A Fringe Festival Doubleheader For Today

Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. I hope you have a great weekend planned because Billi Pod certainly does, the details of which will be below.

But, first, let’s start with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

GETTING THE BUSINESS, about an executive dealing with a vivacious assistant who has an agenda of her own==>B+

This comedy/drama has excellent acting with an engrossing story line. Yes, it is funny but also very thought-provoking. I think the critics are going to like it.

The running time is only 80 minutes, with an intermission. It is playing at one of the Theatre Row venues and is definitely worth seeing.

I am happy to report that last night The Yankees beat up on Toronto 10-4 on Ichiro Suzuki’s 5 RBIs. Freddy Garcia pitched a decent game and got the win.

Game #2 is this afternoon at 1:05, and, of course, Billi Pod will be in the cool confines of PHC to watch it. 

Ivan Nova (10-6), coming off two consecutive crappy outings, will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Aaron Laffey (3-2) for The Blue Jays.

Today is a Fringe Festival doubleheader for Billi Pod, starting with ...

5:00==>THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN - “John Darrian is charged with saving the world from aliens, super-viruses, earthquakes, and Satan himself in a comedy about the tragic end of all life on Earth. An absurd look at coming to terms with your worst fears. And zombies.” (Fringe Festival - $9.00 TDF Ticket)

This show is playing at a venue in The Village and has a running time of only 1:35, meaning I will have plenty of time to walk and wander down there before my second show, which is ...

9:15==>SALAMANDER STARTS OVER - “The words every teenage punk dreads: ALL-BOYS CATHOLIC SCHOOL. But this isn't your average preparatory education. Eccentric teachers. Militant coaches. Dance-fighting students. Add these with the love of a Cuban mother and see how Salamander starts over.” (Fringe Festival - $9.00 TDF ticket). 

The running time for this show, playing at a venue in Astor Place in The East Village, is only 70 minutes.

Yeah, I know, don’t both of these shows sound interesting? This is why I basically love The Fringe Festival. I have another Fringe Festival doubleheader for Sunday, details of which will be posted tomorrow.

It is kinda gray and gloomy out this morning at 10:00am. Think I will post this and then maybe walk and wander for a mile or two.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I know that I am approaching becoming obsessive/compulsive about my 1,079 mile adventure/challenge. I know ... I know ... but ... it really isn’t my fault.

The culprit is the Weight Watchers Pedometer that has taken over my life and whose fault is that you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... none other that the person who gifted it to me ... tada ... My Lady, Dian Crystal.

Yes ... blame it on her ... and ... oooooops ... can’t write any more because The Pedometer has just ordered me to leave the apartment in 15 minutes ... so ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.53 miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>170.26

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>908.74

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.”

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY==>A

It is a gray and gloomy TGIF in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

And ... speaking of gray ... let’s begin this posting with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ... tada ... 

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, A WORLD-PREMIERE ADAPTATION, about how a pure soul is ultimately destroyed by an obsession with self-image and youth==>A<== an awesome theater experience.

The show has a stellar performance from an outstanding cast headed by young and gorgeous Sam Underwood in the role of Dorian Gray. 

The staging and direction is terrific and the British accents are understandable. Yes, if you are a theater person you know the storyline but, trust me, you will be totally focused on every word of this production. The running time is 2:30, with one intermission.

The show is produced by the Sonnet Repertory Theatre, Inc. which is dedicated to “classic theatre for the modern planet.” Thank you for bringing us this gem!

Folks, if you are a theater-nut like moi, this is a “must see” ... not joking ... a “must see.” 

It runs through August 19th and is playing at the Studio Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center on West 42nd Street. Tickets are also available on the TDF website.

So Billi Pod says==>get thee to this show!

Yesterday afternoon Billi Pod stayed in the cool confines of PHC to watch the final game of the 4-game YANKEES/DETROIT series. It was a nail biter from the very beginning.

The Yankees won 4-3 on back-to-back homers from Mark Teixeira and Eric Chavez and split the series 2-2.

BTW==>Billi Pod hates Tigers!!

Tonight @ 7:05pm is game 1 of the 3-game YANKEE/TORONTO series, in Toronto.

Freddy Garcia (5-5) will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Ricky Romero (8-8) for The Blue Jays.

Speaking of sports ... Billi Pod has deliberately avoided becoming involved in the nonstop media-fueled “drama” known here as Sanchez vs. Tebow. Training camp and preseason means nothing. Billi Pod says==>Let’s wait until the regular season begins and then see how things work out.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>GETTING THE BUSINESS - “An executive with more on his mind than work meets a vivacious assistant who gradually reveals an agenda of her own.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

The show is in very early previews and is playing at a theatre on my block.

Today marks the beginning of the NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL (FF), featuring over 180 national and international theater and dance troupes at various venues in downtown Manhattan.

This has become one of Billi Pod’s entertainment standards and it runs through Sunday, August 26th. I already have tickets for 5 shows.

Yes, sometimes the shows can be pretty dreadful but sometimes you will hit a gem ... like URINETOWN, which I saw in its Fringe Festival iteration.

I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers what Billi Pod’s entertainment schedule is for the upcoming 10 days ...

Friday - 8:00==>GETTING THE BUSINESS (Off Broadway)

Saturday - 5:00==>THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN (FF); 9:15==>SALAMANDER STARTS OVER (FF)

Sunday - 2:00==>LOVE DEATH BRAINS: A PETE RYDBERG MUSICAL MEME (FF); 9:00==>SLEEPOVER (FF) This is being produced by my friend Julie Miller.

Monday - 7:05==>YANKEES/TEXAS @ Yankee Stadium

Tuesday - 8:00==>MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall.

Wednesday - 7:05==>YANKEES/TEXAS @ Yankee Stadium

Thursday - 6:30==>DOGS: A BITING COMEDY (FF)

Friday - 7:05==>YANKEES/BOSTON FUCKSOX @ Yankee Stadium

Saturday - 2:00==>NATIONAL PASTIME - THE MUSICAL (Off Broadway)

Sunday - 8:05==>YANKEES/BOSTON FUCKSOX @ Yankee Stadium.

Summary for the 10 days: 4 baseball games; 1 classical music concert; 5 Fringe Festival shows; and, 2 Off Broadway shows. AWESOME!!

Yes my loyal and faithful readers and followers, this is why this 78yo reverse snowbird loves living in New York City, The Greatest City In the World.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.23  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>164.73

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>914.27

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.”

MY MIND IS LIKE AN OPEN MEADOW==>C

HAPPY THURSDAY to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the boondocks, hinterlands and wastelands.

I will start this posting with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

7:30==>MY MIND IS LIKE AN OPEN MEADOW, about the connection between two separate generations of theatre performers via the taped voice of an elderly actress==>C.

It just didn’t work for me. The clock stopped and the one-hour running time seemed more in the neighborhood of 2+ hours. After the first 15 minutes people seated around me kept checking their watches. 

When it was over I honestly had no clue what the message was other than it sucks to get old and start to lose your memory. Golly, I think everyone knows that, don’t we? Whatever ... anyway ... see this at your peril.

And speaking of peril ... 

After the show I walked back to PHC while listening to the YANKEES/TIGERS game, which the Yankees won 12-8 ... but ... OMFG!! it was a heart-pounding roller coaster ride to put it mildly. 

It was a laugher turned nightmare turned sigh of relief. Some minor-league worthy sloppy fielding almost cost the Yankees the game but, luckily, we pounded out 18 hits for the win. WHEW!!

This afternoon at 1:05pm is the final game of the 4-game series and it will be Hiroki Kuroda (10-8) on the mound for the Yankees vs. Doug Fister (6-7) for The Tigers.

Billi Pod will, of course, stay in the cool confines of PHC to watch the game and then do a bit of walking and wandering (gotta keep the mileage average up) and then for tonight it will be ...

8:00==>THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, A WORLD-PREMIERE ADAPTATION - “In an era when social media, human transparency and blurring of sexual boundaries are ever-present, a pure soul is ultimately destroyed by an obsession with self-image.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket).

This is an early preview performance. It is playing at the new Pershing Square Signature Center in my immediate ‘hood.

Hummmm ... might have time right now for about a mile ... so ... will post this and then head out.

Oh ... in response to a couple of rather snarky texts ... yes ... I promise that I will post Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for the month of July ... probably tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.50 miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>158.50

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>920.50

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.”

The Mostly Mozart Concert Was Excellent

HAPPY HUMP DAY to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. Yes ... the countdown toward the weekend has begun.

I am happy to report that last night’s concert, the MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall, was excellent. The orchestra was under the baton of Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki.

The highlight of the evening was Grammy-winning pianist Garrick Ohlsson’s performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor.” It was beautiful. He received a well-deserved standing ovation.

My comp. seat was in the Second Tier and that was a decent location, with acceptable sight lines.

When the concert was over, as planned, I walked back to PHC while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/DETROIT game on my trusty but now ancient Walkman.

Dammit, the Wankies went down again, losing 6-5 to The Tigers. Phil Hughes sucked!! We had a chance for a comeback in the top of the 9th with the tying run on 3rd but Curtis Granderson hit a weak pop-up to end the inning and the game. Barf!!

The Wankies record over the past 18 games is a pitiful 6 wins vs. 12 losses and our lead over the second place Orioles continues to shrink. Not a good feeling in my gut about all of this.

Tonight our ace CC Sabathia (11-3) will attempt to get us back on track. Anibal Sanchez (6-8) will be on the mound for The Tigers.

BTW==>Billi Pod hates Tigers. Just wanted to remind you.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>MY MIND IS LIKE AN OPEN MEADOW - “A celebration of the connection between two separate generations of theatre performers as the taped voice of an elderly actress commands the stage.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This one-person show has received very good reviews and it is playing at the 59th Street Theatre Complex, one of my favorite venues. 

Frankly, I had mixed feelings about booking this since I usually don’t like shows about old/elderly people, for obvious reasons, but ... we will see.

Time to walk and wander a bit so ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.40  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>153.00

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>926.00

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.”

Monday==>A Blah Day

Yeah, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... Monday was very much a blah day for Billi Pod because, at the last minute, he ditched his plans for a movie and instead stayed in to watch ... tada ...

YANKEES/DETROIT and what a total bummer it was. Detroit’s ace Justin Verlander totally owned The Wankies and we lost 7-2 in a game we were never in. He was that dominant. Our 2 runs were unearned, coming on a fielding error Verlander committed in the top of the 5th inning. He struck out 14 Wankies.

Ivan Nova had another pitiful outing, giving up 7 runs in 5 1/3 innings. Barf!!

Tonight’s game is at 7:05pm and it will be Phil Hughes (11-8) on the mound for the Wankies vs. Rick Porcello (8-6) for the Tigers. 

Folks ... many of us in The Yankee Universe are getting extremely concerned about what the rest of the season and the post-season holds for the Yankees as they continue to have dormant bats in crucial points in the game and are totally dominated by good pitchers such as Felix Hernandez aka King Felix and Justin Verlander, who they will probably face in the post-season.

I know ... I know ... still a long way to go and all of that ... but I just needed to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers Billi Pod’s gut feelings and concerns.

Moving on to ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is ... 

8:00==>MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is: Schubert/Berio - Rendering; and, Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor.” (complimentary ticket)

Yeah ... really looking forward to this. When the concert is over I will, of course, walk back to PHC.

I want to thank everyone out there for the mostly favorable responses I have gotten about my just announced 1,079 mile challenge/adventure.

I did get one very negative response from an otherwise loyal and faithful reader (whose identity I won’t reveal) who emailed me the following (unedited):

“Yo bro. First u bore us with shows??? no one has ever heard of or cares bout. Then u pour on tons of yankee-shit. Now u gonna write bout walking???? WTF??? Still luv u tho cause u my bro.”

Well ... on that happy note I will close with what will soon become, hopefully, the usual walking stats ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.70 miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>147.60

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>931.40

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.”

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD==>A.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, this is the second posting for today because I still have a few things to share ... so let’s get right to it with ...

As I had anticipated, last night’s SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD @ The York Theatre was a perfect end to the weekend==>A.

It was thought-provoking and beautifully presented by an awesome cast of 4 young and very talented performers Diana Buchwald, Ben Garrett, Krista Paolella and Rafael Rodriguez.

The remaining performance dates are:

Saturday, August 11 @ 11:00pm

Sunday, August 12 @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm.

Tickets online at: www.yorktheatre.org.

The running time is 90 minutes. 

Billi Pod says==>see it if you can!

Yesterday afternoon Yankee bats came alive, finally, and we beat Seattle 6-2 on crucial hits from Raul Ibanez who homered and also drove in 3 more runs. We won the series 2 games to 1.

Tonight The Bronx Bombers will be in Detroit to face ace Justin Verlander (11-7) and that’s gonna be tough you can bet on that. Ivan Nova (10-5), coming off of a terrible last outing, will be one the mound for the Yankees.

Today’s entertainment event will be a movie. Not sure which one at this moment.

OK, I feel the need to walk and wander, so will post this and then head out. My goal will be 4 miles.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.41 miles

Total mileage last 7 days==>28.83

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>142.90

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>936.10

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.”