We had a special treat this afternoon with a Matinee performance of The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. They are well known for their Ballet Company, which they pull from all over the country (maybe the world...that I don't know) - and the training and dedication of those that dance with this company is admirable. I've seen a few showings of The Nutcracker - and by far this was THE best dancing I have ever seen. It was absolutely incredible, the scenery was rich and breathtaking, and the costumery was bright, vivid and magnificent.
The best part of the afternoon....the tickets were FREE and we sat in the Orchestra section, row 18 - close enough to see the facial expressions on the dancers faces, and the little wavering in the hand or their legs as they held a pose a bit too long! How we came about getting tickets is that our friend that lives on our floor, asked me on Tuesday if I'd be interested to take the tickets that her husband got through his company for the Saturday Matinee - and I jumped in with a big "YES!". They offered us Opera tickets as well about 2 months ago, but we could not find a babysitter anywhere...so I was thrilled that once again tickets were being offered and that this time we could use them!
The one glitch...only 3 tickets. Bryson offered to stay and watch the BYU game - oh and the boys as well for the afternoon! :) My mom was asked if she wanted to fly in...which she did, but with the unpredictable weather of the season it would be too tricky if flights get canceled and she were stranded here as she flies standby with her work at Delta. We'd love for her to be stranded here - however Delta wouldn't be too fond if she didn't show up for work, they are a really strict company.
Madeleine decided that she wanted to invite her teacher at school - we weren't sure if she would be able to come as she is of the Jewish faith and with Saturday being their Sabbath - I told Madeleine to be prepared she might not be able to come. However, we were both thrilled and surprised when she said she wanted to come! We made plans and today was the day....thankfully the weather was in our favor - cold but not a brutal wind like we've had this past week. Madeleine and I had a girls' morning going to her piano lessons and wrapping presents and then getting ready to go, while the boys went and cleaned the church building and then stayed for a baptism before coming home for the football game. Madeleine and I had a fabulous time until it was time to get dressed - we both had very different ideas of what we should wear, and Madeleine was NOT going to go with any of my suggestions and requests that we dress up just a bit for this event! It was an emotional 1/2 hour before we left - she changed twice, I changed 3 times - and then finally we were somehow both dressed and out the door to catch the subway.
Traveling up to the Lincoln Center is not the easiest route...it's not tricky, just not easy. And I manage to mess it up almost every time we go there for a visit to the temple. Seriously! There are 3 transfers that you need to make - 2 if you want to walk a few blocks up to avoid the last transfer - which I usually opt for that because the 3rd transfer usually takes the longest, and it's for only 1 stop of a ride. Much easier to walk....and I love walking up from Columbus Circle to Lincoln Center - it's a beautiful walk and it really goes quickly looking at so many things in the windows...and people - people watching here is so interesting, although you have to be careful while you are also walking!
The problem with this specific train ride - I got antsy, and after we waited for a LONG time to finally get from the F train onto the D train - I jumped off after the 1st stop....confusing it with the 3rd transfer that we would have gone just one stop - we really needed to be on for a total of 3 stops. Argh! We sat at the station for a few minutes - and I looked at the time. We were supposed to meet Madeleine's teacher in 7 minutes! If the train came right away - we'd be fine. But the train didn't and after a few more minutes and second-guessing myself about a dozen times (which then would be dozen guessing myself?!)...we finally decided to walk. I looked again at the map and thought to myself.....'self - this isn't so long, it's just a few blocks more than if you had come up out at Columbus Circle'. True. However, we were already late AND I have a hard time navigating myself out of some subway stops....you come up out of the stairwell and you have just plunked yourself down somewhere in NYC. Life does not stop for you to orient yourself - people are zooming by you both ways, and in fact can get a little miffed if you take too long to decide where you should go - should I go right, or is it left....what about straight ahead?! I was definitely feeling lost when we came up - I had no idea where to go and so decided to at least walk across the street in the direction I thought we should go in and while doing so, saw a taxi waiting at the light right in front of me....I motioned to him that we were going to get in, and that was the best decision. Whew - saved the sanity and the feet from walking what ended up being a FEW more blocks than I thought it would be and we would have been very late!
We arrived just a few minutes later than planned and met up with Madeleine's teacher. We were swept up in yet another crowd, however this was a crowd that was dressed up with a lot of little children excitedly talking about the show and the afternoon....and getting treats (of course - what is any show without treats these days!). We found our seats - and truly they were better than I had hoped. We sat down and chatted a little bit while waiting for the show to begin - and once it started we were whisked away to the land of Sugar Plum Fairies and where Nutcrackers turn into Princes and snow falls from the sky on ballerinas that dance around the stage as if they are mere angels floating around with their wings. It was absolutely enchanting! The most favorite scene was the Sugar Plum Fairy dance, where the snow is twirling and whirling around them in a way that we found completely fascinating...I've never seen such a beautiful fake snowfall! All 16 ballerinas were out dancing with a Snowflake configuration in their hand, with costumes that were perfection - and the music is by far the most beautiful arrangement I have ever heard. It had a chorus with voices that sounded like the hymn says 'sing choirs of angels'. It was absolutely breathtakingly magical and magnificent!
Now....if we could only hope for more magic each Christmas season and score free tickets to this show each time. Madeleine and I would be more than happy to take anyone's tickets they aren't using....just let us know!
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