The New York Irish Center presents its annual holiday concert, “New York Croons for Christmas,” on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7pm.
The event -- a fundraiser to support all the cultural and social programs of the Center – is staged immersively in the storefront theater Reilly Room.
Tickets, which are $60 (includes complimentary holiday refreshments starting at 6pm), can be purchased at www.newyorkirishcenter.org. The NYIC is located at 1040 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City (just three minutes on the 7 train from Grand Central).
Hosted by Colm Reilly, “New York Croons for Christmas,” feature Carolyn Montgomery, Wendy Lane Bailey and Kathy Kaefer; singer-songwriter Jeanne MacDonald; and the guitarist Sean Harkness leading the Life of Reilly Band. Bandmembers include Jennifer Vincent (bass), Rob Mitzner (percussion), Sara Caswell (violin/fiddle), and Sean Harkness (guitar).
A two-time MAC Award-winner, host Colm Reilly is a frequent performer and host at the Center, who has also appeared and headlined at The Town Hall, Symphony Space, The Iridium Jazz Club, Birdland, Feinstein’s/54 Below and at Carnegie Hall. He has also toured with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, and in theatre productions across the U.S., including “Forever Plaid, “Brigadoon, and “Hello Dolly!” One of his two MAC Awards was for Best Male Vocalist. The Reilly Room is named for his father, the NYIC’s late co-founder Paddy Reilly.
And there are two other notable Christmas and holiday-related events at NYIC
Annual Toy Drive (Saturday, Dec. 2, 1 p.m.)
As the annual Holiday Toy Drive returns for its 11th year, NYIC invites you to support our drive to deliver 500 gifts to 500 children across our communities. On Saturday, December 2 dozens of volunteer elves transform the Center into a gift-wrapping workshop, with the goal of wrapping over 500 individual gifts! This year we are supporting local charities Hour Children, Woodside on the Move, and Habitat for Humanity, among others.
Santa Visits from the North Pole (Sunday, Dec. 10, 2 p.m. $5, please register ahead)
On this special day, the Center opens its doors to welcome local children from across our diverse community, and throughout the five boroughs, for a chance to meet Santa Claus ahead of the Big Day. Friends from all over marvel at St Nick’s distinctly Irish brogue. Who knew? Tea, coffee, and snacks will be on hand! Plus: each child who walks through the door receives a free gift!
