Much of The Muse is set at Lincoln Center. It’s where Ballet Theater of New York performs in their season. It’s where Darcy confesses his love to Elizabeth, and where she reads his tell-all letter in the wake.
It’s also one of my favorite places in New York City, an aspirational corner of the city for those who love the performing arts. Lincoln Center is the largest performing arts complex in the world, home to 13 theaters, a public library, several movie theaters, classrooms, restaurants, and more. Many of NYC’s beloved cultural institutions call it home, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet (NYCB’s feeder school), and the Julliard School. American Ballet Theater, while not located on the campus, also performs there.
Ironically, Lincoln Center came into being after the filming of West Side Story, which happened several blocks away. Once the opening dance sequence of the movie had been shot, the entire neighborhood and its historical tenements were razed to make way for the arts complex.
There’s always tension between “culture’s” place within a larger culture, with many artists looking down upon what the masses call “art” and many regular folk finding “art” hoity-toity and inaccessible. Lincoln Center’s physical location in New York City embodies this tension. Prior to its recent facelift, Lincoln Center was often criticized as being walled-off from the rest of the city. Pedestrians could only enter the complex through the plaza at Columbus Avenue – the posher side closer to Central Park. Separated by a literal wall at the back of the complex were city housing projects. Recently, Lincoln Center underwent renovations to make it more pedestrian-friendly and open to the people of New York City. Now, there is more outdoor seating, including a lovely grassy knoll perfect for sunbathing and picnicking, and free outdoor events.
Lincoln Center offers daily tours of the complex, but the best way to experience it is to buy tickets to a ballet, opera, play, musical, or concert. It’s utter magic, particularly when the iconic fountains are lit up.
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