GO GATORS! BEAT THOSE VOLS!!

Saturday==>This is going to be a very dramatic sports afternoon for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

First ... 1:05pm==>YANKEES/SAN FRANCISCO @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, the second game of the 3-game series and carried on YES.

On the mound for The Yankees will be Ivan Nova (8-5) vs Ryan Vogelsong (3-5) for The Giants.

Last night the Yankees won 5-1 on a dramatic grand slam from Alex Rodriguez in the 7th inning.

We still remain alive in the wild-card hunt.

Then ... 

3:30pm==>GATORS/TENNESSEE @ The Swamp, carried on CBS.

The Gators are 16 1/2 point favorites over The Vols, who we have basically owned for the past 8 years. Last year we really kicked their butts up in Knoxville, winning 37-20.

Hopefully Coach Muskrat and The Gators will rebound from their disappointing 21-16 loss to The ‘Canes.

Then, after all of that sports in front of the tube ... for the evening will be something just a bit different ...

8:00==>THE PROVERBIAL LOONS - “This veteran musical improv team comes together to create an on-the-spot musical inspired by the lives of two audience volunteers. The show is hilarious and full of surprises.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This performance piece is playing at The Castillo Theatre on West 42nd Street, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and has remaining dates of October 5, 12 and November 2.

Had a great time yesterday with Vivian Garfein.

As I posted yesterday, Vivian was the longtime companion of my dear friend and fraternity brother J Papa Hall, who passed away 3 years ago.

Vivian, an attorney, recently retired after more than 25 years with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She is in the City visiting with her daughter and family who live in The Upper Westside. 

At noon she came up to PHC so I could show her the outstanding views of my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood. 

We talked a bit and then had excellent burgers at The Theater Row Diner on my block. We talked a lot more.

Vivian is contemplating moving from her current residence in Altamonte Springs, FL, to the Big Apple and wanted my thoughts/insights on making this type of transition. Basically she would become a Reverse Snowbird like moi.

I gave her my thoughts about living in The City and I was very honest with her. I told her that I didn’t “live” in New York City ... I was “on vacation” in New York City. She laughed and said she totally understood the difference.

Bottom line==>I strongly suggested that she should give it a shot even though it would mean that there would then be two Reverse Snowbirds in The Big Apple.

So ... Vivian ... it was great being with you ... give it a shot and ... let’s keep in touch

Now ... Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway event ...

A DAY FOR GRACE, about the effects of an alcoholic father’s suicide on this son, who is soon to be a father himself==>C

I found this 2-person show to be disappointingly predictable. How many times have we seen variations of the alcoholic father/angry son/too-late forgiveness scenario?

The show is written and performed by Doug Vincent, with original music written and performed by Sam Llanas. Frankly, I found the music often to be a distraction from the narrative.

I really wanted to like this show but it just didn’t work for me.

It is playing down at the Stage Left Studio on West 30th Street, not one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through September 22nd.

Billi Pod says==>you are warned.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is time to post this and then begin my afternoon sports-fix ... so ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.01 miles (or, 8,774 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>294.33 miles (average 3.63 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! 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.”

A DISH FOR THE GODS==>A-

Friday==>A heartfelt TGIF shout out to all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks. I know it has been a long and emotionally draining week for each of you ... but ... that is part of the fall out of being a Worker Bee ... so ... just live with it (actually, you have no choice but to live with it), keep trudging on, and stop looking at the clock because your Boss will let you know when it is time to leave your cubicle, wait-station, broom closet etc. etc.

Your favorite blogger has a luncheon scheduled for today, so let’s started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show, that he scheduled after yesterday’s posting  ...

A DISH FOR THE GODS, “Celebrated writer Julia Richards reflects on her path to success as well as the price she has paid. She recalls the challenges she faced, the painful choices she made, and the tumultuous relationship she shared with the singular man she loved.”==>A-

This romantic comedy/drama is well written and performed, especially Margot White as Julia.

It has believable characters and story line. It does not have the usual bland “feel-good” rom-com ending and that is a major plus.

The show is playing at The Theater Row Complex on West 42nd Street, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through October 5th.

Billi Pod says==>this is worth seeing.

Moving on ...

As I mentioned above, I have a luncheon date scheduled for today. 

At noon I am meeting up with Vivian Garfein, who was the long-time companion of my dear friend and fraternity brother J. Papa Hall, who left us on September 15, 2010. 

She has been visiting her daughter and family, who live in the Upper Westside. Her daughter, Rebecca, is the Senior Cantor of Congregation Rodeph Sholom on East 83rd Street, and is the first female Cantor ever to hold this position.

Vivian will come up to PHC so I can show her the stunning northward views of Hell’s Kitchen. We will do some much needed/wanted catching up and then have a bite someplace in my ‘hood.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

A DAY FOR GRACE - “The daunting journey of a father-to-be chasing parental shadows to find the light for his unborn daughter. The story of an uncertain birth with unforeseen complications.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at the Stage Left Studio on West 30th Street, not one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through September 22nd.

OK ... now, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... for your daily sports-fix ...

Last night up in Toronto the Blue Jays drove another nail into the Yankees post season coffin, winning 6-2 as the bullpen imploded yet again and our bats remained virtually dormant.

Folks, to quote a local sports beat writer==>“The Yankees have been too terrible, too often. They have virtually no chance to qualify for the post season, and no right to do so either.”

Tonight The Wankies return to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for the final home stand of the season. They will play 3 games against The San Francisco Giants and then 3 against The Tampa Bay Rays.

On the mound tonight for The Wankies will be CC Sabathia (13-13) vs. Tim Lincecum aka The Freak (10-13) for The Giants.

Yesterday I was able to score tickets for two post season games. Excellent seats. Thank God they are refundable.

OK, everyone ... time to post this and then get ready for my time with Vivian. Really looking forward to seeing her.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

 Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>0.87 miles (or, 1,905 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>290.32 miles (average 3.63 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! 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.”

Great Time With John Scott Reed

Thursday==>Good afternoon to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in ... well ... you know where.

It is a very nice day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Azure blue skies, nice breeze off of the Hudson River and temperature of 70º at noon. The projected high will only reach 74º and that is nice.

Well, I know you are all anxiously awaiting my comments about last night ... so ... let’s get started ...

Had a great time last night with John Scott Reed aka Fabson. He came over to the apartment around 7:45pm and we did some much needed/wanted catching up. 

Without a doubt, he is loving being a part of The Facebook Team here in NYC.

I estimate we spent about a hour just talking about things and stuff and then ... 

At Scott’s suggestion we headed down to Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse on 9th Avenue between 35th and 36th Street. Both of us had passed this establishment hundreds, if not thousands, of times but neither one of us had ever eaten there.

What a pleasant surprise. It is much more upscale than it appears from the outside. Well, we both loved the food and the atmosphere. We shared a huge Porterhouse for 2 and it was awesome.

To make things even better for your favorite blogger, Fabson, in recognition of his recent upward career change picked up the tab ... nice ...

So==>thanks, Scott ... it was great being with you.

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight will be an Off Broadway show ...

8:00==>A DISH FOR THE GODS - “Celebrated writer Julia Richards reflects on her path to success as well as the price she has paid. She recalls the challenges she faced, the painful choices she made, and the tumultuous relationship she shared with the singular man she loved.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my block, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through October 5th.

Now ... to the sports scene ...

Last night, up in Toronto, The Yankees staged a dramatic comeback from a 3-run deficit in the 8th inning, to win 4-3, with Mo. getting a 4-out save.

Our playoff hopes remain barely alive.

Tonight is the final game of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Yankees will be Hiroki Kuroda (11-11), who is running on fumes and is 0-4 over his last six starts vs. Todd Richmond (3-2) for The Blue Jays.

Speaking of the post-season ... at 1:00pm this afternoon season ticket holders will have the “opportunity” to participate in a pre-sale for tickets to each of the post-season events, except the World Series. Will I do it? Yeah ... probably ... because we get a refund if the Yankees don’t make it.

So ... it is time to post this and then get ready to spend some painful time at the mercy of TicketMaster.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.46 miles (or, 7,569 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>289.45 miles (average 3.66 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! 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.”

Another Super-Excellent Doubleheader!!

Wednesday==>Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is more than happy to report that yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader, something rather unusual for a Tuesday, was terrific and it made for a great day/evening ... so, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... let’s get right to it with the details ...

First, in the afternoon, was the staged reading of the musical that I saw with my friend Scott Wojcik, who is co-owner of Wojcik/Seay Casting, the casting agency for the show ...

A PROPER PLACE, about what happens after an upper class British family gets shipwrecked on an island==>interesting and thought-provoking, too.

As you know, Billi Pod usually doesn’t assign letter grades to readings.

The cast was excellent and all of the performances were good, especially considering the limited rehearsal time.

It was an enjoyable time and I hope that the show will live on in an Off Broadway venue somewhere, sometime.

Thanks, Scott, for thinking of me.

Then for the evening it was ...

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “The Art of The Score: For Alfred Hitchcock”==>totally AWESOME!

The event was narrated by Alec Baldwin and was a tribute to the interrelationship between music and the plots of Hitchcock’s classic thrillers.

Scenes from his movies “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” “Dial M for Murder,” “Strangers on a Train,” and “To Catch a Thief” were shown on a large screen as the orchestra played the score.

My discounted ticket was in the first tier and that was very nice.

Yes, it was totally AWESOME and an excellent way to end my entertainment doubleheader.

What wasn’t excellent was the Yankee/Blue Jays game up in Toronto because the Yankees wasted an excellent outing from Andy Pettitte, with dead bats in a 2-0 loss.

These are the headlines in today’s papers ...

“BLANKS FOR THE MEMORIES - End looks near as Dickey, Blue Jays shut out Yanks.” - back page of The New York Post.

“THAT ‘KNUCKS - Wild-card hopes keep fading away as Dickey, Jays shut out Yanks.” - back page of The Daily News

“Yankees Are Flat as Situation Grows Urgent.” - front page of sports section of The New York Times

Tonight @ 7:10pm is game 2 of the 3-game series against The Jays. On the mound for The Wankies will be Phil Hughes (4-12), who is winless over his last 11 starts vs. J.A. Happ (4-6) for The Jays.

Oh, yes ... we really need Phil Hughes on the mound in a critical, season-saving situation.

Yep ... The Fat Lady is waiting in the wings.

Moving on ...

Tonight I am having dinner with John Scott Reed aka Fabson. Around 8:00pm we will meet up at my apartment, do some much needed/wanted catching-up and then have a bite somewhere in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

As many of your loyal and faithful readers and followers know, Scott recently made a major upward career change when he joined the Facebook Team at their New York office located on Madison Avenue.

In closing ...

On Tuesday I lost another one of my longtime friends, Dexter Douglass of Tallahassee, FL, one of the giants of the Florida legal community.

Dexter was nationally famous as a member of the team of lawyers who represented Vice President Al Gore in the controversial 2000 presidential election. He was renowned in Florida as being a lawyer’s lawyer and the Chairman of the 1997-1998 Constitutional Revision Commission.

Dexter and I have a long history. He was the emcee for the 1959 Gator Growl that I directed at The University of Florida. In 1962 my then wife, Donna, worked on his campaign staff when he ran (unsuccessfully) for Congress and he and Tom MacDonald represented me in my hearing before The Judicial Qualification Commission back in 1991.

Dexter was 83.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.46 miles (or, 7,569 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>289.45 miles (average 3.66 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! 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.”

Billi Pod Has A Doubleheader Today

Tuesday==>Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, has a doubleheader today, with an early start ... so ... let’s get this posting started with Billi Pod's report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT, about two understudies who occupy their time backstage trying to understand art, life, and their absurd existence==>A

It was very funny, extremely well-acted and also thought-provoking. The mostly full house was totally into the show, especially some of the “insider” acting references and the recurring theme that no one honestly knows what “Waiting for Godot” is really about.

As I posted yesterday, this performance was part of the NYC Fringe Festival Encore Series and last night was its final performance. I hope it can find a producer because the show is really good theater.

Now ... about today’s entertainment doubleheader ...

11:30==>A PROPER PLACE - “A musical about an upper class British family that gets shipwrecked on an island. With only their butler to help them survive, traditional class systems are questioned and unexpected love blossoms." (Off Broadway - free ticket)

I am seeing this staged reading as a guest of my friend Scott Wojcik, who is co-owner of Wojcik/Seay Casting, the casting agency for the show.

Then for the evening is a very interesting event ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “The Art of The Score: For Hitchcock.” Scenes from the classic movies will be shown on a large screen as the orchestra plays the score live. (Concert - discounted ticket)

There will be scenes from “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” “Dial M for Murder,” “Strangers on a Train,” and “To Catch a Thief.” The program will be hosted by Alec Baldwin.

This is a special program. The regular season series doesn’t start until September 25th.

Now ... on the sport’s scene ... you are welcome Marty ...

Tonight at 7:05pm The Yankees play the first game of a crucial 3-game series against The Blue Jays up in Toronto.

On the mound for The Yankees will be Andy Pettitte (10-9) vs. R.A. Dickey (12-12) for The Jays.

Only 12 games remain in the regular season.

OK ... time to post this and then get ready to start my interesting doubleheader.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.84 miles (or, 4.034 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>285.99 miles (average 3.67 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! 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.”