A Members' Guide to Summer at The Met

Young Members enjoying the Manhattan views from The Met's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Photo by Filip Wolak

«We made it! Summer is here, which means the days are getting longer, the mornings are getting brighter, and your calendar is growing full. These three months go by fast, so we want to help you make the most of it at The Met with our first-ever Members' Summer Guide.»

The Met's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden is a longtime Member favorite, and this year we're setting the bar even higher! Starting June 10, you can hang out at the new Members-only Rooftop Bar every Friday and Saturday night. This way, you can spend less time waiting in line, and more time with friends enjoying the signature cocktails and Instagram-worthy views. (Don't forget to tag @metmembers while you're here!) And let's not forget the art: Cornelia Parker's site-specific Transitional Object (PsychoBarn) is on view through October 31.

Visitors viewing The Roof Garden Commission: Cornelia Parker, Transitional Object (PsychoBarn) against the New York City skyline. Photo by Hyla Skopitz

Inside, there's plenty of eye-opening perspectives, too. The Costume Institute's Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology will surprise and stun with over 170 ensembles that show how technology integrates with haute couture in fashion. For a private viewing experience, visit before The Met opens to the public during Members Morning Hours on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16, from 9 to 10 am. It's the perfect opportunity to take in the centerpiece of the exhibition: a showstopping couture wedding dress by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel with a 20-foot train, which took over 450 hours to make.

The "Junon" and "Venus" dresses from House of Dior (left and center) alongside an evening dress by Alexander McQueen (right) in the exhibition Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology

Not a morning person? Tickets are now on sale for the annual Young Members Party on Thursday, July 7, which gives you and your friends late-night access to both PsychoBarn and Manus x Machina, with a special performance by Brooklyn's Phony Ppl. We sell out fast, so purchase tickets today.

Members partying in the Great Hall during last year's Young Members Party

After a Sunday stroll in Central Park, my go-to brunch spot is the Members Dining Room. It has the best park views in the neighborhood and talented chefs who hail from some of New York City's most iconic restaurants, including Le Bernardin, Babbo, and Gramercy Tavern. (Tip: Try the whole-wheat malt pancakes with strawberries, walnuts, and mascarpone.) Or, leave the city behind altogether with a visit to The Met Cloisters, where you can take advantage of extended hours every Friday this summer—until 7:30 pm. Located in Fort Tryon Park, The Met Cloisters is one of my favorite places for a quick escape. Sunset views overlooking the Hudson River make the trip more than worth it.

Visitors enjoying a drink at The Met Cloisters

Whether you're stretched out by the pool or nestled under a Central Park tree, The Met Store has a selection of books to keep you reading until Labor Day. Staff picks include Iwona Blazwick's Cornelia Parker and Roger F. Pasquier's Painting in Central Park. Can't decide? Use your 10% Member discount and treat yourself to both.

These top picks are just the start of experiences Members can enjoy at The Met all summer long. If you're not a Member yet, you can be a part of it all by joining today! I look forward to seeing you soon.