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Thanks RG - I was wondering if it would have been visible to audience members (well, in the first row). I was poking about for photos that might give a clue, but wherever it's at, I can't see it. ;)

Sorry, good catch Helene - my brain got scrambled on that one - as far as I know, "Plaj" is stil there (though considering how fast restaurants go out of business...) at the Inn at the Opera. There's a complimentary breakfast service that operates out of that same space in the morning. The Chancellor has Luques restaurant now.

I'm reviving this thread because I happened upon a particularly great interview with Farrell - the interviewer is Emily Fragos for BOMB Magazine. [sorry if this was posted somewhere previously] Her comments strike me as wonderfuly lucid, and wise. Intellectually speaking, she certainly developed into one sharp cookie. “I am not a programmed person,” she told me. “One thought ignites another; like mirrors, the image never stops.” --Suzanne Farrell to Eily Fragos http://bombsite.com/issues/85/articles/2603

I realized that I should now report on my own experiences staying at hotels in SF (now that I'm an out-of-towner, and all my friends live somewhere around SF, not in SF). I've now been a guest at both the Inn At The Opera, and the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square - both are resonably priced (for SF) and have good locations, but for different reasons. The Chancellor is right near a corner of Union Square - a major shopping district of the city. And the cable car (going north towards Ghirardelli and Fisherman's Wharf) stops at the corner near the hotel. The standard room was modest in size, but cozy, and they have a pillow menu from which to choose any type of pillow. ;) A small refrigerator but no microwave that I recall. It's an old SF building, so the layout will seem a bit funky, but the rooms have been modernised in their decor. Clean. There is a trendy new restaurant on the premises (not inexpensive). A taxi ride to the War Memorial Opera House is in order from that location, but not terribly expensive (I think it was about $8). The Inn At The Opera is exactly that - literally next door to the SF Ballet building and about 100 yards from the War Memorial side entrance. So, if you don't want any issues with getting to the ballet, and don't want to pay for taxis/buses, then it's the only place to stay really. Small and cozy as well. Another old SF building that retains a certain oddness - the old stairs creak, and it's somewhat difficult getting in and out of the elevator (which doesn't hold many people). That's where I kept running into Maina Gielgud who was staging Suite En Blanc for SFB. Makes sense that guests/visitors to the company stay at the Inn at the Opera. There's no restaurant on the premises, but the Sage Cafe is around the other side of the block and all the ballet people (and the school's students) go there - they do serve some kind of breakfast food as I remember, but are mainly an Asian-fusion cafe, with great smoothies (in other words, very eclectic). Otherwise, there's always food at the War Memorial.

LOL ;) Yes, she's one of a number of dancers the SF fans couldn't bear to lose, and there is some angst building with Masha constantly making special appearances. But we shall see. And the Royal Ballet and ENB obviously didn't do enough to try to keep her. Dance Magazine Tweet: There are now 2 chances to see @balletrusse (Maria Kochetkova) dance with @ABTBallet: she replaces Cojocaru as Cornejo's partner in Swan Lake & Sleeping Beauty (Wednesday, July 3rd).

I found out about this video from Maria Kochetkova's Twitter page... Hallberg at Work The International Ballet Sensation Shows Off Some Bold New Moves http://www.nowness.com/day/2013/6/11/3093/hallberg-at-work I can't decide whether this is a fashion shoot or a rehearsal, but interesting/mesmerizing nonetheless.

A costume question for the veterans: RE: Vienna Waltzes, " At many moments I knelt down to pick up the long train of my costume, and during a fitting with Madame Karinska, Mr. B asked her to place a a little silver rose just underneath the skirt so that it would show, ever so slightly, at these moments. --Suzanne Farrell I've wondered for a while exactly how this appeared - I'm not quite getting where the rose was placed in the garment. Anyone know any details?

Video available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVqLGY2CgDI Listed there as "Over The Edge" which definitely has different implications than "On The Edge". So I'm curious if the French title can be read either way.

This documentary is available on YouTube either in parts, or complete at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWv1wBfrjdU I didn't notice any particular improvement in quality in the sectioned version VS the complete version.

Thanks Lion. I would very much like SFB to change the editing of their videos. These principal videos might appear slick from an editing standpoint, but they purposefully obscure the dancing. Would it really kill them to show more than a few steps and a pose? I hate to mention it, but the NYCB is doing a much better job of putting out videos on any and all subjects, and we can at least see 15 seconds in a row from a performance. Masha does look sharp though. ;)

Absolutely -- we prefer that people think it rains all the time here. And that if you stand still too long, the moss grows on your north side. I've already got that problem with the moss growing, so in the sun I shall stay. ;)

Ah, the weather is one of the reasons I stay! It's a perfect fit for you then. It's much the same thing in Alaska - some people really don't mind being cut off from civilization for much of the year - that's the point. I assume Seattle people really don't mind the wet and cold. I like a certain amount of actual seasons (which is why I so miss Northern Cal), but I couldn't deal with 7 month winters.

For those in California who were fortunate enough to see the Mariinsky and Ekaterina "Big Red" Kondaurova dance Swan Lake at Segerstrom and Berkley, and for anyone else with an interest, I stumbled across a few videos. In the last few months some decent footage of Big Red has finally appeared... Ekaterina Kondaurova and Timur Askerov http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rFRrDh9ijA Kondaurova with David Hallberg in Act II Scene 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_rLXY9bukI Kondaurova and Hallberg shot from a different viewpoint (not sure if this is the exact same performance) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC-J7XEft7Q Kondaurova Swan Lake Debut http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxJPVMQZ_f4

One last thing: I hadn't been in Seattle in many years, and I was very impressed by how good looking much of the central city is, and culturally and architecturally eclectic, and CLEAN. I think the constant rain must have something to do with that. I also think the rains are what keep the city from over-expanding into an out-of-control megalopolis. I could live there, if it weren't for the weather.

Mmmmmmm, Saaaallllmooonnn. The crabcake salad was good too. I'm guessing it's a good thing to purchase the package in wintertime - I would expect the good offers disappear soon.

Yes this is the Jacob's Pillow performance that everyone wonders - Where is the rest of it?!!! I don't know if you noticed but hidden within this thread is a link to the Mariinsky/Lopatkina performing La Valse. It's not Tanny, but it's still so great to see, and they do a very good job, if not truly great.

Thanks to everyone for their input - it really helped me out in organizing my time. I ended up staying at the MarQueen Hotel for 3 nights, the Oswego Hotel in Victoria for most of 3 days, and then the Mediterranean Inn for the last night in Seattle. For future lookers, here are my rambling comments - I can recommend any of these hotels for location, and each has some form of kitchen to work with for those of us who like to prepare our own meals, or heat leftovers. The MarQueen rooms are large by the usual standards (with really high ceilings), and an 'antique' look to the rooms. They have their own separate kitchen rooms with breakfast nook, which was 'just fabulous'. The fixtures are older and rather worn, but not dirty, and overall seemed a good value. And it's hard to beat the MarQueen's location - on the other side of the block (about a 1 minute walk) is the Metropolitan Market and Bartell Drugs, both open 24 hours. So there's no problem getting supplies. And there are so many little restaurants in that area of Queen Anne that it's just a matter of coming to a decision about buying groceries VS dining out. McCaw Hall was maybe a 5 minute walk down Mercer, so a very good location for Ballet-goers. The Mediterranean Inn is only a couple of blocks down Queen Anne from the MarQueen, so basically all the same benefits of location apply. The Med has a very different setup in its rooms though - the standard is quite small, but cozy - looks to be oriented toward techie commuters. Very small refrigerator and microwave in the rooms. All the usual amenities are there, but compressed into a quite small space. A bit on the claustrophobic side in the standard room. One big plus is the rooftop observation deck which has a fantastic view of the city, including the Space Needle just across the way. This made up for the fact that I didn't want to pay the 30 freakin' dollars to ride the elevator up to the top of the Needle. I bought a package deal through Victoria Clipper for the stay at Oswego in Victoria and that was a pleasant surprise. An excellent hotel for the money. I had a "small suite". The little kitchen was to die for: marble counter, refrigerator, microwave and DISH WASHER (not that I needed to ever use it). They are definitely set up for longer stays. Lots of nice kitchen implements: toaster, blender, good quality pans, etc. Ultra modern "european" styling, very clean (the hotel is fairly new as well). And tremendous views from both the bedside sliding glass door/windows and the huge bathroom windows on the other side of the suite. Since Victoria harbor is something of a fairytale setting, it's awfully pleasant to watch the long slow sunset from your suite in the Oswego. And then the parliament building's lights come on as the cherry atop the sundae. I ate the big breakfast at the Oswego which lasted me until dinner and then trundled over to Red Fish Blue Fish on the wharf, or Sam's Deli (which has the only cheap but tasty eats in the area). Red Fish was what some would call "hella good". The lines are ridiculous though. On my last day I went to the end of the line and waited for almost 7 minutes for an elderly couple at the front to order. Then the next person took at least 4 minutes. That may not seem like a big deal, but when there are 15 to 20 people ahead of you, you could expect to wait an average of 60 minutes at 4 minutes a person. So I gave up on that last day and went over to Sam's Deli and then consoled myself with a large sundae at the Soda Shoppe on the corner. My greatest worry in Victoria was whether or not I was going to be able to get fresh salmon for dinner. Life can be so difficult. Victoria has to be the most pleasant place on this side of the planet. Simply nothing bad going on anywhere. Oh, and besides walking about the harbor district I also took a couple double-decker bus tours to see more of the area - a must do. McCaw Hall and the PNB Ballet building next door looked really impressive - they are definitely setup well to maintain the company into the future. I think there must be some really envious regional companies, wishing they had something, anything, like the PNB's setup. And now for some REALLY BAD cell phone 'pics' ( definitely can't call them images) - Oswego kitchen images: Salmon!!! Glimpse of the bathroom (also good-sized) with granite tiles and big picture window: I'm not sure if it's OK to quote the price, but the Victoria Clipper/Oswego Hotel package (2 nights) was $355. The round-trip on the Clipper was about $109, so Oswego was $123 a night, in JUNE. Nice.

>> So that's what's going on with Farrell's headpiece! Well it obviously fits the contours of the head both front and back. I do recall seeing the lace gloves - that was a nice touch.

Totally agree with you, Helene, regarding Lacroix's Emeralds costumes, except for the bodice style which appears too wide/bulky to me and makes even the most dimunitive women appear stocky (Clairemarie Osta for example). Karinska's 'originals' do that as well. And I totally agree regarding the Diamonds tutus - seems to me these need to be pancake tutus in brilliant white. But as you point out, the stage was rather crowded with eager little diamonds, and any more circumference to the tutus and there would have been scrapes and collisions. ;)

Excellent find, thanks.

There is a strong possibillity that I will see the Ratmansky program as well - so we shall see if a number of forum members will attend...

I should have thought of this photo, Jayne - great find. I personally think the set-back "cage" headdress was a very sleek design. But Karinska also tried for the opposite effect - a forehead piece that had a very ethnic look to it:

Somehow I can't believe those were the original Karinska designs. Is this what we saw?

I spent both flights intermittently watching the people around me play games on their devices, and re-reading Tom Wolfe's "The Pump House Gang" essays about the 1960s (because its a tiny paperback that fits in my pocket). If you plan on going to any of the SF Ballet's 2014 performances there is a better chance - I generally try for the Tuesday or Wednesday night performances (better for travel rates). I'm not sure if I'll have money again for Seattle in 2014, but, we shall see. I will add my impressions of Seattle/Victoria in the "Where to Stay When Visiting PNB" thread tomorrow.

Sigh. I'm often at odds with the costume designers and stage designers. There can be an amazing sense of taste (but this was admitedly not that bad). A nice thought, Helene, and it occured to me too to try to connect with forum members in Seattle, but I was 'unplugged' for the week (something I needed for my own sanity). I felt like the only traveler in the world who did not have either an iPad or an iPhone with me.