Afternoon of a Swan

NYCB's Sara Mearns as Odette in
Swan Lake - Photo Credit Paul Kolnik

There was much excitement at the David H. Koch theatre this week as we began our fall season with the iconic classical ballet – Swan Lake.  The dramatic storyline, Tchaikovsky’s incredible score, the beautiful scenery and dancing illuminate a world in which the women are trapped as swans under the evil Von Rothbart’s spell. Though terrified, the swan queen, Odette succumbs to her love for Prince Siegfried, but they can never together as Odette is held captive by Von Rothbart.  To perform this ballet requires passion and artistry, but also technical strength and endurance.  Despite the ballet’s closeness to nature, the movements are often anything but natural.  With all of its back bending and countless bourées (where we move around on our pointe shoes), I’m in serious need of a warm bath when I get home at night. The lake can also be pretty slippery evidently, as I took a tumble during my entrance on opening night.  Nevertheless, as a swan in the corps de ballet, it is an extremely fulfilling ballet to perform.  How could you not want to dance to this music?

For this week’s New York City excursion, I thought I’d detail a late morning trip to one of everyone’s favorite nature spots - Central Park. It is truly an oasis in the heart of the concrete jungle, and at this time of year, the weather is absolutely perfect for any outdoor activity.  There is much to see and do here since it is very expansive; the park spans about 50 blocks from north to south, and about 3 long avenues from east to west.  For a pleasant Swan Lake-inspired morning, I’d go to the lake. 

The Loeb Boathouse

To get to the lake, enter at the 72^nd street opening to the park, on either the east or the west side, and proceed to the center of the park.  If you enter from the west side, along the way you’ll see Strawberry Fields – where there is usually a guitarist serenading tourists with a Beatles tune or a peaceful song.  Then make your way to the Loeb Boathouse to rent a rowboat for an hour.  The rowboats are only available from April to October due to weather constraints, so take advantage of them this season! There is a $30 cash deposit in addition to the $12 per hour charge, and for each additional 15 minutes the cost is $3.  One hour seems to be the right amount of time; this man-made city lake isn’t that big.  Up to four people can fit on a boat, which is great for romantic couples and families of four, but not so much for families of five like mine.  The boathouse opens at 10:30am and the last rental is allowed to leave the station at 5:30pm.  I’d recommend getting there around 11:00am or so in order to beat the crowds that will accumulate in the late afternoon.  If you’re lucky you might even see some swans and if so, be sure to channel your inner Odette by waving your arms up and down like a swan’s wings. 

Restaurant View

After boating, you’ll probably be ready for a delicious lunch.  For those of you on a tighter budget, pack a picnic and take it to Sheep Meadow, located just south of the boathouse, or purchase snacks at the Le Pain Quotidien outdoor café.  If you are willing to spend a little more, go to the Loeb Boathouse Lakeside Restaurant.  It is a picturesque restaurant overlooking the lake, and it offers dishes such as a filet mignon cob salad and a lemon-oregano crusted salmon.  The prices range from $19 to $30 dollars an entre, but for the view and the chance of seeing wildlife while dining? I'd say that’s an afternoon well spent. Of course, if you’d prefer to see humans acting as swans and experience the magic of the ballet, we’ll be onstage every night this week at Lincoln Center!