BOYS WILL BE BOYS==>Thumbs Up.

Saturday==>Good afternoon to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace. Your favorite blogger hopes that your weekend is off to a good start and that things only get better for you as the weekend progresses.

I am happy to report that yesterday’s entertainment events were totally AWESOME and, once again, explains why I continue to live in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, rather than ... say ... Des Moines, IA, Beaumont, TX, Fargo, ND, Wauchula, FL ... or wherever.

So .... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report cards ... starting with the New York Musical Festival (NYMF) show ...

BOYS WILL BE BOYS, when it is discovered that Ishmael Gonzalez suffers from Gay Attention Deficit Disorder (G.A.D.D.), a condition that renders gay men unable to stay focused on any trend for more than a few weeks, five of his friends stage a one-night-only benefit==>THUMBS UP.

I am happy to report that this show was everything I expected and more, with a superb cast, listenable music and lyrics and a funny and thought-provoking story line. It is everything that HOMO, THE MUSICAL isn't.

The highlight of the evening for me was the emotionally involving “Giant” performed to perfection by Ryan Speakman.

I would highly recommend that you see this show, but, unfortunately, the final performance was last night. Hopefully, it will find a life after NYMF ends.

When the show was over I subwayed down to SoHo to the HERE Arts Center for my second show. I was there a bit early, so I picked up my ticket and then did a bit of a walk and wander session in the area.

Then I met up with my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik aka Whatever. I was seeing the show totally on his insistence. I have to admit to having some serious misgivings.

Billi Pod’s report card on ...

ROGER & TOM, about a man who comes to a show, only to find out that he's actually a member of the cast==>A

The show has a wonderful cast and is totally involving and mentally and emotionally challenging. By that I mean ... just when you think you know what’s happening on stage, you don’t. What is happening, or not happening, is virtually impossible to describe and I won’t even try.

The one-hour running time flies by.

The 3-person cast: Suzy Jane Hunt; Eric T. Miller; and, Richard Thieriot, are remarkable and they received a well-earned roaring standing ovation from the full house.

Yes, IMHO, the show more than earns its favorable reviews and the decision to extend its run through August 24th.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

Also==>thank you Marty for insisting that we see this show. You were more than right. I would not have seen it, but for you.

Moving on ...

What wasn’t right was the fiasco that was happening out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, as The Rays destroyed the fading CC Sabathia, who gave up 7 runs in just 5 innings in his third straight abysmal start. The final score was 10-6, which is a bit misleading because the Wankies scored some meaningless runs late in the game.

The Rays are now in sole-possession of first place in the AL East.

Alfonso Soriano’s homecoming was anything but stellar as he went 0-5, with one measly RBI groundout.

This afternoon at 1:05pm will be game 2 of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Wankies will be Ivan Nova (4-3) vs. Chris Archer (5-3) for The Rays.

Folks, trust me on this ... The Yankee Universe ain’t happy.

Anyway ... tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>STORYVILLE - “The American Songbook is forever changed with the birth of jazz in the seedy saloons and brothels of New Orleans in the 1910s.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

This musical is playing at The York Theatre @ The Citigroup Center on E. 54th Street, one of my favorite venues. As I have mentioned before, Jim Morgan, the Artistic Director, is a Florida Gator.

It is running through August 17th, although an extension is possible as a result of the mostly very favorable reviews.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is about time for The Wankie game to start, so will post this and then settle down in front of the tube.

Oh ... yesterday was also a good walking day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.00 miles (or, 10,944 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>97.15 miles (average 3.74 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.”

HOMO, THE MUSICAL==>SO-SO

Friday==>It is an overcast morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. The temperature at 10:30am is a manageable and pleasant 72º, with a nice breeze coming off The Hudson River. The high for the day is forecast to be 82º

This is a nice way to begin the weekend, so why don’t we get this posting underway with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s entertainment event, another New York Musical Festival (NYMF) show ...

HOMO, THE MUSICAL, peaceful Pleasant Valley Pines is invaded by a gay alien (Gaylien!) from the Planet Homo. Gaylien infiltrates the local ultraconservative preacher’s home and all-Hell breaks loose==>SO-SO.

This is giving it the benefit of the doubt because it is close to a thumbs down. I really expected to like this show and the talented cast tries, but it just isn’t very funny or interesting. It is a sign that lots of work needs to be done when the most interesting features are the video projections.

I saw the show with my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik aka Whatever and he basically shares my feelings about it.

Oh ... I am happy to report that Whatever graciously accepted Billi Pod’s mea culpa (read yesterday’s posting).

When the show was over I came back to the apartment and pretty much spent the remainder of the evening paying the first of the month bills while watching the replay of the YANKEES/RANGERS game (details below).

Today, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, is going to be another entertainment doubleheader for your favorite blogger ... starting with another NYMF show ...

5:00==>BOYS WILL BE BOYS - “When it is discovered that Ishmael Gonzalez suffers from Gay Attention Deficit Disorder (a condition that renders gay men unable to stay focused on any trend for more than a few weeks), five of his friends come to the rescue with a one-night-only benefit for The Fund to Fight G.A.D.D. A lyrical romp of loves won, lost and borrowed and the essential fabulosity of being gay.” (NYMF - full price ticket)

The running time for this show is 1:35, without intermission, so I will have plenty of time to head downtown to SoHo for my second show ...

8:30==>ROGER & TOM - “A comedy about a man who has come to see the same show that the audience has, only to find out that he's actually a member of the cast of a play that challenges the conventions of theatre.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing down in SoHo at the HERE Arts Center and has a running time of 60-minutes, without intermission.

It has received basically very favorable reviews and has been extended through August 24th. 

I will be seeing this show with Marty aka Whatever and, maybe, hopefully, with Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Vera Olichney.

Moving on to the usual sports bit ...

Yesterday afternoon The Yankees won a very exciting game against The Rangers by a score of 2-0 on yet another stellar outing from Hiroki Kuroda and Mo’s 33rd save. They split the 4-game series.

Tonight @ 7:05pm out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, will be game one of the 3-game series against The Rays, who are on fire and in a virtual tie with The FuckSox for first place in the AL East.

On the mound for The Yankees will be the struggling CC Sabathia (9-8) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (9-3) for The Rays.

BREAKING NEWS==>The Yankees and The Cubs have reached an agreement that will bring Alfonso Soriano back to The Bronx, where he played from 1999-2003.

What irony==>Soriano was traded to Texas in 2004 in the deal that brought Alex Rodriguez to The Yankees. Now he returns to the team largely because A-Rod ain’t in the lineup.

And speaking of A-Rod ... both he and Derek Jeter remain on the sidelines and there is still not a specific date for their return to the active lineup.

Oh, the drama.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.69 miles (or, 5,887 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>92.15 miles (average 3.67 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.”

BILL W. AND DR. BOB==>A

Thursday==>Where has the summer gone? I mean ... seriously ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... where has it gone?

At 9:30am it was only 64º here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and the projected high for this overcast day is only 72º. A week ago it was in the upper 90s. Wow!

Oh well, ain’t nothing your favorite blogger can do about it ... so ... 

Let’s get this posting started on a very positive note with Billi Pod's report card on last night’s Off Broadway show down in SoHo ...

BILL W. AND DR. BOB, about the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith==>A

The show is very well acted, especially the two leads, Patrick Boll as Bill W. and Timothy Crowe as Dr. Bob. 

The story line is emotionally involving and thought-provoking as it moves through the personal devastation of alcoholism on the individual and on his/hers loved ones and family members.

Of course, as a member of AA for over 23 years I knew the details of the early years of the program and the fateful meeting of Bill W. and Dr. Bob in Akron, OH, in November 1934. To see the events on stage with great acting was very emotional for me and, I believe, for most of the audience.

The show isn’t preachy (Thank God!) nor does it attempt to gloss over the dire consequences of alcoholism.

It has a running time of 2-hours, with an intermission, and is playing at the SoHo Playhouse in, tada, SoHo. It runs through February 5th.

Billi Pod says==>this is a MUST SEE for both the story line and the acting.

In yesterday’s posting I had mentioned that I would probably walk back to the apartment after the show ... well ... that didn’t happen. I subwayed back so I could watch the final innings of the YANKEES/RANGERS game (details below).

Today’s entertainment event is another New York Musical Festival (NYMF) show ...

5:00==>HOMO, THE MUSICAL - “The story begins when peaceful Pleasant Valley Pines is invaded by a gay alien (Gaylien!) from the Planet Homo. Gaylien infiltrates the local ultraconservative preacher’s home and all-Hell breaks out in a cosmic orgy of rock and roll, aliens, gays, god, and guts.” (NYMF - full price ticket)

Sounds like just the kind of show that Billi Pod loves.

Now, for a bit of sports ...

Last night the punchless Yankees lost game 3 of the 4-game series against The Rangers in Arlington, TX, by a score of 3-1. Andy Pettitte pitched a decent game but it was our lack of offense that doomed us, yet again.

The final game of the series is this afternoon at 2:05pm. Hiroki Kuroda (9-6) will be on the mound for The Wankies vs. Derek Holland (8-5) for The Rangers.

The A-Rod drama continues to unfold, with yet another mystifying move on his part. He has been on the sideline as a result of a quad-strain, which he reported last week. Well, in violation of the “Basic Agreement,” he sought a second opinion from a Doctor who, it turns out, had been fined for improperly prescribing steroids. Then A-Rod made the results of the second opinion public.

This resulted in a media frenzy, with the Yankees and their GM, Brian Cashman, going ballistic.

These are the headlines in today’s papers ...

“WRATH OF QUAD. Yanks come down on A-Rod for ‘second opinion’ by tainted doc.” - back page of The New York Post

“WE’VE HAD ENOUGH! Fed-up Yankee tells News team is sick of A-Rod Circus.” - back page of The Daily News

“RODRIGUEZ AND YANKEES CLASH AGAIN OVER HIS STATUS. Slugger has a doctor dispute a team physician’s evaluation of his injury.” - front page of sports section of The New York Times.

Oh, the drama. It seems to your favorite blogger that The Big Apple is about to cut off two dicks ... Anthony Weiner and Alex Rodriguez. To which Billi Pod says==>the sooner the better.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I need to close this posting with a mea culpa, so ... please stay with me.

The following is a comment, in its unedited entirety, that was posted on the website in response to Tuesday’s posting ...

“Marty said...

Hey...hey...HEY!!! Whats-his-name ...er...um.. I mean... Marty here. I want credit for last nights Handbook for an American Revolutionary recommend. I mean you did blog that it was only my telling you that it was "must see theatre" that got you there and let's face it...if you'd hated it I'd be feeling the heat. So? C'mon Billi Pod...WHERE'S THE LOVE?”

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, Marty aka Marty Kosarik aka Whatever, is absolutely correct. I saw the show totally, 110%, on his recommendation. So, he is indeed responsible for bringing a little pleasure into my otherwise dull, drab and mundane life here in The Big Apple.

So ... Marty ... please forgive this worthless pile of donkey-dung for his transgressions. I will make every effort to see that it never happens again, you pitiful, whining son-of-a-bitch. Oooooooops ... my bad ... sorry  ‘bout dat ... jus sayin ... whatever ... oh well ... so long ... farewell ...  auf wiedersehen .... goodbye.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.28 miles (or, 9.367 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>89.46 miles (average 3.73 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 Hump Day

Wednesday==>Yes, HAPPY HUMP DAY to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands, and boondocks, and in the morass known as cyberspace.

And ... yes ... even to my Worker Bee friends in their cubicles, wait-stations, broom closets etc etc.

Got stuff to do today, so let’s get this posting started with Billi Pod’s observations/comments on last night’s staged reading (remember, he does not give letter grades to staged readings) at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF) ...

NIGHTMARE ALLEY, about the ups and downs of a Depression-era con man and his carnival exploits, troubled past and fading love-life==>interesting and entertaining, but it needs a lot of work, of course. 

It comes close to being a rock-opera, rather than your traditional musical format.

When the show was over I came back to the cool confines of PHC to watch the 8:05pm YANKEES/RANGERS game from Arlington, TX.

It was a nail biter, with the Yankees scoring what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the 9th on a clutch hit from Brent Lillibridge (who??). The Yankees won 5-4, with Mo. getting his 32nd save of the season.

Tonight at 8:05pm is game 3 of the 4-game series with Andy Pettitte (7-7) on the mound for The Yankees vs. the newly acquired from The Cubs, Matt Garza (6-1) for The Rangers.

Moving on ...

This afternoon I have a routine appointment with my eye-doctor, Dr. Dina Weintraub, and then for the evening it will be an Off Broadway show down in SoHo ...

7:00==>BILL W. AND DR. BOB - “The story of the founding of AA and the power of recovery in the lives of millions, in AA and other 12 step groups.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket).

This is a revival of the show that had its New York debut 6-years ago. It is playing down in SoHo at the SoHo Playhouse and runs through December 3rd.

If the weather permits, I plan on walking back to the apartment (3+ miles) while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/RANGERS game.

In closing ... yesterday wasn’t much of a walking day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.52 miles (or, 3,342 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>85.18 miles (average 3.70 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.”