The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) New York City

Years ago when I was new to the workforce my boss called me in to her office and offered me my first business trip. I was excited until I learned I was going to Secaucus, New Jersey. And I was going for six to eight weeks!

Once I was back at my desk I looked up Secaucus and found it was only a few miles from New York City. I figured a few weeks in Secaucus was worth it because I could explore New York City on the weekends. That trip began my love affair with New York City and with a great museum I discovered during the many weekends I spent in the City; The MoMa, or the Museum of Modern Art.

Prior to my stint in New Jersey, I had been to some of the world's great art museums including The National Gallery in London and the Louvre in Paris. So I wasn't expecting to be impressed with the MoMa. Boy was I wrong!

The MoMa is located on 53rd street in New York City and is home to over150,000 pieces of modern art. Items in the museum's permanent collection include works by van Gogh, Rousseau, Dalí, Picasso, Worhol, Monet, Matisse, Cézanne, and more. All of the great modern masters that you would expect to find at the world's leading modern art museum are here. But it's what you wouldn't expect to find, in my opinion, that makes the MoMa such a fascinating place to visit.

During my first trip to the MoMa in late 1997 I stumbled upon was an exhibit of photographs made by the Khmer Rouge of prisoners during the Khmer Rouge's rein of terror from 1975 to 1979. Each black and white photo showed a prisoner of the notorious S-21 prison taken shortly before they were executed. To this day, this exhibition still makes causes so many emotions to come up. It certainly wasn't art but it stirred something in me. It was thought provoking and made me want to learn more about what happened in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge's rule. And that's what I like about the MoMa; the art isn't always "art" in the traditional sense of the word, yet it inspires and makes you think about what you've seen long after your visit.

Never before had I seen Tupperware are art, but yet there it was in a glass case next to an Apple computer and an Alessi Kettle... all beautiful in their simplicity and design. MoMa's website says that it's a place that "fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration" and that's exactly what a visit to this museum does.

Over the years, in addition to the regular collection, I've seen many special exhibits including van Gogh's Postman series, a fantastic exhibit of office furniture (who would have thought that office furniture could be art?!), and many other traditional and "non traditional" exhibits. You never know what you'll encounter at the MoMa, and how it will inspire you, and that's what make it a must see museum if you're in New York City

The MoMa is located on 53rd street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The museum is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except for Tuesday when it is closed. Admission is $20 for adults and free for children 16 and under. For more information call the museum at (212) 708-9400 or visit them online at moma.org.

Tip: Every Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. is Target Free Friday Nights. Everyone is admitted for free but expect long lines to get in.