Guggenheim Museum – New York – Report

Thanks to gripso_banana_prune@Flickr

This was the one museum I had really made a top priority to visit this time around in NYC, apart from The Natural History Museum which I had been promising to take Katie to ever since she watched Night at the Museum.

The first time around in New York there simply wasn’t enough time and when I came back in December 2006 I remember waking up, bouncing our of bed and setting off across Central Park from the Upper West Side and then walking down twenty blocks straight after breakfast in the hope of beating the crowds. Only to find out that it was closed on Thursday! So I went to Moma instead and never did make it back to the Guggenheim on that trip. However, my disappointment faded when after catching an episode of Sex and the City, I saw Carrie rushing in the rain only to find that the Guggenheim was closed on….yeah, Thursdays! Ok, I never thought Carrie and I would have something in common. Although standing outside the white swirly building, feeling and looking deflated, in the rain, she attracted a tall dark hunky guy and went off for lnch together. I went to the MOMA and ate a hot dog. Doesn’t quite compare does it.

So this time, I was determined to catch it while it was open. We read in the guidebook that it was open late that day and was by voluntary contribution after 5:45, perfect! We dallied around Midtown for a while and then set off in good time. When we got there we found it was….closed! Apparently they changed the closing times a couple of weeks previously and we had to come back the next day.

The following day, after getting lost in Central Park (doesn’t everyone?), and hurrying in the rain to beat the crowds we got there and joined the lined that stretched around the block.

When we’d got in and paid our contribution Katie said she needed to use the bathroom. It was disgusting! There was dirty toilet paper strewn all over the floor and urine on the seat. She took one look and said she’d wait till we found another restroom. Don’t blame her.

We found one on the next floor but the lock was broken and someone came in as I was helping Katie. Not good!

I am not one for writing complaints, but for the first time I did. I emailed visitor relations at the museum a week ago and they haven’t so much as written back acknowledging my email.

For a main attraction in New York I am really disappointed.