Meske with Dian & Marty - New York Philharmonic Concert - Only In New York Moment - Today’s Plans - The Alex & Gina Falletta Family

Wednesday - Your favorite Big Apple blogger is happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that yesterday was yet another terrific day here in The Greatest City In The World (details below).

The only downside was, of course, the weather that remained cold for the entire day and evening.

But ... this morning at 10:30am it is actually a balmy 47º, although rain is in the forecast for later in the afternoon and into the evening hours.

So ... let’s just move on with Billi Pod’s report on the details on yesterday’s activities ... starting with ...

Lunch with Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Meske, on West 47th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

As usual, we each ordered the Vegetarian Platter, which was yummy.

It had been awhile since the three of us had been together so we had a lot of catching-up to do. I gave them some more details on my Winter Park trip and my final decision to leave NYC but ... as I had anticipated ... my efforts to sell them on the wisdom of this decision totally failed. Oh well ... anyway ...

Dian and Marty==>it was great being with you.

When we split I went to The Food Emporium to do my weekly shopping and take advantage of the additional 5% Senior Discount that is only offered on Tuesday.

Now ... we will move on with Billi Pod’s report on last night’s classical music concert up at Lincoln Center ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program was:

Ravel - Piano Concerto in G Major (performed by Inon Barnatan);

Salonen - Nyx;

Debussy - Jeux; and,

Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier Suite

Frankly, this concert didn’t blow me away as I had anticipated/hoped ...

Ravel’s Piano Concerto performed by Inon Barnatan - excellent

Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier Suite - excellent

Debussy - Jeux - only so-so.

Salonen - Nyx (NY Phil premiere) - sucked. A piece of the atonal dreck that Billi Pod hates.

I was seated next to my friends, attorneys Alan and Irene Warshauer, and that was nice because we were able to do some much needed catching-up. It also gave me an opportunity to fill them in on my decision to leave NYC in May. 

It was actually kinda sad for me because I have really enjoyed getting to know them. Oh well ... 

And ... during the concert there was one of those WTF Only In New York moments that went down like this ...

During the middle of the Piano Concerto the mid-70s lady seated directly behind me, on the aisle, got out of her seat and went across the aisle and yanked an iPhone out of the hands of a young woman who was texting and threw it on the floor. She went back to her seat. To my amazement there was no response from the young woman. An usher retrieved the iPhone and gave it back to her. Further ... at intermission and at the end of the concert there was no interaction between the two women.

Only in New York, folks, only in New York.

I am also happy to report that the errands and chores walking and going to and from Lincoln Center resulted in some very good walking stats ... for a change==>5.28 miles.

Moving on ...

This afternoon at 1:00pm will be The Yankees/Mets Spring Training game at Tampa, carried on YES.

At the moment my plans for this evening are in flux but have no fear ... I am confident something of interest will show up on one of my ticket services ... so ... stay tuned.

Oh ... does anyone out there in the morass known as cyberspace have a recommendation for an interstate mover? Please ...

Your favorite blogger will close this posting out with a great picture of the Alex & Gina Falletta family. From left to right - Saylor, Gina, Alex and Finley.

Man, my great-granddaughters are growing up so fast.  

Love you guys.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.28 miles (or, 11,552 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>339.30 miles (average 4.09 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.”

Hand To God - Dian & Marty - New York Philharmonic

Tuesday - We will get today’s posting started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

The Broadway show, in previews ...

HAND TO GOD, a trash-talking hand puppet, Tyrone, takes charge of its shy teenage handler, Jason, at a Christian Puppet Ministry. Has the devil been let in?==>A

This is the same grade that it received from Billi Pod back on 12/3/11 and 3/17/12 when it had a virtually sold-out run up at the Ensemble Studio Theatre on West 52nd Street and then on 2/10/14 when it moved to the larger Lucille Lortel Theater down in The West Village.

Yeah ... this was my fourth time. 

In summary==>This show is insanely funny, profane, sacrilegious, well-performed and totally enjoyable. 

Moving to the larger Broadway venue does not negatively impact on the production values, IMHO. 

My discounted TDF seat was excellent ... row F in the orchestra, house right.

I have to report that Steven Boyer, reprising his role as Jason/Tyrone, is incredible and the physicality in his performance is amazing. His performance alone makes the show worth seeing.

In this regard I want to share a link to a story about him that appeared in the New York Times back in 2011 ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/theater/steven-boyer-unleashes-his-inner-demon-in-hand-to-god.html?_r=0 

It is well worth taking a few minutes to read.

The audience was really into the show and we gave the cast a roaring, and I mean, roaring standing ovation at curtain call.

Billi Pod says==>if you like raunchy in-your-face humor then this is the show for you. If not, then stay far far away.

It is playing at the Booth Theatre on West 45th Street, opens on April 7th, has a running time of 2:00, including intermission, and tickets are currently on sale through July 26th.

Moving on ...

At noon today I am having lunch with my theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Meske, on West 47th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

It has been a while since we were together so I am really looking forward to this “event.”

Then, for the evening is a classical music concert up at Lincoln Center ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is:

Ravel - Piano Concerto in G Major (performed by Inon Barnatan);

Salonen - Nyx;

Debussy - Jeux; and,

Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier Suite

(season subscription series)

Billi Pod is really in need of a classical music fix.

Will close this posting out with the usual weather update from The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ...

It is still cold. At 8:30am the temperature is 26º, wind chill down to 16º, with cloudless azure blue skies.

Yesterday the cold weather kept your favorite blogger in the warm and cozy confines of his apartment. He only ventured out to walk to and from his Broadway show.

This means that errands and chores remain to be done ... dammit.

STAY WARM EVERYONE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.56 miles (or, 5,612 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>334.02 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.”

Breaking News==>It is Official!! - John Scott Reed - At This Performance - Hand To God.

Monday - BREAKING NEWS==>I have just delivered the paperwork to the apartment management agent informing them that I will not be renewing my lease on PHC. 

This, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, is the finalization of my decision to leave NYC by the end of May and return to The Sunshine State.  

Yes==>It is done!! Winter Park, here I come!!

So ... rather appropriately ... 

On this Fourth Day of Spring your favorite Big Apple blogger asks this very simple question==>when is it gonna warm up?

Yeah ... that’s right. When? At 9:00am it is 24º and the wind whipping off The Hudson River brings the wind chill down to a frigid 14º. It is the wind that makes everything so fucking unpleasant as it cuts like a knife and makes even brief walks outdoors totally miserable.

Today’s errands and chores will probably be delayed until tomorrow because I just don’t want to leave the warm and cozy confines of PHC.

Oh well ... WTF ... let’s move on to Billi Pod's report on yesterday’s activities ... beginning with ...

A very pleasant and informative time with John Scott Reed at his new pad at the recently opened trendy and posh Avalon West Chelsea on 11th Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets.

Scott is the first occupant of his alcove studio apartment so he is still in the process of getting settled in. The apartment is really nice and the Western views are spectacular.

We had time for some much needed/wanted catching up. Scott is very supportive of my difficult decision to leave NYC the end of May to return to The Sunshine State, specifically, Winter Park.

When we finished I walked back to my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood for my evening’s entertainment event ... 

AT THIS PERFORMANCE, in this Musicals Tonight production Broadway and Off Broadway understudies and standbys from HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, INTO THE WOODS, THE LAST SHIP, LES MISERABLES, PIPPIN and SIDE SHOW sang a song from their show and then a song from their own repertoire==>A.

The Host and Producing Artistic Director is Stephen DeAngelis, a well-known casting agent. He conceived this show back in 2003 and since that time it has showcased the talents of 745 standbys, understudies and alternates who have covered 3,332 roles in 397 Broadway and Off Broadway productions.

The performers for this show were each excellent. The standout for me was Brittney Johnson, who understudies Eponine and Fantine in the revival of Les Miserables. She sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miz and later another song, whose name I have forgotten ... oh well.

The 1:30 running time flew by and the almost full-house audience was really into the show.

Yeah, I left the theater with a big smile on my face.

It was performed at The Theatre Row Complex on my 42nd Street block and last night was the only performance with this cast.

The next production will not be until April 13, 2015, and I will be there for sure.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event will be a Broadway show, in previews ...

8:00==>HAND TO GOD - “Jason is a shy, inquisitive student who finds an outlet for his burgeoning creativity at the Christian Puppet Ministry in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door and - most especially - his mother are thrown into further upheaval when Jason’s hand puppet Tyrone, once soft-spoken, takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

I saw this amazingly funny show twice when it was Off Broadway and totally loved it, especially Steven Boyer in the dual roles of Jason and Tyrone. It will be interesting to see how it transfers to a much larger Broadway venue.

It is still in previews and the advance buzz is mainly positive.

It is playing at the Booth Theatre on West 45th Street, opens on April 7th, has a running time of 1:50, including intermission, and tickets are currently on sale through July 26th.

Time to post this then bundle up and layer for a quick trip across the street to Food Emporium for some stuff.

Will spend the afternoon watching Spring Training baseball on MLB.

STAY WARM EVERYONE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.28 miles (or, 9,364 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>23.13 miles (average 3.30 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>331.46 miles (average 4.09 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.”

Hazel Flagg - John Scott Reed’s New Pad - At This Performance

Sunday==>Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace. I hope your weekend is going well.

I am happy to report that your favorite Big Apple blogger is having a great time and today will be even better (details below).

It is, however, still cold. At 10:30am it is 35º, wind chill down to 26º, with azure blue skies and a few puffy clouds.

So ... let’s begin with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s staged reading of the Off Broadway musical ...  

HAZEL FLAGG, in Jule Styne’s Hazel Flagg (1953), a reporter invites a girl dying from exposure to radium to New York City for an interview. After accepting, she discovers she was mis-diagnosed but decides not to reveal the truth because she has become a media darling==>A.

This was another totally enjoyable evening’s entertainment produced by Musicals Tonight.

It features an extremely talented cast headed by: Savannah Frazier as Hazel; Jody Cook as Doc Downer, who made the mis-diagnosis; and, Jason Mills as Wallace, the reporter.

For me the highlighted songs were: “Every Street's a Boulevard in Old New York” and “How Do You Speak to an Angel.”

Even though the show is dated the underlying theme of the intoxication of celebrity and the quest for media exposure still rings true today.

Billi Pod says==>definitely worth seeing.

It is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 2:30, with intermission, and runs through March 29th.

As usual, Musicals Tonight’s Producer, Mel Miller, was at the entrance to the theater, welcoming everyone. And, he had his two dogs, Izzy and Moe, with him. I took this picture as I walked inside. 

Before the show Mel took the stage, dogs in tow, to give a brief history of the show and what was happening back in 1953. Very informative.

Yes, when the show was over I left the theater with a big smile on my face.

Moving on ...

This afternoon around 4:00pm I will walk down to the High Line area to see John Scott Reed’s new pad.

Yeah ... he has just moved into the new and trendy Avalon West Chelsea, located on 11th Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets.

Then, for the evening will be another show at my Theatre Row Complex ...

7:00==>AT THIS PERFORMANCE - “In this Musicals Tonight production Broadway understudies and standbys will sing a song from their show and then later a song from their own repertoire.” (Off Broadway - full price ticket)

This is the 13th season for this showcase that has already featured over 700 Broadway understudies and standbys from over 300 shows. I have seen several productions and have totally enjoyed each one because they are each different.

It is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 90 minutes (I think), without intermission, and tonight is its only performance date.

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

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.52 miles (or, 5,517 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>327.18 miles (average 4.09 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 Stuff - John & Jen - Hazel Flagg - Thank You!!

Saturday==>Oh yes, at 8:30am on the second day of Spring here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, it is cloudy with temperature of 29º, wind chill down to 24º. Man, is the cold weather ever gonna end?

Well, on a kinda positive note, I guess ... the forecast is for a high in the low 50s later in the afternoon.

I have to report that yesterday’s snow storm was every bit as nasty and unpleasant as predicted. It snowed from early afternoon until late evening and there were accumulations of ice, snow and slush, especially at the crosswalks.

Fortunately, your favorite blogger had done some advance planning so his entertainment event was in a theater venue just a few steps away from his apartment building, meaning he had minimal exposure to the miserable elements.

So ... why don’t we just move on to Billi Pod’s report card on that entertainment event ...

The Off Broadway show ...

JOHN & JEN, the revival of Andrew Lippa’s musical drama about the complexities of relationships between brothers and sisters and parents and children, set against the background of a changing America between 1950 and 1990==>A.

Folks, your favorite blogger loved everything about this show. 

The two person cast, veteran Kate Baldwin and newcomer Conor Ryan, is excellent both acting and musically. They bring their characters believably to life in the intertwined story line that becomes very emotionally involving. 

To quote one of the very positive reviews: “... it is an endearing exploration of the human spirit.” I totally agree.

Billi Pod says==>see this show before it closes.

It is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:40, including intermission, and runs through April 4th.

Moving on ...

I am suffering from a major case of cabin fever so, hopefully, it will warm up enough so I can do just a bit of walking and wandering in my immediate Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for the evening is an Off Broadway musical ...

7:30==>HAZEL FLAGG - “In Jule Styne’s Hazel Flagg (1953), a reporter invites a girl dying from exposure to radium to New York City for an interview. After accepting, she discovers she was mis-diagnosed but decides not to reveal the truth because she has become a media darling.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Songs include “Every Street's a Boulevard in Old New York,” “How Do You Speak to an Angel,” and “You're Gonna Dance With Me, Willie.”

This is a part of the “Musical’s Tonight” staged-reading concert series that I have really enjoyed in the past.

It is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 2:30, with intermission, and runs through March 29th.

In closing==>a major THANK YOU to all of you loyal and faithful readers and followers who took the time to respond to yesterday’s posting about my decision to leave NYC by June lst.

Yeah ... together we will move forward ... so ... let the new adventure begin.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.14 miles (or, 4,694 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>324.66 miles (average 4.11 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.”