Event Guide 27: The Grove Reunion, Christmas Markets (Temple Bar, Farmleigh, Docklands), Repak Puppet Show, Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, Thomas Read Xmas Party

Hi all!

Less than a handful of days until Christmas, the city centre is mad busy and the queues in the shops are getting longer by the minute. Since Christmas is a family affair, the list of events is not the longest around Christmas. But with the 25th on a Tuesday, we have a full weekend ahead of us, which is nicely filled with Christmas-related events. :-)

Oh, and before I forget: If you have some really good friends and you don’t know yet what to get them in addition or in place of all the other presents that you are already PLANNING to buy on Monday ;-), you can always get them a 1-year subscription to this Dublin Event Guide (Mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com). :-P :-P It is the BEST present you can get for your friends. ;-) Highly valuable but totally free!

And, before I get back to the normal business, in case there is a bunch of people (or one wealthy person) out there that wants to buy ME a great present, then I am happy to help you. You COULD get me this: www.segway.ie/solutions/recreational :-) I tried it at a recent exhibition in RDS and it is so much fun! Unfortunately it ain’t FREE! :-)
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But now back to business:

COMPETITION!!!!!
I know the man in the red coat is meant to do all the work around Christmas when it comes to presents, but it seems he is spreading himself to thin by sitting in every shopping centre and charging stressed parents large amounts of money for a poxy present for the pestering child. He needs help: We have a pair of tickets to give away to a reader of the Dublin Event Guide. Keep reading to find out about this nice Christmas present!

Did you grow up on Dublin’s Northside? Or where you a keen music fan when you were young(er)? Do you maybe remember “The Grove”!?!?!
For 30 years, from 1967 to 1997, Dublin’s longest running teenage disco, The Grove (Social Club), attracted teens from near and far to its northside location and many of you might have grown up with it or at least have heard of it. A number of times every year there are Grove Reunions and one regular reunion event is at Christmas. This year is a special year as it is now 10 years since The Grove played its last tune, Andy Colbert is organising the reunion event in the Button Factory (former Temple Bar Music Centre). The gig is not free, but Andy is making a pair of tickets available to the readers of the Dublin Event Guide and for that reason I mention his event.
So, if you are curious to get a taste of what you missed out on all those years ago, or if you are in the mood for a little nostalgia this Christmas or even if eight hours of the best music ever written is your idea of a great night out, well then make your way to The Button Factory, Temple Bar on December 27th at 20:00. Come on time so that you can see the movie “The Grove Documentary” at 20:15.
Tickets for EUR 18 each are available from www.tickets.ie and Austin’s News-stand (the corner of O’Connell St./Abbey St). For more info visit www.TheGroveSocialClub.com or contact Andy Colbert phutloose@hotmail.com or 087 9022659.

Now, to get the pair of tickets, all you have to do is to send the word “Grove” in an SMS to 087 2931571 (with your full name) or in an e-mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com (please include your mobile phone number) before 17:00 on Monday 24th of Dec. If there is more than one submission, we will draw the name of the winner from a hat. The winner will be contacted directly and will be announced in next weeks Event Guide.
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I did mention last week that I will not repeat all the detailed information about the Christmas markets, but since the program changes every week on some of them, I will have to provide some detail.

The Christmas Markets I recommend are:
– Dublin Docklands “12 Days of Christmas”
– Temple Bar “Cow’s Lane Fashion and Christmas Market”
– Farmleigh House Christmas Market
– Red Stables Christmas Market
and here is some further information for each of them:

— Dublin Docklands “12 Days of Christmas”:
The market is in George’s Dock and contains the typical Gluehwein (mulled wine) and Bratwurst (German sausage) stalls that you might know from German and other continental Christmas markets. In addition there are less-Christmas-spirited stalls that sell toys, creams, and lots of other things. Sunday is the last day of the market and until then, it runs everyday from 10:00 – 20:00. If you go there, don’t forget to visit the “12 trees of Christmas” in the chq building next to George’s Dock. The trees were designer decorated and trees and the newly opened chq building are worth a visit.
Back out on the Christmas Market there is a nice programme of activities and special events:

Blanchardstown Brass Band: 22 Dec: 14:00-16:00
Carollers: Saturday & Sundays during the festival
Santa’s Post Office: 21 Dec: 12:00-19:00, 22 Dec: 10:00-19:00, 23 Dec: 10:00-16:00
Face Painter: 21 Dec: 17:00-19:00, 22 & 23 Dec: 13:00-16:00
Balloon Maker: 21 Dec: 17:00-19:00, 22 & 23: 13:00-16:00

When you pass by the Face Painter and the Balloon Maker, say “Hi” to Maria (faces) and Ann (balloons) they are absolutely brilliant and if you are looking for a face painter or a balloon maker for a birthday party (both, for adults and children) or other festivities, let me know and I will get you a good price. ;-) Since there might be more face painters than just Maria, make sure you check her name before you say “Hi”. LOL

— Temple Bar “Cow’s Lane Fashion and Christmas Market”:
The market takes place in the new extension of Temple Bar (between Turks’s Head and Dublin City Offices). It will run on Sat and Sun from 09:30-16:30.

In addition to the Christmas Market this week there is some additional programme on the food market on Temple Bar Meeting House Square. This Saturday (22nd) the traders at the Temple Bar Food Market are having a little party to celebrate the Winter Solstice and Christmas festive season and to thank their loyal customers.
The afternoon of free entertainment will begin at 12:00 and the official line is this:
“For those of you who want to meet Santa Claus there will be a unique interactive performance by master puppeteer Conor Lambert at midday. After that why not let the dulcet tones of the Raphaella String Trio relieve some of that Christmas tension from 14:00.
The fun doesn’t stop there though with mulled wine and mince pies on offer throughout the day for those intrepid souls willing to brave the elements. This is day for everyone so be sure to come and visit this foodie paradise on your last busy shopping weekend this Christmas. You won’t get freshness, quality or service just like it anywhere else!”

— Farmleigh House Christmas Market
Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park has been bought by the state a few years ago and after extensive and expensive renovations is now a very posh B&B for state visitors (e.g. presidents and head of states). The building is managed and maintained by the Office of Public Works (OPW) who have and had the wisdom to offer many interesting free events in their buildings and parks.

Sat 22 Dec:
10:00am Christmas Food Market
10:00am Live Crib and Childrens Christmas room
12:00pm Storytelling for Children with Billy Teare
2:45pm Storytelling for Children with Billy Teare
4:45pm Storytelling for Children with Billy Teare
1:30pm Christmas Magic Show with Paul Redmond
3:30pm Christmas Magic Show with Paul Redmond
1:30pm Carol Singing with Ulysses
2:00pm Barbershop Harmonies with Blue Heaven

Sun 23 Dec
10:00am Christmas Food Market
10:00am Live Crib and Childrens Christmas room
12:00pm Storytelling for Children with Billy Teare
1:00pm Horse and Carriage Rides
2:45pm Storytelling for Children with Billy Teare
4:45pm Storytelling for Children with Billy Teare
1:30pm Christmas Magic Show with Paul Redmond
3:30pm Christmas Magic Show with Paul Redmond
1:30pm Carol singing with Capella
12:00pm Barbershop Harmonies with Blue Heaven

The programme with further detail can be found here: www.farmleigh.ie/xmas_brochure_farmleigh2007.pdf, and all events are free of charge.

— Red Stables Christmas Market
In addition to the weekly Saturday Food market and the Art & Craft market, Red Stables is adding a Christmas market:
“Festive Christmas fare, arts, crafts and gifts as well as fresh produce such as cheese, organic fruit & vegetables, meats, crepes, pies, ice cream, freshly baked breads and cakes will be on sale.
The market is a perfect day out for families, Christmas shoppers and food lovers alike and is located in the courtyard of the Red Stables at the Mount Prospect entrance to St Anne’s Park in Clontarf.”
Saturday 22nd December, 10:00-16:00 www.redstables.com
Now if you are confused about the day and time, then you know how I feel! Initially Red Stables announced that this fair was on SUNDAYS in addition to the Saturday market, but now their website seems to say that the market is ONLY on Saturdays. A little strange! Did they maybe not get the visitor numbers they were hoping for???

Oops, the Christmas market section got even longer. Ah well, it is the last time I can mention Christmas markets for this year, so I have to make the most of it. ;-)
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The “Live Animal Crib” is still open to the public outside Mansion House in Dawson Street. It will be there until Monday 24th is open daily from 09:00-18:00. Admission is free, but donations to the Lord Mayor’s Fund for charitable projects are welcome.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas!? The Repak Green Christmas Puppet Show is taking place this week (22nd and 23rd) in the Kidzone in Dundrum Town Centre (i.e. Dundrum Shopping Centre). Admission is free, the show lasts only 15 minutes and it runs from 12:00 until 16:00 every hour. I think it is a great idea to do something like that and the organisers describe it so:
“It’s that time of year again, time to watch the piles of paper, cardboard, bottles and cans spring up around the house like never before! On the plus side, it’s also a great time to teach kids about the virtues of recycling? And this year, Repak and Dundrum Town Centre have come up with a fantastically fun and festive way to help children learn the importance of recycling and taking care of the environment – and get into the Christmas spirit at the same time!”
I got some requests for listing Parents and Babies events next year if I come across them. Roisin, is this one a little early? ;-)

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, with which I am involved, has a busy weekend as well: On Saturday (21st) the choir will sing from 14:00-16:00 in Powerscourt TownCentre, on Sun (22nd) at 19:30 we will have the normal regular Sunday evening Gospel Mass in Gardiner Street Church (the temple-like church near the junction with Dorset Street) and on Monday the choir will sing at the Christmas Eve Mass at 19:00 in Gardiner Street Church. Please come VERY early for the Christmas Eve Mass, the church will be absolutely packed and in previous years we even ran out of standing room! If you want to experience a special Christmas Eve Mass or Sunday evening mass, come to Gardiner Street Church!

The Thomas Read Pub in Parliament Street invites to the Sunday Roast Xmas Party on Sun 23rd Dec from 20:00-01:00. Admission is free. And the line up includes Red Kid, James Guilmartin and Las Guanches (6 piece Cuban band from Santiago De Cuba).

And this concludes this week Dublin Event Guide.

In addition to wishing you a nice weekend, this week, I will wish you

Merry Christmas!
Frohe Weihnachten!
Feliz Navidad! Bon Nadal!
Buon Natale!
Sretan Bozic!
Joyeux Noel!
Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
Boze Narodzenie!

Have a good time with your family or with friends over the holidays,

–Joerg

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Disclaimer: This Event Guide (the “Dublin Event Guide”) with a
difference is sent to friends, colleagues and whoever else is
interested to let you know about (mostly free) events in the Greater
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I started this because some friends asked me to share my weekend plans
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