Last week I had the chance to tag along with my husband to New York City.
Yes I froze my ass off, just like at home. I’ve been to New York City quite a few times and the weather isn’t inviting in the dead of winter nor the dead of summer, if you ask me (way too hot and humid!). The best time to visit is in spring or fall, but when opportunity presents itself I’m ready, willing and able.
We quickly booked to see “Disgraced”
A timely play considering the attacks in France had just transpired only days previously. It was a very well written thought provoking and rather shocking play. I did find it to be misogynistic at times and had to physically stop myself from screaming out during some of scenes. Would I recommend it? You bet.
We went to “Sleep No More“.
New Yorkers are most likely familiar with this type of interactive theatre. For us it was a totally new and unique experience. It is MacBeth told through interpretive dance in a house of horrors which you explore on your own at your own pace wearing a phantom mask. No joke. That is me in the lower right photo. We took the shot in the bar.
The haunted house has 4 different levels so you spend quite a bit of time going up and down the stairs trying to find your way through the mazes of props and sets which were intricately detailed, beautiful and creepy. You truly feel like you’ve stepped back in time and straight into someone’s nightmare.
Everything is dark or dimly lit and once you come across an actor, anyone without a mask, you try to follow them to see what they will do and what scenes they will act out. I say “try” because they literally run from one scene to the next and seem to disappear as soon as they turn a corner. It is sheer happenstance if you are in the right spot at the right time, but the play repeats three times throughout the evening so you have a good chance of seeing most of the scenes.
It gets intense.
Sex, violence, madness, love and everything in-between.
The first scene we watched was so crazy/fantastic/weird/amazing that I really couldn’t move. Literally. My feet felt like lead and I couldn’t even get out of the actor’s way. I would assume this is what it is like in a horror movie when you see the person that is scared to death but they don’t move or run and you are always asking yourself, “Why don’t they just leave???” That was me.
If you know MacBeth you will know that there are three witches that basically start and end the play. This is the scene we watched first, but it wasn’t like anything I’d read or could even have imagined. It was like being in a beautiful nightmare where you try to force yourself to wake up but simply cannot. I was scared, fascinated and enthralled by the whole thing. I won’t describe it all, in case you should choose to go, but I will say this, naked, bloody, twisted ballet with strobe lights and animal heads. Nuff said. My heart felt like it was going to push a hole right through my chest at one point when a naked man smeared in blood wearing a horse’s head stepped basically on top of me. Looking out from behind the mask everything seems very surreal. Like I was looking through a window pane.
All the scenes we saw after that were very tame in comparison but still remained dreamlike and ethereal. Especially given the fact that you are there strictly to observe. There is no talking, and no faces. Everyone is wearing a mask and everyone is silent, like strange voyeur ghosts. It is freaky and fabulous. A very unique experience. I’m glad we did it. Now I chase my pug around the house wearing the mask and yelling, “Out! out! damn spot!!!” ha ha.
We also did the normal New York thing which is for us at least, eating somewhere in the Village, L’aile ou la Cuisse, and visited some totally new-to-me incredible shops in Soho.
We stumbled across Green Street in Soho and they had a HUGE selection of decently priced pieces. Both of us picked up pieces there and Robert usually never buys consignment.
La pièce de résistance was definitely What Goes Around Comes Around. You can see Robert below pimping out in a fur trimmed long coat from we think was around 100 years old. I tried on a Vivianne Westwood blazer that was insane…but much too insane for my pocketbook. The whole shop was filled with pieces that were borderline museum worthy. Also the staff were dressed so wild and funky. I kind of wished I’d asked them for photos now. We spent a good while in there just soaking up the atmosphere, merchandising and inventory.
We found the hat store that made the hat for Breaking Bad, Goorin Bros. with a very cool staff as well.
We had to be in Times Square for the play and then ate and “martinied” at a favourite of ours The Blue Fin at the W.
Of course I had to make a quick trip to a couple of Anthro stores…especially since they had a huge sale on. I’d never been to the Soho store before and they had a great selection. I may have picked up something that looks a bit like this boho piece and a very unique dress that I’ve never seen on the Anthro website or in store before. I made it to the Rockefeller Plaza flagship store as that is one of my favourites but didn’t buy anything there. Talk about restraint!
We managed to squeeze quite a bit in our little trip. I also had a wonderful blogger meet-up.
New York never disappoints, even if it is bone chilling cold and grey it still has nooks and crannies to explore, interesting things to do and an energy that is hard to find anywhere else in the world.
Have you been to New York? If so, what was your favourite part about it?
Wow!! What a trip. That Sleep No More sounds amazing…in both a fantastic and horrible way! And I think from now on, I will use martini as a verb, I certainly love it. Please come to Minneapolis one day and weekend with us!! I think we’d have fun!
I will add that onto my “to-do” list! But in the summertime of course ; P
Sounds like a fantastic trip! And seeing Macbeth that way just sounds amazing and bizarre – the director and actors must be geniuses!
I can tell you they were all hyper focused in order to ignore all the people around them, getting in their way, in their faces all of the time. Some of the audience members almost made it their mission to try to throw them off their game.
I’m so glad we did it. It is such an unusual experience.
Great photos and wonderful stories about your stay in my wild and crazy home town.
I was fascinated to read of the play you took in, and the modern ballet..
I would love to see the first, but would not fare well in the second.
I get unbalanced easily, from my autoimmune disease, and I am afraid this piece would be a vestibular nightmare. Although it does sound fascinating.
Love the anthro piece you sighted, sometimes the flagships stores have things the website does not.
I am so sorry I could not meet you.
you and hubby look divine together, btw,
and I loved this post!
xx, elle
http://mydailycostume.com/
Yeah you wouldn’t do well then Elle. Plus people can push a bit and the ground is uneven. At one point we were walking on fake grass, another on stones and then dirt. I almost tripped a couple of times.
Hopefully next time I’m in NY we can get together. Or if you make it up to Toronto : )
Wow, it sounds as though you had a great time, including that really unusual theatrical experience. I’m not very good with non-traditional, promenade-style productions – I like a Proscenium arch, I’m old fashioned that way! Actors – on stage; audience; not on stage. And that’s from an ex- drama student – I’m pathetic, aren’t I?!
I have visited NYC, many years ago now, and just loved it. I wonder if I will ever go back? I hope so. Just rambling the streets, people-watching, and being a tourist was a joy. I really enjoyed the Ellis Island museum, I found it a very moving experience. xxx
I’ve never been to the Ellis Island museum out of all the times I’ve been to NY. Maybe next time.
I’m always interested in new experiences. The weirder the better! LOL
That said we also do lots of traditional plays and musicals when we go.
I’m sure you’d see the city in an entirely different way should you return.
Oh my goodness you packed a lot in! All of that theatre stuff would freak me out though, just give me shops and martinis when I’m in NY and I’m a happy girl. I’ve been there about 3 or 4 times now but still haven’t seen the half of it, and would definitely go back again. It’s a city you need to spend some money in though, and from the look of that shop, I’d spend a lot in there!! x
I find that each neighbourhood has so much to discover. If we go again in summer I want to explore DUMBO…just on the other side of the Brooklyn bridge.
There were so many great shops. Just like in London and Paris down every side street you can find hidden treasures.
That knitted Anthro piece is just tooo fabulous. Jealous!
Never been to NY before, despite living in Vancouver for three years. Speaking of which, I wanna come to the blogger meetup. Wah! Not enough energy, time or money resources for the flight over from Oz, or the mad time with you all. Why are all my blogging friends overseas? Will be relying on comprehensive coverage!
Love your Mad Men post, esp. the nude fishnets with those wonderful shoes, on the desk. The show in NY would definitely make me sleep no more! Argh!! xo JJ
Well Vancouver is what…about 6 hours by plane to NYC? But given that you are around…19-20 hours by plane from here I suppose that is just a drop in the hat for you.
what a fun trip! I’m envious! =D
I love Goorin Bros. They have a store front in SF too and I love stopping in (even though I know I’m not purchasing!) hah
xo,
nancy
http://www.adoretoadorn.com
They truly have the nicest hats I’ve ever seen. Even the hat boxes are gorgeous!
Sounds like an absolutely amazing trip! The Scottish play as a house of horrors sounds utterly fascinating…
It. Was. Insane.
Wow – it sounds like you and a fun pack trip! I am not very cultured and have not seen a play in so long. I am pretty sure I fell asleep during the last play we saw and my hubby had to wake me up and we left at intermission.
I have never been to NYC and it’s on a my list of places to visit. We are hoping to take our son there in a year or two but my experience will be lot different than your weekend.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Ha ha! That must have been one boring play! Believe me, you would not have fallen asleep at either of these.
I will admit that we went to the opera once and I wanted to fall asleep. Since I must be in a dark quiet room comfortably laying down with a fluffy pillow I wasn’t so lucky. My husband was like you, he just fell asleep. Oh and we left at intermission. Never go and see an opera in German with basically non costumes and non sets. Plus the fact that they were singing stuff like, “I’m just a stupid old woman” didn’t help.
The first time anyone goes to NYC it is all about the touristy stuff. Even the first 3 times since there is so much to see. Your family will enjoy the experience.
Okay wow … that play sounds … fascinating!!! What a cool trip … mind bending theatre and vintage shopping too! Your life rocks! 😀
Hope you’ll stop by Friday to join my new link up party FUN FASHION FRIDAY!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
Eeek! So many link-ups…so little time! LOL
I will try to show my face though.
New York never disappoints! I have a different adventure every time I visit, and would jump at the chance to go anytime, even in the winter. I’m very envious of your theatre experiences, especially “Sleep No More”, which sounds fascinating and disturbing. I’ve had a couple of experiences with interactive theatre – once where I had to go up on stage and play one of the characters with minimal direction, and then when I saw David Byrne’s play about Imelda Marcos, Here Lies Love, in New York in October, which was a lot of fun. The idea of the audience wearing masks is very interesting – provides a bit of a distance between the actors and the audience.
I’ve never been to “What Goes Around Comes Around” but I’m pretty sure they’ve had a booth at the Manhattan Vintage Show in the past. Lots of gorgeous pieces to be had, if you’ve got the money. Curious to know what blogger you met up with!
It was Ally from Shy Biker. I wrote a whole post on the experience : )
You have had a great staying in the city and the show you took part in, sounds thrilling! New York surely is a fashinating town! It is at the top of my wish list …
Well one thing is for sure…you would LOVE and DIE to go to Woodbury Common. That is the super high end outlet shopping area just outside of NYC. I think you might like to spend a week there shopping.
Looks like you guys had a great time!
How very good of you to restrain yourself. Don’t tell me you left those gorgeous shoes bottom right????? Or were they not your size?
Wonderful days you guys had.
Greetje
The shoes were too expensive..and the heels were too high. I did love the look of them though : )
Wow, sounds like a very rich, fun and cultural citytrip! That play sounds insane!
I love NY. Have been there three times, I think, or four. But the last time was ages ago. As long as we are living (half of the year) in Singapore, my travel grounds are in Asia and around. Europe and the Americas will have to wait.
Kudoos for your superhuman restraint regarding Anthro!