By Paddy McCarthy
Rockaway Beach, here I come and yes, I did last Sunday with temperature of 90 degrees of heat and sunshine. Now, now, I was Out&About early to beat the rays as I was watching out for sunburn. Yes! I did go in for a dip and the water was cold, so cold, but I got down in that beautiful ocean for a few minutes; only a few minutes I can tell yea. From my time there my advice is giving it a visit as you won’t be disappointed and the beach was exceptional clean. The beach is a great place for families especially those who cannot travel abroad. For all those living in Queens and Brooklyn it’s just a hop, skip and a jump to get there and the only advice I can give, again, is get there early.
The Rockaway Hotel (108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway Park; (718) 474-1216) is your urban beach getaway with a new view of New York City. It’s unparalleled focus on boutique-style service and recreational activities creates a laid back respite whether you are a lifelong New Yorker looking to escape the city or just in Rockaway Beach for a visit. I will visit it the next time I am at the beach because from what I am told it’s got everything you might need to have a pleasant time. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, make the most of your stay with their exclusive offers. You can visit therockawayhotel.com for more information.
We here at The Irish Examiner would like to pay tribute by honoring all the falling hero’s on this Memorial Day weekend. So to kick things off here is a brief history of this day and what it means. Memorial Day (previously, but now seldom, called Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May. The holiday was formerly observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the U.S. Military. Many volunteers place an American flag on graves of military personnel in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial start of summer in the United States, while Labor Day, the first Monday of September, marks the unofficial start of autumn. Two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the US military: Armed Forces Day (which is earlier in May), an unofficial US holiday for honoring those currently serving in the armed forces, and Veterans Day (on November 11), which honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The history of Memorial Day in the United States is complex. The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs recognizes that approximately 25 places claim to have originated the holiday. At Columbus [Georgia] State University there is a Center for Memorial Day Research, and the University of Mississippi incorporates a Center for Civil War Research that has also led research into Memorial Day’s origins. The practice of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers is an ancient custom. Soldiers’ graves were decorated in the US before and during the American Civil War. Many of the origination claims are myths, unsupported by evidence, while others are one-time cemetery dedications or funeral tributes. In 2014, one scholarly effort attempted to separate the myths and one-time events from the activities that actually led to the establishment of the federal holiday. Now as I said from the beginning this is just a brief history and will always be remembered for centuries to come.
Some great news as you will see, it’s all happening at The Irish Repertory Theatre who have announced the performers and presenters for The Indomitable Irishry: An Online Celebration, this season’s Gala benefit production, which will stream online on Monday June 14 at 7:30 pm. The evening will honor Tony Award winner Bill Irwin (On Beckett) and best-selling author and marketing powerhouse, Mary Lou Quinlan, and Joe Quinlan, former president of Time Inc. Television and senior producer of the “MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour.” The Indomitable Irishry will feature performances by Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Michael Cerveris (Fun Home), Kerry Conte (Irish Rep’s Meet Me in St. Louis), Melissa Errico (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever), Jay Aubrey Jones (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Donna Kane (Meet Me in St. Louis), Kylie Kuioka (Irish Rep’s Meet Me in St. Louis), Ciarán Sheehan (The Phantom of the Opera) and Max von Essen (An American in Paris). The gala will feature special appearances by Matthew Broderick (The Seafarer), Gabriel Byrne (Long Day’s Journey into Night), 2020 Recipient of Irish Repertory Theatre’s Visionary Leadership Award Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Ireland’s New York Consul General Ciarán Madden, John Douglas Thompson (The Emperor Jones), and Riverdance composer Bill Whelan. The evening will be directed and arranged by Artistic Director Charlotte Moore (Meet Me in St. Louis), produced by Ciarán O’Reilly (A Touch of the Poet) and feature music direction by John Bell (Meet Me in St. Louis). Join Irish Rep online for an evening of music and songs celebrating their thirty-two years of bringing the best Irish and Irish American stories to the stage.
Featured musicians include John Bell (piano/conductor), Janey Choi (violin), Jeremy Clayton (woodwinds), John Convertino (bass), Molly Goldman (viola), Karen Lindquist (harp), Suzy Perelman (violin), Alex Prezzano (guitar), Rich Rosenzweig (drums) and Debbie Sepe (cello) with orchestrations by Josh Clayton. All proceeds benefit Irish Repertory Theatre and will allow them to continue to employ actors and theatre artists, while producing vital new works by Irish and Irish American playwrights. For more information or to learn about event sponsorship, contact Irish Rep’s Director of Development Jason Smoller at (212) 255.0270 or jason.smoller@irishrep.org.
So, get on your bike and sign up as soon as possible because you just can’t miss this streaming online Gala; it’s going to be a knock out and you can watch it in the comfort of your own home.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About…