VIENNA BOYS CHOIR==>AWESOME!!

Good Monday morning my loyal and faithful readers.

I want to get right to important stuff, like Billi Pod’s report card on the VIENNA BOYS CHOIR @ Carnegie Hall==>AAA+<==like, AWESOME!! What an outstanding afternoon of traditional and modern Christmas music.

The house appeared to be sold-out and my seat was super-excellent, 4 rows from the stage in the center orchestra. Terrific. There were a lot of young people in my area and they all seemed to be enthralled with what was happening on stage. Everyone was extremely well-behaved.

What wonderful voices. You know, as I have mentioned before, I cannot imagine what it must feel like for a 12 year old boy to be performing in front of a packed house in Carnegie Hall, in the Greatest City In The World. Add to that the fact the several of them also performed solo pieces. Wow!!

I want to share with you just a bit of background information on the group, taken from my posting last year --

“The Vienna Boys Choir was formed in 1498 and was under the control of the ruling Kings until 1918, when they became an independent and private institution.

Today the Choir maintains its own boarding school where 250 male students, from all over the world, study and rehearse. All of the choir boys must live in this boarding school. From this group, 100 members between the ages of 10 and 14 are selected and divided into 4 touring choirs.

Together they give around 300 concerts world-wide in front of approximately 500,000 people. Each group spends 9 to 11 weeks of the school year on tour.”

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers this epic concert certainly got Billi Pod back into a festive holiday mood.

Unfortunately ... the festive holiday mood wasn’t maintained by the evening’s gloomy entertainment event ...

THE ROAD TO MECCA-==>B-<==outstanding acting, especially by Rosemary Harris, saves this overly-long exposition-driven drama from sinking into mediocrity.

The guy seated next to me had this to say at intermission - “Another f**king attempt by Athol Fugurd to become Ibsen.” Yeah ... I agree.

However, it is worth seeing, with a discounted ticket, simply for Rosemary Harris.

Today, being Monday, it will first be Billi Pod’s usual errands and stuff, and then ...

4:00==>meet up with Dian Crystal and Vera Olichney for an early dinner at Angus McIndoe, my favorite Theatre District restaurant. I am hosting. This is my 2011 birthday present to Dian.

Then ... for the evening ... the new musical starring Kerry Butler ...

7:00==>THROUGH THE DOOR - “Charlotte and Lenny love each other but lately it seems like their lives have been on different paths. He's working like crazy, while she's at home looking for a job and feeling like a failure. Then one day a mysterious portal opens in the kitchen pantry, bringing Charlotte face-to-face with Jean-Pierre, 17th-century French prince who thinks she's pretty hot.” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

This is a staged reading and it is being directed by my FaceBook friend David Lee.

Well, as you know, yesterday Tom Brady pretty much took Timmy Tebow and The Bronco’s to the cleaners, although the first half was very close and competitive. The game wasn’t carried locally but I was able to follow it on my iPhone’s ESPN app.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT==>if things go as expected/planned in just 30 days I will be a Great-Granddaddy!! Awesome!!!

OK ... got things and stuff to do ... so ...

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

ALEX-117

Bartow Girl Makes It Big-time In The Big Apple

Lauren Purcell, who grew up in Bartow, FL, about a 1/2 mile from my former home, has just been named Editor-In-Chief of the "Everyday with Rachael Ray" magazine, effective January 9, 2012.

Wow!!! Lauren is the daughter of Michele Purcell and the late John Purcell, who we lost way-too-soon. John and I were law school buddies.

Lauren and her sister Anne Purcell Grissinger, a management consultant, moved to The Big Apple together about 15 years ago. The two sisters created a side-business of writing about and providing entertainment advice. Anne is now devoting her time to raising a family.

The link to the story is ...

http://stage2.mediaroom.com/meredith/index.php?s=2311&item=97291

CONGRATS Lauren. I know your Mom is beaming with pride, as are all of your friends and family==>AWESOME!!

On this happy note let me move on to ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s KISSING SID JAMES, the comedy/drama about two “lost souls” and their weekend in an English seaside town==>C<==after awhile all of the screaming, shouting and cursing becomes tiresome. Acting is acceptable but it has a totally unbelievable story line.

I disliked both of the so-called “lost soul” characters. One positive note, without giving away too much ... it does not have a rom-com ending.

The show was over at 10:30pm and it was absolutely freezing with a howling wind. Very unpleasant.

At 8:30am this morning it was 23º - the coldest morning of this Fall/Winter.

As I mentioned yesterday ... today is yet another entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod ...

2:00==>THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR @ Carnegie Hall. “The Vienna Boys' Choir is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world. For nearly five hundred years it has been one of the enduring symbols of Austria and Vienna.” (full price ticket)

This annual holiday concert is part of Billi Pod’s holiday tradition for the 7th straight year. He has an excellent seat in the center orchestra, 4th row.

Then for this evening is ...

7:00==>THE ROAD TO MECCA - “Set in South Africa, the reclusive Miss Helen (Rosemary Harris) has become depressed and appears increasingly unable to care for herself. Pastor Marius Byleveld, who embodies the village's conservative values, is determined to get Miss Helen into an old-age home. A young teacher is just as determined that Miss Helen remain free.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is in very early previews. Now, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting, I am rather confident that Billi Pod will find the underlying story line to be quite disturbing. Not that he has anything to worry about ... but ... still ... old-age home??? ... someone wants to put someone there ... against their will??? ... yeah ... I know ... not that Billi Pod has anything to worry about ... I mean ... whatever ... anyway ... where was I?

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS AND GO TIMMY!!

Billi Pod

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

ALEX-116

It Is ALL Done!!

Well, everyone out there in cyberspace, Billi Pod is happy to report that except for getting his butt down to Columbia, SC, on Thursday, December 22nd, everything that needed to be done for his Christmas has now been done.

Yes==>the carryon suitcase has been purchased; the cards with gratuities for the building staff have been delivered to the Super for distribution; all the gifts that needed to be mailed are in the hands of the Postal Service; the remaining gifts will easily fit (unwrapped) into the new carryon; transportation via car service to Laguardia has been booked; laundry is in the hands of the building valet service; the annual beloved “Condom on the Sleeve” story is ready for posting, probably tomorrow; entertainment events for every day/night between now and the departure date have been booked; and, the long-range weather forecast for here and Columbia is satisfactory.

Only downside is the fact that it is cold and windy right now and my nose is still running. Despite this, Billi Pod feels good and is definitely now in a Holiday Mood.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:30==>KISSING SID JAMES - “Eddie and Crystal - two lonely hearts - throw caution to the wind and decide to spend a festive weekend together in an English seaside town. Hoping to find love amongst warm beer and cold chips, the mismatched lovers fight to find some common ground. But should Eddie have stayed at home to play scrabble with his mum?” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is playing at the 59th Street Theatre complex and is part of their Brits Off Broadway series.

Tomorrow is going to be a major entertainment day/night. In the afternoon I am seeing THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR at Carnegie Hall and then for the evening is a new Broadway show in very early previews called THE ROAD TO MECCA. More details will be in tomorrow’s posting.

Unfortunately tomorrow’s Broncos/Patriots game is not being carried locally. The Patriots are favored by 7 1/2 points. We will see about that.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS AND GO TIMMY!!

Billi Pod

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

ALEX-115

A Friday Night Report From The Big Apple With BREAKING NEWS!!

Thank God last night Billi Pod felt well enough to go to his show ... so his report card on ...

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, about a recovering critic who turns a helpful family’s life upside down==>A<==incredible performance by Jim Brochu and a stellar cast. Dated? Yes, of course, it is set in 1939, but it is still gut-busting funny.

See it!! It closes on Sunday.

I felt a bit better this morning and did things and stuff and then had an entertainment event for the afternoon, kinda different for a Friday ...

2:00==>NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH - “A well-intentioned neighbourhood watch scheme soon develops into something altogether more sinister ... and hilarious.” Yes ... that is how the Brits spell neighborhood ... with a “u.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at the 59th Street Theater Complex and is part of their Brits Off Broadway Series. The playwright is Alan Ayckbourn and it is his 75th play. It has gotten generally good reviews.

Billi Pod’s report card==>B<==at least 15 minutes needs to be cut and I had a bit of a problem at first with the accents, mostly because I was seated pretty far back. At intermission I moved to a front row seat and that helped a lot.

It is worth seeing.

When the show was over I took a subway down to 34th Street to the shopping madness known as Macy’s and The Manhattan Mall. My purpose, you are no doubt breathlessly asking since I had previously reported that my Christmas shopping was done? What?

Well, I needed to purchase a carryon suitcase. What? Yep, that’s right ... a carryon. In the name of fair and biased reporting Billi Pod has to admit that in his entire traveling experience he has never ... ever ... ever ... carried on. He has always checked his luggage.

Why the change at this late date? Easy ... he is pissed off at the $20-25 fee for checking bags and he is tired of the baggage carousel drama, especially on short or connecting flights.

I am happy to report that I did some online research (thank you John Scott Reed for your "good intentions" ... but ... I couldn’t wait any longer for your report) and found a suitcase that had a list price of $80, on sale for $29 ... and with a special $10 discount coupon in today’s paper it was only ... $19.00. Awesome!!

But ... OMFG! It was an absolute madhouse down there. A nightmare.

Got back to PHC around 6:30. Had nothing scheduled and all of the offerings on my services were closed so Billi Pod decided he would stay in for tonight.

Hold on now out there in the hinterlands and vast wilderness known as cyberspace ... remember ... before you rush to judgment ... Billi Pod had already attended one entertainment event for today and ... most importantly ...

When you are retired, like Billi Pod ... every night is a Friday night ... there is nothing special about any night ... so calm down and go back to watching your 42” plasma TVs and eating your Domino’s pizza.

Also ... Billi Pod has to admit that on the way back from the 34th Street madness his nose began to run and he began to cough and sneeze. He just didn’t feel like going out again ... so he thought he would take the opportunity to bring you loyal and faithful readers up-to-date.

Anyway ...

BREAKING NEWS==>I am pleased and extremely relieved to report that grandson CWO Alex Falletta aka Army Guy and his Company are no longer in Iraq. Whew and double Whew and Thank You Higher Power!! Unfortunately, however, they are still overseas and will be until probably May.

The countdown to the date when Billi Pod becomes a great-grandfather is getting closer and closer. The expected delivery date is January 19th and Gina has been a real trooper. I may have some additional good news to share as soon as she gives me permission to post it.

On these happy notes I will close this Friday night posting with ...

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

ALEX-114

Cough, Sneeze, Drip Drip==>DAMN!!

DAMN!! Had to leave FOLLIES last night at intermission due to sneezing, coughing and a runny nose.

The nasty stuff started just before I left PHC for the theater. I had stocked up on nose spray and cough drops just to be safe. My seat was in the very rear orchestra, row X, in the middle.

Once the show started my nose started running (actually draining is probably a better word) and I was fighting back the urge to both cough and sneeze. DAMN!! I didn’t want to be the old guy who keeps everyone around him from enjoying the show with all of his extraneous noise/sounds.

DAMN!! I found myself concentrating more on not coughing and/or sneezing than what was happening on stage. DAMN!!

At intermission Billi Pod faced up to it, returned his hearing device and headed back to PHC, coughing and sneezing the whole way. It wasn’t pleasant.

The show runs until January 22, 2012 and I am confident I will be able to score a TDF ticket before the run ends.

Went to bed much earlier than usual, 1:00am, feeling kinda sorry for myself.

When I woke up at 9:30am (1.5 hours later than usual) I felt blah, out of sorts and not in a good mood. Basically, right now I feel like shit.

Of course I have been taking my usual cold remedies: Echinacea & Goldseal and extra Vitamin C.

The good news, as you loyal and faithful readers know, Billi Pod usually has a quick recovery rate, meaning, a cold usually lasts only 3 days, rather than 5-7 for the rest of you out there in the vast hinterlands.

And further good news==>this will get my annual Winter cold out of the way before heading down to Columbia, SC, for Christmas with the family.

Oh ... yesterday afternoon’s staged reading of ==>BURLY-Q! A Gay Burlesque, was funny, profane and a lot of fun. It is what it is ... a work in progress. Glad I saw it.

Yes ... Billi Pod has an entertainment event scheduled for tonight, of course ...

8:00==>THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER - “Celebrated critic and radio personality Sheridan Whiteside slips on an icy doorstep while lecturing in Mesalia, Ohio. While recovering in the home of a utterly conventional family, he proceeds to turn the family's life inside out with his incessant demands, long-distance phone calls and parade of eccentric celebrity guests.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This revival stars Jim Brochu who has outstanding as Zero Mostel in the critically acclaimed “Zero Hour.”

We will see how Billi Pod feels as show time arrives. It is playing at a theater just one block away and since he actually paid for the ticket ($9.00) he won’t get into any trouble if he skips the show.

Let me close this shorter posting with a link to a rather interesting article in today’s New York Post about Timmy Tebow --

"Serby’s exclusive Q&A with...Tim Tebow"

Click on the following link to read the story, it is worth it ...

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/serby_exclusive_with_tim_tebow_umO1GNRjsz53WWbzbQTZMN

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

ALEX-113

Tuesday Was A Strange/Different/Unusual Day

Let me begin this posting by again apologizing to you loyal and faithful readers on Billi Pod’s email list who were bombarded by spam yesterday from my AOL account.

I really don’t know how that came about because a scan of my hard-drive by my antivirus program shows nothing ... nada ... When I contacted AOL (not a fun process) they suggested I change my password and not put it in my computer key chain ... and I have done that ...

So ... again ... sorry about that. It is just as frustrating for me as I know it is for you.

Anyway ... yesterday was a strange and unusual day that can be summarized as:

“Got hacked, finished all of my Christmas shopping, dentist appointment, runny nose, and awesome concert.”

You already know about the got hacked bit ... so let’s move on to ...

Yep, on the way over to my dentist’s office on the Eastside I was able to get the final two items on my Christmas gift-list. Awesome!!

My dentist had worked me in for a 5:00pm appointment to re-cement a loose crown and address some other issues. He gave me a hard time about failing to schedule the semiannual cleaning session (it had been a year, my bad), so he personally made the appointment for early, like 8:00am, next Wednesday, for a 2-hour session. I just may have to be shipped down to Columbia for Christmas in a body bag.

It was about 6:15 when I left his office with instructions not to eat anything for 2 hours. Oh well ... and ... my nose had begun to run ... damn. Took the subways up to Lincoln Center for my entertainment event, which was ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - “Handel’s ‘Messiah’ performed with the Westminster Symphonic Chorus.”

Billi Pod’s report card==>A+<==it just doesn’t get any better than this. The soloists were uniformly excellent as was The Westminster Chorus.

This was part of my subscription series so I had a good seat. Speaking of seats, I was appalled at how many empty seats there were in Avery Fisher Hall for what is considered to be one of the highlights of the season for The Philharmonic. There wasn’t a weather issue either, so that made it even more mystifying. I guess it is just another indication that the economy still basically sucks.

The performance was almost 2:30, with intermission, meaning it was 10:30 when I got back to PHC, and I was starving, to put it mildly. Had a slice of pizza, some turkey meatballs, a handful of red grapes for dessert, and all was well again in Billi Pod’s world.

When I woke up this morning at the usual 8:00am I have to admit feeling just a bit blah. Fortunately the weather is clear but it is cold. Nose is still runny. And, of course ...

Today will be another entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod ...

3:00==>BURLY-Q! A Gay Burlesque - “In the time-honored tradition of ‘When Pigs Fly’ and ‘Hellzapoppin,’ BURLY-Q! pays tribute to the best of burlesque comedy - with a decided twist!” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

Yeah, I know ... but it sounded interesting at the time I booked it.

It is playing down in The Village at The Players Theatre on MacDougal Street, not one of my favorite venues.

Then for tonight is something very special ...

8:00==>FOLLIES - “A revival of the 1971 Stephen Sondheim musical, now starring Bernadette Peters and Elaine Paige. A group of former ‘Follies’ stars return to the site of their former glory, the Weismann Theatre, which is about to be demolished. Old wounds resurface as two Follies stars and their husbands reassess their lives and what could have been.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

This show has received generally very favorable reviews and its limited run will close on January 22, 2012, so I am glad I was able to score a discounted ticket for it.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to admit that even though he is a mega-theater nut and lover of musicals==>he has NEVER seen FOLLIES. Yep ... never ... yeah, I know ... anyway ...

Folks ... I think this headline in today’s NY Post pretty much sums up what is happening in the Republican party ...

“WHY RIGHTY ELITE CAN’T STOP NEWTZILLA.”

NEWTZILLA==>Love it!!

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

ALEX-112

It Was Great Being With John Scott Reed Last Night

Good morning everyone out there in the hinterlands.

It is bright and cold in The Big Apple, The Greatest City in The World==>36º @ 8:30am.

Had a great dinner last night with John Scott Reed @ Southern Hospitality, a restaurant in da ‘hood. The food was excellent and there was plenty of it, too.

I had a pulled-chicken platter (yummy) and Scott had fried chicken.

We did a lot of catching up. Scott has tons of stuff going on in his life right now and that is putting it mildly. And ...

On Friday he leaves The Big Apple to begin an awesome two week family-based holiday adventure that will take him to ...

Birmingham, AL;

Muscle Shoals, AL;

New Smyrna Beach, FL; and then ... gasp ...

Deer Creek, TX.

For your information==>Deer Creek, TX, is in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Wow!!

All Billi Pod can say is==>May The Force Be With You, Fabson!!

Did most of my errands yesterday, including some Christmas stuff, too. How ‘bout dat!!

Have a dentist appointment at 5:00pm (yes, that is the correct time) this afternoon for basically some repair and cosmetic stuff. God, I can already feel my anxiety level beginning to rise ...

Anyway ... assuming everything goes OK with my dentist, then for this evening is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - “Handel’s ‘Messiah’ performed with the Westminster Symphonic Chorus.” (subscription series).

This is, of course, a holiday tradition for Billi Pod.

Speaking of “holiday traditions” - just got the Happy Holiday card from the building staff, a kinda gentle “reminder” of the upcoming holidays ... hint ... hint ... hint. In this 41 story high-rise apartment building we have ...

Superintendent - 1

Concierge/Doormen - 7

Porters - 4

Handyman - 1

Part-Time - 2

That’s a total of 15 staff-members. In NYC the “expected” range for annual gratuities is $50-$100, so do the math.

Yeah, I know, but it is one of the expectations for living in a full-service building like 420 W. 42nd Street.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

ALEX-111

An Awesome Holiday Music Doubleheader for Billi Pod

Good morning everyone out there in the hinterlands and in the wilderness known as cyberspace.

Billi Pod is happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers that yesterday’s music doubleheader was yet another awesome entertainment experience in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

It started in mid afternoon with The Principal Brass Quintet from The New York Philharmonic playing at Avery Fisher Hall. The Quintet joined forces with the jazz group, The Lee Musiker Trio, for 2 hours (including a 15 minute intermission) of holiday songs that put smiles on the faces of the sold-out audience.

This event has become a staple in Billi Pod’s holiday schedule and it again exceeded my expectations. I had a great mid-orchestra aisle seat.

When the performance was over I took the subway up to 96th Street for my next concert, the a cappella group THE VOICES OF GOTHAM, performing at Symphony Space @ 6:00pm. Had time for coffee and something sweet.

As I reported in yesterday’s posting, Doug Goodenough, the rental agent for 420 W. 42nd Street, is a member of the group. He also performed as part of a quartet known as The Flatiron Four.

It was a sublime evening of barbershop, doo wop, R&B and pop a cappella arrangements of mostly holiday related songs. The program was a bit over 2 hours with an intermission.

On the subway back to PHC many of the songs were still swirling in my head.

Folks, I just can’t adequately describe what a fulfilling day this was. It really put Billi Pod in a holiday mood and was yet another example of why he loves living in The Big Apple.

Today, being Monday, Billi Pod has errands and stuff to do, so this posting will be somewhat briefer (OK ... OK ... hold the applause ... don’t make me come over there and bitch-slap you ... Billi Pod knows who you are and where you live).

How ‘bout Timmy Tebow==> he does it again - he leads the Broncos to yet another come from behind win. BELIEVE!!

In today’s NY Daily News there is a terrific article from Mike Lupica titled ...

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BELIEVE IN TEBOW

The link to the article is --

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/denver-broncos-quarterback-tim-tebow-pulls-miracle-beats-chicago-bears-proves-good-guys-finish-article-1.990146

This evening will finally have some much needed face time with John Scott Reed. Our busy schedules have made it difficult to arrange anything. He will come over to PHC after work, we will do some catching up and then grab a bite at a restaurant in da ‘hood.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

ALEX-110