Monday 2022-02-14 - The City That Never Sleeps (or Tutu-s!)
Hello lovelies, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! It's Emma here, fresh from a whirlwind weekend in the Big Apple, and oh my, I've got stories! Today Iām going to be telling you all about a very special day - Valentine's Day - and the most amazing show I saw in New York.
For those who are new here, allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Emma, and Iām a Derbyshire lass who has a serious passion for pink, tutus, ballet and, of course, travelling. My dream is to inspire the whole world to wear pink tutus, and New York, the city that never sleeps, is the perfect place to spread that message! I've made a wonderful life out of my passions, touring the world, dancing in all sorts of spectacular shows, and spreading the pink tutu love with every performance. This blog, www.pink-tutu.com, is where I share my adventures, from the magical shows I attend, to the delightful fashion finds I stumble upon, to the incredible places I get to visit - all through the rose-tinted lens of my pink tutu.
I'm now writing this post from my favourite corner cafe, sipping on a pink latte and reflecting on a truly unforgettable day. Remember how I said I adore pink tutus? Well, New York City really lives up to its reputation as the fashion capital. The city's energy is incredible, thereās a pink tutu for everyone, even for the most sophisticated and style-savvy New Yorkers. This city is alive with creativity, so of course there are shops selling tutus! You could be sipping your latte with your little darling (whoās decked out in a darling pink tutu, of course!), or catching the subway next to someone in a magnificent pink tutu, or maybe you are in that pink tutu. New Yorkers seem to embrace all kinds of fabulousness!
Valentine's Day in New York
So, my dear readers, let's jump back in time to February 14th, Valentine's Day. There were hearts and roses everywhere, of course, and so much love and excitement in the air. It's such a romantic day, and for me, it's a time to celebrate all things beautiful. And what could be more beautiful than ballet?
As part of my Valentineās treat to myself, I headed down to see the incredible New York City Ballet perform āSwan Lake.ā
There are two key things about the way I spend Valentineās day; Iāll never be caught up in the typical restaurant booking chaos, because I already have a plan and, itās always going to involve ballet, with maybe a pink-themed dinner thrown in, for good measure.
A Love Story on the Stage
Oh my, you simply cannot comprehend how magical it was. The New York City Ballet is renowned for their technical excellence and artistic brilliance. And āSwan Lakeā really put on a display. It's one of the greatest love stories of all time, and watching it unfold onstage with such grace and passion was just spellbinding.
My dear friend, Annabelle, had also been in New York for the past week and joined me for the show. It was such a delight to catch up with her. Annabelle's got a penchant for pretty, pink things too, and, like me, always manages to pack her own trusty pink tutu just in case! Thankfully, in New York City, the pink tutu code doesn't demand any special occasion - wear your pink tutu every day if you want! We caught up before the show, sipped some celebratory sparkling wine and chatted, but the show soon put all other concerns into the back of our minds. The ballet's beauty captivated the audience and I can tell you it made my heart sing. It was like stepping into a fairytale, where love conquers all. And speaking of fairytale, have I told you about my dress? I donned a blush pink silk dress, adorned with delicate tulle and the perfect pair of ballet-inspired pink heels to finish the look, making the whole night even more magical. I wanted to feel special, and to celebrate the day with my inner romantic. The moment I stepped onto that stage, my love for ballet just intensified!
Annabelle loves photography and so I felt compelled to get a snap or two of my pink tutu - on top of Annabelle's lovely red one - and in the shadow of Lincoln Center, a famous, prestigious building on the west side of Manhattan, New York. As with most theatres and opera houses across the world, the space around the theatre was a picture perfect backdrop. If there was a perfect time and place to be adorned in pink tutus it was here, in front of this world famous ballet house. I was in my element, soaking up the creative atmosphere and feeling the love.
The ballerinas, they are just remarkable, every step and gesture radiated beauty and passion, a visual and theatrical story unfolded on stage, each emotion perfectly executed through the movement of the body. It felt like their performance had been poured straight from their hearts to ours.
Annabelle agreed it was simply perfect.
Back to the Subway
After the ballet we were in high spirits and enjoyed a romantic evening meal at a French Bistro that Annabelle recommended and with good reason - everything about it was charming. The atmosphere was fabulous, we had a fab little pink prosecco - I know! - followed by divine Parisian-style dinner.
With my little legs starting to ache, I think it's fair to say that we both were happy to take a metro back home, it had been quite a long day and we wanted to go to bed early - or at least until our early evening coffee! The trip was much less daunting than when weād travelled from our hotels in Brooklyn to meet, after a frantic rush in search of the nearest tube station (always more adventurous on day 1!). It seems my tutus are beginning to grow on the locals of New York City. On one of our first train journeys we received some lovely looks and the warmest smiles! Maybe one day Iāll wear a bright pink tutu and maybe, if Iām really lucky Iāll be met with a spontaneous āooh la laāā¦ One can only dream.
That being said, the first evening we had travelled on the tube, we had quite the experienceā¦ and Annabelleās laughter is still making me chuckle, whenever we reminisceā¦ It all started with our train, coming to a sudden stop. The metro is usually fast-paced and efficient but sometimes things happen, like the track not working for example, causing delay. There wasnāt anything unusual going on - except, for Annabelle's rather unique predicament. You see, Annabelle decided that, rather than wait for the train to start moving, she'd sit on a bench a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the peopleā¦ but just before sitting down, she looked to her left. And her gaze came to rest upon a couple who wereā¦. letās just sayā¦. enjoying each other's companyā¦ If Iām honest, itās a fair bet they were hoping to enjoy themselves without too much outside attention, but Annabelleās pink tutu meant they hadnāt quite succeeded, with it shining like a bright, light amongst the general throng. Poor Annabelle didn't know where to look so just quickly darted her head to the other direction, just as they gave a slightly embarrassed (and somewhat panicked) wave - maybe as a sort of "oh please excuse us, dear". And so with that, Annabelle moved quickly onto a bench further down, where, letās face it, even her pink tutu was probably invisible, but certainly unobserved.
I guess my travels with my beloved pink tutu truly are adventurous, especially as we discover each of the worldās capitals! New York, for instance, is an incredible city where the possibilities are endless. It's a place where anything can happen, where anything is possible, and Iām truly thrilled to experience all that it has to offer.
I do hope that you've enjoyed this week's update - be sure to share it with your loved ones! Let me know what you think of it in the comments below - and feel free to share any of your thoughts about the city. Or pink tutus, of course, as I love hearing from you all!
Much love,
Emma x
