It’s surreal to live in New York City and have a vast oasis of museums at our fingertips. As an artist, visual learner, and aesthetic girlie, I’m a sucker for our city’s art museums (and cafes).

The moment I walked into the Whitney I knew it was different from other museums in the city- and I knew just one visit wasn’t going to be enough for me. I knew I wanted my friends and family to see it and experience it. I walked a few floors of the museum quietly taking it all in, and as if something clicked in my soul, I quickly came back down to the lobby to buy an annual membership. I wanted to be a part of what The Whitney has been doing this year, and can I tell you, it’s been an absolute joy to be a member of this extraordinary museum?

They have been celebrating their Biennial this year and they have been providing some incredible art experiences throughout the year. Brett and I just had the opportunity to go to their stuttering event, where, for the first time, many artists stood in front of an audience and celebrated their stutters. It was incredibly beautiful and emotional to support both young artists and older artists who have lived their lives with a stutter— witnessing both their joy and pain through song, poetry, essays. It changed me. That’s what art does. It connects us and changes us.

One of my favorite exhibitions I’ve ever witnessed is currently there. My jaw was on the floor. I almost wept out loud. An exhibition that should be savored for 30-40 minutes if you have the time. Julien Isaac’s Once Again… will not just surround you, but it will probably make you cry as each screen tells the same story in different ways. It’s one of the most beautifully filmed black and white films I’ve had the privilege of watching.

Here’s how Julien describes it: “Unfolding across five screens, Once Again . . . (Statues Never Die) reflects on the life and thought of Alain Locke (1885–1954), philosopher, educator, and cultural critic of the Harlem Renaissance (played by André Holland) who urged members of the African diaspora to embrace African art in order to reclaim their cultural heritage. The installation includes sculptures by Richmond Barthé (1901–1989) and Matthew Angelo Harrison (b. 1985), opening up a conversation about Black artists’ legacies that extends across modern history. Julien has described the work as a form of “poetic restitution,” speaking to the ways museums have collected African art. The artist refines this critique by creating a visual and sonic meditation as a “diasporic dream-space.””

If you’ve never been to The Whitney, go walk around a bit, then take a break at the rooftop cafe for some really lovely views and a cappuccino. I actually love The Whitney so much I run or walk there on The Hudson River Parkway when the weather is nice to peruse the art and get a cappuccino on the rooftop. I even contributed how important The Whitney is to me in Rent.com’s 8 NYC Must-Dos Off the Beaten Path article earlier this month. which has a handful of other NYC recommendations if you’re visiting soon!

If you’re visiting NYC this year, I encourage you to go to The Whitney and tell me what you think!