A Great NY PHILHARMONIC Concert & Thoughts on Timmy Tebow

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers out there in the vastness of cyberspace that last night’s NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert was excellent.

Strauss’ Don Quixote didn’t effect me as much as I had anticipated but ... Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony was sublimely beautiful.

Before the concert, and at intermission, I had a nice visit with my seat mates for this series, Al and Irene Warshauer, who are both attorneys.

On Friday I will be seeing my second NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert of the week, this time with a comp. ticket. Details will be in Friday’s posting.

Today is a very interesting doubleheader for Billi Pod ...

2:00==>FRAGMENTS - “Five of Samuel Beckett’s short plays: Rough for Theatre I; Rockaby; Act without Words II; Neither; and, Come and Go.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show received a very favorable review from the New York Times theater critic.

And then for tonight ...

8:00==>BONNIE AND CLYDE - “This new musical tells the story of two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere who became the biggest folk heroes in all of America during the Great Depression.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

The show is in early previews for a December 1st opening. Advanced buzz is very favorable.

My FaceBook friend Kenny Howard’s company, Broadway Consortium, LLC, is one of the show’s producers.

Now some observations for my football friends out there ...

Isn’t it ironic that somehow the Denver Broncos are winning with Timmy Tebow as their starting Quarterback even though his “stats” and “style” aren’t up to “NFL standards?”

The Broncos play The Jets on Thursday night and the local papers are having a field-day with negative remarks about Timmy ... for example ...

“GOD HELP HIM! Revis: Tebow ‘O’ doesn’t have prayer vs. Jets” - back page of the NY Post

“ZZZZZ-BOW. Revis says Jet’s only concern is ‘falling asleep’ vs. Denver QB” - back page of The Daily News

Eventually the League and the press are gonna learn that Tim Tebow is a winner, who finds a way to lead his team to victory, in any way he can.

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.”

ALEX-84

Billi Pod Loved LYSISTRATA JONES

First ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to share with you loyal and faithful readers that he had one of those OMFG!! moments before his show last night. What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, this is it ...

I was at my theater on 48th Street, between 8th and Broadway, a few minutes before 7:30. I presented my TDF ticket confirmation email to the box office guy and ... gasp ... he couldn’t find my ticket ... he looked and looked. WTF?

Then he looked again at the confirmation email and said ... “Sir, your ticket was mailed to you ... as it says in this email, we can’t give you a replacement ticket.” OMFG!!

He was, of course, right. The ticket was back at PHC @ 420 W. 42nd Street. 99.5% of the TDF tickets are picked up at the box office, but not this one. OMFG!!

It was 7:35. Could I make it back to PHC, take the elevator up 41 floors, find the ticket, take the elevator down 41 flights and make it back to 48th and Broadway in time to make the 8:00 curtain?

I had to give it a shot, course, so off I went. The sidewalks were crowded. 10 minutes later I was in PHC. Got the ticket and headed back out. The sidewalks were even more crowded ... get the f**k out of my way people.

Was back at the theater at 7:55, sweaty and out of breath ... but ... Billi Pod had done it ... OMFG!!

Had just enough time to get the usual hearing device (which I didn’t need) and find my excellent orchestra seat, row R, seat 12. Whew ... all was well again in Billi Pod’s world, even though he felt like a majorly dumb asshole ... anyway ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s preview performance of the new Broadway musical LYSISTRATA JONES==>A.

The show, about a losing basketball team and one-girl’s attempt to procure a win, at-all-costs, was a lot of fun. The cast is excellent led by Patti Murin as Lysistrata and Liz Mikel as Hetaira.

I thought that the staging and choreography was outstanding and the youngish audience was really into the show.

I know that there has been some nasty postings on some of the Broadway chat boards about whether the show should have transferred from Off Broadway to Broadway ... but ... so what ... because ... folks ... trust Billi Pod on this ... if you want to laugh and smile==>see this show. I think it will find an audience.

When I got back to PHC after the show I calculated the total distance involved in going into and from the theater plus to and from because of my ticket fiasco and it was 2.7+ miles.

Well ... at least I also got a day’s worth of exercise.

Tonight’s entertainment event for Billi Pod is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - R. Strauss: Don Quixote; and, Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral." (subscription series)

I know that the Christmas season and festivities are a long way off (at least in Billi Pod’s head-clock) but I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers that I have just completed my traditional Christmas musical events schedule ...

November 27 - “Messiah-Refreshed”

December 11- Holiday Brass

December 13 - NY Phil’s Handel’s “Messiah”

December 18 - Vienna Boys Choir

December 31- NY Phil’s New Year’s Gala

In closing ...

Jus askin==>how in the name of God and professional ethics could Jerry ‘I shouldn’t have showered with kids’ Sandusky’s lawyer permit him to participate in that phone interview with Bob Costas yesterday? That was unbelievably stupid and, if my opinion, bordering on malpractice. Jus sayin ...

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.”

ALEX-83

Ah, Yes==>It Is Monday.

It is nice to know that all of my Worker Bee friends are back in their cubicles or at their desks or setting up the tables for the lunch crowd etc etc etc. As a retiree just barely getting by on his pension(s), it makes me feel safe and secure.

Keep it up guys and gals - remember in The Worker Bee Community no one can ever work too much, too hard or too long.

Keep it up!!

It is a very nice morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World==>mid 50s at 8:30am.

And, since it is a Monday, Billi Pod will spend most of his day doing routinely boring errands and other things and stuff, beginning after he finishes this posting for you loyal and faithful readers out there in the wilderness and hinterlands.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for this evening is ...

8:00==>LYSISTRATA JONES - “Athens University basketball team hasn't won a game in 30 years. Transfer student Lysistrata Jones dares the squad's girlfriends to stop having sex until the guys win a game. Will their legendary losing streak come to an end?” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This show is in early previews. It had a sold-out run Off Broadway but I didn’t get to see it then. There has been kinda mixed advance buzz.

The neigh-sayers are focusing on whether it can develop an audience on Broadway and whether it should have transferred or just sought out a larger Off Broadway venue, like The New World Stages on West 50th Street, the current home of Rent and Avenue Q.

Frankly, I don’t care what the neigh-sayers think because it is what it is and I am looking forward to seeing it tonight.

On another subject==>The Penn State fiasco.

Folks, I predict that once the investigation is completed we will learn that Joe Paterno and the University President were both actively involved in the “cover-up” and this is why they were both fired so quickly.

Just remember where you read it first.

And ... on that happy note ... talk with you later ...

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.”

ALEX-82

It’s Sunday Night==>Billi Pod Reports His Entertainment Stats for October

It is a nice Sunday evening in New York City and Billi Pod loves living in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and this is why ... stay with me ... OK? ... please ...

I will start this rather late posting by giving you loyal and faithful readers what you have been breathlessly anticipating==>Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for the past month ...

In checking my daily log (log, not diary - real guys don’t keep diaries) I find that during the month of October 2011 Billi Pod attended/saw/did the following:

3 Broadway shows (Chinglish; How To Succeed In Business Without Even Trying; and Man and Boy); 16 Off Broadway shows; 3 Classical music concerts (all New York Philharmonic); 1 movie (50/50); and, 1 Yankee post season game, which we lost

The Yankee’s 2011 season record for games attended by Billi Pod: 23 wins and 19 losses - not good, in fact, very barfy. He will, however, renew his 41-game season ticket package.

Billi Pod was able to spend quality time with several of his AA buddies (you know who you are) and with John Scott Reed.

Of course the downside for the month was losing my dear friend Gil Goshorn of Gainesville. I went down to Gainesville to be with Gil’s wife, Linda, and their family and friends.

During the month there were 5 days/nights that Billi Pod stayed in without attending some entertainment event, each as a direct result of the baseball post season and/or the weather.

Billi Pod was also out of town for 3 nights during the month, which includes part of his trip down to Florida.

Another interesting group of stats - during the month there were 1,732 blog page views and I posted to the blog 28 times.

I think these are pretty awesome stats, and they reflect the reason why I live here, but, as always, it is up to you loyal and faithful readers, because ...

I report - you decide.

Now, on to other things ... like ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s CHILDREN by A. R. Gurney - “A wealthy family is celebrating the Fourth of July in their summer home off the coast of New England, when an estranged son unexpectedly arrives.”

The grade is==>B<==wanted to like it much more but it was yet another dysfunctional family comedy/drama filled with the usual clichés - family secrets, too much booze, overbearing father-figure, anger, yelling etc etc etc.

The 4 member cast is excellent, however, especially the woman who plays the family matriarch.

Having said this==>It is worth seeing.

What can I say about the GATOR/GAMECOCKS Game? Well, about the only thing is==>Thank God Coach Muskrat didn’t embarrass us again on national TV.

Hopefully we can get a win next week against Ferment University, to prepare ourselves for the final ass-kicking game of the season against Half Ass U. That one ain’t gonna be nice folks, trust me on this.

Billi Pod had a wonderful time this afternoon at his entertainment event ...

2:00==>NEW ENGLAND SYMPHONIC ENSEMBLE AND CHORUS @ Carnegie Hall - “Works by: Haydn, Ray, Wilberg and Hanson.” Comp. ticket

My comp. seat was in The Dress Circle which is the second level above the orchestra seating. I was in the first row, aisle seat, middle section. Awesome.

Going in I had toyed with the idea of just staying for the first half and then heading out to a movie, but ... the first half was really excellent, with a small chorus and a lone piano ... so ...

I decided to stay and I am sooooooooo glad I did because as good as the first half was ... the second half doubled it. There was a full orchestra and a 170+ person chorus. The sound was awesome.

It was 4:00pm when the concert was over. I felt really good. The weather was clear but just a bit brisk. Billi Pod decided to walk back to PHC, a distance of about 1 1/2 miles. It felt nice.

Have had my usual afternoon fruit and cheese plate, although a bit later than usual, and have been working on this posting for you.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, I will post this somewhat tardy posting and then settle in to watch some football. Both the Giants and the Jets games are going to be on.

Hope all of you Worker Bees had a great weekend. Please remember to go to bed early and set your alarms for not later than 6:00am so you can be at your desks/cubicles at the required 8:00am beginning-of-work time. It Is So Ordered!!

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.”

ALEX-81

Go Gators and Other Stuff

Billi Pod is counting down the minutes until the kickoff for the GATORS/GAMECOCKS game in Columbia, SC, on CBS.

There’s not much more for me to say other than I am praying that we don’t embarrass ourselves again on national TV as we did against LSU, ‘Bama, and Auburn.

At least our program is not going through the throes of Hell that Penn State is enduring. I can’t imagine what the victims and their families are going through at this moment.

I have 2 friends who are Penn State grads. One refuses to talk about it and the other has returned to the campus this weekend for, in his words ... “damage control” ... whatever that means.

As I mentioned in an earlier posting ... when the mighty fall, they usually fall quickly and with devastating results for those closest to them.

Well ... moving on ...

Last night’s QUEEN OF THE MIST, a musical about a woman who in 1901, at the age of 63, went over Niagara Falls in a barrel, was totally terrific.

Mary Testa gives a mind-blowing performance and the rest of the cast is stellar.

The seating is akin to a football field and sometimes you get the feeling that you are watching a tennis match when the performers are at opposite ends of the playing field and your head is turning back and forth.

The woman’s quest for fame and fortune leads her down the road of ... “be careful what you ask for because things don’t always turnout as you expect it to.”

Billi Pod’s report card==>A<==see this show. It has been extended until December 4th.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>CHILDREN by A. R. Gurney - “The story of a wealthy family celebrating the Fourth of July in their summer home off the coast of New England, when an estranged son unexpectedly arrives.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is playing at a theatre on my block and has received very good early buzz.

Well, it is 11:00am and it is time to post this and then spend the next hour walking around PHC sucking my thumb.

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.”

ALEX-80

VETERANS DAY==>WE MUST NEVER FORGET!!

I was part of the Universal Military Training generation, where basically every physically fit guy ultimately served in some branch of the military, unless he qualified for an extremely difficult to get exemption.

I was in the Army in 1955-57. Basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC, then US Army Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird in Baltimore, MD.

Then was in Washington, DC, as a member of a Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC) unit. We were basically undercover since we were outfitted in civilian clothes (paid for by the Army) and our rank was classified. I had a Top Secret Clearance. My unit mostly did background investigations for security clearances.

We were required to live “off-base” so 4 buddies and I rented a house in Arlington, VA.

I only put on my uniform to get the weekend $2.00 round-trip tickets from DC to New York City. Me and 2 of my buds would head up to NYC about twice a month.

I got an early release in order to return to the University of Florida, as a 23yo Sophomore. There was no GI Bill at that time. It was later restored but not made retroactive if you had already received your degree(s).

I was in the Inactive Reserve for 8 years and then received my Honorable Discharge.

I am very proud of the time I was in the service and, of course, am busting with pride over the willingness of my oldest grandson, Alex Falletta aka Army Guy, to place himself in harms way in order to protect this great Country of ours.

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT YOU ALEX AND ALL OF YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS. WE MUST NEVER, EVER, FORGET!!

Man ... it is extremely difficult to segue from this into my usual reports on my entertainment schedule etc etc, but ... it has to be done for you loyal and faithful readers out there in the vastness of cyberspace ... so ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night's LOBBY HERO==>A<==great acting and a powerful story line about a hapless security guard who gets caught in a power struggle between his boss and two police officers investigating a murder.

My only quibble is that there was just a bit too much yelling. The characters were either briefly happy or screaming and cursing at one another.

The Off-Broadway house was sold-out and the audience was really into the performance.

It runs through Nov. 20th==>see it if you can.

One extremely positive note==>I ran into my friend Dick Brukenfeld from Dobbs Ferry just before the show began. He was there without his wife Mimi. I hadn’t seen Dick in a long long time so it was great to have a little catching-up time.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

9:00==>QUEEN OF THE MIST - "The world premiere of a musical based on the astounding, outrageous, and haunting true story of Anna Edson Taylor, who, in 1901, set out to be the first woman to shoot Niagara Falls, in a barrel of her own design.” (Off Broadway - discounted ticket)

Yep, the 9:00pm time is correct. The show has received basically favorable reviews and those of my theater buddies who have seen it have all had very positive things to say.

Speaking of favorable reviews ... Hugh Jackman’s one man show, HUGH JACKMAN, BACK ON BROADWAY, has received uniformly positive reviews, the majority of which are raves.

As I was preparing this posting the thought hit me that I had better get off my butt and see if I could score a ticket before the limited run sells out so ... immediately went online and ...

I am happy to report that I have a decent seat in the front mezzanine for the Wednesday matinee on November 23rd. Awesome!. It is, of course, full-price.

I hope all of my Worker Bee friends have a great weekend.

OMFG!! The thought of what is going to happen to my Gators tomorrow makes my heart pound and makes me want to puke. Spurrier is gonna try to grind us into the ground, trust me on this ... he will. OMFG!! Anyway ...

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.”

ALEX-79

Kinda Strange Day So Far ....

Ever had one of those days when things just don’t go completely right?

You know what I mean ... one of those days when things aren’t 100% wrong but one of those days where things keep getting stranger and stranger as the day wears on. What am I talking about? Well ... here’s what I mean ...

The morning in The Big Apple was really strange looking ... hazy and foggy ... but also very bright. The temperature was OK ... but it was just ... very very strange looking. It has cleared up a bit as I write this posting around 2:00pm.

I finally got around to contacting my trusty and highly professional travel agent, Blanche Bryant, to make my plans for my sojourn down to Columbia, SC, to spend Christmas with family. I knew that the fares were going to be high, but ...

OMFG!! ... the airlines have stuck it to us holiday travelers yet again with fewer flights and higher fares and the frustrating thing is ... ain’t nothing we can do about it, is there?

Then ... after getting off the phone with Blanche I began writing this post and was about 90% finished when I decided to go online and check the offerings on my various ticket services. As I was bouncing around between various websites I accidentally deleted the draft of my blog posting ... damn ... and double damn ...

So, I had to start all over again ... and this is it ...

Don’t know what else is down the line because Billi Pod really feels kinda out-of-sync.

Anyway ...

Billi Pod really enjoyed last night’s ALL-AMERICAN, especially the young guy playing the nerd/geek/outcast twin brother.

It is yet another show about a highly dysfunctional family, but, happily, each member ultimately reveals some indications of redeeming qualities.

I have to say that the young actress portraying the starting quarterback on the best high school football team in California was way too fragile looking to be believable. Not a major problem ... jus sayin’

The show clocks in at 90 minutes, without intermission, but I had no problem remaining focused.

Billi Pod’s report card==>B+<==definitely a “see-this” show.

Tonight's entertainment event is ...

8:00==>LOBBY HERO - “Drama, comedy and romance collide in the lobby of a Manhattan high-rise apartment building when a hapless security guard gets caught in a power struggle between his boss and two police officers investigating a murder.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

The play is written by Kenneth Lonergan and I like his work. I saw the original production several years ago and really enjoyed it. I had several other options for tonight, of course, but this show won out.

My theater-nut buddy, Dian Crystal, has given the show a thumbs-up ... so ...

We shall see ... moving on ... with ...

AWESOME!! Billi Pod’s entertainment schedule for the next 13 days has only one open date. Yes, I have already booked almost everything. I will post the details now for the edification of you loyal and faithful readers out there in the hinterlands ...

Thursday (Nov. 10) - 8:00==>LOBBY HERO (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Friday - 9:00==>QUEEN OF THE MIST (Off Broadway - discounted ticket)

Saturday - noon==>GATORS/SO. CAROLINA (CBS)

8:00==>CHILDREN (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Sunday - 2:00==>NEW ENGLAND SYMPHONIC ENSEMBLE AND CHORUS @ Carnegie Hall (complimentary ticket)

Monday - 8:00==>LYSISTRATA JONES (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Tuesday - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall (subscription series)

Wednesday - 8:00==>BONNY & CLYDE (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Thursday - 8:00==>THE ABSENCE OF MEMORY (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Friday - gasp ... open at the moment

Saturday - 2:00==>THE AGONY AND THE ECSTACY OF STEVE JOBS (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Sunday - 3:00==>TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Monday - 7:30==>IRON CURTAIN (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Tuesday (Nov. 22) - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall (subscription series)

Yep ... this is why I love living in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

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.”

ALEX-78

Billi Pod Says==>See SEMINAR!!

What a beautiful fall morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World - sunny and 55º at 8:30am.

Had a wonderful evening at the theater last night at SEMINAR, starring Alan Rickman as a international literary figure giving a writing class to 4 young aspiring writers.

Billi Pod’s report card==>A<==Rickman gives a Tony-worthy performance. One minute you hate him - the next minute you totally identify with him. The rest of the cast is excellent and the story line is engrossing.

It logs in at about 1:45, without intermission, and I think it could use just a bit of tightening, but this is only a minor quibble because I remained totally focused for the entire performance.

Folks, if you are in the mood for an riveting evening of theater, this is definitely the show for you. See it.

OK my loyal and faithful readers out there in the morass known as cyberspace, it is time for Billi Pod to make a confession. Yes ... he said CONFESSION ... so ... get ready ... here it comes ... gasp ... are you sure you are ready ... OK ... now ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting ...

Yesterday Billi Pod made a promise to Self that he was going to see MONEYBALL today, regardless of what might show up on any of his ticket services. His exact words were ...

“ ... despite what might come up on my ticket services etc tomorrow==>Billi Pod will see MONEYBALL. It Is So Ordered!!”

Well, last night something that he has been really wanting to see did, in fact, come up on one of his ticket services and ... without hesitation ... he booked it.

Yes, Billi Pod broke his promise to Self in order to see ...

8:00==>ALL-AMERICAN - “A suburban dad and former NFL star works hard to make his daughter the new star quarterback at her new school, while he ignores her brainy twin brother.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Actually, I have to admit ... if the choice is between seeing a movie or a play/musical with a comp. or discounted ticket ... it is a no-brainer for this theater-nut ... the play/musical will win-out 99.5% of the time.

Yes, he could see both the movie and the play on the same day, but, he just isn’t in the mood for a doubleheader today ... so ...

Billi Pod has now made his confession to you loyal and faithful readers ... he feels better ... and it is time to move on ...

But ...

To Self==> I will see MONEYBALL before it gets pulled from the Manhattan theaters ... I thee promise.

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.”

ALEX-77