Big things happening in small museums

Photo credit: Emily Fisher Landau with her portrait by Andy Warhol.

New York City is renowned for its museums, and the ones that dominate the scene - the Met, MoMA, the Whitney, the Guggenheim - really are world-class. There are, however, plenty of smaller local institutions that are worth your time as well. If you're in the mood for something a little different (and less filled with tourists), check out the following.

The Ukrainian Museum
Wed.-Sun., 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., $8. 222 E. 6th St.,ukrainianmuseum.org
The Ukrainian Museum is committed - surprise - to preserving and exhibiting Ukrainian art and cultural artifacts. Even its building was designed by a Ukrainian-American architect, George Sawicki. The museum celebrates its 35th anniversary this Sunday.

The Toy Museum of NY
Wed.-Fri., noon-5 p.m., $7. 157 Montague St., 2nd fl., Brooklyn Heights, toymuseumny.org
This museum is especially accommodating to school groups, but the folks here know that you're never too old to appreciate toys. Their extensive collection includes pieces from the late 1800s. See vintage dolls, board games, trains and more.

Queens County Farm Museum
Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (outdoor only), Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., FREE. 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park, queensfarm.org
This farm, now owned by the city Parks Department, has been a working farm since 1697. Visitors can view livestock, an orchard, greenhouses and more. Tours of the historic farmhouse are offered free on weekends.

Fisher Landau Center for Art
Thu.-Mon., noon-5 p.m., FREE. 38-27 30th St., Long Island City, flcart.org
This institution houses the Emily Fisher Landau art collection, made up of more than 1,500 pieces from 1960 to the present, including key works by John Baldessari, Donald Judd, Jenny Holzer, Jasper Johns, Ed Ruscha and Kiki Smith.

Nicholas Roerich Museum
Tue.-Fri., noon-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun, 2-5 p.m. 319 W. 107th St., roerich.org
Though little-known today, Nicholas Roerich was a fascinating figure on the local arts scene in the early 1900s. He was a prominent member of the Russian intellectual scene at the dawn of the 20th century, and after immigrating to New York, Roerich devoted his life to arts education and awareness. The museum is dedicated to showcasing his paintings as well as hosting concerts and poetry readings.

Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art
Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $5 suggested. 80 Hanson Pl., Brooklyn, mocada.org
MoCADA's mission is to highlight the artistic and cultural contributions of people of African descent. The museum's programming reflects a desire to open a dialogue with the contemporary art community, which it does through thoughtful exhibits, podcasts, workshops, lectures and more. MoCADA's current exhibit is "Re-Imagining Haiti: Le Projet Nouveau."

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