Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 16

Recycling information, volunteer opportunities and more...

Need pointers on salesmanship/marketing? The Springfield Library hosts a lecture on marketing products tonight.  Mclynn’s hosts its weekly open mic night tonight. For video highlights of a past open mic night, click here. Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside is holding an amateur photo contest for original snapshots of wild animals in their natural habitat. The deadline is April 15. For more information call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit their site.   The Township has put its recycling schedule online. You can find it here (link open PDF).  The Community Conference of Springfield Schools' Parent Groups is seeking volunteers for their March 30 Senior Citizen Tea Party. Click here for more information.   

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Noon Eats

Bacon Blue Cheeseburger from McLynn's

Morris Avenue pub serves comforting fare with a smile and a brogue

Hearty Irish fare— shepherd's pie and thick, creamy soups—sounds far from appealing during what has been a long, hot, humid summer. But on an unusual cool, rainy day last week, a bacon blue cheeseburger from McLynn's called my name. With a full bar and full-service dining room, McLynn's is ideal for an informal lunch with the boss, a farewell meal for a co-worker, or a lunch date with a friend. In the cooler months, the old-fashioned, Irish-themed décor—think wood tables, green carpet, and walls adorned with an eclectic array of old washbords, maps, prints, hockey sticks and clocks—make for an especially inviting, comforting environment. Service is attentive, often with an Irish brogue. The daily specials are written on a small chalkboard…

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Band to Play Familiar Tunes at McLynn's

Brother John Brown plays tonight.

Let’s start with the hard facts: Brother John Brown is a cover band. There, we said it. Please keep reading. The fact is, there can be a bit of shame for musicians in cover bands. For one, there are a lot of them out there, and people sometimes look askance when they ask a cover band if they play their own music, only to hear “No, we only do covers.” “It’s really true—when people ask you if you do any originals, you’re always a little embarrassed when you say no. It’s like they’re saying well, ‘I guess you don’t have any ambition.’ But I have my own ideas,” said Chris Brown, guitarist and vocalist for local '60s cover band Brother John Brown. To be sure, the difficulty of being in a cover band is that it it’s not easy for a band to play …

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McLynn's to host NuBand

Brother and sister-led group to bring classic rock goodness to Springfield.

Good things come to those who wait, and for fans of NuBand, there's an uncommon opportunity to see this talented quartet crank out a classic set list from 9:30-12:30 Saturday Feb. 6 at McLynn's. "We usually get only 1 or 2 chances to play together each year," said drummer Dave Goldman, "and we're thrilled about a gig at McLynn's. It's the perfect spot." NuBand features brother/sister team with Neil and Mary Ellen Brodbeck on keyboards and guitar, Mike Neville on the rumbling bass, with Goldman's drums rounding out the group. It'll be a jamming, break-loose set after rehearsing for only a single session last weekend. NuBand's music will offer their spin on tunes by from Derek and the Dominos, Creedence, ZZ Top, the Rolling Stones and a bevy…

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Video: Clancy's Ghost Live at McLynn's

Patch videographer Barry Kaufman catches the Celtic country rockers in action.

Local rockers Clancy's Ghost brought their Irish country bluegrass pop rock to McLynn's  last week. Our man with the cam, Barry Kaufman, was on hand to capture the roots rock ruckus.   

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Clancy's Ghost Haunt McLynn's Tonight

Local Celtic rockers pay a visit to Springfield's Irish pub.

Clancy’s Ghost, who are playing at McLynn's tonight, bill themselves as “Irish Country Bluegrass Pop Rock.” It’s a lot of ingredients, but the result is a smooth blend of crowd-pleasing melodic tunes played with traditional instruments.   “It’s got a rock feel even though we’re doing traditional music,” Clancy’s Ghost singer Andrew Ogilvie said. Ogilvie, who also handles guitar, harmonica and tin whistle duty for the group, earned his Irish rock bones with New Jersey-based Celtic rock band the Barleycorns. He touted Clancy’s Ghost's ability to jump genres. “We’ll play an Irish song, then switch around and play ‘I Want You to Want Me’ by Cheap Trick,” he said. Clancy’s Ghost regularly haunt area venues; their bass player Rick Wagner is a …

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