Yesterday Was Another Awesome Doubleheader

Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers out there in the morass known as cyberspace. I hate to report this ... but ... it is a gray and very gloomy morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. It is lightly raining.

But ... I am happy to report that Billi Pod had an awesome doubleheader yesterday ... first ... POTTED POTTER: The Unauthorized Harry Experience, performed by two actors who condense all seven Harry Potter books into 70 madcap minutes==>B+.

The two performers are excellent and their comedic timing is perfect. In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I must state that if you haven’t at least seen the movies, then you will have no clue what is happening on stage or why the audience is roaring with laughter. Be warned.

That said ... Billi Pod totally enjoyed it. Will it break the “Little Shubert Curse” you are no doubt breathlessly asking? I honestly don’t know but my gut feeling is==>No, it won’t, unfortunately. Hope I am wrong.

Then for the evening it was out to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, for the final game of the YANKEES/KANSAS CITY series.

The Yankees beat KC 8-3 behind a journeyman performance from Andy  Pettitte, who went 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits while striking out 8. The Bummer bats came somewhat alive aided by 2 HRs from A-Rod.

The weather was OK and it was, for a change, an enjoyable game to watch==>about f**king time.

BREAKING NEWS==>Is the Yankee franchise for sale? WTF??? Well ... these are the front page and back page headlines in today’s Daily News ...

“BUY, BUY GEORGE? Yankee Sale Rumors Swirl.” - front page

“THE $3B QUESTION. Rumors swirl that Yanks could soon be for sale.” - back page

The story/rumors come from “highly placed insiders” but they have been uniformly denied by the Steinbrenner family.

Stay tuned.

Today’s entertainment event for Billi Pod is ... 

8:00==>A MODEST SUGGESTION - “Four businessmen meet over a pad of paper and a box of donuts to discuss whether the world is a better place with or without the Jews. Comedy ensues.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Whoa!! This is supposed to be a comedy? With that underlying theme? We will just have to see about this. It is playing at a theater on my block.

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.”

Fleet Week Begins

It is the beginning of Fleet Week in New York City, The Greatest City In The World, meaning that the streets, bars and wherever will be teeming with hot looking servicemen looking for ... well ... you know what they will be looking for ...

The week began at 8:11am with The Parade of Sails that headed North up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge. The picture was taken at 10:15am from the window of my 41st floor apartment.

At 10:30am The U.S. Military Parade of Ships began its journey, also North on the Hudson to the GW Bridge.

Altogether the flotilla will consist of 17 tall ships and 10 warships from around the World.

This year’s event commemorates the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the penning of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

So ... Billi Pod Says==>welcome guys and gals to The Big Apple. Have fun and be safe!!

Last night’s NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert was another sublime evening’s entertainment. Loved it, especially Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.

Seated to my left was a nice lady, in her early 60s, from England who is visiting the USA for the first time. She is with a tour group whose 21-day itinerary begins in NYC and ends in Los Angeles. She was so excited to be at the concert and we had a nice conversation before and at intermission.

Today is a doubleheader for Billi Pod ...

2:00==>POTTED POTTER: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - “Two performers condense all seven Harry Potter books into 70 madcap minutes, aided only by multiple costume changes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is in early previews and is playing at the Little Shubert Theatre, right next door to my apartment building. Unfortunately, this theater has earned the dubious reputation of producing shows that suck and have bombed. Hope this show breaks the so-called Shubert Curse.

Then for the evening is ...

7:05==>YANKEES/KANSAS CITY @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built. 

Andy Pettitte will be on the mound for the Bummers, making his 3rd start of the season, and there is a 40% chance of rain at game-time.

Last night The Bummers eked out a 3-2 win over the Royals with a serviceable outing from Phil Hughes.

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.”

The Yankees==>SUCK!!

OK, my loyal and faithful readers out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wasteland, let’s get right to the important stuff ...

Last night at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, was an extremely painful experience, to put it mildly. The weather was terrible and THE WANKIES SUCKED, losing 6-0 before a sparse crowd of increasingly frustrated and angry fans.

The only good thing for Billi Pod was the fact that his new seat location is totally protected by an overhang. It lightly rained during the entire game and it was also windy and cold.

The game itself was yet another example of the dead Bummer bats failing to get hits with runners in scoring position. This has been a major problem all season.

The Bummers were 0-13 with runners in scoring position (RISP). In the past 9 games they are 6-72 with RISP, an .083 average, with a record of 2 wins and 7 losses. 

There were lots of boos from the sparse crowd. I left at the top of the 8th inning because I just couldn’t take any more. 

As of this morning The Bronx Bummers are 21-21 and, gasp, now tied with The Boston F**kSox for last place in the AL East. Folks==>this sucks donkey dicks, to put it mildly.

Last place???? WTF??? ... I didn’t spend big bucks for a 41-game season ticket package to see a last place team. I am not a happy person/fan/whatever.

Moving on ... Oh ... did you loyal and faithful readers get the subtle hint that I ain’t a happy person/fan/whatever? Good ... now moving on ...

Good news==>woke up this morning totally soreness free. WHEW!!

Today will be devoted to the errands and stuff I didn’t get done yesterday due to the nasty weather ... then ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “The program is:  Dvorak - Carnival Overture; Bartok - Violin Concerto No. 1; and Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4” (subscription series).

OK ... now it’s time to do those things and stuff ... 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.”

Billi Pod Is Feeling Fine!!

On this gray and overcast Back To Work Monday in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, Billi Pod is happy to report to all of you loyal and faithful readers that he feels fine. The only residual effects from Saturday’s fall are some bruises that are healing and still a little soreness in the upper left thigh. WHEW!!

Yesterday I was able to get out and about without any problems just walking and walking up and down stairs etc. Another WHEW!!

Thanks for all of the emails, texts, posts and phone calls. I really appreciate the time that so many of you took.

Now ... let’s move on to other more important things like ...

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

UNCENSORED, performed by the teenage members of the MCC Youth Company about their hopes, fears and dreams==>B+.

It was well performed, thoughtful and often extremely profane. Lots of humor too. I liked it a lot.

I need to make a correction. In yesterday’s posting I made reference to the fact that MCC Youth Company was also called THE KEEN TEENS. Well, that was a mistake. They are two separate groups but both were performing at the same date and time at the Theater Row complex. My bad!

Today, being Monday, is Billi Pod’s errands and stuff day, which, unfortunately will be mostly postponed until tomorrow due to the nasty-ass weather.

Today’s entertainment event is ...

7:05==>YANKEES/KANSAS CITY @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, weather permitting - rain is in the forecast - and I am certainly glad that my new seat is protected by an overhang.

Yesterday afternoon The Bronx Bummers lost 5-2, the 5th loss in 6 games as our ace, CC Sabathia, imploded in the 7th inning by walking in what turned out to be the winning run. Barf!! Glad I wasn’t there.

There is a lot of mumbling and grumbling now in the local papers as the beat writers and columnists are becoming very uneasy about what the rest of the season may hold.

The headline of Bill Madden’s column in the Daily News:

“It might not be too early to put out a Red alert.”

All of this means that Billi Pod isn’t alone in his concerns that the remainder of the season could turn out to be a mind-numbing fiasco. I hope I am 100% wrong, but this is the gut feeling that I have. 

Come on Bronx Bombers==>prove me wrong!!

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.”

Billi Pod Had A Scary Moment

OK, my loyal and faithful readers I know that I didn’t post yesterday and for that I am sorry. Please forgive me because I have no legitimate excuse ... none ... so ... let’s move on to ... 

Had a really scary moment last night as I was walking back to the apartment following my evening’s entertainment event, HARVEY - more about the show later.

When I got to the intersection of 42nd and 9th Avenue I picked up the pace to make it across against the blinking caution light (hey ... I’m a New Yorker and blinking lights mean nothing to us). I didn’t see some debris that had been left following the afternoon’s Street Festival on 9th Avenue. 

I tripped and went tumbling forward through the air. OMFG!

My life literally went flashing through my head because this is every senior citizen’s worst nightmare. I was able to turn to my right side and then came crashing down. OMFG!! 

I was immediately surrounded by people who reached down and helped me to my feet and walked me back to the sidewalk. They were very concerned.

My right elbow and right knee were already sore and my left upper thigh ached but, luckily, nothing else seemed to be hurt. I assured everyone that I was OK and then I slowly limped the 1/2 block back to the apartment.

When I got back I found out that I had no other injuries, so I put band-aids on my elbow and knee and started icing the thigh which had begun to get really uncomfortable. Took a couple of extra-strength Tylenol.

Later I was able to go to sleep at the usual 2:00am without any problems. This morning I am a bit stiff and the left thigh is very sore but other than that I am OK, Thank God!!

Folks, this is something that could have been much much worse and I consider myself to be very very lucky. Thank You God!!

Now, with your permission I will make up for the missed posting yesterday by first giving you Billi Pod’s report cards on ... 

MEDIEVAL PLAY, about two French mercenary knights on a quest for moral redemption==>B+

It is raucous, profane and in-your-face, which is my kinda humor. The first act is 1:40 and I estimate that about 25% of the audience left at intermission. The show is 3 hours and that is way too long, however, it is still worth seeing IMHO.

Yesterday afternoon Billi Pod was at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for game two of the Interleague series against The Cincinnati Reds.

The weather was awesome. Too bad the game wasn’t. We lost 6-5 as our 9th inning rally fell one run short. Ivan Nova was on the mound for The Bronx Bombers and he got knocked around, giving up 5 runs in 6 innings. He also struck out a career-high 12 batters, go figure.

This was my 10th game of the season and their record for those games is 5 wins and 5 losses and Billi Pod ain’t happy about that ... no he ain’t.

When the game was over I had plenty of time to make it back to PHC, shower again, have a small fruit and cheese plate and then head out to the theater to meet my friend Marty Kosarik for our show ... 

HARVEY - “The charming and kind Elwood Dowd has only one character flaw - an unwavering friendship with a six-foot-tall, invisible white rabbit named Harvey.” (Broadway - discounted ticket)

This show earns a solid A on Billi Pod’s report card (Marty suggested an A+). It is so well performed and staged. Yes, it is dated but it holds up well. What a stellar cast.

Starring in the role of Elwood is Jim Parsons the two-time Emmy Award winner for The Big Bang Theory and he is excellent.

Our seats were in the rear of the upper balcony, next to last row from the top, but no matter ... the location didn’t detract a bit from the show. Now, the small and cramped seating was another matter, but ... what can you do?

Oh ... as a side note ... eons ago I made my community theatre debut at Bartow Performing Arts Council in the role of Dr. William Chumley.

Folks, I highly recommend this show and I think it is going to be very favorably reviewed. Get your tickets now.

OK ... now you are up-to-date about the past ... so what about today, Sunday, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ...

Will stay in for the early part of the afternoon to watch game 3 of the YANKEES/CINCINNATI series, with our ace CC Sabathia on the mound, and then ...

5:00==>UNCENSORED - “The teenage members of the MCC Youth Company perform their own original monologues and scenes to articulate their hopes, fears and dream.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This group is also called THE KEEN TEENS and I have seen them perform the past two years and it is really an interesting theater experience, so I am looking forward to this show. And, thankfully, it is playing at a theater on my block.

So, my loyal and faithful readers ... you are now up-to-date. I hope the rest of your weekend in fun.

OMG!! The weather is awesome. I should be out walking and wandering but ... the left leg is too stiff to give it a try ... dammit ... Oh well ... 

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.”

Billi Pod’s Report Card on Yesterday’s Doubleheader.

Yesterday’s doubleheader was a mixed bag. 

The first event was the workshop performance at The York Theatre of IN LOVE WITH JOBIM, a one-act romantic musical comedy set in Rio. 

Frankly, the best thing about the event was being a part of Dian Crystal’s posse, which included moi, Marty Kosarik and Dian’s brother (whose name escapes me at the moment.) The show was only so-so and needs a lot of work in the future.

Now don’t get me wrong ... I didn’t hate the show ... it just didn’t live up to my expectations ... oh well ...

Then for the evening was PROTECTED, about a man, a former Brooklyn resident, now in the witness protection program in Albuquerque, NM==>B+.

The house was virtually full and the show has excellent performances from a stellar cast. The story line is funny and also very thought-provoking. It calls into question the issue of who we really are and whether we can ever totally escape our past and our roots.

In yesterday’s post I wrote that the show was in early previews. Well, I was wrong ... it has been running for several weeks and has only 2 performances left. Too bad because it is certainly an entertaining theater piece and is definitely worth seeing.

Barf!! The Yankees lost their 3rd straight game. Barf! At least they are at home tonight to begin a 3-game Interleague series against The Cincinnati Reds. Andy Pettitte will be making his second start of the season. Hope it is better than his first.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>MEDIEVAL PLAY - “Two French mercenary knights are on a quest for moral redemption in the late 14th century.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

The play is by Kenneth Lonergan and this is the World Premiere and it is playing at the new Signature Theatre Complex in my ‘hood.

I have been advised that the show clocks in at 3 hours so it will be Red Bull time pre-curtain.

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.”

Billi Pod Has Another Thursday Doubleheader

Good afternoon everyone. 

I am pleased to report that last night’s entertainment event==>JACK’S BACK, a musical about Jack The Ripper, earned a B+ in Billi Pod’s report card.

It was a lot of fun with a mega-active and talented cast, especially Casey Shane in the role of Herbert Wingate, who is on a quest to capture Jack The Ripper. 

Billi Pod Says==>See it ... it runs through June 24th.

I saw the show with my theater buddy Marty Kosarik and we had planned to have a late dinner at a Mexican restaurant named El Ranchito del Agave, located on 9th Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets.

When our show was finished we walked over to the restaurant, talking about things and stuff along the way ...  and ... bummer ... the restaurant really looked seedy and there was a Health Department rating sign prominently posted. It was a “B.” Bummer!!

Marty and I looked at each other and ... No Way Jose ... so we scratched our plans and headed back to our respective apartments. Oh well ... 

Thankfully, because of the show and the time it took to walk to the restaurant I was spared listening to any of the dismal performance by the Yankees in their 8-1 loss to Toronto. 

Man ... the season is now 25% over and it is painfully obvious that The Yankees are in serious trouble in almost every aspect of the game. Billi Pod predicts that it is going to be a long and extraordinarily frustrating season for The Bronx Bummers.

Today is an entertainment double header for Billi Pod ... 

3:00==>IN LOVE WITH JOBIM - “A one-act romantic comedy set in Rio, featuring some of the greatest love songs of our time, including ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ and others.” (Off Broadway)

This is part of The Developmental Reading Series at The York Theatre and I am seeing it with Dian Crystal and her posse.

Then for the evening is ...

8:00==>PROTECTED - “New home, new neighbors, new life and all Langley has to give up is himself, because he is brand-new in the witness protection program.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is in early previews and there has been no advanced buzz.

Let me close with just an observation about the all-too-real curse that continues to strike the Kennedy family. The following front page headlines pretty much sums it up ...

“RFK Jr. WIFE DEAD. Body found in NY Home. Kennedy curse strikes again.” - front page of the NY Post.

“KENNEDY SUICIDE. RFK Jr.’s wife, Mary, found hanged.” - front page of the Daily News.

In the New York Times the story is not a headliner, rather it is relegated inside to page A22 ...

“A Kennedy Is Found Dead at Her Home in Westchester.” - NY Times

When you think about it, the whole history of the Kennedy clan can probably be summed up with the statement: “Fame, Fortune and Wealth Does Not Guarantee Happiness.”

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.”