Tour begins at 526 W. 26th St., 212-946-1548, nygallerytours.com
SoHo used to be the destination for checking the erratic pulse of contemporary art, but these days, Chelsea easily has a spot at the top of the ranks. The biggest names in the gallery world keep regular business hours (Tues.–Sat., 11am–6pm) and their doors open to the public—for free. One strategy to get a feel for the neighborhood's roughly 300 galleries is to grab a cup of coffee and wander from 26th and Tenth to 19th and Eleventh—chances are you'll bump into a Basquiat, be intrigued by a cutting-edge installation or both. But if you just want the greatest hits, New York Gallery Tours offers private and group packages with a tour guide who has a PhD in arts education. On November 28, you can experience seven exhibits of the guide's choosing, with no pressure to buy, during the 1pm tour. Get a coupon that shaves $5 off the $20 ticket price by e mailing nygallerytours@yahoo.com ahead of time; include the date of the tour.

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