THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES==>A

Monday==>On this back-to-work Monday it is gray and overcast here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World - 46º @ 8:30am. It is supposed to, hopefully, reach the mid-50s later on in the day.

Billi Pod, your favorite blogger, wants to start this week on a very positive note and will do so with his report card on yesterday afternoon’s outstanding Broadway show ...

THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, the family drama about changes over time (1980-2001) in an Upper Westside Jewish family==>A.

The engrossingly emotional storyline was enhanced by award-worthy performances from both Judith Light and Jessica Hecht. The rest of the cast is excellent, too.

Yes, it was yet another “dysfunctional family drama” but in stark contrast to the puke-inducing THE DANCE OF DEATH, in this case the audience actually cares about the characters and their all-too-human foibles.

The rotating set in the first act is absolutely amazing.

Based on some audible remarks, some the elderly people seated around me had a difficult time understanding the 20 year leap-forward between Act I and Act II.

The show opens on Wednesday and I think the critics are going to like it ... so ...

Billi Pod says==>See It!

When the show was over I did a bit of a walk and wander session in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood, then came back to PHC for the usual fruit and cheese plate, watched the ending of The Masters, and then did another brief walking session.

Then it was 8:00pm and time to settle in and watch the YANKEES/BALTIMORE game from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, carried on ESPN.

We won the game 3-0 on an outstanding performance from Hiroki Kuroda who pitched a complete game, giving up only 5 hits, without a walk.

Brett Gardner hit a 2-run towering homer that caromed off the right field foul pole.

It was an exciting game to watch.

What was also exciting to watch, at least for Billi Pod, was the final 30-minutes of The Masters and the dramatic playoff win by Adam Scott, who became the first Australian winner.

OK ... let’s move on to today ...

This being a Monday, it will be my usual errands and stuff day, and then for the evening ...

A staged reading of ... 

7:00==>FIVE MILE LAKE - “Jamie lives a quiet life in his small Pennsylvania town, fixing up his grandfather’s old lake house and pining after Mary, his troubled coworker. When his brother comes back to town with his new girlfriend, Jamie’s peaceful world is turned upside down.” (reading - free ticket)

I am seeing this reading as a guest of my theater-buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady.

I will close by sharing with you loyal and faithful readers and followers Billi Pod’s AWESOME entertainment schedule for the upcoming 12 days --

Monday - 4/15 - 7:00==>FIVE MILE LAKE - staged reading

Tuesday - 7:05==>YANKEES/ARIZONA @ Yankee Stadium - season ticket package

Wednesday - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - subscription series

Thursday - 8:00==>FOUR MESSAGES - Off Broadway

Friday - 6:00==>early 79th birthday dinner hosted by Vera Olichney, with Dian Crystal.

Saturday - open at the moment

Sunday - 8:00==>NATIONAL FESTIVAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - concert

Monday - 8:00==>ORATORIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK @ Carnegie Hall - concert

Tuesday- 4/23 - 79th BIRTHDAY. During the day, weather permitting, will walk all around the outside perimeter of Central Park (est 7.9 miles), then ... 7:00==>THE BOOK OF MORMON - Broadway.

Wednesday - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - season subscription.

Thursday - open at the moment.

Friday 4/26 - 6:30==>THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL EXPRESS w/ Styx, REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent - IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ - (with my buddy Marty Kosarik)

So, there you have it my loyal and faithful readers and followers. I hope you will agree that it looks pretty AWESOME.

Oh ... I am also closing in on my recalculated 79th Birthday Mileage of 1,379 miles ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.59 miles (or, 14,402 steps)

Mileage for week==>33.59 miles (average 4.80 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,346.81 miles (average 4.69 miles per day)

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.”