Sunday’s Doubleheader==>Excellent!!

Monday==>Good afternoon everyone out there in the boondocks, wastelands and hinterlands.

Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is happy to report that yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was EXCELLENT and a terrific way to end the weekend. So ... let’s get this Monday posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report cards on ...

 GYMNOS: A GEEK’S TRAGEDY, about an out of shape playwright who heads to the gym for the first time to conquer his writer’s block and to, hopefully, attract his muse==>A-

Folks, this show has an incredible 22-person ensemble cast. There are great dance/performance numbers and it is very in-your-face funny. Honestly, it was way better than I had anticipated.

My only quibble with the show is the 1:40, with intermission, running time. IMHO it would work better @ 1:30, without intermission.

It is playing at the HERE Arts Center in SoHo and runs though October 6th.

Billi Pod says==>if you want a fun evening, then this is the show for you.

When the show was over I leisurely walked up to The Village where I had a slice and a diet coke and then it was time for my second show ...

PERFECTLY NORMEL PEOPLE, about what happens when a clueless NYU freshman from Kansas moves in with a dysfunctional Italian family from Queens, in 1981==>A

(reminder ... that is not a misprint ... it is Normel ... not Normal)

This was my second visit to this excellent show. I originally saw it back on August 9th as a part of the NYC Fringe Festival. I gave it a thumbs up back then.

It won several awards and is part of the Fringe Festival Encore Series. It was playing at The Players Theatre on MacDougal Street. This was its final performance.

The show is very well performed and the basically new cast is excellent, especially Will Sarratt as Hadley and Amy Losi and Paulette Bertolami as the battling sisters.

I found the story line to be funny, thought-provoking and totally enjoyable, with just enough plot-twists. The 90 minute running time flies by.

Yes, there is yelling, screaming and cussing ... but ... not at the distracting level that Billi Pod hates so much.

The house was virtually full and everyone around me seemed to be really into the show.

I am soooooooo glad I decided to see it again and Kudos go out to the Playwrights and Co-Directors Thomas and Judy Heath and their Charlotte, SC, based company and crew.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... I hope you will agree with me that yesterday was an EXCELLENT entertainment doubleheader.

Now, what about today, I know you are all anxiously asking your inner selves? Well ... inner selves ... I have just booked the following event for tonight ...

8:00==>BROADWAY UNPLUGGED: BARITONES UNBOUND @ Town Hall - “An evening of Broadway tunes, performed without amplification, by an all-star cast of veteran Broadway performers and dancers.” (concert - complimentary ticket)

This concert series is produced and emceed by Scott Siegel and is always a lot of fun and tremendously entertaining.

Without a doubt my comp. seat will be in the upper nosebleed section, but no matter, because the important thing is to be there.

Moving on ...

Tonight @ 8:05pm on TBS will be the tie-breaking wild-card game between The Tampa Bay Rays and The Texas Rangers. Billi Pod will be pulling for The Rays, of course.

Tomorrow I will give you loyal and faithful readers and followers the benefit of Billi Pod’s post season predictions, including The World Series.

As you know, today is Monday and that means Billi Pod has his usual list of chores and stuff that need to be done ... so ... will post this and then get at it.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.37 miles (or, 7,365 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>19.48 miles (average 2.78 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>314.84 miles (average 3.50 miles per day)

GO GATORS!! GO RAYS!!  

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 Asks For Forgiveness

Sunday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite blogger didn’t post yesterday and thus failed in his responsibilities to keep the masses out there in cyberspace informed and up-to-date on his comings and goings in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

I guess I sorta have an excuse ... Friday was basically a “day-off” - for whatever reason I just felt kinda blah. I didn’t attend any entertainment event and just chilled in the cozy confines of PHC for the daytime and evening. On Saturday I felt fine but I had so much to do that I just couldn’t find the time to sit down in front of this ‘puter and write. My bad!!

Billi Pod humbly asks for your forgiveness. Please ... please ... please ...

Anyway ... let’s get this posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on Saturday’s Off Broadway show ... 

2:00==>BAD JEWS - “Daphna Feygenbaum is a "real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend to prove it. When her cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody and declares ownership of their grandfather's Chai necklace, it sparks a viciously hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Billi Pod’s report card==>B+

The show was initially in the small black box theater in the basement of The Laura Pels Theatre on West 46th Street, where it had a sold-out run. It has now transferred to the larger upstairs space, with the original cast intact.

The acting is incredibly good, especially Tracee Chimo as Daphna, a character as unlikeable as any I’ve seen on stage in a long long time. Actually the remaining 3 characters aren’t very likable either but it is a tribute to the playwright and the director that the audience is totally involved in the troubling story line despite wanting to bitch-slap everyone who is on stage

The running time is 1:40, without intermission, and it runs through December 15th.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

When the show was over I walked back to the apartment and settled in to watch sports for the remainder of the evening.

The highlight was, of course, the 7:00pm GATORS/KENTUCKY game, which, as you know, The Gators won 24-7 on a stellar performance from QB Tyler Murphy, the red-shirt junior replacement for the injured Jeff Driskel. 

This was our 27th consecutive win over the Wildcats.

Another sports highlight was watching the final innings of the YANKEES/ASTROS game with Andy Pettitte making his final career start as a Yankee.

It was very emotional. Andy, the oldest American League starter, pitched a complete game, winning 2-1. Wow, what a way to end a stellar career.

The final season game is this afternoon and ... who cares ... right?

However, the drama in The Yankee Universe continues because Monday A-Rod’s arbitration hearing begins as he appeals the 211-game suspension handed down by MLB in August. Let the game begin!!

Moving on ...

Today is an entertainment doubleheader   .... beginning with ...

4:00==>GYMNOS: A GEEK’S TRAGEDY - “An out of shape playwright heads to the gym for the first time to conquer his writer’s block and attract his muse and he is subjected to a host of obstacles, including a receptionist who mocks him, a gym manager who insists on a urine test and oddities in the locker room.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at the HERE Arts Center in SoHo, has a running time of 1:30, with an intermission, and runs though October 6th. 

When the show is over I will then leisurely walk up to The Village for my second show ...

7:30==>PERFECTLY NORMEL PEOPLE - “What happens when a clueless NYU freshman from Kansas moves in with a dysfunctional Italian family from Queens, in 1981? The only rule in the Normellino household is, whoever shouts loudest, gets heard.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... it is Normel in the title, not Normal. Yeah ... I know ... 

Perhaps you remember, I saw this show originally back on August 9th as a part of the NYC Fringe Festival and gave it a thumbs-up.

It won several awards and is part of the Fringe Festival Encore Series, is playing at The Players Theatre on MacDougal Street in The Village, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and this is its final performance.

If you are looking for something to do for the evening, then I highly recommend this show. It is currently listed on the TDF site @ $9.00.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, you are now up-to-date and I hope that you have forgiven your favorite blogger for his transgressions ...

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.62 miles (or, 7,915 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>314.84 miles (average 3.50 miles per day)

GO GATORS!! GO RAYS!!

Billi Pod

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

The NY Philharmonic Concert and Mo’s Stadium Farewell

Friday==>Well, a major TGIF shout out to all of my Worker Bee friends and loyal and faithful readers and followers. Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, hopes that everyone out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and wilderness has a great weekend.

It is a very pleasant beginning to the weekend here in the City with azure blue skies, wispy clouds, a light breeze off of the Hudson River and a temperature of 64º @ 11:30am. The predictions for the weekend are sunny with highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid-50s. Yes ...

So ... let's get this posting started with ...

Last night’s entertainment event, THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall, was absolutely terrific and just what I was in the mood for. I needed a classical music fix.

The orchestra started with alborada del gracioso (Dawn Song of the Jester) by Ravel and then it was the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, which was wonderful and received a roaring ovation from the full-house audience.

As many of you know, West Side Story is on my top-5 favorite musicals list and, as some of you loyal and faithful readers and followers may remember from previous postings, I have a special tie to this musical. What am I talking about I know some of you are asking your inner selves?

Well, inner selves ... I will enlighten you by again sharing the following posting from November 8, 2008 --

********************

“In the summer of 1957 I was coming to the end of my tour of duty in the Army and was stationed in Washington, DC, living off-base with a bunch of army buddies, including one, Dan Hoik, who had a part-time job with the afternoon newspaper (the name escapes me).

One night Dan came in from work and told me that his Editor had given him two tickets to a musical that was finishing up its out of town tryouts and would soon open on Broadway. He asked me to go with him because he knew of my interest in the theater, even back then, and, also, the tickets included an after-performance party with the creative team, cast members and the press.

I asked him about the show and he said all he knew about it was that it was a musical based on a modern version of Romeo & Juliet. To this I replied - “no f**king way am I gonna see something like that, no f**king way.” Dan begged me and begged me to go with him and kept emphasizing the party afterwards. Finally I gave in and said I would go. According to some old notes I have the date was August 19, 1957 and it was the opening night at The National Theatre in Washington, DC.

Well, we were both blown away by the show. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, or, frankly, since. I remember though that some of the older people (I was all of 23yrs. old then) seated around us were horrified by the “coarseness” of some of the lyrics, especially in “Gee, Officer Krupke,” and there were audible gasps with the final line:

“Gee, Officer Krupke, Krup You!”

I don’t remember too much about the after-party other than it was at one of the posh hotels and had plenty of free booze and food. Someone pointed out a person named Leonard Bernstein and a very young looking guy named Sondheim, but neither name registered with me at the time.

The rest of the story is history, of course. I don’t know how many times, thousands I am sure, that I thanked the Gods of the Theatre for making me go to see a musical of a modern version of Romeo & Juliet.

Bottom-line I count this as the highlight of all of the theater experiences I have ever had.” (November 8, 2008)

***************

Yes, every time I hear music from West Side Story it brings back a flood of mostly highly positive memories from a time now long long ago.

Anyway ... after intermission ... Yefim Bronfman, the Philharmonic’s new Artist-in-Residence, performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. It was so beautiful.

When it was over the audience rose almost in unison for a roaring and prolonged standing ovation. 

Yes, I left Avery Fisher Hall with a huge smile on my face. 

The weather was good so I opted to walk back to the apartment. 

In yesterday’s posting I said that I wouldn’t listen to the Yankees/Rays game ... well ... I was wrong ... of course I did, largely because it was to be Mariano Rivera’s final game at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

Thankfully, I was back at PHC in time to watch the highly ... and I mean highly emotional events that took place.

Mo came in with one out in the top of the 8th. It wasn’t a save situation because the Rays were winning 4-0 (the final score). He got 2 quick outs. He came back out for the top of the 9th, again getting 2 quick outs.

At this point Manager Joe Girardi sent Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte out to the mound to take Mo out of the game ... and ... Mo hugged both of them and cried. The stadium went totally nuts.

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

“EXIT SAD MAN. Mo’s tears flow in Bronx finale.” - front page of The Daily News

“E-MO-TION. Mariano bids tearful farewell to Bronx in final Stadium appearance.” - back page of The Daily News

“Greatest Closure of all time.” - front page of The New York Post

“No Mo’ Mo! End of an era as Rivera bids farewell to Stadium.” - back page of The New York Post

“CLOSING SCENE. With Hugs, Jeter and Pettitte Record a Save for Rivera.” - front page of sports section of The New York Times.

Yes, it was a fitting tribute for a career-to-be-remembered.

Tonight the Wankees will play the first game of a 3-game meaningless series in Houston against The Astros.

On the mound for the Wankees will be ... who cares? 

Yes ... I know that in yesterday’s posting I said that I would not report on the remaining games of the season ... but ...

The Ghost of George Steinbrenner came to me last night just before I fell asleep and told me in no uncertain terms that I had an obligation to my loyal and faithful readers and followers to keep you informed and up-to-date, regardless of how painful it would be to me personally ... so ... what could I do?

So ... just live with it.

Moving on ... 

Have multiple options for tonight’s entertainment event. Considering several Off Broadway shows but leaning toward one of two movies, either “We’re The Millers” or the just released “Don Jon,” written, directed by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Will make my decision later in the afternoon ... so ... 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.75 miles (or, 6,029 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>310.04 miles (average 3.52 miles per day)

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

Thursday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, before a silent crowd of 37,260, the Fat Lady sang, signifying the end of the post-season hopes for The Yankees and The Yankee Nation.

With the 8-3 loss to Tampa Bay and Cleveland’s victory (made possible by a homer from former Yankee Nick Swisher - oh, the irony) The Wankies failed to make the post-season for the first time since 2008 and for only the second time in 19 years, despite baseball's highest opening-day payroll of $230 million.

The Wankies have one remaining home game against The Rays and then 3 games in Houston against the last-place Astros. Man, that ought to be a stadium-filler.

Your favorite blogger will not report on the remaining games of the season in order to save you loyal and faithful readers and followers from the boredom of reading about a team that has nothing to gain or lose.

Thank God I opted not to renew my 41-game season ticket package for the putrid 2013 season.

Oh well ... moving on ... 

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

COWBOYS DON’T SING, about a lone cowboy who rides into a singing town on his trusty steed where he meets danger, romance, Western archetypes, and way too many musical numbers==>A

It is totally enjoyable with an excellent ensemble cast. Very much in-your-face but in a very funny way.

The house was full and everyone was very much into the production. One of the funniest scenes was a faux-intermission, which is too complicated for me to even attempt to explain.

This show is part of the NYC Fringe Festival Encore Series, is playing down in The Village at The Players Theatre on MacDougal Street, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and has one remaining performance, Thursday @ 9:00pm.

It is presently listed on the $9.00 section of TDF.

Billi Pod says==>see this show, if you can.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is: Bernstein - Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1; and, Ravel - Alborada del gracioso. (concert - subscription series)

I have been a 3-series season subscriber for the past 10+ years. For the 2013-14 season this means I will see 17 concerts as a part of my subscription series, plus 3 free concerts (a reward for being a subscriber), plus The Holiday Brass concert (extra-full price) and The New Years Eve concert (extra-full price).

Also, I am pretty sure I will see a couple of concerts with discounted tickets via TDF.

Yeah ... your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is definitely in need of a classical music fix.

The weather is supposed to be good, so after the concert I will walk back to the apartment, but ... I will not be listening to The Wankies game, trust me on this ... I won’t.

It is another nice day ... 67º @ noon ... so it is time to post this and then do some major walking and wandering.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.38 miles (or, 9,591 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>307.29 miles (average 3.53 miles per day)

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.”