Monday, March 31, 2008

Tartan Week in NYC


It's Tartan Week in NYC, which means time for all things Scottish.


Festivities got under way on Saturday with the Scottish Run in Central Park. There will be Scottish themed events taking place all week, culminating in the Tartan Day Parade on Saturday, April 5.

Here are a few items of interest...

Tuesday, April 1
Maeve Gilchrist
from Edinburgh, Scotland
9:45pm
at:
The Cutting Room
19 W 24th St. (between Sixth & Fifth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 691-1900
TheCuttingRoomNYC.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, April 2
Whisky Magazine presents...
Whisky Live New York

an evening of great whisky, fine food and spectacular entertainment
Whisky Live New York brings a magnificent evening of great whisky, fine food and spectacular entertainment to the heart of New York. Organized by Whisky Magazine during Tartan week
and held at the historic Puck Building, the seasoned whisky lover or novice can expect to experience an incredible and in-depth insight into the world of whisky drinking and producing.
This is your chance to become closer to the industry, taste rare and sought-after whiskies from Scotland to Kentucky, increase your knowledge and meet the whisky experts.

VIP Ticket
$115 ($135 at the door) including 5 sample vouchers, food, tea, coffee and water,
show guide, tasting glass and access from 5.30pm – 10pm.

Standard Ticket
$85 ($100 at the door) including 3 sample vouchers, food,
tea, coffee and water, show guide, tasting glass and access
from 6.30pm – 10pm
at:
The Puck Building
295 Lafayette St. (Houston St.)
New York, NY
whiskylive.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, April 2
New York Caledonian Club presents Steve O' Connor
Singer/ Songwriter
Cover is only $15 admission
7:30 pm
at:
Connolly's
121 W. 45th St. (between Sixth & Seventh Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 597-5126
ConnollysPubandRestaurant.com
-------------------------------------------------
Friday, April 4 Scotland on Stone Street
5:30 to 6:30 pm
Concert of traditional and contemporary Scottish music
in the British Memorial Garden at Hanover Square.
featuring the Red Hot Chili Pipers and the Pentland Caledonia Pipes and Drums.

and then...

The Tartan Specials

performing at 7:30pm
Also rock to the Scottish music of famed Scots DJ Tam Coyne,
spinning disks all evening
at:
Beckett's Bar & Grill
78 Pearl St. (bet. Hanover Sq. & Broad St.)
New York, NY
(212) 269-1001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, April 4 & Saturday, April 5 Free Haggis
Taste Scotland's national dish, haggis.
They will be giving away for free
11am-5pm
at a street cart on the corner of 52nd St. and Broadway
New York, NY
-----------------------------------------------------
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, April 3 - 5

Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Bagpipes with attitude. Drums with a Scottish accent.
A blazing rock band and a show so hot it carries its own health warning.




8pm each night at:
Stout
133 W. 33rd St. (bet. 6th & 7th Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 629-6191
StoutNYC.com


---------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 5
10th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade

2pm
Up Sixth Ave.
from W. 45nd to W. 58th St.
New York, NY
--------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 5
Tartan Day Pre & Post Parade Destination

Tartan Day pre and post parade celebrations
at New York's only Scottish Bar and Restaurant
(Just off the parade route)

Before the parade:
Live acoustic set from Tartan Specials
performing at noon

after the parade:
Live Celtic session from house band
9pm - 1am
doors open 10:30am
at:
St. Andrew's
120 W. 44th St. (bet. 6th & 7th Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 840-8413
StAndrewsNYC.com

------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 5
The National New York Tartan Day Committee (NYTDC) presents...
The Tartan Day Post Parade Party
sponsored by Belhaven and Brooklyn Brewery
This ticketed event will feature the music of
Tartan Specials & Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Tickets are $30 includes beer and beverages
(Ticket holders will be admitted 4-6pm)
Post Parade Party Tickets on sale online at:
Tartanweek.com (do not call Stout for Tickets)
In the event (small chance) that it is not fully booked, door tickets will be available for $40.
4:30pm
at:


Stout
133 W. 33rd St. (bet. 6th & 7th Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 629-6191
StoutNYC.com


-------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 5
6th Annual Tartan Army Party
Supporters of the Scottish national team in the big apple
host their annual Tartan Army Party
9pm
at:


Deacon Brodie's
370 W. 46th St. (between 8th & 9th Ave.)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 262-1452


-------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 5
Tartan Day Celebration
Two seconds to Midnight
8pm
at:
The Knitting Factory (The Old Office)
74 Leonard St.
New York, NY



Links:
Whisky Live (New York)
Tartan Specials (myspace)
Two Seconds to Midnight (myspace)
Tartan Army NYC
St. Andrew's (NYC's Scottish Bar & Restaurant)

Opening Day 2008

Happy Opening Day!

Rain has delayed the start postponed today's Yankee game at The Stadium, giving fans more time to drink in the area bars:
- Stan's Sports Bar: 863 River Ave.
- Billy's Sports Bar: 856 River Ave.
- The Yankee Tavern: 72 E. 161st St. at Gerard Ave.

While most fans will flock to the old standbys, they will be so packed that MurphGuide also recommends going slightly north to The Dugout at 880 River Ave. Another party tip: grab a beer at The Bowling Alley, where you can also check baggage not allowed in the stadium.

p.s. we miss Ted Carlock's The News Room on Gerard Ave. There was always a cool vibe there.

The Mets open the season on the road today at 4pm, so Mets fans can meet at their favorite NY Sports Bar.



Links:
Yankees
Mets
No Maas (a Yankees blog)
Mets Today (a Mets blog)
MLB.com (check out their new pitch by pitch coverage)
MurphGuide Directory of NY Sports Bars

Today in NYC


Bluegrass Mondays at Parkside Lounge
Yankees & Mets Opening Day
Opening Day at Lansdowne Road

Murphguide Events Calendar

Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Greatest Jeerleader Show on Earth: March 30 at Fontana's

Gotham Girls Roller Derby is New York City's all-female roller derby league. Instead of cheerleaders, they have Jeerleaders, women who love roller derby and want to show it.

These jeerleaders present:
The Greatest Jeerleader Show on Earth!
A Benefit for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby Jeerleaders

Featuring: Sword Swallowing by Lady Aye
Baton Twirling by Miss Andrist
Errin d'Outlaw's Ukelele
Pin-up photo booth featuring the Brooklyn Babydoll
Mistress of Ceremonies Lady Copafeel
Carnival Games! Raffles! Popcorn! Fortune telling

22 oz. Coney Island Lager for only $6!
And much, much more!

Raffle Prizes courtesy of: Coney Island USA, Coney Island Lager, Little Steven's Underground Garage, Live Fast, Emerald City Skates, Monster Squad NYC, Beacon's Closet, Jimmy's 43 and the Bushwick Country Club!

compete in the 2nd annual Rollercon Dance/cheer competition!
15% of all proceeds will be donated to the Gotham Girls Roller Derby.

Sunday, March 30
7-10pm
at:
Fontanta's
105 Eldridge St. (between Broome & Grand St.)
New York, NY
(212) 334-6740

Links:
Gotham Girls Roller Derby
GGRD Jeerleaders
Fontana's
MurphGuide Events Calendar

Today in NYC

Live Music at Parkside Lounge
Manhattan Cask Ale Festival at Chelsea Brewing Co.
Opening Sunday Night Baseball at Lansdowne Road
45 RPM: 1-Year Anniversary Party at Failte
MMA Singles Urban Race & Scavenger Hunt


Full details on the MurphGuide Events Calendar

Saturday, March 29, 2008

March Madness - Elite Eight: March 29 & 30

March Madness continues this week with the Elite Eight on Saturday and Sunday.
Here is the schedule:

Saturday, March 29
West
UCLA (1) vs. Xavier (3) - 6:40pm
East
UNC (1) vs. Louisville (3) - 9:05pm

Sunday, March 30
South
Memphis (1) vs. Texas (2) - 2:20pm
Midwest
Kansas (1) vs. Davidson (10) - 5:05pm

If you went to one of these schools, there is nothing better than watching the game with a bunch of your screaming fellow alumni. Due to the popularity of these games (it's called "madness" for a reason, you know), it is suggested that you call ahead to make reservations.

So, where are the alumni watching?

Saturday, March 29
UCLA (1) vs. Xavier (3) - 6:40pm

Musketeer Madness has been found at Bar XII
206 E. 34th St. (Third Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 545-9912
Bar12.com

UCLA Club of NY are meeting at: Ship of Fools
1590 Second Ave.
(between 82nd & 83rd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 570-2651
ShipofFoolsNYC.com
Bruin Specials:
$10 Miller Lite Pitcher
$14 Harp and Heineken Buckets
$18 Miller Lite Buckets
$20 Miller Lite Beer Bong

----------------------------------------------------
Saturday, March 29
UNC (1) vs. Louisville (3) - 9:05pm

The NY Carolina Club is meeting at Brother Jimmy's in midtown
Brother Jimmy's
416 Eighth Ave. (W. 31st St.)
New York, NY
(212) 967-7603
BrotherJimmys.com

Of course, all Brother Jimmy's locations are always North Carolina-friendly.

Louisville Cardinals alumni have been calling Proof their home all season:
Proof
239 Third Ave. (between 19th & 20th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 228-4200
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, March 30
Memphis (1) vs. Texas (2) - 2:20pm

Memphis Tigers fans are known to gather at Rogue

Rogue Restaurant & Bar
757 Sixth Ave. (between 25th & 26th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 242-6434
RogueNYC.com



Everything is bigger in Texas, so naturally, they have more than one gathering spot: Texas Exes meet at Stout and Proof:


Stout
133 W. 33rd St. (between 6th & 7th Ave.)
New York, NY
StoutNYC.com



Proof
239 Third Ave. (between 19th & 20th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 228-4200

And here is another Texas-friendly spot:

Whistlin' Dixie's Texas Tavern
714 Eleventh Ave. (W. 51st St.)
New York, NY
(212) 349-4370
Dixiestexastavern.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, March 30
Kansas (1) vs. Davidson (10) - 5:05pm

Kansas Jayhawks alumni have two gathering spots:

The Village Pourhouse
64 Third Ave (11th St.)
New York, NY
PourhouseNYC.com
and...
The Back Page
1472 Third Ave.
212-570-5800

Davidson Alumni have been known to congregate at Mercury Bar. How many of you know their team nickname?

Mercury Bar
659 Ninth Ave. (45th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 262-7755
MercuryBarNYC.com

Answer: Davidson Wildcats!
---------------------------------------------

You can also watch all the action at your favorite NYC Sports Bar:
Links:
MurphGuide March Madness Page
MurphGuide Directory of NY Sports Bars

Team in Training Benefit Party : March 29

Our friends Shad & Eli are raising money for Team in Training, an awesome group of athletes that raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by competing in marathons & triathlons across the country.

They are hosting a party at The Gin Mill, and you are invited.

Saturday, March 29
Shad Tidler and Eli Hoy present
Elite Eight Fundraising Party
An afternoon of playing beer pong, flip cup, and helping raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society's Team in Training.

$40 at the door gets you all you can drink from 2-6pm.
Includes mixed drinks, beer, wine, and Pitchers

Events throughout the afternoon:
1. Frat-tastic beer pong: $20 per team of 2 to enter
2. Co-ed Flip Cup: $25 per team of 5 to enter
3. Crazy College Mascot Contest: dress in your favorite, craziest, most insane school colors.

All winners get a sweet prize.

Private downstairs room reserved, with our own flat screen TVs, our own stereo system, and our own tables.
Plus, once 6pm rolls around, you'll be in a great spot to go upstairs to the main bar and watch all of the Elite Eight games for that evening.
RSVP via evite.com 2pm


Saturday, March 29, 2pm
at:
The Gin Mill
442 Amsterdam Ave. (between 81st & 82nd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 580-9080
NYCBestBar.com



Links:
Team in Training (NYC)
The Gin Mill
Shad's Donation Page (active.com)
MurphGuide Events Calendar
MurphGuide Directory of Bars with Beer Pong
MurphGuide Special March Madness Page

Thursday, March 27, 2008

March Madness: Sweet Sixteen: March 27 & 28

March Madness continues this week with The Sweet Sixteen on Thursday & Friday, and the Elite Eight on Saturday and Sunday. Here is the schedule:

Thursday, March 27 East Bracket
UNC (1) vs. Washington State (4) - 7:27pm
Louisville (3) vs. Tennessee (2) - 9:57pm

West Bracket
Xavier (3) vs. W. Virginia (7) - 7:10pm
UCLA (1) vs. W. Kentucky (12) - 9:40pm

Friday, March 28 Midwest Bracket:
Wisconsin (3) vs. Davidson (10) - 7:10pm
Kansas (1) vs. Villanova (12) - 9:40pm

South Bracket:
Texas (2) vs. Stanford (3) - 7:27pm
Memphis (1) vs. Michigan State (5) - 9:57pm

Saturday, March 29 & Sunday, March 30
games & times tba


Watch all the action at your favorite NYC Sports Bar
Links:
MurphGuide March Madness Page
MurphGuide Directory of NY Sports Bars

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

MurphGuide Presents: Live Music at The Baggot Inn - April 10, 2008

In our continuous efforts to "connect the fun to the fun people" tm, we are producing a night of live music at The Baggot Inn.

Thursday, April 10, 2008
MurphGuide Night at The Baggot Inn


MurphGuide.com presents…
Ray Greiche – 6:30pm
Paranoid Larry – 7:30pm
The Itinerants – 8:30pm
Celtic Cross – 10pm
at:
The Baggot Inn
83 W. 3rd St. (bet. Thompson & Sullivan St.)
New York, NY
(212) 477-0622
BaggotInn.com

Our friends at The Baggot Inn have graciously allowed us to produce a line-up of original live music, so we have collected some of our favorite performers that we have befriended over the years of chronicling NY nightlife.

This show will be headlined by Celtic Cross, who have solidified their status as shining stars of the NY Irish rock scene with their new CD "Shores of America", released late last year.
I have known the band for over 20 years, which is hard to believe considering the lead singer still looks like she is in her 20s. Kathleen Fee, who also serves as the main songwriter, is surrounded by an ensemble of all-star musicians, including her brothers, John & Ken Vesey on accordion & violin, respectively, Walter Ensor on guitars & vocals, Pat Dineen on bass & vocals, Frankie McCormick on banjo & mandolin, and Dave Barckow on drums & vocals.


The Itinerants - 8:30pm








The Itinerants features Chris Flynn on guitar, Pat Robinson on accordion & vocals & Sean Seymour on guitar & mandolin. (pictured above)

They are veterans of the NY music scene, sometimes going by the name The Smoking Mickeys, and perform as members of Rogues March. They were recently part of the house band for Joe Hurley's Annual Irish Rock Revue at Webster Hall.

Paranoid Larry & his Imaginary Band - 7:30pm

I first met Paranoid Larry years ago drinking beers with a mutual friend at Farrell's in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. I didn't even know he was a musician. Years later, the same friend took me to see him at Arlene's Grocery, on a bill that also included The Bravery. I was hooked and got his CD the next day. His clever songwriting can be heard on two of his original CDs: "Paranoid Larry & His Imaginary Band" and "Are You Following Me?" Two of his compositions appear on The Roches 2007 album "Moonswept". His brilliant lyrics make you wonder: Is he just being paranoid, or is he really on to something? Or both?

Ray Greiche - Solo acoustic - 6:30pm

Ray Greiche can be seen performing all over town, either solo, with his bands Redshell & The Ray Greiche Trio, or in The Forgotten Heroes. He first played at MurphGuide live music event back in 2001, and he has been a friend ever since. He is also the thirdbaseman on the MurphGuide Softball Team.
Ray will kick off the night with a solo performance.


Links:
Celtic Cross
The Itinerants (a.k.a. The Smoking Mickeys)
Paranoid Larry
Ray Greiche
The Baggot Inn
MurphGuide Directory of Live Music Venues

Previous Posts:
Celtic Cross CD Release: Shores of America
Joe Hurley's Irish Rock Review

Manhattan Cask Ale Festival at Chelsea Piers: March 28-30

Friday, March 28 - Sunday, March 30
Chelsea Brewing Company & The Gotham Imbiber present...
1st Manhattan Cask Ale Festival at Chelsea Brewing Company


Our friend Alex Hall, publisher of The Gotham Imbiber, is presenting a cask ale festival this weekend at Chelsea Piers, in conjunction with Chelsea Brewing Company.

At least 35 cask conditioned ales will be available: Six from Chelsea Brewing Co. and about 30 from other craft brewers - including a number of rare cask beers not usually seen in NY.

What is cask ale, you might ask?
Here is a definition from Alex' website:
"Unfiltered, unpasteurized beer brewed only from traditional ingredients, matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed, and served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide. Cask Ale is also known as 'Cask-Conditioned Beer', and 'Real Ale'."

Even though Alex hails from Brighton, England, there will be no British beers at this festival.
But its not because they didn't want them. No, unfortunately a failed and stranded ship in the Mid-Atlantic was the one with the container of casks on board.
However, there is still a great line-up of American cask ales. Breweries expected to be sending casks include:
Chelsea, Arcadia, Blue Point, Brooklyn, BruRm @ Bar, Butternuts, Captain Lawrence, Dark Horse, Defiant, Empire, Flying Bison, Ithaca, Jolly Pumpkin, Kelso, The Livery, New England
Otter Creek & Wolaver's, Sixpoint, Sly Fox, Smuttynose, Southampton, Sprecher, Three Floyds,
Troegs, Two Brothers and Weyerbacher.

Beers will be available while stocks last, first come first served. Note that all casks will be tapped and available from the start, except for any that are deemed to need additional settling and conditioning time.

Featuring at least 25 rare ales and lagers, all cask-conditioned.
5 or 6 will be brewed in-house by Chelsea Brewing Company with the rest brewed by other small, artisanal craft breweries.

Free admission (pay as you go for beer, served in 8oz and 16oz containers.

It's on all weekend and on a pay-as-you-go basis, so there's no need to hastily chug them back to get your money's worth! The festival is open noon to midnight each day
at:
Chelsea Brewing Company
Pier 59, Chelsea Piers
New York, NY
(212) 336-6440

Links:
Gotham Imbiber
Gotham Imbiber (myspace)
Chelsea Brewing Company
MurphGuide Page for Beer Lovers

Monday, March 24, 2008

Baseball Opening Day 2008

For most New Yorkers, Opening Day isn't until next week, when the Yankees (1pm) and Mets (4pm) kick off their seasons. However, MLB's marketing gimmick brings us early morning baseball, as the season kicks off with Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland A's in Tokyo, Japan.
There is a thirteen hour time difference between NYC and Tokyo, so the game will begin at 6am. Yes, that's 6 AM, folks, as in: when most folks are getting up to go to work, and many bartenders are just getting to sleep.

Tuesday, March 25, 6am
MLB Opening Day
Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland A's
Live from Tokyo Dome, Japan


Kick off the baseball season with free bagels
6am
at:
Lansdowne Road
599 Tenth Ave. (bet. 43rd & 44th St.)
(212) 239-8020
New York, NY
LansdowneRoadNYC.com


Much to the chagrin of Yankees fans, New York City is home to many "ex-pat" Boston Red Sox fans. We never really knew how many there were until 2004, when many of them came out, after lurking in the shadows for years.

Many NYC bars have opened their arms to these fans. Riviera Cafe on W. 4th St. in Greenwich Village has long been known as home to Red Sox nation, but in recent years (especially since '04), other places have become host to Sox fans, including The Hairy Monk in Murray Hill, Professor Thom's in the East Village, Pat O'Brien's on the upper east side and The Lighthouse Tavern in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The self-proclaimed "home of NYC Red Sox fans", The Hairy Monk is confirmed to be open this Tuesday morning, with an all-day happy hour*


Tuesday, March 25
Showing the game on 8 plasma screens plus a 6 x 4 ft projection screen at:
The Hairy Monk

337 Third Ave. (24th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 532-2929

And in the NY Daily News, an article about opening day reports that Professor Thom's will also opening up early to host NYC's Sawx fans, including the owner, Jim McGuire, who was instrumental in making the Riviera Cafe such a Sox bar back when he bartended there.

*Note, state liquor law prohibits the sale of alcohol until 8am.

Links:
LansdowneRoadNYC.com
TheHairyMonkNYC.com
Red Sox Fans NYC Meetup Group
mlb.com
MurphGuide Directory of NYC Sports

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

MurphGuide NCAA Pool

We challenge you to enter the MurphGuide Pool in the Men's Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.

Rules:
Predict the winner of the most games in the 63 game men's college basketball tournament. A correct selection in the first round counts as 10 points, and in each successive round the point values are doubled. It's free to play.

Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=12580

Game Front: http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage
Group: MurphGuide
Password: cheers

Tournament starts March 20. Entries must be made before the first game, noon EDT.
The ESPN national tournament has a $10K cash prize (for the nationwide winner).
We will also have local prizes for the MurphGuide group.

Then check out our list of bars to watch the games:
MurphGuide.com/marchmadness

See also the MurphGuide Directory of NY Sports Bars:

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Joe Hurley's Irish Rock Review: March 15 at Webster Hall


Joe Hurley's 9th Annual Irish Rock Review our favorite St. Patrick's Day event of the holiday season. Joe collects a list of downtown musicians and friends for a night of singing the best of Irish rock & roll: U2, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, The Pogues, Thin Lizzy, The Undertones, and many more songs from the great Irish song book.

Joe's band Rogues March plays at 8pm, followed by The Irish Rock Review.
Many special guests will be performing. See our previous post for more details.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door
Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com
Rogues March - 8pm
The Irish Rock Revue - 9pm

doors 6:30pm
at:
Webster Hall
125 E. 11th St.
(between 3rd & 4th Ave.)
New York, NY
myspace.com/irishrockrevue







Ultimate NYC St. Patrick's Day Listings


The festivities are well under way, with many great events this Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Check out MurphGuide's Ultimate NYC St. Patrick's Day Listings Page.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Celtic Supporters Boat Cruise: March 15 & 16


The Celtic Supporters Club of New York will be having two boat cruises this weekend to celebrate the number of fans in town for St. Patrick's Day Weekend.
The cruises are from 3 to 7pm each day, Saturday March 15 and Sunday, March 16.
Live music by Charlie and the Bhoys, "the world's #1 Celtic band". Enda Keegan also performs on Saturday.

Meet at
P.D. O'Hurley's at Pier 84
557 12th Ave. (W. 44th St.)
New York, NY

Call for tickets: 212 873-1900

Celtic fans will have a very busy day this Saturday:
Starting off the day early with the Celtic vs. Motherwell match, 8:30am live from Fir Park.
Watch the game with fellow Celtic Supporters at The Parlour:
The Parlour
250 W. 86th St. (Broadway)
New York, NY
(212) 580- 8923
TheParlour.com

Then going on the cruise on the Hudson River.

Finish the night at the annual St. Patrick's Unrepentant Gathering at Rocky Sullivan's.
With Éire Og, direct from Glasgow and Brooklyn's own Seanchaí and the Unity Squad.

Rocky's has relocated since last year from Manhattan to Red Hook, Brooklyn.
The music starts at 9pm at:
Rocky Sullivan's
31 Van Dyke St. (Dwight St.)
Red Hook
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 246-8050
RockySullivans.com

Links:
NY Celtic Supporters Club of NY
Celtic Football Club
P.D. O'Hurley's at Pier 84
The Parlour
Rocky Sullivan's
Éire Og
Seanchaí and the Unity Squad
Enda Keegan

Luck of the Irish Pub Crawl - Saturday, March 15

Our friend Eddie has put together this huge event. Over 40 bars in the East Village, Murray Hill and midtown east are participating on Saturday.
Participating bars include Blind Pig, Black Bear Lodge, McFadden's, T.G. Whitney's, Calico Jack's, Bar None, Bull's Head Tavern, Whiskey River, King's Head Tavern, Bar None, Bar XII, Failte Irish Whiskey Bar, Nowhere and over 20 others.
You can see Saturday's list of participating bars here.

Not all of the bars are participating on Monday, but as of this writing, they still have not finalized the list for Monday. Don't worry, there will still be enough of them for you to enjoy.

Here's the deal:
1. Purchase tickets on-line
2. Print your receipt
3. Bring receipt to registration bars between 11am and 2pm
4. Receive wrist band & map which entitles you to drink specials at all participating bars.
5. Have fun

Check-in bars:
from the north side of the crawl:
T.G. Whitney's
244 E. 53rd St. (between Second & Third Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 888-5772
TGWhitneys.com

and from the south side in the East Village:
Village Pourhouse
64 Third Ave. (11th St)
New York
(212) 979-BEER


More information at:
MurphGuide.com/patrick/pubcrawl.htm




World Pong Tour NY: March 15 & 22

The next leg of the 2008 New York World Pong Tour takes place this Saturday, March 15 at Porky's NYC.

Last week, over 100 players competed for the Vegas trip. Due to the popularity of this event, another week has been added on March 22.


The first place finishers in each of the 15 tournaments will win a 4-night trip to Las Vegas to compete in the World Series of Beer Pong. Second place gets $100 gift certificate to Porky's plus two F.Y.E. $10 gift cards. Third and fourth place finishers receive $25 gift certificates plus two F.Y.E. $10 gift cards.

Check in starts at 3:30, and the tourney kicks off at 4:30pm
at:
Porky's NYC
55 W. 21st St. (between Fifth & Sixth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 675-8007
PorkysNYC.com

Links:
World Pong Tour
Tournament Sign-Up Page
Rules & F.A.Q.s
MurphGuide Directory of Beer Pong in NYC
Porky's NYC

Thursday, March 13, 2008

MurphGuide Weekly Newsletter


This Week
1. Guinness Brewmaster at Mr. Dennehy's: Thu. March 13
2. St. Baldrick's Benefit Shaving at The Central Bar: Thu. March 13
3. Red Hurley at Symphony Space: Fri. March 14
4. Joe Hurley's Irish Rock Review: Sat. March 15
5. World Pong Tour at Porky's: Sat. March 8 & 15
6. I Love the 80s & 90s Party at Croton Reservoir; Sat. March 15
7. Luck of the Irish Bar Crawl: Sat. March 15 & Mon. March 17
8. Society Ties Black Tie & Black Jack Casino Night: Sat. March 15
9. The Pogues at Roseland: March 16 & 17
[more...]

Other News:
1. MurphGuide March Madness Pool
2. MurphGuide Ultimate St. Patrick's Day Listings
[more...]

Upcoming
1. Concern for Hunger Run: Sat. April 12
2. Save the Dates
[more...]

St. Baldrick's Shaves Heads to Fight Childhood Cancer


St. Baldrick's began as a casual conversation between friends and has exploded into the world's biggest volunteer-driven fund raising program for childhood cancer. In eight years, events have taken place in 18 countries and 46 US states, raising over $34 million, and shaving more than 46,000 heads.

On Monday, March 10, Howard Margolies and his team of volunteers raised over $17,000 at Stout by collecting pledges and shaving their heads.

Some more shavings taking place at NYC bars this month:

Thursday, March 13
St. Baldrick's Benefit Shaving at The Central Bar

Shaving heads to raise money to fight children's cancers
(Make a donation to this event here)
$3 pints of select beers from Guinness and Anheuser-Busch
from 5-10pm
Shaving starts 6pm
at:
The Central Bar
109 E. 9th St. (between 3rd & 4th Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 529-5333
CentralBarNYC.com


Saturday, March 15
Sutton Place
1015 Second Ave. (between 53rd & 54th St.)
New York, NY
6pm - Opening Remarks - St Baldrick's
6:30pm - Brave volunteers face the shears
7pm - Entertainment by "The Hit Squad" (Cover band out of Boston)
7 -9pm - Appetizers and Lite Fare
This is an open event, new shavees are always welcome.


Monday, March 17
Jim Brady's
75 Maiden Lane
New York, NY
1pm - Shavee Registration begins
1:45pm - Welcome (Tim Kenny/Enda McDonnell)
2pm - Message from Parent (Robyn Raphael)
2:15pm - Shaving Begins, featuring Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007

Monday, March 17
The Boathouse at Central Park
4pm: Buffet provided by: The Boathouse, Maz Mezcal, Tony d' Napoli, Green Canolis from the famous Venieros, Beverages donated by HINT
No Charge, Donation Requested
4:30pm: The balding begins
Over 100 shavees are signed up for this event

Saturday, March 29
Four Leaf 15s Rugby Tournament
The Village Lions rugby club will be shaving heads at their 5th Annual Four Leaf 15s Tournament


Some of your fellow MurphGuide readers are participating as individuals, and will shave their heads when they reach their fund raising goals.
If you wish to support their efforts, please visit their donations pages:

Joe Higgins:
stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ParticipantKey=2008-37294

Denis Fahey:
stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ParticipantKey=2008-38723

Links:
StBaldricks.org
The Central Bar
Stout


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

MurphGuide in the News


MurphGuide.com is mentioned in AM New York today. "Learn to Play Traditional Irish Music", features Bill Ochs from the Irish Arts Center, and his beginners tin whistle workshop to be held at the IAC on Sunday, March 16, 2008. founding chairman of Ull Mor (Big Apple) CCE, The Manhattan branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
CCE is an international organization dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of Irish music, song, dance, language, and culture. Loosely translated, it means “gathering of Irish musicians.”
Niall is one of NY's most knowledgeable people on the NY trad. music scene.


Links:
AM New York
Irish Arts Center
Bill Och's tine whistle, uillien pipes & Irish flute classes
Niall O'Leary
Ull Mor CCE
MurphGuide Directory of Trad Sessions
MurphGuide Directory of Irish Pubs
MurphGuide St. Patrick's Day Listings

Foley’s World-Famous Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Karaoke Party

Tuesday, March 11
Foley’s World-Famous Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Karaoke Party
Free Guinness to anyone who will sing a traditional Irish song (Except Danny Boy)*
with special guest:
Celtic Cross (popular NY local band)
Red Hurley (famed Irish showman)
5pm - 10pm
at:
Foley's Pub
18 W. 33rd St. (between 5th & 6th Ave.)
New York, NY
FoleysNY.com

*Foley's ban on the singing of the song "Danny Boy" has received much media attention.
Pub owner Shaun Clancy believes the song is so overplayed that he’s offering a free pint of Guinness to anyone who sings a traditional Irish tune other than Danny Boy, and he has famously banned it for the entire month of March.
“Although it is considered by many as the ultimate Irish ballad, it is far from it. In fact, the lyrics were written by a guy who wasn’t even Irish,” Clancy said. “The song is more popular outside Ireland than within and is sung so often that one would think there are no other Irish songs. There certainly are loads of other ballads in Irish musical songbook that are more up tempo, and quite honestly, more fun to sing than a song that is so often played at funerals.”

Links:
Foley's Pub
Celtic Cross
Red Hurley
MurphGuide Events Calendar
Danny Boy Banned (yahoo news)
NYC Bar bans singing of Danny Boy (RTE News)

Manhattan pub bans 'Danny Boy' during month of March (NY Daily News)

MurphGuide Ultimate St. Patrick's Listings