THE OTHER JOSH COHEN==>A+

It is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, azure blue skies and 61º at 11:30am.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wastelands, Billi Pod wants to assure you that this posting and subsequent postings will not ... repeat ... will not ... be filled with rants and raves about the disappointing Yankee post season and the fiasco in Detroit. 

Yes, I agree with the emails, texts and postings I received from so many of you ... without a doubt it is time to move on ... so ... Billi Pod is moving on ...

Let’s start with my observations on yesterday’s staged reading at The York Theatre. As you know, Billi Pod usually doesn’t issue letter-grade report cards on staged readings ... so ...

LENI RIEFENSTAHL IS GOING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, the musical about the notorious Nazi filmmaker, was interesting and thought provoking. I was very impressed with Jen Tullock in the role of Leni. The format is basically an opera because there is very little spoken dialogue.

Of course, the subject matter is troubling and I question whether it could find an audience if it is ever produced. I know that my theater buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady wasn’t enamored with the show.

After the show I was able to get in some walk and wander time and then it was time for the second entertainment event, down at the SoHo Playhouse in ... tada ... SoHo ...

THE OTHER JOSH COHEN, the musical about a good guy trying to break a streak of incredibility bad luck==>A+

Totally enjoyable and often gut-busting funny. It has a remarkably talented cast headed by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen. They are longtime friends and co-wrote the book, music and lyrics

David and Steve each play Josh Cohen, one playing him in the present and the other a year earlier. The interaction between the two characters/performers is amazing.

The house was full last night and everyone seemed to be having a good time. I know that Billi Pod did because he left the theater with a smile on his face.

So.... Billi Pod Says==>SEE IT!! It runs through November 11th.

Today’s entertainment schedule is ...

3:30==>GATORS/GAMECOCKS at The Swamp, carried on CBS. 

The Gators are still favored by 3-points but I’m not buying that at all. Steve Spurrier’s team is fighting for its life in the SEC East and I think the game will be a nail biter from the kickoff to the final play.

Yes, this will be a true test for Coach Muskrat and The Gators.

GO GATORS!!

Then for this evening is ... 

8:00==>IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL - “A multimedia revival of the Tennessee Williams drama about an experimental painter and his man-hungry wife on a journey in Japan.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Yeah, I know ... I already have mixed feelings about this show. It is playing at The New World Stages up on West 50th Street so I will have no problem walking up there in plenty of time after the end of the Gator game.

I hope that each of my loyal and faithful readers and followers is having a great weekend.

It is such a beautiful day out. Billi Pod will post this and then walk and wander for awhile.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.36 miles (or, 13,905 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>592.17

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>486.13

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

The Fat Lady Sang

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, last night at Comerica Park in Detroit the Fat Lady sang, signaling an end to the Yankees 2012 post season as the Wankies lost 8-1 to Detroit, a game the Wankies were never really in. 

The Tigers swept the Wankies 4-0 and advance to The World Series. No question about it, the better team won.

Make no mistake about it, during this game the Wankies sucked in every aspect of the game, pitching, hitting and defense. 

They recorded the lowest team batting average (.188) in MLB playoff history. BARF!!

No, I don’t expect them to win every game (as much as I would like them to) but I do expect them to be competitive and professional. Folks, they were just sleepwalking last night, as they did for most of the ALCS.

As you might expect, the headlines in the local papers have been, justifiably, brutal ...

“YANKS 4 NOTHING - Tigers sweep Bombers out of playoffs.” -  back page of The NY Post.

“BOO HOO! Pathetic Yankees blame fan razzing in Bronx for getting swept.” - front page of The Daily News

“I’LL BE BACK - After ALCS ouster, bench-warming A-Rod says he’ll be a Yankee in 2013” - back page of The Daily News

“In Playoffs, the $200 Million Yankees Give Their Poorest Effort” - front page of the New York Times

The Tigers playing in The World Series puts me in a conundrum because I hate Tigers but I also am a 110% American League fan. 

Yes, the season is over and it is time to move on, but I need to barf along the way. Oh well ...

At least now I can schedule entertainment events for the remaining 10 days/nights I had blocked off in my October calendar.

Sooooooooooo ... today is an entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod ...

 3:00==>LENI RIEFENSTAHL IS GOING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH - “In 1947, in a French mental ward, notorious Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl spins a defense of her life and her choices with the help of four young American soldiers.” (staged reading)

This musical is part of the York Theatre’s Developmental Reading Series and I am seeing it thanks to my theater buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady.

Then for the evening is ... 

8:00==>THE OTHER JOSH COHEN - “A musical about a good guy trying to break a streak of incredibility bad luck as he battles money, heartache and Neil Diamond.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket).

There has been a lot of very favorable buzz about this show and I am looking forward to seeing it.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEKEND.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.40 miles (or, 13,986 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>585.81

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>493.19

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Wednesday==>Good and Bad

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I want to start off this posting with THE GOOD==>yesterday’s visit to the Columbus Statue Exhibit @ Columbus Circle. 

The Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi designed a fully furnished modern living room around the 13-foot-tall statue of Columbus that is on a 75-foot granite column.

The living room, accessed by climbing up 5+ flights of stairs, features tables, chairs, couch, rug, flat-screen TV, books, newspapers, art and specially designed wallpaper.

Entry to the exhibit is by a free timed ticket and the time inside the living room is limited to 10 minutes.

So, that is the background.

Yesterday, at 11:30am, I met up with my theater buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady, who had gotten the tickets. She was with two friends, Vera Olichney and Lorraine Barsa [picture is: Vera, Lorraine, Billi Pod, and Dian]. 

Our wait in line wasn’t bad.

When it was our turn, we started the climb up the steps. Frankly, it seemed to be more than 5-flights. We all made it to the top. Wow!! Great views just before entering the living room.

Once we were in we spent our time walking around the statue, checking out everything and taking tons of pictures. It was so interesting to be up close to this treasured masterwork.

When our time was up we walked down the 5-flights, back to  street level, each happy that we had experienced this once-in-a-lifetime event. It was fun, entertaining and educational.

So==>Thank You My Lady for the invitation to this outstanding event!!

We split and I walked back to the apartment.

Spent the rest of the afternoon on a very slow-paced walk and wander session down to the Chelsea area and back.

Was back in PHC in time to watch game 3 of the GIANTS/CARDINALS series, which had a major 3 hour and 28 minute rain delay in the 7th inning. The Cardinals ultimately won 3-1 and now lead the series 2-1.

Now==>THE BAD.

Then, finally, it was time for the YANKEE/DETROIT game, but ... OMFG!! ... the 8:00pm starting time was delayed in anticipation of storms that were forecast to be moving into the Detroit area. Bummer!!

At 9:00pm the game was still delayed but there was no rain yet. Bummer!! Bummer!!

Then, at approximately 9:25pm, the MLB suits announced that the game would be postponed, to be played at 4:00pm today. This means that game 5, if necessary, will be played on Friday, which was supposed to be a travel day.

Man, what a downer, but there wasn’t anything Billi Pod could do about it except to sling curses and obscene profanity at The Weather Gods, which he profusely did.

Sooooooooo ... my loyal and faithful readers, that leads us to today, and ... tada ...

Billi Pod will be glued to the tube for the 4:00pm YANKEE/DETROIT game from Comerica Park in Detroit.

Our ace CC Sabathia will again be called on to keep the season alive. He will be facing another excellent pitcher, Max Scherzer.

To add to all of the drama there are now rumors floating around that the Yankees will be looking to trade A-Rod in the off-season.

These are the headlines in the local papers ... 

“A-GONER! - Rodriguez, Yanks look to be headed for costly divorce.” - back page of the NY Post.

“DAMNED YANKEE - No way A-Rod will be back in Bronx for 2013 season.” - back page of the Daily News

“OPEN SEASON ON A-ROD - Incredible Shrinking Slugger A Big Problem for the Yankees.” - front page of the NY Times sports section.

The problem, of course, is that A-Rod has a “no-trade clause” and is owed $114 million.

Only in New York, folks, only in New York.

It is a beautiful morning, so Billi Pod will post this and then head out for some walking and wandering.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.25 miles (or, 13,674 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>579.41

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>499.59

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

The Season Is On The Line.

While it is a bright and beautiful morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, the same cannot be said for the prevailing mood in The Yankee Universe.

No, everything that we feared about last night’s game came true as the Wankies bats were totally silenced, yet again, this time for Detroit’s ace Justin Verlander.

We were losing 2-0 into the top of the ninth. Eduardo Nunez, substituting for the injured Derek Jeter, hit a homer and then two runners reached base. Could we mount a come-from-behind rally?

No we couldn’t. Raul Ibanez, who has been our only clutch hitter in the post season, struck out on a 3-2 count to end the game, leaving the Wankies down 3-0.

At 8:00pm tonight, again from Comerica Park in Detroit, our ace CC Sabathia will be called on to keep the season alive. He will be facing another excellent pitcher, Max Scherzer.

Of course Billi Pod will be in front of the tube for tonight’s game. 

Moving on ...

At 11:30am this morning I am meeting up with my theater buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady for the THE TATZU NISHI EXHIBIT==>DISCOVERING COLUMBUS - “A 27-foot by 30-foot living room, complete with couch, lamps, television and coffee table is wrapped around the six-story statue of Columbus @ Columbus Circle.”

This exhibition has received very favorable reviews and I am looking forward to it.

Gotta post this and then get ready to head out ... so ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.22 miles (or, 13,597 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>573.16

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>505.84

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Wonderful Time With My Lady

Yesterday was a great day for Billi Pod in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World and here are the details for you loyal and faithful readers and followers ...

At 4:30pm I met up with my theater buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady at Catch de Fish one of her favorite restaurants (yes, that’s the correct name - I didn’t make it up) @ 15th Street and 3rd Avenue in the Union Square area. It is a seafood and Thai restaurant.

 This was my second visit to this place. As I posted previously, their “early-bird” menu is in effect until 7:30pm and you can get 3 appetizers plus a main course for only $15.00. Can’t beat that in NYC, trust me.

The food was great and we had a nice leisurely time doing some much needed catching up. My Lady has been on a frenetic theater-binge lately, and that is putting it mildly. She just saw 7 shows in 72 hours. Awesome!!

When we finished our meal it had begun to lightly rain. No matter. We began a leisurely walk up to 32nd Street for our 8:00pm show. Dian wanted to get there early because she was pretty certain that our comp. tickets would be general admission.

It was about 6:30pm when we reached the venue, The Cutting Room, which has just relocated to a new space. We were first in line and luckily we were under an overhang because it was still lightly raining.

Well, folks, I will make a rather long story a bit shorter by saying that Dian was 110% correct in her reasoning behind our early arrival. Our comp. seats were indeed general admission for this virtually sold-out benefit concert. We were able to score super-excellent seats in the balcony area, only because she insisted that we arrive early.

The concert was hosted by Alan Kalter (The Letterman Show) and honored composers Rupert Holmes and Paul Williams.

It was in two acts, featuring 34+ songs performed by an eclectic cast of 25 Broadway singers/performers. The only no-show was Chad Kimball (Memphis) who had “vocal issues.” Yeah ... he is known for that "excuse."

I decided to take my new hearing aid thingys out and that was a good decision because things got very very loud.

Anyway, it was a wonderful evening’s entertainment. The show was over at around 11:15pm and Dian and I left with smiles on our faces.

Billi Pod says==>Thank you My Lady for taking me to this concert and for your advance planning. You were right, as usual.

Moving on ...

Still have a few errands and stuff to do today and then, hopefully, a nice walk and wander session in the Upper Westside.

Tonight Billi Pod will stay in to be glued to the tube watching the second Presidential Debate @ 9:00pm. He can hardly wait.

W R O N G!!!!!

He will indeed be glued to the tube but instead will be watching ...

8:00pm==>YANKEES/DETROIT @ Comerica Park, Detroit, in game 3 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). 

Detroit leads the series 2-0 and we will be facing their ace Justin Verlander. Not good for the woeful Wanky batters, not good at all.

I think the back page headline in today’s New York Post pretty much sums it up ...

“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - Yanks down 2-0, can’t hit and tonight they face Verlander.”

In case you didn’t remember==>Billi Pod hates Tigers!!

On that happy note I will post this, do some things and stuff and then head up to the Upper Westside.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.05 miles (or, 11,050 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>566.94

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>512.06

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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