Brooklyn Museum

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A whopping 560,000 square feet, the city's second-largest museum contains a world-class collection of roughly 1.5 million works covering a wide cultural swath and virtually every period in art history. Its commanding Beaux-Arts structure, designed by McKim, Mead and White, was set to become the largest art institution in the world, back in 1895. (The plans were dashed when Brooklyn became just another borough two years later and the funding headed north to the Met.) After decades of lagging maintenance, the museum revived itself in the last two decades of the twentieth century via massive renovations designed to reposition its famed holdings of ancient Egyptian antiquities and century-spanning American Art. The Egypt Reborn installation traces over 3,000 years worth of artifacts (among them, the prized Bird Lady figurine and the Cartonnage of Nespanetjerenpere). A series of eight thematic galleries take a fresh look at American painting dating to Colonial times. Also reinstalled—and pulling many objects out of storage in the process—were the Arts of Africa, the Pacific Islands, and Asia (with Japan particularly well represented). Many other departments read like a litany of artistic greats: three centuries' worth of watercolors by the likes of Edward Hopper, Mark Rothko, and Norman Rockwell; major works by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissaro; early modernist art by Max Weber and Georgia O'Keeffe. In almost a century, the museum's most dramatic physical change is a glass entryway with a tiered roof that echoes the original grand stairway that was dismantled as a safety hazard. — Simon Spelling

The Memorial Sculpture Garden

A collection of salvaged architectural elements from around the city.

Tours
Guided group tours of the permanent collection are $19, $15 for students and seniors. Tours of special exhibits are $21, $17 for students and seniors. Reservations made three weeks in advance are required. Call 718-501-6222.

First Saturdays
From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month, except in September, the museum hosts a giant, free party with dancing, performances, and gallery talks. Several cash bars offer beer and wine; the café serves food until closing.

Classes & Lectures
Art classes in painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and media arts are offered for adults and children ages 4 and up. Registration is required. For more info, contact the Educational Division at 718-638-5000, ext. 478.

Weddings
One of the largest art museums in the country, the Brooklyn museum provides a majestic environment for a wedding. The recently renovated Beaux-Arts Court, with its magnificent arches, brass chandelier, and historical glass-block floor, can hold up to 800 guests for a seated dinner. The Rubin Pavilion and Grand Lobby can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for a lavish cocktail reception. Rental fees start at $10,000 for a five-hour event. Restaurant Associates is the in-house caterer.

Special Offerings
The Art & Garden Ticket gives you same-day access to the museum and the neighboring Brooklyn Botanic Garden at a 15 percent discount.

Library
The museum libraries and archives are open to the public by appointment. For information, call 718-501-6307.

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