By Paddy McCarthy
Now this is what I am talking about… when we put information for some of the events happening virtually in these times, I am so happy that they get a response after promoting them with The Irish Examiner.
Here is a nice note we got from the Self-Help Africa organization that is also sponsored by a lot of Irish people. It says: “How are you? It’s been great to see how all the different Irish groups have adapted this year through your newsletter.” Well it is not a newsletter its an ePaper and website. I just have to remind Kerry and she knows what I mean as I am so glad to help out; this is another way that they are promoting to help get donations and very good I might say.
She said I wanted to reach out to see if you could include our upcoming virtual fundraiser in future Irish Examiner USA emailers/posts. This is a virtual experience with very real high-end wines/beverages shipped to guests’ home so we are hoping it can serve as a way both to support our work in Africa but also get people together in a meaningful way with an activity beyond just logging into Zoom.”
On to the event in question, the 2020 Change-Makers Ball: A Virtual Sommelier Experience. Join them on November 13 from the comfort of your home for this one-of-a-kind virtual sommelier experience. With a fantastic selection of hand-picked wines, whiskies or beers shipped directly to your home, toast with friends and colleagues across the country while being guided by top tier Sommeliers and Cicerones (beer experts!) through a virtual professional tasting. Participate in this exclusive sommelier tasting and create lasting impact, empowering their programs in Africa – with a focus this year on providing micro-loans to female entrepreneurs.
Get your tickets today and toast your fellow change-makers this November! Contact Kerry McGlade at kmcglade@selfhelpafrica.org, for more information.
I was back in Manhattan on Thursday last and again it is a bad sight to see. I came out of Grand Central Station and it is sad to see The Hyatt Hotel closed down and most of the stores around it… What is happening? Now I am told that the Roosevelt Hotel on 45th Street off Madison Avenue have closed their doors as well. When is this going to stop? The biggest city in the world is crying out for help and is not getting it with both the Mayor and Governor on TV every day giving doom and gloom news briefs when they themselves should be on the street and checking on the businesses to see how they can rein in this pandemic. They are not TV personalities and never will be, but they act as if this is how to solve the city and State’s problems. It’s NOT. I am like a broken record – forget about the politics and meet the people that are making this city and also the Council, these are the people that voted you in not to sit on front of television cameras talking about things you know nothing about. Get out and work for the people. I better stop as I might sound like one of them and that would not be right last word on this… go and meet all of them, bar, restaurant, hotel and club owners, man to man and at least try and come up with a solution that can really work because the city is dying.
The Irish Repertory Theatre invite you to join them this week online for their new production of Give Me Your Hand, starring two of Ireland’s most acclaimed actors: Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy! Performances start tomorrow! They hope that this celebration of art and language, featuring the dynamic poetry of Paul Durcan, is a balm to you all in these trying times.
As always, the digital productions are free to view, with donations of $25 per viewer suggested for those who can afford to give. Reserve now to receive the viewing link two hours before your selected performance begins. Performances run from October 13 through 18 only at Irish Rep Online.
Give Me Your Hand: A Poetical Stroll through The National Gallery of London features poems by Paul Durcan and stars Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy. In this special engagement directed by Jamie Beamish two of Ireland’s finest actors 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.
For more information and to buy tickets online visit www.irishrep.org.
See you all next week when I am hopefully Out&About again…