Out & About

Here we are in December; would you believe it the year is almost gone and now we are getting ready for Santa Claus to come.

I am sure a lot of parties are planned in the coming weeks so please let us know about them and we promise to mention them for you

Send details of any of your events that are happening to louise@irishexaminerusa.com before 12 noon on Monday's and we'll have a mention in the paper.

The IBO are having their Annual Christmas party at Legends (at 6 West 33rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues) between 6.30pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday December 10.

Tickets will include a two-hour open bar from 6.30pm-8.30pm with plenty of appetizers and live music by the Tara O'Grady Jazz Trio.

The Irish Echo will be celebrating its 80th Birthday on December 10. Congratulations to them on this historic anniversary from all the staff of The Irish Examiner newspaper and Irish Connections magazine.

A new Irish Gift store, right here in Manhattan, has just opened at 65 East 4th Street (between 2nd Avenue and The Bowery).

The name of the shop is Sara's Keltica Handmade and our great friend Sean Crean is behind  this new store that holds all that you could want to satisfy all your holiday needs.

It has contemporary local and Irish jewelry designers which blend in perfectly with unique one-of-a-kind Antique and Vintage pieces handpicked by owner Sara Brant.

They have a great collection of Celtic jewelry handmade by Irish craftsmen and other great gift items such as handpainted wooden bowls, handknit sweaters, Irish caps and capes. You can contact them at (212) 533-2307.

Stitch Bar & Lounge (which was voted "Best After Work Bar 2008" by Citysearch's Best of New York) is now opening its new Houndstooth Pub and Grill (located at 520 8th Avenue at 37th Street in the Fashion Center).

The owners Dave Renehan, Kevin McKenna and Nicholas Cohen have set the standard for running fine establishments here in New York and do they know their stuff.

The Grand Opening is on Saturday and the who' who will be attending. There are lots of rumours that maybe Snow Patrol may show up but now I am not too sure just what I have heard in the pipeline.

You can get more information by calling (212) 643-0034 or emailing thirtythirty-nyc.com. What more could you ask for?

This Saturday (December 6) at McLoughlin's Bar (31-06 Broadway, in Astoria) at 9pm there will be a benefit for Trevor McCanles who is a paramedic/firefighter and a father of two young boys who is in need of your help for an at-home portable IV machine. He's in need of this to deal with an allergic reaction and unfortunately insurance does not cover it.

Please help this cause and contribute whatever you can.

There'll also be a raffle and a complimentary buffet will be served.

The Pig'n'Whistle on Second (between 50th and 51st Streets) have live music with Celtic Thunder every Wednesday at 9pm.

There's a big fight this Saturday as Oscar De La Hoya takes on Manny Pelquiao. The fight will be shown at Nevada Smiths (on Third Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets) at 9pm. This could be Rickey Hatton's next fight, or what about John Duddy.  Mustang Harry's (at 352 Seventh Avenue) will host the ultimate '80s tribute band Rubix Kube on Saturday December 13.

See you all next week.