Last month, New York's El Museo del Barrio reopened after a year and a half renovation that added more floor space, a more streamlined relationship between galleries, a cafe, and a fabulous new glass lobby. The city's premier Latino museum, El Museo del Barrio reopened with a new exhibition "Nexus New York: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis," which runs through February 28, 2010.

Caribbean and Latin American artists who lived in New York City before World War II are the focus of this vivid exhibition. Over 200 works by artists from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Cuba, Chile, Peru, and other Latin American nations, present the impact of Latino artists on the avant-garde movement. In addition, the renovation has made room for a set of galleries devoted to the museum's permanent collection. Over 100 works comprise the inaugural exhibition "Voces y Visiones: Four Decades through El Museo del Barrio's Permanent Collection." Paintings, graphics, photographs, and installations provide an overview of the museum's past while presenting its connection with Latin American and Caribbean Art from around the world.

This year marks the museum's 40th anniversary, and in celebration, an expanded program of public events and performances will include cultural celebrations, youth programs, and "Target Free Third Saturdays." Check the schedule to see what's coming up, then jump in a taxi or hop on the bus. El Museo del Barrio is a straight shot up Fifth Avenue from the legendary St. Regis New York.