songbird's crazy world

 We were in Times Square last night …and there he was.  A brave, brave man. What was his act of bravery? He was wearing a Houston Astros t shirt. After what the Astros just did to the Yankees, after what the Astros just did to the Mets … He’s lucky he’s still alive.

 And we are asked to choose music from the year we turned 34. 1994 was not one of my best years, but yeah, there was some good music that year.            

 So it was fireworks night at the Ducks game. You know what that means.  When we sing the national anthem, and we get to “…and the rockets’ red glare …” BOOM! Red fireworks.  The home team hits a home run?    “Going, going, GONE!”   BOOM!   The 7th inning stretch?  “…it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out at the old ball game.” BOOM! It culminates with a fireworks show after the game.  But last night we had fireworks on the field as well … Debinson Romero was called out on strikes.  He didn’t like the umpire’s call, so he voiced his displeasure.  The umpire threw him out of the game. Did I mention that the Ducks are managed by Wally Backman?  You may remember him as a player, he was the second baseman for the NY Mets back in 1986.   Well, Backman stormed out of the dugout to defend his player.  The umpire threw Backman out of the game.  Backman stormed off the field, throwing his baseball cap into the dirt.  A few moments later a bucket of …I think it was bubble gum … came flying out

 More cowbell! Swag from last night's baseball game: .  Yes, there were ducks on the pond last night.  Literally.  (Long Island Ducks, that is.)    Great night, the Ducks won.

 So how was your Father’s Day?  Drew and I had brunch with our beautiful daughters at a lovely restaurant right on the water.   We sat outside, on the deck.  Here’s the view. It was a very full weekend. On Friday we saw a community theater production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado.   We know several members of the cast, as Drew used to be involved with this group.  The company chose to set the story in the mythical kingdom of Long Island in 1922, using the clothes and style of the Roaring Twenties rather than using what is now regarded as racist Japanese imagery.   Then on Saturday night we went to the ballpark for a Ducks game.  There are 10 teams in the league, including the Ducks, and we try to see the Ducks play each of the other teams at least once.  It was unseasonably cold Saturday night (temperature at game time was 62°), which was very disconcerting, especially because the temperature reached 90° on Friday. A light rain began to fall during the fifth inning, but they conti

 And it’s a “your choice” week. How about some Cheap Trick?            

 Or maybe it’s possessed. Really. I’m not kidding. I’m serious. It’s like some mysterious force has an invisible remote control.  The set will suddenly come to life of its own accord. Yes, it turns itself on.  And usually at inopportune moments, like when I’m on a business call.  It’s a  known issue .  A problem common to many Insignia TV’s.  I’ve tried to fix it, without success. Or maybe it really is possessed.

 So we saw Hugh Jackman in The Music Man  on Sunday.  On Monday Jackman tested positive for COVID, and the show announced his understudy would perform through June 21.  I would have been seriously disappointed if Jackman hadn’t been in the show on Sunday, so I know there are a lot of disappointed theater goers right now. Incidentally Broadway theaters are still requiring everyone to “mask up” but they’re no longer asking for proof of vaccination. I guess COVID is now endemic and a permanent part of our lives. Which reminds me, I should schedule my second booster shot.  If I react the same way I handled previous vaccines, I need to make sure I can stay home the day after I get the booster shot.  

 So way back in the fall of 2019, we learned that Hugh Jackman planned to bring a revival of The Music Man  to Broadway in the spring on 2020.  This is one of Drew’s favorite musicals, so of course we bought tickets.  We were supposed to see the show in February 2020. Two and a half years later … and yes, it was worth the wait.  When you can laugh and cry at a show you know well… See for yourself.  Here’s a clip from last night’s Tony Awards, with Jackson, Sutton Foster and the entire cast.    The show is playing at the Wintergarden Theatre, on Broadway at 50th Street.  Right next door to  Ellen’s Stardust Diner , home of the singing waitstaff. Yes, seriously.  The servers are all hoping to get that big break on Broadway, so in between taking orders they get the chance to entertain the crowd.  So be prepared to tip twice, once for the food, and also for the music when they pass around the bucket. This was our waitress Lindsay, performing “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen . And I loved t

 Watching the January 6 hearings .,.

Yes, pork chops. I can’t figure out how to cook them. Really. My mother kept a kosher home.   Like many Jews, we’d eat non kosher foods when we weren’t home, but my mother never cooked shellfish or pork. My mother taught me to cook, but obviously she didn’t show me how to make a decent pork chop. I’ve ordered pork in restaurants (I couldn’t imagine a Chinese restaurant without pork fried rice or spare ribs), but until recently I never tried to make pork chops at home. Pork chops look so good in the meat refrigerator at the supermarket.  But when I get them home … dry and tasteless.  I’ve tried the oven, I’ve tried a sauté pan, I’ve even tried an air fryer.   Dry and tasteless. Sigh. I guess I’m just going to make pork chops my “restaurant” dish.

So in 2008 Billy Joel commemorated the closing of Shea Stadium with a two night concert.  And when he played a certain song, he didn’t have to sing a note — the crowd sang it for him.  It was a song that had been sung at Shea countless times. Yes, it was that classic, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”. Sung at the 7th inning stretch of every baseball game since … since … Well, since  1908 .   Back then, baseball was considered a man’s sport, until Katie Casey came along. Katie Casey was base ball mad, Had the fever and had it bad; Just to root for the home town crew, Ev’ry sou Katie blew. On a Saturday, her young beau Called to see if she’d like to go, To see a show   But Miss Kate said “no, I’ll tell you what you can do: Though everyone is familiar with the chorus, most people don’t know the verses.  Want to hear the whole song?    Though this dance version is great, too

 I found someone else who was at the concert.  They posted a few videos from the show.      

First, go look back at  Part 2 Now …  Here we come … walkin’ down the street…we get the funniest looks from …everyone we meet … Pyre, Micky Dolenz of the Monkees. Steppin’ Stone    Sometime in the Morning    Randy Scouse Git    Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)    Listen to the Band    For Pete’s Sake Mary, Mary  

 So   yesterday’s post  was all about our evening in NYC, about the show we saw with Felix Cavalieri’s Rascals and Micky Dolenz of the Monkees.  So today let’s hear from The Rascals and The Monkees. Let’s start with The Rascals. Lonely Too Long    Groovin’     How Can I Be Sure    People Got To Be Free    Good Lovin’    And for a real feel of how the concert was What, no Monkees hits? Part 3 will post later today,

 So let me take you on a journey into NYC on a Friday night.  We have arrived at Penn Station, that labyrinth beneath Madison Square Garden, during rush hour, so we quickly make our way up the escalator to 7th Avenue.  Lots of people are walking towards the station.  Commuters, mostly, but also fans in Rangers jerseys — there’s a playoff game tonight. Go Rangers! But we’re not going to the game.  We have tickets for something else.  We are headed to  The Palladium Times Square .  There’s a show tonight, a double bill with  Felix Cavalieri’s Rascals  and  Micky Dolenz of the Monkees .  The show was originally scheduled for January 2022, but was pushed back until June 3 because of a COVID spike in NYC.   (We bought the tickets on December 10, 2021, the day Mike Nesmith died. We has seen the Mike and Micky tour in October, and Drew wasn’t sure he wanted to see Micky again so soon … until Micky became the sole survivor.) It’s a beautiful evening, so we have opted to walk up 7th Avenue from