Out & About

Desmond's Tavern on Park Avenue South at 30th Street was all abuzz last Friday evening and full of old faces I had not seen for a quite a while. Owner Hughie Connolly, who was his usual cheerful self and Danny the bartender were pouring the best of pints and we tried a few and caught up on a little bit of gossip.

The URTO will be holding their General Membership meeting at O'Brien's Irish Bar & Restaurant at 134 West 46th Street on Tuesday April 8th at 3 p.m. On the agenda is the appointment of the Board of Directors and the possible hiring of a lobbyist to represent URTO in Albany - they really need one with the way the bar trade is being pushed around. Somebody has to step up to the plate to help and show Albany that this is one of the oldest business's in America a business that has provided a service for centuries and most importantly a lot of the time it is a family business. URTO President Paul Hurley needs your support so try to be there.

A nice spot to visit on the upper East side of Manhattan is the Bull Pen on First Avenue at 87th Street. It is now serving the very best of good food. On the West Side near Madison Square Garden is the Molly Wee Pub & Restaurant with the host Paddy Reilly always having that charming smile and a wonderfully friendly atmosphere to go with it.

The Oyster Bar & Restaurant in Grand Central has sea food at its best, you really should pay a visit, it is something else. The General Manager Michael Garvey is one of the best, and the restaurant is arguably the most famous seafood emporium in the world.

They claim to have the best pint of Guinness west of Dublin - Tracks in Penn Station - you have got to try it out as Michael and Bruce will never stop bragging about - maybe their right!

Did you travel to Kennedy or Newark Airports on US Helicopter from Manhattan yet? You should as it is a great way to get to the airport, hassle free and it only takes 8 minutes, but most importantly it is an Irish company - go get on board... Barry Twomey of O'Connors Travel is back and was seen at Eamonn's Bar & Grill and again at Nevada Smith's having a few cocktails... We already mentioned O'Brien's Irish Pub & Grill, we stopped in last week and met up with Emma and Hugh the bartenders who were on hand to make our visit very comfortable from the moment you walk in the door. We would also like to extend our condolences to O'Brien's manager Cormack McCormack and the rest of the McCormack boys on the passing of their mother Bridget in Ballymahon, Co. Longford, last week.

Langan's Broadway Restaurant is serving up some very nice entrees. Your host Des O'Brien is always there to greet you and Langan's is just around the corner from the most popular area in America, Broadway, so do call in, the food is delicious.

Montauk on eastern Long Island had its St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday past and they had a huge turn out. They say it's the biggest on Long Island with lots of floats, free giveaways and bands from all over the county. If you are across town on the West Side of Manhattan make sure to call into Lansdowne Road at 599 10th Avenue and tell Pat Hughes that we sent you. Check out the website at lansdowneroadnyc.com. See you all next week