Wasn't it the truth I told ya, lots of fun at Finnegan's wake....

As many of you probably know or have guessed, I've made a bit of a second gome at Séan Cummings Irish Restaurant and Pub.  It's a place a head whenever I feel like a fantastic meal with some great friends just about any time of the week.  Monday nights, I'm always there, for the musical stylings of Patrick Sawyer, followed by Open Mic Night.  And any other night, there's a decent chance I might show up for a bit and a pint after work.  Brianna loves it there as well, and I bring her in whenever I can.  It is a pub in the best sense of the word, a family establishment where we can go any time we want good food and even better companionship.  I'd been looking for such a place ever since moving up to OKC from Austin, and I was blessed to find one in easy walking distance from my house.

Sadly, the have moved.

Sunday afternoon, a large group of us gathered at the old premises for a wake for the old place.  There had to be at lease fifty of us, milling around inside and out, visiting and reminiscing.  Beer for toasts flowed freely from the single bare keg on the floor.  Eventually, Séan signalled the piper to strike up some music, followed by rousing renditions of "Séan Cummings Pub" and "The Parting Glass."  Séan gave a speech thanking us all for coming and bidding the site a fond farewell.

The next step was the funeral procession.  With the pipes and several flags leading us, we marched the mile or so down May Avenue to their new location.  We got a combination of bewildered looks and honks (mostly friendly, but a few of annoyance) from the people we passed.  As we came in sight of the new location, bartender Andrew came running up from the back of the pack, carrying the tap like an Olympic torch, and ran on ahead to set things up for us.

It was a fine party indeed to break in the new digs.  Beer and whiskey again flowed freely.  Old friendships were renewed and new ones forged throughout.  A variety of musicians who regularly play at the pub were out in force, sharing fantastic tunes right up until Séan sadly had to ask us to leave.  He and his staff still had plenty of work ahead of them to get the new place ready for opening.

Although I'm bummed that the pub is no longer easy walking distance from my house, I think I will like the new place.  It's only a little bigger than the old one, so it won't lose the intimate atmosphere that makes it work so well.  Instead of being in the center of the front wall, the front door is off to one side, making much more room for the live mucisians who play there.  I'm looking forward to the innaugural open mic night tonight.

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