MoMA

Museum/ Attraction: MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)
Website: http://www.moma.org/; web store
Atmosphere: fantastic design shop and specially bookstore
Drool-worth items: Damian Evans Index Chopping Boards ($70)
Logo items: A wide range of products including postcards of famous exhibits
Haul: Muji pen, Italian composition book


Comments:
I have been to both Midtown locations (across the street from each other at the museum) as well as the SoHo location of the MoMA design store and it never gets old. This is the premier place to shop for beautifully designed objects, often so practical you will never understand how you lived without them and many quite reasonable. While many of the items sold both in the stores and online can be found elsewhere (example, the iconic ‘New York City Coffee Cup’; note: the original designer of the ubiquitous paper version of this NYC stable passed away recently), having so many wonderful things under one roof makes it that much more enjoyable. One of the interesting aspect of shopping at the MoMA store vs, say, one of the many other NYC design-centered shops around town is the fact that since it does cater to tourists, more people are browsing around and all and all, engaged with the design. Those in NYC know how often peering into to an empty and cold looking design shop can be a major turn off. After all, if it’s empty, it must be either really expensive or not worth it, right?

Part of my relationship with the MoMA store is that I, personally, can’t stand the actual MoMA itself. I have practically no interest in ‘modern art’ and have failed to embrace the concept of design as being anything other than ‘living’. I absolutely want to sit in your Louis Ghost Arm chair under the Phrena hanging lamp thank you very much, not just look at it behind some barrier. Good design is meant to be held, used, and loved, not admired from affair.

So, what else can I tell you about the store? Books! Love it! With a respectable little sale section for your design references on the cheap. All manner of items, some fabulously expensive and many well priced, including a range for the budding child-artist in your home. I also like the fact that they carry a limited selection from one of my favorite design stores, Muji (note: if you are in SoHo, walk a few extra blocks to go to the actual Muji store. Worth it, I promise. Just touching the paper brings me to my happy place). I generally find the jewelry selection pretty hit or miss and the scarves either super boring (yes, yet another Coonley Playhouse design item) or not practical. House wears and office supplies are really where it’s at; it’s a great go-to place for weddings, birthdays, hostess gifts, holidays etc.