Thursday Thirteen - 218 - 13 Things About My Trip to New York City

1 - This mega trip had multiple layers for me. It's been so amazing that I'm going to split it into several Thursday Thirteens, which I'll post in the coming weeks.

To begin with, this was the start of a two-week vacation from my day job. I had a very challenging winter and spring as my department switched capture software for my scanner. I was really, really up for this break.

Everything began with an overnight stay at my cousin's, because we had to leave very early for the airport. She treated me to some Jameson's Irish whiskey as we settled in to watch TV. Her husband and their dog Molly joined us, as Molly was very keen on demonstrating proper chillaxin technique.































2 - Having had a bit of a journey to obtain my passport, due to replacing lost documentation, my true enjoyment only began after we were safely through security and customs.

I sat next to my sister during the flight. She came to New York with my cousin and me - we're very silly at the best of times, and this handy tip on the instructions-in-case-of-emergency card aboard the aircraft had us in giggles. Apparently, using alien x-ray vision will be very important in a crisis.





























3 - Our cab driver took us from Newark Airport in New Jersey into midtown Manhattan.

Destination - the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Times Square.























4 - The hotel was massive. Very Matrix-like interior. I adored it.






























5 - But wait.

It gets better.

We opened the door to our hotel room and this is the view we found. For someone like me who thinks bigger is better when it comes to things like metropolis cities, castles, cathedrals and that sort of thing, our hotel room and view were beyond what I'd ever expected.

If you notice in the second photo in the upper left corner, those are the giant Blade Runner billboards revealed by the open curtains.























6 - On our very first day in The Big Apple, a red carpet premiere broke out in Times Square directly below us. It was for the third Transformers film.
























7 - New York is highly associated with film and television for me, so I was pleased when we strolled by a film crew on our way to Rockefeller Center and we saw a camera crew mounting a heavy camera on a crane attached to a car for travelling shots.

I also stopped to chat with Romantic Times magazine's website editor Morgan Doremus, who was interviewing authors during the writers' conference.























8 - We passed by NBC studios and CBS studios during our city treks.




























9 - Being the complete dance freak that I am, I tend to think of New York in dance terms.

Also on our way to Rockefeller Center, we passed by the hallowed Radio City Music Hall. There was a touring production of Cirque du Soleil during our stay, so no Rockettes. I had the incredible pleasure of seeing them on tour in Toronto, so I'd love to see them in their home venue some day.

Even though this trip was 90% writing conference, for me the performance of Swan Lake by American Ballet Theatre on our last day in New York was the highlight of the trip.

Some of you may remember that very, very high on my bucket list is to see the top ballet companies of the world perform in their home venues. As a surprise early birthday present for me (a few months early) my sister and cousin purchased tickets for the three of us to see Swan Lake while we were in town.

American Ballet Theatre is second on my all-time dance company bucket list (after the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia.) When they gave me the ticket at dinner back home in Cole Harbour, I seriously wept with joy for a solid hour. I had no idea what could be in the gift my sister was handing me, and when I folded back the tissue paper and saw the words 'The Met' in the upper left corner of a ticket, I lost it completely.

I made sure I didn't wish away the whole week, but in reality I was counting down the seconds until the curtain opened. I was so excited all day, I couldn't eat. It felt exactly the same as my wedding day.























10 - Having been an usher myself, I knew there were no flash pictures allowed inside the house. So I snuck these available light shots during intermission.

What a GORGEOUS theatre.
























11 - Also from my usher days, I didn't get too attached to the scheduled principals, knowing the dancers may be changed at the last minute due to injury.

We did have the scheduled Odette/Odile - Julie Kent, dancing in her 25th anniversary season.

But the prince was recast with Jose Manuel Carreño, who elevated the exceptional performance with a stellar turn as Siegfried. He had great chemistry with Julie Kent, and together they gave me chills.

I'll never forget his passionate leap from the cliff at the very end of the ballet. The audience gave the two principals three curtain calls. I LOVE curtain calls. During the final one, he took a personal moment between them as longtime company members and gave her a tender kiss. It's giving me shivers right now, thinking about it.























12 - Of course, the real reason for this trip was to attend my first Romance Writers of America's Nationals convention.

I've been a part of RWA for eight years, but never had the pleasure of going to the conference because I was never in a position to pitch my books before this year.

Of course, any member can attend, at any stage of their writing career, but I never wanted to go until I could pitch.

I am very pleased to report that I got requests for partials from both the agent and editor. Partials are the first 30 or 50 pages, plus synopsis, of your manuscript.

Yeah, baby.






























13 - That's my celebration Lemon Drop Martini at the airport on the way home, and my dog Xena greeting my sister on our return.

Join me next week for an in-depth look at the conference itself. An amazing, info-loaded experience that required a decompression period when I got back.

Through the Opera Glasses - 50 - My Top Ten Oscar Gowns From The 2010 Red Carpet

'It's a wonderful night for Oscar! Oscar, Oscar! Who will win...?'

Last night's Oscar broadcast, another red carpet. My second favorite night of the year, after Christmas Eve. Besides all the film industry celebration, of which I can never get enough, besides all the sacrifice suddenly being worth it for the artists and craftspeople who heft the statuette in their hands, the red carpet event at the Oscars is my favorite thing of all.

Here are my personal favorite gowns from the 2010 walk towards the 82nd Academy Awards.


1 - My favorite: Penelope Cruz took my breath away in this dramatic, deep red Donna Karan creation.














2 - Sandra Bullock shimmered in this feminine velvet gown with exquisite lace, by Marchesa.














3 - Anna Kendrick glowed in this ultra-feminine frothy blush-pink gown by Elie Saab.














4 - Helen Mirren sparkled in this soft-gray Badgley Mishka gown.
















5 - Luciana Pedraza, wife of Crazy Heart producer Robert Duval, impressed me with this understated blush-pink slip gown.













6 - Jane Seymour radiated joie de vivre in her brilliant red, sculpted-bodice, strapless sheath.
















7 - Cameron Diaz gleams in golden Oscar de la Renta.
















8 - Amanda Seyfried entranced me with her sweeping white Armani Privé gown.














9 - Kate Winslet knocked me out with this elegant silver full-length sheath skirt and streamlined bodice from Yves Saint Laurent.














10 - Kathy Ireland wore this stretch-sequined sheath with fearless poise.














CLICK HERE to see my favorite Oscar gowns from 2009.

CLICK HERE to see my favorite Oscar gowns from 2008.

Janet says You could work the fashion talk shows, Julia - you had a lot of the same picks as the big guys!

Debby says I believe your favs were mine as well.

Susan Helene Gottfried says I missed the Oscars, so am glad to see a good recap of the dresses. Which are of course more important than the awards. :D

Thursday Thirteen - 44 - 13 of My Favorite Gowns From the 80th Oscars Red Carpet

Not all of these gowns made it to the official Best Dressed lists - but none of them were on the Worst Dressed lists. These are my personal favorites from last Sunday night's red carpet event.



1 - Diane Lane with husband Josh Brolin



Ms. Lane wore a brown draped jersey gown with beaded detail by David Meister.












2 - Best Adapted Screenplay nominee Sarah Polley wore a black gown with jewelled detailing. No designer identification available.















3 - Anne-Marie Duff with husband James McAvoy



Ms. Duff wore a periwinkle blue layered chiffon gown. No designer information available.












4 - Amy Adams wore a green Proenza Schouler gown.





Photo by Frank Micelotta










5 - Two-time Oscar winner Hillary Swank wore a black Atelier Versace gown.





Photo by Steve Granitz










6 - Best Actress winner Marion Cotillard wore a white Jean-Paul Gaultier gown.





Photo by Jeff Vespa










7 - Oscar winner Helen Mirren wore a red Georges Chakra gown with Swarovski-crystal-encrusted sleeves.





Photo by Jeff Vespa









8 - Anne Hathaway wore a red draped chiffon Marchesa gown with rosette detailing.





Photo by Vince Bucci











9 - Jennifer Garner wore a black embroidered silk taffeta Oscar de la Renta gown.





Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin









10 - Victoria Duffy with husband Dennis Hopper



Ms. Duffy wore a red draped column gown, designer unknown.










11 - Heidi Klum wore a crimson silk taffeta John Galliano Haute Couture gown.

















Ms. Klum with husband Seal





Both photos by Lester Cohen











12 - Katherine Heigl wore a crimson silk georgette Escada column gown.





Photo by Jeff Vespa












13 - Penelope Cruz wore a navy embroidered Chanel Haute Couture gown by Karl Lagerfeld, with feathered detailing.





Photo by Frank Micelotta.