Candace Bushnell at Borders July 10th

On Saturday, July 10th from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m., Candace Bushnell, bestselling author of Sex and the City, will be at Borders bookstore in Saratoga Springs to sign copies of her newest book, New York Times bestseller, The Carrie Diaries. Following the book signing, Ms. Bushnell and her husband Charles Askegard, Principal Dancer for New York City Ballet, will attend the annual Ballet Gala at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The couple are the Honorary Chairs for the event.
 
Bushnell is the critically acclaimed author of Sex and the City, One Fifth Avenue, Lipstick Jungle, Trading Up, Four Blondes, and most recently,The Carrie Diaries. A prequel to Sex and the City, the novel follows heroine Carrie Bradshaw during her years as a high school student in Connecticut. The New York Times best-selling book was released in April. Sex and the City, published in 1996, was the basis for the HBO hit series and subsequent blockbuster movie, whose sequel, Sex and the City 2, opened in movie theatres across the US on May 27.
 
Bushnell and her husband, Charles Askegard, Principal Dancer for New York City Ballet, will serve as Honorary Chairs for the annual Ballet Gala on Saturday, July 10 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Hosted by SPAC's Action Council, the Gala raises funds to support SPAC's historic residency, now in its 45th season.
 
The Ballet Gala is highlighted by the Gala Party on the Lawn, an event that is especially popular with young adults. The lawn party includes a pre-performance picnic contest and new this year, live music by well-known Albany-based band, "Mirk and the New Familiars."
 
The 8 p.m. performance by New York City Ballet will feature the Saratoga premieres of new works by choreographers Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon which were commissioned by New York City Ballet for its Architecture of Dance - New Choreography and Music Festival. Following the performance, there are fireworks and dancing to live bands under spacious tents on the lawn.
 
Guests may also purchase tickets to optional black-tie Gala activities hosted by the Action Council at the Hall of Springs. Events include a champagne cocktail party, multi-course banquet, prime seating for the ballet performance, and admission to an “after party.”  For more information or to purchase tickets for the Hall of Springs Gala activities, contact Alyssa McClenning at SPAC at 518-584-9330 ext. 121, or amcclenning@spac.org.
 
             Tickets for the Gala Party on the Lawn and NYCB performance are available at www.spac.org, by calling SPAC at 518.584.9330 or at the Route 50 Box Office.