By Paddy McCarthy
At long last I was able to go Out&About and it was like a breath of fresh air let me tell yea. I got off the train in Penn Station around 1 pm and I headed straight to Houndstooth Bar and Restaurant on Eight Avenue to meet one of the owners Nicholas Cohen and what a pleasure it was too as I hadn’t been Out&About for a very long time. We had a good chat about the hospitality business and like everybody else it sucks of course over this pandemic that I know is affecting everybody else as well. I had a nice pint of Guinness that went down very well and as they say in Ireland was “as good as mothers’ milk”, it’s only a saying.
We then proceeded across the road to Stitch Blues Bar that is also owned by Nicholas and his partners, now this is some place. It what you would call a musician’s delight as it has a professional stage and guess what? A full backline now that’s what I’m talking about as a musician myself it also had a full kit of drums wow! Yes, I was a bit thirsty so I had a Stella Artois that was nice and served by the bartender Ana who had a fabulous personality. I can tell you now that you just can’t beat having a pint or a meal for that fact in a regular bar or restaurant; it’s not the same as doing it at home. Guess why? It’s the atmosphere. I am not knocking having a drink or a meal at home, it’s just that when you’re out and about meeting friends and colleges it has that buzz when you’re in a bar or restaurant. I left Stitch Blues Bar and headed over to the Pig’N’Whistle on 36th Street to meet Cormac McCormack who is the managing partner of the establishment and boy does he run a steady ship. If you want to watch sports, any sports, especially rugby that’s the place to be believe me. Yes! I had one or two as you know I was not driving. I’m out of the shell so what else should I do? You said it, that’s right.
Well, I didn’t stop there as long as I wanted to as I was trying to make up for lost time because of this pandemic and what it has done to the hospitality businesses it’s a shame. No, I am not getting into politics about this as it is a pandemic that should be left to the doctors and scientist to tell us what to do, am I right? Every day some politician has a new idea of what should be done and 99% don’t even know what they are talking about. I better stop as always promise myself no politics in this column.
I almost took my mind off where I was going… it was down to Stout on 33rd Street right across from Penn Station. I planned that very well huh? Here is the really good news about Stout, you get a wonderful pint of Guinness in a 20-ounce glass just like at home, now where would yea get it? I have to tell you they have a very nice business as it’s just across from Madison Square Garden and there were a couple of college games going on at the time with Stout right across the road; what more could you ask for?
To all the readers of this column who’ve requested and missed my visits to as many Irish bars and restaurants when I am out and about now here you got, well somebody has to do it so it might as well be me ha-ha.
Okay, on to something that’s also uplifting so guess what that is? Saint Patrick’s Day and the festivities that surround it. Hopefully all goes well this year so that we have our parade back as it brings so much joy to almost everybody Irish, Irish American and all those Americans who become Irish on that day, as it has to happen New York City needs it.
The Irish Business Organization are now going big time with their January 19th evening event. It will be held this Wednesday from 6.30 to 8-30 pm on Zoom and will feature Brian Moran who will be talking of “Mastering Time Management” which should be interesting. Here is a little bit on Brian: “As the Founder & CEO of Small Business Edge, Brian is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs achieve their objectives and to run better businesses. Brian, along with a team of top subject matter experts, is building a community platform that helps entrepreneurs run better, more efficient companies. Prior to rejoining the world of entrepreneurship, Brian was an Executive Director at The Wall Street Journal where he led the sales development and marketing programs for the financial and small business categories among the many Journal brands. From 2002-2010, Brian was President of Veracle Media and Moran Media Group, two companies that provided relevant and practical information to business owners which helped them start, manage and grow their companies. The companies published three national magazines for the small-to-midsize business market: Small Business Success, Urban Success and Winning Bids. In 2012, Brian was a winner of SCORE’s Lou Campanelli Award which recognizes outstanding individual volunteerism, leadership, vision and philanthropy in support of small business, entrepreneurship and SCORE. In 2012 and 2013, Brian was named one of the top 100 SMB Influencers in the country by Small Business Trends & Small Biz Technology. In 2015, Brian was awarded the Small Business Excellence Award by the Irish Echo Newspaper. Brian sits on several boards of small business organizations and is a strategic advisor to business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide through his interviews, published articles and blog posts.”
This next message I have to let you know about is very important. Only individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter The Irish Repertory Theatre. All guests must wear a properly-fitting approved face mask over their nose and mouth at all times in the theatre, even while in their seat. They strongly encourage audience members to use KN95 or N95 masks, and will have approved masks for anyone who requires one. As guidelines continue to change, they are constantly monitoring the rules and regulations put forth by the CDC, the New York State Department of Health, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and New York City’s “Restart NYC” guidance for businesses as well as the new Key to NYC program instituted on August 3rd. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact The Irish Repertory Theatre box office at (212) 727-2737.
Here is a little reminder that the Installation Reception honoring The Aides to the Grand Marshal, James T. Callahan, of The 261st NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Blvd. in Queens Village) on Sunday February 27th from 3pm. Installation Reception
Here is a list of the Aides to The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade: New York County: Thomas A. Beirne, Bronx County: Joe McManus, Queens County: Margaret M. Costello, Kings County: Julie Walsh, Richmond County: Noreen P. Hansen, Rockland County: Lillian C. Murphy, Nassau County: Thomas P. Costello, Orange County: James D. O’Malley, Suffolk County: Stephen D. Lemanski, Westchester County: Ann Guerin Haugh, United Irish Counties: Ann M. Hearn, United Irish Counties: Thomas G. Tuffy, Grand Council of Emeralds: Edward Grayson, Knights of St Patrick: Thomas P. Reynolds, Aide at Large: Catherine Tully Muscente, Archdioceses of New York: Michael J. Deegan, NYPD: Desmond Stokes, FDNY.
For additional information about the reception, contact Reception Chairs: Hilary Beirne or Katie Barrett or email GMevents@NYCStPatricksParade.Org or contact the Parade office at (718) 231 4400.
Hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About…