Sinatra: The Man, The Music, The Memories - Benefitting Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York at Patsy's Italian Restaurant

In celebration of World Wish Day, the anniversary of the founding of Make-A-Wish®, the legendary Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in midtown Manhattan will host a special evening honoring the life and music of Frank Sinatra while supporting children facing critical illnesses.

On Wednesday, April 29 from 5:30–7:30 PM, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant will present Sinatra: The Man, The Music, The Memories, an intimate musical and dining event benefiting Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York.

The evening will bring together music, storytelling, dining and drinks in the very restaurant Sinatra frequented for decades. Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner and cash bar while experiencing live Sinatra classics performed by vocalist Michael Patrick Dominick, accompanied by pianist Billy Lawlor.

Throughout the evening, members of the Patsy’s Italian Restaurant family will share personal stories and memories of Sinatra’s longstanding friendship with the Scognamillo family and his many nights spent at the Midtown dining institution.

A Restaurant Sinatra Called Home

Founded in 1944 by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant quickly became a gathering place for entertainers, musicians, and Broadway legends. Over the decades, the restaurant developed a particularly close connection with Frank Sinatra, who frequently dined at Patsy’s Italian Restaurant and introduced friends and fellow performers to the restaurant he trusted and loved.

Today, the restaurant remains family-owned and operated by third-generation Owner & Executive Chef Sal Scognamillo, who continues the tradition of hospitality that has made Patsy’s Italian Restaurant one of New York City’s most iconic dining rooms.

“Frank Sinatra wasn’t just a famous guest here — he was family,” said Sal Scognamillo, Owner & Executive Chef of Patsy’s Italian Restaurant. “He celebrated here, relaxed here, and trusted our restaurant as a place where he could truly be himself. Hosting this evening on World Wish Day and supporting Make-A-Wish is a meaningful way for us to honor that history while helping bring hope to children and families who need it most.”

Celebrating the Music of Sinatra

The evening will feature a live musical program performed by Michael Patrick Dominick, accompanied by pianist Billy Lawlor, celebrating Sinatra’s timeless recordings and his enduring connection to New York City.

Dominick has spent more than two decades performing Sinatra and the Great American Songbook classics at charitable events supporting Make-A-Wish chapters across the Northeast. His connection to the organization is deeply personal — his younger brother Matthew was a Make-A-Wish recipient as a child while battling a brain tumor.

“Make-A-Wish brought hope to our family when hope felt lost, when my brother received a wish during the most difficult time we had ever faced,” said Dominick. “To celebrate World Wish Day through Sinatra’s music in a place that meant so much to him — and to do so in support of Make-A-Wish — is truly special. I’m honored to work with Mr. Scognamillo and his generous team at Patsy’s Italian Restaurant to help bring this unique evening to life.”

Matthew is now more than twenty years cancer-free, married, and the proud father of two young sons.

An Evening of Music, History, and Purpose

Sinatra: The Man, The Music, The Memories is designed as an intimate experience celebrating the artistry and storytelling that defined Sinatra’s career. Guests will hear beloved classics spanning Sinatra’s catalog while learning more about his deep connection to Patsy’s Italian Restaurant and the Scognamillo family.

Most importantly, proceeds from the evening will benefit Make-A-Wish® Metro New York and Western New York, helping to grant life-changing wishes for local New York City children with critical illnesses.

Event Details

Event: Sinatra: The Man, The Music, The Memories
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (World Wish Day)
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, New York City
Experience: Storytelling of Frank Sinatra and Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, live Sinatra tribute performance by Michael Patrick Dominick with pianist Billy Lawlor, buffet dinner, and cash bar
Beneficiary: Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York
Tickets & Reservations: https://bit.ly/SinatraMakeAWishMNY

About Make-A-Wish® Metro New York and Western New York

Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York has granted the wishes of more than 21,000 children with critical illnesses since 1983, bringing hope and joy to families across the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and 17 counties in the Buffalo and Rochester areas. A chapter of Make-A-Wish America, the world's largest wish-granting charity, with 57 chapters across the U.S. and 40 international affiliates on six continents, Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York believes that a single wish transforms lives.

 Children who qualify are between the ages of 2½ and 18 and have been diagnosed with a critical illness. A wish is more than a gift, it is a catalyst for renewed strength, with proven physical and emotional benefits that can give children a higher chance of survival while creating lasting impacts on their families and communities.

 Today, more than 1,000 children in our region are waiting for their wish. Together with generous donors and more than 600 volunteers, we're working to reach every one of them. For more information, visit https://wish.org/newyork

About Patsy’s Italian Restaurant

Founded in 1944 by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant is a family-owned New York City institution located just steps from Broadway and Carnegie Hall. Now led by third-generation Owner & Executive Chef Sal Scognamillo, the restaurant continues a tradition of classic Southern Italian cooking and warm hospitality that has defined the dining room for more than 80 years. Patsy’s Italian Restaurant became internationally known as a favorite gathering place of entertainment legends—most famously Frank Sinatra—and remains a destination for artists, performers, and visitors from around the world. Today, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant carries forward the Scognamillo family legacy while preserving one of New York’s most iconic dining experiences.