It's Asia Week in New York. Now, you might think that, whatever that is, it probably lasts about a week; but you'd be wrong. It's two full weeks, and ragged days on either end. The centerpiece is the Asian Art Fair at the Armory on the Upper East Side. That's a very high-class show, with beautiful furniture, artwork, antiquities from all over Asia, and some modern works, too. The dealers can be a little frosty, but the goods are definitely worth a day's time. Simultaneously there's the Arts of Pacific Asia show at the downtown Armory. This is much less snooty, with smaller items, more crafts and textiles, books, and friendlier dealers. Meanwhile the art galleries are all having Asian shows, both antiquities and new work, and the museums trot out their Asian holdings, too. (It's the gallery and museum shows that account for the ragged days on either end.) It's all quite a blast for the Asian art geeks among us. (Who would that be?)

But the best part is that at the same time, since all the big collectors are in town, Sotheby's and Christie's hold their Asian art auctions. Why is this the best part? Because for a few days before the auctions everything that's going to be sold is previewed, meaning it's on exhibit at the auction houses so potential buyers can check it out. This is very high-class, museum quality stuff; anything less valuable isn't worth the auction houses' time. And here's the thing: unlike in a museum, you can handle it. Pick it up, turn it over, take out your jeweler's loupe and peer at the stitches or the brushwork or the inlay.

Anything that's expected to go for more than, say, $150,000 is locked in a case and you have to ask someone to get it out for you. To inspect those things you're expected to sit at a velvet-covered table. Anything else, though, like a display of ten vases from various periods in Chinese history, estimated at $10,000 to $60,000 each, is on pedestals, in unlocked cases, and hanging on walls.

So Sunday I dressed just a little decently, like one of the Getty heirs you've never heard of (hip sneakers, black jeans, black jacket) strolled up to Christie's, and spent the day fingering Manchu robes, peering at Song porcelain, admiring Momoyama teaware, sifting through Edo-era woodblocks, and hefting Tang urns.

Might not do it for some people, but it sure did it for me.