The Dublin Community Blog

As someone who loves to eat new things, what is better than making it a regular event! So we got together a motley (mostly Dublin Blog) crew and trotted on down to Town Bar & Grill last night for our first night out. Firstly – there were a few ground rules: You have to pick from the early bird/pre theatre and you must only order wine from the house selection.

Righteo – starting from the start, our table for 8 was set on a table fit for 6. Which was a bit annoying as they have all the bells and whistles on the table, which leaves little room for anything else. The anything else came along as a selection of delicious breads with some fabulous olive oil for dipping. Moving onto the menu – we had to ask for the pre-theatre menu as only the a la carte was on the table when we arrived. Service was prompt, nothing too exciting, a bit lifeless at times. Everything came in good time and it was hot and fresh tasting. Even though we had been told at the time of booking that we needed the table back for 8, they left us sipping the rest of our wine until nearly 9pm.

I had the chowder with smoked haddock. It had plenty of fish, but I like my chowder a little thicker. But that is my personal preference. For some reason Foie Gras appeared on the antipasti plate. It was delicious, but it seemed a little out of place. For mains I had the risotto, which had quite an intense flavour, I would have liked something sharp to cut through the dense taste. The other mains at the table seemed nice. I managed to get my fork into them all. Colin’s chicken was just a tad overcooked, and I’m just not a fan of polenta. But they did it justice and made it palatable. Desserts were tasty & simple. The house wines came in at €22.50 a bottle (two white and two reds) and they were both decent wines.

Now to the bill! Just as Colin was totting up what each of us owed, he realised that there was a major discrepancy between the items on the bill and the final total. We brought it to the attention of one of the waiters, who took it from Colin and walked away muttering. He came back – muttering some bizarre explanation and gave us the new bill.

SO! My two cents: It was a pleasant dinner, but if I had paid any more than €29.50 for the food I think I would have most definitely felt short changed. I would give it a 3/5 for food, 3/5 service, 2/5 ambiance and 3/5 for value. Giving it a grand total of 11 out of a possible 20. I don’t think I’ll be back in the near future!

I’m really looking forward to the next outing!

P.S. Santa in Holland comes on the 5th of December!!!

I hadn’t heard of Duke Special until last month when a friend suggested we go along to see their show in Tripod. After checking out their myspace, site I figured anyone who lists Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright as influences would be worth listening to. In addition, the album was short listed for the prestigious Choice Music Award – which was won (unfairly in my opinion) by Divine Comedys Victory for the Comic Muse.

So I bought myself the album Songs from the Deep Forest and a ticket for the gig. I haven’t been disappointed.

The gig started off mellow enough – just himself, Peter Wilson – aka Duke Special – and the piano and the audience singing along. A very impressive vocalist and pianist. Highlights for me included Everybody Wants a Little Something, Wake up Scarlett, an impressive duet with Divine Comedys Neil Hannon of Tainted Love (a Belfast performance can be found here on youtube), the wonderful Freewheel and a performance of I Saw the Light down amongst the audience.

A great show and worth every cent of the eur21.20. I’m looking forward to his May Vicar St. show already.

I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the Killers gig last night. I’m a big fan. However, I couldn’t help get the feeling after this gig that I could have stayed at home in a room and listened to both albums, loudly, back to back. When I spend eur60 on a ticket I want to be entertained. Whilst they sounded great and the crowd seemed to love them, I just felt they didn’t do anything more than whats on their albums – apart from a Joy Division number. The only thing Brandon said to the crowd was “hello Dublin, its windy”. I realise he’s not exactly Mr. Personality, but I just feel they could have done better.

What do you think? What should I expect for my eur60 quid ticket? Or should I just be grateful I got one?

What can I say? I’m only just recovering from the brilliance of this gig. So far in the noughties U2 at Slane Castle (the first one) has been my favourite gig. However, Bruce and the Seeger Sessions Band performance in the Point last Fri is my new favourite. I’m a longtime Bruce fan and have all his albums – apart from the Seeger Sessions album – which I just never got around to purchasing. I was lucky enough to get a ticket for Fri night at the Point and went along wondering how different this performance was going to be from that with the E Street Band in the RDS in 2003. Different it certainly was.

Bruce and his 16 strong band came onstage at 8.20pm opening with a cajun version of “Atlantic City”. The music style is cajun/folk with a large hint of Irish trad also. The band are talented musicians who clearly enjoy performing, as does Bruce and his wife Patti. They sang and played practically non-stop for 3 hours. Mostly from the Seegers Sessions album, however “Devils and Dust” and “City of Ruins” were thrown in. I didn’t stop dancing for the whole show and I think most of the audience were the same, especially after Bruce encouraged “fine Irish asses” to get up off their seats. I left the Point wanting to go to Sat and Sun nights performances too but sadly I wasn’t lucky enough. Truly the gig of 2006 and possibly the noughties.

Yesterday saw the launch of The Dubliner 2007 Restaurant Guide, an essential companion if you like eating out and about the city. I haven’t yet picked up my own copy, but, I suggest that you do. Not sure if you can buy it online, but, you can certainly pick it up in most good book stores and certain newsagents.

I went to see The Exonerated in Liberty Hall last night. It is a true story based on the experience of six innocent US citizens wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death row. The current cast stars David Soul and Neve Campbell. Earlier in the run, Aidan Quinn and Sunny Jacobs (who one of the characters is based on) starred.

Its subject matter is rather harrowing and I’ve found myself wanting to find out more about the six characters. Tonight is the last night unfortunately. Dublin Theatre Festival committee should be congratulated for bringing such a powerful subject to the Dublin stage.

I suppose it was seeing posts about coffee that inspired me again (don’t worry – my own blog is getting just as neglected with this “work” thing too…)

I’ve had a very hot and cold relationship with Starbucks since they came here. Had a couple of very decent experiences, then started blowing very cold after a couple of times in a row where I came away very disappointed. Then I discovered the Frappucino. Sweet Jesus how many calories are in that thing?!?!?!?! And just how addictive could it be?!?!?!?!? 

I remember many moons ago Gloria Jeans outside the Powerscourt Centre used to do a thing called the mocha chiller that I fell in love with and this was it’s grandaddy obviously. Weirdly even after we got our own in work I started to resist even more but I gave up the day after David came back over with a venti americano that lasted me the first hour of the show and kept me flying for the rest of the evening… Not a great atmosphere in most of them but still we’re going to be assimilated whether we like it or not.

I still prefer places like Cafe Java in Blackrock (where I’m blogging from as I type!), the Queen Of Tarts on Dame Street, the Dome at the top of the Stephen’s Green Centre, Idlewild in Dalkey or even that place that does the wicked crepes at the top end of Nassau Street (sorry, short term memory rapidly failing the more I do this feckin’ new job…. Must be something to do with new information coming in one end and old being forced out the other!)

Was in the incredibly artificial Bewley’s Cafe at Newland’s Cross the other day. Reminded me of all the happy, warm, cheap times I spent as a student and penniless early 20-something in the one on Westmoreland Street. The coffee was very much crap but the ambience more than made up for it

Maybe, as Daragh has suggested, we should come up with a “definitive decent non-Starbucks coffee in Dublin list?

R

I last saw the Frames in February, which was a show case gig of new songs for their new album. After forking out 30 quid, I was a bit peed off with Glen’s “its not that kind of gig� attitude when fans were shouting requests for favourites. After all, live gigs are as much about the fans as they are about the performers. So it was with some trepidation that I bought a ticket for their Vicar St gig on Sunday night last. It was a great decision. The Frames rocked.

Throughout the set we were treated to a good mix of new and old songs, which culminated in the best encore I’ve witnessed in a long time. “Star Starâ€? was followed by “Skylarkinâ€? where Glen was accompanied by Amy Christopher. He then persuaded each of the band members to sing a song. Joe sang Neil Young’s “Out on the Weekendâ€?. Can’t recall what Johnny and Rob sang. Colm sang “Spencer the Roverâ€? and their tour manager (I think) sang Steve Earle’s “the Mountainâ€?. The 3-hour set was nicely rounded off with “Fitzcarraldoâ€?.

I’ll have no hesitation buying my ticket for the next live Frames gig. I just hope its soon.

Damien Rice is generally regarded as more of a singer than a performer and last night, in front of a capacity Vicar St audience, he proved that point. He didn’t bother with the frivolities of talking to the crowd but concentrated on singing his songs with passion. His songs seem to take on a far greater power with the wonderful vocals of Lisa Hannigan and the accompaniment of the brilliant cellist Vyvienne Long. I truly believe that these talented musicians are not merely his back-up band but are an integral part of his unique sound and he himself would not be as talented without them.

Rolling Stone magazine, in a 2003 review of “O”, said that he “crafts songs that attack the heart strings like an angry bee”. Judging by the new songs he played, this is still the case. “Older Chestsâ€?, “the Professorâ€?, “Eskimoâ€? and “Cold Waterâ€? were particular highlights for me.

Apart from the odd idiot shouting to Lisa and Damien’s vocal annoyance at camera phones during “the Blowers Daughter�, there was mostly a reverential feeling amongst the audience.

Despite the heat (what happened to the air-con Vicar St?), and Damiens lack of interaction with his audience, this was a great gig and I’d be there tonight if it wasn’t sold out.

Apologies for the poor quality of the photo. I was standing behind the tallest people at the gig

In front of a 20k crowd Radiohead rocked Marley Park last Thursday night. Generally regarded as a Greatest Hits tour since there is no album to promote, they performed songs from all albums including “My Iron Lung”, “Just” and “Karma Police”. They included a few new ones also, the most notable for me being “Bangers and Mash”. Although it was a great gig, it confirmed to me that I’m more of a Pablo Honey, Bends and OK Computer kind of fan rather than their more recent sounds. Sadly they didn’t play my favourite, “Fake Plastic Trees”, however they ended with “Creep” which was a great ending to a great night.

I last saw Radiohead in Sydney in 1998. Hopefully it won’t be as long before I see them again!