There Were Postcards, Once. Kilkenny, Ireland August 2024

Super Blue Moon Over Kilkenny Kilkenny, Ireland August 2024

Dusting At The Castle Kilkenny, Ireland August 2024

*tip-toes back into this blighted hellscape just long enough to tell you about this*

Far, far away, in the snug at Doheny & Nesbitt’s Dublin August 2024

Last night I had the privilege of introducing someone to the movie that never pauses for breath: "His Girl Friday," where people talk like typewriters doing 60 wpm. Peak Hawks, peak Grant, peak Russell and not one sticky drop of sentimentality. Best newspaper movie ever.

He entered Davy Byrnes, now chic. No Gorgonzola for him, no Burgundy. Just a pint, and just the one. Dublin 2024

That WCBS 880 was the soundtrack of my Long Island boyhood came back to me the night that TWA Flight 800 went down, as I raced on the Southern State to the scene - and listened. For decades the 880 chorus provided a public service. The static of silence now is unnatural.

21 years ago today, Warren Zevon released his final album, The Wind. He began recording the album shortly after he was diagnosed with inoperable pleural mesothelioma, and it was released just two weeks before his death on September 7, 2003. Enjoy every sandwich.

Huge news at The New York Times: After 63 years as the go-to rewrite man, lede-all maestro, and poetic obituary writer, the peerless Robert McFadden is retiring. Many times I have witnessed his artistry; the man is a legend. Great honor is due.

I read every word he wrote. An absolute master of the craft.

To put this in perspective, I joined the Times in 1995 - 29 years ago - and Bob, sitting near me in the Metro corner of the newsroom, had already been at the paper for THIRTY-FOUR YEARS! And the fire in his prose, in his commitment to every story, remained white-hot.

Exactly how many steps, Kevin, did the police escort the handcuffed suspect up to the precinct station doors?

Keep those obscenity-laced good wishes coming!

There you go, bragging about your youth again.

When the NYT promoted me from a research assistant to actual reporter, on the Metro desk, I was specifically told that "no true NYT career exists until you have stood in Flushing, sending a feed on the weather, to Robert D. McFadden."

Noli Timere Seamus Heaney (April 13, 1939 - August 30, 2013) Exhibit in Dublin August 2024

The next time you watch “Swing Time,” focus on Ginger Rogers, rather than Fred Astaire. It’s more than just backwards and in heels; it’s everything. My God she was gifted.

"This was Jimmy Breslin’s special gift, to uncover the hidden human dimensions in every story." Join us 9/12 for our first fall event! Dan Barry will be in conversation with Prof. John Waters to launch "Jimmy Breslin: Essential Writings." Details: bit.ly/4goHm0i

Glucksman Ireland House NYU Dan Barry So happy the Modern Library are including Breslin. He was such a kind friend to Ireland House for many decades. I'll never forget the time, when I was teaching for you, that I helped set up his 90th birthday event....and Tony Bennett sang for Jimmy!