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!!!):

Nick Verreos Becomes a Southern Belle in Nashville Tennessee: Macy's Fashion Challenge Event Recap!

Nick Does Nashville: Green Hills "It's A Nice Area", The Rockettes, a Run-In with a Miss Tennessee and Suzie Wong's House of Yum...

Nashville Fashionistas: Nick Verreos poses with one of the Winners of the Macy's Fashion Challenge Green Hills Event (left) and her friend

Last week, A DAY after my Macy's Puerto Rico Event, I flew from San Juan to Nashville Tennessee!!! Yes, I was TIRED but huney, FASHION doesn't understand that word! Unless we are describing an outfit! I landed at almost midnight in Nashville, went to my Airport Marriot Hotel, and asked the lobby how far the "Green Hills" of Nashville was (to be ready for the next day and my event). They said "why?" Of course, I told them I was hosting an event at the Macy's in the Mall at Green Hills. They responded with: "Ohhhh, Green Hills,...THAT'S a NICE AREA!!!". Ummm, OK. I checked in and called it a night.

The next day, I got ready and caught a cab to my event. I told the cab driver: "I need to go to Macy's in Green Hills". He responded "Green Hills!!?? That's a NICE AREA!!" That's the second person who said that! I think that the Green Hills area of Nashville needs to make a new marketing campaign: "Green Hills: It's a Nice Area!". I finally arrived and guess who was at the Macy's at the Green Hills Mall as well?

Reunited: Nick Verreos and The Rockettes, Macy's Green Hills Nashville TN

The Rockettes!!!!!! Well, I just about DIED and went to Gay Xmas Heaven! I hosted a "Kick It With The Rockettes" event--back in Los Angeles--not too long ago at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, and had a BLAST! And here they are again!!! They just happened to be at the same Macy's I was at, doing an event of their own--promoting their Rockettes Radio City Christmas Spectacular, of course.

Of course, we lit up the Macy's Green Hills "Green Room" doing more high kicks and even doing The Rockettes "salute" (photo above).

Waiting For Nick: The audience at Macy's Green Hills Mall, Nashville TN

I finally got my leg to come down long enough to leave my Rockettes "girlfriends" and mosey on over to the fabulous Macy's Green Hills Impulse Department--and host my Macy's Fashion Challenge" event. The floor was PACKED; hundreds of shoppers, guests and yes, Project Runway fans, filled the seats and kiddies, it was STANDING ROOM ONLY!! Who do I think I am: Tim Gunn? Hardly. But yes, it was a BIG crowd!

The Best Sequin Dress Goes To: Nick Verreos Judges the Macy's Fashion Challenge, Nashville Tennessee

Something about being tired from flying and my crazy airplane itinerary, lack of sleep and those Southern Belles in Nashville...but I ROCKED IT! It was mainly the audience: They were FABULOUS with a Capital "F".

Nick Verreos poses with his Nashville Models (styled by audience members!), Macy's Green Hills Nashville, TN

I consider myself a "Southern Belle" at heart, so I was right at home! One of my Macy's Fashion Challenge Models was a REAL Southern Belle...

She was Miss Tennessee USA 2009, Kristen Motil and a Top Ten Finalist in Miss USA 2009!!!

Model Sandwich: Nick Verreos poses with two of the models, Miss Tennessee 20009 Kristen Motil (left) and Sulivan Mellencamp (right)

Macy's LOVE: Nick Verreos and the Macy's Green Hills Mall Nashville Team

After my event, the wonderful store manager, Patrick Bain, drove me back to my hotel (ain't that sweet!) and gave me a drive-by tour of Nashville. He showed me all the sights, including...

Tootsies bar and lounge, "Music Row" of course...

Also, we drove by the "Musica" Statue and I even got to see...

The Country Music Hall of Fame...well, just the front of it (the poster of Tammy Wynette was enough for me!). That night, two of the lovely Rockettes (sans costumes), Laura Danelski and Alina Williams (a local "Southern Belle" who lives in Nashville) invited me to dinner at...

Suzie Wong's House of Yum. The Executive Chef is Arnold Myint, who was on Bravo's "Top Chef D.C." show. He wasn't there, but there were a lot of cutie waiters! My dinner was DELICIOUS and a perfect ending to my short--but FABULOUS--time in Nashville: The Rockettes, Southern Belle Fashionistas, a great Macy's event at Green Hills ("It's A Nice Area!"), and a little bit of sightseeing? Who could ask for more.

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!!!