Sunday, April 12, 2015

Green-Wood Trolley Tour - Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Symphonic Band - The Wankies


Sunday==>It is a bright and sunny morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, with azure blue skies, a few puffy clouds and a pleasant temperature of 57ยบ @ 11:30am. The forecast is for a high in the upper 60s.

This means that this afternoon will be a major walk and wander session for your favorite blogger, something he hasn’t done in way-too-long ... so ... let’s just get started with ...

Billi Pod’s report on yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader ... beginning with ...

BASEBALL GREATS IN GREEN-WOOD TROLLEY TOUR, which was==>excellent.

As planned, I met up with my friends Lenny Gordon and his wife Marie Taylor at the Times Square subway station and then we subwayed out to that foreign country known as Brooklyn.

The tour started at 1:00pm and it was sold-out. The weather was excellent although just a bit windy.

The trolley had two cars and we sat in the rear of the first one. We were joined by Lenny and Marie’s friends Wendy & Richard.

The tour was co-narrated by Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman and baseball historian and author Tom Gilbert. We visited many grave sites of baseball legends from the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s. We got on and off the trolley numerous times. The historical aspects of the beginning of baseball was simply fascinating to me.

The tour ended a little after 4:00pm and, trust me, it was well worth the time, effort and money.

We subwayed back to Times Square where we split and I came back to the apartment, a bit tired but very happy for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Another good thing about the experience ... I didn’t have to watch the Yankees/FuckSox game which the Yankees lost 8-4, bringing their early record to a dismal 1-4. More about the Bronx Bummers later ...

Then, for the evening I subwayed up to The Upper Westside for my second entertainment event ... a concert at Symphony Space on West 96th Street ...

THE LESBIAN & GAY BIG APPLE SYMPHONIC BAND - “New York State of Mind.”

Billi Pod's report card==>A

The concert featured music that was composed by New Yorkers or inspired by the City, including: Rodgers & Hammerstein - “The Golden Age of Broadway;” Willson - “76 Trombones;” Bernstein - Overture to “Candide;” and, Gershwin - “An American in Paris.”

For me there were two highlights to the stellar evening. The first was Weber’s Concertino for Clarinet, performed by 16-year old Vladimir Gessen, the winner of the LGBAC High School Musician Competition. He received a well-earned roaring ovation for his performance.

Then, the second highlight was Broadway star Randy Graff’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. She created the role of Fantine in the original Broadway production of Les Miz.

Yeah ... I left the concert with a big smile on my face ... made even bigger by running into my friends Michael Pederson and Dennis Dohman, who were also at the concert. We subwayed together back to midtown, where we split.

Yeah ... it had been a terrific day.

Now ... about today ... 

My plans are to spend the afternoon walking and wandering, probably in the Upper Westside.

Then, for the evening I will be in the warm and cozy confines of PHC to watch the final game of the Yankees/FuckSox series at 8:00pm at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

The game will be carried on ESPN. On the mound for The Yankees will be Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) vs. Clay Buchholz (1-0) for Boston.

Tanaka had a very rough Opening Day, getting knocked around by the Blue Jays, giving up 5 runs in 5 innings.

In all honesty, I am trying to establish some identification with this 2015 team, but ... and a huge BUT ... I just don’t like what I am seeing thus far. Yes ... I know the season has just started but ... the starting pitching has been mediocre, what was supposed to be our strong point, defense, has sucked (8 errors already) and no offense. Remember, the lack of offense is what killed us last season.

When the FuckSox series is over the schedule takes even a worse turn because 25 of the upcoming 35 games will be on the road. IMHO the next 35 games will make-or-break the season ... so ... stay tuned.

Well, on this happy note ... time to post this and then get out and about ...

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.97 miles (or, 13,051 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>399.25 miles (average 3.95 miles per day)

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

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