Out & About

Well, May is upon us already and that means a busy season is coming with a lot of special events planned, starting with The American Ireland Fund's 34th Annual New York Dinner Gala where over a 1,000 guests will gather at the Tent at Lincoln Center this Thursday.

The 2009 Honorees are An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D., Mayor Michael Bloomberg and and FTI Consulting's President and Chief Executive Officer, Jack Dunn and Chairman, Dennis Shaughnessy.

The Blarney Star Concert Series continues with Paddy Keenan and John Walsh at 9pm on Friday in Glucksman Ireland House. Paddy Keenan's spectacular virtuosity on the uilleann pipes is legendary. He achieved international renown in the 1970s with the Bothy Band, a ground-breaking group that revolutionized the sound of Irish traditional music and helped win it a new worldwide audience.

Paddy's piping prowess has not faded over the decades and for this performance he will be accompanied by John Walsh, a superb Kilkenny-born guitarist who now lives in Yonkers and has released his own solo recording, Aon, Do, Tri. Check out blarneystar.com for more information about the Blarney Star Concert Series.

Members of Glucksman Ireland House and students with a valid NYU ID card can see the concert for free. Others can get admission for a $15 donation at the door. We called into Tracks at Penn Station and who did we get to meet for a quick one?

Only Larry Downes himself as we were both rushing for a train and had not much time to talk. As I always say, you never know who you will meet at Tracks.

We also called into Channel 4 Irish Pub and Restaurant on 48th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) and met with Eugene Wilson, the owner and partner who was chatting at the bar with Louie Pasmantur, New York's number one sales representative for Empire Merchants Wine and Spirits Company.

Channel 4 is one of the finest establishments in the city and Eugene has one of the best staffs, complementing the quality and comfort of the place. Not to forget that Eugene Wilson is the Guest of Honor for the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Golf outing which is coming up on Tuesday May 19th. For more information call Maureen McLoughlin at  (212) 557-5200 or you can e-mail your reservation to maureen@urandto.com.

As we are on Golf and I know there is a lot of golfers out there, you have lots of options: on Monday, May 18th you have the Eithne and Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Golf Tournament at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, in Scarborough, New York, which will be followed by a dinner and awards Ceremony at 6pm with Master of Ceremonies Ronan Collins (RTE) and a celebrity appearance by Christy O'Connor Jr. the world renowned golfer and Ryder Cup player. For more information call (212) 941-5595.

The Emerald Guild Society are holding their Annual Golf Outing on Tuesday July 7th at the Links at Unionvale, New York. This will be another great event at which to promote your business and network with their members.

They are also holding their annual Vendor Appreciation Evening on Thursday, May 21st at Connolly's (212 West 45th Street) from 6pm to 9pm.

This will be another great opportunity to meet all of the members and promote your business. As I said in this column a few weeks ago, they are one of the most professional organizations in the Irish community. For more information call (212) 980-5907. 

Don't forget to book your tickets early for the Kruise for Kids benefiting Project Children on Wednesday, June 10th. This promises to be great night with four hours of cruising and fun. For information call (212) 717-9955 or see the ad on the back page.

When you're out and about this week, call into The Madhatter Saloon on Third Avenue, just off the corner of 26th Street, and say hello to  John and Micky. I guarantee you'll not forget your visit as the barhas a lot of history to it.

The boys will tell all about it when you call in for a cold one, some nice food and a bit of craic.

GOAL are holding their 2nd Annual Streetfest on Stone Street (between Pearl Street and South William Street) on Saturday May 16th from 12 noon 'til late. I was at this event last year and let me tell you, it is fabulous and with all the support from all the gang downtown how can they miss.

For more information and any help you can give call (212) 831-7420. This is a great day full of eating and drinking and is, of course, a nice way to spend your day off work... who said that I wonder?

Once again the pubs and restaurants are teaming up to host an event where 20% of all the proceeds from purchases will go to GOAL's work in the developing world.

Last year enough funds were raised to build a school in Kenya, and they're hoping for even better this year.

Stone Street's restaurants and pubs have become famous for their annual Oyster Festivals which attract thousands of revelers from throughout the New York area and beyond.

Streetfest will be supported by of Adrienne's Pizza Bar, Beckett's, Burger Burger, The Dubliner, Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina, Smorgas Chef, Stone Street Tavern, Ulysses' Folkhouse, and Water Stone Grill.

Highlights of the day will include outdoor eating and drinking, live music into the evening, and much more. 

See you all next week.