Out & About

Christmas in New York; now where would you get anything as good? New York has to be the best place to go shopping, visit restaurants and Broadway shows and see Christmas lights like you'll never see anywhere else in the World.

We called in to O'Brien's Irish Pub (on 46th Street, just off Times Square) for what I thought would be a quite one... Well, who walks in the door? None other than one of the owners Pat Burke and soon after arrived the Big man himself, Des O'Brien. What happened you might ask? Well, that was the end of the quiet night!

The place was packed upstairs and down. O'Brien's is just off Times Square, so after your Christmas shopping call in, as the food is excellent, and say hello to the manager Cormack who will take care of you when arrive. If you want to call the bar, you can get them on (212) 391-1516.

Paul Hurley has opened a new bar and restaurant on 72nd Street just west of Broadway that is called P.D. Hurley's... So you won't be confused there are now two P.D. Hurley's on 72nd Street with the original one east of Broadway.

I got sad news last week that Eamonn Maher's (the proprietor of Eamonn's Bar and Grill) brother Kevin suddenly passed away in Toronto. He was a very good friend of mine and he came down to New York on a regular basis. 

It was a terrible shock to everybody especially the Irish Community in Toronto and we send our condolences to all his family here in New York and back home in Dublin. May he rest in peace.

I was in Eamonn's (on 45th Street) last Friday for lunch with Attracta Lyndon, Lorraine Turner, Jeff Cleary and Barry Twomey. As you can imagine it went on for a few hours and who do you think would join us? None other than the Coffeeman himself Pete Scalley; that man never stops.

As I said Barry Twomey is back in town. As you know by now, Barry had O'Connor's Travel agency for years in New York, but has retired back to Cork where he was born, but he does miss New York.

Andy Cooney's Christmas Magical Show was sold out and from all accounts it was a brilliant show. I'm sorry I missed it because I had a function on at the same time.   

Gather your family and friends for our annual seasonal celebration, an evening of songs and stories to shorten the long winter ahead...

Hosted by NYU's Global Distinguished Professor of Irish Studies and Music Mick Moloney, An Irish Christmas at the Irish Arts Center features an eclectic mix of tunes ranging from the solstice gems "The Holly She Bears a Berry," "The Wren Song," and "The Bushes of Jerusalem" to familiar sing-along favorites like "The Holly and the Ivy" and "Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake."

Joining Moloney for this year's An Irish Christmas are star fiddler Athena Tergis (Riverdance), pianist Brendan Dolan, Irish dance champion Niall O'Leary, vocalist and fiddler Liz Hanley, accordionist Billy McComiskey (December 10-13 only), the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra, and special guests!

The show itself runs from December 10-20 at the Irish Arts Center (553 West 51st Street). Tickets are $45 (or $35 if you use the special discount code GIH35). Call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com

By the way, Liam Geddes, 18-year-old Co. Mayo native and Winner of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, made his U.S. debut recently at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.

See you all next week.