 PM on September 7, 2015


Definitely do mornings over evenings, they have been pretty quiet in general as far as I can tell (I work around the corner). I think three hours sounds about right.
posted by goingonit at 6:05 PM on September 7, 2015


Seconding Vogon poet. The parts of the collection on view ain't all that vast. I think I was there only an hour and a half tops, and the last half hour was a sort of self-enforced "by God I spent twenty bucks to get in and I AM GOING TO GET MY MONEYS' worth" grudge thing. (Although, to be fair, really modern art ain't my thing as a rule, I was there mostly to see what Edward Hopper stuff they had.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:22 PM on September 7, 2015


I just went last Friday afternoon, and found that although it was crowded, it was doable. I was there for three hours, but I do feel like I only got a cursory look at things. If you really want to look at everything super in-depth, then maybe plan for 4 or 5 hours. I was leaving the museum around 7, and the pay-as-you-wish line was super long, so I recommend going as early as possible.
posted by greta simone at 11:10 AM on September 8, 2015


I've been to the new Whitney twice. One aspect you shouldn't overlook at the new Whitney are the gorgeous outdoor terraces. There's additional art outside and the view of Manhattan is very nice as well. You're looking down upon the High Line & up at the Standard Hotel on one side, and at downtown Manhattan on the other side. Many people spend a lot of time taking photos here. So I would also make my decision based upon the forecast for your trip.

When you get there, first, pop into the small (free) exhibition room on the 1st floor next to the elevators, as many people don't even realize it's there. Then go to the huge elevator bank next door. Go up to the highest floor (8th - though I think America is Hard to see is closed on that floor?) that you can and work your way down. You can enjoy the 8th floor terrace and then walk down to the next floor using the outdoor staircases (only floors 8 through 6 are connected this way).

Between the 6th and 5th floors, you'll need to use the (somewhat poorly marked) internal staircases. Don't miss out on the NYC Instagram shot of the summer: Mary Heilemann's neon-bright "Sunset" chairs on the 5th floor terrace. The "top half" of the new Whitney building contains the vast majority of the art on display for the current exhibition. The remaining floors are for staff, education, a theatre etc.

You can take a beautiful staircase from back down to 1, though, as Felix Gonzalez-Torres's "Untitled" (America) hangs in the center.

Don't forget to check out Chelsea Market and the High Line while you're in the neighborhood. And Alta Linea or Santina for a cocktail.

If Fireflies on the Water is still on at the Whitney go at opening to get an early "slot", you can only view it at your appointed time.

Closed in October 2012, sorry!
posted by kathryn at 8:30 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]


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