When I read in the StarTribune that Martin Patrick 3 in the Minneapolis North Loop won the judges’ choice award in a national competition for holiday window displays I knew I had to check them out. They are stunning. It feels like a step back to a simpler time of beautiful department store holiday displays.
Because Minnesota Dance Theatre cannot perform its annual “Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy” production in 2020 due to the pandemic, they partnered with Martin Patrick 3 to use their costumes to create the beautiful award-winning window displays.
Our daughter loves “The Nutcracker”, but her heart has always been with George Balanchine’s classic choreography.
George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” has been performed by New York City Ballet every year since 1954. Our daughter learned to love it through the book “A Very Young Dancer“, which was one of her favorite books as a child. Through Jill Krementz’s beautiful photos she followed a ten-year-old student at the School of American Ballet as she describes her classes and preparation for her role as Clara in “The Nutcracker” ballet.
Our daughter has never lost her love for the Balanchine version of “The Nutcracker” and has dreamed of seeing it performed by the New York City Ballet for 30 years. There will be no live performances this year because of Covid, but instead they are selling tickets for a special streaming event of The Nutcracker December 11-January 3. Our daughter is thrilled at the opportunity to finally see it. She and I will be watching next week!
