Next season: Matters of the heart

Sorry, but that's what happens in retail. You get all involved in the season at hand, and once handled, on to the next one. Oh, gosh, I really used to get hyped up for Valentine's Day. I didn't get to go to Kindergarten, s0 first grade was my first opportunity to experience it. And I had major loves in first grade. I even remember their names. So Sorry, Nancy Morgan, and Barbara Monchil, and Tanya Estrada, and Michelle Hoegler...Yeah, they were serious back then... I planned their valentines with all the angst that a 6 year old boy could muster. My printing on the backs of those 1959 Hallmark valentine cards was executed with the precision of a brain surgeon. It made for a very fun day. It must have. I still remember their names.

But now, now that I'm an old married man - 33 years, Valentines Day is simply a day to remember to get the ol Hallmark credit card out again. And not to try to be creative to impress the Mrs..."NO!!! Don't waste money on candy, I won't eat it. And DO NOT send me flowers at work!!! They just die. (Well, Duh...)

So remember Valentines Days past. Savor the flavor. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Go raibh míle maith agat! - May you have a thousand good things!!

Getting the Irish Season Kicked off

I have great respect and admiration for the staff of the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade. You can't possibly take in all that they have to accomplish in a year's time. To look at the task of re-creating a wonderful, traditional event with such enthusiasm and creativity every year has to leave them breathless. Yet they do it. Flawlessly, I think. And can you imagine what it takes to coordinate with representatives of the City in every respect and discipline, all Irish groups, all vendors, the police, legal agencies, merchants along the route, the Media, oh God, it's really too much to even think about.

I know a very little bit, I've served in a tiny way as a Hibernian rep to the parade committee. They were so very kind, super fun, and considerate. I liked every member of the committee that I came into contact with. I wished I could have been more helpful. But trust me, they have it all under control.

I took what I learned by observation to my little Lee's Summit Emerald Isle Parade. We do pale in comparison in terms of the sheer number of folks that have to be coordinated with. The size of our parade is tiny in relationship to the "Big Parade." But we do match them in spirit. We run our parade with a small team of 10, all responsible of crosschecking eachother to ensure that all of our work tasks are handled, and creative urges are looked at and either allowed or tabled till next year. We're a small but enthusiastic bunch.

This year the parade will step off at 1:00 as last year, on Saturday, March 14. Hopefully, we will not have the bone-chilling freeze that we shared with the Big Parade last year. It was so cold then that our talent, The Lucky Charms, and Flanigan's Right Hook, could only play for a few minutes of their sets. We really missed out last year. But never say die, we'll have some talent this year too.

Just watch out for us. March 14. The Lees Summit Emerald Isle Parade will step off in style.

Sorry for the absence...we've been in hell for Christmas.

It has certainly been an interesting year. I've turned into one of those folks who, when you make the mistake of saying:" How have you been?" you get more than you really want to hear... Seriously, I hate it when anybody asks me how my Christmas was. Cause I'm gonna give the the shorthand..."It was fine."

We lost my wife's oldest sister in February due to kidney disease. My father - in - law, Mr. Harold Cullum passed away right at Christmas time, making our holiday season quite gloomy. There were 2 empty seats at our Christmas Dinner this year. So, we're just glad that Christmas has gone back into its many many boxes and back into the basement till next year.

On a GREAT upswing, our daughter, Kristin was engaged to Mr. Jim Lynch on Christmas eve. Yes, he's IRISH... and Italian. What a fun party that will be! More on that later!

Meantime, its time for taxes and inventory and ordering for the new year at Doherty & Sullivan's. Its our 5th year. If you haven't been out to see us - SHAME on you!

Happy New Year!

What??? July??? Where have I been?

I've been busy! That's where I've been. Lee's Summit has had several activities lately, some very very good. Octoberfest was 2 weeks ago!! We had to had I'd say 30 or more folks in the shop at a time. New and old friends, it was great to see everybody. I loved the Ooom Pa music that boomed just outside my front door. No, really, I liked it a lot. I can still hear and feel it. Could be because of the Bauer blood mixed in the Sullivan blood runnin in my veins. It was a lot of fun, and no, I had ZERO beer. But not because I didn't want any. Here's a pic of what it looked like outside my shop. Looks a little grim...

Seriously, they raised the curtains and we had a great time interacting with everyone. Can't wait till the next one.

We had a great time at the Irish Fest this year. We had the best spot at the Fest, directly accross from the main entrance at Crown Center. Folks that we see at the shop followed us down to the fest. It's just like family reunion time. We also introduced ourselves to new friends too, hope to see them back home soon. Up above is a shot of Annette Denton and Becky Sue at the booth. (My family was so helpful and more importantly FUN! ) Thanks to Jay & Annette and my cousin Becky Sue Hartman and my mom and her sisters Dot and Becky. Gary and Theresa and theiur kids helped too, so it was a family event along with my Janet, Kristin, Neil and Colin. Again, can't wait till next year.

The Best Place to eat Pizza In NYC~

This is the best place to go - here it is!!! Pax Wholesome Foods in NYC. Janet and I love this place. She loves the convenience of getting out and shopping and then topping off the day with a nice pizza slice, and then jumping the bus for Jesey to the hotel. I love pax for the danger. I love their pizza and paninis. But the danger is if I am going to make it outta there without consuming real New York Cheesecake or not. Oh God it looks so good. I think about it the whole year until we go back. Their cookies are to dream about. My dad used to make Macaroons. Theirs are chocolate and just unbelieveable and cause great memories!

I think that it also has to do with the fact that you 're within a mile of Times Square and the Theatre District. Next year, we're going to try to get into Saturday Night live. (But only after a Reuben panini and a piece of strawberry Cheese cake heaven)! Oh Yum!

SO Hot, yet planning for Christmas

I've been working on our yearly 'Belleek Christmas In July' event. Ordering each of the new Belleek items and Reed and Barton Christmas ornaments for our showing later in the month.

At first, I was skeptical about just having one of each available ornament in the shop. I thought that the only correct way to retail is to have robust amounts of everything in my back room shelves. Since I have NO backroom, or shelves, this is the second best way to handle our situation. As I get into this process, I found that ordering for each customer was really fine as far as my folks went. Besides - this way ensures that they will have a nice new ornament ready when they are. And it's a fun excuse to have Christmas cookies and stuff in the shop for folks to graze on. I've already sent out my electronic invitations, and am working on my postcards now, but if you get neither, don't stay away. Come to the shop, July 30 & &31st and or August 1 during our regular hours.

We may h

We may have JUST what you need for your 2008 Christmas Decorating!

(At least I know that you love our Irish shortbread cookies!) Call if you have questions!

- Chuck Denton

Getting into the summer

It's been a while since I blogged. Now, it's summer and whole lot of things to happen.

We've been to NYC and back. We've suffered through "Streets Alive" in downtown Lee's Summit...(it wasn't really). We had a great galloping Lady's Nite Out, and wish we could do that weekly. It was like a Christmas rush day. I have Amy Robertson from Cameron's to thank for that. They plan and execute Lady's Nite Out. This is their event. The Tominia's are such generous people, I am honored to know them. Amy devised the evening so that the 500 ladies who shopped all day on Saturday had a form to fill out. At each of the participating stores, we had chosen a secret word. To get the word, you had to visit each store and write down the word next to the participating shop's name. (Like playing Password!) Once the form was completed, the 500 ladies had to return the form. Did Amy tell them to come back to her store? NO. She had them end the day at Doherty & Sullivan's to submit their form. They sure didn't have to do that, but they did. Amy's my pal! So are Sue & Steve. They can do no wrong as far as I am concerned.

So now that that's done, we need to spark interest in Lee's Summit thru the hot summer months. That will be tough, but like I always said, the hardest work comes after that last promotion. The party is the easiest. It's the clean-up that's tough to keep motivated for.

Irish Fest - I'm working on it. Having family over to plan our strategy. I will have a room at the Hyatt to keep everyone refreshed and also to sleep over in. Our tent size won't change. At least this year. Not happy about it, but there is no way to create space from nothing. But we'll have a blast anyway. It's gotten to be a tradition that I look forward to, Janet and me and brother Jay and sister Annette meet us at the Fest grounds and unload. They get us set up in time to open by 5:00 and we work that first night. I think that I enjoy that first nite the best. The excitement and anticipation of what is going to happen the next couple of days. Having Jay and Annette the first day, the folks who come out just to see US and the new folks who learn about us. It's Awesome. Hey, look for us. Don't know yet where we'll be, but we'll be there.