We were sad to hear that Neary’s, NYC’s most well-known Irish restaurant is closing its doors on July 19. The end of an era. Viva La France! Check out these Bastille Day Celebrations. This week’s Long Island Spotlight is on our fabulous farmer’s markets. The West Side is celebrating its arts and culture. Our Broadway Babe is back with some fun entertainment finds. And our roving photographer is roving at Cannon Beach in Oregon…a cool getaway.

Neary’s Closing Its Doors

Jimmy Neary’s family announced that after an incredible 57-year run, Neary’s will bid farewell on Friday, July 19th. “With heartfelt appreciation and love, we look back on Neary’s remarkable journey on 57th Street (now Jimmy Neary Way!). It all began on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, 1967, when our beloved father, Jimmy Neary, and his partner, Brian Mulligan, first opened Neary’s doors. From the outset, our father recognized Sutton Place as the perfect location and his instincts proved absolutely correct.”

Jimmy’s story was the classic American dream. When Jimmy died in 2021, our friend Joanne Davis wrote a beautiful tribute. “He came to the U.S. from Sligo, Ireland in 1954, worked hard – starting as a porter at the New York Athletic Club, worked as a bartender and ultimately bought a building on East 57^th Street. He opened Neary’s restaurant on East 57^th Street on St. Patrick’s Day in 1967. It quickly became known as the best Irish restaurant in the city. He worked virtually every day and on October 1, after working on September 30 passed away in his sleep at age 91. He hosted presidents, governors, senators, mayors, priests and bishops, writers, entertainers, athletes and sports team owners and all of us from the neighborhood – as well as visitors from all over the world who heard about the iconic Jimmy. And he treated all of us with the same happy welcome and warmth.”

To learn more about this beloved man, watch the documentary, “Neary’s: The Dream at the End of the Rainbow” on Amazon Prime

July 14. Bastille Day Celebrations

If you can’t get to Paris for the Olympics, celebrate Bastille Day this Sunday with  L’Alliance’s  largest annual celebration of France’s national holiday outside of France. With over 25,000 people this year’s fête promises to be bigger than ever with can’t miss cultural programming, a Champagne Party, two film screenings, more than 50 French and local vendor booths, and free activities for all ages. 12–5pm | On Madison Avenue, from 59th to 63rd Street, NYC

Celebrate Bastille Day in Central Park

In celebration of Bastille Day, the Consulate General of France imports a bevy of artists from across the Francosphere, spanning multiple genres and continents. Singer-songwriter Laurie Darmon writes sensual love songs tuned to the beat of the dance floor; Transporteur Bonheur taps into the energy of the street with confrontational joy; the DJ and producer the Avener is best known for his 2014 single “Fade Out Lines”, a deep house rework of Phoebe Killdeer & The Short Straws’ “The Fade Out Line”; the Marseille hip-hop quintet IAM spit hard-hitting, politically charged lyrics rooted in the African diaspora, drawing particular influence and inspiration from ancient Egypt; and Magic System, a coupé-décalé band from the former French colony of Ivory Coast, makes music rooted in the Zouglou dance style. GET THE DETAILS.

Spotlight on Long Island: Farmers’ Markets

Our Long Island reporter, Andrea Peponakis shines a spotlight on Long Island’s thriving agricultural community. Bring a farm-to-table family dinner experience into your kitchen by directly buying fresh, quality, locally grown produce from the numerous, vibrant Farmers’ Markets located throughout the towns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Visiting a farmers’ market is not only a great way to spend your morning, but also a great way to directly support our farmers. READ ON.

July 12-14. West Side Fest

West Side Fest is a celebration of arts and culture on the West Side of Manhattan. Enjoy artmaking, workshops, dancing, crafts, and other special programming across participating organizations from the West Side Cultural Network (WSCN). GET THE DETAILS.

Broadway Babe: Fiddler, Steve & Eydie and More

Randie Levine-Miller, our Broadway Babe has found some fascinating entertainment videos to share, including: the creative team of Fiddler on the Roof sharing stories, songs and anecdotes about the show’s creation; Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme performing with the Boston Pops; an Ed Sullivan special starring some of the greats of yesteryear; and a documentary about the Shubert Theatre of New Haven, which was a launchpad for many Broadway musicals. WATCH THE VIDEOS.

Roving in Cannon Beach

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens, writes: 

I spent the 4th of July on the shores of one of our country’s most beautiful natural landscapes, Cannon Beach, Oregon. We have dear friends who moved to this resort town several years ago. Each day they led us across the sandy land where the ample edgy grains kiss the Pacific Ocean and rinse the earth with altering high and low tides.

Cannon Beach is distinguished by its grand rock formations, marking  its deep beaches. We walked from the recognizable 235 foot high Haystack Rock to Silverpoint and Jockey Cap Rocks, and saw many sea creatures up close, while they were only exposed at low tide.

The town is as quaint as they come with its mom and pop businesses and beach cottage vibes. The 1,547 full time residents welcome the masses over the weekends, to share the splendor. The overall feeling is let’s be outside together. Personally I look forward to returning to Cannon Beach regularly to visit our friends and watch the tides shift over the glorious glimmering Pacific to continue to expose new elemental treasures.

~Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of the Long Pause and the Short Breath.”