BLAH Monday/The Wankies/Queen of Sheba/THE RIVALS

Tuesday==>Well, your favorite blogger had a  BLAH day yesterday here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Most of the day was spent on the seemingly never-ending list of errands and chores. I kept checking my ticket services but nothing of any interest showed up.

Had been considering catching the just opened block-buster movie THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 but when decision time arrived I just wasn’t in the mood to brave the teeming hordes ... so ... Billi Pod opted to stay in for the evening to watch baseball on his new (to him) 42” TV.

Yeah, I know ... but calm down ... even Billi Pod gets to stay in every now and then ... but ... what a BUMMER.

WHY? Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, The Yankees lost to the LA Angels by a score of 4-1. It wasn’t the loss that earns a BUMMER ... it was how we lost that sucked.

Since the game was played late in LA the local papers have no coverage ... so ...

The score was tied 1-1 into the top of the 8th inning. The Wankies loaded the bases with no outs ... then ... a strike-out and a doubleplay and ... no runs.

Then came the barf inducing scene. In the bottom of the 8th The Angels loaded the bases and then scored 3 runs without getting a hit as our bullpen imploded by walking in 3 runs. It was truly puke-inducing, it really was.

Yeah, this is what capped off a BLAH day.

Tonight @ 10:00pm is game 2 of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Wankies will be Hiroki Kuroda (2-3) vs. C.J. Wilson (4-2) for The Angels.

Moving on ...

This afternoon, at 3:00pm (why this time??? I have no clue) I am meeting up with Dian Crystal aka My Lady, Marty Kosarik aka Whatever and his boyfriend Robert, and Vera Olichney at Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian restaurant at 10th Avenue and 46th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood, for my delayed 80th birthday party, at least I think that’s why we are getting together.

Really looking forward to being with them. I hope they will remember to bring name-tags.

Then for the evening is an Off Broadway show ...

7:00==>THE RIVALS - “A revival of the bawdy 1775 (yeah, that’s the correct year) comedy about Lydia Languish who dreams of eloping with the impoverished Captain Beverly. Little does she know that ‘Beverly’ is really Jack Absolute, a wealthy aristocrat.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show just opened, is playing at The Pearl Theatre on West 42nd Street, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and runs through May 25th.

In closing==>even though yesterday was a BLAH day, Billi Pod logged in some decent walking mileage ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.06 miles (or, 8,877 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>436.66 miles (average 3.49 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.”

Back To Work Monday/Intermission/The Wankies

Monday==>It is a bright, sunny and breezy Back To Work Monday here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World==>57º at 10:00am. The projected high is only 64º.

Your favorite blogger has a lot of errands and chores on his to-do list ... so let’s get started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ... 

INTERMISSION, about a married couple who, after attending the opening night of a new play by an anonymous playwright, find themselves swept up in a series of events that will change their lives forever==>C

There is decent acting from the 4-person cast but the story line is totally implausible and is burdened with way too many improbable, contrived plot twists.

Yes, there are laughs early on but the plot gets darker and darker until it is almost overwhelmed with “sadness,” making the event only mildly entertaining.

Billi Pod says==>you are warned.

It is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through May 24th.

As I am preparing this posting my entertainment plans for this evening are in flux. Because it is Monday my theater options are rather limited. Am seriously considering braving the masses to see the recently opened THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2.

Moving on ...

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that the Off Broadway show PEDDLER just received a rave review in today’s New York Times ... “here he [Harry Melling] is, giving a powerful and delicately calibrated solo performance in his poetic first play.”

As you will recall, your favorite blogger gave it an A-.

To my Tri-State theater friends==>you better grab a ticket to this show ASAP because it only runs through May 18th.

Moving on to the sports scene ... for you Marty ...

Yesterday The Wankies and our former ace CC Sabathia basically sucked, losing 5-1 to The Rays in a game we were never in, going 0-10 with runners in scoring position.

CC lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs and 10 hits. He was loudly (and deservedly) booed when he was taken out of the game.

Tonight, at 10:00pm out in LA, is the first of a 3-game series against The Angels.

On the mound for The Wankies will be David Phelps (0-0) vs. Jered Weaver (2-2) for The Angels.

On this happy note will close this posting out and begin working on my errands and chores list.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.50 miles (or, 9,839 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>28.18 miles (average 4.03 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2014==>432.60 miles (average 3.49 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.”

Happy 32nd Birthday to My Grandson Chris Falletta

Sunday==>A major HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout-out to my youngest grandson, Chris Falletta aka Topher, who lives in Apopka, FL. Topher is celebrating his 32nd. 

Have a great day. Love and hugs!!

Moving on to Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

PEDDLING, about a young peddler in London who wakes up in a field with no memory of how he got there==>A-

It is extremely well-performed by the author, Harry Melling, who played the obnoxious cousin, Dudley Dursley, in the Harry Potter movies.

The set is incredible. It is a floor-to-ceiling see-thru scrim box encircling a patch of grass surrounded by dirt, with an electrical pole in the middle. Seating is on all four sides, very near the action.

The story line, basically delivered in rhymes, is a commentary on the very real issues of class, overloaded social workers and mental illness. It is very emotional but at times kinda hard to follow.

Billi Pod says==>want good acting, with lots of drama? Then see this show.

It is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex on East 59th Street, one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 1:00, without intermission, and runs though May 18th.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for today is another Off Broadway show ...

3:00==>INTERMISSION - “When married couple Lori and Blake attend the opening night of a new play by an anonymous playwright, they find themselves swept up in a series of events that will change their lives forever.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This comedy is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through May 24th.

On the sports scene ... 

The Yankees bounced back from their shameful extra-innings defeat on Friday night to beat The Rays 9-3 with basically the long-ball and great pitching from the bullpen.

Masahiro Tanaka had a less than stellar outing but picked up the win to go to 4-0 for the season.

This afternoon @ 1:05pm, out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, is the final game of the 3-game series.

On the mound for The Yankees will be our struggling former ace CC Sabathia (3-3) vs. Erik Bedard (0-1) for The Rays.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.49 miles (or, 7,637 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>428.10 miles (average 3.48 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.”

Tim and Scrooge/Peddler/Yankees

Saturday==>Why don’t we get this weekend posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report on yesterday’s staged reading of ...

TIM AND SCROOGE: A Carol for a Later Christmas, it’s ten years later and Tiny Tim must depend on the ghost of Scrooge to help him set things right==>excellent score and interesting story line (remember, Billi Pod usually doesn’t assign letter grades to staged readings, unless they suck). 

IMHO it could easily be trimmed to a 90-minute one act, without intermission.

The cast of performers was excellent.

I think it will find a life, probably on tour and in regional theaters.

The weather was pretty awesome so I left early for the 1:00pm reading on West 26th Street and had a decent walk and wander session before and after the performance (stats below).

Since I had seen a show and had two good walk and wander sessions, I opted to stay in for the evening to watch game 1 of the 3-game YANKEE/RAYS series out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built.

What a major disappointment. The Yankees lost 10-5 in a 14-inning game that lasted for 5-hours and 49-minutes. In the extra innings we squandered numerous opportunities to win by failing to get a crucial hit with runners in scoring position. It was really frustrating to watch, trust your favorite blogger on this.

Oh well ... the second game is this afternoon at 1:05pm. On the mound for The Yankees will be our new ace Masahiro Tanaka (3-0) vs. Jake Odorizzi (1-3) for The Rays.

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for the evening will be an Off Broadway show ...

8:30==>PEDDLING - “A young door-to-door salesman wakes up in a field, somewhere in London, surrounded by the burnt and empty remnants of the night before. With no memory, he knows he must go back to 'the very start of it all.' His attempts to retrace events lead him on a haunting journey where everything comes into question: his life, his world, and his future.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This one-man show stars Harry Melling, who played Harry Potter’s obnoxious cousin, Dudley Dursley. It has received mostly very favorable reviews.

This show is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex on East 59th Street, one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 1:00, without intermission, and runs though May 18th.

In closing==>Yesterday was an excellent walking day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.14 miles (or, 11,251 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>424.61 miles (average 3.48 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.”

The Few/Paddy/Tiny Tim/Yankees

Friday==>I am happy to report to my loyal and faithful readers and followers that yesterday was a wonderful weather-day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Yes, it was in the mid-70s with a nice breeze coming off of the Hudson River. The great conditions, hopefully, signaled that finally Spring is here and Winter is over and out.

This morning at 10:30am it is somewhat cloudy but the temperature is in the low-60s with a projected high in the upper-60s. Yeah ... I can handle this ...

So .. lets move on to ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

THE FEW, the story of Bryan who comes back to work for a truckers’ newspaper after an unexplained absence of four years==>A-

There is terrific acting from the 3-person cast: Michael Laurence as Bryan; Tasha Lawrence as his former girlfriend QZ; and Gideon Glick as Matt, the young coworker.

The story line is very involving with several plausible twists. Without giving any spoilers I can say that it does not have a rom-com ending.

Be warned==>there is a lot of cussing, boozing and anger that gets physical.

Billi Pod says==>if you want a good drama with excellent acting, then see this show.

The show is still in previews, it opens on May 8th, is playing at The Rattlestick Theatre in The West Village, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through June 8th.

As planned, I headed out for the show a bit early so I could do a walk and wander session in The Village.

As I was walking on Greenwich Avenue I ran into my longtime friend Paddy Haugghey. OMFG!

It had been a couple of years since we were last in touch. We had time for a brief conversation and some much needed catching up.

It was great seeing you Paddy. Let’s stay in touch.

Moving on ...

This afternoon your favorite blogger has scheduled a staged reading of ...

1:00==>TIM AND SCROOGE: A Carol for a Later Christmas - “This musical is set over a decade after the events of 'A Christmas Carol' conclude. Tim (no longer Tiny) Cratchit approaches his 21st birthday. While away at university he has fallen in love with a beautiful orphan girl named Allison, but upon returning home also discovers he will soon assume management of the Scrooge and Marley Counting House. Tim, however, is more interested in being a teacher than a money manager, so he signs away control of the business to two sleazy speculators, beginning a series of events that threatens to tear him away from his family and Allison, unless the spirit of the long-deceased Scrooge can help him set things right again.” (staged reading - complimentary ticket)

This reading is being performed with an “all-Broadway” cast at Chelsea Studios on West 26th Street.

Not really sure why I booked this, but I did ... so ...

Tonight’s entertainment plans are still in flux. I, of course, have multiple options and will not make a final decision until after I return from the reading.

In closing ... last night The Yankees lost to the Mariners by a score of 4-2 as Robbie Cano answered the boo-birds by driving in 2 of the 4 runs.

Tonight at 7:05pm out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, will be the first of a 3-game series against division rival Tampa Bay.

On the mound for The Yankees will be Vidal Nuno (0-0) vs. the Ray’s titular ace David Price (3-2).

Yesterday was an excellent walking day. 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.03 miles (or, 10,997 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>419.47 miles (average 3.47 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.”

17 Orchard Point/The Few/Yankees

Thursday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, yesterday was a totally nasty rainy cold barfy day. It rained all day and all night, meaning ... your favorite blogger didn’t leave the warm and cozy confines of PHC except for his Off Broadway show (details below) at the Theatre Row Complex just a few steps away from his apartment building.

Yeah ... didn’t finish my errands and chores list nor did I log in my usual walking mileage. Oh well ... today is another day.

And, speaking of today ... it started off very iffy because it was gloomy and foggy at 9:00am. Happily, at 12:30pm it has cleared up and it is sunny and a balmy 70º ... so ... we need to get this posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ... 

7 ORCHARD POINT, the “dark comedy” about a detached mother who returns to Cleveland to reunite with her daughter - they must now face the realities of a long-hidden “family” secret==>B

There is decent acting from the 2-person cast, Michele Pawk as the mother and Stephanie DiMaggio as the daughter. Dimaggio is also the co-author.

The story line is much more dark than comedic and just borders on believability, and, the overbearing foul-mouthed mother gets old rather quickly.

The set is absolutely terrific, one of the very best I have ever seen in an Off Broadway venue.

This so-called “dark comedy” is still in previews, is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my block, has a running time of 1:25, without intermission, and runs through May 24th.

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for the evening is an Off Broadway show ...

8:00==>THE FEW - “Four years ago Bryan abandoned his labor of love, a newspaper for truckers. Now he’s returned – with no word of where he’s been – and things have changed. His former lover is filled with rage, his new coworker is filled with incessant adoration, and his paper is filled with personal ads. As he considers giving up for good, Bryan searches for what he couldn’t find on the road: a way to keep faith in humanity.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is still in previews, it opens on May 8th, is playing at The Rattlestick Theatre in The West Village, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through June 8th.

The Rattlestick is known for producing works that fall within the “either loved it or hated it” category.

My plans are to leave a bit early for the show in order to do some major walking and wandering in The Village.

Closing with a sports update for Marty ...

Last night’s YANKEES/SEATTLE game out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, was rained out and will be made up later.

Tonight’s game is at 7:05pm and on the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Hiroki Kuroda (2-2) vs. Roenis Elias (1-2) for The Mariners

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, time to post this and then head out to The Food Emporium across the street for some major restocking.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.12 miles (or, 2,466 steps)

Total mileage for April==>111.86 miles (average 3.78 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2014==>414.44 miles (average 3.45 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.”