Monday 24th June 1996
Hello darlings! It's Monday morning and you know what that means... another fabulous Pink Tutu Blog post straight from the bustling heart of New York City! I'm so excited to share all the wonderful adventures I had last week, and trust me, it was a real whirlwind!
As always, this week started with a glorious dose of ballet. You can't be in the Big Apple and not see a show! I spent Tuesday evening watching the New York City Ballet perform Swan Lake at Lincoln Center. I must say, their dancing was absolutely exquisite – so graceful and technically brilliant, and of course, I wore my favourite blush pink tutu for the occasion, because who needs an ordinary black dress for a classic ballet?! 😉
Afterward, I couldn't resist a little retail therapy! There's a fab vintage store near my apartment on Bleecker Street, overflowing with beautiful 1950s and 60s pieces. You can imagine how excited I was! I picked up the cutest baby pink coat, perfect for my Parisian-inspired outfits, and a few delicate flower brooches to adorn my new-season ballet dress. Oh, the shopping possibilities in New York are simply endless!
Wednesday was all about exploring! I caught the metro to Brooklyn for a fabulous lunch at this charming cafe. I tried a delicious smoked salmon bagel – oh my word, it was heavenly! I felt like a proper New Yorker – sipping iced coffee, watching the world go by and, of course, adding a little pink to the neighbourhood with my gorgeous bubblegum pink dress. Who needs those gloomy New York blues when you can add a little blush to your day?
That evening, I went to see the Cirque du Soleil show, Alegría in its massive big top tent on Randall's Island. Wow, just WOW! The performers were incredible, from the daring acrobats and jugglers to the graceful aerialists. Their costumes were absolutely breathtaking too, filled with bold colours and dramatic designs. I felt so inspired – all that beautiful colour and creativity made me want to design a whole new range of pink tutus for the theatre. (I'll have to get back to my sketching board on that one, darlings!)
Thursday, my friend Anya, a fellow dance enthusiast, arrived from Los Angeles! She's a talented choreographer and is staying with me for the next few days. It was a joy to finally see her again, and of course, we had to grab dinner together at a cozy little Italian restaurant near Central Park. We devoured delicious pasta, laughed, and reminisced about old times. Anya's visiting for a conference and to explore the vibrant dance scene in New York, which I’m thrilled about – two tutus are always better than one!
We spent Friday morning exploring some of the local shops near Times Square. It was an overwhelming but thrilling sensory overload! It’s hard not to get caught up in the energy and vibrancy of the city, and I swear there's a shop selling every colour imaginable in the rainbow – or shall I say every shade of pink? 😉 I managed to find a perfect white shirt for my ballerina look and a beautiful scarf in shades of blush and lavender. You can't forget the accessories, my darlings!
Later that afternoon, Anya and I went to a fantastic ballet class together. You know me, I never pass up a chance to perfect my pirouettes and develop my elegance, and she is such a brilliant dancer! The studio was full of energy and life. The instructor was encouraging and even gave us a fun, fast-paced, almost “hip hop” choreography, where we were swirling in pink and yellow and all colours in-between, showing those other New York street dancers how we do it! 😉 Anya even brought her fabulous silk dress which I borrowed for an impromptu impromptu photoshoot on Broadway – and just think the pictures came out brilliantly! The light, the pink, the tutu… oh la la!
Friday night, we met another group of dance enthusiasts at a charming bistro near the Metropolitan Opera House. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming – and we were even joined by some professional dancers from the local troupes! The whole experience felt very much like my Derbyshire village but with more neon! I realised that, despite the vibrant energy of this city, people were genuinely lovely and so down to earth! Even more excitingly, there was a little music performance afterwards. The musician was playing a lovely folk guitar melody. We spent a few hours singing along, sharing stories and soaking up the amazing atmosphere – another magical New York memory to cherish. (And yes, the local red wine really helped!)
Saturday was dedicated to visiting the impressive art museum at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met, as they like to call it. The museum is huge, overflowing with masterpieces and fascinating collections – it’s definitely worth getting lost in the corridors of time. From Van Goghs and Monet’s to stunning Egyptian hieroglyphics and pre-Raphaelite portraits, the place is a haven for culture vultures! As we were surrounded by so much artistry, my imagination was racing with new tutu designs – and we know the colour will be pink!
In the afternoon, we spent time at a traditional English Tea room on 70th Street and Fifth Avenue. It was just a delight – I've been missing good Earl Grey, homemade cakes, and warm scones, and it felt so refreshing to spend an afternoon being transported back to a little corner of England amidst this buzzing city. We had a wonderful afternoon of gossiping and girly talk and enjoying each other's company - a truly delightful time. As Anya will soon be heading back to L.A., I had to ensure we made the most of our time together, and it is certainly lovely to share a bit of tradition with a fellow ballerina from so far away.
We spent our Saturday night dancing! Anya insisted that we get our steps in at the glamorous ballroom at the Empire Hotel in midtown – now that is a great way to dance the night away! We were a bit self conscious as we entered in our brightly coloured dancing costumes, but all those years of training finally paid off – well we thought so anyway. We danced until late that night to the most fabulous live band with jazz and swing rhythms! Anya loved it - a total throwback to the 40’s and 50’s! The staff at the hotel were amazing, and after we were drenched in sweat, they got us glasses of ice cold champagne as we took in the atmosphere on the balcony overlooking the stunning Manhattan night skyline. Oh, the glamour!
Sunday morning, I couldn’t quite believe the weekend was over. The shops were starting to close for the day so Anya and I dashed out and bought an assortment of cupcakes. We took the metro all the way down to Battery Park, on the very southern tip of Manhattan Island, and enjoyed our little afternoon treat. Battery Park has an incredibly scenic walk and some stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn, and New York harbour. I’m sure it's also very nice on a warm summer’s day, although in June, even the gentle breeze coming from the harbour was still a little chilly for my dainty bare arms. We spent time wandering, taking pictures, watching the seabirds and feeding the squirrels - you know, doing those typically touristy things, because even New Yorkers need to occasionally act like a tourist!
It’s such a pleasure to discover this exciting and exhilarating city – New York really does have it all – amazing shops, brilliant culture, world-class entertainment and so many fun ways to see the sights. My dear, I would be a real silly tutu if I said this wouldn't become one of my favourite travel destinations! The atmosphere is infectious, the people are friendly and the pink dresses have definitely found their place!
I’ll leave you to it for now but make sure you visit my pink-tutu.com blog page next week. I’ve got plenty more of my New York adventures to share. But in the meantime, do follow my Instagram, #PinkTutuBlogNYC, to see a snapshot of what’s in my diary. Don't forget – remember, the world needs more pink tutus! Until next Monday…
Your favourite Pink Tutu blogger, Emma 💖
