Number 1,000==>AWESOME!!

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers. 

Today is indeed a milestone for Billi Pod Blogs==>this posting, number 160 for 2012, will be the 1,000th since I created the blog back on Sunday, April 6, 2008.

AWESOME!!

I want to share with you an excerpt from the first posting ...
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Well, I Have Finally Joined the Blog Generation

WOW!! After all of the years of writing first timely and then less timely newsletters about my activities in The Big Apple, beginning in the summer of 1995, I am finally taking the big cyberspace step and have just created my own blog. WOW!!

I have a lot to learn about the creative process and I know I will make many missteps along the way, so to those of you who will join me for this new adventure - please have patience and understanding.

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

The postings by the year are as follows:

2008 - 166

2009 - 112

2010 - 201

2011 - 361 

2012 - 160 (to date)

The blog website started collecting stats on the number of page views about 18 months ago and Billi Pod Blogs should reach the 30,000 mark sometime in the next week. They do not count the number of times the blogger visits his own site.

AWESOME!!

Now, to get back on message ... I know you are breathlessly awaiting my report on yesterday’s journey to the far-distant region of the City of New York, known at The Borough of Brooklyn. Well ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting ...

I was warned about THE CARETAKER, about a pair of working-class brothers who allow a homeless man to stay in their decrepit London flat, and I chose to ignore it. This was a HUGE mistake.

I found this early Pinter play to be totally incomprehensible and, like my friend Marty Kosarik had done earlier in the run, I fled at intermission. From where I was seated Jonathan Pryce was barely understandable (and I had the usual hearing device too) and why, oh why, is the set so far upstage and away from the audience? It was not a fun or entertaining time, to put it mildly.

On a positive note==>I did enjoy walking and wandering the BAM ‘hood for about 90 minutes before show time, and I made it back to Manhattan with no trouble from either the border patrol or passport control.

Today, thankfully, the weather is back to normal for this time of the year and this is good because Billi Pod has an entertainment doubleheader scheduled. First is ...

2:00==>JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -  “The revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber rock musical which tells the story of the last weeks of Christ's life, basically from the viewpoint of Judas Iscariot.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This will be my second time seeing this revival. I love the music so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see it again, with a complimentary ticket.

After the show I will come back to the apartment, have my usual fruit and cheese plate, put on my Yankee gear and then head out to The Bronx for ...

7:05==>YANKEES/RAYS in game 2 of the series with Ivan Nova (6-2) vs. Alex Cobb (2-3). 

Last night the Bombers kicked butt winning 7-0 behind a stellar performance from Andy Pettitte and a grand slam from Russell Martin.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

Weather?? Going To Brooklyn?? WTF??

Man, what is it with the weather here in The Big Apple? WTF!! I mean ... it was only 52º at 8:00am this morning and it is the 5th of June. WTF!! 

Add to that ... it was also very very windy, making it extremely unpleasant as I braved the elements this morning for two doctor’s appointments, both on the far Eastside.

Thankfully both of them, eye and heart, were routine procedures and everything is in good condition in both regards.

It is now 1:30pm and it is still very windy but the temperature has risen to 61º. Oh well ... nothing I can do about it except bitch and moan ... but ... WTF!!

Anyway ... moving on ... which brings me to last night’s entertainment event, the staged reading of FORECLOSURE, about two couples struggling to balance friendship and crossing the line in a Southern California neighborhood ravaged by foreclosure.”

As I posted yesterday, the reading was directed by my FaceBook friend David Lee. What I failed to mention is that another FaceBook friend, Kenny Howard, was a part of the producing team.

The theater was filled to capacity with what appeared to me to be mostly theater-industry related/involved folks.

I thought that the story line was very interesting and the show was well-performed by an extremely talented cast.

Now ... I want to be very candid and open about the following (hopefully not pissing anyone off) but ... frankly ... the final scene totally turned me off. Based on some comments I overheard in the elevator after the show I don’t think I was the only one who found the final moments of the show to be “creepy.”

Having said that ... I still believe the show is production-worthy and hope that it finds the necessary backers.

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

7:30==>THE CARETAKER - “A pair of working-class brothers allow a homeless man to stay in their decrepit London flat, an act of compassion that sparks a cycle of cruelties, delusions, and shifting loyalties in a desperate struggle over territory. (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Starring in this show is Tony and Olivier Award winner Jonathan Pryce.

It is playing at the BAM Theater in ... gasp ... Brooklyn ... gasp ... yes ... that is right ... Billi Pod is going over to Brooklyn and plans to go a bit early so he can just walk and wander in the theater’s ‘hood. Also, Billi Pod is seeing this show despite a totally negative review by his theater-buddy Marty Kosarik, who reported that he fled at intermission.

So, my loyal and faithful readers ... please pray for my safe return from “out there” ... please.

Tonight at 7:05pm The Yankees begin their 3 game home series with The Rays, who are leading the highly competitive AL East and it will be Andy Pettitte (2-2) vs. James Shields (6-3).

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

STOREFRONT CHURCH==>A

I hope that all of my Worker Bee friends are having a Happy Back To Work Monday.

Before you guys and gals whine and cry too much just remember that the countdown has now begun and Friday is on the horizon, distant though it may be.

Billi Pod fervently hopes that each and everyone has a productive and meaningful work week. Now==>get at it!!

In all candor Billi Pod must admit that the week up here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, started a bit drearily with overcast skies and light rain @ 8:00am. At noon it has lightened up a bit but it is still lightly raining and the temperature is only 57º ... meaning ...

Billi Pod now has a semi-legitimate excuse for not beginning his usual Monday errands and stuff ... so ... let’s talk about ...

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

STOREFRONT CHURCH, about a Bronx Borough President’s confrontation with a local minister==>A.

Actually, this show is just a few steps away from winning Billi Pod’s highest grade of A+. My major quibble is the rather sluggish scene changes that detract from maintaining the building momentum of the production.

The engrossing story line is delivered by a stellar cast of veteran performers who are each very believable in their respective roles.  The show certainly earns its very positive advanced buzz and I think it will only get better. It officially opens on June 11th.

So, Billi Pod says==>See it!!

Before the show began I met up with My Lady, Dian Crystal, who had used her box office moxie and connections to score us two adjacent “excellent” seats for the show ... yeah ... in the last row of the recently refurbished Atlantic Theater. Thanks so much My Lady. Why without your help Billi Pod might have been ... gasp ... in the first or second rows ... thanks again ... anyway ... 

Dian had made contact with a really nice young man, Steven, who is from Jacksonville, FL, and is house sitting in Manhattan as he is preparing to continue the pursuit of his college major in theater. We had a nice but all-too-brief visit and his love of the theater was so obvious, almost infectious.

GOOD LUCK STEVEN!! Hope our paths cross again.

What did Billi Pod do for Sunday afternoon you are no doubt breathlessly asking? 

Well ... he stayed in to watch the final game of the YANKEES/DETROIT series, which The Bronx Bombers won 5-1 behind excellent pitching from Phil Hughes, who pitched the first complete game of his major league career..

Yes, the Wanky bats produced the long-ball but ... and still a HUGE but ... they couldn’t get crucial hits with runners in scoring position, going only a woeful 1 for 11.

They have the day off and then on Tuesday begin a 6 game home stand with 3 games against the AL East leading Rays and then 3 games against the on-fire Mets. Billi Pod will attend 3 of the games.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ... 

FORECLOSURE - “In a Southern California neighborhood ravaged by foreclosure, two couples struggle with the balance between friendship and crossing the line.” (Off Broadway - free ticket). 

This a staged-reading directed by my FaceBook friend David Lee.

It also is my second consecutive show where foreclosure is the featured theme.

OK my loyal and faithful readers ... it has cleared up so I gotta post this and do some things and stuff ... so ...

Oh, a major shout-out to the Florida Gator baseball team. They are advancing to the Super-regional playoffs (whatever that means) on the road to the College World Series.

GO GATORS AND 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."

The Wankies Sucked Last Night. BARF!

It is a beautiful Sunday morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

I hope all of you loyal and faithful readers have a great finish to your weekend.

I want to begin this somewhat briefer posting (OK ... stop the f**king applause ... don’t make me come over there and bitch-slap you) with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s entertainment event ...

THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS, a panel discussion between Quasimodo, hunchback of Notre Dame, and Ludwig van Beethoven on their troubled collaboration==>B.

The concept is interesting. There is no spoken dialogue - all sung by the two extremely talented actors, accompanied by a pianist and a cellist. It felt like it was perhaps 10 minutes too long. It is worth seeing, however.

Before the show I had a nice time visiting with Dian Crystal and Raellen Foreman and her friends.

When the show was over I walked back to PHC, a distance of 2.0 miles. It really felt great.

When I got back I kept checking my ticket services for some entertainment event for the evening and while there were a lot of options, nothing really turned me on ... so ... Billi Pod opted to stay in for the evening to watch the 2nd game of the YANKEES/DETROIT series.

BARF!

Yes my loyal and faithful readers, this was a bad choice for two reasons ... first ... there was a 39 minute rain delay in the bottom of the first inning and second ... the Yankees lost 4-3 in a game they should have won going away.

It was a very frustrating game to watch because the Wankies remain cursed by their inability to get crucial hits with runners in scoring position==>they were a pitiful 1 for 12. 

BARF!!

Man, if GeorgeS were alive today the hitting coach would be toast, make no mistake about it.

BARF!!!

Anyway ... this is what Billi Pod has scheduled for today ... first he will stay in to watch the rubber game of the Detroit series, starting at 1:05 ... and then for this evening is ...

7:00==>STOREFRONT CHURCH - “The story concerns a Bronx borough President who is forced, by the mortgage crisis, into a confrontation with a local minister.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at the newly renovated Atlantic Theater down in Chelsea and it is the 3rd and final part of John Patrick Shanley’s trilogy that started with the Pulitzer Prize winning Doubt.

So, everyone ... have a great rest of the weekend ...

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

Yesterday==>AWESOME Doubleheader!!

Good morning everyone!!

Yes, I know my loyal and faithful readers, there is that word==>AWESOME<==again and I admit that it shows up way-too-often in this blog but ... honestly ... please ... withhold your judgment until after you read all of today’s blog ... beginning with Billi Pod’s report cards on the two entertainment events he attended yesterday ... beginning with ...

TRIBES, about a quirky but intellectual family whose members include a deaf son, who falls in love with a woman who is losing her hearing==>A+.

There’s so much going on in this show that it is almost overwhelming: intellect and sentiment, love and cruelty, witty zingers and biting put-downs. But, when it is over you leave the theater is awe of what you have just witnessed.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, it worthy of all of the rave reviews it has received. It is theater at its best.

Incredible cast and acting with remarkable staging in the round. Yes, it has a very troubling story line but, trust me on this, it is definitely==>A MUST SEE!!

The show was over around 9:40 and my second show in the same venue didn’t start until 10:30, so I spent the time just wandering around The Village listening to the YANKEES/DETROIT baseball game.

The Yankees won 9-4 on a grand slam by Curtis Granderson and  journeyman pitching from our ace CC Sabathia. Game 2 of the series is tonight @ 7:05 with Hiroki Kuroda (4-6) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers.

And while we are talking about baseball==>major kudos go out to Met’s pitcher Johan Santana who last night pitched a no-hitter against the Cardinals. It was the first no-hitter in the history of the Met’s franchise.

Anyway ... back on topic which is the second entertainment event for last night ... 

TJ & DAVE, the Second City improv. team==>A.

It was gut busting funny. They are so talented and they had the sold-out house roaring with laughter from the moment they took the stage. The hour flew by. I am soooooooo glad I saw it.

It was midnight when I got back to PHC and I was starving. Luckily I had some pizza waiting in the ‘fridge.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, I hope you will agree with Billi Pod's assessment that yesterday’s doubleheader was indeed AWESOME ... but it is your call because ... as you know ...

I report - you decide.

Today’s schedule (thus far) is ...

2:15==>THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS - “A hilarious and melancholy panel discussion between Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, and Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer, on their attempt to create the mysterious sound effect called for in Anton Chekov's The Cherry Orchard.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Hey ... I ain’t making this up. It is playing at the 59th Street Theater Complex, one of Billi Pod’s favorite venues.

Still working on what I will do for the evening, but not to worry out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wilderness ... you know that Billi Pod has many many options ... so ...

GO YANKEES AND 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.” 

Billi Pod’s Activity Report For May 2012

It is now time for me to share with you loyal and faithful readers Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for the month of May 2012 ... so ... here they come ... get ready ... take a deep breath ... tada ... here they are ... 

In checking my daily log (log, not diary - real guys don’t keep diaries) I find that during May 2012 Billi Pod attended/saw/did the following:

1 Broadway show (Harvey); 24 Off Broadway Shows; 6 classical music concerts (including my 3 series subscription to the New York Philharmonic); and 7 Yankee baseball games (their record for those game was a barfy 2 wins and 5 losses).

There were a total of 9 entertainment doubleheaders during the month

During the month: had some face-time with John Scott Reed; was honored to still be an active member of Dian Crystal’s posse, along with Marty Kosarik, Vera Olichney, Julie Miller and others; and, was with some of my AA buddies (you know who you are) on several occasions.

Of course, sometimes there are downsides and during the month there was a major one, my slip and fall on the way back from seeing Harvey. Luckily I escaped any major injuries. 

I also classify The Wankies 2 wins and 5 losses as a major downer because, Dammit-to-Hell==>Billi Pod didn’t play BIG bucks to see BAD baseball, so get with it you guys!!

Anyway ... 

I posted daily on my FaceBook Wall and 31 times on this blog website.

Billi Pod Blogs had 1,130 page views during the month, bringing the total for the past 12 months to 18,073. (Awesome!!)

Perhaps one of the most amazing/awesome stats is the fact that during the month there was only 1, repeat, 1 time that I stayed in PHC without attending some entertainment event either during the day or the evening.

This means, my loyal and faithful readers, that Billi Pod remained on his frenetic Big Apple schedule of attending some entertainment event 9 out of 10 nights. Actually for you number crunchers the percentage is 96.8%. AWESOME!!!

So ... there you have it. I humbly think that it ain’t bad for a 78yr. old guy ... but ... it is up to you loyal and faithful readers to determine because ...

I report ... you decide.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

Friday Is Another Doubleheader

Had a wonderful time last night with John Scott Reed aka Fabson @ Dallas BBQ in the East Village. The weather was awesome so we sat outside where we could feel the energy of the “happening” East Village scene.

We started off with a terrific fried onion loaf that set the tone of the evening. I had their ribs and chicken platter and it was scrumptious. This was Scott’s birthday gift to moi.

We did a lot of catching-up and I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers that Scott has a lot going on in his life, all of it super-positive.

It was a great evening so ... Billi Pod says==>Thank You Fabson!!

I spent most of Thursday afternoon walking and wandering. I didn’t go to the Upper Eastside as planned, rather it was down to The Village. I picked up a ticket to a show for Friday night and then wandered my way back to 420 W. 42nd Street. It really felt good to be out and about.

Billi Pod has a doubleheader for tonight, which is a bit unusual for a Friday. Here’s how it begins ...

7:30==>TRIBES - “A look into the workings of an intellectual family, whose members include a deaf son who falls in love with a woman who is losing her hearing.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

I am finally getting to see this multi-award winning show @ The Barrow Street Theater in The Village. I have been waiting a long time for it to appear on TDF and it finally did.

The show runs 2:15, with an intermission. When it is over I will stay in the area because my second show is also at the same venue and it is ... 

10:30==>TJ & DAVE - “One hour of unscripted long-form improv.” (Off Broadway - discounted ticket).

These guys are part of Chicago’s Second City and I have seen them perform several times and they are unbelievably talented and gut-busting funny.

They will be in the City for only the weekend, so I couldn’t pass this up.

Yeah ... I have to say that Billi Pod is mega-charged about this doubleheader, which is yet another example of why he loves living in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Have just compiled the entertainment stats for the month of May 2012 and they will be shared with you loyal and faithful readers in a separate posting later on today ... I promise ... they are f**king awesome!!

GO YANKEES AND 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.”