The Nutcracker

The holiday season is benchmarked by many things to me. 

The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center - image via Kelly-Mooney Photography

But this classic ballet set to Tchaikovsky's exhilarating score is the most elegant of Christmastime traditions.  Many people say it's slow and a bit schmaltzy, but I'm a sucker for 'The Nutcracker.'  I've attended countless performances of the ballet by different dance companies in many different venues.  No matter if they're local children or world-renowned ballerinas, the performers always tug at my holiday heartstrings through dainty dances and the wonderful plot of this classic story. 

There is a holiday party at Clara's house.  She and all the kids play and dance.
image via Cho Photography



Clara's mysterious godfather brings her a gift, a handsome wooden nutcracker.
image via Peter Norvig Photography



Clara is absolutely smitten with the gift. She falls asleep in the parlour under the Christmas tree with the nutcracker.
image via Hong Kong Ballet

Clara dreams that the Nutcracker comes to life to defend her against the invading mice army.
image via Will Brenner Photography



The Mouse King and his army are really scary, but Clara is saved
by the Nutcracker's heroic bravery.
image by Rosalie O'Connor via Faster Times

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince, who whisks her away to a magic snow kingdom.
image via Hong Kong Ballet



They are greeted by dancing snowflakes in the enchanted forest.
image via Mazzaferro Photography

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. They tell the fairy about their daring battle with the army of mice
and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.
image via Will Brenner Photography

 

image by Carol Pratt for the Washington Ballet

Mother Ginger, a gingerbread house-like apparition,
opens her skirt to free dozens of dancing gingerbread cookies.
image (and very cute backstory) via Dumping My Purse



image via Brio Dance Company

The Land of Sweets send Clara and the Prince off with a stunning parade farewell.
image by Jim McFarlane via the Berkshire Review

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.
image via Carlos Echenique

If you have a chance to see this classic Christmas performance (and there's probably one in your area), support the Arts and treat yourself to this magical tale with superb orchestral score.
Cheers,
Whitney

Historic Kykuit

In the early 1900s, the John D. Rockefeller family commissioned society architects Delano & Aldrich to complete a country retreat in New York's Hudson Valley.  The result is Kykuit in Pocantico Hills, a traditionally designed Beaux-Arts manse in Classical Revival Georgian style.  I love this house; you might be able to imagine why...

The impressive Eastern-facing facade is covered in Wisteria vines.  image via Flickr

Entry gate is both stately and imposing.  Note the 1913 demarcation.  image via Hortus2 blog

The back of the house, facing west, with a view of the majestic Hudson River.  image via Flickr

The gardens features some stunning bronze sculptures. image via Westchester Magazine

A study in symmetry, the 6 storey structure draws inspiration from Italian Renaissance and French Norman houses.  Kykuit, pronounced ky-cut and meaning ‘lookout’ in Dutch, was a shining example of Delano & Aldrich's dedication to grandiose scale & form.  The structure took six years to complete, then almost immediately underwent a series of renovations for the family to move in during the spring of 1913 The intricate and immaculate gardens were designed by the landscape architect William Welles Bosworth with input from designer Ogden Codman (who also decorated the interiors).

One of John D. Rockefeller's personal mantras was "Order and Balance."  He was an incredibly gifted businessman who thrived in organized and disciplined environments.  Perhaps this country home served as a balance between the order he so craved and the natural beauty of riverfront nature.

The last family occupant, Nelson Rockefeller,* bequeathed his one-third interest in the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation upon his death in 1979.  Tours are available through the Hudson Valley Historic group. 

image via HudsonValley.org

image via HudsonValley.org



image via Erbology



Aerial view of the western edge of the property abutting the Hudson. 
You can spot the Tappan Zee bridge crossing over to Rockland County. image via HudsonValley.org

image via Victoria Gardens blog

If you have a chance to visit this gem, do so while the Westchester foliage is still hanging in there! 
Cheers,
Whitney

* Interesting side note via Wiki: "In late 1946, a portion of the estate was proposed as the site of the UN Headquarters, when New York City was trying to beat off strong opposition from Philadelphia and San Francisco and secure the organization. Two of Junior's sons, John D. 3rd and Laurance both offered their estate residences, Rockwood Hall and Fieldwood Farm, respectively, for the site of the building. Junior -- who was living in Kykuit at the time -- although appreciating the generous gesture, vetoed it on the grounds that the estate was simply too isolated from Manhattan. He subsequently sent his second eldest son, Nelson, to buy a proposed 6.9-hectare (17-acre) development site along the East River which he then donated for the headquarters."  Huh.

The Miller House

During my stay in Lexington last week, I was floored to see the Miller House in person on a sunny morning. 

This amazing modern residential structure was designed and built by Le Corbusier protégé José Oubrerie, who was was dean of the University of Kentucky School of Architecture when he designed the Miller House in 1988 for his clients Robert and Penny Miller.  After Mr. Miller passed away, Penny sold the house and its surrounding 20 acres in 2006.

The facades of the Miller House are composed of a thin, cast-in-place concrete screen that wraps around several painted-wood inner structures: One surface is a simple grid of interlocking slabs; another has small vertical and horizontal slits. Inside, the house features an irregular composition of three two-floor living spaces—each with its own bedroom, bath, office, and independent entrance. Built-in cabinetry echoes the facades’ interlocking forms.  The Miller has been described as one of the finest residences of the 20th century.

In 2007, after sitting empty and dormant, intruders entered the vacant property several times painting graffiti, breaking windows, and knocking in much of the interior plaster work.  Oubrerie was heartbroken to visit the home and see the $300,000+ in damages.  What in the hell is wrong with people???

Thankfully, later that year, the Miller House was purchased by the Foundation for Advanced Architecture, whose first mission was the restoration of the Miller House and create an educational laboratory for students of architecture. 

But it appears as thought the Foundation lost their way, as the house is currently for sale again.  When I visited last week, the property was in pristine 'showing' condition, with brochures and maps seen in the front hall.  I would have called for a viewing to see the interior and explore more of this unique space, but why waste anyone's time, I'm not buying it.  And, besides, we can just watch Neon Indian's video to get a groovy perspective on this modern behemoth.

 

Cheers,
Whitney

The Spanish Inspiration

A few months ago, I received a sweet surprise gift from my client Aubrey in California.  She had attended the Balenciaga & Spain exhibit at the de Young Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco, and bought me this pocket journal as a keepsake.  The exhibit ran from March through July, and my not-so-secret man-crush Hamish Bowles was the guest curator. 

What a delightful gift, even though it reminded me that I missed the exhibit's tour in New York over the winter at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute.  Earlier this week, when I brought out the journal to take some notes on measurements, I was so delighted to be complimented on my little treasure.  Hey, it's the only piece of Balenciaga I own!

Cristóbal Balenciaga was the essential haute couture master.  In fact, he never created a ready to wear collection.  His works in the fashion industry made a significant social  impact on Europe and the Americas, translating Spanish culture, history, and traditions through his art. 

The designer.

Balenciaga's innovative silhouettes & vibrant interpretations completely transformed the way women dressed. His obsessive craftsmanship was epic; if he was unsatisfied with his work, Balenciaga would literally tear it apart.  His works were born in his Paris fashion house in 1937, created there until his retirement in 1968, but forever remained Spanish.  I'm inspired...  how about you?

It's a short week.  For the next 4 days, let's all put some regal Spanish style into our strut.  Balenciaga would be proud. 
Cheers,
Whitney

Art of the Labor Unions

As we celebrate Labor Day and the economic social contributions of workers throughout the history of our nation, I look at the graphic art created during the 20th century for labor unions' campaigns & uniforms.  No matter how you might feel about unionized labor systems, you must admit their seals are pretty vintage cool.

Happy Labor Day to all.  In the end, we're all workers (unionized or not) and we deserve a small acknowledgement to the efforts we put forth each day in the form of a day off.  I'll toast to that.

Still, Labor Day marks the end of Summer.  The beginning of football season.  And the hibernation of your white pants.  It's a goodbye to the comfort and celebration of vacation season.  A new schoolyear.  An ironically-timed day off in thanks for your hard work before its seems that hard work is all that's in front of you for the next 9 months.  Oh brother...

And if you ask me, go ahead and keep wearing your white pants; they look great with a black merino turtleneck. 
Cheers,
Whitney