TEN DATES // 05 THE NUTCRACKER REIMAGINED IN BROOKLYN

just 24 hours before we hopped on a flight to the west coast, brandon and i snuck away for a quick date to see the nutcracker circus suite at galapagos art space in dumbo. we booked the date impulsively and quite last minute through HowAboutWe, our sponsor for the year (they've been sending us on ten dates this year to celebrate our tenth anniversary), and the whole thing was seamless, even when booked down to the wire. we got lucky with a sitter, we shot across town on the c train, we didn't really know what to expect when we got there, and holy nutcracker! let's talk about this.

the nutcracker circus suite is the same story of marie and the nutcracker and the sugar plum fairy, but reimagined. what if the rat king were a break dancer? what if the dancers hung from the ceilings and danced in the audience? what if mother ginger were a cylon, and her children a trio of robots with lasers shooting out of their boobs, and what if the mother ginger cylon dance was actually a burlesque show, where she stripped down to her body suit to reveal a marilyn monroe type fembot with circuitry glowing up and down her spine? i mean, come on. it was flipping fantastic. i never would have known this even existed had it not been for HowAboutWe, i feel like i'm discovering all these hidden treasures all over the city and it is so much fun. 

i love the tradition of seeing the nutcracker every year. we have an old dvd of the macaulay culkin version (please tell me you've seen it) that i absolutely have to watch every december or else it isn't really christmas. one of these days we'll shell out the big bucks to see the balanchine at the lincoln center like grown ups, but already i'm pretty sure this one has it beat. if you're the type of nerd who knows the nutcracker inside and out, the circus suite is a delightfully odd way to honor the nutcracker tradition. we loved it so much we decided to make it a new family tradition--we met the show's creators and lead dancers afterward as part of the HowAboutWe package, and they confirmed that they're planning another run for christmas 2014. i already can't wait to see it again. it was really exciting to get to meet the creators after the show. i've always gotten such a buzz from being backstage, ever since my drama club days in high school, and getting to meet to such creative, passionate people is always such a wonderful experience. it was such a neat opportunity. when we first walked in and mentioned we'd booked with HowAboutWe, the ticket lady smiled and pointed us to the best seats in the house. i should have practiced my beauty queen wave on the train, that's a little how it felt to be escorted all the way up the to the front of the house. am i gushing? i might be gushing.

a few shots from the night below. galapagos art space happens to be smack in the middle of some of the most iconic views of the city. it made for a magical night.

△ i just want you to know, this number alone was worth the trek to brooklyn.

△ this shirtless man was the tea from china. upgrade!

△ at the end the sugar plum fairy did part of her traditional dance to an arcade fire song. why not?

△ the floating kabarette is what is playing most weekends right now. (please note there is a two drink minimum for all shows at this space. two of those bad bar diet cokes is a sacrifice i am willing to make. why are bar diet cokes always so terrible? i feel like there is probably a real sensible reason for this.) p.s. brandon wasn't feeling too "photogenic" that night, he was strictly in the -pher mood, and not the -phed. you know. you win some you lose some.

i've always said it, brooklyn is for lovers. it was so nice to sneak in a quick, totally impulsive yet still completely romantic evening with my husband in the borough where it all started. (for our next date we are going horseback riding in the country, and HO-LY HANNAH. i am so excited i could cry.)

thank you as always to HowAboutWe, who sponsored this post, and are offering $50 off your first date when you sign up with the promo link HERE. (applies to new members only, expires 03/31/2014.)