Manhattan's First Summer Night's Dream

The beautiful Angela was kind enough to invite me to join her at the New York City Ballet last night. What a treat. It had been years since I took in a ballet performance of any kind. In the Budapest of the mid-1990s, going to the ballet or opera was cheap and easy. In New York these days it is one of the many things you don’t take advantage of when you live here.

The New York City Ballet’s execution of George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was simply brilliant. Albert Evans as Puck was especially entertaining.

As you would guess, photographing the performance is not permitted. But the life outside the theater on the plaza at Lincoln Center was an amazing show all on its own and no one seemed to mind my camera. A big band playing at the free Midsummer Night’s Swing concert in the warm evening had scores of couples twirling across a temporary dance floor. Some happy swinging souls didn’t bother going that far and were throwing moves wherever they stood. Young and old in every shape and size had gathered to simply enjoy. The little cocktail kiosks sold bubbly wine and vodka and beer at proper Manhattan prices that didn’t seem to matter as you just soaked in all the energy of New York City on the first evening of summer.

After the curtain had fallen on the final act and the band outside called it quits in the dark, the music and jumping good vibes could be found on the way to the subway thanks to a sidewalk jazz trio. Summer had arrived and a beach was the last thing on your mind.

Jim Lowney Photo

Jim Lowney Photo

Jim Lowney Photo