Out & About

The Summer may be here at last, but did you ever see so much rain? As I said last week, the US Open was like a swimming pool.

Now it's time to enjoy this fine weather and what is better than going to an outdoor event this summer?

That's exactly what we are doing this Wednesday when we visit Fitzpatrick's Grand Central hotel's Wheeltapper Restaurant and its outdoor courtyard where the Irish Business Organization are having their annual  Summer Party from 6pm to 9pm.

This event is a great way to meet friends and also to network and make contacts and, of course, enjoy a few cocktails.

On Sunday July 12 a special tribute and remembrance will be held for a great sporting husband and wife team, parents of three children, who died in a auto accident recently.

The memorial mass will be held at Gaelic Park (240th Street & Broadway in the Bronx) at 10am. The mass is in remembrance of two former Gaelic Sports greats Joe O'Connell from Causeway, County Kerry and Ann Coleman from County Galway and New York Young Ireland's Camogie team. For more information call Kathleen McDonagh at (718) 499-9482.

For all you concert-goers here is something special for you: Tom Jones will be performing at the Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury on Long Island. He'll be there on Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18 at 8pm on both days. Tickets begin at $61.50 and are available exclusively online at LiveNation.com, charge by phone at (877) 598-8694, at the Westbury box office, and at participating Blockbuster stores or you can call (516) 247-5206.

Tom Jones had numerous hits as you will all remember, including "It's Not Unusual," "What's New Pussycat," "She's a Lady," "The Green Green Grass of Home," and lots more.

His songs have appeared in many movies and he has made several cameos in them too.

For all you golfers, as I mention in my column last week, the Emerald Guild Society's 10th Annual Timothy J. O'Connor Memorial Golf Outing takes place on Tuesday July 7 at the Links at Uniondale.

For more information call Garrett Doyle at (212) 751-3667 or Michael O'Reilly at (212) 945-4346. All the proceeds go to charity.

The Tom Suozzi Nassau County Excutive 15th Annual Golf Classic and Dinner will be held this Monday, July 6. For more information, call Danielle Oglesby on (516) 393-9080.

For all you soccer fanatics here is something special: Spiritoso Restaurant on McLean Avenue in Yonkers are running a bus up to Boston Gillette Stadium to see AC Milan play Internazionale on Sunday ,July 26. The bus will pick up travelling fans in Yonkers and Mamaroneck at 9am and returns at midnight.

For tickets (which are priced at $170 or $200 and that includes transportation, food, beverages and admission to the game) call (914) 237-4075 for reservations.

Biddy Early's Pub & Restaurant and Lilly O'Brien's Pub and Restaurant (both on Murray Street in Tribeca) which are owned by John Carey are happening places to go for a relaxing time, for some fun, food and great drinks.

You can enjoy a mixture of contemporary Irish dining, some of the finest ales, live GAA, live entertainment in a genuine Irish atmosphere and service from a friendly Irish staff... now what more can you ask for?

McGarry's (on 9th Avenue and West 33rd Street, (212) 810-2115) is another thriving establishment that is run by none other than Mick Sheridan.

You should all stop in for lunch, dinner or just for a drink at this New York Irish Pub which is only a few blocks from Madison Square Gardens.

Have you visited Stout (on West 33rd Street, just off 7th Avenue) yet? Let me tell you, what a place that is! It's also very much Irish-owned and it must be one of the biggest Irish pubs that you will ever visit in the city of New York.

With its cobble-stone floors and stone walls and high ceilings, the place is breathtaking and it boasts a very friendly staff who are just waiting to greet you as you step inside the door and you'll never know who you're going to meet as well.

It happened to me last week when I called in for a pint and, of course, looking for the innkeeper herself, Noelle Mooney, but someone said she was at the Mets game, huh?

I did get to meet an old friend, Teddy Whelan, father of Martin and Mark Whelan who are owners and partners in Stout, F.AT.S, Maggie's Place and St. Andrews, who were over to see how everybody was doing as Ted is now living back in Dublin; the man has never changed.

Paul Hurley has informed us that when you're over on the West side that you have to call into P.D. Hurleys  River Cafe on Pier 84 (12th Avenue and 44th Street) since this is a rocking hot spot in the summer and is a must visit with its outdoor restaurant though reservation are advised. It is also right next door to the Circle Line and the Intrepid Museum, so as I said give them a call at (212)643-6233 when you're going over.

See you all next week.