THANK YOU! - Fish In The Dark - The Yankees - Subway Series

Friday==>THANK YOU, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, for the birthday calls, emails, texts, posts and cards.

They all mean sooooooooooo very much to me and I deeply appreciate everyone who took the time to contact me. It really helped make April 23, 2015 an outstanding day.

Yeah, my 81st Birthday was an excellent day that got started in the afternoon with ...

The Yankees winning the 4-game series against the Tigers by winning the final game 2-1 on a stellar outing from Masahiro Tanaka, who gave up only 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6, over 6 1/3 innings. He, unfortunately, didn’t get the win.

It was a very exciting game to watch.

With this win the Yankees moved into a 3-way tie for first place in the AL East.

Then, for the evening was the smash Broadway show ...

FISH IN THE DARK, following the death of his father, Norman Drexel (Larry David), a kvetchy urinal salesman, concocts an elaborate scheme with his housekeeper to convince his overbearing mother to move in with his brother instead of him==>A

I can certainly understand why this show has received mostly glowing reviews and is basically sold-out for the remainder of its limited run. It is in-your-face comedy/humor delivered by an all-star cast headed, of course, by the playwright and TV star Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame.

The story line takes the usual “dysfunctional family” genre to a new level of unpleasant people yelling, screaming and cussing at everyone else, but this time it is very funny and entertaining.

And, trust me on this, nothing, and I mean nothing, is sacred or out-of-bounds ... I mean ... the biggest sustained laugh in the show occurs when a 19-year old guy tells Norman: "I just fucked your Mother." This is just the kind of in-your-face humor that Billi Pod loves ...need I say more? I doubt it.

Billi Pod has to admit that he has never seen a single episode of “Curb” because he has only basic cable, so some of the sly references to it in the show went over his head but that was OK.

As anticipated, the house was sold out. My full price ticket was in the rear of the orchestra and that was fine.

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

Billi Pod says==>if you can score a ticket it is well worth the full-price.

It is playing at the Cort Theatre on West 48th Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and its limited run ends on June 7th.

When the show was over I left the theatre with a big smile on my face. I came back to PHC and had by Birthday Dinner, pizza and wings.

So==>Billi Pod’s 81st Birthday was excellent in all aspects.

Moving on to today ...

Tonight @ 7:05pm your favorite Big Apple blogger will be in front of his 42” flat screen TV to watch game one of the Subway Series against the Mets, who will come into Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, on a 11 game winning streak and with the best record in MLB.

On the mound for the Yankees (9-7) will be Michael Pineda (2-0) vs. Jacob deGrom (2-1) for the Mets (13-3).

As might be expected the series has generated a media frenzy. 

These are the headlines in the papers this morning ...

RUNAWAY TRAIN - After winning 11 in a row, Mets invade Yankee Stadium

front page of the NY Post

‘WE’LL BE READY’ - Surging first-place Yanks’ message to MLB-best Mets

back page of the NY Post

NO JOKE! Harvey & red-hot Mets take on A-Rod and Yankees in Gotham clash

back page of the Daily News

And, in The Gray Lady ...

Next Stop on Mets’ Express: The Bronx

front page of Sports Section of the NY Times

You can expect that your favorite Big Apple blogger will stay in to watch all 3 games in this emotionally-packed sporting event.

Oh ... on the weather scene ... it has gotten cold again here in Gotham City. At 8:00am it was 40º, with wind chill it was down to 32º. The projected temperature out in The Bronx at game time is 48º, wind chill down to 38º. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Anyway ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE & GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.30 miles (or, 9,405 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>442.68 miles (average 3.92 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.”

Billi Pod Is 81 - Amazing Walking Stats - Living On Love - Urinetown - Fish In The Dark - The Yankees

Thursday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace and in the boondocks, wastelands and wilderness ... your favorite Big Apple blogger is now 81 years old. WOW!!

So ... thanks for the calls, posts, texts and emails that have been pouring in. I promise to do my best to respond in a timely fashion.

As I mentioned in a previous posting ... today will be a rather low key day (hummmmm ... can “low key” ever really be used regarding Billi Pod?) Anyway, after I make this posting I will watch the 1:08pm final game of the YANKEES/DETROIT series (details below). Then, for the evening I have given myself a ticket to a smash Broadway show (details also below). When the show is over I will come back to the apartment and have my birthday dinner, pizza and wings.

So there you are ... kinda low key ... right?

I do, however, want to share with you one rather AMAZING birthday stat ... so ... here it comes ...

From 12:01am on April 23, 2014 until midnight on April 22, 2015 Billi Pod walked ==>1,521.95 miles (average 4.17 miles per day), totaling  3,325,461 steps. All recorded on my WeightWatchers Pedometer.

The mileage for the same time-frame a year ago was==>1,333.63 miles (average 3.65 miles per day)

I think this is a major factor in keeping healthy and maintaining my weight. This morning my weight was 159 lbs, just where I wanted it to be. 

IMHO==>not bad, not bad at all.

So ... why don’t we move on to Billi Pod’s report cards on yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader ... beginning with ...

The recently opened Broadway show ...

LIVING ON LOVE, the comedy, starring soprano Renée Fleming, about an opera diva who is writing her biography, the only trouble is ... so is her larger-than-life maestro husband==>B+

I found this show to be very funny and totally enjoyable and I was impressed with Fleming’s Broadway debut.

The cast is stellar and the lead performers, Fleming and Douglas Sills, are excellent, but in my opinion the best performance comes from Jerry O’Connell as Robert, the young writer who is also totally enamored with the diva.

My comp. seat was super-excellent - row M in the very center of the orchestra. 

The audience was very much into the show.

Billi Pod says==>worth seeing with a discounted ticket.

This show just opened to very mixed reviews, is playing at the Longacre Theatre on West 48th Street, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and is an open run.

When the show was over I came back to the apartment, had the usual fruit and cheese plate, and then it was time to head downtown for my second entertainment event. I had planned to walk but it had begun to lightly rain so I opted to subway the two stops.

My second show was an Off Broadway musical ... the revival of ... 

URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL, set in the future where you have to pay for the privilege of peeing and there is a battle between good and an evil private corporation==>A+

OK ... I totally, and I mean TOTALLY, enjoyed/loved everything about this production by The St. Barts Players.

The cast is amazing, headed by: David Brown as Officer Lockstock, who is also the narrator; Josh Wooster as Bobby Strong, the hero; Lauren Shakra as Little Sally; and, Alyssa Somers Farlow as the frenetic Penelope Pennywise.

The ensemble plays multiple roles and make numerous quick costume changes, in addition to set changes.

The staging and choreography is spectacular.

Yes, the show is very very profane and in-your-face but this is just the kind of humor Billi Pod likes and is what attracted him to this show initially back in 1999 at the New York International Fringe Festival.

The audience was very much into the show and the house was almost sold-out.

Billi Pod says==>take a chance and see this show if you possibility can.

This revival is a production of The St. Bart’s Players, whose past works I have enjoyed, is playing at The Hudson Guild Theatre on West 26th Street, has a running time of 2:20, with intermission, and only runs through April 26th.

When the show was over the weather had cleared up so I walked back to the apartment. This resulted in a very good walking day==>5.39 miles.

Yep, it was another excellent entertainment doubleheader for you favorite blogger.

The day/evening was made even better by learning that the Yankees kicked butt again, beating the Tigers by a score of 13-4 and crushing our old nemesis David Price. It snowed off and on during the game. WTF?

Anyway ... let’s move on to the rest of today ...

This afternoon at 1:08pm is the final game of the 4-game series against the Tigers.

On the mound for the Yankees (8-7) will be Masahiro Tanaka (2-1) vs. Anibel Sanchez (1-2) for the Tigers (11-4)

Then for the evening I have given myself an expensive full-price ticket to see the Broadway show ...

7:00==>FISH IN THE DARK - “Following the death of his father, Norman Drexel (Larry David), a kvetchy urinal salesman, concocts an elaborate scheme with his housekeeper to convince his overbearing mother to move in with his brother instead of him.” (Broadway - full price ticket)

This box-office smash is written by and stars Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame. It is currently the highest grossing non-musical on Broadway. Last week it took in $1,180,983 and recorded 101.4% seating capacity.

It is playing at the Cort Theatre on West 48th Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and its limited run ends on June 7th.

When the show is over I will come back to the apartment and have my birthday dinner, pizza and wings.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... there you have it and thanks again for all of the birthday wishes ... love you all ...

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.39 miles (or, 11,781 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>438.38 miles (average 3.91 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.”

Dinner With The Boys - Living On Love - Urinetown: The Musical - The Yankees

Wednesday==>We need to get today’s posting started because your favorite Big Apple blogger has an entertainment doubleheader scheduled for today ... 

So ... let’s begin with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

DINNER WITH THE BOYS, about a couple of aging mobsters who are preparing what might be their last supper==>C+.

This was the first preview performance and I really wanted to like this “comedy” written by and starring Dan Lauria of “The Wonder Years” but it just didn’t work for me as the performers throw around every conceivable “Italian Mobster” cliché and Mafia stereotypes, while screaming, yelling and cussing without stop.

My problem is that I cannot go into more details without revealing major spoilers and ... I could be totally wrong in my reaction because the almost full-house audience gave the performers a roaring standing ovation at curtain call ... so ... 

Billi Pod says==>see this show with an open mind and then form your own opinion(s).

The show is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:45, with intermission, and runs through July 5th.

Now ... moving on to today’s entertainment doubleheader ... beginning with ...

The Broadway show ...

2:00==>LIVING ON LOVE - “World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming makes her Broadway debut in this new comedy about an opera diva who is writing her biography, the only trouble is ... so is her larger-than-life maestro husband. Sparks fly, silverware is thrown, and romance blossoms in unexpected ways.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show just opened to very mixed reviews, is playing at the Longacre Theatre on West 48th Street, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and is an open run.

When the show is over I will come back to PHC for the usual fruit and cheese plate and then it will be time to walk downtown for my second entertainment event ...

One of my all-time favorite musical comedies, in its first NYC revival in 14 years ...

8:00==>URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL - “As the result of a terrible water shortage, private toilets have become unthinkable. All restroom activities are handled through a private corporation, the Urine Good Company (UGC for short). To control water consumption, people have to pay to use public amenities (that is, public toilets) for their ‘private business.’ Yes, people must pay for the privilege of peeing and heroic Bobby Strong leads the fight against this practice.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

I saw this outrageously funny show in its very first performance at the 1999 New York International Fringe Festival. TOTALLY LOVED IT!  It then played Off Broadway before sold out houses and moved to Broadway in August 2001 where it ran until January 18, 2004. Of course I saw it multiple times Off and On Broadway.

This revival is a production of The St. Bart’s Players, whose past works I have enjoyed, is playing at The Hudson Guild Theatre on West 26th Street, has a running time of 2:20, with intermission, and only runs through April 26th.

So ... I hope you loyal and faithful readers and followers will agree that it looks like a very interesting doubleheader for your favorite blogger.

Moving on to the sports scene ... for you Marty ...

Last night up in Detroit the Yankees battled rain and very cold weather to beat the Tigers 5-2 behind an excellent outing from Nathan Eovaldi, who gave up only 1 run in 7 innings, striking out 4 and walking only 1.

Tonight at 7:08pm is game three of the four game series. On the mound for the Yankees (7-7) will be Adam Warren (0-1) vs. our longtime nemesis David Price (1-0) for the Tigers (11-3).

Oh ... getting to and from my heart doc's far Eastside office ultimately resulted in some decent walking stats==>4.06 miles for the day.

OK ... time to post this and then get ready for my doubleheader ...

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.06 miles (or, 8,886 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>432.99 miles (average 3.90 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.”

Updates - Dinner With The Boys - The Yankees - Timmy Tebow

Tuesday==>Sorry for no posting yesterday. Monday was a nasty day weather-wise. It steadily rained for most of the day and into the evening.

Your favorite Big Apple blogger used this as motivation to do some major, and I mean major, cleaning out and throwing away stuff. This was a huge step toward the dreaded process of packing up for the ultimate moving day in May.

All of this means I simply wasn’t in the mood to write ... so ... sorry ... please forgive me.

Moving on ...

As soon as I post this I will head over to the far Eastside to my heart doc’s office to get fasting blood work done in preparation of my semiannual “checkup” on Tuesday the 28th.

Man, I am starving since I last ate at 8:00pm last night. Oh well ...

When I finally get back to the apartment I will fix myself a huge fruit and cheese plate ...then ...

My entertainment event for the evening is an Off Broadway show ... 

7:00==>DINNER WITH THE BOYS - “A killer comedy by Dan Lauria of ‘The Wonder Years’ about a couple of old-time wise-guys who like to cook great Italian food, complain about everything under the sun, and kill anyone who gets in their way.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Lauria heads a stellar cast that includes Ray Abruzzo (The Sopranos) and Richard Zavaglia (Donnie Brasco).

This is the first preview performance and I am really looking forward to it.

The show is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:40, without intermission, and runs through July 5th.

Moving on to some sports ... for you Marty ... 

Last night up in the Motor City the Yankees lost 2-1 in the first game of the 4-game series against the Central Division leading Tigers.

CC Sabathia pitched an excellent game, giving up 2 runs and 7 hits in 8 innings. Unfortunately, the Yankee offense was unable to produce.

Tonight at 7:08pm is game 2. On the mound for the Yankees (6-7) will be Nathan Eovaldi (0-0) vs. Kyle Lobstein (1-0) for the Tigers (11-2).

BTW==>hope you remember that Billi Pod hates Tigers.

Moving on some more ...

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and follower who are also Gator fans, it is now official. The Eagles have signed Timmy Tebow to a one-year contract, giving our 2007 Heisman Trophy winner his return to the NFL after being cut by the Patriots before the 2013 season began.

Timmy will have to battle 4 other QBs in order to make the team. 

Oh the drama ... let the game begin.

OK ... time to post this and then head out ...

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.22 miles (or, 4,872 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>428.93 miles (average 3.90 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.”