Today in NYC: Thursday, January 28

Lots of fun stuff going on tonight. Makes me wish I could be in more than one place at the same time. Since I can't, you will have to go to some of these. Have fun...


• NYC Restaurant Week
• MS Society Redemption Event is cancelled
• Live Band Karaoke at O'Flanagan's
• Jim Roberti Duo at Bull's Head Tavern
• NYC Happy Hour Meetup at Katwalk
• Brian Mitchell Band at Parkside Lounge
• Diamond Dogs Ski Club Happy Hour at Overlook
• Ray Greiche at Rathbone's
• Knicks Basketball at MSG
• Songs for Haiti at The Diving Bell
• Customer Appreciation Night at Chelsea Brewing Co.
• Stand Up Comedy at Comic Strip Live
• Hospitality Night at Stir
• Tom & Mark at Smith's Bar
• Brian Monaghan at Pipin's Pub
• Guest Bartender Nicole Savarese at Ballybunion
• Super Ego Comedy Aid to Haiti Fundraiser at NY CC
• Super Ego Comedy Aid to Haiti Fundraiser at Ochi's
• The "I'm With Coco" Benefit for Haiti at Comix
• 3-Year Anniversary Celebration at Arctica
• Comedy as a Second Language at Kabin
• Hootenanny to Help fundraiser at South 4th
• The Dressup Show at Duplex
• The Ventures at B.B. King's
• Hurry Date at The Yard
• Witstream Live at 92Y Tribeca

Trinity / Banshee / Gael Pubs Ski Party Weekend

What do you get when you have a bus load of skiiers from 3 Irish pubs in NYC to spend a weekend in Vermont together? Well, it must be so much fun that they are doing it again for the 9th year!
February 26 - 28, 2010
Trinity / Banshee / Gael Pubs Ski Party Weekend

Prices vary based on double, triple or quadruple occupancy
Round Trip Coach (with beverages going north)
Two nights hotel accommodations
Breakfast
Two Day Ski Pass
Private Dinner Saturday Night
Beverages on Coach

Ski & Board Rentals are available for an additional fees
Please fill out forms at the bar when signing up for trip

Leaving Trinity Pub at 6pm on Friday, Feb. 26
Returning Sunday evening, Feb. 28

Call the bars for prices and to sign up.
More info. available at all three upper east side pubs:

The Gael Pub
1465 Third Ave.
(between 82nd & 83rd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 517-4141
TheGaelPubNYC.com

The Banshee Pub
1373 First Ave.
(between 73rd & 74th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 717-8177
BansheePubNYC.com

Trinity Pub
229 E. 84th St.
(between Second & Third Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 327-4450
TrinityPubNYC.com

How to Celebrate Australia Day in NYC

[If you found this page through a web search, please note that this page was from 2010.
For Australia Day 2012, please go to: murphguide.com]

January 26 is Australia Day, the official holiday of Australia.

For those Aussies living in New York (and for those that want to party with them, or party like them), here are some places to help you feel at home. Enjoy your day. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, oi, oi...

Australia Day at The Australian

Tuesday, January 26
Specials at Lunch and Dinner on all things Aussie to celebrate the big day
$5 Coopers bottles, $4 Coopers "pots"
Live acoustic music at lunch and dinner
Classic Aussie movies playing on screen
at:
The Australian
20 W. 38th St.
(bet. Fifth & Sixth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212)869-8601
TheAustralianNYC.com

---------------------------------------
Monday, January 26
Australia Day Celebration at Van Diemen's
All day specials on Aussie beers
and promotions on Tooheys & Coopers.
There will be a wine tasting of Australian wines, sausage rolls & meat pies will be served all day along with FREE tim tams for everyone.
Showing Aussie rugby & AFL classics on the big screen.
at:
Van Diemen's Café
383 Third Ave.
(between 27th & 28th St.)
New York, NY
(646) 752-5884
vandiemensnyc.com
----------------------------------------

Tuesday, January 26
Three Australia Day Celebrations at 3 locations:
$3 Burgers & steak sandwiches
3 happy hours for $20
at 3 locations:

The Sunburnt Cow
137 Avenue C (between 8th & 9th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 529-0005
Thesunburntcow.com

Bondi Road Fish and Chips
153 Rivington St. (between Suffolk & Clinton St.)
New York, NY
(212) 253-5311
Bondiroad.com

and the Sunburnt Cow has given birth...

The Sunburnt Calf
226 W. 79th St. (Broadway)
New York, NY
-----------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 26
Australia Day at Sheep.
Extended happy hour, drink specials,
meat trays, BBQ Shapes, Tim Tams.
Aussie wines and beers.
Plus meat pies, sausage rolls, chicken kebabs,
seafood baskets and their regular menu.
Giveaways and music.
Doors open at 3 pm.
at:
Sheep Station
149 4th Ave. (corner of Douglass St.)
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
(718) 857-4337
sheepstation.net
-------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 26
Australia Day at Eight Mile Creek
Two floor party happening both upstairs and down with a Prix-Fixe dinner celebration upstairs in the evening.
Tyrone Noonan from 'george' playing classic Aussie music downstairs
at:
Eight Mile Creek
240 Mulberry St. (between Prince & Spring St.)
New York, NY
(212) 431-4635
EightMileCreek.com
----------------------
Australia Day at The Wombat
The Wombat offers contemporary cuisine with an Australian flair and a bar scene that is both sleek and friendly. Tuesdays is Lobster Night. You get a whole lobster for $13, cooked one of 3 stlyles, including Roasted Aussie Style (with Australian spices)
at:
Wombat
Restaurant & Bar
613 Grand St. (Leonard St.)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
(718) 218-7077
TheWombatBar.com
------------------------

And then...

Saturday, January 30
The New York Magpies Australian Football Club
Australia Day Celebration

$20 admission
at:
Tonic
727 Seventh Ave.
(between 48th & 49th St.)
New York, NY
http://nyfooty.com/site/events/australia-day/


Links:
Australiaday.com.au
Australia-week.com
Australia Day (wikipedia)

Jets Playoff Game Watch Parties in NYC

NFL Football Playoffs
Conference Championships

at

NY Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts
3pm

Here are a few game watch party options for you...
• Jets Tailgate + Game Watch Party at Overlook
Tailgate with $15 brunch starting at 1pm. $3 Bud Light drafts during the game.

• Jets Game Watch Party at T.G. Whitney's
Green beer isn't just for St. Patrick's Day anymore...

• Jets Playoff Game Watch at Ulysses'
Downtown on Stone Street.

• Jets Playoff Watch Party at Jack Russell's
The upper east side meetup group will be there.

• Championship Sunday at Third & Long
Sunday football at Third & Long is always a good time. See Curtis.

• Jets Game Watch Party at Fat Annie's
Join Annie and all the girls. $25 Bud Lite and Stella Beer Towers. "Gang Green Shots" free at the bar every time the JETS score

• Jets Playoffs Game Watch Party at Long Room
New bar with 12 HD TV’s. $4 domestic drafts and Special "Jets Victory" shot every time the Jests score. 35 Beers on Draft & 40 in bottle.

• Jets and Saints Game Watch Parties at Bourbon St.
Rooting for both the Jets and the New Orleans Saints. 2 for 1 Domestic Drafts
and $5 Appetizers All Day. Enjoy the game on 17 screens with Audio.

• Jets Playoff Game Watch at Bar 43
Sports bar in Sunnyside, Queens. Buy 1 get 1 free wings. Pitcher of Bud Light & wings for $15
or a pitcher of any other beer and wings for $18

• Jets Game Watch Party at Mad River
$20 Domestic Beer Towers 100 ounces, $30 Imported Beer Towers.
$15 Buckets of Bud Light (5 Bottles), $8 Buckets of Wings

• Jets Game Watch Party at Peggy O'Neill's
Sports bar at Coney Island's Keyspan Park. Open bar & free buffet for all Jets fans. Open bar from 2 pm to end of the first quarter.
Plus, Peggy O'Neill's is kicking off its new hot sauce and hot sauce dishes

• NY Jets Fans Meetup Game Watch at Blondie's
The NY Jets Fans Meetup group meets here.

• Jets Game Watch Party at McFadden's
$3 pints, $10 pitchers and half price appetizers.

• Jets Playoff Game Watch at Chelsea Brewing Co.
$2 pints of craft beer brewed on premises.

You can also check out MurphGuide's Directory of NYC Sports Bars:


And we will leave you with a clip of Fireman Ed in Times Square...

Benefits for Haiti in NYC: Thu. January 21, 2010

As the world tries to aid the earthquake victims in Haiti, many nightlife and social events in NYC are pitching in. (Eater.com has a great list of restaurants that are also donating).
So if you are going out anyway, might as well do some good while you're at it.
The following events tonight will raise funds for Haitian relief efforts...


Three events tonight will raise funds for Concern Worldwide, who have been on the ground working in Haiti since Hurricane Gordon back in 1994.


Thursday, January 21
Hope for Haiti at The Gates
Grassfed Events in collaboration with Concern Worldwide and The Gates Lounge proudly present...Hope for Haiti
The Gates Lounge, normally an exclusive venue, is opening their doors to collect donations and aid in the immediate relief efforts for the people of Haiti recently struck by devastating tragedy.
Open bar from 10pm-11pm
$25 donation for admission, 100% of door proceeds will go to Concern Worldwide, larger donations are more than welcome.
Contact: info@nyccharityevents.com
Special reduced bottle service will be offered for the evening to benefit Concern Worldwide
at:
The Gates Lounge
290 Eighth Ave. (between 24th & 25th St.)
New York, NY
TheGatesNYC.com
=====================================
Thursday, January 21
Irish Network NYC presents...
Third Thursday- January: Haitian Relief Effort
Due to recent events, Irish Network NYC will make their monthly Third Thursday a fundraiser to aid Concern’s efforts in Haiti.
Musical Performances by John Malone & Friends
Suggested Donation: $25 includes:
Drinks Specials, Free Food and Spot Door Prizes
6:30 - 10pm
at:


Slattery's Midtown Pub
8 E. 36th St.
(between Madison & Fifth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 683-6444
SlatterysMidtownPub.com

=====================================
Thursday, January 21
Rebuild Haiti Relief Fundraiser at 1 OAK
Gabriel Byrne, Terry George, Alan Cumming, Estelle, Emma Snowdon-Jones, Scott Buccheit, Nigel Barker, Amy Sacco, Anne Vincent, Ranjana Khan, Gillian Hearst, Phillip Bloch, Danielle Thur and friends invite you to..
Rebuild Haiti Relief Fundraiser
to benefit:
American Red Cross, Concern Worldwide and The Edeyo Foundation
$40 donation at the door
Special guests and Silent Auction
9pm - 11pm
RSVP@studioNB.com
at:
1 Oak
453 W. 17th St. (between 9th & 10th Ave.)
New York, NY
212 242-1111
1oaknyc.com
=====================================
This event will raise funds for UNICEF...
Thursday, January 21
Paddy Reilly's Music Bar presents...
A Benefit for the Quake Victims in Haiti
Entertainment by
LES Hot Club - 6:30pm
Theresa Sareo - 7:30pm
The Itinerants - 8:30pm
Suggested donation for the Benefit is "your suggestion"
Donations will be funneled through UNICEF.
followed by Paddy Reilly's weekly Thursday traditional Irish music session - 10pm
at:






Paddy Reilly's
519 Second Ave. (29th St.)
New York, NY

The New York City Celtic Music Meetup Group will be meeting here at 7:30pm. New members welcome:
celticmusic.meetup.com/104
=====================================
City Winery Benefit Concerts
City Winery kicked off 4 nights of benefit concerts last night, with another one tonight, and two more: Sunday and Monday.

Wednesday, Jan 20
Patti Smith, The Swell Season, John Wesley Harding,Carolina Chocolate Drops,Yo La Tengo,Young People’s Chorus Of New York City, Joshua Bell & Surprise Guest,Tiempo Libre .

Thursday, Jan 21
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lewis Black, Vernon Reid & Corey Glover of Living Colour, Rich Pagano & The Sugarcane Cups, Marshall Crenshaw,Willie Nile.
BUY TICKETS.

Sunday, Jan 24
Rosanne Cash,Nada Surf, Tabou Combo, Madeleine Peyroux, BETTY.
BUY TICKETS.

Monday, Jan. 25
15 Indie Artists: The Bongos, Amber Rubarth,Ian Axel, Vienna Teng, Wes Hutchinson, Ari Hest, Will Knox, Joey Ryan, Rosi Golan, Nate Campany, Martin Rivas, Dov Rosenblatt, Alex Berger, Greg Holden, Howie Statland from NYCSmoke.
THE HOUSE BAND: Kevin Rice, Chris Kuffner, Adam Christgau, Tony Maceli, Melissa Tong, Ward Williams, Marika Hughes.
BUY TICKETS.

100% of funds raised from these benefit show will be directed to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and an emergency mobile hospital aid mission organized by the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center.
at:
City Winery
155 Varick St
New York, NY
(212) 608-0555
CityWinery.com
=====================================
Thursday, January 21
Help Haiti Happy Hour at Turtle Bay
Raffles will be held, with all proceeds go to Red Cross Relief effort in Haiti
drink specials
no cover
at:
Turtle Bay Grill & Lounge
987 Second Ave.
(between 52nd & 53rd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 223-4224
TurtleBayNYC.com

Fundraiser for Haiti at The Banshee Pub

The Banshee Pub is hosting a fundraiser for Haiti tonight...
Wednesday, January 20
Banshee Pub/ Team National Geographic
Fundraiser For Haiti
Happy hour drink specials
Free pizza
Many raffle prizes
Including Grand prize:
one ticket all expenses paid to Banshee Pub Ski Party weekend (February 26th-28th)
6pm
at:
The Banshee Pub
1373 First Ave.
(between 73rd & 74th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 717-8177
BansheePubNYC.com


Our friend Kevin Fitz from NYCBP was at The Banshee last night and learned that a neighbor to The Banshee Pub came in and donated two baseballs to the auction. The balls are signed by David Cone & Hall of Famer Goose Gossage. Kevin reports that they have the Steiner Sports authentication stickers on them.
Here is a picture Kevin snapped showing the balls.

Today in NYC: Monday, January 18

Bartenders will be donating their tips to Save the Children, to support relief efforts in Haiti, tonight at Blonde, Brunette & A Readhead...guitar legend Johnny Winter performs at B.B. King's...The next installment of The Big Quiz Thing takes place at Crash Mansion...and Sweet & Nasty Burlesque commemorates its third and most recent untimely demise at Memento Mori at Public Assembly...

• Haiti Fundraiser for Save the Children at BB&R
• Knicks Basketball at MSG
• Movie Night: The Dark Night at Mercury Bar
• Johnny Winter at B.B. King's
• Beer Bingo Madness at Third & Long
• Stand Up Comedy at Comic Strip Live
• Critical Mass + Evan Laurence at Parkside Lounge
• The Big Quiz Thing at Crash Mansion
• Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly
• Stalkers & Gawkers at The Skinny

Today in NYC - Saturday, January 16

MurphGuide has been bringing you fun things to do, every day (and night) of the year for over 12 years. Here is today's episode...


• Karaoke Night at Crowe's Nest
• TJ Moss + Pie Boy Flats at Ulysses'
• NYC Beer Meetup Group at Hop Devil Grill
• Brazen Head's Winter Clam Shuck
• Free Brewery Tour at Chelsea Brewing Co.
• NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round
• Stand Up Comedy at Comic Strip Live
• Zack Borer at Sullivan Hall
• Live music with AtoN at Rogue
• Live Music at Parkside Lounge
• Ray Greiche Duo at The Red Lion
• Ray Greiche Trio at The Back Fence
• Magges at Mehanata's
• Date & Dash Speed Dating at Muddy Waters Cafe

Happy 5th Anniversary to The Diary of Third & Long

Congratulations to our friend Curtis Lanton on the 5-year anniversary of his fun blog, "The Diary of Third & Long". In an amazing run of consistency, Curtis has posted over 3,600 times, which means he has averaged about 2 posts a day for five years.

The blog is more than just a diary. And he is not just shilling for the bar he works at. Sure he posts specials and upcoming event announcements, but also recaps of previous nights, anecdotes, photos, things over heard at the bar, and other random notes. Or as Curtis describes it, "the daily interactions of an affable bar manager of a pretty cool and not-so-typical watering hole in NYC, in a not-so-typical neighborhood, Murray Hill."

So check it out at http://diaryofthirdandlong.blogspot.com and if you like what you see, head over to the bar, have some drinks and check out what it is all about.

Cheers!



Third & Long
523 Third Ave. (35th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 447-5711
ThirdandLongNYC.com

Urgent Emergency Appeal: Help Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Taking a break from "connecting the fun to the fun people" for a brief moment to talk about Haiti. Below is a note from Susan Finucane from the global relief agency, Concern Worldwide:

It was with horror that I watched reports of a major earthquake in Haiti yesterday - the worst in two centuries. Measuring 7.0, the epicenter was only 10 miles from the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. UN sources have already reported significant loss of life and dire conditions in this country where I lived and worked for two years.

We urgently need your help -- please donate today. I will be traveling tomorrow morning to join our staff on the ground to assist with relief efforts -- but the devastation is great. We need your support to help so many thousands.

The immediate critical needs are water, food, shelter and medicine. Our first response will be a search and rescue effort, much of which will be carried out by local residents along with Concern’s staff and partners on the ground. We will provide items for temporary shelter -- emergency kits, plastic sheeting and longer-term housing needs.

Last night many people slept outside in fear of more aftershocks. With no electricity, those still buried under debris could only be rescued with flashlights. Downed telephone lines are severely hampering the rescue effort.

Concern has been active in emergency, relief, development and disaster prevention work in Haiti since 1994, following Hurricane Gordon, and are well placed to respond to this crisis.

Again, thousands of lives have already been lost, and we need your support to carry out a full scale emergency response to help the survivors. Please donate as much as you can or visit ConcernUSA.org.

Thank You,

Susan Finucane
Concern Worldwide
104 E. 40th St., Suite 903
New York, NY 10016

Firefighter Calendar Launch Party at PD O'Hurley's

Tuesday, January 12
Firefighter Calendar Launch Party
Beefcake firefighters strut their stuff for charity to benefit the City Burn Center
The 2010 New York City Firefighters Calendar Unveiling Reception is tonight at P.D. O'Hurley's
Five Alarm Chili and Wings will be served
For More Information contact Josh Mevorach 212-967-5700
6-9pm
at:
PD O'Hurley's
174 W. 72nd St.
(between Columbus & Broadway)
New York, NY
(212) 873-1900
PDOHurleys.com



The dude on the cover is Chad Stertefeldt, a 26-year-old Brooklyn firefighter. You can purchase the calendar at NYFireStore.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each calendar benefit the Staten Island Burn Center.
See The Daily News clip here:

Team in Training - Informational Meetings for the Summer Season

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has an excellent program where you can get in shape, meet new friends, and raise funds for their charity, all at the same time!

To find out more about Team in Training, come to one of their upcoming Team In Training (TNT) information meetings to learn about the world's largest endurance sports training program. Train to walk or run a half or full marathon, do a cycling event or complete a triathlon while helping find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma.

Come to one of our Summer Season information meetings listed below.

To RSVP for a meeting, email Karishma Pradhan at karishma.pradhan@lls.org (unless otherwise indicated).


Monday, January 11 - Brooklyn
7:00 PM
reBar
147 Front Street
Between Jay & Pearl Streets
Brooklyn

Tuesday, January 12 - West Village
6:30 PM
Town Tavern
134 West 3rd Street
Between 6th Ave. & MacDougal St.

Tuesday, January 12 - Park Slope Brooklyn
7:00 PM
Union Hall
702 Union Street at Fifth Avenue
*Food Will Be Provided*
To RSVP e-mail Alyssa at alyssa.rashbaum@lls.org


Wednesday, January 13 - Midtown
7:00 PM
Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
281 Park Avenue South
At 22nd Street


Wednesday, January 13 - Staten Island
7:00 Pm
Burrito Bar
585 Forest Avenue

Thursday, January 14 - Downtown
6:30 PM
The Lesbian & Gay Community Center
208 West 13th Street
Between 7th & 8th Avenues

Tuesday, January 19 - Downtown
7:00 PM
Union Square Lounge
29 Union Square West
Entrance on 16th between Union Sq. West & 5th Ave.
*Food Will Be Provided*
To RSVP e-mail Alyssa at alyssa.rashbaum@lls.org

Tuesday, January 19 - Staten Island
7:00 PM
Dolphin Fitness
400 Victory Blvd.

Wednesday, January 20 - Midtown
7:00 PM
Galway Hooker
7 East 36th Street
Between 5th & Madison Avenues

Wednesday, January 20 - Brooklyn
7:00 PM
Berkeley Carroll School
181 Lincoln Place
Between 7th & 8th Avenues

Thursday, January 21 - Upper West Side
6:30 PM
Trinity School
139 West 91st Street
Between Amsterdam & Columbus Avenues

Saturday, January 23 - Upper West Side
11:00 AM
The Westside YMCA
5 West 63rd Street
Between Broadway & Central Park West
George Washington Lounge

Saturday, January 23 - Staten Island
11:30 AM
Dolphin Fitness
2071 Clove Road

Monday, January 25 - Midtown
6:30 PM
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
475 Park Avenue South, 8th Floor
Between 31st & 32nd Streets

Monday, January 25 - Staten Island
7:00 PM
Staten Island Yankees
75 Richmond Terrace

Wednesday, January 27 - Upper West Side
6:30 PM
New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64th Street
At Central Park West
Auditorium
**Marathon & Cycle ONLY**

Wednesday, February 24 - Upper East Side
6:30 PM
New York Blood Center
310 East 67th Street
Between 1st & 2nd Avenues
**Triathlon ONLY**

**Event entries are limited so don't miss out on one of our Information Sessions **

You may contact us at (212) 376-6742 or tntnyc@lls.org to learn more or to RSVP for a meeting.

NFL Playoffs: NY Jets Fans and Where to Watch the Games in NYC

The NFL Playoffs begins today. The home town Jets kick things off at 4:30

Saturday, January 9 NFL Football Playoffs
Wild Card Games

at

NY Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals
4:30pm ET

at

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
8pm ET

Jets fans have plenty of options to watch the game. I can't list them all, but here are a few...

Jets Game Watch Party at Dewey's Flatiron
Dewey's Flatiron: Showing the game on 17 HD TVs.
210 Fifth Ave. (between 25th & 26th St.) Flatiron District New York, NY (212) 696-BEER
---------------------------------
Jets vs. Bengals at McFadden's
$3 drafts, $10 pitchers
1/2 price apps
Watch the game on 14 flat screens
at:
McFadden's Saloon
800 Second Ave. (42nd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 986-1515
McFaddens42.com
------------------------------------------
Overlook is hosting a pre-game tailgate starting at 2pm with a $10 unlimited Bud Light special going until kickoff, and $3 Bud Light Pints during the game.
225 E. 44th St. (between Second & Third Ave.)
midtown east, New York, NY (212) 682-7266

Third & Long will host Kick the Keg Wild Card Saturday with $2 mugs all beers on tap between 2 and 7pm. Be sure to say hello to Curtis.
523 Third Ave. (35th St.) Murray Hill. New York, NY (212) 447-5711

Rogue will have a The Coors Light girls doing a promo at 6pm during the game.
757 Sixth Ave. (between 25th & 26th St.), Chelsea, New York, NY (212) 242-6434

The East End will have $25 unlimited Bud Light drafts + 1/2 price wings.
1664 First Ave. (between 86th & 87th St.) Upper East Side, New York, NY (212) 348-3783

Smith's Bar on 8th Ave. will have drink specials for New York fans during the game.
701 Eighth Ave. (44th St.) Hell's Kitchen New York, NY (212) 246-3268

Amity Hall, the new beer bar on W. 3rd, is hosting a game watch party. $4 bottle & draft specials during all major games. RSVP via Facebook
80 W. 3rd St., Greenwich Village, New York, NY 212 677-2290

Bar 43 is hosting an early tailgate (indoors), with buy 1 get 1 free wing. A pitcher of Bud Light & wings will cost you $15. Mickey recommends you arrive early for a good seat. RSVP via Facebook
43-06 43rd St. (between Queens Blvd. & 43rd Ave.) Sunnyside, Queens, NY (718) 361-3000

The NYC Jets Fan Meetup Group Game Watch Party is at Blondies. RSVP at Meetup.com and ask for Howard.
212 W. 79th St. (between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.) Upper West Side, NY, NY

----------------------------
And for those that chant "Who Dey" (Bengals fans), you can try Phebe's in the East Village.
==============================
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
In the other game, (the Giants fans worst nightmare game), The Philadelphia Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys at 8pm.
The Town Tavern on W. 3rd St. is Eagles fan headquarters in NYC. I know this because I can never set foot in the place during an Eagles game (sorry guys).
Eagles Game Watch Party
at:
The Town Tavern
134 W. 3rd St. (Sixth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 253-6955
TownTavernNYC.com
--------------------------
Stone Creek in Murray Hill has been hosting Cowboys fans all season. Our friend (and former MurphGuide softball player) Jon Asnis will be bartending, so be sure to tell him Murph says hello.

Stone Creek
140 E 27th St.
(between Lexington & 3rd Ave.)
New York, NY
StoneCreekNYC.com

=======================================
And as always, you can check out MurphGuide's Directory of NYC Sports Bars:



Check back tomorrow for tips on where to watch Sunday's NFL action...

Sunday, January 10 NFL Playoffs
Wild Card Games

at

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
1pm ET

at

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals
4:40pm ET

Funniest Show of the Year - 50 First Jokes

50 First Jokes was the funniest show of the year.
And I have a feeling I will still say that on December 31st!
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, I attend the 4th annual "50 First Jokes". Thank you to co-producer Claudia Cogan for the invitation. Although the show's title may be a riff on the 2004 film "50 First Dates", this show will endure long after that film is forgotten, (no offense, Mr. Sandler) and become a New York City New Year's tradition, much like the Polar Bear Club in Coney Island (but warmer & funnier).

The show was conceived, produced and hosted by John F. O'Donnell, Jiwon Lee and Claudia Cogan. The idea is to get 50 comics to do two minutes of brand new material. The caveat: the material must be written after the ball dropped on New Year's Eve.

The co-producers and co-hosts of the show:

John F. O'Donnell, Jiwon Lee and Claudia Cogan

Although the comedians may not all be household names (yet), they have been on or written for SNL, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1, HBO, Letterman, CollegeHumor, IFC, Leno, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Colbert Report, Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Bonnaroo Festival, The Daily Show, Family Guy (say whaaat!?), and more. And most are well known to anyone who follows the NYC comedy scene.

The comics came on stage in four groups of twelve, to help speed the transition up to the mic. Co-hosts John, Jiwon and Claudia took turns introducing the acts, from all different backgrounds, to tell their first joke of the new year...Due to the fast pace, and the fact that I didn't have a program, it was hard for me to remember all the names of the comics as they were bombarding us with fresh, raw humor. But there was not a weak link among the group. The room oozed creativity and comic brilliance, and the audience was ready to eat it up.

Seth Herzog of "Sweet" was the first one up, while Roger Hailes finished strong, closed the show...In between, each dozen took turns at the mic with their new material. It was good to see Shawn Hollenbach & Matt McCarthy, two stars of MurphGuide's first (and so far, only) attempt at co-producing a comedy show: "Insert Catchy Name Here". Perhaps in 2010 we will try it again...I also got to meet for the first time several of the comics that are frequently listed on MurphGuide.com, including Jessy Delfino, RG Daniels and Diane O'Debra...Because the jokes were written just since the first of the year, there were lots of bits about going home for the holidays. There were also lots of references about being gay or Jewish (this is NYC, after all), but I only counted two Tiger Woods jokes (that's so 2009)...It was interesting to hear the origins of material that I'm sure will be polished in the coming months. Some highlights (for me) included: Victor Varnado's opening line, John Knefel's bit about NASA, Joe DeRosa's "kill-me" pleas, Michael Recine's line about Cash Cab, and the musical numbers by Jessy Delfino and Sara Schaefer... The Studio at Webster Hall is a nice space for the show. Before the show, we stopped in nearby The Central Bar for a little pre-game, and ended it with a nightcap at Nevada Smith's. Cheers!

Thanks to our friend Paul Katcher for these photos:

Mark Normand

Jon Friedman , creator of The Rejection Show

Nick Cobb

Hmmm. We already have a shot of Nick Cobb, so I guess this is a photo of the hot bartender.

Looks like a side view of Jon Friedman, but also shows a packed house.

After the show with Joe DeRosa, Dan Curry, and Erik Bergstrom

Lisa Kaplan, John Knefle, R.G. Daniels, Myq Kaplan, Lee Camp.

John F. O'Donnell congratulated by Thomas Middleditch
with what looks like a left-handed compliment.

The reported* line-up:
*subject to changes.
Joe DeRosa, Myq Kaplan, Katina Corrao, Victor Varnado, Thomas Middleditch, Jesse Popp, Dan Curry, Amy Schumer, Matt McCarthy, Gilad Foss, Joe DeVito, Jon Friedman, Kumail Nanjiani, Ray Devito, Giulia Rozzi, Jackie Monahan, Sean Patton, Michael Recine, John Knefel, Diane O'Debra, Erik Bergstrom, Mike Drucker, Seth Herzog, Pat Stango, Sean Donnelly, Anthony Jeselnik, Joe Garden, Lizz Winstead, Roger Hailes, Lee Camp, Scott Yacyshyn, Ali Wong, Shawn Pearlman, Liz Miele, Abbi Crutchfield, RG Daniels, Danny Solomon, Mark Normand, Matt Ruby, Kate Berlant, Neal Stastny, Shawn Hollenbach, Lisa Kaplan, Dan St. Germain, Sean Crespo, Chris Doucette, Jessica Delfino, Tom Shillue, Sara Schaefer, Luke Thayer, Jon Lang, Jamie Kilstein.
Co-hosts: Claudia Cogan, Jiwon Lee, John F. O'Donnell.

Do yourself a favor:
1. Google these names above.
2. Watch their clips on youtube, myspace, etc.
2a. Laugh your ass off.
3. Go see them at clubs and comedy shows happening in NYC, every single night of the year.

Links:
Fifty First Jokes
Review: 50 COMICS first jokes (Jessy Delfino)
Gallery: 50 First Jokes 2010 (Mary Anne Ventrice Photography Blog)
More Photos by Mary Anne Ventrice (flickr)
50 First Jokes (NYTimes)
The Studio at Webster Hall