middletowneye: brian o'rourke

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Volunteers Get Some Love

O'Rourke's Diner treats Buttonwood volunteers to special dinner!

After O'Rouke's Diner officially closed for the day, Brian O'Rourke kept going to show his support for his North End neighbor. Gracious as ever on the Summer Solstice, he laid out a beautiful dinner party for the volunteers of The Buttonwood Tree. Anne-Marie Cannata, Executive Director of North End Arts Rising / The Buttonwood Tree, returned to the kitchen to help prepare and serve the meal.

Brian made special accommodations for vegetarians on the spot, but he warned everybody that there would be no cheesecake for anyone who didn't eat their brussels sprouts. And never so tasty a tiny cabbage was there ever served up in a Middletown dining establishment. Salad was fresh with house made dressing and fresh herbs, soup was rich, and everything was delicious. It really was a special way for the Buttonwood to say thanks to the people who have, in testament to the importance of The Buttonwood, donated their time, talent, energy, and services over the years. Anne-Marie would like to thank each and every person and hopes she has remembered everyone when she says that The Buttonwood Tree IS:

Here Stephan and Susan Allison talk about the origins of The Buttonwood Tree (TBT), now also called NEAR. The Allisons are pleased that TBT is thriving under Anne-Marie Cannata's leadership, and were delighted to receive the new TBT mug! The Allison's talk also focused on the original goals of The Buttonwood and some history and reminiscing. It was a great opportunity for the volunteers to learn some of the stories of the people and events and changes over the years.

As always, The Buttonwood has a full slate Thursday night and throughout the weekend with lots of great music scheduled. The details can be found at www.buttonwood.org

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Rave Reviews and Something called a Virus Battery

O'Rourke's Diner has issued the first edition of their newsletter "Rave Reviews." and it is a darned beautiful newsletter at that with a cover photo of a colorful dinner plate at the first theme night dinner, “An Evening of Irish Hospitality” on Saturday, February 13th.

The newsletter also includes a recipe for Apple and Pear Crumble, announces new bread baking adventures of a bread called "BARM BRACK", announces upcoming St. Patrick's Day takeout of Corned Beef and Cabbage, includes coverage of a night of fundraising for an organization called Inured Haiti, and there is warm expression of general gratitude from Brian O'Rourke.

My favorite part of this newsletter was this little gem of an interview of one of the staff at O'Rourke's - I absolutely adore the open and scattered answer he provided to the last question... thanks for the gift of you James!

MEET THE STAFF - JAMES DAY
What is your full name?
James Matthew Day

Where were you born?
Seattle, Washington, but I grew up in a city just south of there ca'ed Renton.
How long have you worked at O’Rourke’s? Since July of 2009

What is something not too many people know about you?
Secrets, I imagine. I have a degree in Anthropology and had a great time as an archeologist. Also, I illustrated the Kids Menu at O’Rourke’s.

What are your special interests? People, places, music, food, microbrews, a good pen that doesn’t dry out, a rectifier pedal for my bass amp, headphones that don’t break, and the most recent Hubble space photographs.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I illustrate and paint, make crazy space type music, and help run the MAC650 Ga'ery down the street. I like to travel when I can with my beautiful fiance.

What is your favorite item on the menu?
Oh boy. I have a few favorite items. Colcannon with poached eggs and corned beef hash is a wonderful combo, but our blueberry pancake special with clotted cream and a side of lamb sausage is killer. For lunch, my favorite sandwich is a toss-up between the Jay Seeley’s Turkey Encore or the Brian’s Reuben. My favorite burger is the Smoked Burger.

What is the best part about working at O’Rourke’s?
I really like working for someone who takes a lot of pride in their product, ad it’s more fulfi'ing to go to work knowing I’m involved with something of more substance than anywhere else. The atmosphere of the diner and camaraderie is something I can’t praise highly enough, and I’ve made good friends on both sides of the counter.

Is there anything exciting that you want to share?
We’re working on an Irish Music night at the Gallery on March 19th, with more details to follow. I just became an uncle for the second time! My cat is almost a year old. I’m working on another comic. I think it just stopped snowing! There’s something called a Virus Battery, which is rechargeable power cell that uses bacteriophages as electrodes. Phages are viruses that infect only bacteria, and are genetically engineered to self assemble and conduct electricity. Apparently they can be scaled to be used for applications from cell phones to cars. Weird.

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Are you a fan of O’Rourke’s? Would you like to share one of your favorite experiences with us
in our next newsletter? If so, write us an e-mail about one of your most memorable visits and send it to orourkesdiner@gmail.com with a subject line of “Rave Reviews”.

This includes pictures,articles, reviews and recipes. Make sure you write a note giving us permission to share it.

We will do our very best to publish it in our next newsletter.

Don’t have e-mail? We still want to hear about your experience. Write it all down and send it on in! *Please be sure to write a note with your review giving us permission to share your submission in our next newsletter. Make sure to include your name! We look forward to hearing from you!
O’Rourke’s Diner
“Rave Reviews”
728 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457

Thank you for all of your support!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Irish music in Middletown

For years, Jody Cormack, who works in Wesleyan University's World Music Archives, has hosted Celtic musicians in concert at her home on Margarite Rd. Inspired by former Wesleyan colleague and world music expert, the late Robert Brown, who used to hold "curry concerts" of Indian music at his home, Cormack decided that her love of Celtic music could be celebrated in the same way.

Cormack's house concerts have hosted some of the greats of traditional, and traditionally-influenced Celtic music over the years.

Next Tuesday, October 21, Brian O'Rourke and O'Rourke's Diner will host a special benefit dinner and Fundraiser for the concert series. Run on a shoestring, the concert series is designed to benefit musicians through donations by audience members, but according to Cormack, those shoestrings are getting tight during these recent difficult economic times. With disposable income disappearing, audiences are not as large as they once were.

The fundraiser will feature a multi-course dinner by O'Rourke, live music and a music related raffle of CDs and concert tickets.

The event is nearly sold-out. Seats for the benefit are nearly gone but the remaining reservations can be made by emailing Cormack at jcormack@wesleyan.edu, or by calling at (860) 983-7963.

The next evening, Wednesday October 22, Cormack hosts another in her concert series at her home when Celtic multi-instrumentalist John Carty visits with guitarist Donal Clancy.

Carty, whose acclaim as a fiddler and banjo player have won him renown in Ireland, has performed solo and with bands since he was sixteen. He has recently been touring in a reunion of the legendary band Patrick Street, and has regularly toured as a guest musician with the Chieftans and De Danaan.

John Carty with Donal Clancy
Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at 8pm
145 Margarite Rd. Ext., Middletown CT
Suggested donation: $25 general ($28 at the door), $12 students, $7 children 12 & under
Please call Jody Cormack 860-346-4422 for reservations
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu