Sunday Morning in New York

Have you ever noticed that when you travel, Sunday mornings are a "down time;" good for sleeping in, long brunches, and mostly spent waiting for places of interest to open?

Well, you don't have to wait in Manhattan because Sunday morning is one of my very favorite times for going to some of my favorite places in the city.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the greatest museums in the world. Whether sitting around the Egyptian temple, or taking in the new American wing, or sitting quietly in the sculpture garden, I never seem to have enough time at the Met. However, for anyone who's ever been to the Met on a Saturday, you well know the tremendous crowds. Suddenly, a relaxing, interesting, rejuvenating museum experience devolves into another crowd jockying situation.

Few people know this: the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays! It is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. You can walk through at a leisurely pace and enjoy any gallery. By the time the rest of the world shows up at the expected opening hour of noon, you can be well on your way to another of my favorite local spots...which just happens to be around the corner from the Met: Sarabeth's.

Sarabeth's started out as a bakery on the Upper West Side, but since producing some of the best baked goods in New York in such a comfortable setting, Sarabeth's has been a tremendous success across New York. Though there are several locations serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Upper East Side location is known for brunch. And given the proximity to the Met (around the corner on Madison at 92nd), it's the perfect place for breakfast or brunch on Sunday. Sarabeth's opens at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays, so you can stop in before or after your Met visit.

After brunch, a walk down Fifth Avenue through Central Park is the perfect way to spend the day. I could sit for hours watching the penguins dart and dash through the water in the zoo exhibit. However, a little urge to shop usually takes over and I'm off to Bergdorf's or Barney's.

Enjoy your Sunday in New York, and don't forget to have a leisurely read though The Times!