Saturday, July 31, 2010

Friday was AWESOME!!

Saturday - What a great morning in The Greatest City in The World.


Frist, a report card on Alex’s first day/night in The Big Apple-->A as in AWESOME!!<--because:


(1) he arrived safely and on time;

(2) the helicopter tour around Manhattan was breathtaking;

(3) AMERICAN IDIOT (with Scott Reed) was riveting; and,

(4) dinner afterwards at Angus McIndoe with Scott and his friend David Lee was terrific.

By the end of the day we were both kinda tired, but we had had a F**KING BLAST!


The pic is from the helicoper tour and is, obviously, Yankee stadium.







2day-11:00-->brunch at legendary BB Kings followed by a performance by the Beatles tribute band Strawberry Fields;


afternoon--> probably a movie;


8:00-->4 PLAY-THE FLYING KARAMAZOV BROTHERS- “the four brothers, master practitioners of in-your-face theatrics, juggle 'til they drop.” We will catch a bite somewhere down in The Village.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

Friday, July 30, 2010

Friday - Lex, Welcome to the Big Apple

Good Friday morning everyone.


This is the beginning of an awesome weekend with my oldest grandson Alex Falletta of Elgin, SC, who, hopefully, will arrive mid-morning.


For today we have the following things already scheduled:


early afternoon-->Ground Zero and downtown/Wall Street

3:00-->helicopter tour around the Isle of Manhattan-I am soooooo charged about this.

8:00-->American Idiot (B’way)-“a rock musical based on Green Day’s 2004 album of the same name.” We will be joined by student/General Manager Scott Reed.

10:00-->dinner at Angus McIndoe, also with Scott.


So, Lex, welcome to The Big Apple!!


Billi Pod

Thursday, July 29, 2010

It's Thursday in The Big Apple

Good morning everyone.


I have no excuse for not posting on FB yesterday, the first time I missed in a long long time. My bad!!


Report card on SECRETS OF THE TRADE-->A<--saw the first preview performance and was absolutely mesmerized by the outstanding cast led by young Noah Robbins. The story takes you down a path and you think you know where it’s going ... but it doesn’t go there and you walk out thinking-->Wow!! See this show playing at the 59th Street Theater


Today-4:00 (yes that is the correct time)-->WHO KNEW-“Students from the next generation of musical theater artists present a revue about life’s discoveries, by some of NYC’s most exciting emerging composers and lyricist.” This is playing at a theater next door to PHC.


Looking forward to the arrival tomorrow morning of grandson Alex. We have a lot of things and stuff planned and I will post the details later.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Billi Pod Confesses

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting I just have to ‘fess up--->I skipped out on last nite’s concert @ Town Hall because I was just emotionally drained from all the day’s errands, things and stuff, including getting a “thingy” cut off my chin. I also spent almost 3 hours trying to fax some stuff, much to the chagrin of the copy center at the Staples in my ‘hood. It never went through so I have to try it again this morning - dammit to Hell.


Anyway, I just stayed in and watched the Yankee game. The Yankees won but A-Rod didn’t hit #600.


Tonight at 7:00-->SECRETS OF THE TRADE-“In show business, it's all about who you know. Or is it? Andy, a smart, ambitious kid from Long Island dreams of a career on Broadway and hopes that his idol, theater legend Martin, can give it to him.”


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Monday, July 26, 2010

Good Monday Morning

Good Monday morning. Today is my usual errands and stuff day. Thank God it isn’t as hot as the past two days. It has been brutal.


The countdown to the arrival of Grandson Alex Falletta on Friday has begun. Can’t wait!!


Yankees kicked butt yesterday but A-Rod didn’t get #600 in front of the home crowd and that was a bummer. He will do it this week on the road.


Tonight-8:00-->Summer Broadway Festival-All Singin’ All Dancin’ concert @ Town Hall-“A show full of original choreography created exclusively for this concert and set to some of the greatest show music ever written-performed by today's best theatre song and dance stars.” This is the final concert of the series-the first two were outstanding.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

Sunday, July 25, 2010

PROMISES, PROMISES - SEE IT!!

I want to report to you, my loyal and faithful readers, that PROMISES, PROMISES this afternoon--->was a very very enjoyable theater experience & I am sooooooo glad I finally saw this revival of the hit 1968 Bacharach-David musical, book by Neil Simon, starring Kristin Chenoweth & Sean Hayes.


Of course, I am aware of the lukewarm reviews but they can go to critics Hell as far as I am concerned. The sold-out house was really into the show. I was particularly blown away by Sean Hayes (no pun intended)-he & Kristin had real chemistry. See it if you can.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

Saturday Sucked!!

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers from a very hot and muggy Big Apple.


In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to admit that I have had better days in The Greatest City in The World than yesterday. What do I mean you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, it went down like this:


First, the weather-100ยบ; Second, the Yankees lost 4-7. Sergio Mitre sucked. It was very hot in the stadium-fortunately my seat is in the shade; Third, A-Rod didn’t hit #600. He might have had a final chance in the bottom of the 9th but the ump blew a call and called Teixeira out at first for the final out of the game; and, worst of f**king all ...


Ta Da--->damn and double damn--->my ticket service screwed up big time! They had the wrong time for AN EVENING IN VEGAS. My confirmation email and everything had a starting time of 8:30, when it should of been 10:30. Of course, I didn’t find this out until I went to the box office at 8:00 to pick up my ticket. Man, was I pissed. No way was I gonna hang around for the 10:30 performance, no f**king way.


So, Billi Pod came back to PHC, pissed off, and spent the rest of the evening watching baseball. Oh well ...


This afternoon I am seeing the revival of the 1968 musical PROMISES PROMISES, on Broadway, about sex in the workplace, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. It has gotten decent reviews and I am looking forward to it.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Saturday - scorching hot in The Big Apple

Good morning everyone.


It is a scorching hot day in The Big Apple-->100ยบ-->“feels like 107ยบ” according to the papers.


A report card on Billi Pod’s Friday doubleheader:


WALKING WITH DINOSAURS-->B-->after I settled down from biting off the ticket takers arm, it was fun.


TRUST-->B-->first preview performance. It needs work-not as funny as I expected-but still worth seeing for the cast alone.


Today is yet another doubleheader for Billi Pod:


1:05-->Yankees/Kansas City-with Sergio Mitre pitching for the injured Andy Pettitte. Hope A-Rod hits #600.


8:30-->A Night in Vegas-“a raucous comedy set in the gayest hotel in Vegas-6 vignettes that cover ‘everything’ from male prostitutes to anonymous sex to gay marriage to bickering closet smoking lesbians.”


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Friday, July 23, 2010

That Will Show Him

At WALKING WITH DINOSAURS this morning at Madison Square Garden--->a ticket taker asked me if I was in the show ... so ... I bit his f**king arm off.


Billi Pod

Billi Pod's Friday Doubleheader

Good morning everyone. TGIF!


Yesterday I created a last-minute doubleheader for today by adding --


11:00-->WALKING WITH DINOSAURS-“a dazzling 10 million pound arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality set to captivate everyone. Watch them walk. Hear them roar. Be there as they fight for survival and supremacy.” I have a comp. tix for the show at Madison Square Garden.


2nite-8:00-->TRUST-“explores the corrosive effect of money and power on relationships. Harry is rich and married but unsure of what he wants, his wife is a painter who hasn't painted in years, ever since she and Harry became rich.” Zach Braff (of “Scrubs”) and Sutton Foster head the cast.


Last nite Yankee bats finally came alive and saved the game for CC who pitched just barely well enough to get the win. It was a close game until the bottom of the 8th when the Bronx Bombers scored 4 runs to blow the game open, winning 10-4. Oh, A-Rod hit #599.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”


Thursday, July 22, 2010

A Puzzlement for Billi Pod

A puzzlement.


Back on July 8th I started posting virtually unedited versions of my FB status updates on my blog. I did this because I had been neglecting this blog. Well, since that time I have gotten two very conflicting reactions:


(1) some of my FB friends are saying: “Hey, asshole, you are giving us WAY too much info - it’s too f**king long!” (FB has lifted its character limit-it was 440) but,


(2) then some of Billi Pod’s loyal and faithful blog followers (who aren’t on FB) are saying: “Hey, butt-wipe, what’s happened to all of the details and insights we have grown to love and expect? These recent posting are nothing but f**king retarded shorthand!”


A puzzlement. Do I shorten one and lengthen the other (meaning, writing a totally separate posting for the blog, meaning I probably will stop posting on the blog), or just ignore the comments and continue with what I am currently doing? ‘Tis indeed a puzzlement. What would Yul Brynner do?


Billi Pod

Thursday - Another Billi Pod Report Card

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers - it is a beautiful morning in The Greatest City in The World.


Billi Pod's report card on-->SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS-->W as in weird<--seating is general admission, in lawn chairs given out by the cast before the show starts. Story line includes: “a nerdy young man tries to connect with aliens in Roswell, NM; estranged sisters cruise to Glacier Bay to scatter their father's ashes; HS boys face unexpected fears in a Coney Island spook house; and, a terrified bride-to-be ponders taking the leap...over Niagara Falls.” Cast does a good job with very difficult material, rather typical for productions at The Duke. You are warned.


2nite-7:05-->Yankees/Kansas City with ace CC (12-3) on the mound.

GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wednesday from The Big Apple

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to say that last nite’s 2-10 loss to the LAAngels was painful to watch. Hughes sucked and Yankee bats went dead after scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the lst. After that it was over. Barf!! Oh, well ...


2nite-8:00--->SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS- “a contemporary pop-rock musical road trip that ventures to tourist destinations across America, mapping out stories of sightseers in search of fellow travelers.”


To my FB friend Benjamin Mark Sears -- enjoy your vacation at The Cape, you have earned it.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Billi Pod's Awesome Schedule.

Well, here it is -
Billi Pod’s Upcoming Two Weeks in The Big Apple:

Tues-(7/20)-7:05--->Yankees/LAAngels
Wed-8:00--->See Rock City
Thurs-7:05--->Yankees/Kansas City
Fri-8:00--->Trust (starring Zach Braff)
Sat-1:05--->Yankees/Kansas City; 8:30--->A Night in Vegas
Sun-3:00--->Promises, Promises (B’way)
Mon-8:00--->Summer Broadway Festival-All Singin’ All Dancin’ concert @ Town Hall
Tues-8:00--->Secrets of the Trade
Wed-open at the moment
Thurs-open at the moment


Fri-morning--->grandson Alex Falletta of Elgin, SC, arrives for the weekend; 3:00--->Helicopter tour around Manhattan; 8:00--->American Idiot (B’way) with student/General Manager Scott Reed; 10:00--->dinner @ Angus McIndoe
Sat-11:00--->Saturday Brunch @ BB Kings with Strawberry Fields, a Beatles tribute band; 8:00--->4 Play-The Flying Karamazov Brothers
Sunday--->The Air & Space Museum @ The USS Intrepid; Alex leaves in the evening.
Mon-(8/2)-7:05--->Yankees/Toro
nto

Summary: 2 B’way shows; 6 Off B’way shows; 1 rock concert; 4 Yankee games; Helicopter ride; Air/Space Museum; and, time with Alex and Scott.

A W E S O M E!!!

Billi Pod

Tuesday - Monday's report card

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. Hot and muggy in The Big Apple.

First a report card on the BROADWAY RISING STARS concert at Town Hall--->super-excellent<---the 22 performers, almost all in their early 20s, did an outstanding job. Was seated in front of Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, whose daughter/granddaughter belted “Another Hundred People” from COMPANY. Their pride and happiness was exhilarating-it made the evening extra special for the people seated around them.


Billi Pod’s next 7 days are awesome. Will post the schedule a bit later.


2nite-7:05--->Yankees/LAAngels. Phil Hughes (11-2) will be pitching. Yankees are 8-2 for the last 10 games.


GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod



Monday, July 19, 2010

Monday in the Big Apple

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. It is Monday, my usual errands and stuff day.

Even though the Yankees won yesterday, they lost Andy Pettitte for 4-6 weeks due to a groin injury. Ouch!! Not good, not good at all.


Yesterday--->THE SHOEMAKER--->A<---a very riveting drama set on 9/11/01. Danny Aiello was excellent.


2nite-8:00--->Summer Broadway Festival-Broadway Rising Stars @ Town Hall-“witness the future of the Great White Way in one unforgettable night, featuring the brightest talent selected from some some of the nation’s finest theatrical institutions.” This is the second of three special Monday night concerts produced by Scott Seigle.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod


PS: Happy Birthday to my niece Donna Parker Jadamec of Denver, CO.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Billi Pod's Sunday

Sunday, part two - now that I have vented about AJ Burnett it’s on to other stuff, like what Billi Pod is doing today --


3:00--->THE SHOEMAKER-“starring Oscar nominee Danny Aiello, opens with a shoemaker who is desperate to close his shop early. A woman with a broken sole is desperate for him to keep it open. A pair of shoes on a shelf await the return of its owner, who will never return for them. As the story unfolds the audience finds out why.” It is playing at a theater next door to PHC.


May also catch a movie 2nite, either GET HIM TO THE GREEK or DESPICABLE ME.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

Sunday - Memo to AJ Burnett

Sunday - MEMO TO AJ BURNETT---> you are paid millions of dollars to perform the task of throwing a ball over the plate in a manner that will make it difficult for the batter to hit and in the process remaining cool, calm and collected. Injuring yourself and then lying about it is unprofessional and, frankly, juvenile.

Your/our team is locked in a tight pennant race - how can you be trusted in the future to do your job????

BASICALLY AJ - YOU SUCK!!
Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Saturday - Way to Go Swisher!!

Good morning! What an emotional roller coaster was last night’s Yankees/Rays game, starting with the pre-game ceremonies honoring both The Boss and Bob Sheppard, The Voice of God, and ending with a dramatic win when Swisher made the game winning hit with 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the 9th with the game tied at 4-4. The Stadium went absolutely wild. Swish was rewarded with a pie in the face, a new Yankee “custom.” I am sooooooooo glad I decided at the last minute to get that extra ticket.


Today will be just as emotional because at 2:00 is the annual Old Timer’s Game, with scores of former Yankee stars in attendance to honor the 1950 championship team, which included Whitey & Yogi. The regular game is at 4:10. I will get to the stadium around 1:30 so it will be a long day/evening of baseball. Will be in my regular seat with my buds.


GO YANKEES!!


Billi Pod

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday in The Big Apple

Good Friday morning from The Greatest City in The World.


First, a report on THE ADDAMS FAMILY--->C<---the cast, especially Uncle Fester and Grandma, does a decent job with very mediocre material, book and music, but the overall results are underwhelming. Dammit!! I went there wanting/hoping to like it, but it just didn’t work. Oh well ....

When I got back to PHC I went online and scored a decent seat for 2nite’s Yankees/Tampa Bay game. Had planned to stay in and watch it, but had to give it a shot since there will be ceremonies honoring both The Boss and Bob Sheppard, The Voice of God. A true Yankee fan has to be there if at all possible, so .... GO YANKEES!!!


Oh, WITH GLEE got a rave review from the NY Times.


Billi Pod

William S. "Moon" Mullon (1927-1998)

Twelve years ago today one of my dearest friends, Bill Mullon, of Anna Maria, Florida, died. I have gotten permission from his wife, Sandy, to re-post this email that I sent to friends and family twelve years ago after I had returned to NYC following Bill’s memorial service. This is it in its entirety --

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"RE: William S. "Moon" Mullon (1927-1998)


Hello everyone:


I was first introduced to William S. "Moon" Mullon in 1973 by Capt. Frank Cavandish, the owner of the Rod & Reel Pier, which is located diagonally across the street from the house I once owned in Anna Maria. Bill and I became friends and this friendship spanned 2 1/2 decades. Bill had just moved from Cocoa Beach where he had been employed with Boeing and then Tropicana. He had been a member of the City Commission there and a political activist in the Democratic Party.


In the ensuing years as a resident of Anna Maria Island Bill's career path took him from Tropicana to Manatee County government, where he was the County Purchasing Agent, back to Tropicana where he retired about 6 years ago as a Certified Purchasing Manager. He remained politically active in the local Democratic Party. I think the phrase "Yellow Dog Democrat" was coined with him in mind.


In 1976 I was asked to preside over the wedding ceremony uniting Bill and Sandy Gilmore. Sandy is a career upper-level manager/executive with HRS. Their vows were jointly written by Bill, Sandy, and Bill's eldest son, Bill, Jr., aka "Buns." The ceremony took place at daybreak in the surf adjacent to the City Pier in Anna Maria. Honestly, I doubt anyone in attendance expected that union to last more than a couple of years, if that. We were wrong - man, were we wrong. Sandy and Bill had a unique relationship, in that not only were they husband and wife, but also, they were truly best friends. They were a house divided on one issue, however. Bill was a Gator and Sandy a 'Nole.


Bill and Sandy lived in a series of places on the Island, each of which they named "The Digs," and finally settled in and purchased "Digs IV" in Holmes Beach. They were famous on the Island for their open hospitality with many many parties commemorated by special T-shirts designed by Sandy. Sandy is an accomplished artist.


I sold my Anna Maria house in 1991, however, shortly thereafter Bill and Sandy made the back bedroom in Digs IV available to me and I would guess that in the ensuing years, whenever I was in Florida, I would spend 3 out of 4 weekends with them. It was my home away from home away from home, it was my refuge. They became my best friends, my extended family, Bill the older brother I never had.


When the phone call came at 12:30am on Sunday morning, July 19th, that Bill had died, I called the airlines and was on a flight down to Anna Maria at 8:55am the same morning. I got there in the early afternoon. Nancy Rhodes, one of Sandy’s oldest and dearest friends was already there.


Family and friends quickly gathered in support of Sandy and Bill's children by a previous marriage, Bill, Jr., Patrick, and Lynn, and their children. Moon was the consummate planner, so I was not surprised to learn that he had planned to the last detail how he wanted things handled when he passed away, I mean, he had scripted his wedding, why not his final memorial services as well? And that he did, down to naming the song to begin the services - "We Have Just Begun" by the Carpenters - and "Margaritaville," by Jimmy Buffett to end the services, which MUST conclude in one hour, max!!!!


The service was held in the Chapel of an Island funeral home on Tuesday evening, July 21st. The chapel was filled with photos and objects covering all aspects of Bill's life, including almost a dozen photo albums recording the social activities of 22 years of Digs Parties. The standing room crowd included local Islanders, executives from Tropicana, county officials, a local Judge, and just plain folks, all joined to remember, to cry, and especially to laugh. I was honored to have been asked to preside. In addition to me, others who shared their life experiences with Moon, were: his sister Ann; his children Bill, Jr. and Lynn; Bradenton attorney Donald Hadsock; and, Island resident Fred Adkins. As I said, Moon had directed (or perhaps ordered is the operative word) that the service last no longer than one hour, so, at the end of the hour, as the sounds of "Margaritaville" filled the Chapel, we all stood and sang along with Jimmy Buffett ......


When the song ended, I concluded the evening by saying ....


SO LONG MOON - WE WILL SEEYA LATER!!


Bill"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, it has been twelve years but in many respects it feels like it all happened yesterday and I still miss him as if it were yesterday. He will never be forgotten by his family and friends. There is a void in our hearts and on Anna Maria Island that will never be filled.


Bill


Thursday, July 15, 2010

Thursday - Billi Pod's Report Card

OK, now my loyal and faithful readers it is back to important stuff-first, Billi Pod’s report card on his awesome Wednesday tripleheader--

Lunch at Joe Allen with student/General Manager Scott Reed and David Lee of Orlando--->A as in AWESOME<---really enjoyed meeting David, who, among other things, is a professor at UCF in Orlando.

39 STEPS--->A<---it still amazes me how 4 actors can bring a 1935 movie to life. Lots of fun.

WITH GLEE--->A+<---loved it again, of course. Had a nice pre-show conversation with my FB friend Patrick Hegarty. Oh, afterwards I ran into Scott Siegel (who produces shows at Town Hall) and we had a nice chat.
Now, 2nite-8:00--->THE ADDAMS FAMILY-despite lukewarm reviews this show is a financial hit and I am looking forward to finally seeing it.

Go Yankees!!

Billi Pod

Billi Pod is "good, no change"!

Back in the apartment. Was in an out (no pun intended) in 15 minutes. Results: PSA 1.0; DRE “good, no change.” Next appointment in January 2011. Whew!! Will post about today’s entertainment stuff in a bit.

Thursday - It's Time Again

Good morning. Well, it’s that time of the year again - at 10:00am is Billi Pod’s semi-annual appointment with his Urologist Dr. Erik Goluboff, who is Director of Urology at Columbia University Medical Center. The pic pretty much says it all.


Will post about entertainment stuff when I get back.


Later Alligator!!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Wednesday - Billi Pod's Tripleheader

Wednesday is a slam-bam tripleheader for Billi Pod, starting at noon with lunch at Joe Allen with student/General Manager Scott Reed and his friend David Lee of Orlando.




Then-3:00--->THE 39 STEPS-“features a cast of four actors who, against all odds, breathlessly and hilariously attempt to reenact all of the characters, locations and famous scenes in Hitchcock's 1935 film thriller.” Saw it originally in its B’way run and liked it a lot-it has now moved to an Off-B’way venue. It is a fun show.



2nite-8:00--->Billi Pod returns to see WITH GLEE. Yeah, yeah, I know, but I loved the show and it ain’t gonna be available much longer, so ... don’t f-ing judge me, OK .... oh, and have a nice day!


Go Yankees!!