The Dublin Community Blog

While everyone is talking, twittering and typing about the Budget 2009 that was announced today, and as the direct impact of it on Dublin itself is not yet measurable (and about Dublin this blog is, young Jedis) I’ll write about something more pleasant: One City, One Book.

Now in its fourth year, Dublin: One City, One Book is a project designed to encourage everyone in the city to read the same book during the month of April each year. The project promotes reading in a city which boasts one of the world’s greatest literary heritages including four Nobel Laureates.

And this year we are encouraged to read the one book that introduced that ebony-fanged count and expert impaler from Transylvania to Victorian readers, 60′s horror movies and our collective consciousness; all dreamed up by a theatre manager who used to live on Kildare Street here in Dublin. Of course I’m speaking about “Dracula” by Bram Stoker. You’ll find a list of activities linked to this project and the novel at the official website; events including several exhibitions and walks plus a screening of F. W. Murnau’s classic silent movie “Nosferatu” including musical accompaniment.

So I’ll see if I can find my old second hand copy of that fascinating book somewhere – and hey, who couldn’t use some escapism in these dire times. Especially when the real-life vampires are already circling our paychecks…

Some pretty cool stuff going on in Dublin this weekend if you’re about.

The second annual Dublin City Soul Festival is in full swing and lots of events will be taking place in various venues around the city.  These include a Soul Jam and a (completely free) Soul Picnic! Click here for a programme.

Then there’s Africa Day @ Dublin Castle. Another great, free event, you enter through an African village, filled with stands from Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. Then there will be some cracking live performances from Sinead O’Connor, the wonderful Kila and those crazy but brilliant boys from Republic of Loose. There’s lots more and you can download a PDF of the programme here.

Over the weekend a big gang of photobloggers met up at the George Bernard Shaw pub Toe Jam carboot sale. Its a small venue with a small number of stalls selling all sorts of weird and wonderful things and certainly one to look out for, I think the next one is planned for July, so if you are a member of Facebook you can join the group (in the above link) and get notified when the next one takes place.

In keeping with the outdoor market theme we then headed to the Temple Bar farmers’ markets for more snaps. Here’s some shots of the day and you can see more of everyone’s in the dedicated Flickr group, go on and get lost in some excellent photography. And if you fancy joining us the next time, keep an eye out as I will post details here.

All this good weather seems to have given the city an extra spring in its step – the streets seem even busier in the evenings with people taking advantage of the last of the sun. With the skies staying bright until 8:30 at least, it’s the perfect time of year for enjoying a few drinks outdoors. These are some of my favourite beer gardens in town:

Porterhouse North, Phibsboro
Located beside the Cross Guns bridge on the north side of Phibsboro, the Porterhouse North stocks the same vast range of beers as its sister pub in the city centre (and serves an even bigger range of food). It has a large beer garden at the back of the pub, which is sheltered but still gets the sun.

Dicey Reillys, Harcourt Street
A Dublin staple! Right in the city centre too – which means it’s usually buzzing with people.

Fitzsimons, Temple Bar
Yes, it may be in the centre of thronged Temple Bar, but Fitzsimons’ beer garden has the unique advantage of being on its roof, which means lovely city views. Worth it for a short stop.

The Hole In The Wall, Blackhorse Avenue
Arguably the biggest beer garden in Europe! The Hole In The Wall still carries on a century-old tradition of serving great pints and passing them through – yep, a hole in the wall – to the Phoenix Park. Genius.

What have I missed? Suggestions welcome in the comments…

The Dublin Community Blog has posted about the wonderfulness that is The food market @ Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, before, but I just thought I’d share some pics as a reminder of just how lovely it is; if the weather is in any way good this weekend, it’s a brilliant way to spend a Saturday.

It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve already done it in a given month or how many hung-over hens I have to push my way through: it always puts me in a good mood. There’s lots of pretty, colourful organic fruit (it’s a bit pricey though):

A delish and very authentic Mexican stall (try the organic chicken fajitas or veggie burritos served with a dollop of frijoles refritos, guacoamole, salsa, cheese and sour cream):

Wash it down with some very yummy, tangy apple juice:

And, finally, treat a few greedy scoops of chocolate-covered hazelnuts, flakey truffle thingies or even sugar-free choccies from Chez Emily:

There are lots and lots of other stalls, serving everything from mussels to noodles to cheeses. Definitely worth a visit.

And while you’re there, why not pick up some of these:

If you like your fashion with a side of science or something more serious then this is a good week to be in Dublin.

Opening at the TCD Science Gallery (if you’ve haven’t called in yet, go, go go!) is Technothreads, an exhibition about “the creative sparks that fly when the worlds of fashion and science collide”. What to expect? Shirts that hug you, the mathematics of design, 3D fabrics and ‘living’ clothes. Some more:

“The exhibition offers viewers a glimpse into the future of fashion in a world where Biotech and Nanotech are combined with traditional craft and Haute Couture skills. With work from designers such as Walter van Beirendonck, Yoshiki Hishinuma and Freedom of Creation, it promises to show off the most innovative, cutting edge and exciting designers the world has to offer as well as raising issues for global debate, such as the use of tissue culture to produce semi-living clothes.”

It opens on Saturday.

Two nights before Technothreads, on Thurs 24th, Fashion Evolution is happening. It’s a public debate about ethical fashion and it’s taking place at The Button Factory from 6.30pm. Speaking at it will be Katherine Hamnett, the lady behind all those political tees, the most recent of which is “no more fashion victims”. It will be followed by music from the very fab Dirty Epics, Star Little Thing and a few others. Tix , from here, cost €12. Get updates about the goings on by joining the event on Facebook.

The Rathmines Festival kicked off on the 14th of this month and will pick up again today, finishing late on Sunday night. The festival features a variety of events, workshops, and galleries, all happening along Rathmines Road (Upper and Lower) just south of Grand Canal. Most events are free and those that come with a price tag (like some music performances) never rise above a tenner. Dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, film, sports, history – there really does seem to be something for just about everyone!

For more, including a downloadable schedule, surf over to the festival website at www.RathminesFestival.com. Alternatively, the good folks at Cafe Moda have agreed to allow the use of their coffee shop as the festival club house, so if you happen to be in the area, stop by for brochures, booking, or any other information.

You have another opportunity to participate in a great show ‘Pearl’ in George’s Dock. It starts tomorrow at 7.30. Official Festival’s website requires (free) tickets for that show, but no one was checking them.

Take your children, they will love it.

If you can’t be in Dublin for the St Patrick’s festival parade and would like to be then don’t worry because RTE is going to stream all the fun live here. They will also, when available, stream other parades around the world live at this link. The largest St Patrick’s Day parade in the world has already taken place in Savannah with some 250k participants. Other parades will take place between now and Monday so if you want to check out the parade in other cities just make sure you check when it is happening (roll your mouse over the city to find out when).

You will also be able to check out parades from all over Ireland too including the Skyfest fireworks spectacular taking place in Cashel in Tipperary. Nice one RTE.

Meanwhile here’s a couple of different You Tube videos from last year’s parade.

EDIT: putting up the videos is making the whole site go mad, so I will just link to them instead GGRGRRRR. The first is from Balcony TV and the other isn’t   If anyone of the Dublin Blog people know where I am going wrong and can fix this, please do.

I hope that this year St. Patrick impersonator will be the same person that last year. I call him ‘de Niro’