With only three Thursdays left in this cool rainy August - today in New York being a prime example - this is a good time to enjoy something uniquely refreshing. The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is enhancing its "pay what you wish" Thursday evenings with not one, but two, special features.

MAD Crush, a "pop-up" wine bar that will vanish at the end of the month, offers a selection of wines curated by Crush Wines and Spirits. Located in the museum's 7^th floor special event space, its sweeping views of Central Park offer a special experience of New York at night from 5:00 to 10:30 pm.

MAD Crush in action: photos by Stephanie Goto, courtesy The Museum of Arts and Design.

Stephanie Goto, the architect for Morimoto, Buddakan, and the Monkey Bar, collaborated on MAD Crush with her friend Takeshi Miyakawa. The bars and tables are crafted from repurposed wine boxes, the seating landscape is made from corrugated cardboard wine dividers and a textured wall, made of wine box inserts, doubles as a changeable menu peg board. Elements are modular, collapsible, and stackable and can be packed up and neatly stored in a closet between events. The design embraces the temporary spirit of the event as all of the components literally "pop up" when needed.

There's also a menu of small plates by some of New York's top chefs, including Mark Ladner of Del Posto, George Mendes of Aldea, and Cesare Casella of Salumeria Rossi and Scott Conant of Scarpetta, who is in charge of tonight's offerings, with prices starting at $6.

If the recycled surroundings stir your creative juices, you can visit MAD's Open Studios for some fashion recycling organized by Etsy. This week, Generation-T founder Megan Nicolay will demonstrate how to refashion your old t-shirts into new designs - without any sewing! So raid your closet for t-shirts that could use an update and drop in between 6:00 and 8:00.

The Museum of Arts and Design galleries are open until 9:00 pm on Thursdays. 2 Columbus Circle, Broadway at 59th Street, New York, NY. For information, please visit the website or call 212.299.7700.