Sunday Was A Kinda Weird WTF Day

Monday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, must reveal that yesterday was a really weird WTF? kinda day.

What am I talking about, I know you all are breathlessly asking your inner selves?

Well ... inner selves ... stay with me as I share with you the things that happened yesterday ... but remember ... you have to read all of this posting ... yep ... that’s right ... Billi Pod is invoking Section 2(b)(iii) of the Terms of Service Agreement that each of you accepted when you became loyal and faithful readers and followers of Billi Pod Blogs.

So ... as background ... in yesterday’s posting I gave out information and details about my scheduled entertainment doubleheader ...

4:00==>BEYOND WORDS, a 75 minute show down in The Village; and,

7:00==>STORIES MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME, a show at the new Spiral Theatre on West 36th Street.

It was my plan to get to the theater in The Village at 3:30pm, so at the "appropriate" time I headed out of PHC to subway downtown. I made sure I had the confirmation emails for each show and I verified the starting times just before I left the apartment. I am a bit paranoid about that.

As I was playing solitaire on my iPhone on the A train I noticed that the time was 2:15pm ... not 3:15pm. OMG. WTF?

Yes, I had mistakenly left an hour early. Dumb ... really dumb ... but no matter, thought I ... because the weather is nice, so I’ll just walk and wander down in The Village area for an extra hour ... and that’s what I did.

Now, Billi Pod’s report card on the show, BEYOND WORDS, a mixture of music, monologues and mime written and performed by Bill Bowers that takes us on a journey from Boyhood to Manhood=>B+<==extremely well written and performed. Very thought provoking, too.

The show ran for 90 minutes rather than the advertised 75 minutes.

No problem, I still had time to walk up to 36th Street for my second show @ 7:00pm. I didn’t, however, stop off at Penn Station for a snack as originally planned.

I have to admit that I was still processing the fact that I had originally left the apartment an hour early.

Had a half cup of coffee and then it was time to pick up my ticket for my 7:00pm show==>STORIES MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME, which weaves a modern Southern Gothic tale of a young man's relationship with the matriarch of his family.

When I got to the theater on the 3rd floor it was 6:40pm and I was surprised that no one was in the lobby area and the ticket table was unmanned. WTF?

A young man came out of one of the offices and I asked him if he was the ticket guy and he looked at me rather strangely and said yes ... but ... the show was already in progress. It had started at 6:00pm. 6:00pm==>WTF??

I got out my confirmation email and ... yes ... the starting time was indeed shown as 7:00pm, NOT 6:00pm. WTF??

There was a posting on the entrance to the theater with the correct time and I took this pic to verify what had happened.

Obviously, either the theater had told TDF the wrong time, or TDF had made a mistake in its posting.

Well ... there was nothing I could do about it ... so back to PHC I went.

I was, however, majorly pissed off. I sent an email to TDF, with pics, telling them what had happened and requesting a refund of my $9.00 (no response yet).

I settled in to watch game 2 of the ALCS, The Tigers vs. The Boston FuckSox, in that cesspool known as Fenway Park.

The Tigers built a 5-run lead and Billi Pod was in Anti-FuckSox Heaven ... when ... the bullpen imploded and Big Papi hit a grand slam to tie the game. The FuckSox ultimately won 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th. Barf and double Barf.

Yeah ... I guess it was a rather fitting end to what can only be classified as a WTF? day/evening.

Anyway ... moving on to today ...

Well, it is Monday and that means that Billi Pod has the usual errands and chores to do ... then ... for the evening is ...

7:00==>THE SECOND MAN - “Explores the relationships of four very different people: Clark, a hack writer; Kendall, a wealthy older woman; Monica, a starry-eyed young thing; and, Austin, a rich scientist.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is a staged reading at a benefit for The Peccadillo Theater Company and is being performed at The Theatre at St. Clement’s on West 46th Street.

It is time to post this and then get to work ... oh ... one major positive about yesterday was the walking mileage ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.15 miles (or, 13,458 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>25.43 miles (average 3.63 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>355.86 miles (average 3.42 miles per day)

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.”

Billi Pod Has A Sunday Doubleheader

Sunday==>I hope all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the boondocks, wastelands and wilderness are having a great weekend, filled with fun, excitement and stuff that you don’t want reported on the internet.

Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is having a great time, as usual, and has scheduled an interesting doubleheader for today. The details will be later in the posting ... so ... 

Let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

AMERICAN SHOWSTOPPERS, Featuring The Fred Barton Orchestra: “An Evening With Richard Rodgers”==>TOTALLY ENJOYABLE!!

The program consisted primarily of songs written by Rodgers that have been rarely performed because they were in shows that were not well-received by the critics and/or audiences.

Barton gave a brief but informative narrative before each of the 26 numbers were performed. They were each intertwined with Rodgers persona as a Broadway icon.

The 9 performers were each excellent and the audience was very much into the show.

My seat was in the second row, center, and that was perfect for this particular venue.

Yes, I left the Pace University venue with a big smile on my face, that, luckily helped to remove the frown that I had brought with me from the earlier fiasco known as the ...

Gators/LSU game which the Gators lost 17-6 as our “stellar” defense failed to contain The Tigers in crucial situations.

The offense was basically boring even though we had the ball much longer than did the Tigers - 34:11 vs. 25:49.

Folks, I hate to be a neigh-sayer but Billi Pod’s gut is telling him that The Gators could easily end the season with a record of 6-6 and that would truly be barf inducing.

Anyway ... moving on to more positive things ...

When the show was over I came back to PHC and watched the final innings of the Tigers/FuckSox ALCS game and ... man ... was that exciting.

The Tigers took a 1-0, no-hit, lead into the bottom of the 9th inning. With one out the FuckSox got a hit but, luckily, closer Joaquin Benoit got the final two outs and the Tigers won.

The FuckSox struck out a record-tying 17 times. Nice!!

WOW, it was truly a real nail biter down to the final out.

Moving on to today ...

Today your favorite blogger has an entertainment doubleheader scheduled ... starting with ...

4:00==>BEYOND WORDS - “An eloquent mixture of music, monologues and mime written and performed by Bill Bowers that takes us on a journey from Boyhood to Manhood and explores the enigmatic matters of gender in our culture of today.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This show is part of the All For One Theatre Festival at the Cherry Lane Studio in The West Village, has a running time of 75 minutes, without intermission and has remaining shows on 10/26 @ 1:00pm and 11/2 @ 7:00pm.

When the show is over I will leisurely walk up to Penn Station where I will kill some time people watching and having a pre-theater snack and then it will be time for my second show ...

7:00==>STORIES MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME - “Weaves a modern Southern Gothic tale of a young man's relationship with the matriarch of his family.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This show is playing at the new Spiral Theatre Studio on West 36th Street and has remaining performance dates of 10/18 @ 7:00pm, 10/19 @ 7:00pm, and 10/20 @ 6:00pm. I haven’t been able to uncover the running time.

So, there you have it ... I think it sounds like a pretty interesting combination of shows.

I will come back in the cozy confines of PHC and watch the final innings of the Tigers/FuckSox game.

Oh ... while we are talking baseball ... The Dodgers are in deep trouble in the NLCS because they now trail the Cardinals 0-2.

On that unhappy note ... will post this. 

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.05 miles (or, 6,677 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>355.86 miles (average 3.42 miles per day)

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 MODEL APARTMENT==>A

Saturday==>Good afternoon to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I hope that your weekend is off to a good start and that you have plenty of fun things and stuff scheduled. 

Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, needs to get this posting started now so that he will have plenty of time to watch college football on the tube ... so ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

THE MODEL APARTMENT, about two Brooklynites (and Holocaust survivors) whose plans for a quiet Florida retirement get dramatically derailed==>A

The couple shows up at their new condo only to find it is not ready for occupancy. They are housed in a “model apartment” which is a studio where none of the accouterments work. Then, without warning, their morbidly obese and emotionally-disturbed daughter shows up with her new black “boyfriend" and all Hell breaks loose.

Virtually everything revolves around the couple being Holocaust survivors. 

The show is powerfully dramatic, emotionally draining and extremely well acted, especially by veteran performers Mark Blum and Kathryn Grody.

The yelling, screaming and cussing does get old but the stellar acting saves the day.

This show is playing at the 59E59 Theater Complex, one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 95 minutes, without intermission, and runs through November 1.

Billi Pod says==>take a deep breath and see this show.

After the show was over I met up with two of my AA buddies (you know who we are) and we caught a quick bite at a bistro (whose name escapes me) on East 73rd Street. We did some much needed catching up.

When I got back to PHC I settled in to watch the Dodgers/Cardinals game, game 1 of the NLCS. It was the 8th inning and the game was tied 2-2.

Well, it stayed tied 2-2 until the bottom of the 13th inning when, at 1:25am, Carlos Beltran got the game-winning single and the Cards won 3-2.

It was an amazing night for Car-Bel, who also hit a tying 2-run double in the 3rd inning and then threw out a runner at the plate in the 10th inning to keep the score even.

Moving on ...

This is Billi Pod’s entertainment schedule for this wonderfully beautiful early Fall afternoon ...

3:30==>FLORIDA GATORS vs. L.S.U TIGERS @ Baton Rouge, carried on CBS.

The #10 ranked Tigers are favored by 7 points over the #17 ranked Gators.

I believe Coach Muskrat’s defense will be able to mostly contain the Tiger offense, but unfortunately, our offense will not be able to score enough points for a win. I am just calling it as I see it ... so ... don't get mad. 

BTW==>BILLI POD HATES TIGERS!!

Then for the evening ...

7:30==>AMERICAN SHOWSTOPPERS, Featuring The Fred Barton Orchestra: “An Evening With Richard Rodgers.” (discounted TDF ticket)

The show features, obviously, Fred Barton and his 12-piece orchestra plus a star-studded cast of Broadway performers.

It is being performed at the Schmmel Center for the Arts @ Pace University downtown in The City Hall area.

I have seen this group perform several times at this venue and it has always been a lot of fun. Really looking forward to tonight.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, the tube and college football are calling ... so it is time to post this ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.75 miles (or, 8,203 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>352.81 miles (average 3.43 miles per day)

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.”

COLE PORTER’S MEXICAN HAYRIDE==>B+

Friday==>It is a kinda chilly and overcast day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, hazy skies, a brisk breeze off of the Hudson River, a temperature of 65º and misting rain @ noon.

Actually, it is pretty yucky out right now and the forecast is for more of the same for the remainder of the day and into the evening hours. Oh well ...

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers, let’s get today’s timely (yeah, I said timely) posting started with your favorite blogger's report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

COLE PORTER’S MEXICAN HAYRIDE - A Staged Concert Reading, about Joe, a small-time American racketeer in Mexico on the run from the FBI, who tries to elude the local authorities and “others”==>B+

The show is slapstick funny and very well-performed by the ensemble cast. It is set in 1944, so, of course, it is dated and I am sure that many of the references to movie stars and celebrities of that era were lost to a goodly portion of the full-house audience.

The running time has been cut to 2:30, with an intermission, and that works (it was originally 2:45).

It is playing at The Theater Row Complex on my block and runs through October 20th as a part of the Musicals Tonight series.

Billi Pod says==>it’s worth seeing.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>THE MODEL APARTMENT - “A dark comedy about two Brooklynites (and Holocaust survivors) whose plans for a quiet Florida retirement get dramatically derailed when they are required to spend the night in a “model apartment” because their new condo is unfinished.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

The playwright is Pulitzer Prize winner (for “Dinner with Friends”) Donald Margulies. The cast includes veteran performers Mark Blum and Kathryn Grody.

The advance buzz is very favorable.

This show is playing at the 59E59 Theater Complex, one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 95 minutes, without intermission, and runs through November 1.

OK ... now let’s move on to just a bit of sports ...

Not that Billi Pod cares, but==>The New York Giants are off to a woeful start with a record of 0-6 after a puke-inducing performance last night by Eli Manning in the 27-21 loss to The Bears. Eli had 3 interceptions, giving him a total of 15 thus far in the season. Barf!!

On the baseball scene==>the teams are now set for the Championship Series in both leagues and here are Billi Pod’s predictions ...

American League==>Boston FuckSox over Detroit in 6-games.

National League==>Dodgers over Cardinals in 7-games.

You are so very welcum ...

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join Miette Burnstein and her family tonight for an after-theater dinner at Joe Allen. Yep, I have a previously scheduled event with a couple of my AA buddies ... so ... have a great time Miette, Kerry and Kyla for the rest of your time in The Big Apple.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.64 miles (or, 5,781 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>349.06  miles (average 3.42 miles per day)

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.”