Out & About

I heard that I was missed last week after we got complaints as to why the 'Out & About' was not in the paper... well I will tell you now: As you all know, it was Holy Week, yes Holy Week, and for some reason (maybe everyone was at mass or on their knees or something I don't know but for some reason) I was on my own.

Now I did check on some of the people and found out they were on Spring Break; now what the hell is that, another excuse for a holiday?

I guess it must be because in most of the bars and restaurants I called into the owners were on holiday. God Bless America! Of course, nobody told me as I even came in to work on Easter Saturday... some day, that's all I can say.

Now the real reason that I missed the 'Out & About' in the paper is that I was late with this column.

Now that's the bad news, the good news is we had it in our Digital Edition which can be found at www.irishexaminerusa.com, so tell your friends that we didn't miss a beat! Good on yea boy.

I was watching the Donald Trump "Celebrity Apprentice" show last week and one of the contestants, John Rich, was giving out about actor Gary Busey for calling him "Boy"; now has this guy ever been in Ireland because we have been using that phrase "Boy" for centuries, like, how's it going boy? Where are you now boy? Hello boy, and lots more. Someone should tell him it's used in a friendly way in Ireland.

Moving on, The Irish Examiner newspaper will hopefully be sitting down next week with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D. when he visits town next week; good on yea boy.

I was at the 2011 New York Auto Show in Jacob Javits Centre last Thursday night and boy, oh boy, here I go with this "boy." Ha ha, just kidding.

Let me tell you, those cars were out of my league as they were not cheap (ranging from $30,000 to $90,000). I bet Des O'Brien could buy one of them though.

That's right I met Des just before I went over to the show at the Pig'N'Whistle on 36th Street and had a few pints with Dennis Beresheim from Anheuser-Busch.

I bet you can guess who I also met: the coffee man Pete Scalley himself in the Pig and we went on to The Houndstooth Pub (520 8th Avenue at 37th Street; (212) 643-0034) for another pint... Houndstooth prides itself on the best in Gastropub cuisine combined with friendly and helpful service. They consider this the perfect combination for your corporate event or for just hanging out after work.

As owners of Stitch (voted Best After-work Bar by citysearch.com), they know what it takes to ease away the stresses of the working day.

Houndstooth is a 6,800sq. ft. space featuring three distinctive rooms all containing full private bars and plasma HDTVs.

Their menu features only the best fresh, local, healthy comfort food. So whether you work or live in the fashion district say hello to your new local and they'll promise a big hello back!

I should get paid for this Nick (yes, he's one of the owners and, no it is a great place, again run by very good Irishmen).

This week, kick off Yeats Month at Glucksman Ireland House NYU with Child or Harlot? Yeats's Malleable Muse on Thursday, May 5 at 7pm.

Joseph Hassett discusses Iseult Gonne, daughter of Maud Gonne and Lucien Millvoye, conceived at the grave of her brother following her mother's conversations with W.B. Yeats and George Russell about the possibility of reincarnating the dead child. Iseult is the subject of Yeats's 1912 poem "To a Child Dancing in the Wind," but she had turned eighteen when this poem was written and was no longer a child.

Yeats, her mother's long-time suitor, had a strongly paternal role in Iseult's life but the relationship extended beyond that.

Yeats admired her intellect and her beauty and they became close and affectionate friends until 1917, when proposed and declined marriage prompted Yeats to distance himself from mother and daughter; "O heart, we are old; The living beauty is for younger men: We cannot pay its tribute of wild tears."

Joseph Hassett is a graduate of Harvard Law School and holds a Ph.D. in Anglo-Irish Literature from University College, Dublin.

He practices law in Washington, DC, and writes and lectures extensively on literary subjects. 

His new book, W. B. Yeats and the Muses, explores how nine fascinating women inspired much of Yeats' poetry.

These women are particularly important because Yeats perceived them in terms of beliefs about poetic inspiration akin to the Greek notion that a great poet is inspired and possessed by the feminine voices of the Muses.

The evening will feature an introduction by Professor Anne Margaret Daniel from The New School. It's presented in association with the W.B. Yeats Society of New York.

There's free admission to members of Glucksman Ireland House, to members of the Yeats Society, and to all students/faculty with a valid NYU I.D. card.

For non-members there'll be a $10 donation at the door.

In order to ensure a seat at events, please RSVP to (212) 998-3950 (option 3) or email ireland.house@nyu.edu.

What a girl Dolores Walsh is! She works tirelessly for both the Irish Business Organization and Kruise for Kids and can she sell!

The Irish Examiner newspaper sponsored a hole for the IBO golf and also purchased a ticket for the raffle... I'm broke now... just kidding and it is a great cause!

Talking about Kruise for Kids, I am told that this is the last year. Well if it is we all have to support it even more this year and that means all you past and present sponsors who were the backbone of making it a great success. So, let's all rally around Denis Mulcahy and show him how we appreciate what he has done for Project Children because if not for him this would not have happened.

Now, book your tickets early and show your support for this great project... do you like that? You can call (212) 717-9955 or just go to www.murphguide.com. Tickets are only $110 and you will have the time of your life.

This, the 20th Anniversary Cruise will be held on Wednesday, June 8 and there'll be live music by The Cunningham Brothers, Celtic Cross, Shay Mac Band, Tom Casey & Friends and a special appearance by the one and only Maire McVicker.

Dermot Kelly said that the Captain of the past cruises Tom Slattery will be making his maiden voyage... did I say maiden voyage? I should have said his final voyage as he is handing over the reins over to Dermot I think!

I will have more news on that next week.

Don't forget to watch out for Enda Keegan as he plays at the Fitzpatrick Hotel on 57th Street every Thursday night and is doing a special gig at Nevada Smiths on Saturday May 14 so be there.

See you all next week...