Memorial Day in the City

Cloisters Museum, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

After talks of Niagara Falls and Montauk for Memorial Day weekend, my plans eventually fell through and to my dismay I was left to spend Memorial Day weekend in NYC. (Sigh) Many may think this really isn't the worst thing in the world, but when you walk to work in the morning and see every single person carrying their luggage on their way to the airport, it makes you feel as if you're the only person spending Memorial Day weekend in the city.

For those who don't know, the overwhelming majority of Manhattanites leave the city almost every weekend in the summer and the city has a much quieter feel to it. You can finally get reservations to that restaurant you've been dying to go to or check out the museums without waiting in a massive line.

Anyway staying in Manhattan for Memorial Day weekend was far from uneventful. There are so many places to see and things to do around the city that someone who actually lives rarely thinks about! (I'm starting to fall culprit to this myself!) So, my boyfriend and I made a day trip up to the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe.

This is what you will see as soon as you get off the subway.

My boyfriend and I outside the Cloisters Museum.

Living in this concrete jungle, you don't often see much greenery. So, walking out of the subway and seeing the view above, although not breathtaking to most, was a very comforting feel! The Cloisters is located all the way up at 190th street, but it is an easy subway ride from Union Square. (Take the L to 8th Avenue, transfer at 8th Avenue to the A train and take that all the way up to 190th)

It is the perfect place to have a picnic, learn about medieval architecture and take a walk somewhere that makes you feel as if you are miles away from Manhattan. I would recommend this quick day trip to anyone looking to "get out of the city" while not actually having to go too far. The price to enter the museum is a recommended $25 and $12 for students. For those who don't feel like lugging a picnic basket to the site, there is actually a very cute restaurant located a few hundred yards from the museum site. (But keep in mind it is only one restaurant with little seating and many visitors looking for a bite to eat!)

Below are some of the pictures that I took throughout the day. I promise to start blogging more often, I know I have been really slacking!