What To See: Celebrate Asian Culture In NYC

There's always something new to see in New York if Asian art and culture interest you. You could spend your whole stay in NYC, taking advantage of the city's greatest Asian art and culture, from film festivals and museum exhibits to seasonal celebrations and shopping.

However, to make it easier for you, since we know you have a big list of things you want to do while you're here, we've highlighted a few must-see museum exhibitions and events!

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden dedicates the entire m onth of April to the Japanese custom of "Hanami," which fully uses the cherry blossom season.

There are always plenty of pretty pink blossoms to enjoy throughout April, thanks to the garden's stunning Cherry Esplanade, which is lined with 25 species of double-flowering cherry trees that bloom at various times throughout the Spring.

The two-day Sakura Matsuri, a weekend-long celebration of Japanese culture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, marks the culmination of Hanami at the end of the month.

This vibrant festival, which takes place on April 28 and 29, combines traditional Japanese activities like tea ceremonies, Taiko drumming, and bonsai tree care with contemporary Japanese pop culture, such as manga artists, J-Pop musicians, and even a Cosplay fashion show.

Additionally, various Japanese dishes will be available under the tent on Cherry Esplanade.

Manga enthusiasts, meanwhile, shouldn't miss the three-story Japanese bookshop Kinokuniya, which can be found on Avenue of the Americas at 40th Street, close to Bryant Park.

This expansive branch of the Japanese bookshop chain includes a Japanese-style pastry and sandwich restaurant in addition to a wealth of comics in both Japanese and English, fashion magazines, anime DVDs, and Japanese-language novels.

Museum of Modern Art

After Kinokuniya has to whet your appetite for anime, make plans to visit the adjacent Museum of Modern Art , where the ongoing film exhibition Contempor Asian presents movies rarely seen outside their native countries, including fresh productions by renowned directors and independent features.

Every week, a new film is shown in MoMA's Theater 2, which includes works from countries including China, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, and others.

Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum's collection of Ko rean art is among the best in the nation since it was one of the first American institutions to do so. Its items include early stoneware burial containers and unusual ceramic vessels.

The Brooklyn Museum's Japanese collection has both traditional artworks and pottery from the twenty-first century, while its Chinese exhibit showcases artifacts that date back to the Neolithic (3000 B.C.E.).

The Brooklyn Museum's extensive Asian collection is completed by impressive, enormous sculptures from Cambodia and Thailand and early paintings from Kashmir and Nepal.

Of course, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has a collection of 35,000 items dating back to the 4th century B.C., is a trustworthy source of information about Asian art.

Depicting the numerous civilizations present on the planet's greatest continent from the early 20th century.

Prepare for a long afternoon of enjoyment with 53 galleries featuring Asian arts, ranging from early metal sculpture from Nepal to Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Even in the Met's permanent collections, light-sensitive artworks like delicate Japanese fabrics and prints are rotated four times annually, so there is always something new to see.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents special exhibitions that honor Eastern creative traditions in addition to its substantial permanent collection of Asian art.

A study of traditional Chinese lacquerware from the 13th to the 16th century, Red and Black Chinese Lacquer examines the methods and ideas portrayed in this distinctly Asian artistic heritage (through June 10, 2012).

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In contrast, the special exhibition Storytelling in Japanese Art features more than 60 pieces in various formats and mediums, such as playing cards, textiles, and illustrated books.

Chinatown

Of course, Chinatown is always an option if you are hungry. Grab a "Bubble Tea" and explore this vibrant neighborhood's bustling streets to uncover hard-to-find fruits like rambutans, a relative of the lychee, and bitter melon, as well as delicious Chinese desserts.

Visit one of Chinatown's fantastic eateries for a filling supper of dim sum (try Mott or Pell Streets; both are lined with great restaurants).

And whatever you do, remember to leave some room in your carry-on for a couple of mementos. Chinatown is a terrific spot to buy for that unique keepsake of an unforgettable vacation.

You can spend hours perusing the imported gifts, toys, home goods, and unusual souvenirs at Pearl River Mart (Broadway and Grand Street).

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