If Madison has one beloved Nutcracker performing company, Chicago, that great big behemoth of a city to our south, has several companies putting on this seasonal ballet. Possibly the two best known are the Joffrey and Ballet Chicago. And it so happens that my Chicago grandgirl, Primrose, who takes ballet classes at Ballet Chicago, will make an appearance in that company's thirtieth anniversary production of the Nutcracker. Today is her first performance and I am on my way to see it!
After a very early breakfast at the farmhouse. Alone, because it is too early to call Ed down.
And then I take off for Chicago.
When your young child is in a professional production, there is a lot of coordination and orchestration that has to take place before each performance. Don't I know it from decades past! I want to be a helpful type, so I do the young family a favor and choose to stay in a hotel for the weekend. They have a lot of family coming and going this weekend. They dont need to unfold the couch for me. Too, I have my moments of quiet there. I have said many times now that ending the day with a quiet hour is the only way to get me to sleep reasonably well. So I park myself today at the Hotel Zachary -- just a bit to the north of where they live.
It's a nice place, though perhaps it's best known for its proximity to Wrigley Field. And just so you know, I am such a moron at ball game stuff that I had to look up which team properly belongs to this stadium. FYI, it has been home to the Chicago Cubs for more than a century! (First built in 1914.) I think that the Northwestern Football team also plays at the stadium, but both their season and the Cubs season are done for the year. Not that it's calm outside. There are seasonal events all around town and the hotel is packed with holiday revelers. Even as my room is super quiet -- facing the back streets rather than the stadium.
Okay, but I'm not here for a ball game anyway, nor for the revelry. I'm here for the kids! Here's Primrose, getting ready for her show. Her mom is a stage makeup pro!
("if she gets lipstick, cant I at least use chapstick?")
(ready!)
Primrose goes off for an early call time (and her sister goes off as well -- it will be Juniper's first time watching a live performance -- but in the meantime, the parents hope she'll take a nap in the car... we will see how that goes).
The Nutcracker is at the Athenaeum Theater this week (next week they switch to a different one downtown) -- a very traditional, very beautiful theater, even older than the nearby Wrigley Field. (The Athenaeum was built in 1911.)
My daughter and I grab a cup of coffee...
And very quickly, it is time to go see the show. Many grandparents have come from near and far!
("is it time??")
(grandparents, parents, and Juniper: the cheering squad!)
And it is a beautiful performance. Primrose does her dance (as a doll in the party scene) perfectly. At intermission, she joins us in the theater to watch Act 2.
Her sister is proud. We all are!
The extended family disperses afterwards. We'll be gathering again tomorrow, because guess what -- it is the birthday of my very youngest grandchild -- Juniper!
But that's tomorrow. Tonight, I return to the home of the young family and after a little downtime, the five of us go out to dinner at Etta's -- a lovely Italian place that I have such fond memories of, as we've eaten there before the kids were born and after each one came onto the scene. It's impressive that the two girls maintain a good mood despite the craziness, and the excitement, and the shortness of any rest time.
The good spaghetti and meatballs help!
And now I'm back at the Zachary. It's raining outside. Of course it is. The trickery of winter in the Midwest! Tomorrow? Another big day!
with so much love...
