By Paddy McCarthy
When you’re reading my Out&About this week, I should be getting on an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight to Dublin. I’m headed back to Ireland for family business just for a few days and boy am I looking forward to it? You bet I am as my last visit was back in September 2021.
Yes, I will be in the true capital of Ireland, Cork… just kidding, well the second capital city of Ireland. Did you ever hear this one? Belfast was, Dublin is, and Cork will be, do you believe it? Ah it’s going to be a very long time now, but it is the biggest county in Ireland. I am just having a bit of fun as I am excited for my trip back home to see all the family and prepping for my daughter’s wedding over in Youghal, County Cork in March, now that will be something!
Back to the present now as I have some good news and some very sad news so I will begin with the good news. I missed the United Irish Counties Association of New York’s event at Rory Dolan’s on Sunday as I was so busy working on the paper so I am so sorry about that, especially because Michael O’Reilly had been elected as their president. I have to tell yea that there’s no better man for the job though let’s not forget outgoing President Rita Lydon-Lenz who did a fantastic job as president and I am sure she is not going anywhere.
Now for the sad news, which is that the famous Tuttles Bar and Grill on Second Avenue will be closing down on Valentine’s Day as they are demolishing the building. Garrett Doyle the owner said he is moving out of New York City after having been there for 26 years. I am going to miss him as I had a great relationship with Garret with some very good times and I’ll also miss manager Connie Hubert who was a fixture in the place.
Garrett’s opened a beautiful tavern called Five Furlongs. It’s located in the Catskills hamlet of East Durham, New York at 2478 New York Highway145. It is located in the home of the original Furlongs founded by the well-respected Irish family Yvonne and Tom Furlong and is a sure knockout and Connie will be there again to greet you when you arrive.
I got this message from the New York Comptroller Brad Lander with some good news and not so good news that I have to bring you in these difficult times. He said: “as we round the corner on the Omicron wave, there are many signs of a continuing economic recovery in NYC. Job creation is up and NYC’s unemployment rate is trending down, though still higher than the national rate. Despite a dip between the holidays and the surge in infections, security card and mobility data show New Yorkers are once again returning to offices. Our spotlight this month highlights one piece of good news for that recovery and NYC’s FY23 budget: property values have recovered much more strongly than anticipated, and overall are now above pre-pandemic values.
“While there’s reason to be optimistic about our city’s overall economy, there are serious questions about whether all New Yorkers will benefit. Persistent inflation represents a challenge for low-wage workers. Rental inventory has dropped below pre-pandemic lows, and asking rents are rising rapidly just as the eviction moratorium that has kept many in their homes expired.
“We’ll be watching the numbers closely over the coming months, with a keen eye on whether it will be an inclusive recovery shared across all NYC neighborhoods.”
Did you ever notice they cream it off first by tell you how we are turning the corner on the pandemic, while this has nothing to do with them and then you are told the bad news about the famous budget that never goes down as it always goes up and then you’re told that you have lots of challenges and they try and mix it up and by the time it’s finished you don’t know what they are talking about… that is they way they do it.
Look at his picture and ask yourself what’s he laughing about, well I can tell you that! He thinks you’re blindsided by what he is telling you and most times we are, what do you expect from politicians. I normally don’t publish this kind of announcement but I had to just to show you what they want you to believe.
Now for some real news that almost every Irish bar and restaurant would be interested in. A big thank you to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Small Business Services’ Commissioner Kim, and Bronx Council Members Feliz, Riley, Salamanca and Velazquez who joined the NYC Hospitality Alliance on Sunday at Mario’s Restaurant on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. They enjoyed a delicious lunch and walked around the neighborhood to discuss outdoor dining with local restaurants, and how to develop a standardized and sustainable permanent program as the city aims to transition out of the temporary emergency Open Restaurants program later this year.
Everybody getting ready for the big day in March. Yes I do mean the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade that we all can’t wait for as we have not had one for over two years. The organizers have been gearing up for this for a long time to make this parade the greatest of all time and they will, believe me. I am so excited to be part of it in some form or the other and we here at The Irish Examiner USA will go all out to promote the parade as we are so proud to let our readers know how important this day is to Irish and Irish American people and bring you all the news from the biggest and most-loved parade in the world.
The other big event coming up that you cannot miss is the Installation Reception honoring the Aides to James Callahan, Grand Marshal of the 261st New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade. It is all happening at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village) on Sunday February 27th starting at 3 pm. The Aides to the Grand Marshal this year are:
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: Anne 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 P. Stokes (middle initial), and
FDNY: Rev. Christopher B. Keenan, OFM.
For information about the reception, email GMevents@NYCStPatricksParade.Org or contact the parade office at (718) 231-4400.
I almost forgot to wish everybody a Happy Saint Valentine’s Day as I will be coming back from Ireland that day. I hope to see you all again next week with lots of gossip, with most of it from Ireland…