COLIN QUINN==>A

Friday==>I hope that everyone, including my Worker Bee friends, has a great weekend, and, guys, don’t forget that Sunday is Mother’s Day. Yeah ... that’s right guys ... Mother’s Day ... you are so very welcome. 

Anyway ... let’s get started with your favorite blogger’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

COLIN QUINN - UNCONSTITUTIONAL, the comic tackles 226 years of American Constitutional calamities in 70 minutes==>A

The show is in-your-face-funny, timely and very thought-provoking.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I must reveal that Quinn is not one of my favorite performers so I had many misgivings about this show. I only booked it because of recommendations from several of my theater-buddies, including My Lady aka Dian Crystal.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, Billi Pod is glad that he listened to them because this was a totally enjoyable evening from the moment Quinn came on stage until he left to roaring applause 70-minutes later.

If you are a freethinker then this is definitely the show for you, however, if you are the slightest bit prudish/conservative/Republican ... then ... stay far far away.

The show is at The Barrow Street Theatre and runs through June 3rd.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is an Off Broadway musical ...

7:30==>CARMEN’S PLACE (A Fantasy) - “3 young opera singers are rehearsing Bizet’s classic opera, Carmen, when they meet a coffee shop waitress whose name is also Carmen. Friendships develop and their lives are forever changed.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at The Castillo Theatre in my immediate ‘hood.

OK ... now on to some sports stuff ... for you Marty, wherever in the f**k you are ...

Last night The Yankees beat The Rockies 3-1 in a game that had a 2-hour rain delay. With the win The Bronx Bombers inched into the lead in the AL East, for the first time this season.

Tonight @ 8:10pm, in Kansas City, is the first game of a 3-game series against The Royals. It will be Phil Hughes (1-2) for The Bombers vs. Wade Davis (2-2) for The Royals.

OK, everyone out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks ... it is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ... 72º at 11:30am ... so your favorite blogger feels the urge/need/desire to post this and then head outside for a major walk and wander session ... so ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.05 miles (or, 11,042 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,460.81 miles

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.”

HAPPY 60TH TO DR. JOHN BENDECK!!

Thursday==>A HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout-out to my son-in-law Dr. John Bendeck aka Dr. John of Columbia, SC. John has reached the big SIX OH today and is celebrating this momentous occasion with his wife, Kathi, in St. Lucia, in the Caribbean. Have a great time guys.

Your favorite blogger wants to get this Thursday posting started with his report cards on the two shows that comprised yesterday’s terrific entertainment doubleheader ... so ... first ... a comedy at The Theatre Row Complex on my block ...

SCRAMBLED EGGS, our journey with Karen and her dysfunctional parents, sexual awakenings, and the rigors of dating, marriage and parenthood==>A-

The show is funny and at times very poignant. It is extremely well-acted, especially Amy Van Nostrand as Karen. The stellar supporting cast plays multiple roles, literally changing characters at the snap of a finger.

I am so glad I got to see it because its limited run ends on May 11th.

Then for the evening was my second show at Theatre Row, the musical ...

BUNTY BERMAN PRESENTS, the musical comedy about a 1950s Bollywood mogul trying to keep his studio alive==>B+

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to reveal that I had serious misgivings about this show, due largely to some really nasty postings on several of the local theater chat-boards.

Well ... I found this show to be pleasantly fun and ended up liking it a whole lot more than I had expected/anticipated. The staging and choreography is excellent and the score is acceptable.

The acting is very good and I particularly liked Sarob Wadia as Raj, the aging and fading leading-man.

It is playing at the largest theater in the Theatre Row Complex and it was probably 98% full and the audience was very much into the show.

It runs through June 1st.

So ... Billi Pod says==>see it

When the show was over I came back to PHC and settled in to watch the rest of the Yankees/Rockies game out in Denver. It was only the 3rd inning.

Well, it was a nail-biter to put it mildly. Whew ... we won 3-2.

The Yankees got an excellent outing from David Phelps, although he didn’t get the win. We scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th and then Mo came in to record his 12th save of the season.

Interesting side note - due to the depleted roster, in the bottom of the 9th Vernon Wells was called on to play 3rd base, a position he had not played during his entire professional career. He fielded a grounder and made a perfect throw to lst. Wow!!

This afternoon, at 3:10pm, is the final game of the 3-game series and it will be our ace CC Sabathia (4-3) on the mound for The Bombers vs. Jeff Francis (1-2) for The Rockies. CC's last two outings have been lackluster.

Of course your favorite blogger will be in front of the tube for the game ... then for the evening is a show downtown in The West Village ... 

8:00==>COLIN QUINN IN UNCONSTITUTIONAL - “The comic tackles 226 years of American Constitutional calamities in 70 minutes. From predator drones to the Kardashians, he pulls no punches in asking if this is what the founding fathers planned.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This show is playing at The Barrow Street Theatre and has a limited run.

Oh ... I forgot to give a weather report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers. Well ... it has been lightly raining all morning and it is kinda yucky here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Oh well ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.04 miles (or, 4,465 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,455.76 miles

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.”

CORE VALUES==>A-

Tuesday==>Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. 

It was rainy and ugly at 8:30am this morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, but I am happy to report that as of 11:30am the rain is gone and it has cleared up a bit. It was actually the first rain we have had in a couple of weeks.

So ... why don’t we get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

CORE VALUES, about the owner and employees of a small travel agency facing the realities of a rapidly evolving marketplace==>A-

The show has excellent acting with a funny but also thoughtful story line, that takes place during an office-staged retreat. 

Reed Birney, as Richard, the agency owner, does a great job in getting the audience involved in his personal and professional dilemmas as he tries to lead his employees through a basically mind-numbing business retreat. The rest of the cast is also stellar.

Yes, parts of the story line are basically hard to believe but the acting quickly overcomes that flaw. I do think, however, that 10-minutes could easily be cut from the 90-minute running time.

The small house was sold-out and the audience was very much into the show. It runs through May 18th at Ars Nova on West 54th Street.

I have to report that The New York Times gave the show a very negative review. But, several of my theater-buddies share my view of the show ... so ... 

Billi Pod Says==>see it!

Today, being a Wednesday, your favorite blogger has scheduled yet another entertainment doubleheader, starting with an Off Broadway comedy ...

2:00==>SCRAMBLED EGGS - “We follow 

Karen on a hectic yet humorous journey through her life. Along the way we experience her dysfunctional parents, her sexual awakenings, and the rigors of dating, marriage and parenthood.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my block.

Then for the evening, also at the Theatre Row Complex, will be an Off Broadway musical comedy ...

7:00==>BUNTY BERMAN PRESENTS - “In this musical comedy a 1950s Bollywood mogul tries to keep his studio alive but he must navigate his way through divas, mobsters, and ambitious tea boys.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I must reveal that this show has received very mixed reviews from the critics along with very diverse opinions from most of my theater-buddies.

So ... we will just have to see, won’t we?

Moving on to the Yankee Universe, for Marty, of course ... 

The Bronx Bombers lost 2-0 last night to the Colorado Rockies as our bats went totally dead. We got only 4-hits. Barf!!

Tonight @ 8:40pm it will be game 2 of the series with David Phelps (1-1) on the mound for The Yankees vs. Juan Nicasio (3-0) for The Rockies.

I will be able to watch the final innings and that is good.

OK, need to run to the grocery store and do some stuff before my matinee ... so ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.73 miles (or, 5,974 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,453.72 miles

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.”

ANALOG & VINYL==>Great Potential

Tuesday==>Still trying to process the remarkable story about The International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School, Bartow, FL, being ranked No. 2 on Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s ranking of America’s best high schools. 

AWESOME!!

Let’s get this posting started with your favorite blogger's thoughts and observations on last night’s reading at The York Theatre. Remember, Billi Pod usually doesn’t assign letter-grades to readings unless the work in barf-inducingly bad.

ANALOG & VINYL, will the struggling owner of a record store sell his soul to the Devil in order to stay in business?==>interesting, funny and thought-provoking.

I was impressed with the level of performance from the cast in this musical. There was great interaction between the lead characters played by Anthony Rapp, as the store owner, and Sarah Stiles, as Rodeo Girl, the employee. 

David Turner as The Man aka Satan almost steals the show.

IMHO this musical has great potential and I hope it gets produced in The Tri-State area.

I saw the reading as a guest of Dian Crystal aka My Lady, who was there with her FaceBook friend Thomas. They also liked it. 

Tonight’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show at Ars Nova Theatre on West 54th Street ...

8:00==>CORE VALUES - “With the world around him changing at a dizzying pace, the owner of a small travel agency faces the realities of a rapidly evolving marketplace.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Hummmmm ... sounds a lot like last night’s reading, doesn’t it?

Moving on to a bit of sports, all for you Marty ...

Tonight @ 8:40pm the Yankees will play the Colorado Rockies, the first game of a 3-game series in Denver.

On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Hiroki Kuroda (4-1) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (2-3) for The Rockies.

Because we will be playing a NL team at their home we will lose the DH and that usually means trouble for AL teams.

OK ... in closing ... in response to some snarky emails and texts ... yes ... I did sorta promise that I would post the entertainment stats for April during the weekend ... and ... I didn’t. So ... just get over it ... they will be forthcoming ...

BREAKING NEWS==>Danny Wuerffel, the former University of Florida Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, who still holds the SEC record for touchdowns in the SEC, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December. 

Danny is the seventh Florida Gator to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Chomp! Chomp!! Chomp!!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.08 miles (or, 8,916 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,450.99 miles

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.”

Bartow High School, One of America’s BEST Schools!!!

Breaking News==>The International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School, Bartow, FL, has been ranked No. 2 on Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s ranking of America’s best high schools.

My loyal and faithful readers, you have to take a minute and click on the link below to read an amazing story in The Daily Beast, an internet news source, about the Bartow program.

DO IT NOW!!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/06/inside-bartow-high-one-of-america-s-best-high-schools.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Cheat%20Sheet&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_afternoon&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_afternoon

I am soooooooo proud!!

Bill

KEEN TEENS==>Enjoyable

Monday==>Well, it’s a Back-To-Work Monday for all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wilderness. Ain’t nothing you can do about it, so ... stop your bitching. Your lives are what they are ... it ain’t gonna ever change ... so just live with it ...

However ... to make your day somewhat better ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s entertainment event ...

KEEN TEENS, the world premieres of three plays written for, and performed by ... tada ... teenagers==>an enjoyable, lighthearted theater experience.

The final play, A Polar Bear In NJ, was the funniest. It is about Global Warming and the difficulty a polar bear has in adjusting to a new life after relocating to New Jersey. (hey, guys, everyone has difficulty in relocating to New Jersey).

Yes, your favorite blogger left the Theatre Row Complex with a smile on his face.

And that was good because he actually entered the theatre with a scowl on his face as a result of watching the Yankees lose 5-4 to the A’s in a game we could-have/should-have won.

For the second game in a row Andy Pettitte was unable to locate his pitches. It was painful to watch. What was also painful was Eduardo Nunez, Derek Jeter’s stand-in, leaving the game due to a “tight rib cage.” Man, what is it with all of the f**king injuries?

Anyway ... the Yankees have the day off and will travel to Denver for a 3-game series against the Rockies.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event will be a staged reading at the York Theatre ...

7:00==>ANALOG & VINYL - “Harrison is obsessed with LPs from the sixties, the superior quality of analog and trying to keep his vintage record store from going under. Rodeo Girl, a quirky Silverlake hipster, is obsessed with Harrison but he barely notices. That is, until a mysterious customer makes them a devilish offer they can’t refuse.” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

I am seeing this reading as a guest of Dian Crystal aka My Lady.

As you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, Monday is Billi Pod’s errands and chores day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, so ... it is time to post this and get at it ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.62 miles (or, 7,928 steps)

Total mileage for week==>30.16 miles (average 4.31 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,446.91 miles (average 4.68 miles per day)

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."