Long Island City Art Tour

Long Island City has the greatest concentration of art in NYC outside of Manhattan, and P.S. 1 is its most famous art institution and the biggest draw to the neighborhood.

P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center has won international acclaim for its art exhibits. Yet, for a major art institution, there's real zing in the corridors, not the plain white walls of most spaces. Come for the excellent art, and keep coming back to explore this former public school turned art world star.

Recommended Length of Visit: 1.5 hours

Visiting Times:

• Thursday to Monday - Noon to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday and Wednesday - closed

Cost: $5 and $2 students/seniors

Address: P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, 22-25 Jackson Avenue, at 46th Avenue and 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-784-2084

Directions by Car:

• Queensboro Bridge to Queens Blvd, right on Jackson Avenue.
• LIE-West exit Van Dam, right on Van Dam, left on Thompson, left on Jackson.
• LIE-East exit Van Alst and follow 21st Street.
• Parking is tough.

Subways: E, V subways to 23 St/Ely Ave., 7 to 45 Rd/Courthouse Sq., G to 21 St/Van Alst.

Buses: Q67 to Jackson and 46th Ave. B61 to 46th Ave.

Where to Eat: Lounge 47 serves a great burger and is cool and comfortable for the post-art daze. (47-10 Vernon Blvd, at 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-937-2044)​

Sculpture Center, officially it's one-word "SculptureCenter," showcases emerging and well-known contemporary sculptors. It's a small, experimental space, and though not every exhibit hits the Prize, Sculpture Center is definitely worth a visit.

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes

Visiting Times:

• Thursday to Monday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday and Wednesday - Closed
• Sculpture Center Events

Cost: $5 suggested donation

Address: SculptureCenter, 44-19 Purves Street, at Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-361-1750

Directions by Car to the Sculpture Center:

• Queensboro Bridge to Queens Blvd, right on Jackson Avenue, left on Purves.
• Midtown Tunnel/LIE-East exit at Van Alst and follow 21st Street, turn right on Jackson, continue past Citi Tower, and turn right on Purves.
• LIE-West exit Van Dam, right on Van Dam, left on Thompson, right on Jackson, and right on Purves.

Subways: E, V subways to 23 St/Ely Ave., 7 to 45 Rd/Court House Sq., G to Court House Square.

Buses: Q67 to Jackson and 46th Ave. B61 to 46th Ave.

Where to Eat: Court Square Diner is a great local. (Court Square Diner, 45-30 23rd Street at Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-392-1222

The Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Program is a 1,200-square-foot exhibition space, run by a non-profit arts organization dedicated to giving independent curators a place to exhibit contemporary art.

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes

Visiting Times: Thursday through Monday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; also by appointment.

Cost: Free

Address: 11-03 45th Avenue (at corner of 11th Street), Long Island City, NY, 718-937-6317

Directions by Car:

• Queensboro Bridge to Queens Blvd, right on Jackson Avenue, right on 46th Avenue, right on 11th Street.
• LIE-West exit Van Dam, right on Van Dam, left on Thompson, left on Jackson, right on 46th Avenue, right on 11th Street.
• LIE-East exit Van Alst and follow 21st Street. Left on 46th Avenue, right on 11th Street.
• Parking is tough.

Subways: E, V subways to 23 St/Ely Ave., 7 to 45 Rd/Courthouse Sq., G to 21 St/Van Alst.
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Buses: Q67 to 21st Street (just one block from 11th Street), B61 to Jackson Avenue, Q103 to Vernon.

Where to Eat: Lounge 47 serves a great burger and is cool and comfortable for the post-art daze. (47-10 Vernon Blvd, at 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-937-2044

The Noguchi Museum is one of the best small museums in NYC. It is home to the art of Isamu Noguchi, a prominent modern art sculptor, renowned for stone work.

The rock garden is a highlight, a precise corner perched in a ramshackle neighborhood.

Recommended Length of Visit: 45 minutes

Visiting Times:

• Wednesdays-Fridays - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, Tuesday - Closed

Cost: $10/adults; $5/seniors, students. Free for children under 12. The first Friday of every month is pay what you wish.

Address: Noguchi Museum, 32-37 Vernon Blvd (entrance at 9-01 33rd Rd), Long Island City (across from Costco and Socrates Sculpture Park), 718-204-7088

Directions by Car:

• Triborough Bridge: Exit at 31st St (first exit in Queens). Right onto 31st (under subway). Right on Broadway. Left on Vernon.
• Grand Central (West): Exit at Hoyt Ave (last exit in Queens). Left onto 31st Street (under subway). Right on Broadway. Left on Vernon.
• Parking: Park on street.

Subway: N or W subway to Broadway, then walk west toward Manhattan for 10 blocks. Left on Vernon and museum is in two blocks across from Costco.

Buses: Q103 and Q104 to Broadway/Vernon.
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Sunday Bus From Manhattan: $5 one-way, $10 round-trip (not including admission). Pick-up from the Asia Society (Park Ave and 70th St, Manhattan). Sundays at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. Return trips at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 p.m. 718-204-7088.

Where to Eat: The Noguchi Museum cafe serves sandwiches and snacks.

On the East River waterfront, the Socrates Sculpture Park hosts outdoor sculpture by contemporary artists and puts on community events. The events make the area come alive.

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes

Visiting Times: Open all year, 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to sunset.

Cost: Free

Address: Socrates Sculpture Park, Broadway at Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, NY 11106, 718-956-1819

Directions by Car to Socrates Sculpture Park:

• Triborough Bridge: Exit at 31 St (first exit in Queens). Right onto 31st Street (under subway). Right on Broadway. Follow to the waterfront and turn left on Vernon.

• Grand Central (West): Exit at Hoyt Ave (last exit in Queens). Turn left onto 31 Street (under subway). Right on Broadway. Follow to the waterfront and turn left on Vernon.

• Parking: Ample parking on street.

Subway: N or W to Broadway, then walk west toward Manhattan for 10 blocks (or Q104). The Park entrance is at the end of Broadway, on the waterfront, just north of Costco.

Buses: Q103 and Q104 to Broadway/Vernon.

Socrates Sculpture Park Events:  Outdoor Summer Cinema - Free International Film Festival in July and August.

Where to Eat: Two blocks away the Noguchi Museum cafe serves sandwiches and snacks, but the adventurous should walk up to 21st Street and then south a block or two to Roti Boti 2, cheap, hot Pakistani food. More options await you in Astoria.

The Museum of the Moving Image is a jewel of Queens. It has more than enough movie and film exhibits to entertain and educate a group for a couple hours, but it's not overwhelming like the super-museums in Manhattan. Kids, parents, and hipsters will love the hands-on exhibits. Plus on weekends there are great movie screenings.

Recommended Length of Visit: 1.5 hours

Visiting Times:

• Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday - noon to 6 p.m.
• Monday - Closed

Cost: Free - $5 donation asked

Address: 35th Avenue at 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106, 718-784-0077

Driving Directions:

• Triborough Bridge: Exit at 31st St (first exit in Queens). Right on 31st (under subway). At 35th Ave, turn left and continue to 36th St.
• Grand Central (West): Exit at Hoyt Ave (last exit in Queens). Left onto 31st (under subway). Left onto 35 Ave and continue to 36 Street.
• BQE (west): Exit at Northern Blvd and go left (west) on Northern. Turn right onto 35th Ave (intersection at 45-degree angle) and continue to 36th.
• Parking: Metered parking spots on street have become tough to find. Try the rooftop lot at the nearby UA Kaufman Astoria movie theater (35-30 38th St).

Subway: R, V (weekdays), G (weekends) to Steinway. N, W to 36th Avenue.

Buses: Q66 to 35th Avenue, Q101 to Steinway, Q102 to 31st Street

Where to Eat: Arham Thai Restaurant (32-05 36 Ave) is great for a casual meal.

The Fisher Landau Center for Art houses a private collection of contemporary artwork, from 1960 to present day. Highlights include art by Jasper Johns and Kiki Smith.

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes

Visiting Times:

• Thursday to Monday - noon to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday and Wednesday - Closed

Cost: Free

Address: 38-27 30th Street, Long Island City, New York 11101, 718-937-0727

Official Website: Fisher Landau Center for Art

Directions by Car:

• Queensboro Bridge, keep right and follow signs for 21st Street. Turn right on 21st. Continue to 38th Avenue and turn right. Then right on 30th Street.
• Grand Central-West, exit at 31st Street. Turn left onto 31st under the elevated subway. Turn right on 38th Avenue and left on 30th Street.
• Triboro Bridge, exit at 31st Street. Turn right onto 31st under the elevated subway. Turn right on 38th Avenue and left on 30th Street.
• Parking is readily available on the street.

Subway: N, W to 39th Avenue (Beebe). Walk one block West to 39th Avenue and turn right on 30th Street. Or R, V, G from Northern Boulevard, and 7, E from Queens Plaza.

Buses: Q101 to Northern and 31st Street, Q102 to 31st Street

Where to Eat: If you're desperate, there's a hard-as-nails coffee shop a block away at the corner of 31st and 37th Avenue. Otherwise, head toward the Museum of the Moving Image for more options.

The only museum dedicated to African art in New York City, the Museum for African Art is planning to relocate to a new building in Manhattan. While still based in Sunnyside, Queens, the Museum has curtailed its exhibits. Only offices and a gift shop are currently open. The Museum continues to stage exhibits at other locations.

The Museum is in a Sunnyside warehouse, separated from the rest of the Long Island City art world by rail yards. It's only minutes away by the 7 train, but walking can be tricky. From the Museum of the Moving Image take Steinway/39th Street.

Visiting Times:

• Monday, Thursday, Friday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Wednesday - Closed

Cost: Free to visit gift shop

Address: Museum ​for African Art, 36-01 43rd Ave, 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-784-7700

Directions by Car:

• Queensboro Bridge, follow signs to Queens Blvd and turn left on 35th. Right on 43rd Ave. The museum is at 36th St.
• LIE-East, just after Midtown Tunnel toll plaza, exit Borden Ave. Left on Borden. Left onto Van Dam St. Right on Queens Blvd. Left on 35th. Right on 43rd Avenue. The museum is at 36th St.
• LIE-West, exit Van Dam St. Right on Van Dam. Right on Queens Blvd and then left on 35th. Right on 43rd Ave. The museum is at 36th St.

Subway: #7 subway to 36th St. Walk north on 36th.

Buses: Q32, Q39, and Q60 buses to Queens Blvd.

Where to Eat: It's a walk, but cheap, good coffee-house Alpha has donuts (Alpha, 45-16 Queens Blvd)