Out & About

The countdown is on only two more weeks to Christmas and I haven't bought anything yet... but what else is new, late again as usual.

If you're buying me a present for Christmas, let me see, get me anything you want, whatever you think, as it will always be appreciated, just kidding.

Well I was at the IBO Christmas Party at the Three Monkeys Bar and Restaurant on West 54th Street last Wednesday night and let me tell you, this organization is getting stronger and stronger. The place was packed to capacity and music was provided by the great Gabriel O'Donoughue on guitar.

It was great to see a lot of familiar faces in the audience like Jim McGuire, Anita Daly, Darrah Carr, Niall O'Leary (President) Sheila Lynott (1st Vice President) Greg McIntyre (Chairman) Martin Dunne (Vice-Chairman), Sean Murphy from MurphGuide.com, Pat Sheridan (past president of the IBO) and his daughter... I better stop as I just could not mention everyone as it would take up the whole page, but all I can say is congratulations to the Irish Business Organization on the great job that they are doing.

Now, as you know, at this time of the year I will be all over the place. I love it. Last Thursday I was also invited the the Knights of Saint Patrick's Christmas Party at the Yale Club which is headed up by the man himself Joe Quinlivan who deserves a lot of praise for all the hard work that he does in keeping this organization at the top of its game and in tip-top shape.

I got to meet the chairman of the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee, John Dunleavy, and he looks so happy about the 2011 Parade as this is going to be the biggest parade of all time and what a Grand Marshal to have in Mary Higgens Clarke, one of the world's great authors who is known all over so I don't blame him for been so happy, good on yea John.

In case I forget I should just mention that the Saint Patrick's Day 250th Gala Ball is being held on March 15th and what I am told is that they will have the cream of the crop as entertainment. I can't tell you more now; maybe next week.

Contact Hilary Beirne at hbeirne@nycstpatricksparade.org for information on tickets. Now do make sure you're not left out as this is a fund raiser for the Parade.

I was out again last weekend at the Manhattan Club above Rosie O'Grady's on Seventh Avenue on Saturday night where Paul Hurley of P. D. Hurley's, O'Casey's and the Pier 81 Restaurants was awarded the Heritage Award and Detective Steven McDonald was the Guest of Honor at the NYPD Gaelic Football Club's 11th Annual Dinner Dance.

Once again there was a full house and quite a lot of the boys in blue attended as you can imagine, with a lots of other guests like Paddy Reilly and his wife Angela (the owners of the Molly Wee and The Coliseum Bar and Restaurant) along with his daughter Kathleen Reilly-McClink and her husband Gerard. What a night we had.

Now to mention some great Irish events coming up soon. One that is happening at Nevada Smiths (74 3rd Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets) is Michael Sheahan's book signing for his new Christmas classic 'Mr. Holidays Presents: The Roof Top Hop' which will be held on Tuesday December 21st at 6pm. There's a one hour open bar, no rsvp is required.

Michael will also be signing copies of his Christmas CD 'Somethings Never Change'. Come on out and meet him!

He's a first generation Irish American and a retired NYPD detective, and also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and musician.

His love of celebrating the holidays with his wife and three boys inspired him to create the character Mr. Holidays, along with an entire series of characters, songs, books, and dances that cherish the values, warmth, and traditions of each holiday.

Through the merry character of Mr. Holidays, he tells children an instantly classic new Christmas story, performs the title song on a sing-along CD and has his friend, Broadway's own Michael Balderrama of the hit Broadway show, 'In the Heights', show kids the new roof-top-hop dance steps.

Lavishly illustrated by Douglas Wright, 'Mr. Holidays Presents The Roof Top Hop' storybook/CD/DVD package invites young readers to read, sing, and dance as they share a never-before-revealed secret about Santa.

As Michael proclaims, it's "hip-hop... be-bop... rock n' roll... that brings joy and happiness to every soul."

Along with the song 'The Roof Top Hop', the 'Some Things Never Change' Christmas CD will introduce you to several other new songs to inspire you to cherish the values, warmth, and traditions of Christmas.

The book is $22 and the CD is $12 and can be ordered at: www.MrHolidaysSongs.com.

The United Irish Counties will be honoring Paddy Reilly from Miltown, County Cavan as their Gael of the Year at the 107th Annual Dinner Dance on Friday January 28th at Antun's (Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village) and it's a well deserved honor too!

For tickets, which will also go fast, you can contact Tom Maguire on (914) 693-6937.

The Irish Repertory Theatre's 'A Child's Christmas In Wales In Concert' by Dylan Thomas is adapted and directed by Charlotte Moore and has been running since December 8th, continuing until January 2nd. A thousand starry lights will envelop the stage in this re-invention of Dylan Thomas's 'A Child's Christmas in Wales'.

The iconic piece, starring both Irish Repertory favorites and Broadway veterans, features both traditional and contemporary Christmas music interwoven within the classic story of the legendary snowy Christmas Day in Wales.

Tickets are $65 or $55 with a special under-16 rate of $20 (you must order by phone or in person to receive this rate, cannot be ordered online.) You can get tickets from the Box Office at 132 West 22nd Street, by phone at (212) 727-2737 or you can visit www.irishrep.org.

The Irish Arts Center has 'An Irish Christmas: A Musical Solstice Celebration' with Mick Moloney, Athena Tergis and other special guests that is running from December 9th to the 19th. There are shows at 8pm from Thursdays to Saturdays with an extra 2pm matinee on Saturday afternoons and a 3pm show on Sunday.

Bring your entire family to share in the Irish Arts Center's joyous annual musical holiday tradition, hosted by the legendary musician and folklorist Mick Moloney. Old-time fiddler Rhys Jones joins another incredible lineup of musicians this year, featuring Moloney on banjo, mandolin and vocals, star Irish fiddler Athena Tergis, button accordionist Billy McComiskey, pianist Brendan Dolan, and dancer Niall O'Leary.

Call them at (212) 757-3318, extension 209 for reservations or e-mail info@irishartscenter.org for more information .

As I said 'tis the season to be jolly so don't miss out and take your family to The Irish Rep or the Irish Arts Center. Let me tell you, they'll have a great time celebrating this time of the year there.

See you all next week.