AN ENCHANTED EVENING WITH PAULO SZOT==>AWESOME!

Wednesday==>BREAKING NEWS ALERT ... at the end of today’s blog will be some disturbing news regarding A-Rod.

You are given this advance info so you can prepare your self, whether you are a Yankee fan or a Yankee hater. Trust me  ... it is pretty grim.

Anyway ... it is another nice morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, blue skies with puffy clouds, nice breeze and a temperature of only 68º @ 11:00am.

So, let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s concert at Avery Fisher Hall ...

AN ENCHANTED EVENING WITH PAULO SZOT @ Avery Fisher Hall==>TOTALLY AWESOME!

Szot, backed by The New York Philharmonic and also by a Jazz Ensemble headed by Billy Stritch, was in top form and he had the audience enthralled from the first number through his final encore.

He has joined by Megan Hilty and Marin Mazzie and they were both outstanding.

The show was done without an intermission and ran for almost 2 hours. When it was over the full-house audience gave the performers and orchestra a roaring standing ovation. It was well-earned.

I had a discounted $20.00 ticket and it was excellent, in the first row center in the second tier. Nice!!

Needless-to-say, your favorite blogger left Avery Fisher Hall with a big smile on his face. The weather was great so I walked back to PHC while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/CLEVELAND game on my new Walkman.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>NAKED DARROW - “A provocative look at our most hated and revered attorney Clarence Darrow as his great mind slips away. A revealing portrait of the man - not the legend - one never before seen and based on the most intimate details of his life.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at a theatre on West 78th Street and has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission.

I will walk back to PHC after the show, weather permitting.

Now for Marty’s daily sports fix ...

Last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, The Bronx Bombers beat the Indians 4-3 on another clutch homer from Mark Teixeira, this time a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 3rd.

David Phelps pitched a great game, going 6 innings, giving up only 1 hit and 0 runs.

This afternoon @ 1:05pm it will be our faltering ace CC Sabathia (5-4) vs. Cory Kluber (3-3) for The Indians.

OK ... now about the breaking news ...

As you baseball fans know there has been an ongoing MLB investigation involving performing enhancing substances (PEDs) and the operation of a so-called Anti-Aging Clinic in Miami. There have been rumors about several star players including A-Rod. Thus far everyone has denied any involvement.

Well, it is now reported that the owner of the clinic has reached an agreement with MLB and is furnishing damning information and evidence regarding specific players, including A-Rod, who is currently on the DL due to back surgery.

If this is true then MLB will punish the players with lengthy suspensions.

These are the headlines in today’s papers ...

“A-ROD FACES 100 GAME BAN: Alex among 20 players to be suspended.” - front page of The Daily News

“LAB RAT: Clinic founder looks to dish dirt on A-Rod, others as feds eye probe.” - back page of The Daily News

“TARGET: A-ROD - MLB eyes 100-game suspension for Rodriquez: report.” - back page of The New York Post

“Baseball to Get Help in Doping Case - The head of an anti-aging clinic agrees to provide information.” - front page of Sports Section of The New York Times.

If this plays out as the sources predict then Billi Pod believes that A-Rod’s baseball career, at least in MLB, is over and done with. Good riddance.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... stay tuned for more info as the story develops.

On this happy note ... time to post this and do some stuff.

Oh ... yesterday was another excellent walking day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.54 miles (or, 14,297 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,594.00 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.”

BROADWAY BY THE YEAR: The Musicals of 1988==>B+

Tuesday==>It is a beautiful afternoon here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Azure blue skies, nice breeze and temperature of only 66º @ 1:00pm.

Yes, it is definitely walk and wander weather and your favorite blogger will take advantage of it as soon as he can.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event at Town Hall ...

 BROADWAY BY THE YEAR: The Musicals of 1988 @ Town Hall==>B+

The evening was totally enjoyable, as usual, especially the selections from Phantom of the Opera that featured Howard McGillan, who set the record for performances in the title role.

The songs from the less successful shows, like Chess and Carrie, were interesting and all well-performed. 

Honestly, except for Phantom, 1988 was pretty much a lackluster year for musicals and that is why the evening receives a B+ rather than an A.

I am happy to report that my comp. seat wasn’t in the upper nosebleed section as anticipated but rather, in the 3rd row center of the balcony. Not bad, not bad at all.

Scott Siegel did his usual excellent job as emcee, providing background information and many theatre-related quips.

When the show was over I walked back to PHC while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/INDIANS game on my new Walkman. Details below.

Tonight’s entertainment will be more Broadway music, this time at Lincoln Center ...

8:00==>AN ENCHANTED EVENING WITH PAULO SZOT @ Avery Fisher Hall - “The Tony winner joins The New York Philharmonic, television's Megan Hilty and Broadway's Marin Mazzie for showstoppers from Broadway to Brazil and back again.” (concert - discounted ticket)

The program will includes numbers from My Fair Lady, Camelot, Man of La Mancha and South Pacific.

I am really looking forward to this.

Moving on to the sports world ...

Last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, the heretofore dormant Bomber bats finally came alive as we beat Cleveland 7-4.

Mark Teixeira hit a grandslam in the bottom of the 3rd inning to give us a 3-run lead. Unfortunately, Andy Pettitte couldn’t hold it. He gave up 4 runs in only 4 2/3 innings. The Yankees took back the lead in the 6th with clutch hitting from Brett Gardner.

As a side note, the Bleacher Creatures gave former Yankee Nick Swisher a nice round of applause and cheers at the beginning of the game. He went 0-4 but did drive in a run.

Tonight @ 7:05pm it will be David Phelps (3-3), hopefully coming back from the worst start of his young career, for The Bronx Bombers vs. Scott Kazmir (3-2) for The Indians.

Moving on ...

Wow==>Billi Pod Blogs has now exceeded 70,000 page views in the little over 2 years since the website began accumulating usage data. And, as of today, my profile has had 14,014 views. Who would have thunk it? 

Yesterday was also another good walking day ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.36 miles (or, 13,912 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,587.46 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.”

MOONLIGHT & LOVE SONGS==>A

Monday==>It was a gloomy and overcast morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World but at noon it has cleared up a bit. Which is good because your favorite blogger has plenty of things and stuff to do today, his usual errands day.

So ... we will get today’s blog underway for you loyal and faithful readers and followers with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s Off Broadway show ... 

MOONLIGHT & LOVE SONGS, about a forty-five and alone architect who falls in love with a young male college student and then all Hell breaks loose==>A

The show was extremely well-acted with a believable and very thought-provoking story line, involving deception, redemption, forgiveness, family and love. 

When the show was over I spent about 90 minutes in a nice walk and wander session in West Chelsea.

My plan for the evening was to stay in to watch the final game of the YANKEE/BOSTON FUCKSOX series on ESPN @ 8:00pm.

When I got back to PHC after my walk and wander session I discovered that I had no WiFi access. WTF?? I won’t bore you with the details. It was restored about 3 hours later, Thank God.

Anyway ... settled in to watch the game and ... barf and double barf ... there was a 50-minute rain delay, even though it never rained.

When the game finally got underway The FuckSox built a 3-0 lead at the end of 6 innings and then the rain came pouring down and the game was finally called about an hour later.

This means that The Wankies have lost 7 of the last 8 games and 9 of the last 12. Not good.

Tonight, weather permitting, @ 7:05pm out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, will be game one of a 3-game series against The Cleveland Indians.

On the mound for The Wankies will be Andy Pettitte (4-3), coming off of the DL vs. Justin Masterson (8-3) for The Indians.

Moving on to tonight’s entertainment event ... 

8:00==>BROADWAY BY THE YEAR: The Musicals of 1988 - “Performed by a cast of talented cabaret and Broadway singers and dancers, this program not only highlights favorite show-stopping numbers, it also features lesser-known gems.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This critically acclaimed series is written and hosted by Scott Siegel and is usually a lot of fun, although, if the past holds true, my comp. seat is gonna be in the very rear of the balcony.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, as you know, Monday is Billi Pod’s errands and stuff day, so ... gotta post this and then get started while the weather is good ...

Oh ... IMHO the following walking stats are pretty AWESOME ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.43 miles (or, 11,869 steps)

Mileage for week==>41.07 miles (average 5.87 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,581.10 miles (average 4.69 miles per day)

Mileage remaining to reach 1,700 miles by 7/1/13==>118.80 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.”

Saturday==>TOTALLY AWESOME!!

Sunday==>Yesterday was one of those AWESOME days for Billi Pod, your favorite blogger, here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and is yet another example of why he loves living here.

Billi Pod had two excellent Off Broadway shows, some catchup time with one of his FaceBook friends, all wrapped around some pretty impressive walking mileage.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, we will get started with Billi Pod’s report cards on the two Off Broadway shows ... beginning with ...

CHARLES IVES TAKE ME HOME, how composer Charles Ives attempts to resolve a dispute between a music-loving man and his basketball-loving daughter==>B+

I found the show to be interesting, informative and extremely well-acted by the 3-person cast. Yes, there is a lot of anger and frustration and too much yelling and screaming but the overall product is worth seeing.

It is playing downtown in The West Village at The Rattlestick Theatre and runs through June 29th. The running time is 75 minutes, without intermission.

I left PHC about 90 minutes before show time, subwayed down to The Village, and then spent the time in a very pleasant walk and wander session. Nice breeze and lots of shade.

Oh ... on the way to the subway I ran into Kim, who claims not to be stalking me. I really think he got out of one of those scary black SUVs, just as I was passing by ... anyway ... 

When the show was over I walked back to the apartment on 42nd Street, a distance of 2.5 miles. It really felt great but I was wet and sweaty when I got back, so I showered and then had the usual pre-theater fruit and cheese plate.

My evening’s entertainment event was another Off Broadway show ...

POTTED POTTER, two performers condense all seven Harry Potter books into 70 madcap minutes==>A

The two performers are excellent and their comedic timing is perfect. In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I must state that if you haven’t at least seen the movies, then you will have no clue what is happening on stage or why the audience is roaring with laughter. Be warned.

As I posted yesterday, this show had a very successful run last year in the same venue, The Little Shubert Theatre, and then a successful national tour. It will run through September 1st.

I saw it last year on May 23rd and gave it a B+. This time I gave it an A because it seemed to be somewhat better paced and funnier.

Yes, I have no problem in recommending it for theatergoers of all ages.

Before the show I met up with my FB friend, Daniel Nickle, and we did some much needed catching up. 

It was about 9:30pm when I left the theater, with a big smile on my face. I walked for about 30 minutes in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood to get my total mileage for the day over the 8-mile mark.

Yes, that’s right my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite 79-year-old blogger clocked in 8+ miles yesterday ... how ‘bout dat?

Anyway ... moving on ...

Today’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show playing at the Abingdon Theatre Complex on West 36th Street ...

3:00==>MOONLIGHT AND LOVE SONGS - “Forty-five and alone, architect Harry Wallace’s romantic dreams come true when he falls in love with Jim, a young college student. Their romance seems motion picture-perfect until a staggering revelation causes it to implode.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

When the show is over I will walk down to the Chelsea area for at least 90 minutes of walk and wander time.

What are my plans for this evening I know you are all breathlessly asking your inner selves?

Well ... selves ... at the moment your favorite blogger plans to stay in to watch the final game of the YANKEES/BOSTON FUCKSOX series to be carried on ESPN at 8:00pm.

The above “announcement” allows me to briefly comment on the ass-kicking we got last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

Yes, The FuckSox won 11-1 before an announced crowd of 48,784. Thank God I had made alternate plans for the theater rather than follow my initial plan, which was to stay in and watch the game.

Phil Hughes sucked. Youkilis and Teixeira, both returning from the DL, each struck-out 3 times. Not good.

Tonight it will be Hiroki Kuroda (6-3) on the mound for The Yankees vs. Clay Buchhotz (7-0) for the FuckSox.

So ... on this happy note will post this and get ready for my afternoon of theater and walking.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>8.30 miles (or, 18,147 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,575.77 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.”

THE UNAVOIDABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF TOM DURNIN==>C

Saturday==>It is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World - 79º @ 10:30am - a great way to get the weekend started.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, why don’t we get this posting started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event, the first preview-performance of the Off Broadway show ...

THE UNAVOIDABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF TOM DURNIN, about a white-collar criminal who attempts to reconnect with his family after serving 5-years in prison==>C<==giving it the benefit of the doubt.

In summary==>send him back to prison because he’s a lying manipulating asshole. It’s been a long time since I witnessed such a totally dislikable character on stage. The whole story line involves his draconian attempts to re-impose his will on his family and everyone else around him.

Actually none of the characters are very likable and that made the show even more of a downer.

So ... Billi Pod says==>stay far away from this show unless you are into self-flagellation.

The only positive aspect was meeting up with my theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady, Mary Maggio, and Kim before the show began.

Anyway ... hopefully today’s entertainment doubleheader will be better, starting with a new Off Broadway show down in The Village ...

3:00==>CHARLES IVES TAKE ME HOME - “When a father's love of music clashes with his daughter's passion for basketball, modernist composer Charles Ives is the perfect referee in this comedic and poignant story of dissonance, defense, and devotion.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at The Rattlestick Theatre, known for producing cutting edge works.

When the show is over I will walk back to PHC, have the usual pre-theater snack, a fruit and cheese plate, and then it will be time for the second show ...

8:00==>POTTED POTTER - “Two performers condense all seven Harry Potter books into 70 madcap minutes, aided only by multiple costume changes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show had a very successful run a year ago at the Little Shubert Theatre on my block and is returning to the same venue for a second visit after a well-reviewed road tour. I saw it back then and totally enjoyed it and am really looking forward to seeing it again.

Now ... just a bit of sports ...

Last night, out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, the Yankees got back on track and beat the loathsome Boston FuckSox 4-1 behind an excellent outing from our ace CC Sabathia. Both Teixeira and Youkilis were in the lineup.

CC was back in his ace form, giving up one run and striking out 10 over 7 1/3 innings. Mo got the save, in true form.

Game 2 is tonight at 7:15pm and it will be Phil Hughes (2-3) on the mound for The Bombers vs. Felix Doubrant (3-2) for The FuckSox.

OK everyone ... time to post this and then head downtown to The Village for a nice walk and wander session before my show.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.35 miles (or, 13,884 steps)

Total mileage for May==>141.99 miles (average 4.58 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,567.47 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.”