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Occupying the first three floors of the IBM building on Madison Avenue, the compact 6000 square-foot Dahesh Museum, which opened in 1995, has a small but significant collection of 19th- and early 20th-century academic art. Academic art is produced according to the teachings of European academies, and is usually conservative, highly finished, and involving historical or mythological themes. The Dahesh is the only museum dedicated to this school of art in the United States. It was started from the personal collection of Lebanese humanist Salim Moussa (his pen name was Dr. Dahesh, hence the name of the museum) and currently has about 3,000 pieces which are displayed on a rotating basis. At first glance the Dahesh appears to be little more than an upscale museum shop (its selection of pricey leather journals and vintage-looking jewelry take up the entire street level). Head to the brightly lit lower level to see the small permanent collection. You should be able to walk through the galleries in about half an hour. Upstairs is Cafe Opaline which serves a Mediterranean lunch and afternoon teas. — Mike Sanfilippo

The museum's 200-person auditorium hosts free special events on the first Thursday of every month, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The museum provides art activities and tours for children from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. 

Tea
Afternoon Tea and Teddy Bear Tea for Children is served daily from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. You do not have to pay admission to the museum to attend tea.