By Richard Magat

Apr. 29, 2015:  Hordes of visitors and native New Yorkers traverse Museum Mile--nine cultural institutions between 82nd and 105th Streets--every day of the year. But that trek overlooks a cornucopia of other destinations dedicated to the arts. Here are two of my favorites (more to come later).

Swann Auction Galleries. Although most of the cultural repositories are the outgrowth of philanthropy and enjoy tax-exempt nonprofit status, Manhattan is chock-full of galleries and other institutions that show art for a profit. 

The galleries have in recent years spread beyond midtown throughout the city and now can be enjoyed (if one does not mind walking stairs) as far out as the meatpacking district on the far West Side.

Just north of Greenwich Village (at 104 East 25th Street) is a two-story auction house rich in varied exhibitions from African-American art to printed and manuscript Americana, old master prints, modernist posters, maps and atlases, and more.

Hundreds of items are sold at each auction, and prices can soar to $1 million. Swann is part of a network that extends to Paris and six other European cities.

Swann's dozen catalogues are handsome scholarly works, bargains at $35 each.

Bonhams. An English auction house with a major New York presence, Bonhams deals not only in art but also in antique automobiles, jewelry, and such historical documents as the notebook of the late distinguished scientist Alan Turing, who developed the techniques that broke the German code during World War II. The notebook sold at auction for $850,000.

A 17.61 carat Burmese sapphire and diamond ring fetched $300,000 and a 1991 Ferrari, $1.2 million. Cameras and rare wine are also offered. The great actress Lauren Bacall had an eye for handsome things (including Humphrey Bogart, of course), 750 of which--paintings, sculpture, designer suitcases, and costumes and gowns--were sold for $300,000.

Bonhams's tentacles stretch to offices in Washington, San Francisco, Singapore, and several European cities. The New York facilities occupy three floors at 580 Madison Avenue, and if one comes to an auction ahead of time, coffees and pastries are given on the house. 

Photo by N. Bower