An A Cappella Celebration - The Book of Moron - Monday’s Doubleheader==>Streit’s Matzos & York Theatre Benefit Concert

Monday==>The new week has started here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and your favorite blogger needs to get this posting started because he has a doubleheader scheduled for today that will begin in the early afternoon (details below).

The weather today is somewhat iffy. We have overcast skies and the temperature at 9:00am is 39º, wind chill down to 31º. The forecast is for it to warm up a bit during the day with a projected high of 55º.

So ... now ... let’s move on to Billi Pod’s report cards on yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader ... starting with ...

The concert at Carnegie Hall ...

DCINY PRESENTS TOTAL VOCAL - “An A Cappella Celebration.”

Folks, this was a totally enjoyable event as a huge chorus, made up of ensembles from Australia, Canada, New York, California, Georgia, Wisconsin, Montana and Louisiana, performed works from: Lennon and McCartney; Leonard Cohen; Irving Berlin; Billy Joel; George Gershwin; Stephen Sondheim; and others.

The chorus members ranged in age from tweens to young adult.

Each of the works was arranged and conducted by Deke Sharon who also gave us running commentary that was both funny and informative.

The house was virtually sold-out and was very much into the show. Lots of family members, of course.

My comp. seat was super-excellent ... in the orchestra, row G, house right. Perfecto.

Yep, I left Carnegie Hall with a huge smile on my face.

Came back to the apartment, had the usual fruit and cheese plate and then it was time to walk down to the second half of my doubleheader ...

The Off Broadway show ... 

THE BOOK OF MORON, Robert Dubac’s one-man show is a fast-paced joy ride over the pot-holed highways of hypocrisy as he crashes head first into the barriers of sex, race, religion, politics and the media==>A.

Your favorite blogger totally enjoyed this show. It is very much in-your-face funny but it is also very thought-provoking and informative as Dubac explores society’s eternal conflict between the truth and idiocy.

The premise is that he has lost his memory and may, or may not, be in a coma. The audience is introduced to his inner personalities: Voice of Reason, Common Sense, Inner Moron, Inner Child, Inner Asshole, and Scruples.

The show is very well written and performed and the running time flies by.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

It is playing in repertory with another work written and performed by Dubac called THE MALE INTELLECT: AN OXYMORON? I will see this, without a doubt.

This show is playing at Urban Stages on West 30th Street, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through April 26th.

As I was walking back to the apartment I marveled on how diverse the day’s entertainment program had been.

OK ... now on to the details of today’s doubleheader ... starting with ...

At 1:30pm Billi Pod will meet up with Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever downtown in Union Square and then we will walk down to The Lower Eastside (LES) for a 2:30pm tour of Streit’s Matzos factory on Rivington Street.

Yep ... that’s right ... now just read on ...

Streit’s was founded 90 years ago and has been a staple in this LES area ever since. Well, it is closing and will soon relocate to that foreign country known as New Jersey.

My Lady proclaimed that we had to take a tour of the facility ... so ... here we will be ... I/we had no choice, of course.

When the tour is over My Lady will give us her personal tour of the LES area where she grew up. It will include pickles and donuts and other stuff too.

Then ... for the evening ... assuming I survive the LES ... it will be a concert ...

8:00==>MUSICALS IN MUFTI BENEFIT CONCERT, hosted by John Tartaglia.

(concert - full price ticket)

This concert will feature an array of 25+ Broadway and Off Broadway performers who have appeared in Musicals in Mufti productions and will also include musical legends Tom Jones, Sheldon Harnick, Richard Maltby and David Shire.

There will be a reception with food and drink after the concert is over.

It is being performed at The York Theatre in the basement of the Citicorp Building on East 54th Street.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... there you have it ... looks like another interesting entertainment doubleheader for your favorite blogger, doesn’t it?

Time to post this and then get ready to head downtown ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.48 miles (or, 9,797 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>24.64 miles (average 3.52 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>356.10 miles (average 4.05 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.”

It’s Still Cold - New York Philharmonic Concert - Today’s Doubleheader==>An A Cappella Celebration & The Book of Moron

Sunday==>Good morning everyone out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks.

It is a bright and cold morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Yes .. at 9:00am it is 28º, wind chill down to 19º but the forecast is for it to get to the upper 40s by mid-afternoon. Yes ... almost time to break out the shorts and flip-flops.

Oh ... the temperature in the Orlando area is projected to be in the low 70s,

So ... now that you have had your Big Apple weather fix ... let’s move on to Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

The classical music concert at Lincoln Center ...

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

Lyadov - “The Enchanted Lake;”

Stravinsky - “Petrushka;” and,

Adams - “Scheherazade 2 for violin and orchestra (performed by Leila Josefowicz) - World Premiere

It was an enjoyable evening, as usual.

“Petrushka” was excellent and the John Adams work was OK, highlighted by a stellar performance from violinist Leila Josefowicz.

My seat was in the rear orchestra, on the aisle. Seated to my left was a nice 40s lady from North Carolina (don't remember where). We had a nice conversation before the concert began and at intermission. She was part of group of 50 high school musicians who were visiting NYC and Lincoln Center for the first time. You could feel the excitement. The kids were 100% focused on what was happening on stage. They couldn’t have been better behaved.

Frankly, just having them around me made my evening even more enjoyable.

Moving on to today ...

Your favorite Big Apple blogger has an entertainment doubleheader scheduled for today ... starting with ...

A concert at Carnegie Hall ...

2:00==>DCINY PRESENTS TOTAL VOCAL - “An A Cappella Celebration”

(concert - complimentary ticket)

According to the press blurb the program will feature, among other things, performances from the stars of the movie “Pitch Perfect.”

Should be interesting.

When the concert is over I will come back to the apartment, have my usual fruit and cheese plate, and then it will be time to head out for the second half of my entertainment schedule ... 

The Off Broadway show ...

7:00pm==>THE BOOK OF MORON - “Robert Dubac’s one-man show is a fast-paced joy ride over the pot-holed highways of hypocrisy as he crashes head first into the barriers of sex, race, religion, politics and the media.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at Urban Stages on West 30th Street, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through April 26th.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... there you have it ... just another boring and wasted day here in Gotham City ... oh well ... maybe I should consider moving someplace else ... jus sayin’ ... anyway ... 

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.18 miles (or, 6,968 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>351.62 miles (average 4.04 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.”

Weather Update - Will Ferrell & Kevin Hart Get Hard - New York Philharmonic - March Madness

Saturday==>Well, on this rather gloomy Saturday morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, we still are burdened with unseasonably cold weather ... dammit!!

Yep ... at 10:00am it is 35º, with wind chill down to 25º and snow flurries possibly in the mid-afternoon. Makes one think about living somewhere warmer doesn’t it? Jus' sayin’ ...

Anyhow ... let’s begin today’s posting with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s entertainment event ... 

A trip to the Regal E-Walk to catch the just released Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart movie ...

GET HARD, the prison-bound manager (Will Ferrell) of a hedge fund asks a black businessman (Kevin Hart) - who has never been in jail - to prepare him for life behind bars.

This in-your-face comedy was everything that I expected. It is profane, outrageous, gasp-inducing, politically incorrect and belly-laughing funny ... if ... and a big IF ... you like this kind of humor. And, as many of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know ... Billi Pod LOVES this kind of humor ... so ... 

Billi Pod the Movie Critic awards it==>4 out of 5 stars.

Will Ferrell was Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart was really outstanding as the frustrated business owner/teacher/muse. Hart actually carries the movie.

It will be interesting to see what the opening weekend ticket figures will be. At my 6:00pm performance the theater was about 50% full.

When the show was over I came back to the apartment and settled in to watch Spring Training baseball on MLB.

Moving on ...

This afternoon will be more Spring Training baseball ... Yankees/Baltimore, carried on YES.

Then, for the evening will be a classical music concert up at Lincoln Center ...

8:00==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is:

Lyadov - “The Enchanted Lake;”

Stravinsky - “Petrushka;” and,

Adams - “Scheherazade 2 for violin and orchestra (performed by Leila Josefowicz) - World Premiere

(free ticket - season subscriber perk)

It looks to be an interesting program.

Well ... time to post this and then get ready for some baseball.

Oh ... in response to some very snarky texts and emails inquiring why Billi Pod has made no reference(s) about March Madness in this blog  ... simple ... he could care less about what happens before things get down to The Final Four.

Then ... maybe ... just maybe ... he will share his thoughts with you loyal and faithful readers and followers. Until that time ... 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.02 miles (or, 6,619 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>348.44 miles (average 4.05 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!! - Yucky Weather - American Symphony Orchestra - Will Ferrell & Kevin Hart Movie

Friday==>A major TGIF shout-out to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I sincerely hope your weekend weather is better than what is forecast for The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Yeah ... today is gonna be rainy and yucky and then on Saturday it is supposed to be cloudy, with snow (yep ... snow) flurries/showers and a high of only 39º, low of 24º. Sunday is a bit better, with a projected high of 48º.

Oh well ... let’s move on to ...

Billi Pod report on last night’s classical music concert ...

AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall - “Opus Posthumous.” The program was:

Schubert - Overture from Claudine von Villa Bella;

Bruckner - Symphony No. 00 in F Minor; and,

Dvorak - Symphony No. 1

As I posted yesterday, this was a presentation of works that were never heard during the composers’ lifetimes.

The program was extremely well performed by the orchestra and each piece was interesting and involving. Of the three I liked the Dvorak symphony the best.

My comp. seat was super-excellent, in a box in the second tier. Perfecto!

Yep, it was a very nice evening's entertainment.

Moving on ...

Your favorite blogger’s entertainment event for this TGIF is gonna be the just released (today) Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart movie ...

5:50pm==>GET HARD - “The prison-bound manager (Will Ferrell) of a hedge fund asks a black businessman (Kevin Hart) - who has never been in jail - to prepare him for life behind bars.” (movie - discounted senior citizen ticket)

It has also been described as: “It’s a please-don’t-let-me-get-raped-in-prison comedy.”

In today’s papers the local critics have savaged, and I mean savaged, the movie but Billi Pod doesn’t care because he would buy a ticket just to see Will Ferrell recite the alphabet.

I have a gut feeling that it will be a box office hit, the critics' negativity not withstanding ... so ... I got my ticket for the 5:50pm show in advance, just to be safe.

When the show is over I will come back to the apartment and settle in for the remainder of the evening, watching Spring Training baseball on MLB.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I need to post this and then do a walk and wander session in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood ... so ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.00 miles (or, 8,747 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>345.42 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.”

Wednesday==>Blah! - Yankees - Placebo - American Symphony Orchestra.

Thursday==>Can you believe it? The weather here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is iffy again. When will we catch a break? When?

At 11:00am it is gray and overcast with light rain predicted to begin in the early afternoon and continue into the evening.

A positive==>it is 49º, with the projected high to be 60º.

Yesterday was nasty also and that basically kept your favorite Big Apple blogger in his apartment, out of the elements. His entertainment event for the evening was at a theater immediately next door to his apartment building (details below).

All of this resulted in another sub-par walking day==>only 2.12 miles.

Anyway ... let’s bring you loyal and faithful readers and followers up-to-date ... starting with ...

The afternoon was spent watching The Yankees/Mets Spring Training game from Tampa. 

The Yankees sucked as they lost 7-2. Folks, this Yankee team has basically sleepwalked through Spring Training ... they have generated little, if any, excitement and/or positive vibes.

The loss generated a very interesting back page headline in today’s Daily News ...

“GOOD HEAVENS! 2nd straight loss to Mets may not bother Yank brass, but it would’ve sent Boss into rage.” 

Oh well ... let’s move on to Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

7:30==>PLACEBO - “A doctoral candidate working on a sexual arousal drug for women finds herself in crisis when she is drawn to a co-worker after her brooding boyfriend, who is working on his dissertation, kicks her out.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Billi Pod’s report card==>C-.

For me this play just didn’t work because none of the characters were likeable, there was way-too-much yelling and screaming and the final so-called “climatic scene” was too long and drawn-out.

The whole thing just wasn’t the slightest bit emotionally involving and/or entertaining for your favorite Big Apple blogger.

You know a show is in trouble when the most likeable/enjoyable character is a coin-operated vending machine.

Now, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting, I have to share that most of the audience seemed to be into the show ... so ... maybe I am wrong ... but ... it has received only very mixed reviews.

Billi Pod says==>you are hereby alerted.

This show is playing at Playwrights Horizons on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:35, without intermission, and runs through April 4th.

Yeah ... on review ... Wednesday was pretty much a blah and boring day. Oh well ... 

Moving on some more ...

Tonight’s entertainment event will be a classical music concert ...

8:00==>AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall - “Opus Posthumous.” The program is:

Schubert - Overture from Claudine von Villa Bella;

Bruckner - Symphony No. 00 in F Minor; and,

Dvorak - Symphony No. 1

(classical music - complimentary ticket)

This will be a presentation of works that were never heard during the composers’ lifetimes. Now, this sounds interesting, doesn’t it.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, time to post this and then do some things and stuff about “you know what.”

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.12 miles (or, 4,638 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>341.42 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.”