Dreams do come true as I was Out&About on Sunday last in Manhattan of all places. Going there was a total surprise when my daughter Christina and her boyfriend Kevin Coyne called me to tell and me and my wife Patricia that we are all taking a trip to the City; now that alone is something in itself.
I was breathing again as I have missed the Big Apple so much and I have not not been able to visit some friends around the city for a bit of gossip either. We got on the ferry from Long Island City in Queens across the Hudson river to the Financial District and Wall Street. I recommend it to everyone who lives in Queens because it is beautiful as you can see the whole harbor and Lady Liberty herself – and what a great sight it is, let me tell yea. The trip was only $2.75 now where would yea get it?
Now our first stop was Wall Street and then we visited Ulysses Folk House on Stone Street where we were seated on bench seats and tables in the street which was fine. The service was superb from the waiter who was from Dublin. We did ask for Danny McDonnell, only of course he was away in Florida himself. We had a few drinks and some oysters that were just fabulous and fresh and they went down very well, I might say. From what I could see everything was very well run. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing it was done very professionally by the staff. Was it as busy as usual? No, but for a Sunday afternoon it was quite good and the waiter said Friday and Saturday was very busy for all the bars and restaurants on Stone Street where most of them are Irish owned and managed.
We then decided to visit The Killarney Rose on Pearl Street which is just around the corner from Stone Street that also had a very nice outdoor setup and who were again totally professional in their handling social distancing. The man himself, owner John Moran came out to greet us and made us very comfortable again with some very nice food and some drinks.
Take a trip down to Pearl and Stone Streets any day or a weekend you won’t be disappointed because the atmosphere is like a nonstop party. When we finished at The Killarney Rose, we hitched a Uber ride back to Sunnyside and we visited my daughter’s apartment. As I was there, I was hoping to catch up with Noelle Clancy as she lives right there on 45th Street, but to no avail as she must have been out and about somewhere else? Next weekend I hope to visit the World Trade Center Museum in remembrance of all those who died in the savage attacks on them, RIP.
As I am on the subject of pubs and restaurants, the protest in Manhattan from 38th Street up to the Governor Cuomo’s office on Third Avenue last Monday was fairly successful by all accounts. The reason for the protest is that the Governor announced that indoor dining can open, as it did this Wednesday at 25% occupancy. Now we all know that this will not work for the owners especially with all their overhead costs, but with 50% they might have some chance. I do know that the Governor said he will review it on November 1, the only thing is that that might be a bit too late for some of those bars and restaurants and I keep saying for the Governor to sit down with the actual owners, not just lawyers that do not know how the trade works. He should have a one-on-one conversation with them and find a solution on how they can do it and again that should be with owners only.
Now that I got that off my mind this came to my attention from Shane Humphries at the Dublin Society. “As the bars and restaurants open this Wednesday at 25%, remember that these are the people who have consistently helped the County Organizations over many years. The Long Hall, where the Dubs meet, for free I might add, is not opening till the city okays 50%. But others are. If you’re on the Upper West Side drop in to The Parlour on West 86 at Broadway. Say hello to fellow Dub and Glasgow Celtic fan John Kelly. It’s also a great spot to watch some Premier League football (soccer over here). On Midtown’s West Side there’s Gossip, on 9th Avenue at 50th Street. That’s where we have our Christmas Brunch. Lovely grub and a great welcome. Make sure you say hello to Kieran Green. In Midtown East there’s Peter Dillon’s on East 36th Street just off Fifth Avenue for some creamy pints served by Dublin Society member Fergal Titley. Last but definitely not least, there is The Blasket on 2nd Avenue at 57th Street. A great spot for a creamy pint of the black stuff or an ice-cold beer and a bit of grub. You might just bump into Dublin Society stalwart Richie Mahon. If you are close by any of these, take a wee break from your day and drop in to support those who have supported us. Ath Cliath Abu.”
Now that is what you all should do to help your local establishments in all boroughs and all counties should support them as they need you NOW.
I got some good news from The Irish Business Organization of New York. Belfast Week at the IBO kicked off with a virtual networking breakfast that happened on Tuesday and featured guest speaker Gareth Macklin, Director of Macklin Group and founder and MD of OBBI Solutions.
Gareth Zoomed in from Belfast to share his tale of pivoting in the pandemic with his journey from hotels and healthcare to innovative software.
The IBO is proud to be a sponsor of the Seventh Annual Belfast International Homecoming – the largest gathering of the diaspora in the north of Ireland – which will take place virtually on October 1 and 2. IBO members Jim Frawley and Eileen Scully will be named Belfast Homecoming Ambassadors as will recent IBO speaker Kevin Davis. IBO President John Lee will moderate Friday’s “Tips for Surviving the Pandemic” panel which includes IBO member Brian Moran. For more details email info@ibonewyork.org.
The Irish Repertory Theatre is to present “Give Me Your Hand A Performance on Screen A Poetical Stroll through The National Gallery of London Poems” by Paul Durcan and starring Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy. Directed by Jamie Beamish the virtual performance will run from October 13 to 18.
In this special engagement, two of Ireland’s finest actors, Dearbhla Molloy and Dermot Crowley, take audiences on a virtual stroll through London’s National Gallery, discovering afresh the Museum’s masterpieces from Van Gogh and Van Eyck, to Rubens and Gainsborough. With humor and grace, Crowley and Molloy breathe fresh life into each painting’s subjects with poetic stories from renowned Irish poet Paul Durcan.
This event is free to attend, but advance reservations are required. If you are in a position to support them then they ask that you please consider a donation of $25 per viewer. Get your tickets online at irishrep.org.
See you all next week when I am hopefully Out&About again…