GIANT==>A

It is really a dark and gloomy Monday morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. At 11:00am it is so foggy that I can barely make out the building across the street from PHC.

I know this must mirror the mental state of all of my Worker Bee friends who have returned to their cubicles, wait-stations, broom closets etc. etc. Come on guys and gals, just get over it. Remember, you are Worker Bees and you have no choice or other options ...

So ... why don’t we move on to more positive things like Billi Pod’s report card/comments on yesterday’s entertainment events and stuff.

As you loyal and faithful readers and followers know from yesterday’s delayed posting, in the early afternoon I was with John Scott Reed, his father Stan aka Stan The Man, and his father’s girlfriend Shari, first at PHC for my awesome apartment views and then for a  terrific late lunch at Angus Bistro (formerly Angus McIndoe) my favorite Theater District restaurant. 

Really sorry that Scott’s friend/roommate Bernard Lam was unable to join us.

Enjoyed being with you guys!!

The evening’s entertainment event was ...

GIANT, the musical that spans generations in an epic chronicle of the state that's like no place else on earth, Texas==>A

I was totally focused for the entire 3:15, one intermission, running time. The large cast is superb, headed by Brian D’Arcy James and Kate Baldwin.

I knew going in that it had a long running time and that it had received very mixed reviews. Folks, I really don’t understand the negativity directed at this show because I found it to be engrossing and very well performed and staged.

The negativity almost caused me to skip it but, thankfully, my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik gave it a rave review and then “ordered” me to see it, and I did.

An interesting side note==>my sister, Ann Parker, lived in Houston for years. Her husband and also her father-in-law were both oil wildcatters in Texas.

So, Billi Pod says==>see this show - it runs through December 16th.

Moving on ... sorta ... 

It is Monday so today will be devoted to the usual boring errands and stuff.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod must reveal to you loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks that at the moment he has nothing scheduled on today’s entertainment calendar. OK ... take a deep breath and then read on ... OK ... maybe take another one ... he may give himself a day off.

Now, don’t panic - don’t call 911 ... if something interesting shows up he will book it, of course ... if not ... then ... then ... I mean ... whatever ... I mean ... WTF? A day off? OMFG!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.06 miles (or, 11,068 steps)

Mileage for week==>37.21 miles (avg. 5.32 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>871.92 miles 

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>207.08 miles

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.”

Saturday==>SUPER!!

Friends, food, Christmas songs and extra walking mileage equals==>SUPER!!

Lunch yesterday with John and Amada Horne, and their posse, at Maloney & Porcelli on East 50th Street started at noon and was still going strong when I left at 3:45pm. 

In summary==>great friends, lots of stories, jokes and tons and tons of awesome food. Thanks guys for including me.

Have a safe trip home and tell everyone down there that Billi Pod is still alive and kicking.

I walked from PHC to the restaurant and then back afterwards and I have to say that it seemed as if every tourist in the US of A was in the Rockefeller Center area, gawking and taking pictures. Not very pleasant.

My entertainment event for the evening was downtown at Pace University, near City Hall, and it was ...

DEBBIE GRAVITTE’S ALL STAR HOLIDAY SHOW and it was a lot of fun, well performed and included a second act Holiday songs sing-along. Can’t beat that to get into a festive mood, that is for certain.

I left the performance space with a big smile on my face.

Yes, it was a SUPER day.

Today is also going to be great ...

Around 1:15pm this afternoon, John Scott Reed, his father Stan aka Stan The Man, and his father’s girlfriend Shari came to PHC so Shari could take in the view(s) from my North-facing 41st floor apartment.

Then we had a nice late lunch at my favorite Theater District restaurant Angus Bistro (formerly Angus McIndoe)

It was really great seeing and being with you guys.

Tonight, on the recommendation of my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik, I will head back downtown to see ...

7:00==>GIANT - “Amid a turbulent culture of greed, bigotry and money, a powerful cattleman, his new East Coast bride, their family and friends not to mention their enemies embrace and confront the joys and sorrows that loom as large as the state, Texas, they call home.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This new musical is based on the classic novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edna Ferber and clocks in at 3:15, with one intermission.

It has received mixed reviews and I had my doubts about investing my time and money in it, but, as I said, my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik loved it and said I had to see it ... so ... we will see.

In addition to yesterday being a super day with friends and stuff, it was also a very very good walking day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>7.44 miles (or, 16.259 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>866.86 miles 

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>212.14 miles

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.”

BARE: THE MUSICAL==>A

It is a very foggy and rather nasty looking morning here in New York City, The Greatest City In The World.

Billi Pod has lunch plans so let’s get started with his report card on last night’s entertainment event ... 

BARE: THE MUSICAL, the contemporary rock musical that follows a group of teens wrestling with issues of identity, sexuality, and religion at a co-ed Catholic boarding school==>A

The story line is simple: at The St. Cecilia boarding school two boys are secret lovers who must navigate their relationship through adolescence and their church’s doctrines on morality. It becomes complex as the issues expand to areas such as drugs, sex, alcohol, love, teen pregnancy, the church etc. 

The multi-talented young cast captures the audience from the opening scene to the disturbing final one. It brings back fond memories of Spring Awakening and Rent.

The full-house gave the cast a roaring standing ovation. 

I do think it needs to be tightened up a bit. The running time is 2:15, with an intermission.

Billi Pod says==>You gotta see this.

Moving on ...

Shortly I will walk over to East 50th Street to the famous restaurant Maloney & Porcelli to meet up with my Anna Maria, Fl, friends John and Amanda Horne and John’s posse. John is originally from my former hometown, Bartow, FL, and is now the owner of several highly successful restaurants in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

John and Amanda got married last month in a surprise ceremony. They had been together for years and years. They, and the posse (usually about 30 people), make at least one trip a year to The Big Apple, mostly to partake of the restaurant scene. I think that John is friends with the Chef and management at Maloney & Porcelli.

I am really looking forward to seeing them. Last year’s luncheon event took up almost 4 hours. Yeah ... lots and lots of food and stuff.

Then for the evening is ...

7:30==>DEBBIE GRAVITTE’S ALL STAR HOLIDAY SHOW - “Celebrate the holiday season with Debbie, The Russ Kassoff Orchestra, The Broadway By The Year Chorus and her guests Marc Shaiman, Norm Lewis and others.” (complimentary ticket)

This performance is downtown at the Schimmel Center For The Performing Arts @ Pace University.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.58 miles (or, 12,201 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>859.42 miles 

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>219.58 miles

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.”

Three Consecutive Entertainment Doubleheaders==>WOW!!

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, after I posted the December 7, 1941 posting I wasn’t in much of a mood to write anything else. Also, the weather had gotten really nasty and ugly out, misting rain, windy and cold.

I braved the elements for two trips to the ‘hood grocery store, primarily to restock my drink of choice, Fresca. I try to keep at least a month’s supply in reserve in case the local Food Emporium suddenly decides not to carry it any longer because they need the shelf space for something more “popular.”

It is now mid-afternoon and I have no excuse for not keeping you loyal and faithful readers and followers up-to-date on Billi Pod’s entertainment activities, so ... let’s get right to it ... with ...

I was able to score a seat for yesterday’s York Theatre staged reading of I LOVE MY WIFE - “On Christmas Eve in the 70s in suburban Trenton, New Jersey, two married couples who have been close friends since high school find themselves contemplating a ménage-à-quatre ( a 4-some).”

This show, with music by Cy Coleman, opened on Broadway in 1977, won 2 Tony Awards and ran for 857 performances.

I am happy to report that it was totally 110% enjoyable. Kudos to the stellar cast headed by my FaceBook friend Josh Grisetti. It amazes me how they are able to put on such a satisfying show with such extremely limited rehearsal time. Hopefully the show will have a life in some Off Broadway venue.

I left the theater with a smile on my face, that is for certain.

Then for the evening was ...

BUMBUG: The Musical, the rock opera reinvention of ‘A Christmas Carol’ told through the looking glass of NYC Immigrants and Hyphenated Americans==>B

Frankly, it grew on me as it developed. It is 75 minutes, without intermission, with almost no spoken dialogue because it is a "rock-opera." The cast is excellent. It is certainly different but is worth seeing.

When the show was over I went to The Port Authority Bus Terminal and did about a hour’s worth of walking.

When I finally got back to PHC it suddenly hit me that this had been my third consecutive entertainment doubleheader, all in the midweek. I don’t remember this ever happening before.

Only to NYC, folks, only in NYC!!

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>BARE: THE MUSICAL - “A contemporary rock musical that follows a group of teens wrestling with issues of identity, sexuality, and religion at a co-ed Catholic boarding school.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This show has played outside NYC to mostly favorable reviews so I am looking forward to seeing it.

The weekend is going to be interesting.

Tomorrow, at noon, I am meeting up with my Anna Maria, FL, friend John Horne and his new bride Amanda, and John’s posse for lunch at the famous restaurant Maloney & Porcelli, on East 50th Street.

Then for the evening I have a concert==>DEBBIE GRAVITTE’S ALL STAR HOLIDAY SHOW.

On Sunday, noonish, John Scott Reed, his father Stan, his father’s girlfriend Shari and Scott’s friend/roommate Bernard Lam will come to PHC so Shari can take in the view(s) and then we will get a bite somewhere in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

Then for the evening I will head down to The Public Theatre for the 3-hour long musical GIANT.

Yep, the weekend is definitely looking good. Just hope the weather is OK.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.59 miles (or, 10,047 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>853.84 miles 

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>225.16 miles

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.”

December 7, 1941 - “The Day That Will Live In Infamy.”

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Norris family: William Sr, Ruby, William Jr and Ann, were living in Winter Park, Florida

I was 7 years old and in the second grade. All of these years later that day still remains in my memory as if it were yesterday.

We were driving in our car that afternoon as we usually did on Sunday when Dad, an on-the-road representative for PurePak Drug Co, was in town (and sober).

My recollection is that we got the news of the attack on the radio while in our car. My parents were very upset and I wasn’t sure why. 

When we got home everyone huddled around our radio in the living room and listened to the breaking news reports. I remember my Mother, Ruby, silently crying.

I was still confused as to what had happened. It was explained to me that “those Japs” had made a sneak attack on one of our military bases in the Pacific.

The attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in 2,402 dead and 1,247 wounded.

I remember being put to bed rather early because I had developed a head cold and felt bad.

The next morning Dad left for work on the road and Mom kept me out of school because I had a fever.

Later in the day I remember listening to President Roosevelt’s 12:30pm “Day of Infamy” address to Congress and wondering what all of this was going to mean to me and my family. Ruby reassured me that we would be OK.

The next day, even though I still felt bad, me and my neighborhood buddies, all guys around my age, got together and we promised each other that when we got old enough we would all join the Army and fight “those damn Japs.” Our use of the word “damn” was very daring on our part, trust me. From that day forward we played war games almost every day after school. One day we would defeat “those damn Japs” and the next day the Nazis. We always won.

Yes, as I write this it still feels as if it happened yesterday.

WE MUST NEVER EVER FORGET!!

Bill

Yesterday’s Doubleheader==>AWESOME!!

WOW!! There is no other way to put it, yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was==>AWESOME!!

First was ...

MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, about a boy in 1950s Brooklyn who must be an artist at any cost - against the will of family, community and tradition==>A+

This is a riveting family drama with outstanding acting, especially from young Ari Brand in the lead role.

This show is gonna rank in Billi Pod’s Top-Ten for 2012, without a doubt.

The running time is 90 minutes, without intermission, and the engrossing story line makes the time fly by. It runs through March 3, 2013.

Billi Pod says==>see it!!

Then for the evening I met up with my friend Justin Allen Pifer, who is finishing his first semester at Pace Law School, and we walked over to Madison Square Garden to see ...

THE WHO performing their classic rock opera Quadrophenia==>A+

Folks, they, Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey, still rock. 

Our seats were excellent and for a change I didn’t have the usual dancing overweight female standing in front of me.

There aren't a lot of "famous" songs in Quadrophenia, except for “Love, Reign O’er Me” so they packed the encore section with their biggest hits: "Baba O'Riley," "Who Are You," "Behind Blue Eyes," "Pinball Wizard," and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The show ended with only Townsend and Daltrey on stage singing “Tea & Theatre.”

It was a wonderful experience and I think it was some much needed away-time for Justin, who is in the throes of preparing for his first law school final exams.

Today, may be another doubleheader. What do I mean by “may be” I know you are asking your inner selves?

Well, selves, it goes down like this ...

This afternoon I am on the “wait list” at the York Theatre for a 3:00pm performance/reading of I LOVE MY WIFE. My FaceBook friend Josh Grisetti is in the cast. I have no clue at this point if a seat will become available. I plan to arrive at the theatre at 2:00pm, so we will see.

Then for the evening is ...

8:00==>BUMBUG: The Musical - “A rock opera reinvention of ‘A Christmas Carol’ told through the looking glass of NYC Immigrants and Hyphenated Americans.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This show is playing at a theatre on my block.

Moving on ...

Major congratulations go out to ...

Gator head coach Will Muschamp who was named the SEC Co-Coach of the Year and redshirt senior Caleb Sturgis who was named Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in the SEC individual awards. 

Muschamp was named Co-Coach of the Year along with Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin and earned the first SEC Coach of the Year honor for Florida since Steve Spurrier (who???) in 1996.

Yesterday’s doubleheader had an impact on my usual walking mileage, but I did log in a bit over my “required” daily average of 3.65 miles ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.75 miles (or, 8,206 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>849.25 miles 

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>229.75 miles

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.”