New York state’s gun buyback program saw more than 3,000 guns surrendered in exchange for gift cards last week. Nine buyback locations were set up in various regions of the state, with two in New York City.

Organized by State Attorney General Letitia James, this was the first-ever statewide gun buyback in New York history.

RELATED: New Yorkers turn in 78 guns at Harlem buyback program

The gun buyback events were conducted in partnership with local law enforcement agencies and public officials. The attorney general’s office said it collected 185 assault weapons, 1,656 handguns, and 823 long guns. In New York City, 90 guns were collected in Brooklyn and 70 in the Bronx.

The NYPD has also established a Cash for Guns program that offers $200 to anyone who surrenders a gun. Individuals who choose to surrender their guns do not have to identify themselves nor will they be asked any questions by officials.

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Harlem Bespoke:  We have been following the sale of this notable brownstone over the past few months now the local papers have reported that downtown celebrity Julia Fox has made the big purchase to move uptown. 

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On a typical visit to the Museum of Modern Art, crowds surround the most precious paintings, and it can be tough to squeeze your way in for a photo, let alone to admire the artwork’s brushstrokes. But now, thanks to these new exclusive tours by GetYourGuide, you can get in before the museum opens for a guided tour of amazing artwork. 

The new MoMA Before Hours Tour with Art Expert is available on weekends and a few weekdays now through August. Tickets are on sale here for $99/person. Few New York City experiences compare to the absolute thrill of gazing at famed works of art uninterrupted for as long as you like.

RECOMMENDED: This major Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit at MoMA showcases 120 works by the renowned artist

Here’s how it works: You’ll enter the museum through a private entrance before it’s even open to the public. Once inside, meet up with your guide, a professional art historian who will lead your small group through the museum. On the hour-long tour, you’ll see some of the most coveted pieces, like Monet’s “Water Lilies,” Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night,” Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” Matisse’s “Dance (I),” and Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans.”

Even if you’ve visited the museum many times or consider yourself an art buff, there’s still plenty to learn from the expert guide, who will share details about the paintings’ origins, set them in the context of the era and allow you to ask your own questions. Plus, the serene feeling of strolling through the galleries when they’re empty is remarkable. 

After the tour ends, you can explore the museum on your own for as long as you like, knowing you’ll be the first one inside the galleries. We recommend making a beeline for your favorite section, whether that’s contemporary art or surrealist or old masters, so you can beat the crowds. If you book a tour before mid-August, be sure to spend some time in MoMA’s new Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit.

You’ll also get access to MoMA PS1, the contemporary art center in Long Island City if you want to keep the artistic fun going all day long.

The MoMA Before Hours Tour with Art Expert is the latest addition to tour company GetYourGuide’s “Originals” series, a collection of cool experiences that unlock famous destinations and cultural attractions. Other GetYourGuide Originals across the globe include a tour of the Vatican before sunrise, an after-hours tour at Sagrada Familia and a cruise on a racing yacht with a French champion sailor.  

* This article was originally published here