THE DESTINATION
Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

THE JOURNEY
You all know how to get to the Metropolitan.
The tree is in the Medieval wing, gallery 305, on the first floor, straight back from the Great Hall behind the stairs.

THE DETAILS
The Met is closed these days on Wednesdays as well as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Hours are 10a to 5p, Sunday, Monday and Thursday; 10a to 9p Friday and Saturday. The place was PACKED when we went on Friday around 1p.

THE BACKGROUND
If you haven’t been up to the Metropolitan at Christmas in a while, and if you, like us, have friends visiting, this is worth the trip. The 20-foot lighted blue spruce has been presented in the Medieval wing on the first floor since 1964, when 140 Neapolitan crèche figures, dating from the second half of the 18th Century, were gifted to the museum by Loretta Hines Howard.

The figures are credited to Giuseppe Sanmartino, an Italian sculptor best known for monumental sculptures in marble and stucco, who created three traditional vignettes: the Nativity, with angels, shepherds and sheep; the procession of the three Magis and attendants; and town people going about their business at the inn of Bethlehem mentioned by St. Luke, where on the Holy Night there was no place for Mary and Joseph.

The figures average between 12 and 15 inches in height — so the ones near the back get smaller to create more depth of perception on the “set.” And they are pliable (still?!) so curators can give them poses. Their bodies are made of wire, their arms and legs are carved wood, and their heads and shoulders are modeled terracotta.

The angels are hung in the tree, and the whole thing is set in front of the Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid.

ADDED BONUS
I loved the Fauvism show, “Vertigo in Color,” and the Cecily Brown show. I could take or leave Manet/Degas, but I am probably the only one who feels that way…

PIT STOP
We just had tea at the American Wing Cafe, which is right under the windows facing the park. Great spot, no real line, the sandwiches are about $16. There are three other casual cafes (The Eatery has more family-friendly hot food and the Petrie Court and Great Hall Balcony have snacks and sandwiches), as well as the Bill Telepan more upscale, white tablecloth spot, The Met Dining Room, which requires reservations.