Out & About

What a week it has been with the news of Michael Jackson passing away in his sleep at the age of fifty.

No matter whether you like him or not Michael Jackson was an icon in the music business and was loved all over the World and, here in New York, fans have been celebrating his life and his music at The Apollo Theater (on West 125th Street) since his death.

We at the Irish Examiner would like to pay our respects to his family.

If you would like to see some of Michael Jackson's handwritten lyrics (including those to the songs 'Billie Jean,' 'Beat It' and 'Bad') together with a number of his artifacts, you should visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (76 Mercer Street).

On Friday last we paid a visit down to Stone Street, which runs parallel with Pearl Street and South William Street in the Financial District in downtown New York City, to visit some of the famous Irish establishments that would give you the feeling you were in the Rivera.

You have Stone Street Tavern, Waterstone Grill, Dubliner, Ulysses, Mad Dog & Beans ("yes Irish owned") and the famous Harry's. On the street we met Ronan Downs from Dublin along with his lovely wife Florence and manager of The Stone Street Tavern, Croine O'Halloran who was very gracious when we visited The Stone Street Tavern for some lunch and a couple of pints and, let me tell you, the food is the best.

We had no luck in meeting up with Noel McDermot or Sammy O'Connor on our rounds, but we did get to meet Danny McDonald, the owner and partner with Michael Jewell and Peter Poulakakos  of Ulysses and Harry's Cafe & Steak House for a really good pint of Guinness before we continued on our trip around the area. Well, as you know, someone has to do it.

We called into the Dubliner and got to meet the manager Irene Deehan from Roscommon.

We went to the bar to introduce ourselves to the barmaid Olivie Loughran and she started to thank us for mentioning that Tom Jones was coming to the Capital One Theater in Westbury, Long Island as she loves Tom Jones and immediately booked tickets when she saw the news in last week's 'Out&About'... at least  somebody reads it.

I can only say she is very  friendly and she was pulling some great pints while flying up and down the bar taking care of all the customer's needs, so I can see we will be back down again - maybe this week!

It makes you very proud to be Irish when you see what they have created down in Stone Street.

It was all happening this  Tuesday in Woodlawn in the Bronx where New York Council's Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Oliver Koppell embarked on a walking tour of the Bronx as part of the 'Nine in 09' tourism campaign.

New York City and Company CEO George Fertitta and community members joined the Speaker and Council members in sampling from the restaurants, shops and cultural treasures all along on Katonah Avenue.

The tour included stops at the Rambling House Irish Pub and Restaurant, The Coachman's Inn, Mary's Celtic Kitchen, Prime Cuts Irish Butchers and a visit with a knitting group at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center.

"Even if you can't  afford a trip to the Emerald Isle this summer, the best of Ireland is only a subway ride away," said Speaker Quinn.

"Woodlawn is a unique commumity in New York City and if you just walk down Katonah Avenue, you could well believe you are in Dublin," said Council Member Oliver Koppell. "Restaurants, food shops and merchants bring you a touch, taste and feel for Ireland,"

"Little Ireland is one of the City's hidden gems, and we''re pleased to highlight all the great dining, shopping and cultural offerings in the neighborhood of Woodlawn and Katonah Avenue in the Bronx with the 'Nine in 09' campaign," said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta who encourages all New Yorkers to visit .

These people have made me home sick already; I'm going for a pint and to have a good cry, and then have another pint, and then head for the Bronx for another pint... what do you think?

See you all next week.