I could try to kid you. "Go to an important art exhibit at the Morgan Library" I could say. But don't. Go to the Morgan right away because there is a wonderful, quirky, exhibit of paintings and drawings by (father & son) Jean & Laurent de Brunhoff.

Who you ask? They are the writers, artists, the visionaries of the Barbar books. Now a thousand politically conscious militants have probably told you (as they have me) that Babar books are imperialistic, ethnocentric, and just plain reactionary in a dozen ways. And well they may be but the Babar Books were, for me and for my children, an essential rite of passage which I continue to treasure. I ask you: French, cursive writing and elephants in clothing. Who could ask for anything more.

For Adam Gopnick's New Yorker review click here

If you're still not convinced, there's an exhibit of the oldest manuscripts surviving of Milton's Paradise Lost together with early printed versions and some Milton-oriented art. It's also closing and there are good things to see there BUT go see the Babar drawings and paintings.

The Morgan, at 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, is free Friday nights from 7-9 PM(other times a pricey $12). The other advantage to visiting the Morgan is to see the buildings. It was recently rebuilt and I have sworn to hate the violence done to the Mckim beaux arts buildings. But if you can hate the work done, you're a better preservationist than I am. The rebuild is very, very smart and the result is very impressive.