The Dublin Community Blog

It really doesn’t matter that we are 45 days before the Christmas – we already have Christmas lights! A plenty of people gathered yesterday on O’Connell Street. A lot of kids, some entertainment and,  finally, the Christmas Tree. The structure weights five tonnes and is composed of 100,000 bulbs of different sizes.

Dubliners, go to shopping! (actually, the Lady Mayor said that, not me)

The Paulaner Oktoberfest take place in Dublin’s George’s Dock over a ten day period (9-19th October). There is plenty to do for all, from having a Bavarian lunch during the week, to a great Bavarian night out with friends.

What to see and what to do (short selection): Beerbar and German Schwenkgrill specialties, German Bretzels, Black Forest specialties sausages & various meats, Mushrooms, dumplings, German rissoles and fried potatoes, German wines.

And, of course, a huuuuuuuge quantity of Paulaner beer! See you there. Free entrance.  Official site.

The official announcement goes like this:

This weekend (4,5 October) the Festival of World Food is taking place in Marlay Park in Rathfarnham. There will be food stalls from Palestine, Lebanon, Algeria, Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Japan, China, Thailand, Greece, Spain, Sri Lanka and India. The festival will also focus on the wonderful innovations taking place in this country at the farming and artisan levels, with priority being given to applicants from farming, growing and producing backgrounds.
From Ireland there will be bakeries, farm house cheeses, condiments, butchers, gluten free products, organic fruit and vegetables, beverages, hot-food and a selection of our best home produced products.

The admission is free.

UPDATE: Other photos, here.

I went to Custom Quay House last Sunday, in order to see what Dublin Urban Beach is all about. So, a plenty of sand, a few hundred people with a lot of kids, but all of them wearing anything but swim suites:).
Free entrance, free drinks, free food (ok, kidding about food&drinks).
Being a Romanian and having the hot Black Sea at about 200 km of Bucharest,  I must say that Dublin Urban Beach is like a joke for me. But hey, I really understand the action and right now I only want the sun to be more powerfull in Dublin.
And when I’m thinking that these days in Romania the average temperature is about 35 degrees Celsius……..
More pictures.

So, I was at Taste of Dublin in Iveagh Gardens on Sunday (btw, absolutely grand, it was my first time in Iveagh Gardens). Hm…..let’s see: 25 euro one ticket, pretty expensive perfumes in the air, “Made in Brown Thomas” people, etc, etc. I will always be on the popular festivals side, like Maritime&Food Festival which took place a few weeks ago.

Taste of Dublin, maybe I’m wrong, but for me it seems to be a place for specialists, not for the real foodies. I’m a real foodie, I just love food, but………but, I will always love the events for everybody, not only for “some people”. My view.

Some other pictures, here.

Taste of Dublin 2008 starts today, at Iveagh Gardens, near Stephen’s Green Park. So, if you’re hungry or you just want to hang around and see at work some well-known chefs, you definitely should take a walk in. Due to some work stuff, I will be able to taste the Taste only on Sunday, on the final day, but that’s fine, because on Monday you will find here some articles and pictures from the event.

Official site (25 euro fee entrance).