Thank You! - Update==>Lunch at Le Cirque & Carnegie Hall Concert - Whoopee - Baseball - Saylor & Finley

Wednesday==>I want to start today’s update posting by thanking those of my loyal and faithful readers and followers who sent me texts, emails and posts regarding yesterday’s “Some Deeply Personal Thoughts” posting. 

I deeply appreciate your thoughts and comments and, again, a reminder that your favorite blogger has not ... repeat ... has not made a final decision about leaving The Big Apple to return to The Sunshine State.

So ... let’s just get started with an update of things and stuff that happened since the last entertainment posting back on Monday ... starting with ...

Lunch Monday with Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever at the posh French restaurant Le Cirque on East 58th Street, as part of Restaurant Week.

We had a great time. The ambiance was breathtaking, the food was amazing, the service was excellent and the experience was totally enjoyable.

We got there around 2:00pm and it was around 4:00pm when we left. What a great afternoon and thank you again, My Lady, for making all of the arrangements. You are the best!!

For Monday evening I had a concert ...

NEW YORK NOUVEAU @ Carnegie Hall.

This program featured symphonic groups from Downers Grove Illinois High Schools and celebrated music with unique ties to the Big Apple.

It was a very enjoyable evening and the respective musical groups of high school students did exceptional work in performing a very diverse program of music.

For me the highlights were: “West Side Story Suite;” “Finale of Dvorark’s Symphony No. 9;” and, “Rhapsody in Blue” performed by the District 99 Jazz Orchestra.

My comp. seat was excellent, in the center orchestra section, row P, as in perfecto.

Your favorite blogger left Carnegie Hall in a very pleased and satisfied mood.

Yep ... Monday was an excellent day.

Tuesday started off with the “Some Deeply Personal Thoughts” posting, which, for me, was emotionally draining, it really was.

The weather basically sucked during the afternoon and into the evening and ... guess what ... more snow ... barf!!

Luckily, my entertainment event was at the Theatre Row Complex just steps away from my apartment building because the sidewalks were really dangerous with snow, ice and slush.

My show was ...

7:30==>WHOOPEE - “Sally has been forbidden to marry Wanenis because of racial differences. Henry, a hypochondriac, helps Sally elope and then is accused of kidnapping. Even more zany complications ensue.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

In 1928, Whoopee starred Eddie Cantor and Ruth Edding with songs “Love Me or Leave Me,” “Yes, Sir, That's My Baby,” “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” and “Makin' Whoopee.”

Billi Pod’s report card==>A

This was a Musicals Tonight production and they did an excellent job, as usual, with a very talented cast, headed by Blake Joseph as Henry and Kate Emerson as Sally

FYI==>The mission statement of Musicals Tonight states that it is a not-for-profit theatre company primarily dedicated to the revival of "neglected" musicals in a manner affordable to most audience members. Since their inception in 1997 they have revived over 70 musicals in staged concert form.

I have seen many of their productions and usually have enjoyed them a lot.

Billi Pod says==>definitely worth seeing.

It is playing at the Theater Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 2:30, with intermission, and runs through March 15th.

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

At the moment I haven’t booked anything for this evening. I am waiting to see what, if anything, shows up on my ticket services and how the weather develops.

Baseball is back. Thank God!! 

The Yankees will play The Phillies at 1:00pm this afternoon in Tampa, carried locally on YES. A-Rod will be the DH in his return debut. Oh the drama.

In closing==>I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers a recent picture of my two darling great-granddaughters, Saylor (left) and Finley (right) Falletta.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.01  miles (or, 6,579 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>250.78 miles (average 4.05 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Some Deeply Personal Thoughts

Good morning:

I need to share some deeply personal thoughts with you loyal and faithful readers and followers and the only way I know how to do it is to be very direct and upfront ... so ... here it is ...

For about the last 5 months I have been constantly thinking that this adventure in NYC is over and it is now time to move on to something different.

Yes, I am seriously considering leaving NYC in June and moving back to Florida ... yes ... you read it right ... leaving The Big Apple and moving back to The Sunshine State.

Now ... take a deep breath and read on and don’t rush to judgment until you have read everything and then given it some thought ...

Background ... I retired in January 1995 and began spending extended periods of time in NYC. 

In June of 1998 I became a full-time resident of The City and I began my adventure as a Reverse Snowbird/Theater-freak. I sold my house down in my former hometown, Bartow, FL. 

The lease on my apartment, you know it as PHC, is up on May 31st. I haven’t received the renewal “offer” yet but I know from past experience that the building owner will be asking for an inordinately high rent increase. This I am certain of. My current rent is $3,400 per month.

The last thing in the World I want to do is get involved in hunting for another apartment in Manhattan, the only place in NYC I would ever live.

For the past two Winters I have been truly bothered by the cold weather, much more so than in earlier years. As you know, this Winter has been brutal.

I will turn 81 on April 23rd.

While I have health issues (everyone my age does), all of them are well under control and do not ... repeat ... do not factor into my decision making process.

I have discussed all of this in depth with my family, Bill III, Kathi, Ann and Alex and they all agree that it is time to move on.

As of this very moment I have not ... repeat ... have not made a final decision on this issue.

If I make the decision to leave NYC I am seriously considering moving to downtown Winter Park, a thriving city adjacent to Orlando, where Bill III lives.

Background on Winter Park ... my parents were living in Winter Park when I was born, although my birth certificate says Orlando because the hospital was just across the city boundary.

My family moved around and then came back to Winter Park. I went to the 1st and 2nd grades there. 

During the war we moved to Bartow where my Mother’s family lived.

I have a multitude of friends, college roommates, fraternity brothers, judicial colleagues, etc. living in the Orlando/Winter Park area.

The Orlando/Winter Park area is a “happening place” from an entertainment standpoint.

I am not considering moving back to Bartow, under any circumstances, nor am I considering living with Bill III. He is fine with that.

So ... I have rented a nice cottage in Winter Park, through Airbnb, from March 6th to the 14th, so I can get a feel of actually living in the downtown Winter Park area.

When I leave the cottage I will then spend a couple of days with Bill and, hopefully, make the final decision(s).

I will be back in The Big Apple in the afternoon of March 17th.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers, there you have it. I have two decisions to make:

(1) Do I leave NYC; and,

(2) If so, where in Florida will I live.

Other Florida relocation cities are: Tampa and Gainesville.

If I do decide to leave NYC it will be because I want to leave on my terms and not in a wheelchair, on a walker, or in a coffin.

I will keep you advised ... but ... 

During my time in Winter Park I do not anticipate posting on this blog (although that may change) but I will probably post on my Facebook Timeline and the URL for that is ...

https://www.facebook.com/william.norris.921

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

Stay tuned.

Bill

PS: At 8:30am it is 30º with snow in the forecast for this afternoon and then again on Thursday. In Orlando it is 66º, with a projected high of 82º. The high for Thursday is forecast to be 86º.

Snow (Barf) - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Lunch at Le Cirque - Carnegie Hall Concert - Stay Tuned

Monday==>The snow yesterday, 4.5 inches, made for a majorly nasty day/night with really dangerous conditions on the sidewalks and especially at the crosswalks. Barf!!

Yeah, when it was time to head out to my 7:30pm show (details below) it was still lightly snowing and there was an accumulation of snow, ice and slush. I very very carefully walked, or more descriptively, waddled like a penguin, to my theater. When I finally got there my feet were freezing cold from the slush at the crosswalks. Not nice.

Oh well ... the only good thing ... when the show was over it had finally stopped snowing. The slow walk back to the apartment was still very dangerous and unpleasant, however.

At 8:30am this morning the temperature is 34º, wind chill down to 26º. The sidewalks and crosswalks are still a mess.

So ... March did in fact come roaring in like a Lion ... oh well ...

Let’s now get positive with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s super-excellent entertainment event ...

A return visit to the hit Broadway show ...

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, about autistic fifteen-year-old Christopher who has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor's dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever==>A+

This show has great acting, especially from Alexander Sharp as Christopher, totally incredible staging and special effects and a thought-provoking and emotionally involving story line.

My Actors Fund discounted seat was excellent, in the rear orchestra, center section, two seats from the aisle.

When I originally saw this show back on September 11, 2014, it was in early previews but I gave it an A then. This time it is even better and more than worthy of an A+.

Yeah, it more than earns its rave reviews.

Billi Pod says==>if you are a theater-person you just gotta see this show.

It is playing at the Barrymore Theater on West 47th Street, has a running time of 2:35, with intermission, and is an open run.

Moving on to today ...

This is going to be something totally different from Billi Pod’s usual errands and chores Monday ... because ... at ...

2:00pm==>late lunch at Le Cirque with Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever, as part of Restaurant Week.

FYI==>Le Cirque is an elegant restaurant featuring French cuisine with Italian influence. It is located at 151 East 58th Street. We will be dining from a special Restaurant Week luncheon menu that features 3 courses for only $25.

Then for the evening is a concert at Carnegie Hall ...

8:00==>NEW YORK NOUVEAU @ Carnegie Hall.

(concert - complimentary ticket)

This program will feature symphonic groups from Downers Grove Illinois High School and celebrates music with unique ties to the Big Apple. 

According to the press blurb: “Highlights include a world premiere of a commissioned work by American composer Don Owens, a New York premiere of Black Dog featuring Kristin Bowers of the United States Air Force Band of Washington, DC, and the original version of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, as premiered in New York by the Paul Whiteman Jazz Orchestra in 1924.”

This sounds interesting, doesn’t it.

Yeah ... Monday is not going to be the usual errands and chores day, that is for certain.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is time to post this and then get ready, suit and tie, for lunch with the gang.

In closing ... will delay my “very personal” posting until tomorrow ... so ... still stay tuned.

STAY WARM EVERYONE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.19  miles (or, 6,979 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>25.29 miles (average 3.61 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>243.13 miles (average 4.05 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Weather Update - One Day: The Musical - Demetri Martin - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Walking Stats - Stay Tuned.

Sunday==>For the first time in I don’t remember how long the temperature here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is above freezing at 33º, although the wind chill factor has it down to 27º. 

Good news right? Actually, not ... because ... the forecast is for snow, sleet and rain to arrive in the early afternoon hours and carry on over until tomorrow.

Man ... when is it gonna end ... when?

OK ... I know ... I know ... but still ... when?

Anyway, let’s move on to something much more positive and that was Billi Pod’s spectacular entertainment doubleheader yesterday ... beginning with ...

The Off Broadway show ...

ONE DAY: THE MUSICAL, this musical is based on true journal entries written by teens spanning two decades and follows the electrifying journey of eight teenagers as they face ravaging internal struggles and exhilarating triumphs on the passage to discovering their own truths==>A+

Man, I LOVED everything, and I mean, everything about this show - the book, the production values, the special effects, the music, the choreography, the acting and the energy that flowed from the stage into the audience.

The highly emotional and involving story line uses actual words from diary’s/notebooks/letters of teenagers dealing with bullying, depression, anxiety, abuse, eating disorders, and homophobia.

The young 11-person cast is stellar and each one has his/her moment to involve the audience in the realistic turmoil of being a teenager in today’s world.

The house was full and we were very much into the production. The audience included people my age down to tweens and everyone seemed to be totally enjoying themselves.

This show has received very favorable reviews and is an update of the original show called “Inappropriate” that premiered in 1999 and then became a cult teen musical.

It is playing at the 3LD Art & Technology Center on Greenwich Street, way way downtown, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and, unfortunately, its limited run ends today. The final performances are at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.

Billi Pod says==>catch this if you can!!

When the show was over I opted not to return to the apartment as originally planned. Instead, I subwayed up to Times Square and went to Pax on West 42nd Street where I had a fresh fruit bowl and a diet Snapple.

Then, it was time for the second part of my entertainment doubleheader ...

DEMETRI MARTIN @ Town Hall - “The Persistence of Jokes”==>A

Demetri Martin is one of my favorite comedians and he had the audience firmly in his grip as soon as he walked on stage.

Demetri, a NYU Law School dropout, delivers one-liners that are both cerebral and off-beat. At the end of the show he accompanied himself with a guitar and harmonica, at the same time.

The show was profanely in-your-face funny and it was just what Billi Pod was looking for.

The house was full and we were all very much into the show. Demetri received a roaring standing ovation when the show was over. He more than earned it.

Yes, I left Town Hall with a smile on my face, which froze in place as I walked back to the apartment in the frigid wind.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I hope you will agree with your favorite blogger that yesterday was a pretty interesting entertainment doubleheader.

Now ... what about today?

Today’s entertainment event is a return visit to an outstanding Broadway show ...

7:30==>THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME - “Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor's dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.” (Broadway - discounted Actors Fund Benefit ticket)

I originally saw this show back on September 11, 2014, with my friend Sandy Mullon, while it was in very early previews. We both loved it and I gave it an A.

Since then it has received uniformly rave reviews and is considered to be a “hit.” The young lead actor, Alexander Sharp, should receive a Tony nomination for Best Actor.

The Actors Fund has promised that the seats for tonight’s performance will be “prime location seats.” We will keep our finger's crossed.

I am really looking forward to seeing it again.

Also, on a very positive note==>yesterday I went downtown to my show early and had a nice walk and wander session, even though it was cold. That and my walking to and from my evening’s show resulted in some good walking stats==>4.52 miles.

And, even though February 2015 was the coldest February since 1934, I was able to record a total of 111.55 miles during the month, with a daily average of 3.98 miles. Not bad ... not bad at all, IMHO ... but ... remember ...

I report - you decide. 

Oh ... forgot to mention ... still nothing from the building ownership regarding their lease renewal offer.

On Monday ... or maybe Tuesday ... I will share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers some major personal news regarding your favorite blogger ... so ... stay tuned and ... 

STAY WARM EVERYONE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.52  miles (or, 9,888 steps)

Total mileage for February==>111.55 miles (average 3.98 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>239.94 miles (average 4.07 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”