Nick Verreos "Hearts" the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular!!

X-mas High Kicking It With The Rockettes...

And...Kick: Nick Verreos and The Rockettes, at FIDM/Grand Hope Park in August 2010

Back in August, while The Rockettes were touring the country promoting their annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show, they visited Los Angeles and made a pit stop at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising LA Campus. I had the pleasure of "hosting" them at a fun event titled "High Kicking With Nick", in which we had a VIP Costume Show, where four of The Rockettes showed--up close and personal--some of the marvelous and iconic costumes. I also got to do some High Kicks with them, as well as over 200 of our "closest" friends, at FIDM-adjacent Grand Hope Park.

Nokia Theater Fan: Nick Verreos inside the Nokia Theater, Radio City Christmas Spectacular Opening Night Performance

Well, cut to last Friday and The Rockettes were BACK--to do their Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show at the Nokia Theater L.A. Live. They were generous enough to invite myself and my NIKOLAKI partner David Paul to the "Opening Night". Believe it or not, I had NEVER seen an actual Rockettes Show, much less THE famous Christmas Spectacular so, of course, I canceled everything else I had that evening and headed to Downtown LA.

Happy Downtown LA Holidays: David Paul and Nick Verreos, L.A. Live Entertainment Complex

I hadn't been to the Staples/Nokia/"LA Live" Entertainment Complex in a while (not since I attended the World Championships of Figure Skating at the Staples in March 2009) and I certainly had never really gone there on a Friday Night...but KIDS: The place was CRAZY!! I guess I am LATE but I never knew that this has now become the new "Universal City Walk" of LA!

Walking into the nucleus of it all, there were all these new restaurants, bars/nightclubs, hundreds and hundreds of people walking around (NO ONE EVER used to be here in Downtown LA five years ago--and especially after 6PM!) and there was even a Skating Rink! Hello, Nick is HOME!!

Skating Under The Stars: Nick Verreos poses by The L.A. Live Skating Rink, Downtown LA

Now,let's get to the reason we were there: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show. One Word: AMAZING!!!!

It's one thing high-kicking with four of these leggy DIVAS in a park Downtown, but it's a WHOLE OTHER thing seeing ALL of them in their perfectly choreographed numbers on a HUGE stage like the Nokia Theater. Every section of the show was entertaining. I loved The "Nutcraker Suite" with Dancing Bears (how they can kick so high in all that fur??) and...

The famed Toy Soldier number, with its INCREDIBLE footwork, was one of my favorites as well. The section of the show where the Biblical Magi pay their visit to the newly born Jesus offering gifts was visually stunning; the intricately ornate costumes of The Three Wise Kings left us awestruck!

One of the highlights of the entire Radio City Christmas Spectacular was the Touring Through NYC Landmarks Bus Ride. This truly was UNBELIEVABLE: The way the Double-Decker bus turned and the changing views of the Big Apple, was fabulous! One almost felt as they were following them on another Double-Decker bus!!! I'm sure I'm not the first to say this, but this really is a not-to-be-missed show! So if the Rockettes come to your town, in their candy-cane costumes, I think you know what to do!

Happy High Kicking Holidays!!!

Click Below for a Video Sneak Peak I found on YouTube of the Rockettes "Nutcraker Suite" Dancing Bears (it's the CUTEST thing in the World!!!):

The Rockettes and Nick Verreos: High Kicking It at FIDM!!!

Swarovski Crystals, Erte, Vincente Minnelli, Gorgeous Gams... and High Kicks!

Salutin' Soldier: Nick Verreos and "Wooden Soldier Rockette", Laura Danelski (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

Last week I had the FABULOUS opportunity to be the Master of Ceremonies welcoming the World Famous Rockettes to Downtown Los Angeles, and specifically, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM.

Fashion Spectacular: Nick Verreos flanked by The Rockettes, FIDM Los Angeles

(photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

The Rockettes are on their Kick Across America tour promoting their Christmas Spectacular Show and they decided to make a very special stop at FIDM, and I was invited to be the Host with The Most, naturally, being that I am a FIDM Instructor as well as the FIDM Spokesperson Extraordinaire (and a lover of all things Musical Theater and Sequins!). I made sure to put on my best RED jacket, multi-colored pocket scarf (to match the ladies Christmas Spectacular Color Scheme) and get ready to meet the lovely high-kicking ladies.

Let Me See Your Muslin: Nick Verreos looks at the inspiration for Chairing Styles designer Ralph Prado, FIDM (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

The event, appropriately titled "Kick With Nick" , was to occur at the adjacent Grand Hope Park. But first, there was an exclusive Workshop at FIDM, where the Debut (Advanced Fashion Design), Chairing Styles as well as Advanced Theater Costume students--and invited media--got a private and close up demonstration on the Art of designing for the Musical Theater and specialty costumes. The Rockettes brought several costumes and described in depth all their corresponding details.

X-Mas Happy: Nick Verreos and The Rockettes, FIDM (Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

I was SO EXCITED to host The Rockettes that I could barely contain myself upon meeting them. They were UNBELIEVABLY gorgeous. First they discussed their Christmas Spectacular ensembles which they arrived in: Red and ivory "Candy Cane" costumes with gold "flutter skirts"--all boned and corseted within an inch of their toned lives...

Costume Changes: Nick Verreos and The Rockettes, in various costumes (Photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

Afterward, one of them went into the dressing room and came out in the Wooden Soldier Costume, designed by the one and only Vincente Minelli (Liza Minelli's father and Judy Garland's husband for you kiddies who are too young!).

What Side Seam: Nick Verreos points out the details on the "Let It Shine" Costume on Traci Reszetylo (Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

Then, another one changed into the Let It Shine Costume featuring over 3,000 Swarovski crystals! Here I am pointing at how the "print" of the crystal-encrusted design miters(matches) and you can barely see a side seam: Theater Couture Darlings!

Is That Cher? Nick Verreos and Rockette Alyssa Epstein, FIDM (Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

Finally, we got to see the Gershwin Royal Blue Tiered Skirt Costume designed by the great Erte ! Layers of iridescent organza, lots of crystals and blue & white feathers made for a FAB conclusion to this exclusive FIDM Rockettes Workshop. I LOVED how Rockette Alyssa Epstein reminded me of Cher (and I told her so!). Now it was time for the "High Kick With Nick" at Grand Hope Park at FIDM:

(Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

FIDM welcomed The Rockettes in STYLE (see above photo) Yes, I brought along 24 fabulous ladies, decked out in black Top Hat ensembles, with signs!

High Kicking: Nick Verreos and The Rockettes high kick it (Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

I then got a quick lesson in "How To High Kick It, Rockettes Style" right there and then, in front of about 300 people, who came out for this very special event. Thank Goodness my black Zara pants had stretch in them (a little bit!) and that I wore my YSL Johnny Boots.

Follow Me Downtown Los Angeles: Nick Verreos and The Rockettes lead attendees into a High Kick Lesson, Grand Hope Park/FIDM (Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

But of course, I wasn't the only one to look like a High-Kicking Fool: I got the help of five audience members who came up to the stage and got their "High Kick" lesson from The Rockettes. And truth be told, they did REALLY WELL.

Nick Verreos, KNBC Reporter Cary Berglund and The Rockettes, FIDM
(Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Photography/BEImages)

It was a FABULOUS event and I was so ecstatic to have finally met The Rockettes, got to see their costumes up close and personal, and even got a lesson on how to High Kick It! I look forward to more High Kicks with The Rockettes. Those ladies...and their costumes were AMAZING!

*We even made it on the 5 o'clock news on KNBC Los Angeles: Click HERE for the video!!!
*Click HERE for a fun photo an article from Los Angeles Downtown News.
*Click HERE for more fun photos from LookBookLA.com

Nick Verreos to Host the Rockettes at FIDM Thursday August 12Th!!!

Kick With Nick!

Hi kids! Well, I just got some FABULOUS news: I've been asked to "Welcome" the World-famous Rockettes to Downtown LA at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM!!! First, they will be showing their exclusive costumes to a selected group of FIDM's Advanced Fashion Design as well as Costume Design Students at a very special workshop.

But right afterward, I will "officially" welcome them at the Grand Hope Park, adjacent to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Campus. They are here in Southern California to promote their upcoming Radio City Christmas Spectacular performances at the Honda Center Dec. 6-7, as well as Nokia Theatre L.A. Live Dec. 9-12Th!!!

They will be there, in Costume, to show me how to Kick it! I will try and do my best "Nick High Kick" and then I have a feeling that the lovely Rockettes will then show me how to REALLY kick it:

So, join me tomorrow, August 12th from 2:30-3 PM to help me welcome the World Famous Rockettes! Maybe you will get to "Kick It with The Rockettes" too---and here's a BONUS:

Tomorrow, by showing up, you can enter to win TWO tickets for Opening Night of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes at the Nokia Theater for Thursday December 9Th!!

Here's The Dish:
What: "Kick It With Nick" Welcome The Rockettes with Nick Verreos
When: Thursday August 12Th
Where: FIDM Grand Hope Park, 919 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90015
Time: 2:30-3 PM
No RSVP's needed, just show up!!!