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.

Post Market trip to New York

We had a great time in New York City again this year. We went up with expectations of looking for children's clothes, and we did find some great deals, but also we'll have some surprises built in for the rest of the year, at least up until Christmas time. Keep checking in.

We saw a fleeting glimpse of Pope Benedict. We were walking down Park Avenue, feeling really out of place, when Janet mentioned all of the policemen. We figured that it had to have something to do with the Pope's visit, but we couldn't be lucky enough to be in the right place and time. But we were.

A neat thing has begun to happen to us. We somehow have attracted the attention of folks outside of the metropolitan area. Love it! Check on the blog site, and you can tell where people sign in from. You'll see Dublin, Boston. Cork, wherever someone decides to check in, they leave me a footprint in my sand. Neat!

Well, be on the lookout next month for Downtown Days. I'm told that there will be 80,000 people Downtown Lee's Summit, here for shopping, music and food and drink. I hope that if you're one of them, that you'll drop by for a visit. And if you can't visit, pitch in and help!!!

Till next time....

Slainte
Chuck

Is it Spring yet?

I can't tell... We've come through March and now into the April showers bring May flowers thing and - well I think that I heard that it's gonna snow again out here Saturday. THAT figures! We're leaving Saturday to go to NYC for our shopping pilgrimage. THEN, it gets nice here and guess what it's doing in NYC (not counting Pope delays and detours)...no, not snow, but a ton of rain. This is what Irish luck is. It's not really luck, but the absence of it.

Oh well, at least we'll get to see some old friends and see some neat places. We're even going to try the subway all over town. I guess you don't TRY it, you do it or get off it. We're going to go to the Columbus Park Green Flea Market. It's a huge tented area where a lot of vendors sell just a lot of 'stuff' for nothing. That's just about what my budget is right now...nothing.





Then we'll take another subway crosstown to the East Side. On the east side is Bloomingdales, and we'll go there for a few minutes or so and then on further east to Serendippity's. That's the place where they make those Frrrozen Hot chocolate desserets. Yes, I am going to...



Then lastly, we're going to a place called McSorley's. Kerry Browne told me about it and I am going there for the experience of it. She called it an off boaters place. The phrase caught me ear, so I am going to go see what it is. I know that it's in a part of the City that is very old. Maybe either our Greman or Irish Great Grandpas stoppped there before taking the train to Kansas City Kansas and settling within a block of each other...Uh huh.


Anyway, we will have a good time, and Aunt Shirley and a good friend of mine, Mary Concklin will be working the shop Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by to see them. They will be glad to see you. (And I gave them each a $200.00 daily sales goal).
JJJUUuuuuuuuuuussst kidding.


Sorry it's been so long since the last blog, but I've been busy with Irish season and tax time. Glad its over!



Anyhow -
Come see us - you know that I love our visits!


Chuck