Billi Pod Brings You Up-To-Date!!

Friday==>I hope that all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers had a grand time celebrating the 4th of July because your favorite blogger certainly did.

The only downside, as you know ... he failed to post the usual entertainment update on the awesome tripleheader he experienced on Wednesday.

So ... in order to relieve all of you out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks of your fears and anxiety let’s get this posting started with an update, in basically chronological order ... beginning with ...

WEDNESDAY

The first part of my tripleheader started with a much needed face time opportunity with John Scott Reed aka Fabson. Scott came up to my apartment on West 42nd Street and we did some catching up and then had a nice lunch at The Theatre Row Diner, located just steps away from my apartment building.

Scott is totally excited about upcoming events in his life and so am I.

When we finished lunch we split and I walked over to the Second Stage Theatre on West 43rd Street for my second entertainment event ... 

NOBODY LOVES YOU, about a philosophy grad student who is reluctantly cast in a reality TV dating show, in a attempt to win back his former girlfriend==>B

There is a lot to like about this show, starting with a very talented cast but it has a kinda clunky story line that gets a bit tiresome and predictable.

My theatre-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady, Marty Kosarik aka Whatever, Dennis Dohman and Michael Pederson gave it report cards in the C to B range.

Is is worth seeing? Yes, with a discounted or comp. ticket.

It is playing at Second Stages on West 43rd Street, has a running time of 1:45, without intermission, and runs through August 11th.

When the show was over I came on back to PHC for the usual pre-theater snack, a fruit and cheese plate, and then it was time to head downtown to 16th Street in Chelsea for my third entertainment event.

Even though the weather was iffy I decided to walk. Well, it started to rain when I reached 30th Street. I had packed my umbrella but I ended up getting pretty wet due to the wind. Oh well ... that goes with the territory if you are a walker in The City.

My entertainment event was ...

SERIOUS MONEY, a scathing satire set in London's 80s financial district==>B+

The show is noisy, vulgar, witty, salacious and very entertaining. It is written in rhyme and that takes a bit of getting-used-to. There is also song and dance.

The cast is fabulous, especially David Barlow, as an American Banker, and Alex Draper, in multiple roles.

Billi Pod says==>if you want something a bit different, then see this show.

This show is playing down at The Atlantic Theatre Stage 2 on West 16th Street, has a running time of 2:20, with an intermission, and runs through August 4th.

When the show was over the weather had cleared up so I walked back to PHC on West 42nd Street.

My walking mileage for the day was 5.30 miles.

It was a extremely enjoyable day/night.

THURSDAY - JULY 4TH

My entertainment event for the day was a concert at Avery Fisher Hall @ Lincoln Center ...

3:00==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA & US COAST GUARD BAND - “Star-Spangled Celebration.” (concert - full price ticket)

I have seen this 4th of July themed concert event for at least the past 5-years, probably longer, because it is perfect for this occasion. Also, the conductor is Englishman Bramwell Tovey, who adds a lot of humorous comments and asides during the concert.

The NY Phil performed first, including works by Copeland and the World Premiere of a piece written by Tovey called “The Lincoln Tunnel Cabaret for Trombone and Orchestra," featuring principal trombonist Joseph Alessi. Alessi was awesome!!

Then it was the US COAST GUARD BAND’s turn. They performed works by Sousa and Bernstein.

When that was completed the two groups combined on stage to perform “The Armed Forces Medley” and marches by Sousa.

“The Armed Forces Medley” encompasses the official songs of the five branches of the Armed Forces. Audience members who were in, or have family-members in, the respective services are asked to stand when the appropriate song is played. It is very very emotional, trust me on this ... it is.

“The Army Goes Marching On” was the first played and when I stood up so did the guys seated to my immediate left and right. Each of them appeared to be about my age.

The guy to my right asked me when I was in The Army and I said 1955-57 and he said ... me, too. He asked where I did my basic training and I said Fort Jackson (in Columbia, SC) and he said ... me, too, in December. OMFG! ... I said ... me, too. He then said ... 101st Airborne Division, and I said ... OMG, yes!! I then asked if he by any chance had been in Charlie Company ... and he said that he couldn’t remember. 

When the concert was over we had a brief conversation. He (8Oyrs. old) and his wife live in Albany and had come down solely for the concert. We talked about how miserable we had been crawling through the icy mud on more than one occasion during basic training.

They had to leave to catch their train back home so we had to cut our conversation short.

Wow ... it really is a small world, isn’t it?

Well, needless-to-say ... your favorite blogger left Avery Fisher Hall with a huge smile on his face. The weather was OK but kinda humid. I walked back to the apartment while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/MINNESOTA game.

It was only 5:30pm but the crowds were already moving to viewing vantage points on the Hudson River in anticipation of the fireworks show. There was a definite police presence.

When I got back to the apartment I changed clothes, had the usual fruit and cheese plate, chilled and then around 8:30pm joined the hordes of my closest friends to find a viewing spot for the fireworks show.

The weather was great with a nice breeze coming off of The Hudson River.

As I mentioned above, there was a large police presence. I am happy to report that all of the cops that I saw seemed to be in a pretty good mood, thankfully.

I found the spot I had used for the past 3 years and just chilled and people-watched until it was time for the show to begin.

It was just a little before 9:30 when it started and the show lasted for almost 30-minutes and it was AWESOME, as usual. Took lots of pictures, of course.

What isn’t awesome is the rush of the crowd once the show is over. I knew it had been a problem in the past so as soon as the final display began I was outta there. Luckily I was a bit ahead of the teeming masses and made back to PHC without any problems.

Yeah ... I hope you loyal and faithful readers and followers will agree with me that The 4th of July was a very interesting day.

Now about The Yankees. Yesterday they swept the 4-game series with The Twins, winning 9-5 on a decent outing from David Phelps and some multi-base hitting.

Tonight @ 7:05pm The Bombers return to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for a 10-game home stand: 3-games with Baltimore; 4-games with Kansas City; and, 3-games with Minnesota.

On the mound tonight for The Bombers will be Ivan Nova (2-2) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (6-3) for The Birds.

Tonight’s entertainment event will be an Off Broadway show down in Chelsea ...

7:30==>THE CASTLE - “After an absence of 7 years, a group of Crusaders returns 'home' to find authority, religion, and human relations all upended and a new society established by the women who have been left behind. The battle lines are drawn immediately.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing down at The Atlantic Theatre Stage 2 on West 16th Street, has a running time of 2:20, with an intermission, and runs through August 4th.

This is the same theatre company that is doing SERIOUS MONEY.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... you are now up-to-date ... 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.35 miles (or, 7,324 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>15.03 miles (average 3.76 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.”

Tripleheader Wednesday for Billi Pod

Wednesday==>Let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event, The Broadway show, starring Tom Hanks ...

LUCKY GUY, Nora Ephron’s tribute to real-life tabloid columnist Michael McAlary==>A

Folks, this was a totally enjoyable theater experience from the opening scene to the final eulogy to McAlary, who died at 41.

It was both informative and extremely well-acted by an outstanding cast, headed, of course, by Tom Hanks.

I don’t understand how the Tony-voters could have overlooked his stellar performance. Yes, I saw Tracy Letts in "Virginia Woolf" and thought he did a great job, but ... Hanks was much much better, IMHO.

Of course, the house was sold-out, with standing room, and the cast received a roaring, and I mean roaring, standing ovation at curtain-call.

Unfortunately, the show’s limited run ends today. I am so very glad I finally got to see it.

When I left the theater, with a smile on my face, I was happy to learn that The Yankees were winning their game up in Minnesota.

Yes, The Bronx Bombers won their second consecutive game, this time by a score of 7-4.

Game 3 of the 4-game series will be tonight at 8:10pm. On the mound for The Yankees will be our titular ace CC Sabathia (8-6) vs. P.J. Walters (2-4) for The Twins.

A-Rod’s return to the field, in a minor league rehab game, was less than encouraging. In the field he misplayed a bunt and at the plate he was 0-2, striking out and hitting into a doubleplay.

Moving on ...

Today is a tripleheader for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

First ... around noon John Scott Reed aka Fabson will come over to PHC for some much needed face time. 

We will have lunch somewhere in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

Then for the afternoon ... 

2:00pm==>NOBODY LOVES YOU - “This musical comedy follows a philosophy grad student who auditions for - and surprisingly finds himself cast in - a reality TV dating show, all in an attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend. But when an unexpected on-set love connection threatens to ruin his plan, manufactured drama collides with real emotion.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show, still in previews, is playing at Second Stages on West 43rd Street, has a running time of 1:45, without intermission, and runs through August 11th.

At the theater I expect to meet up with my theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever. We might catch a bite later at Meske, our favorite Ethiopian restaurant on West 47th Street.

Then for the evening is an Off Broadway show down in Chelsea ... 

7:30==>SERIOUS MONEY - “This scathing satire is set in the trading pits and boardrooms of London's financial district and tackles the insider trading, abuse of power, greed, sexual politics, corporate raiding and leveraged buyouts of the late '80s.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing down at The Atlantic Theatre Stage 2 on West 16th Street, has a running time of 2:20, with an intermission, and runs through August 3rd.

So ... there you have it my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... 

Oh ... my next walking challenge isn’t off to a very good start ... wait a minute ... I guess 3+ miles ain’t bad ... but ... anyway ... whatever ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.30 miles (or, 7,222 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>6.38 miles (average 3.19 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.”

Tom Hanks and LUCKY GUY for Tonight

Tuesday==>It is a gray and overcast day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, with a temperature of 77º @ noon. 

It is also kinda breezy with intermittent rain showers forecast for the remainder of the day.

I didn’t complete my errands and chores list yesterday, so ... need to make this somewhat shorter and then get back to work ...

At the time of yesterday’s blog posting I reported to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that I had not scheduled an entertainment event for the evening but was considering several options, including seeing the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn movie THE INTERNSHIP.

Well, around 5:00pm I was contacted by a friend who said he had a comp. ticket to an Off Broadway show and would I be interested. I immediately said yes, so the evening’s entertainment was scheduled.

The Off Broadway show was ...

8:00==>TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’ TWO-CHARACTER PLAY - “Reality and fantasy are interwoven with terrifying power as two actors on tour – brother and sister – find themselves deserted by their troupe. Faced by an audience expecting a performance, they enact The Two-Character Play.” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

The cast is the incredible Tony Award winner Amanda Plummer and Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif and it is playing at The New World Stages on West 50th Street.

My seat was excellent, row C in the orchestra, 4 seats from the aisle. The house was full.

Now comes the difficult part ... my friend has a connection to the show but ... I also have an obligation to my loyal and faithful readers and followers to adhere to my mantra of fair and unbiased reporting ... so ...

Billi Pod’s report card==>C+

This play has a totally incomprehensible story line. It is certainly understandable why it is rarely performed.

This production is saved by incredible acting from Amanda Plummer and  Brad Dourif. The chemistry between these two veteran actors is amazing.

A lot of people left at intermission but, of course, I remained. I am happy to report that Act II was much much better than Act I.

The show is playing at New World Stages on West 50th Street, has a running time of 1:45, with an intermission, and runs through September 1.

When I left the theater I was happy to discover that, finally, the Yankee bats had become productive and we were beating-up on The Twins, winning 10-4 to break a 5-game losing streak.

Tonight @ 8:10pm is game 2 of the 4-game series. On the mound for the Yankees will be Phil Hughes (3-7) vs. Samuel Deduno (4-2) for The Twins.

BREAKING NEWS==>A-ROD will start his first rehab game tonight with the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs. Oh the drama!!

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for this evening will be a Broadway show ... 

7:00==>LUCKY GUY - “Nora Ephron’s elegy and valentine to the rough-and-tumble of big-city newsrooms and scoop-hungry reporters stars Tom Hanks as the real-life tabloid columnist Michael McAlary.” (Broadway - full price ticket)

This well-reviewed drama closes its limited run on Wednesday. It has a running time of 2:00, with intermission.

I am sooooooooo glad I was finally able to score a ticket for this before it closes. It has been at 100% capacity during most of its run.

In closing ... I know you loyal and faithful readers and followers have been anxiously awaiting the announcement of Billi Pod’s next walking challenge (in addition to his previously announced “Bridge Walk” adventure) ... so ... here it is ...

For the next year, beginning July 1, 2013, I will attempt to walk an average of at least 5.0 miles per day, or a total for the 12-months of at least 1,825.00 miles, all recorded, of course, on my WeightWatchers Pedometer.

So ... there you have it.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.08 miles (or, 6,745 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>3.08 miles (average 3.08 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.”

1,726.52 Miles==>AWESOME!!

Monday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace==>last night, at 11:59:59pm, your favorite blogger recorded the day’s walking mileage at 6.73 miles, bringing his total walking mileage for the year July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013, to a rather amazing 1,726.52 miles. That, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, calculates to an average of 4.73 miles per day.

All of this activity was recorded on the WeightWatchers Pedometer that was given to me by my theater-buddy, Dian Crystal aka My Lady, back on June 20, 2012. Without a doubt, this gift brought about the whole yearly walking challenge ... so ...

THANK YOU MY LADY!!

I am working on a separate posting regarding this epic event and will probably post it either later today or tomorrow ... so ... stay tuned.

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s concert at The 92nd Street Y, in the Upper Eastside ...

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHORUS & YOUNG VOICES OF MELBOURNE - TRANSMUSICA, music from Australia and America==>A

This was a incredibly enjoyable concert performed by two talented groups of young (8 to 18) singers. Each group performed separately and then for the finale they combined on stage for two numbers, “Sesere eeye” and “Give Us Hope,” that brought the audience to its feet in a roaring and well-deserved ovation.

In 2011 The Young People’s Chorus of New York was awarded a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.

The Young Voices of Melbourne are on the first stop of a six-city, five-state US summer tour.

When the concert was over @ 6:00pm I left the auditorium with a big smile on my face.

The smile remained when I saw that the weather had cleared up and I would be able to fulfill my plan of walking back from 92nd Street in the Upper Eastside to my apartment on West 42nd Street, a distance of approximately 3.75 miles.

I rather leisurely walked south on Lexington Avenue all the way down to 42nd Street and then west on 42nd Street back to the apartment, taking a brief break at Bryant Park at 42nd and 6th Avenue.

When I got back to the apartment I had time to shower, have my delayed fruit and cheese plate, and then settle in to watch the YANKEE/BALTIMORE game on ESPN.

Well ... as you loyal and faithful readers and followers know ... it was a total BUMMER, if you are a Yankee fan.

It was an ugly 4-2 loss as Hiroki Kuroda gave up three solo home runs and our bats continued to be dormant. The Birds swept the series and it was our 5th consecutive loss. We continue down that slimy sewer to the bottom of the AL East.

Tonight @ 8:10pm begins a 4-game series up in Minnesota against The Twins. On the mound for The Wankies will be Andy Pettitte (5-6) vs. Scott Diamond (5-7) for The Twins.

Moving on ... 

As you know, Monday is my usual errands and chores day and I have plenty of things that need to be done.

At the moment I have nothing scheduled entertainment-wise for tonight, although, of course, I have multiple options. Seriously considering seeing the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn movie THE INTERNSHIP.

Will not be walking the bridges, weather is too iffy.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.73 miles (or, 14,723 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>36.63 miles (average 5.23 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,726.52 miles (or, 3,775,899 steps - average 4.73 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.”