Museum of Modern Art
After two years of being temporarily ensconced in Queens, MoMA returned to its original Manhattan location in late 2004. And though the address is the same, the space is now, with over 630,000 square-feet, almost twice the size of the original. The renovation, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, highlights space and light, with open rooms, high ceilings, and gardens?a beautiful work of architecture and a perfect complement to the art that resides within. This is where you?ll find van Gogh?s Starry Night, Cezanne?s Bather, Picasso?s Les Demoiselles d?Avignon, and the amazing sculpture by Rodin, Monument to Balzac. Whenever I visit, I like to browse the fun ?Architecture and Design? department, with examples of design for modern appliances, furniture, and even sports cars. MoMA also features edgy new exhibits and a celebrated film series that attracts serious cinephiles. But the heart of the museum, as it was before the renovation, remains the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, which has been enlarged; the museum?s new design affords additional views of this lovely space from other parts of the museum. My only complaint with the new MoMA is its very high ($20) admission charge for adults.

Louis Armstrong House Museum
What is it about celebrities' homes that we find so fascinating? Is it that we get to see how they lived away from the glare of the cameras; how they functioned on a daily basis just like the rest of us? Armstrong was an international celebrity and could have lived anywhere, yet this unassuming, bi-level house in the working-class neighborhood of Corona, Queens, was the great Satchmo's home from 1943 until his death in 1971. It was bought and designed by his fourth wife, Lucille, who lived in it until her death in 1983. No one has lived in the house since and in 2003, the house, a National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark, opened its doors to the public as a museum. The 40-minute tour takes you through the small, impeccably preserved home and explains the significance of each room to both Louis and Lucille. My favorite is Armstrong's den, where he kept his reel-to-reel tape recordings, cataloging everything he taped -- music, conversations, and compositions, some of which are displayed on his desk. The house also includes a small exhibit with some of his memorabilia, including two of his trumpets, and a guest shop, where many of his CDs are for sale along with other Satchmo-centric items. If you have any interest in jazz and in Armstrong, this is a must see.

Central Park Zoo/Tisch Children's Zoo
Here is a pleasant refuge within a refuge where lithe sea lions frolic in the central pool area with beguiling style, gigantic but graceful polar bears glide back and forth across a watery pool that has glass walls through which you can observe very large paws doing very smooth strokes, monkeys seem to regard those on the other side of the fence with knowing disdain, and in the hot and humid Tropic Zone, large colorful birds swoop around in freedom, sometimes landing next to nonplused visitors.Because of its small size, the zoo is at its best with its displays of smaller animals. The indoor multilevel Tropic Zone is a real highlight, its steamy rainforest home to everything from black-and-white colobus monkeys to Emerald tree boa constrictors to a leaf-cutter ant farm; look for the new dart poison frog exhibit, which is very cool. So is the large penguin enclosure in the Polar Circle, which is better than the one at San Diego's SeaWorld. In the Temperate Territory, look for the Asian red pandas (cousins to the big black-and-white ones), which look like the world's most beautiful raccoons. Despite their pool and piles of ice, however, the polar bears still look sad.The entire zoo is good for short attention spans; you can cover the whole thing in 1 1/2 to 3 hours, depending on the size of the crowds and how long you like to linger. It's also very kid-friendly, with lots of well-written and -illustrated placards that older kids can understand. For the littlest ones, there's the $6 million Tisch Children's Zoo. With pigs, llamas, potbellied pigs, and more, this petting zoo and playground is a real blast for the 5-and-under set.

Days Hotel Newark Airport
Located across from Newark International Airport with 24 hour airport shuttle and ample free guest parking. Call 800-942-7543, for the Park and Fly Package of up to seven extra days. 15 minutes to New York City, Statue of Liberty, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex. See links page for connection to our Corporate Offices. Email: ...

Howard Johnson Hotel - Newark
Howard Johnson Hotel Newark Weather flying or driving this location is for you. Only 10 minutes from New York City Statue of Liberty, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Only 1/2 mile from Newark Airport. I-95 exit 14. $15 Daily Parking Fee Collected Upon Check-in - To Guests Travelling With a Car Complimentary 24hr Airport ...

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Newark Liberty International Airport
SpringHill Suites is Marriott's new concept in economy all-suites lodging featuring clean, convenient, quality accommodations - all for a great value! Our suites feature a living area with a large, well-lit work desk, lounge chair and ottoman, sofa sleeper and two-line phone with dataport, a pantry area equipped with coffee maker, microwave and small refrigerator and sink and a sleeping area with one king or two double beds. We offer a convenient fax service, free local telephone calls, ...