Society of Illustrators

This place has a great vibe and the evening I went there it was showing a Batman exhibition on one floor. On the other floor there was live music and drinks. Overall I enjoyed my evening. I also had a nice glass of Pinot Grigio which was also quite tasty. I have to also admit it had a great outdoor backyard space as well. The only thing that would have been nicer for me is if I felt a little more engaged. It would have been nice to feel more included. I felt like the feeling was a little on the exclusive side so that could be improved.

What a lovely space!
This gallery houses illustrated works on four floors (the fourth floor was under construction when I just visited) and a basement level. The stairs are narrow and a bit creaky, but I think that adds to the charm and shows just how understated and unpretentious this place is. Artwork lines the staircase walls and almost any available wall space.
Third floor: This floor actually has a dining room and bar! They hold brunch, dinner, and happy hour events on a pretty regular basis. Tuesday night Sketch Nights with nude models (live music, $ 15) and Thursday night themed Sketch Nights (complimentary small plates buffet, $ 20) also take place here. I am so intrigued, but I can’t sketch so someone please go sketch and tell me all about it!
Second Floor: In a narrow hallway that only comfortably fits two people across, artwork from the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art’s (MoCCA’s) collection hangs on the walls. Some of the artwork are large and because of the narrow space, it’s hard to look at the whole picture, but it’s perfect for comics with fine details and small handwriting. Jonah Kinigstein’s editorial cartoons are currently there, and they are quite a hoot. Some are political, most are about the state of the contemporary art world, and all are blunt and pointed.
Main Floor and Basement: The Illustrators 57 exhibit is there now until the end of February 2015. The Society of Illustrators makes it a point to have competitions such as the Illustrators 57 that is open to digital, mixed media, gouache, and pencil illustrations. I always just assumed that illustration meant pen and paper, but it was interesting to see the representation of different kinds of media. The subject content was also so diverse. A couple of pieces have been used in subway cars and small billboards, so they were very recognizable.
Admission: $ 10 adults, $ 5 students/​seniors
Free on Tuesday nights 5−8pm, not crowded at all
Likelihood of another visit:
I’m scared to try the Sketch Nights, but I would like to check up on their events calendar and try out a brunch or wine night at some point.

What a little gem. I came for an exhibit I can’t remember the name of but regardless, glad I came. The place is small with 3 floors worth of illustrations. There’s a lovely collection of children’s book illustrations on the 1^st floor, but I think my favorites were the watercolors on the 3^rd floor. There are some really beautiful pieces up there. Something to aspire to! If it sounds like your kinda thing, head this way. And don’t forget to the check out the itty bitty gift shop to the right as you enter.

Really, really great place!
I came for Sketch Night on a Tuesday — make sure to get there early because I got there right when it began, and the place was packed. However, it was still super enjoyable. Two models was great, in case I got bored of one of them or didn’t like a pose. They had a huge buffet of food for free (and before that opened, they had some very cheap, delicious food for purchase). The highlight was the patio outside. It was so great to sit out there on a beautiful night when taking a break from drawing!
Next, I came back for their Sunday brunch, and it was amazing. The brunch comes with a complimentary drink, and my Bloody Mary was perfect. The servers were SO nice. They made sure we were satisfied at all times. When we asked for coffee, they said that it was self-​serve, but then they surprised us by bringing the coffees over to us! And the food was incredible. There was a really nice selection. In particular, I loved the potatoes! As a plus, the server had no issue doing separate checks for our table of six — and we didn’t even have to ask for this.
After the brunch, we explored the museum, and it was really cool. There was an exhibit on comic book art, as well as an exhibit on children’s book art. They do a great job displaying a ton of different styles.
I’ll definitely be back!

Stop in at the dining room (no membership needed) for lunch. Amazing food, buffet, fix price $ 30 with glass of wine and dessert. Art and food sublime, doesn’t get any better!

A hidden Gem on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. An amazing venue that offers lunch, yes, a buffet lunch for members and non-​members on the 3^rd floor and special brunch dates as well as dinner dates. I have gone to the site to see when they offer the brunches. No one really knows about this and although I want to keep it my little secret, I can’t help but share, because I love the place. Tuesday and Thursdays are Sketch nights, Tuesdays are life drawing with a prop and Thursdays are themed or costumed nights, and mixed with all levels of artists. I have met clients here at the bar for a drink on those sketch night evenings, and I know they have a happy hour as well but I have not been to that Yet! The Society is a Museum, and historical institution, overloaded with art and myths, just one of those institutions that make the city so extraordinary.

Review for the Tuesday/​Thursday drawing events only!
Calling all artists or anyone who just wants to practice their skills! This is THE place to be on Tuesdays and Thursday nights. Tuesday are nude models and Thursdays are costumes. Models stand on a raised platform in the middle of the room. We had two at a time but not sure if this is the case every time. There are chairs surrounding the platform and if you get there early enough, be sure to grab a small table to put your sketchpad on because they will run out!
Also, if you get lucky sometimes there’s free food and coffee as part of the experience. Live music is also part of the deal. The price is as follows: $ 7 dollars for students and $ 15 for everyone else. A steal, in my opinion!
There are a number of poses that range from 2 to 20 minutes. The events start at 6:30pm and end around 9:30pm. There are breaks in between to rest, get a drink and socialize. There are a lot of really talented artists that frequent the events here, which is awesome if you happen to catch a glimpse of their work during the breaks.
Overall, the environment, the people and the experience was lovely and I can’t wait to return in the future! Just sad that I didn’t discover it sooner!

Coool! Came here with some amateur artists for Sketch Night (Thursday, the non-​nude night).
I’m glad we sat in the back and gulped down some wine because we were horrible compared to the real artists that attend this place.
Basically, they have models that people sketch in all kinds of crazy ways! I loved the talent there, though I did not fit in!
Would like to explore the museum one day!

For something unique on the UES, visit the Society of Illustrators museum and restaurant. Small but well worth a visit.
Many famous works of renown illustrators on the first and second floors. There is a small gift shop which is always staffed with very pleasant people.
The third floor houses a restaurant with a fantastic, open air terrace. Above the bar is an amazing Norman Rockwell mural. The Society hosts lectures and films on the third floor and a really cool weekly Sketch Night. Typically a jazz band is playing, the bar will be open, some finger food and snacks will be available and about 40 – 50 artists will be sketching nudes. Always great to see the different visions of the artists and their interpretations of the subjects. Very talented group and I bought one for $ 10 once (although I bet the artist would have just given it to me).
This place definitely flies under the radar but a really cool venue to meet some interesting and talented people.

A little gem of a gallery devoted to illustration. Shoehorned into a 19^th-​century carriage house, it’s small but well worth a visit.
The main exhibit here was Drew Friedman’s «Old Jewish Comedians,» which took up most of the museum’s floor space. I found this the least interesting of the offerings, as it was kind of one-​dimensional, even with a minuscule ephemera display and a screening room showing Woody Allen doing stand-​up. As an old Jewish comedian might say: «Feh.»
Unless you’re a devotee of Friedman, or his subjects, go upstairs to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, which is apparently just the second-​floor hallway. This cramped space will introduce you to Dutch artist Joost Swarte, whose cheeky and geometric work is a breath of fresh air. I wish more space had been devoted to him.
The third floor houses a restaurant (with a terrace! and a Norman Rockwell over the bar!) and another exhibit, this one highlighting Jeffrey Catherine Jones. His lush, sci-​fi-​ish works couldn’t be more different from Swarte’s or Friedman’s, but it’s the juxtaposition of the three that reveals the genius of great illustrators.
The stairway that links the floors is lined with sketches of the founding members – a unique tribute that’s almost impossible to enjoy without messing up traffic patterns. There’s a tiny but well curated gift shop near the entrance, and the staff is pleasant and welcoming. They host lectures, films, and sketch nights, which makes me wish I could actually sketch.
Admission is $ 10 for adults, but I think it’s worth it to support this cool, under-​the-​radar museum.

I’ve been here a couple of times and have seen the main exhibit change from promoting Ice Age 2 to the Rise of the Guardians (which apparently was a bomb in the box office). The museum isn’t very big, consisting of 2 rooms, but is very relatable and interesting to go through. It usually changes up its main exhibit every few months for a recent animated movie, so you get to see something different with each visit. It’s free, so definitely go check it out, although don’t go out of your way for it because the whole thing takes less than 30 minutes to go through. Sadly, it’s not open at the most convenient of times.

We came here for an event and left fans. I hope to be back soon to take in the museum. As a room for an event, it was lovely. The weather was perfect so we were able to use the outdoor lounge area. Staff was super helpful and always around to help, but not in your face all the time. Thanks guys, you made our event lots of fun.

So I’m not an art student nor did I like cartoons growing up, but I think this museum is worth the hour visit. It’s located in a really nice neighborhood up Manhattan, free admission, and friendly staff.
This weekend they had an exhibit by Maurice Sendak who wrote Where the Wild Things Are. It was a nice tribute to his work even though I couldn’t truly appreciate his talent (water color and pen and ink work). Check ahead to see which exhibits they have if you’re picky, otherwise just go and give it a shot.
There’s some kind of restaurant on the third floor that seems really cool, not sure if you can rent it out or not but it’s a really neat space.

I came here with friends for their drawing night. I’m not much of an artist, but it was a fun opportunity to exercise the right side of my brain. I really wanted to view Maurice Sendak’s work so it was a treat to draw in the main room where his work was exhibited… while listening to live jazz… and enjoying a glass of vino. In the beginning, the models changed poses rather quickly ~ 30 second intervals. After the warm-​up they held their poses a little longer. I will definitely be back.

This place is five stars for me b/​c I love illustration as an art form, and the Society of Illustrators does a good job with it.
The place isn’t large, it’s set up more like a club than a museum (club as in society headquarters, not discothèque). I think that’s the point, it’s not primarily a museum. You walk into the lobby, which has been turned into a gift shop. Beyond, there’s a small two-​floor exhibition space. Maurice Sendak was featured when I went — his work is beautiful. Upstairs is a small space with additional featured work, and the third floor is the members’ dining room (with more work). There’s an original Norman Rockwell above the bar there, but seeing as how there were members eating in the dining room, I in my flip-​flops and cargo shorts didn’t have the gumption to impose and visit it.
Getting back to illustration as an art form — it’s frequently commercial, which in my opinion, is a humble purpose. It’s art to put food on one’s plate — not high-​minded, nose-​in-​the-​air art for art’s sake. That’s fine too, but illustration is art for the people — art for consumption. Which isn’t to say that it’s simple or rough-​shod. In fact, despite its purpose, illustration is detailed and exquisite. I think that’s what I appreciate most about the art on view at the Society of Illustrators — it doesn’t elevate illustration, as it doesn’t need to — the art is shown the wonder that it is.
That said, one suggestion for the Society — sell prints and/​or posters in the gift shop. Exhibition catalogues are available, but those are for bookshelves and coffee tables. I need something for my walls, and illustration is a great choice, IMO.
A final and important detail — admission is free, but there’s a donation box in the exhibition space. Donate something, it’s clearly deserved.

This organization is too terrific for me to not upgrade my rating. During the past twelve days, I’ve attended *three* fantastic events there. Moreover, they currently have two terrific exhibits. I also had the pleasure of meeting the executive director and she’s an extremely pleasant, friendly person.

For what it is, the SOI is an amazing piece of New York artistic history. Where else can you dine in the midst of so many brilliant works of art? I am tempted to tell no one about it but you can become a social member and eat here every day. The staff all love illustration and are proud to be part of it. Food always solid. Staff are always cool.

This place is a great place to take a date. Its relatively cheap on opening night with cheap booze. I had a friend who played classical music here for an event, and I awed by how unique this place was. If you want to throw a spontaneous bone in your dating life, go to the society of illustrators one night instead of going to the movies. Check the calender pick and date/​event– and treat your artistic side.

— I AM NOT an artist
— I CANNOT draw, paint, sculpt (unless we call it «abstract». I can totally do that).
— I CAN however appreciate art
Museum Day is one of my new favorite days. While looking through the list of museums participating, I stumbled upon the Society of Illustrators and the Rolling Stone Exhibit jumped out at me. Although the exhibit was small there was a great flow and it’s probably one of the best I’ve seen. Displayed along the walls on the first and second floors were paintings /​collages of artists’ interpretations of various Rolling Stone articles and covers covering artist from the Stones to Prodigy to Taylor Swift to Death Cab for Cutie. There were also private collections displayed. Concert T-​Shirts, the Rolling Stones «tongue» phone, books, records, ticket stubs, I could go on and on. I believe it’s still up so definitely check it out if you’re a music fan.
As for the museum itself it host events and workshops (check the calendar on their site) weekly. It has a very laid back, quirky feel to it. There are little knickknacks for sale by the front and some interesting books. Totally funky kind of place and I’m happy to have found it.

New chef with worse food, crappier service. All of a sudden I’m a lot less jazzed.