RIP Mr. Spock - BLAH Friday - One Day: The Musical - Demetri Martin - Still Cold

Saturday==>Leonard Nimoy, the actor who immortalized the greeting “Live long and proper” as the half-human, half-Vulcan Mr. Spock on “Star Trek,” died yesterday at the age of 83. 

Nimoy’s death at his Los Angeles home, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), left legions of Trekkies across the globe in mourning.

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

BEAM HIM UP! Spock dead at 83, boldly goes to final frontier.

front page of The New York Post

BEAM ME UP! Star Trek’s Mr. Spock dead at 83.

front page of The Daily News 

and, even in The Gray Lady ...

Known as Spock, but He Explored Other Worlds.

front page of The New York Times

RIP MR. SPOCK.

Moving on ...

Well, it isn’t actually moving on because I have to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that yesterday ultimately turned out to be a totally BLAH day for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Yep, nothing of any interest showed up on his ticket services so ... Billi Pod gave himself the day/night off ... and ... B O R I N G!  B L A H!!   

B  O  R  I  N  G!!!

It was still cold out, so I left the warm and cozy confines of my apartment only once and that was to do about an hour's worth of walking in The Port Authority Bus Terminal because I had become really antsy.

I won’t bore you with any more of the boring details ... you are welcome.

Anyway ... today I am partially making up for BLAH yesterday with what looks like a very interesting and diverse entertainment doubleheader ... beginning with ...

An Off Broadway show ...

3:00==>ONE DAY: THE MUSICAL - “This musical, based on true journal entries written by teens spanning two decades, follows the electrifying journey of eight teenagers as they face ravaging internal struggles and exhilarating triumphs – from drug abuse to sexual awakening – on the passage to discovering their own truths.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show has received very favorable reviews and is an update on the original show called “Inappropriate” that premiered in 1999 and became a cult teen musical.

It is playing at the 3LD Art & Technology Center on Greenwich Street, way way downtown, has a running time of 1:35, without intermission, and the final performances are: Saturday & Sunday at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.

When the show is over I will come back to the apartment for the usual fruit and cheese plate snack and then it will be time for my second show ...

7:30==>DEMETRI MARTIN @ Town Hall - “The Persistence of Jokes.”

(standup comedy show - full price ticket)

Demetri Martin, one of my favorite comedians, was a contributor to “The Daily Show” before starting his own successful career as a standup comedian. He often draws on a large pad and plays multiple instruments during his routine.

I have seen him perform live on several occasions.

Your favorite blogger is in the mood for something funny and this should do the job.

In closing==>it is still very cold here in The Big Apple. At 10:30am it is 18º, wind chill down to 9º.

The local papers have reported that February 2015 will be the coldest February since 1934, the year your favorite blogger was born.

Man, I sooooooooo tired of this.

STAY WARM EVERYONE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.24  miles (or, 7,089 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>235.42 miles (average 4.06 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.”

TGIF - New York Philharmonic - Favorite Composers - ? for Tonight - Something from the Past

Friday==>A huge TGIF shout-out to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers and, of course, also to my Worker Bee friends who are currently ensconced in their cubicles, wait-stations, broom closets, whatevers.

Just a friendly reminder to my Worker Bee friends .. remember ... you are all under constant surveillance by those recently installed clandestine state-of-the-art web-cams ... so ... don’t even think about leaving before the usual 5:05pm. You can ill-afford to lose your job(s), boring and mundane that they are.

Now ... moving on to Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

The classical music concert at Lincoln Center ...

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program was:

Sibelius - Violin Concerto (performed by Frank Peter Zimmermann); 

Sibelius - “The Oceanides;” and

Brahms - Symphony No. 2

What a totally pleasurable evening this was.

Zimmerman’s performance of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto was outstanding and was rewarded with roaring applause and multiple returns to the stage. He gave the appreciative audience a brief encore performance.

The highlight, of course, was the second half of the program, the majestic Brahms Symphony No. 2 performed to perfection by the orchestra.

When the final movement came to its climatic end we give the orchestra a roaring standing ovation. 

Yep, it was a totally enjoyable evening and I left the Hall in a very happy mood.

In response to a couple of inquires regarding Billi Pod’s favorite classical music composers ... 

Here are his favorites, ranked ...

1. Beethoven

2. Brahms

3. Tchaikovsky

4. Mozart

5. Schubert & Schumann (tied)

7. Wagner

8. Mendelssohn

9. Bach

10. Mahler

You are welcome.

   

Moving on to today ...

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, as you will recall from yesterday’s posting, my originally scheduled event, a concert at Avery Fisher Hall, was canceled yesterday when the producer’s withdrew their complimentary ticket offer ... so ... at the moment my entertainment plans for this evening are in flux.

Yeah ... so far nothing of any real interest to me has shown up on my ticket services ... so ... we will just have to see what, if anything, develops.

Trust me ... I ain’t gonna brave the still frigid elements to see some run-of-the-mill show ... no way ...

Meaning ... Billi Pod may, repeat, may give himself the night off and stay in the warm and cozy confines of his apartment.

So ... just stay tuned ...

In closing ... this will resonate with many of my loyal and faithful readers and followers ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.71  miles (or, 5,929 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>232.18 miles (average 4.07 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.”

The Groundling - New York Philharmonic - Geico Spokesman

Thursday==>It is gray, gloomy and cold this morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ... yeah ... what’s new, right?

At 10:30am it is 24º, wind chill down to 12º ... and ... the bad news ...

Snow is in the forecast off and on during the afternoon and into the evening, carrying over into tomorrow. Just what we need ... more snow ... oh well ...

Let’s move on to something much more positive ... and that is ... tada ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s excellent entertainment event ...

The Off Broadway show ...

THE GROUNDLING, after stumbling upon a small outdoor production of a Shakespeare play in Manhattan, Long Island landscaper Bob Malone is inspired to write a play about his troubled marriage. He hires two reluctant New York theatre professionals to spend a week at his home and stage the play in his garage with a cast of colorful locals==>A-.

This totally enjoyable play is half comedy and half tragedy, half verse and half prose. It starts as a formalistic show business farce, but takes a rather unexpected swerve toward sadness and heartbreak.

The story line is involving even if it is just barely believable.

The highlight for me was the excellent acting, headed by Robert Ierardi as Bob, the playwright, Brian Barnhart as Dodd, the frenzied director, and Kendall Rileigh as Victoria, the reluctant actress.

For your information==>The word groundling refers to a person in the standing-room-only section of the audience at an Elizabethan theater, in olden times.

Billi Pod says==>see this show before it closes.

It is playing at the Axis Theatre at 1 Sheridan Square in The West Village, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through March 8th.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is a classical music concert up at Lincoln Center ... 

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is:

Sibelius - Violin Concerto (performed by Frank Peter Zimmermann); 

Sibelius - “The Oceanides;” and

Brahms - Symphony No. 2

(classical music concert - free ticket, subscriber perk)

What do I mean by “subscriber perk?" Answer: For each series you subscribe to you are given a free ticket to a concert of your choosing. This year I subscribed to 3 series, so I received redeemable vouchers for 3 free concerts.

While we are on classical music ...

Bummer==>Was just notified by one of my ticket services that the producers of Friday night’s concert by The National Chorale, at Avery Fisher Hall, have withdrawn their complimentary ticket offer. Bummer! This very rarely happens but it is still a bummer when it does. Bummer!!

Oh well ... ain’t nothing I can do about it except move on and book something else for that time slot ... anyway ...

The lease on my apartment, PHC, on the 41st floor of 420 W. 42nd Street, is up on May 31st. I am anxiously awaiting the renewal offer from ownership. I know they will be asking for a ridiculous increase in the already gasp-inducing rent. This is gonna also be a major bummer.

On this happy note I will close this out by giving you loyal and faithful readers and followers the results of your favorite blogger's internet research into the history/background of the spokesman in the GEICO commercials ...

Who knew? You are so very welcome.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.31  miles (or, 9,438 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>229.47 miles (average 4.10 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.”

New York Philharmonic - The Groundling - Upcoming Entertainment Schedule

Wednesday==>Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks, why don’t we just skip the usual Big Apple weather report and get today’s blog posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

A concert at Lincoln Center ...

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “Chinese New Year with Yo-Yo Ma.”

This was a totally enjoyable evening’s entertainment that was also very different from what you usually expect when the New York Philharmonic is on stage. The program had only one classical music number, Borodin’s "Polovtsian Dance," and the rest were Chinese works, mostly featuring traditional Chinese instruments.

The highlight was the U.S. Premiere of a work by Zhao Lin featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Wu Tong, who played a Sheng. A Sheng is a mouth-blown wind organ, with at least 17 vertical pipes, that can produce a continuous sound.

Yo-Yo Ma and Wu Tong were outstanding and they received a roaring standing ovation and then rewarded us with a short encore number.

As might be expected, the audience was probably 60% Asian, with a lot of young people. I was totally impressed at how well-behaved the young kids were.

Another unusual aspect of the concert ... it was done without intermission, another thing that rarely happens at classical music concerts at Avery Fisher Hall. I am happy to report that the 90 minute program flew by.

Yes, I am so glad I was able to see this performance and I left Avery Fisher Hall in very good spirits.

Now ... moving on to tonight’s entertainment event ...

An Off Broadway show ...

7:00==>THE GROUNDLING - “After stumbling upon a small outdoor production of a Shakespeare play in Manhattan, Long Island landscaper Bob Malone is inspired to write a play about his troubled marriage. He hires two reluctant New York theatre professionals to spend a week at his home and stage the play in his garage with a cast of colorful locals.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This comedy/drama received a basically favorable review from The New York Times.

It is playing at the Axis Theatre at 1 Sheridan Square in The West Village, has a running time of 1:40, without intermission, and runs through March 8th.

In closing, your favorite blogger will now share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers his AWESOME entertainment schedule for the upcoming 6 days here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ...

Wednesday - 7:00==>THE GROUNDLING (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Thursday - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall (concert - free ticket, subscriber perk)

Friday - 8:00==>NATIONAL CHORALE @ Avery Fisher Hall - “Celebration of American Music.” (concert - complimentary ticket)

Saturday - 3:00==>ONE DAY THE MUSICAL (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket); and,

7:30==>DEMETRI MARTIN @ Town Hall - “The Persistence of Jokes.” (standup comedy - full price ticket)

Sunday - 7:30==>THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Broadway - discounted Actor’s Fund ticket)

Monday - 2:00==>lunch at Le Cirque with Dian Crystal & Marty Kosarik; and,

8:00==>NEW YORK NOUVEAU @ Carnegie Hall - “Music with unique ties to the Big Apple.” (concert - complimentary ticket)

Yeah ... looks pretty AWESOME doesn’t it? But, remember ...

I report - you decide.

Oh ... I did some out-of-the-elements walking at Lincoln Center before my concert and that helped me get back on my 4+ mile daily walking schedule.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.35  miles (or, 9,525 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>225.16 miles (average 4.09 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.”

The Heidi Chronicles - New York Philharmonic with Yo-Yo Ma - A-Rod - Weather Update

Tuesday==>Your favorite blogger has things and stuff left over from yesterday’s errands and chores list ... so ... we need to get today’s posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

The Broadway show ...

THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, follows 19 characters through 13 scenes in three decades and four cities, as three unlikely friends come to realize that the fight for what you believe in can bring you a long way==>A

This Broadway revival of Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play still packs a punch as it reminds us that the battle for women's rights/equality is not over, even today. Yes, even though the show is set in the past, it very much resonates in today’s world.

This drama, with a bit of comedy, is entertaining, thought-provoking and emotionally involving.

The characters are well-developed and you end up basically caring about each one.

The cast is superb, lead by Elisabeth Moss in the difficult role of Heidi. IMHO, Bryce Pinkham as Peter, the gay doctor, gives an award-worthy performance. Jason Biggs holds his own as Scoop, who remains in unrequited love with Heidi for over 25 years.

This was the first public performance and the production is in excellent shape. The sets and projections are stellar.

I have two very minor quibbles with the production: (1) it is 10-15 minutes too long, and (2) there are 13 scenes spanning 24+ years and there needs to be a projection showing the year in which the scene is taking place.

Billi Pod says==>get thee to the Music Box to see this show, ASAP.

It is playing at the Music Box Theatre on West 45th Street, has a running time of 2:35, including intermission, and runs through August 9th.

Now ... I have to admit that some of the pleasure in seeing this outstanding play was taken away during the painful walk from the theater back to my apartment building. Yeah ... at 11:00pm it was 5º but the wind chill had it down to a painful and dangerous -9º. I think this was the coldest Billi Pod had been all Winter.

Winter==>will you please please go away ... Billi Pod is more than over with you ... so ... please please please go the fuck away.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is a concert at Lincoln Center ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “Chinese New Year with Yo-Yo Ma.”

(classical music concert - full price ticket)

According to the press information - “Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with Yo-Yo Ma, the Philharmonic, and music from East to West, including the U.S. Premiere of Zhao Lin’s Duo - a concerto for cello and sheng, a Chinese woodwind instrument with 17 bamboo pipes.”  

Yeah ... this certainly sounds different and also interesting. I am a big Yo-Yo Ma fan so I am really looking forward to this.

Now ... on the sport’s scene ...

Well, the drama has begun down in Tampa as A-Rod showed up unannounced at the spring training camp, two day’s early. This basically pissed off Yankee brass and generated the following headlines in today’s papers ... 

EARLY BIRD IS A WORM. Surprise! A-Rod springs up. Yanks rage at star’s circus.

front page of The Daily News

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN! A-Rod ticks off Yanks in record time by arriving without notice, two days early.

back page of The Daily News

BIG CHILL. A-Rod reports, gets frosty reception from Yankees’ brass.

back page of The New York Post

and, in The Gray Lady ...

IN WITH THE OLD. Rodriguez Arrives And Addresses A Familiar Topic.

front page of sports section of The New York Times.

Man, A-Rod’s PR guy must really be into S&M. This was insane.

Oh well ... 

Time to post this and then brave the elements to go across the street to the Food Emporium to stock up and take advantage of their additional 5% Senior Discount.

In closing ... it has warmed up a bit. Yep ... at noon it is 15º, but without a wind chill factor.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.97 miles (or, 6,503 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>220.81 miles (average 4.09 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.”