U2 Makes Surprise Appearance, Rocks Irish Party

So it begins. About Town will attend a lot of hot events in the next few weeks. Last Thursday we hit the monthly hMag mixer.

It was at the Melting Pot. As always hMag sponsored a charity raffle, this time to benefit the Jubilee Center. That's why we weren't startled to see a preacher in a bar - board member and All Saints Episcopal Reverend Geoff Curtiss.

Then Mayor Dawn Zimmer arrived with Community Development Director Brandy Forbes, just in time for the free wine tasting. Guests also slurped fondue.

Fondue? Seriously, what the hell is it? We were looking right at it and we still don't know. It's the yuppie's goulash.

Shout outs to the performers we saw at the Saturday afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club. First, the Save the Youth Music Group and the Fire Dance Squad, a rainbow of kids in all ages, shapes, shades and sizes. Second, the Hoboken High School theater students who previewed their March production of Hairspray.

Third, Noah, young son of STY producer Tito Acevedo, and who can rap faster than machine guns shoot bullets.

Fourth, a lothario named "Mr. Shine" who sang and had the crowd swooning. He was the coolest person there. We estimate he's ten years old.

(Churchill heard some overbearing New Yorkers mock Hoboken, then he said that about the Irish.)

Sunday, at Our Lady of Grace, the Irish Party fundraiser for the St. Patrick's Parade on March 5. Every redhead in town was there, step-child or otherwise.

About Town loves the Irish. The best English writers are Irish. One day we will do for Hoboken what Joyce did for Dublin.

We first spoke to committee members Bill Coughlin and Helen Cunning—awesome name for a comic book superhero—about and how the party raises money for it, including paying for bands, floats and also scholarships the committee awards to local students.

Cunning said the parade was created to “celebrate our heritage” and to also “bring everybody in the community together.” With this being the 25th year, she promised surprises.

She also said that the historic Irish community in Hoboken remains close knit through tight family ties, and grows with new residents who identify as Irish and seek ethnic camaraderie, and Irish immigrants who settle in the area, especially during the past few decades.

We asked Cunning about New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent "drunk Irish" joke.

Cunning said she is cognizant of such stereotypes, though countered that Bloomberg's comments were "short-sighted." She stressed that despite any  hooligans who might try to take hijack the festivities, the parade is about showcasing "good deeds," and to "put forth what's best about this community."

As we were talking to Cunning and Coughlin, 2011 Irishman of the Year honoree Tom Foley passed by, and Coughlin introduced us, saying Foley has done “so much for the community,” including volunteering with seniors and veterans.

We saw several notable Hobokenites, including Zimmer and her husband Stan Grossbard; also City Council members Peter Cunningham, Beth Mason and Tim Occhipinti, or perhaps, "Irish" Tim O'Chipinti.

We saw challengers to some of those City Council members in the, including Tom Greaney, Eric Kurta and Rami Pinchevsky.

We also mingled with Joseph Branco, owner of Room 84 and Scotland Yard; City Clerk James Farina; Housing Authority director Carmelo Garcia; Hoboken Journal publisher Kurt Gardiner; Chamber of Commerce president Mike Novak; North Hudson Sewage Authority commissioner Frank Raia; State Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr.; former City Council President Tony Soares; and Housing Authority commissioner Jake Stuiver.

We flagged Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano, recognized as 2011 Honorary Irishman of the Year. Romano told us about his family's ties to the Hoboken Irish community.

“Of all the honors in my life this ranks right up there,” he said.

We then commiserated about the Mets for twenty minutes.

Next we spoke with Tom Greaney about his fine Irish last name.

“It's great to bring together those of us who are authentically Irish and those who are Irish for a day,” he said. "Everybody is Irish today."

Then About Town took a break from chatting to chug Guinness.

Later we talked with Billy Noonan, the Grand Marshall for this year's parade. Noonan called the role an honor and said the parade was a way to celebrate Irish heritage.

“The parade is about family,” he continued. “I enjoy seeing families and having my family walk with me.”

We also talked to a just-off-the-boat Irishman, Sean Hession, who immigrated to the United States during the 1980's from County Mayo and later opened Willie McBride's. Hession said the party was “very authentically Irish.”

“You could be back in Ireland and not know it,” he said.

After dinner - cabbage, potatoes, Jameson - each of the parade nominees gave a speech, including Noonan, Foley, Romano and Irishwoman of the Year Kathleen Caulfield Critides, Policeman of the Year Kevin Houghton and Firefighter of the Year Jim Wallington.

Then U2—oh wait, the Martin Flynn Band—serenaded the party with traditional Irish tunes. Guests danced jigs. Then they played some rock classics, we saw you gettin' down on that dance floor, Dawn and Stan.

Surely the party raised enough money for a great parade. More than 400 guests prepaid $50 for tickets, and many more bought at the door.

Hopefully everyone will enjoy a pleasant parade day. Hopefully the 1.2 million tourists coming into the city will pump money into our businesses.

Hopefully the kids will have fun and still remain respectful of residents and property.

If they don't, honorary Irishman and police captain Romano happened to mention that, "the police department will do the job this year."

Alan Skontra was a big dork who never went anywhere. Then he started writing the About Town column for Patch, and now he's everywhere. Have a hot tip on an event in Hoboken? Send an invitation, questions and comments too, to alanskontra@hotmail.com.