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Where to Go for Art, History and the Coffee to Wash It Down

While it’s possible that you’ve always had a soft spot in your heart for art, history and good coffee, odds are, interests like these only came along after your vocabulary included words like “401K.” If your love for all-things-cultural is relatively new, you probably need a little help in creating your cultural to-do list. Or maybe you’ve got a decent number of gallery visits under your belt and are hungry for more spots to hit. Either way, the world is a big place with lots of things to see and experience, and a little guidance never hurt anyone. For the sake of space and sanity, we’ll keep it limited to major metropolitan destinations, but these are only a starting point. You can find plenty of artistic expression and historical relevance—and some great coffeehouses in which to discuss it all—pretty much anywhere you go. So take your hunt for cultural adventure on the road, and you’re sure to be inspired, learn a lot and meet heaps of people with your same curiosity.

U.S. Museums
Visiting a museum is the classic way to inject yourself with a dose of sophistication, and there are plenty to choose from stateside. Inside museums, you find the well dressed and learned of America … people who have wine cellars and official titles. If you want to be counted among these posh members of society, begin here.

New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – America’s premiere art museum located in Central Park, the Met holds more than 2 million works of art from all parts of the world and all eras of time—dating back as early as circa 300,000 B.C. The Met also offers trips—an ideal and exotic way to meet a fellow art connoisseur. Museum lecturers accompany tours to such far-off places as Egypt, Amsterdam, Vietnam, Italy, India and Spain.

Museum of Modern Art – Now open in midtown Manhattan, the MoMA might appeal to you if you’re more into contemporary art than, say, ancient near Eastern art. If you want to meet someone as Avant-garde as you are, your best bet is to attend a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture. Held on selected weekdays, these informal lectures on modern and contemporary art offer interesting information as well as built-in conversation starters.

The Guggenheim Museum – The slickest way to experience the progressive contemporary art at the Guggenheim is to make an appearance at a First Friday. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., wander through the unique exhibitions, cocktail-in-hand, as NY DJs spin in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed rotunda. The Guggenheim also has locations in Venice, Berlin, Las Vegas and Bilbao.

Whitney Museum of American Art – At the Whitney Museum, showcasing American art from 1900 to now, check out unique lectures, activities and performances. Whitney also hosts the Art Party once-a-year benefit, which features a silent auction and live entertainment.

Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago – A wide array of people visit the museum at the Art Institute of Chicago, which houses Impressionist paintings, 20th-century art, medieval armor and more. And every three months, the Institute holds AfterHours—themed social events featuring live music, performances, readings, gallery tours, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.Ü

Field Museum of Natural History – Part of a lakefront Museum Campus that includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum regularly presents interesting exhibits, such as the recent “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years.” Showcasing many of her outfits, as well as photos of her travels and her redecoration of the White House, this intriguing exhibit drew a decent-sized crowd of young professionals.

Boston
John F. Kennedy Library and Museum – Want a bigger Kennedy fix? The JFK Museum holds 15,000 photos, interviews, videotapes and more relating to the life and career of President Kennedy … and the museum hosts a gourmet Sunday brunch. JFK + brunch = good times.

San Francisco
Cartoon Art Museum – Looking for something a little more playful? The Cartoon Art Museum is a very cool place, with a wide collection of comic book and comic strip art from The Yellow Kid (beginning circa 1895) to modern-day comics. The museum also hosts special events, such as the recent Comics 4 Comix benefit that featured Bay Area stand-up comics.

Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception – The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, a.k.a. the Exploratorium, is an experimental, hands-on museum located near the Golden Gate Bridge. The highlight of the museum’s outside-the-box exhibits is the Tactile Dome—an interactive, pitch-black maze through which visitors must feel their way. If it doesn’t spook you too much, you never know what, or who, you might stumble across.

Newport Beach
Orange County Museum of Art – The OCMA, located in California’s famous O.C., mainly concentrates on the art of California from the early 20th century to the present. Cocktails accompany special opening events, and the museum offers free “Twilight Tours” of the galleries on Thursday nights. The OCMA also recently launched the “Orange Lounge,” exclusively presenting new media, such as video, computer and Internet-based art.

Seattle
Seattle Art Museum & Seattle Asian Art Museum – Hit up the SAM and the SAAM for the Northwest’s collection of art from around the world, especially African, Native American, European and of course, Asian. Both offer various opportunities to see and be seen, from paired food-and-wine dinners to film showings to fashion shows.

Tampa
Salvador Dali Museum – In the opposite corner of the country is Florida’s homage to the surreal. At the Salvador Dali Museum, experience the works of the famous 20th century Spanish artist, and bring a blanket and a friend for the museum’s free Off the Wall (literally) outdoor film series, which loosely ties in with themes in their current exhibition, “Dali Revealed.”

International Museums
What would a trip overseas be if you didn’t stop in loads of historical museums? A museum can help you understand the unfamiliar culture you’re in better than any other medium. And of course, you’re bound to bump into fellow travelers from all over the world, with whom you can experience the local food and drink later in the evening.

Barcelona
Picasso Museum – The Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain, highlights a lot of Pablo Ruiz Picasso’s earlier work, and its location is appropriate—Picasso himself lived in Barcelona for several years. Other must-sees in Barcelona: La Rambla (a pedestrian boulevard and market-of-sorts), the Barri Gotic (a cluster of medieval Gothic buildings, cafes and bars) and Montjuic (a hill on which fine art galleries, parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites are perched).

Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum – The pride of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum holds works by the talented and tortured Vincent Van Gogh. Other Amsterdam destinations: the canals, Begijnhof (an enclosed courtyard dating from the early 14th century) and of course, the controversial Red Light district, where you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops and pubs in addition to, of course, prostitution, soft drugs and porn.

Athens
National Archeological Museum of Athens – For the Indiana Jones junkie, the NAM in Athens, Greece, contains collections of tools, sculptures and pottery from 4500 B.C. to 1500 A.D., as well as statues of the Greek gods, such as Zeus and Aphrodite, and the mask of Agamemnon. Other spots to hit in Athens: the Byzantine Museum (holding paintings and religious icons), the Plaka (a marketplace with many shops, restaurants and bars) and the Acropolis (the “sacred Rock” of Athens, which includes the Parthenon, Acropolis Amphitheater and Acropolis Museum).

Paris
The Louvre – One of the earliest European museums, the Louvre in Paris, France, contains art from ancient and modern empires the world wide, and the building itself is a wonder—first a medieval fortress, then the palace of the kings of France before becoming a museum, the Louvre has seen more than 800 years of history. Other to-dos in Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Musee d’Orsay (showcasing Impressionist art) and the Notre Dame Cathedral.

London
The British Museum – Existing to illuminate the histories of cultures, the British Museum in London, England, is the comprehensive museum of world study. Africa, America, Asia, Europe, the Near East, the Pacific … this place has it all. Other famous London sites: the Tower of London (housing the Crown Jewels), Westminster Abbey (burial site of many English monarchs), the Globe theater (a replica of the original Globe, where many of Shakespeare’s plays were first staged), Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament/Big Ben.

Berlin
Jewish Museum – Berlin, Germany’s newest and most talked about museum, the Jewish Museum chronicles 2,000 years of German-Jewish history. Interestingly, the architect of the building included “psychological spaces” in his design, which are meant to stir up feelings of imbalance, imprisonment and loss as visitors walk through them. Other worthwhile things to see in Berlin: the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate (a famous monument symbolizing Berlin’s division and unification).

Rome
Vatican Museums – At the Vatican Museums in Rome, Italy, is where you’ll find the famous painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, as well as the largest collection of art in the city. Other amazing Roman sites: the Colosseum (see: Gladiator), the Roman Forum (the commercial, political and religious center of ancient Rome) and the Pantheon (an ancient Roman temple and monument).

Art Galleries
More about interpretation than historical significance, the art gallery experience widely differs from the museum experience. Stop into one of the below for a shot of contemporary art, often with a twist.

Los Angeles
New Image Art Gallery – Drawing a healthy collection of young hipsters, the New Image Art Gallery’s cutting-edge exhibits range from the whimsical to the sociological. Definitely no suit-and-tie required here.

The Lab 101 Gallery – Stop in the Lab 101 to experience one-night events and unique exhibits, such as the upcoming “Altered Recycling Can Exhibit/Coachella,” featuring an array of designers, artists and musicians (including Brendan Canty of Fugazi and Aaron Burtch of Grandaddy).

Ghetto Gloss – This distinctive L.A. gallery features a range of artists whose works are available for film, television and commercial rentals. So check it out, and see if you can’t pick out a piece of art from Ghetto Gloss the next time you catch a flick.

New York
Gagosian Gallery – With two locations each in New York and London and one in Beverly Hills, the Gagosian Gallery has become so influential that it’s nearly beginning to compete with museums.

Matthew Marks Gallery – Showcasing modern and contemporary art, the Matthew Marks Gallery in Chelsea has a spacious, urban feel and is frequented by celebrities.

Gen Art – Gen Art, an arts and entertainment organization that spotlights emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and artists, hosts more than 100 events each year. With additional locations in L.A., San Francisco, Miami and Chicago, Gen Art is anti-intimidation and specifically caters to the 21-39 crowd.

Seattle
CoCA Seattle – Check out the CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art) if you’re feeling adventurous and maybe a little socially conscious. The experimental artwork in this nonprofit “alternative art space” explores issues, media and concepts relevant to our modern culture.

Chicago
Perimeter Gallery – The Perimeter, located in both the Windy City and the Big Apple, has the cultivated feel of a museum and is free to the general public. This upscale gallery is definitely worth your time if you’re on the more mature end of “young professional”; the Perimeter’s artists tend to be more established and developed in their work.

London
The Saatchi Gallery – This British destination holds all kinds of macabre pieces, ranging from a huge, real, dead shark in a giant tank of formaldehyde to a large room filled from the floor to midway to the ceiling with oil. And the strangest exhibit of all? A life-size bust made by an artist of himself that has to be kept in a refrigerated case … because it’s made from his own blood.

Coffeehouses
Coffee shops and culture seem to go hand-in-hand. Something about sitting at a small table with a steaming cup of java within reach just makes you want to talk about the arts. Below, you’ll find a few spots to find great coffee, great company and a great context in which to discuss your cultural awareness.

New York
Cafe Lalo – Appearing in the movie, You’ve got Mail, CafÈ Lalo is the perfect inviting NY coffeehouse. Desserts, bakery treats, coffees and liqueurs are all on the menu of this popular hangout for writers, artists and celebrities. Floor-to-ceiling French windows and brick walls give the place an airy yet cozy feel.

San Francisco
The Canvas – A very chic but not pricey place, the Canvas is a bar/cafÈ/coffeehouse with constantly rotating gallery exhibits. Live music, dance parties, poetry slams and comedy nights also go on every week.

Seattle
Zeitgeist Coffee – Zeitgeist Coffee, a combination of atmosphere, art and high-quality coffee (you know it has to be—this is Seattle, after all), displays work from emerging and established artists, in addition to offering film, performance and music events.

Boston
Diesel Cafe – Diesel Cafe a trendy coffee shop in Davis Square (recently voted one of the “15 hippest neighborhoods in North America” and home to a youthful, bohemian community), is a good place to have some coffee, read and people watch.

Chicago
Uncommon Ground – With open mic night every Monday, live music on the weekends and local artists continually showcasing their work, Uncommon Ground is a great place to mull over your latest cultural exploits. The atmosphere is very casual and laid back, and the coffee shop boasts the best hot chocolate in the city.

Theater
Theater Extras is a company that arranges complimentary tickets for its members. Tickets range from previews to opening nights to performances throughout a show’s run, which means you, may get the chance to attend a t a performance with reviewers and celebrities.

Visit www.theaterextras.com

Now it’s time to stop reading and begin doing. Explore the world; soak in culture and art and creativity. Check out where humanity came from and where it’s going. And don’t forget to talk to people while you’re at it … It’s almost impossible to meet someone who’s not interesting at a museum, an art gallery or a coffee shop. And once you’re culturally savvy, it’s almost impossible for you to not be interesting yourself.