HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY!!

Happy Easter Sunday to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

It is a really nice day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, bright, sunny, with azure blue skies. At noon it is 56º with a nice breeze coming off The Hudson River.

Tonight I am having Easter Dinner down in Chelsea with my friends Michael Pederson and Dennis Dohman and 13+ of our mutual friends. I will get to their apartment around 5:45pm. 

It is always a lot of fun, with good food and lots of intelligent conversations. Almost everyone who will be in attendance can be classified as being “entertainment-involved.”

So ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday's entertainment event, the Off Broadway show ...

JACKIE & MARILYN, the fictional imagining of what might have gone on behind closed doors of the most famous love triangle of all time – if it ever happened==>C

Unfortunately, I found nothing new in this show, in its first preview performance ... yes ... JFK was a horn-dog, Marilyn was a booze-addled floozy and Jackie knew what was going on but “lived with it” in order to save her  husband’s legacy. So what’s new? A total rehash.

I basically found the show to be just boring. One positive, however, is the fact that Lella Satie has a striking physical resemblance to Marilyn.

Billi Pod says==>Be warned!!

It is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through May 3rd.

Before the show started I had an interesting running conversation with a very nice lady seated to my right, June Rachelson-Ospa, who is a writer, producer and lyricist, among many other things. She shared my disappointment with the show. We exchanged cards.

When the show was over I came back to PHC to meet up with John Scott Reed aka Fabson and his new roommate Paul Navarro, who were delivering Scott’s birthday present to me ... a ... gasp ... 42” flat screen TV ...

I won’t attempt to explain how/why Scott had an extra 42” TV to give away, but Thank God he did.

Scott has been bugging me for a long long time to replace my 14-year old TV ...

and now I have no choice.

Will have to get a stand and new stuff from Time Warner, which will probably be delayed until after I get back from my trip down to Columbia, SC, next week.

So==>Scott ... Thank You So Very Much!! 

Moving on ...

My plans for the evening were to stay in the warm and cozy confines of PHC to watch The Yankees extract vengeance on The Rays for the embarrassing 11-5 loss on Friday night.

Well, obviously The Entertainment Gods were still pissed with Billi Pod because the game turned out to be an utter nightmare.

Ivan Nova sucked as did the rest of the pitching staff as we were absolutely crushed 16-1 (that’s 2 TDs, 2 extra points and a safety). Barf!!

This afternoon @ 1:40pm is the final game of the 4-game series from that junkyard known as Tropicana Field. On the mound for The Wankies will be Vidal Nuno (who?? 0-0) vs. Cesar Ramos (0-1).

Please, please Entertainment Gods, you have punished Billi Pod enough ... show him some mercy ... PLEASE!!

In response to several texts and emails ... yes ... I have some interesting things schedule for the big Eight O on Wednesday the 23rd and I will share the info with you loyal and faithful readers and followers in tomorrow’s posting.

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER AND A HAPPY REST OF THE WEEKEND.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.62  miles (or, 7,924 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>370.45  miles (average 3.40 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 Wrath of The Entertainment Gods

Saturday==>First, I am happy to report that Gina and Finley are now back home with Alex and Saylor and all is well in the Falletta household down in Elgin, SC, which is just outside of Columbia.

Man, I am mentally counting down the hours until I get the opportunity to hold that new bundle-of-joy, my second great-granddaughter.

Moving on ...

Yesterday your favorite blogger succumbed to his inner baseball nerd and elected to remain in the cozy confines of PHC on a Friday night here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, to watch game 2 of the 4-game YANKEE/RAYS series from that joke known as Tropicana Field, located in St. Petersburg.

Well, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to share that the local Entertainment Gods invoked their collective wrath and turned Billi Pod's evening into a disgusting puke-inducing nightmare.

This is what I am talking about==>The Wankies were winning 5-3 going into the bottom of the 7th inning when the bullpen imploded, giving up 3 runs in the 7th and then 5 runs in the 8th. The final score was 11-5, breaking our 5-game winning streak in a disgusting fashion.

It was really painful to watch. I won’t bore you loyal and faithful readers and followers with any more details. 

Tonight @ 7:10pm is game 3. On the mound for The Yankees will be Ivan Nova (2-1) vs. Chris Archer (1-1).

Billi Pod is in the process of trying to make amends to The Entertainment Gods. Hopefully, they will be in a forgiving mood.

Moving on ...

This afternoon I have a matinee show and I am still weighing my options for the evening.

The matinee is an Off Broadway show ...

2:00==>JACKIE & MARILYN - “Jackie and Marilyn, two of the most glamorous and famous women of their time,  continue to fascinate us. This play is a fictional imagining of what might have gone on behind closed doors of the most famous love triangle of all time – if it ever happened.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

The show is in very early previews and there has been no advance buzz.

It is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through May 3rd.

Hopefully, something good will show up for tonight on one of my ticket services.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.50  miles (or, 7,656 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>366.83  miles (average 3.40 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.”

Finley and Mom Headed Home Today!!

Friday==>I am happy to report to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers that my new great-granddaughter Finley Caroline Falletta and her mother, Gina, are headed home today.

I really appreciate all of the postings, texts and emails. They really mean a lot to me and to Finley’s family.

Yeah, I know ... in yesterday’s blog I misspelled her name once in the body of the posting. When it was brought to my attention it was quickly corrected on the website. Sorry ‘bout dat.

In response to several emails and texts ... yes, your favorite blogger will be heading down to Columbia, SC, next week. I will leave The Big Apple on Friday, April 25th and return on Tuesday, April 29th.

Hopefully, my son Bill III aka The Bill, who lives in Orlando, FL, will drive up while I am there. We are also crossing our fingers that youngest grandson, Chris Falletta aka Topher, will be able to make the trip with The Bill.

Moving on ...

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

8:00==>THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE - “A revival of the Jon Robin Baitz 1991 drama about the volatile and overbearing patriarch of a family publishing house, who is stubbornly holding on to his place at the head of the company while his three children try to convince him to publish a desperately needed bestseller==>C

I really wanted this show to work so I stayed through the entire grueling two-hour performance hoping that I would finally understand and identify with the totally unpleasant and unlikeable main character, portrayed by John Noble.

Well, when it was f-i-n-a-l-l-y over all I wanted to do was bitch-slap his character for being such an egocentric overbearing uncaring asshole.

The various plot twists feel totally extraneous and manipulative.

On a positive note==>the sets are excellent and Halley Feiffer, Daniel Eric Gold and Carter Hudson are believable as the adult children.

Billi Pod says==>You are hereby warned.

It is playing at the Second Stage Theatre on West 43rd Street, has a running time of 2:05, with intermission, and runs through May 25th

Moving on some more ...

Last night, down in St. Petersburg, FL, at that fetid cesspool known as Tropicana Field, The Bronx Bombers put an ass-whipping on The Rays, winning 10-2 behind a good outing from CC Sabathia, 3 HRS, 2 triples and a triple-play.

Tonight @ 7:10pm is game 2 of the 4-game series. On the mound for The Yankees will be Hiroki Kuroda (2-1) vs. Eric Bedard (0-0).

As I am working on this draft I have not finalized my entertainment plans for tonight ... so ... stay tuned.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.01  miles (or, 4,404 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>363.33 miles (average 3.40 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.”

WELCOME HOME FINLEY CAROLINE FALLETTA

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, FINLEY CAROLINE FALLETTA came into this World at Columbia, SC, at approximately 4:30pm on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, weighing in at 7 lbs, 13 oz.

She was healthy and happy to be joining her parents Alex and Gina Falletta and her older sister Saylor, and adoring relatives from both sides of her family.

Her arrival made your favorite blogger a great-grandfather for the second time. I am so proud and happy.

I am also happy to report that this morning she and her mother are doing fine and that Gina expects to leave the hospital on Friday.

Gina went into the hospital during the early morning hours on Wednesday and Alex kept us all informed via mass texts. I also received updates via cellphone calls from my daughter, Kathi Bendeck, and her husband, Dr. John.

As many of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, my entertainment plans for the evening were to head out to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, for the second game of the day/night YANKEES/CUBS doubleheader.

Well, as the afternoon wore on it suddenly dawned on me that there was no f**king way that I wanted to receive word that I had become a great-grandfather again while sitting in a baseball stadium, or even worse, miss it altogether because I was on the subway etc. So, I was able to sell my ticket (at a substantial discount) on StubHub.

This was an excellent decision, trust me on this ... it was.

The Yankees swept the doubleheader, winning 3-0 and 2-0.

My daily walking mileage was basically accumulated by my walking regimen between half-innings during both games of the doubleheader. Good mileage, but ... man ... talk about boring ...

At the moment I am weighing several options for tonight’s entertainment event and will probably delay the final decision until later in the afternoon.

In Closing==>WELCOME HOME FINLEY CAROLINE FALLETTA ... WE LOVE YOU!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.51  miles (or, 7,690 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>361.32 miles (average 3.41 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.”

Snow?/Gina/Inventing Mary Martin/Yankees & Cubs

Wednesday==>I can’t believe that at 12:24am this morning I had some snow accumulation on one of my windows at PHC on the 41st floor.

At 8:00am it was bright but very cold, 32º, wind chill down to 23º. Burrrrrr!

When is it ever going to end, folks? When???

Oh, well ... moving on to some very positive news ...

As I am preparing this draft Gina and her family are at the hospital and the countdown has begun. 

She is expected to deliver baby girl #2 in mid afternoon and I am soooooooo excited about becoming a great-grandfather for the second time.

Will be making updates on my Facebook Timeline ... so ... stay tuned.

Moving on ...

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

INVENTING MARY MARTIN, the 4-person world premiere multi-media celebration of the life and career of one of Broadway’s greatest stars, Mary Martin, who became one of the most glamorous and beloved stars of the American musical theatre==>A

This was the first preview performance and it was extremely well performed by the 4-person cast, Jason Graae, Cameron Adams, Lynne Halliday and Emily Skinner. Jason Graae as the narrator/host is simply outstanding.

The story line follows Martin’s life from her birth in Weatherford, TX, on December 1, 1913, until her death on November 3, 1990. 

She is probably best known for her Tony-Award winning performances as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Peter in Peter Pan.

The story line is very educational and totally involving. The house was sold out and we gave the performers a roaring curtain call.

Major congrats to Artistic Director James Morgan and his staff for yet another terrific show.

Billi Pod says==>This is a must-see!!

It opens on April 27th, is playing at The York Theatre at the Citigroup Center on East 54th Street, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through May 18th.

Tonight’s entertainment event is out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, for the 7:05pm YANKEE/CUBS game, part of my partial season ticket package.

On the mound for The Yankees will be Michael Pineda (1-1) vs. Travis Wood (0-1) for The Cubs.

The weather forecast is for it to be 45º at game time. No rain is expected.

Last night’s game was postponed due to rain and is being made-up this afternoon as part of a day/night doubleheader.

It is almost noon and Alex has just reported: “contractions are stronger. Waiting on epidural.”

Time to post this ... so excited ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.52  miles (or, 7,703 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>357.81 miles (average 3.41 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.”

Broadway Battles Bullies/Inventing Mary Martin/Yankees/News from Columbia, SC

Tuesday==>It is an overcast morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. At 11:00am the temperature is a rather mild 62º with steady winds coming off of the Hudson River.

Your favorite blogger still has some left over errands and chores to finish, including his weekly trek to The Food Emporium across the street to take advantage of the additional 5% senior discount. 

So ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report on last night’s entertainment event ...

BROADWAY BATTLES BULLYING, the benefit concert for the Michael Morones Foundation, a new nonprofit dedicated to protecting and empowering our youth through educating communities about bullying and youth suicide prevention==>very emotional but totally enjoyable.

It was an interesting program with excellent performances from a stellar cast.

For your information ... On January 23rd, 11-year-old Michael Mornones, from North Carolina, attempted to hang himself from his bunk bed. He had been the subject of repeated vicious bullying at school for his love of the “My Little Pony” TV Series. He was found in time to save his life, but not soon enough to prevent permanent and severe brain damage.

He is currently undergoing rehab but he will need ongoing managed care for the remainder of his life.

His parents were in attendance and it was very emotional when they took the stage to thank the foundation and the audience.

My comp. seat was excellent. I was seated next to a longtime theater friend, who I have known by the name of Kim, for years. Well, he finally admitted to me that his “real” first name is “Michael” and he goes by the nickname Mik, which is the reverse of Kim. 

I guess I believe him.

In yesterday’s posting I had noted that I would probably walk back to the apartment after the concert. Well, instead, I got to the concert venue early so I could spend some time walking and wandering in the Washington Square Park area with all of the NYU students ... so ... I only walked about 1/3 of the way back after the concert. Still registered some excellent mileage for the day.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show ...

7:00==>INVENTING MARY MARTIN -“The 4-person world premiere multi-media celebration of the life and career of one of Broadway’s greatest stars, Mary Martin, who created the leading roles in One Touch of Venus, South Pacific, The Sound of Music and Peter Pan and became one of the most glamorous and beloved stars of the American musical theatre.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Tonight is the first preview performance, it opens on April 27th, is playing at The York Theatre at the Citigroup Center on East 54th Street, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and runs through May 18th.

I am really looking forward to this show because of the excellent work that is always done by The York Theatre, headed by their Artistic Director, James Morgan, a Florida Gator, and his talented staff.

Moving on some more ...

The Yankees had a much needed day-off yesterday. Tonight @ 7:05pm is the first of two games with the Chicago Cubs out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built. 

On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Masahiro Tanaka (1-0) vs. Jason Hammel (2-0) for The Cubs.

In closing ....

If things go as anticipated down in Columbia, SC, sometime tomorrow your favorite blogger will become a great-grandfather for the second time. Yes, Gina Falletta is expected to deliver her second girl, to join their darling Saylor. 

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I am soooooooo excited and charged ...

Will share the details as they develop on my FaceBook Timeline ... so ... stay tuned.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.19  miles (or, 9,156 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>354.29 miles (average 3.41 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.”