New York

Every Sneaker That Matters, in One Room

Inside the BK Museum's new sneaker history exhibit

By Kirk Miller / July 16, 2015 9:00 am

Last week marked the opening of the Brooklyn Museum’s “The Rise of Sneaker Culture” exhibit, a must-see for anyone who’s ever lovingly unboxed a fresh pair of kicks. Heck, we even made a sneak peek slideshow for you. Here’s your three-step plan to doing it up proper:

Step One: Dress Appropriately
You’re attending a sneaker exhibit. Look the part. Where to start? Our recent Summer Sneaker Cheat Sheet, a guide to the latest and greatest in sheathing your dogs, from artfully washed canvas to burnished Italian leather.

Step Two: Hit the Exhibit
The Brooklyn Museum’s retrospective features more than 150 pairs of glass-encased kicks, dating all the way back to Brazilian-made sneaks exported to the States in the 1830s. Highlights include Converse Chucks from the first year they were made, shoes from the private collection of Run-D.M.C., and even the Js that started them all. Step right this way for our sneak (har) preview of some of the exhibit’s wares.

Step Three: Grab Some Grub
Rumor has it NYC’s best new burger can be had a short stroll from the museum at Rose’s, where the Franny’s crew (who just moved that beloved pizza-centric eatery across the street) have rolled out some date-night required reading. The burger? Meat, cheese, bun. No toppings, no tomfoolery. Wicked tasty. Add Thursday night movie screenings, board games at-the-ready and a delightfully leafy patio and you’ve got yourself a bona fide winner.