LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 43 34% would be donated to the charity selected by the musician(s) playing. Blair took inspiration from the 50/50 raffle at Cas- tleton University's summer concert series in Vermont. She added to the idea by cleverly choosing the trin- ity knot as inspiration, a revered symbol in Ireland, to keep with the pub's theme. During its first year in 2021, the summer music series hosted 48 music events from June to September, raising over $7,000 for 27 different charities. Perhaps even more astonishingly, 28 people gave their winnings to the charity of the day–that's over 50% of the time! In 2022, Trinity Draw- ings raised over $5,000 for a combined two-year total of $12,000. Blair plans to commemorate each year's causes and contributions on a plaque, which will serve as a powerful reminder that small donations can result in significant outcomes. When asked what charities benefited from the Trinity Drawings, Blair said excitedly, "It's been fun to learn about so many different causes and what is near and dear to the musicians that play here. For example, one of the charities that benefited last year was the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Later during the same summer, the BackPack Program in Tupper Lake benefited, and I learned that the Regional Food Bank supports the local program here in Tupper Lake." Other charities that have benefited from the Trinity Drawings include Youth Climate Program at The Wild Center, Tupper Lake Observatory, Tri-Lakes Humane Society, High Peaks Hospice, and national organizations that are more well known, like Make- A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, and St. Judes Children's Research Hospital. This year, in 2023, Blair plans to host 55 shows through October, so there is plenty of opportunity to listen to live music out- doors and enjoy delicious food, all while supporting an important cause. P-2's menu boasts classic pub fare like beer-battered fish and chips, burgers, and their specialty, wings! The list of wing flavors includes honey-garlic, BBQ, garlic parmesan, bourbon molasses, and, of course, the standard mild, medium, and hot. For drinks, blue margaritas and bloody marys are two of the crowd fa- vorites. Blair is working on expanding the pub's offer- ings beyond fried foods to include options like wraps and salads. Blair plans to expand the menu further to include meals that fit the Lean and Green program, where everything is weighed so a meal has the right amount of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates. Blair is constantly developing new and innovative ideas, so the pub will continue to evolve. However, the pub's welcoming atmosphere remains unchanged, and it continues to represent an integral part of the social fabric of Tupper Lake. There are so many mem- ories embedded in the space; the roots run deep, so deep that the spirit of P-2 lives on. P-2's Irish Pub will continue to warm the hearts of locals and charm travelers who walk through the pub's doors. It remains a place where laughter and stories intertwine, people come together to listen to music, and the rich tapestry of Tupper Lake's community continues to unfold, one pint at a time.

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