Out & About

What a year it has been with so many memorable events in the last 12 months. The one that sticks out for us was the 70th Annual U.R.T.O. Dinner that was held at Tavern On The Green with two great honorees: Jim Long and John Conway. More than 350 guests from the restaurant and bar owners group came along together with representatives from the beer, wine and liquor suppliers. Paul Hurley (President of the URTO) and Maureen McLoughlin (Secretary) should take a bow for the great success of this event.

We were very sad to hear that one of  Ireland's best-ever singers Joe Dolan from Mullingar, County Westmeath,  passed away over Christmas. Our condolences go out to his family.

Red Hurley is coming to New York for his first  U.S. TV Special that premieres exclusively on WLIW21 New York on Saturday January 12th and there's a strong rumor that he will be at a certain establishment for an invite-only press reception on Thursday January 10th... Wonder where that is?

The installation of Tommy Smyth as the New York Grand Marshal for the 247th St.Patrick's Day Parade on Monday January 14th 2008 kicks off this festive year. Tommy is a renowned sports broadcaster and soccer analyst for ESPN-TV and is probably the most-recognized Irish broadcasting voice around the world.

On our tour of the city we met up with Eamonn Maher and Paul Hurley. As you know they are the inn keepers  of the famous Eamonn's Bar & Grill and P.D. Hurley's Bar & Restaurants in New York.

We just heard that Derek Warfield of the Wolfe Tones is coming to New York soon. He also just released a great book called 'Celtic & Ireland in Song and Story' that is a detailed and comprehensive songbook surrounding the key events in Ireland's political, social and sporting history.

Noelle Clancy - New York's top hairstylist and painter was seen  hard at work doing all the window painting on a lot of the top Irish bars and restaurants around the city and boroughs.

This woman never stops. Next up is St. Valentine's Day then on to St. Patrick's Day, so if you would like her to paint your window or the interior of your bar or restaurant give her a call at 1718 476-8182 and tell her that we sent you.

The new Pig 'N' Whistle on Second Avenue is now open  for business and we hear the coffee is just great (supplied by the top coffee man Pete Scalley... hmm). I am sure there will be a lot of sick heads after all the New Year's Eve parties. The best way to recover is with the help of the hair of the dog so we not try a good Bloody Mary at your favorite bar.

Here are a couple of good suggestions of places to hang out with your friends. Why not pop along to Doc Watsons (2nd Avenue, 212 988-5300), Slattery's Midtown Pub (E. 36th Street, 212 683-6444), The Cuckoo's Nest, (Woodside Avenue, Queens, 718 426-5684), Ramble House (Katonah Avenue, Woodlawn, 718 798-4510), 99 Below (MacDougal Street, 212 387-8292) or the Courtyard (Queens Blvd., 718 729-4601).

New York has the finest of bars and restaurants you could ever would want and we'll try to give as many as we can a shout-out from time to time and visit them. Beckets downtown is not to be missed, go in and say hello to Ronan Downs and all the gang he is just a great host 212 269-1001.  Fitzpatrick's Grand Central hotel Wheeltapper is another  good place to be seen and have a pint 212 351-2800.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New year. See you next week.