A Little Ballet with that PB & J?

January 30, 2008

Today I took a lunchtime fieldtrip to the New York State Theatre, home to the New York City Ballet, one of the foremost dance companies in the world. Having only seen one other professional dance company in New York since I've moved here, that being Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which was quite outstanding, I didn't want to pass up the chance to see some of the best dancers in the world rehearse for their opening night performance of Double Feature, Tony-Award winner Susan Stroman's latest choreographic work.

Rarely have I seen, or even heard of a ballet, that delves into aspects of silent film, musical theatre and melodrama that results in such a unique and inventive piece of work. And this afternoon, in a dress rehearsal open to the public, I was witness to poised ballerina's alike effortlessly run through the first act of this intuitive double bill ballet, The Blue Necklace. A Cinderella-ish tale with a hint of Broadway theatrics, imaginative sets, lavish costumes and entertaining choreography definitely left me hungry for more.

Tomorrow afternoon the NYC ballet is offering up Act 2 to the public... entitled Makin' Whoopee... hmmm... a light-hearted slapstick parody perhaps? Your guess is as good as mine. Not every day can be a free ballet and brown bag lunch kind of day!

Surprising Saviour

January 21, 2008

I never ended up sleeping over like I once said I would, but I most definitely should have. My visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was penciled into my next months calendar as requiring a full weekend to explore; to have ample time to enjoy the numerous exhibitions and new installations in one of the world's largest art museums, but my visit came early when all of the radiators in the apartment chose to hibernate for the winter early Sunday morning, leaving me scrambling to take cover someplace warm.

Despite mid-teen temps earlier this month that gave me false hope in anticipating an early spring (I even started to dust off my sandals), a recent swoop of bitter, icy, wintry air, comparable to that of prairie cold (but without the snow), finally found its place on the east coast. The painful wind is enough to want to stay inside all the time, only venturing out when you absolutely have to. But when your apartment is itself an igloo and no degree of layering will cooperate to retain even an ounce of heat, where do you go? Yup, you guessed it, the Museum.

This holiday Monday I wandered The Met to stay warm, albeit aimlessly because I kept getting lost. With over two million works of art in its permanent collection, 19 curatorial departments, plus a handful of new Galleries featuring Oceanic Art and 19th- and Early 20th-Century European Paintings and Sculpture, it sure doesn't take much to lose your way!

One of the short-term exhibitions at the Museum which posed to be my favorite was The Costume Institute, which showcased fashionable dress and regional costumes from the late 16th century to the present. One other collection that was indeed a favorite of mine from my last visit in 2004, was the Hall of Musical Instruments. Rare violins, harpsichords, and the oldest extant piano in the world is on display here. But it looks like it will take another broke-down radiator for me to see that particular collection again, because I'm pretty sure museum renovations that have closed a number of wings for public viewing will be complete by the time the heat decides to shut off again in my building. Space heater anyone?

The facade of The Met

Renaissance parade armors

A beautiful harp on display in one of many European period rooms

The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, 1922 (Edgar Degas)

The Dance Class, 1874 (Edgar Degas)

Worthy of a sprained anke or two?

Surely Coming to a City Near You...

January 12, 2008

On a daily basis, you see some of the most random things take place in a subway car. Not to mention hear some of the most... I don't know... 'interesting' conversations commuters have with each other, or simply with themselves. Every ride is unpredictable; every subway stop an opportunity for the ride to become more or less bearable.

Absolutely anything goes in this city, which is perhaps one of the first things I came to learn and accept, particularly in my adjustment to the public transporation system. Native New Yorker's I'm sure have seen it all, hence why nothing ever seems to phase them in the underground jungle. Even today of all days, when subway riders surely got some added 'eye value' to the cost of their MetroCard, it was business as usual for most passengers on the uptown 6 train, iPods plugged in, eyes straight ahead, pretending to mind one's own business.

I couldn't help but stare, and even bite my lip to hold back a chuckle or two when I exchanged glances with obvious tourists who were completely taken back. It's not every day that the person sitting across from you on a crowded train will sporadically decide to undress. I'm not talking slipping off a winter coat because the train is slightly warm due to overcrowding... I'm talking nonchalantly removing one's pants, stuffing them into whatever bag they had been carrying at the time, and disembarking the train in their boxers, with all other clothing articles on their body fully intact. Oh, and it wasn't just one person, there were hundreds, both on the train and on the boarding platform... just standing or sitting, oblivious to the stares, undaunted by the fact that they were out in public in their underwear.

Today was the 7th Annual No Pants Subway Ride Day in New York City, where nearly 900 participants decided to willingly drop their drawers in an effort to cause scenes of comedic chaos in public places, and did they ever! When asked why they weren't wearing any pants, they all had a different story to convince fellow fully clothed travellers that this was nothing out of the ordinary. This city no doubt caters to some of the bravest, craziest and fearless people, who will definitely make my future daily commutes all that more unpredictable and interesting.

Forget anything??

(http://www.improveverywhere.com/)

One Time Only

January 3, 2008

New Year's has never really been a huge deal for me. Since most years it was just too cold to even think of stepping foot outside, I came to associate ringing in a new year or two with watching Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve in the comforts of a home, lounging on couches and sipping on (spiked) hot chocolate. Unfortunately, this has led to my falling asleep before the clock even struck midnight and missing the celebration altogether, so I vowed to make this year different.

I think a lot of people my age have a list of crazy things they'd like to do before they turn 30. Welcoming in a new year in Times Square has been at the top of my list for quite sometime. Since I wasn't sure if I'd ever have the chance to be in New York over the holidays again, this year was the year that I'd be able to put a great big red checkmark beside perhaps one of my most ridiculously pondered accomplishments.

Ok, so looking back, standing outside for eight hours in the chilly, wintry air wasn't all that exciting. Despite our arrival in Times Square in the mid-afternoon, our viewing position after being herded like cattle into a holding pen, was nearly six blocks away from the giant Waterford crystal ball that would ultimately and timely descend down a flagpole as the clock struck twelve. With the lack of additional screens setup to keep the entire population of say Edmonton or Calgary entertained with the nights' ongoing events, we literally stood in a state of oblivion for the duration of a full workday.

So the purposeful act of dehydration (public restrooms closed in the early afternoon) to survive the night, bundling up in layers like I've never before, quarter-hour rotations in taking turns sitting down on the litter strewn curb, and making bets as to which predetermined city in earlier time zones would appear on the Jumbotron every hour leading up to New York's own countdown (providing us with ample practice in counting down from 10), turned out to be the excitement of my New Year's this year.

I'm not completely sure it was entirely worth it, considering how easily tempting it was watch it on TV like I occasionally have, but the atmosphere and thrill of being in The Big Apple on the 100th anniversary of the famous ball drop is without a doubt one experience I will never forget... and one experience I don't think I'll ever want to do again! It felt pretty good though to blacken out this event on my Bucket List, to say that I did it. I don't know yet what the next (crazy) event will be that I cross off of my list, but I'm almost certain of one thing... my plans for ringing in 2009 will likely involve someone's TV, someone's couch and (spiked) hot chocolate, much like it occasionally has.

Minimalistic elbow room only...

Smile if you're cold, crazy Canadians eh!

Happy 2008!

We survived! Somehow... someway...

The sordid aftermath on NYC streets...

Come and Gone

December 28, 2007

The stress of the season can take an exhaustive toll on anyone, myself included. With work and nightly holiday events associated with work making for super long days in the weeks leading up to Christmas, my feeling of running on empty was only worsened by my struggle to get over yet another sinus cold (surprise surprise) and an eye infection. Luckily the thought of coming home gave me the positive energy boost I needed to get through a rough couple of weeks.

After an expectedly delayed (and surprisingly not cancelled) flight from New York to Toronto, and my just barely making my connecting flight back to Alberta, I finally arrived in Calgary safe, sound and sick-free early Saturday morning to the familiar and comfortable aspects of home, ready for a week to unwind with family and friends whom I've missed so dearly. Not to mention play with the newest members of the Pecush clan, Macy and Roca. Unfortunately my grand plans for the whole week I'd be back took a spot on the back-burner when just one day into my Christmas vacation I came down with the stomach flu. Man, talk about bad luck... as if I hadn't been sick enough these past four months.

So... the gingerbread houses, the caroling at the piano, ice-skating in the park, the Christmas puzzles, and the neighborhood walks checking out Christmas lights and blown-up Santa's on the porch all had to be put on hold while I hibernated for most of the week. Even my long-planned trip up to Edmonton to see some truly great friends had to be cancelled. Being able to escape a city where time waits for no-one, I wish my time at home would've slowed down just a bit, lasted a little while longer and allowed me to be in better health so I could fully enjoy the great company of the people around me. Unfortunately you can't get everything you wish for at Christmas time.

I'm heading back to New York first thing tomorrow morning, the first day of the long downhill run of my internship. Wow, crazy to think about, how I'm already halfway through my placement, which has been such an amazing, enjoyable but sometimes taxing experience thus far. But I'm going back with an eager outlook, anxious to find out what the new year will bring, where it will take me (or possibly keep me), and what other exciting adventures I may find myself doing. At least it will start off with a bang. Despite my dislike for crowds, I'll be ringing in the new year with hundreds of thousands of other revelers in The Crossroads of the World... anticipating the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square with my sister and good friend from university. Watch for us on Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve. We'll be the Canadians wearing those funky 2008 glasses waving to the camera!

Happy New Year Everyone! Wishing you all health, happiness and joy in 2008!

Macy and Roca wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year too!

I just love my parents' new puppies!

Sign of the Season

December 15, 2007

If there's just one thing that comes to mind when you think of Christmas in New York, it's likely the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. An annual icon of the season, the 84-foot tall Norway Spruce from Connecticut stands tall in the center of midtown Manhattan, shining vibrantly for its 500,000 daily visitors.

Trimming the family tree and saturating the house with holiday decorations is something I look forward to year after year. Unfortunately I missed out on helping to deck the halls at my parents house this year, so to make up for it, I ambitiously attended the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony awhile back. Despite my dislike for being couped up like a chicken in a holding pen with thousands of tourists (real New Yorkers are smart, they avoid situations like these by staying home), I stood, perhaps stupidly, for over 2 hours on a brisk, bone-chilling evening, staring at a bare tree, actually, only the top half of the tree, because I was that far away. Half an hour before the tree was to be lit, I caved. I went home. Despite the real excitement of the evening being so close, I much preferred the idea of waking up the next morning with my fingers and toes still intact instead of dealing with the possibility that the lights wouldn't even turn on when the giant switch was flicked. Man, how disappointing would that have been?

Well, the lights went on alright, and with a much closer and warmer view of the tree thanks to the TV in my heated bedroom, I arrived home just in time to see what I had hoped to have seen in person. On the bright side, I got an ample dose of fresh air and was able to hear the joyous sounds of pre-taped live performances of Carrie Underwood and Celine Dion.

This past week marked my return to the site that once left me with a simple memory of a gigantic, exposed, pre-lit Spruce. What a difference 30,000 lights on five-miles of wire can do, not to mention the sparkle of the Swarovski Star, adorning the Tree with all of its 25,000 crystals. Pretty spectacular I must admit. It sure beats my lonely, whimsical Whoville tree that's on display in my apartment.

A simply stunning sight!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The Plaza isn't the least bit crowded...

Stage Fright

December 7, 2007

It's been close to 20 years since the first time I stepped foot on a stage, performing 'Teddy Bear's Picnic' to a sold-out house at my year-end dance recital. Hundreds of performances would eventually follow over the course of my years in competitive dance, but no matter how routine and familiar it became to perform in front of crowds of known and unknown people, one thing was always for certain... the ever-present feeling of butterflies in my tummy!

The same feeling was true every time I sat down at a piano to play for others, be it nervously at one of our formal semi-annual concerts (where we even had to rehearse our bows), or just plain frightened when I played before an intimidating expressionless RCM examiner, showing no emotional response whatsoever in their deciding whether the performance quality of my six memorized songs was worthy of a pass to the next grade. Oh how glad I am to no longer have to deal with that added stress. Nowadays, it seems that my opportunities to perform with a musical instrument are much more inviting... just as I found out this evening.

My debut performance as a violinist... with piano accompaniment and all! How exciting! I have been nervously anticipating this moment all week. Despite having practiced my scales, bow crossings and rhythm patterns every spare minute I could get, no amount of practice could ease the slight anxiety I was feeling all day leading up to my first time performing on the violin in Turtle Bay's monthly adult performance workshop. With only eight short lessons under my belt, I wasn't quite sure if I'd be able to pull this off without any screeching, but I'll let you be the judge! Am I now worthy of moving on to Jingle Bells? Too late, I've already been practicing. I'm sure my sister already has a program of Carols in place so we can duet on the piano and violin over the holidays!