Event Guide 104: Shakespeare Festival, Climate Countdown Protest, Bike Week, Bloomsday, Street Performance Worldchampionship

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| DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE (for Free Events) No. 104
| 12 June 2009                      Subscribers: 4244
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Hi all!

Will I meet you all on Saturday?? ;-) This week’s Event Guide edition is Number 104 and going by the number this week is the 2nd Birthday of the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events). In the last two years I missed one single week (it was the 2nd week right after starting the Event Guide) and so strictly speaking the birthday was already last week, but I hope you will forgive me for that and still celebrate with me on Saturday.

To celebrate the 2nd Birthday and the fact that our community grew to more than 4000 members, you are invited to meet me and all the other Event Guide Community Members on Saturday in The Lotts Café Bar in Lower Liffey Street. Lower Liffey Street is close to the Ha’penny Bridge. Just cross the Ha’Penny Bridge, walk by Pravda and then the next street to your left (Spar shop at the corner) is the street in which – close to the corner opposite the Spar shop – you will find The Lotts Café Bar.

It is a nice place that is not too loud so that we get a chance for a chat. Often they have live music later on, so you can get a bit of both. In The Lotts there is a raised area at the back of the pub and that’s where we will meet and if necessary we will spill over into the other areas of the pub.

Last time, when we met in February, approx. 100 people came and it could be a similar number this time. My approach is: If there are at least 5 nice people to meet, then it is a success, but from early indications it seems that at least 50 people will be there and it is very early indications. I have sent a facebook invitation (www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=92202943745) and got some e-mails in reply to my question last week but I expect more replies to the facebook invitation which only went out late on Thursday.

So, if you want to be part of the fun and don’t want to miss out, make sure that you come to The Lotts Café Bar this Saturday (13 June) between 20:00 and 00:30. Come alone or bring your friends and stay a while or the whole evening!

And here is more information about The Lotts Café Bar (It is not the Lotts Pub directly at the corner, but instead the Café Bar next to the pub.): www.thelottscafebar.com if you go to “Contact Us” you can even find a map.
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Please help spreading the word about this newsletter! Just print this PDF file www.perfectresults.info/event_guide_mini_flyers.pdf lots of times :-) and hand out the Mini Flyers to your friends and family or print this www.perfectresults.info/event_guide_tear_off_poster.pdf and hang it up in work or gym or university or on any other blackboard you stumble across. (If you have a scissors to cut the contact labels at the bottom, it is a bonus!) Spread the word and let people know about the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) I will show my appreciation for your help by producing an as comprehensive as possible Dublin Event Guide for Free Events every week. ;-) Thanks!

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Thanks to Caroline R., Elizabeth F. and Suzanne B.! These three are lovely people and donated much appreciated money during the week! Thanks! Are you prepared to help too?

This Event Guide is sponsored by Esme E, Cliodhna D, Brian L, Padraig S, Kathie S, Orla niF, Jef B, Susanna N, Kate C, Nicola J, Claus Sch, Gordon S, Jeanne M, Fiona O’C, Marta M, Angela C, Isabelle F, Saundra S, Meisoon N, Ruth F, Valerie McN, Estelle O, Aoife M, Mairin M, Fionán O’L, Maeve L, Blaithin O’D, Ciara D, Mike G, Andrej G, Deirdre R, Vanessa O’L, Chris McK, Frank B, Dolores P, Cornelia K, Cathy A, Orla C, Kevin McC, Steph G, Wanda J, Siv M-J, Niamh niS, Gwen H, Jasmin T, Ian O, Eva C, Will P, Gráinne P, Caroline R, Elizabeth F, Suzanne B and www.stickyfingerstravel.com (The travel guide for parents travelling with their children.), www.target2020.com (…a training company that focuses on personal and career development.), www.thepaulkanegallery.com (A great Art Gallery, located at 6 Merrion Square, which supports contemporary Irish artists.) and www.a1computers.ie in Dun Laoghaire/Cabinteely (…who repair computers, printers and sort out Internet problems fast and who sell computers, laptops and low priced printer cartridges). The main sponsor is www.kravmagaireland.com, the self-defence training centre for everyone, which provides regular 12-week or 2-day self-defence training courses for beginners.

I am grateful for all support, but YOUR support is NEEDED too! Going to free events saves you a LOT of money AND is good fun. True? ;-) But if you didn’t know about these free events you couldn’t go. True as well? In that case the question is what the value is of finding out about all the events. Do you agree that 1 Euro per month (which is just 25 cent per newsletter) is a very modest amount? It would be great if I could count on your 12 Euro per year!! Feel free to give more if you can, but please do seriously consider the 12 Euro.
To contribute you can transfer your donation directly to “Joerg Steegmueller, AIB, SortCode 93-36-78, AccountNo 03556043” or go donate using PayPal or your credit card by going “http ://tinyurl . com/68dmlq ” and just remove the three Spaces in the web address (I have to write it like this, otherwise Spam Checkers complain about the tinyurl address.)
Alternatively you can send a mail to me (dublineventguide@gmail.com) and we can arrange a different route for your donation. This Event Guide is a hobby and NOT a commercial enterprise, so I do need donations! But I spend more than 25 hours per week (for some people that is a half-day job!) on writing and researching it.

All events listed in this Event Guide are free of any admission charges or at least appear to be free unless otherwise stated. I try to find confirmation in all cases and do my best to double-check the information. However errors can happen and therefore no guarantee for correctness can be given.

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______Joerg’s Picks______________

Since this newsletter is getting longer and longer with all the free events available, this section is meant to provide some help in picking and choosing the events I will or would go to. This is not the “best of…” list and if an event is not listed here, it by no means implies that the event is not interesting. Instead my “picks” are just based on my personal preferences, so if it helps you I am glad, but feel free to ignore this section completely! :-) All events mentioned here are described in detail further down.

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This weekend I will definitely be at the Dublin Event Guide Meet-up on Saturday :-) Then on Sunday I plan to go to the Liberties Festival Car Boot Sale and to the Bike Week Family Fun Day.  Next week there are more Bike Week events and the Bloomsday madness ;-) especially the Jazz Gigs on Tuesday interest me, but they are at a bad time for me. And then I am already looking forward to the Street Performance World Championship next week! It will be great! ;-)

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______Competition______________

GOSPEL PROJECT + THE ALTERNATIVES – TICKET COMPETITION
On Thursday 18 June, The Gospel Project and The Alternatives will be in the Axis Theatre in Ballymun and you could win a pair of tickets (worth EUR 15 per ticket). The two groups/bands invite to “an evening of soul, funk & blues featuring The Gospel Project and The Alternatives, in aid of Group 61 – The Irish Handicapped Children’s Trust.” So, a worthy cause! For bookings and info, please contact www.axis-ballymun.ie or (01) 8832100. There is a second fundraising concert on Friday 19 June in the Axis Theatre. At that gig on Friday Riverwide will be supporting The Alternatives. For more information and to see the poster (on the left hand side) check out www.myspace.com/thegospelproject
To be in with a chance to win the pair of tickets you have to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject GROUP61 and your name and mobile phone number in the body of the mail. The mail has to be with me at 15:00 on Tues 16 June! Thanks to Cathy from the Gospel Project for these tickets.

CASTLE PALOOZA FESTIVAL – TICKET COMPETITION
MANY of you have already entered this competition and if you have done so, please don’t enter a 2nd time, but if you didn’t get a chance yet, hurry to get your entry in! ;-)
Have you heard of the Castle Palooza Boutique Music & Arts Festival? I only heard about it last year, but it is already in its fourth year so the word needs to be spread. :-) Cherrycool Promotions, the organisers of the festival, have now made a pair of tickets available to the Dublin Event Guide readers for a competition and it is a great price! Castle Palooza is an exclusive two-day festival in the magical Charleville Castle, Tullamore, where 2,500 lucky ticket holders will enjoy a fun-filled weekend of music, entertainment and art. The announced performers are David Kitt, Project Jenny Project Jan, R.S.A.G, Channel One, Robotnik, The Lost Brothers, Dark Room Notes, Noise Control, 8 Ball, Glint, Le Galaxie, Nell Bryden, The Ambience Affair, Followers of Otis, Patrick Kelleher & DJ’s Tu-Ki, Baz and Steve Reddy. In addition Super Extra Bonus Party, 202s, Skibunny, The Lowly Knights, Toy Horses, Scribble Sound System, Angel Pier, The Hot Sprockets, So Cow, Yngve & the Innocent, Not Squares, Land Lovers, Lauren Guillery, The Spikes & Hogan have been announced just recently. In addition to the music on two stages, this year’s festival will also include lots of other entertainment: From the live Rocky Horror Picture Show; a Ceilí; Crafternoon Tea; dance workshops (including disco, burlesque, bollywood & circus tricks); performance artists and exhibitions to a cocktail bar and a party bus. And the organisers are providing hot showers and proper flushing toilets! Festival luxury pure!
The festival will take place on 01+02 August.
Two-day tickets including camping are EUR 89 and if you are more into a bit of additional festival luxury there are ‘Couples Treat Yourself Tickets’ and the same for singles and you can find out all the nice things that are included on the website. Tickets are limited to a 2,500 capacity festival & are available on www.castlepalooza.com & from usual outlets.
To be in with a chance to win a pair of two-day tickets including camping for a total value of EUR 178 you have to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject PALOOZA and your name and mobile phone number in the body of the mail. The mail has to be with me at 15:00 on Wed 17 June! Check out www.castlepalooza.com

OTROS AIRES TANGO ENSEMBLE – TICKET COMPETITION
Raffael Abarca and LX Promotions are running a charity event for Ballyowen Meadows Autistic School on 25 June in the National Concert Hall. They will bring the world class Tango ensemble “Otros Aires” from Argentina to Dublin and Raffael kindly provided a pair of tickets to let everybody in the Dublin Event Guide Community know about this event. “Otros Aires” give traditional tango a contemporary twist by combining the rich tradition of Tango dance with an outstanding crossover musical experience, led by the sounds of enchanting guitars, lively percussion and the lamentations of the melancholic Bandoneon and enhanced with audio visual effect, glow and hip-tango performers.
Tickets are on Sale for EUR 32/30/22 from the National Concert Hall www.nch.ie/Box-Office/Performances/Destination-Tango-with-Otros-Aires.aspx or 01 417 0000. The event takes place at 20:00 on 25 June. www.otrosaires.com. To win the pair of tickets you have to send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject OTROS AIRES and your name and mobile phone number in the body of the mail. The mail has to be with me at 15:00 on Mon 22 June!

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ADVERTISEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EVENT GUIDE
If you want to let the 4000+ Dublin Event Guide Community know about your products or services, you can do that now on a regular and repeated basis by advertising in the Event Guide. Advertisement can be by text – like this note – or with a picture/graphics. The cost for advertisement are definitely affordable and you donate to the production of the Event Guide at the same time.
Contact me via dublineventguide@gmail.com to find out more.
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YOGA ADVENTURE BREAK – OUTDOORS IRELAND
The brilliant prize from Outdoors Ireland of a free place on one of their upcoming Yoga Adventure Breaks in Killarney in Kerry for one of the Event Guide readers, was won by David Quinn. Congratulations! And you can find out more about the Yoga Adventure Breaks on outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2009/04/yoga-activity-weekends.html. Thanks to Nathan Kingerlee from Outdoors Ireland for the tickets.

SHAMANS OF BULGARIA
Raffael Abarca’s Lx Promotions brought the Master Percussionists Elitsa Todorava and Stoyan Yankoulov, “The Shamans of Bulgaria” to the National Concert Hall and had made two pairs of tickets available for a competition. The lucky winners were Amelié Goillot and Chris Stynes. Thanks to Raffael for the tickets!

All events in this Competition Section are non-free events, but the organisers are making free tickets available for you to win. I usually get lots of competition entries and unfortunately not everybody can win, so even if you are not the winner, please consider going to an event to support the organisers. :-) If you don’t win, and will go to the event, please help showing the organisers that promoting their event in the Dublin Event Guide is beneficial and mention to them that you heard about the event through “Joerg’s Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”. Thanks!

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______Dublin News______________

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM TO COME BACK
This is one for the category “Economic challenges are not only bad” and is great news for Dublin! In 2007 the Natural Museum had to be closed because a staircase in it collapsed. Since some renovation work in it was planned anyway it was then decided to keep it closed until all is completed and the estimated time for that was 3-4 years!!! But not much happened and since 2007 no positive news has been heard about the status. However, in February 2008 the shocking news emerged that said that the Seanad might move into the building of the Natural Museum because Leinster House (where Seanad and Dail are normally) is falling apart as well. (ireland.archiseek.com/news/2008/000052.html) Now it turns out that the renovation work in the Natural Museum will be cheaper than expected and the renovation work in Leinster House will be a lot more expensive and due to the economic challenges the money is not there to do the Leinster House renovation in one go. As a result the Natural Museum is planned to re-open in September. Hurray! It is a great museum. Very odd though, because it is the OLD type of science museums with stuffed animals etc, but charming in a peculiar way. www.museum.ie/en/list/museum-highlights-natural-history.aspx

GUIDED DUBLIN TOUR for free
Cornelia K found a great offer: Sandeman’s New Dublin Tours is a 3 hour walking tour that is provided for free twice every day. It looks like a very interesting offer, but – as you can imagine – it is not TOTALLY free. There is no defined ticket price, but you are expected to tip if the tour was good and for a 3 hour tour, I guess, the tip should reflect the time and effort your tour guide invested. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting and most likely successful approach. Tours start at 11:00 and 13:00 every day at the City Hall, Dame Street and every day at 11:00 there is a Spanish Tour as well. I will definitely try it out on one of the coming weekends! Have a look at their website: www.newdublintours.com

OTHER EVENTS
The Taste of Dublin “Festival” is taking place in Iveagh Gardens this weekend, but with outrageously high ticket prices, complicated visiting rules (prescribed time slots) and no free events, it is a very commercial event and therefore unsuitable for the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Evens).

———Opportunities—————–

In order to beat an economic downturn not governments can help, but individuals are needed that take the initiative and to create new markets and new opportunities for themselves and for their customers and hopefully employees. If you are one of the courageous people who has recently taken the risk and has started a company and if you could do with spreading the word, I am happy to help you! My contribution will be to let the 4000+ readers of the Event Guide know about your new business and hopefully that will kick start something big for you. In return I expect you to tell your clients and friends about the Event Guide – not a demanding task, I would think. :-) (Please note that this offer is for start-ups in relatively early stages, not for established companies/enterprises. If you are established and you want to reach the readers of this Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) I will be happy to discuss the (very affordable) advertisement options with you. :-) )

If you want to promote your start-up/young company here for free, let me know: dublineventguide@gmail.com.

TAILOR YOUR CV
Ed Hurrell has many years experience working in the Irish recruitment industry and has recently launched a new business – TailorMyCV.ie – to help you if you are in the process of looking for a job. TailorMyCV.ie offers CV tailoring and interview coaching services. Their CV tailoring helps you stand out from the crowd by ensuring your CV reads clearly and concisely, with your strongest skills and qualifications visible at first glance. The additional interview coaching service and one-to-one consultations help you target prospective employers effectively and approach interviews with the highest level of confidence. Ed is offering a generous 20% discount to readers of the Dublin Event Guide: all you need to do is to email your CV to tailormycv@tailormycv.ie with ‘Dublin Event Guide’ in the subject line and Ed will contact you to discuss your requirements. Check out www.tailormycv.ie

There are a few more companies on my list who will get mentioned here in coming weeks, so if your new venture hasn’t been mentioned yet, don’t despair.

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______Exhibitions_______________

TERRY WINTERS – IMMA
The Irish Museum of Modern Art is inviting to ‘Signal to Noise’, an exhibition of abstract paintings and drawings by Terry Winters. It will open on Friday 12 June 2009 and will run until 27 September 2009. (Museum Detail: Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, www.imma.ie, Tues-Sat: 10:00-17:30, Sun+Bank Holidays: 12:00-17:30. from 05 June-18 Sept: Thurs: 10:00-20:00)

BRIAN DUGGAN – HUGH LANE GALLERY
‘Step inside now step inside’ is an exhibition by Brian Duggan in the Hugh Lane Gallery. It will run from 13 June to 13 September 2009 and the show will open with a reception on Saturday 13 June 2009 from 15:00-17:00. www.brianduggan.net (Gallery Details: Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1, www.hughlane.ie, Open: Tues-Thurs 10:00-18:00, Fri+Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun: 11:00-17:00)

ÁINE MACKEN – PALLAS CONTEMPORARY PROJECTS
‘SEEP’ by Áine Macken consists of hundreds of small paintings of faces, each contorted with the experience of extreme emotion. The exhibition will open on Wednesday 10 June 2009 and will probably only run for one week. (Gallery Details: Pallas Contemporary Projects, 111 Grangegorman Road Lower, Dublin 7, www.pallasprojects.org, Open: Mon-Sat: 12:00-18:00)

BEATRICE O’CONNELL – TALBOT GALLERY
‘Duende’ is an exhibition of new paintings by Beatrice O’Connell and it will be on view at the gallery from 11 June to 4 July 2009. (Gallery Details: Talbot Gallery, 51 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, www.talbotgallery.com, Open: Tues-Fri 10:30-17:00, Sat 10:30-14:00)

ANITA GROENER – RUBICON GALLERY
‘Gilgamesh’, an exhibition of new work by Anita Groener, will be on show at the Rubicon Gallery on St. Stephen’s Green from 12 June to 4 July 2009. (Gallery Details: Rubicon Gallery, 10 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, www.rubicongallery.ie, Open: Tues- Sat 12:00-18:00)

JOHN O’CONNELL – GOETHE INSTITUTE
“Big Pink” is an exhibition by John O’Connell which will be on show in the Goethe Institut on 37 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 from 11 June- 24 July.
www.goethe.de/ins/ie/dub/kue/en4651621v.htm

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______Friday___________________

CLIMATE CHANGE LECTURE – UCD EARTH SYSTEMS INSTITUTE
The UCD Earth Systems Institute is inviting to a weekly seminar about climate change. The final public lecture of this long-running programme will take place on Fri 12 June from 12:30-13:30 in The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. The topic is “The Nano-Environment: Nanotechnology applications and impact on the environment” by Dr. Iseult Lynch, UCD School of Chemistry & Chemical Biology. An overview over the whole seminar programme until June 2009 including links to abstracts is here www.ucd.ie/earth

DUBLIN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
The first Trinity College Shakespeare Festival will take place from Mon 08 June until Sun 14 June. It will feature performances and workshops based on the work of William Shakespeare throughout the week. Scenes of Shakespeare and full length performances will take place all around Dublin in its most idyllic locations, and all this will be running alongside an extensive community outreach programme which will take place in the form of workshops, performances and talks in primary schools around Dublin. The scenes and full length performances of Shakespeare will be performed in the various locations:
St. Stephens Green, Trinity College, Merrion Square Park, Civic Amphitheatre, Liffey Boardwalk, Grafton Street, Steps of Custom House, Christchurch Cathedral. Most performances are free and only the headline act “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (daily at 19:30) which will be performed in the Rose Garden in Trinity College Dublin by the British Shakespeare Company does cost money (EUR 18/10).
For all details check out www.dublinshakespeare.com
Because the calendar on the website is extremely cumbersome to use and because you might be able to catch one of the performances during the week if you have the event information at your fingertip, I will list all events with location information:
** Fri 12 Jun
12:00 – 12:20 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by Tom Stoppard- Act I
Abridged (Civic Amphitheatre)
13:30 – 13:50 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by Tom Stoppard- Act II
Abridged (Civic Amphitheatre)
15:00 – 15:20 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by Tom Stoppard- Act III Abridged (Civic Amphitheatre)
17:00 – 18:15 Scenes from Anthony and Cleopatra (Yeats Memorial – St. Stephens Green)
18:00 – 19:00 Lecture on the work of Shakespeare (Trinity College Dublin)
19:30 – 21:30 A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Garden – Trinity College Dublin)
** Sat 13 Jun
12:00 – 12:20 Shakespear’s Women by Chris McCormack (Civic Amphitheatre)
13:30 – 13:50 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act II Sc. I (Merrion Square Park)
14:30 – 16:30 A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Garden, Trinity College Dublin)
17:00 – 18:15 Scenes from Anthony and Cleopatra (Yeats Memorial – St. Stephens Green)
18:00 – 19:00 Lecture on the work of Shakespeare (Trinity College Dublin)
19:30 – 21:30 A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Garden – Trinity College Dublin)
** Sun 14 Jun
12:00 – 12:20 Doglett by Sarah Finlay & Ger Adlum (St. Stephen’s Green)
13:30 – 13:50 Merry Wives Act II Sc. III (Merrion Square Park)
15:00 – 15:20 Shakespeare: Now and Then by Kathy Clarke (Liffey Boardwalk)
17:00 – 18:15 Scenes from Anthony and Cleopatra (Yeats Memorial – St. Stephens Green)
18:00 – 19:00 Lecture on the work of Shakespeare (Trinity College Dublin)

A WEEKEND OF FREE PERFORMANCES – PROJECT ARTS CENTRE
From 11-13 June “If I Can’t Dance…” is taking over the building using Project Arts Centre’s three spaces for a series of free performances, screenings and installations.
All of the performances and screenings are free but ticketed. To reserve your place contact Box Office on 01 8819 613 or at box-office@projectartscentre.ie
The schedule of remaining events is:
* Friday 12 June
All Day – Screening Installation by Joachim Koester
All Day – Installation by Suchan Kinoshita
17:00-20:00 Screening/Round Table with Sarah Pierce. Free tickets required.
21:30-22:30 Performance by Keren Cytter Free tickets required
* Saturday 13 June
All Day – Screening Installation by Joachim Koester
All Day – Installation by Suchan Kinoshita
15:45-15:55 Screening by Olivier Foulon. Free ticket required.
16:00-16:30 Performance by Sarah Pierce. Free tickets required.
18:00-19:00 Performance by Keren Cytter Free tickets required
19:00-20:00 Wine & Cheese Reception with Artists and Curators
20:00-23:00 Performance by Jon Mikel Eube Limited. Free Tickets required.
The Project Arts Centre is at 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
www.projectartscentre.ie/index.php/news/570-news-020609

WORLDVIEW FILM CLUB
The next Worldview Film Club screening is on Fri 12 June at 18:45. The film is “The Game” (1997) and the theme of the discussion afterwards is “Search for Truth”. Check worldview.project.googlepages .com/invitation (unfortunately googlepages URLs are suspicious to some spam filters, therefore you have to copy the address in your browser and then remove the space between “googlepages” and “.com”) or check www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27560436112
The Worldview Film Club is inspired by the Bahá’í Religion: www.bahai.ie. The event takes place in the National Bahá’í Centre, 24 Burlington Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

REGULAR EVENTS – FRIDAY
* James Sheeran (Acoustic/Rock/Trad) is playing from 18:00 in Peadar Kearney’s in 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2. And The Eastern Harps (Trad) are playing there from 20:00. Admission is free.
* Sahaja Meditation program every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street (bell 3, next to the IFI), Temple Bar. For more information contact Seamus on SHarten@upc.ie www.templebar.ie/home_ns_9_action_view_nid_229.html

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______Saturday_________________

CLIMATE COUNTDOWN – PROTEST
Stop Climate Chaos is organising a major demonstration “Climate Countdown to Copenhagen” on Sandymount Strand on Saturday 13 June 12:00. Meeting point is the Martello Tower in Sandymount and then the plan is to choreograph over 1,000 people to make stunning visual presentations. For this new world record attempt, masses of people holding specially printed Metro newspaper covers will come together to form a giant human hourglass sending a clear message that time for action is running out. Everyone will then form the words 6 MONTHS and ACT NOW to call on the Irish Government to show commitment and leadership in securing a strong, just global deal on climate change and commit to climate protection legislation in Ireland. Somebody called it a “Spencer Tunnick installation with your clothes on” ;-)
If you want to express your concerns about Climate issues, come to Sandymount Strand on Sat at 13:00 and bring today’s (Friday) Metro with you if possible! The event will take place independent from weather!
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85899926935&ref=nf
For more info visit   www.stopclimatechaos.ie and for an idea of it might look like check out www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2VuAZ96QQc&

FAMILY & ADULT EVENTS – NATIONAL MUSEUM
* The Adult Gallery Talk “From the Congo to Chad: peacekeeping through the years” by Declan Power, Security and Defence Journalist will take place on Sat 13 June from 12:00 in the Soldiers and Chiefs section in Collins Barracks. www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=380
* “Bright Young Brains” are a series of lectures from PhD Students taking place from 11:00-12:00 and 13:00-14:00 on Sat 13 June. The Museum offers the public the possibility to discover original topics as well as recent research presented by PhD students. No booking required. It will take place in the Treasury Audio Visual Room, Ground Floor in Kildare Street and is targeted at adults. www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=429

DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE MEET-UP
Don’t miss this brilliant (nooo, I am not biased!) event on Sat 13 June. From 20:00 we will meet in the Lotts Café Bar in Lower Liffey Street. Check the introduction to this Event Guide for more details and make sure that you come! ;-)

MIDNIGHT SWING SHOWCASE
Midnight Swing will be hosting a night of live dance floor filling entertainment at the Green Isle Hotel, Newlands Cross, Clondalkin, on Saturday 13 June from 21:30-00:30. Admission is free and the band is taking bookings (for example for weddings) on that night, which seems to be the reason for the event. However, you are more than welcome just to enjoy the music and band. Dance demonstrations will be performed by Alan Doyle and his crew from Club Dance Ireland who will be swinging along to demonstrate the best of East and West coast swing dancing, coupled with modern jive and salsa. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF99LXIFaEA
www.midnightswing.eu

REGULAR SATURDAY EVENTS
* Don’t forget that the Temple Bar Markets (Temple Bar Food Market on Meeting House Square and – on a long break until 14 March – the Temple Bar Designer Mart near Cow’s Lane) are taking place every Saturday from 10:00-16:30.
* The SuperNatural Food Market is taking place every Saturday from 09:30-15:30 in St. Andrews Resource Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin 2. www.supernatural.ie
* The Dublin Food Coop runs a food market every Saturday (09:30-16:30) and Thursday (14:00-20:00) at Newmarket in Dublin 8. Fresh local and artisan produce, mainly organic, and other products for sustainable living are on sale. www.dublinfood.coop
* Sunday Market & Car Boot Sale at Kart City
Old Airport Road, Santry, Dublin 9. The Kart City Weekend Market is open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 08:00-16:00 and until the end of May all car boot sellers can sell for free. sundaymarket.ie/
* Blackhorse Flea Market + Car Boot Sale. Every Saturday from 10:00-18:00 the Blackhorse Market is taking place. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on red Luas line. theblackhorsemarket.com
* The Art Walk on the Liffey Boardwalk between the Ha’penny Bridge and O’Connell Bridge will feature 18 different artists every week from June until September. It runs every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00-17:00.
* Enda Reilly (Acoustic/Rock/Trad – www.myspace.com/endaderoad) is playing from 19:00 in Peadar Kearney’s in 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Fiach (Acoustic/Rock/Soul – www.myspace.com/fiachmusic) is playing there from 21:00. Admission is free.
* Conrad Hotel Latin Club – ObsessionSalsa is running a weekly Latin Club in the Conrad Hotel at Earlsfort Terrace. Admission is free before 22:00 and EUR 5 after that. obsessionsalsa.com
* Havana Tapas Bar is inviting to a Salsa Night with afro-latin percussion every Sat night 22:30-02:00. Bachata, salsa, merengue, reggeaton with resident DJ Papi Chulo. Food is available until 00:30 and usually there is plenty of room to get dancing.

______________________________
______Sunday __________________

CHILDRENS WORKSHOPS – PHOENIX PARK VISITOR CENTRE
Until December 2009 an impressive programme of workshops for children will be provided in Phoenix Park every Sunday from 10:30-12:30. Participation is free. The max number is 20 and the workshops are suitable for ages 5+ (Parental supervision required.) The children’s workshops combine art, nature awareness, history and heritage and are taking place at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. The upcoming themes are:
14 June – Summer flowers in the Park
21 June – Tracing fun
Bookings & Further Info: 01 6770095 or phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie
www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/PhoenixParkVisitorCentre-AshtownCastle/Events/

BIKE WEEK
From 14-21 June the National Bike Week will take place and the whole variety of events is listed and described on www.bikeweek.ie. There is so much happening during that week, that I can’t list all the events, but I will try to include a few key events.

DUBLIN FAMILY FUN DAY – BIKE WEEK
The National Bike Week kicks starts with an event focusing on family fun and cycling. A section of Dublin’s Phoenix Park will be closed off for the exclusive use of cyclists and there will be a host of activities for all the family. All events are free. Time Activity Description
11:00 Event Commences Registration commences for the 10k cycle
11:00 Guided Tours of the Park Deer & Mammals of the Phoenix Park Tour
11:10 BMX Freestyle Display UK’s top BMX riders perform bike tricks
11:15 Guided Tours of the Park Horticultural Tour
11:30 Guided Tours of the Park Tree Identification Tour
12:00 Start of 10k Cycle & World Record Attempt Starts at the Papal Cross
12:30 Guided Tours of the Park Deer Fawning Tour
12:45 Guided Tours of the Park Family Tour
13:10 BMX Freestyle Display UK’s top BMX riders perform bike tricks
13:15 Guided Tours of the Park Birds of the Phoenix Park Tour
13:30 Guided Tours of the Park Farmleigh House, Tour of the Grounds
14:00 Bike Polo Demonstration
14:00 Guided Tours of the Park Deer & Mammals of the Phoenix Park Tour
14:10 BMX Freestyle Display UK’s top BMX riders perform bike tricks
14:15 Guided Tours of the Park Historical Tour
15:10 BMX Freestyle Display UK’s top BMX riders perform bike tricks
16:00 Event End
Come along, bring your bikes and bring a picnic. The event will take place near the Papal Cross in Phoenix Park. bikeweek.ie/dublinfamilyfunday
Here are a few more explanations for the different events: The 10 km cycle is a non competitive, family friendly cycle around the Phoenix Park. At the event the RSA Road Safety shuttle and the 98FM Thunderbus will be present and Street Entertainment, face painting and balloon modelling will be provided. The Guinness World Record attempt for the longest parade of bicycles past a single point is to beat Taipei City in Taiwan. And more than 2,284 cyclists are needed to put Ireland into the record books with the largest ever parade of bicycles.

SUNDAY AT NOON CONCERT – HUGH LANE GALLERY
Nearly every Sunday a free “Sunday at Noon” concert is taking place. For 3 months “Sunday at Noon” moved from the Hugh Lane Gallery to the City Hall, but now it is back in the Hugh Lane Gallery. From 12:00-13:00 classical music will be performed for free. No booking is required. The next concert is on 13 June: Ronan Guilfoyle will play acoustic bass guitar and the theme will be “Bass and the Abstract Truth – Alone with Four Strings” www.hughlane.ie/whats_on_detail.php?id=322

EXHIBITION TALK – HUGH LANE GALLERY
“The Collection Revealed, Cubism: Mainie Jellet, Evie Hone, May Guinness” is the title of the talk by Padraic Moore which will take place on Sun 14 June at 15:00. www.hughlane.ie/whats_on_detail.php?id=305

CAR BOOT SALE – LIBERTIES FESTIVAL
This weekend the Liberties Festival will start and on Sunday 14 June from 12:00-16:00 a Car Boot Sale will be part of the Liberties Festival. It will take place on Newmarket Square (off Cork Street) Dublin 8 just outside the Dublin Food-Coop. There is no charge for taking part, but anyone interested in taking part must register with the SICCDA offices, 90 Meath St. telephone 01-4536098 and traders are not permitted. The Dublin Food Cooperative will also be open, selling organic fresh fruit and vegetables and the Café will offer the usual range of teas coffee, soups salads and organic home made foods. www.activelink.ie/ce/active.php?id=4062

BLOCK PARTY – BLANCHARDSTOWN
Dance Theatre Ireland are performing Block Party, a spectacle for public Spaces & Place in Blanchardstown at the Spréacha Festival, an arts festival for children. Nearly all Spreacha events are EUR 5 per event and you can find the full programme here draiocht.ie/whatson/spreacha.htm but the Block Party is the only free event at this festival.
“Roving dancers and musicians, flying blocks, human architecture – it’s the Block Party! This Colourful Outdoor spectacle is a movable feast for the eyes and the senses, for the adult and the child (in you). Merging the worlds of dance, music and architecture, this performance will immerse you in a vibrant world of colour and play, set to explosive percussion & music played live by Brian Fleming and Friends.”
Block Party will be performed outdoors at Draíocht in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 at 14:00 and 16:30 and has a 30 min duration. www.dancetheatreireland.com/pages/popup_block.htm Further performances this summer will be on 21 June at the Dundrum Arts & Cultural Festival and on 09 July at the Temple Bar Circus Festival, Dublin 2.

FAMILY PROGRAMME – NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Events in the National Museum today are:
* My Museum Family Event: “Non-native species: How aliens are invading Ireland” by zoologist Linda Keogh is taking place on Sun 14 June from 15:00-16:00 in Kildare Street. It is “A look at how some of Ireland’s native species are dealing with invasive aliens from the rest of the world.” No Booking required. Age 5+ www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=443
* A free themed Family Tour in Collins Barracks will take place on Sun 14 June from 15:00-16:00. The Tour is for family groups and please note that places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

FAMILY PROGRAMME – NATIONAL GALLERY
The Picture This! Kids Art Workshop will look at “Portrait of Ronnie Delaney” by James Hanley with Carla Marrinan (Room 21 Portrait Gallery). The workshop will start at 15:00 on Sunday. www.nationalgallery.ie/html/programevents2.html#2

NATIONAL GALLERY TALK
On Sun 14 May from 15:00 the National Gallery will invite to the lecture “The Eve of St. Agnes” by Harry Clarke. Lecturer is Jessica O’Donnell from the Hugh Lane Gallery.www.nationalgallery.ie/html/programevents2.html#2

REGULAR SUNDAY EVENTS
* Sunday Market & Car Boot Sale at Kart City, Old Airport Road, Santry, Dublin 9. The Kart City Weekend Market is open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 08:00-16:00 and until the end of May all car boot sellers can sell for free. The website of the market is sundaymarket.ie/
* Blackhorse Flea Market + Car Boot Sale. Every Sunday from 10:00-18:00 the Blackhorse Market is taking place. You can reach it from Tyrconnell Road and from Kylemore Road and it is within 3 min from Black Horse stop on red Luas line. theblackhorsemarket.com
* Gigs in The Mezz. Every Sunday 5 acts ranging from Soul to Funk, Rock, Reggae, Hip Hop and Alternative/Indie music will perform between 15:00-21:00 in The Mezz, Eustace Street, Dublin 2 (in Temple Bar near Dame Street) Admission is free.
* The Mary Stokes Band (Blues) from 18:30 in Bruxelles near Grafton Street and near the Westbury Hotel. I listened to them a few times and they are brilliant! It is not clear to me if the band is currently playing every two weeks or only once a month. I will try to find out.
*Jazz in The George in George’s Street from 16:30-18:00: Jazz Band Zrazy.
*Sunday Roast is the event in Thomas Reads “The Oak” in Dame Street/Parliament Street every Sunday from 21:00. Provided are free live music, games & roast potatoes.
* “Loose Change” play in Gibneys Pub, New St., Malahide every Sunday from 18:00-20:00.
* The Tangenteers (Rock/Reggae) are playing from 18:00 in Peadar Kearney’s in 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Francois G reported that this 18:00 performance is not taking place. I am trying to find out more.
Ro Byrne (Acoustic/Rock/Indie – www.myspace.com/earthquakehair) is playing there from 21:00. Admission is free.
* The Brazilian Samba Rock Band +55 is playing every Sunday at the Odeon in Harcourt Street from 20:00-22:00, followed by a DJ playing Forro, Axe, and a mixture of Brazilian rhythms and salsa beats. Admission is free before 21:00 and EUR 5 after that.
* Songs of Praise, a Rock Karaoke is taking place every Sunday from 21:00 in The Village in Wexford Street, Dublin 2. www.getpraise.com
* The Burning Effigies are playing afrobeat, jazz, funk and soul every Sunday from 23:00 in Turk’s Head in Parliament Street. www.turkshead.ie
* Gardiner Street Gospel Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church at the top of Gardiner Street near the junction with Dorset Street every Sunday at 19:30. Everybody is welcome independent from your level of religiousness. www.gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com
* Ballymun Gospel Choir Mass at 19:00 in Vir gin Mary Church, Shangan Road, Ballymun.

WEEKEND EVENTS
If you are just looking for Sunday events, please check the event list for Saturday as well. A good few events are taking place on Saturday AND Sunday, but it wouldn’t make sense to list them twice.

______________________________
______Next Week_______________

———Monday————————–

LIBERTIES FESTIVAL
The Liberties Festival in Dublin 8 is inviting to some free events this week. The first is a Historical Walking Tours of the Liberties on Monday 15 June at 11:00 and the second is a Guided Tour of St Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday 18 June at 11:30. Places for these events must be booked by contacting SICCDA on Ph: 01-4536098. Thanks to Angela M for letting me know.

ULYSSES IN TRANSLATION – DR SAM SLOTE
As part of the Bloomsday Festival, the Joyce Centre, in partnership with the Alliance Française, is organising a talk by Dr Sam Slote of Trinity College. He will be speaking on ‘Ulysses in Translation’. Joyce’s novel, Ulysses, is one of the most widely translated English language novels in the world and Joyce’s famously poetic and experimental language has provided translators with great challenges.
Sam Slote will focus his talk on the first French translation of the work, which was published in 1929 and so celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
This talk will be mainly through English with questions and answers in French and English. Admission is free. The event will take place on Mon 15 June at 18:30 in the Alliance Francaise in Kildare Street. Please register on info@alliance-francaise.ie
www.alliance-francaise.ie/Newsletter/

REGULAR MONDAY EVENTS
* From 21:30 in the International Bar, Wicklow Street: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Jacqueline Tuck. Entry is free. The music styles vary from pop to folk to traditional. www.myspace.com/jacquelinetuck
* From 21:30 a traditional Irish music session is taking place in Kennedy’s Pub in Drumcondra. Admission is free.

———Tuesday————————

BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL 2009
The 16 June is Bloomsday, the day in 1904 on which all the action of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses takes place. It is celebrated every year on 16 June by Joyceans all over the world. In Dublin, where the novel is set, Bloomsday celebrations go on for a week from the 10-16 June, with most of the attention on the day itself.
It is traditional to dress up and go out for the day, visiting the locations of the book and taking part in readings, walks and convivial activities of all sorts which in some way connect with Ulysses, its author and its world.
www.jamesjoyce.ie If you are a fan of James Joyce this is most likely a really important day to you, but I have to admit that the activities – many of them are slightly zany – leave most people quite cold and untouched. So to help both fractions, I will list some of the free events here, but if you are a Joyce nut ;-) you will have to check this out www.visitdublin.com/downloads/BLOOMSDAYINDUBLIN2009.rtf it contains nearly all you need to know about the day.

LET’S WALK AND TALK – BLOOMSDAY
Join the Let’s Walk and Talk initiative on Bloomsday and relive the events in James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses, as they follow Leopold Bloom’s morning journey through Dublin: Tuesday, 16 June at 11:00 – ‘In The Footsteps Of Ulysses’. Meet at the Garden Of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin 1. www.dublin.ie/neighbourhood/community-events/lets-walk-and-talk.htm

BLOOMSONGS – LUNCHTIME RECITAL
On Tues 16 June at 13:00 the Central Library in the Ilac Centre, Henry Street, Dublin 1 is inviting you to the free “Bloomsongs – Lunchtime Recitals” event. Bloomsongs is a musical celebration of the songs which appear in and are referred to in the works of James Joyce, such as ‘Love’s Old Sweet Song’, ‘I Dreamt I dwelt in Marble Halls’ and ‘Down by the Sally Gardens’ and many more. It also includes songs, which he wrote and performed himself, with James Barry (Baritone) & Ellen McEllroy (Soprano) & Margot Doherty (Piano). www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/libraries/Events/Pages/lunchtime_recital_bloomsongs.aspx

NATIONAL MUSEUM EVENT
* For the Bloomsday Celebrations on Tues 16 June the Museum in Kildare Street is running an adult tour at 14:00-15:00. “Trace the steps of one of James Joyce’s most famous characters, Leopold Bloom, who in the “Ulysses” visits the National Museum in Kildare Street. No booking required. This is a free events for adults.
www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=430

BLOOMSDAY PLAY – ST MARY’S ABBEY
Deirdre R informed me about a Bloomsday event that is not very well advertised: The Balloonatics Theatre Company will be re-enacting the scene of Rev. Hugh C. Love’s visit to the Chapter House in the Abbey (from ‘The Wandering Rocks’ chapter of Ulysses) at 14:45 on Tuesday 16 June. It will last 30-45 minutes. St. Mary’s Abbey itself will be open from 10:00-17:00 on Bloomsday and it will be one of the few days this year when it is open to the public. This was once the wealthiest Cistercian abbey in Ireland, until it was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539. It was here that “Silken” Thomas Fitzgerald threw down his Sword of State and started his unsuccessful rebellion in 1534 against the King. All that remains today is the Chapter House and a Slype, which house a small exhibition put together by the OPW. The address is Meeting House Lane, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7. It’s beside Evans Art Supplies. Deirdre sent me a Google Mpas link, as well, but unfortunately I can’t post it here, but I am sure the address information she provided will let you find the place. Entry is free. Anyone looking for information should contact the Casino at Marino at (01)8331618.

BLOOMSDAY IN TEMPLE BAR
Temple Bar Cultural Trust are inviting to these free events during the Bloomsday Festival:
* On Tuesday 16 June from 11:00-15:00, the Master of Ceremonies, Leo Enright will host a star-studded afternoon of readings and songs from Ulysses in the great outdoors on Meeting House Square. Joyceans of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join in and audiences will also be treated to sounds of the era as tenor, John Scott and other musicians perform a variety of songs drawn from Ulysses.
* Jazz in Temple Bar
Jazz performances will take place in three places
— The Guinness Jazz Band will play from 13:00-14:30 on Temple Bar Square.
— The Good Times Jazz Band will play in Fleet Street from 13:30-15:00.
— The Bloomsday Jazz Band will perform on College Green at the Bank of Ireland from 12:30-14:30.
www.jamesjoyce.ie

BIKE WEEK WORKSHOP
In Trinity College (Arts Block, (Nassau St entrance), Room 3051) a cycling workshop will take place on Tues 16 June from 19:00-21:00. This is a workshop for people interested in cycling, who would like to know more about the sport, how to get involved in relation to clubs, events and races. They are also designed to provide the information to cyclists to improve their experience on the bike and increase their
fitness levels. All are welcome and attendance is free. For more information contact Cycling Ireland at 01-8551522. www.bikeweek.ie/

MUSIC RECITAL
An evening of opera, musical and traditional favourites with Aisling Mullally, soprano, and special guest, Aoife Cummins, soprano is taking place in St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Admission free, but voluntary contributions to the Kimberly Fund for South Africa are appreciated. The event will run from 20:00-21:10. For more information: www.dublin.ie/calendar_details.aspx?eventid=1388

REGULAR TUESDAY EVENTS
* In the Bankers Inn on Trinity Street (off Dame Street) at 21:30: An acoustic singer-songwriter session hosted by Dave Murphy. A contribution is requested but not required. This is a listening club so is very quiet and features a lot of experienced songwriters trying out new material. www.myspace.com/davemurphyandfriends

———Wednesday———————-

BIKE TO WORK DAY
As part of the National Bike Week, Wed 17 June is Bike to Work Day. Whether you’re a regular or an occasional bike commuter, or have often thought about cycling to work, the 17 June is the day for you.
On Wednesday evening there will be a City Cycle through Dublin’s City Centre. A special cordon will be placed along a selected route where cyclists can travel freely along unencumbered from most of the usual busy traffic. The City Cycle starts at 19:00 with a meeting time of 18:00 and it begins at Merrion Square South, Dublin 2. Oddly you have to REGISTER for this event because there is a limit of 4000 participants. You find all details on bikeweek.ie/dublincitycycle

DUBLIN PRIDE FESTIVAL LAUNCH
The Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival will take place from 19-27 June and on Wed 17 June the Formal Festival Launch will take place in the Civic Offices on Wood Quay, Dublin 8. The event starts at 18:00 and it seems it is a free event and no tickets or registration is required.
www.dublinpride.org/festival/events.aspx?date=20090617#6
In the coming week I will mention a few more events, but there are too many to list them all, so you should check www.dublinpride.org/festival/ if you are interested.

SPANISH CINEMA – INSTITUTO CERVANTES
The Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Institute, wants to take you on a journey through Spanish cinema, from its inception to more recent productions, at the hands of directors that may be described as young, mythical, exceptional and internationally renowned… You can enjoy the best of Spanish comedies, drama, animation and documentaries. Every week a film will be screened in the Café Literario of the Instituto Cervantes, Lincoln House, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2 (near the National Gallery). The next film on 17 June at 18:30 is “Más allá del espejo” (2006) by Joaquín Jordá. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles.
dublin.cervantes.es/FichasCultura/Ficha56769_16_2.htm

CHAPTERS AND VERSE READING
On Wed 17 June Seven Towers invites to a reading featuring Dublin performance poet Eamonn Lynskey, San Francisco performance poet Raven, and Limerick-born musician and performance poet Martin Egan. The event will take place at 20:15 in Chapters Bookstore, Parnell St, D1. www.seventowers.ie

REGULAR WEDNESDAY EVENTS:
* CoCo Markets at Docklands. Every Wed from 15 Apr-28 Aug from 12:00-14:30 a CoCo food market is taking place at Excise Walk in the IFSC. www.dublindocklands.ie/index.jsp?p=94&n=341&i=26
* The “Havana International Language Exchange” is taking place every Wed from 17:30-19:30 in Havana Tapas Bar in George’s Street. The majority of people there are Spanish or English-speaking, but French, Italians, Polish and Chinese are sometimes coming to and everybody is welcome to meet for a chat to improve your Spanish or English.
* “The Zodiac Sessions” is a regular open mic event from 20:30 in Bruxelles (between Grafton Street and Westbury Hotel) for unsigned musicians. Admission is free and there is a different line-up every week. www.thezodiacsessions.com/
* “The Song Room” is another open mic event. It takes place in The Globe in George’s Street at 20:30 on SOME Wednesdays. The frequency got less predictable in recent weeks/months and you should check the website before going. www.myspace.com/thesongroom
* Traditional Irish Music Session in Hedigan’s (The Brian Boru) in Phibsborough from 21:30 every Wednesday until July. If you play an instrument you are especially welcome (all levels are welcome).
* The Covers play Indie Rock and Alternative from 22:00-01:30 every Wednesday in the Turk’s Head in Parliament Street. (www.turkshead.ie)

———Thursday————————

STREET PERFORMANCE WORLD CHAMIONSHIP
Surprisingly the Street Performance World Championship will this year already start on Thursday 18 June in Merrion Square with performances on two “stages” from 12:00-20:00. Have a look at spwc.ie/dublin/dublin.html or get one of the programme booklets that are available in many pubs etc. This event is one of my favourites and I strongly recommend that you go one one of the days over the weekend. It is just brilliant event!

SARAH REES BRENNAN – EASON’S BOOK SIGNING
Sarah Rees Brennan will be signing copies of “Demons Lexicon” in Eason’s in Dundrum Shopping Centre on Thursday 18 June 2009 from 18:30. www.eason.ie/events

REGULAR THURSDAY EVENTS:
* The Bionic Rats play live Reggae and Ska every Thursday in Turk’s Head from 22:00. Admission is free. www.turkshead.ie

———Friday————————

STREET PERFORMANCE WORLD CHAMIONSHIP
The Street Performance World Championship continues with more performances on two “stages” from 12:00-20:00. Have a look at spwc.ie/dublin/dublin.html or get one of the programme booklets that are available in many pubs etc.

HÄNDEL MESSIAH FESTIVAL CHORUS – CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
On Friday 19 June a concert will be performed by “The Messiah Festival Chorus” in Christ Church Cathedral. The Chorus is comprised of 3 Choirs from the United States and 1 from London, with over 100 voices. The concert is conducted by Simon Carrington and there is no charge for entry to the concert. Come early to get a space! The event will start at 19:00 and please note that it is on Friday NOT on Wednesday as the Christ Church website is trying to tell you: www.cccdub.ie/whatsnew/diary/2009/messiah/messiah-chorus.html
Most of the time concerts in Christ Church are not free but on a “entrance to concert included in admission charge” basis, which means that you have to pay to visit the church and while in there are allowed to listen to the concert. This Messiah concert is free and it would be great if there were more free events in Christ Church Cathedral!!

———Pre-Announcements————————

This section contains lots of events this week that happen in the future some of them require free tickets and it is mentioned where this is the case. Put the events in your diary and for the ticketed events hurry to request your tickets:

WALTONS GUITAR FESTIVAL – FARMLEIGH HOUSE
Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park is regularly inviting to free, but ticketed concerts and the first concert of that type is part of the Waltons Guitar Festival and will take place on Wed 01 July at 20:00. The description says: “A concert of laid-back Brazilian lullabies, fiery tangos, graceful Scarlatti and riotous Klezmer.” Performers are Alec O’Leary (guitar) and Deirdre O’Leary (clarinet) and they will play a mixture of classical, jazz and Brazilian folk music by Laurindo Almeida and nuevo tango with incorporated elements of baroque music and jazz by Argentinian Astor Piazzolla.
This concert is free but entrance is by ticket only.  To apply for tickets please send a mail to brian.dockery@opw.ie with the Subject “Woodroad Tickets”. Please include your name, address and a daytime contact telephone number.
The Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland is an annual event celebrating the music of the guitar in its many forms. The largest event of its kind in Ireland, the festival attracts top artists from around the world. It is a comprehensive guitar summer course based in Dublin city centre, comprising of daily tuition, concerts/gigs, seminars and exhibitions. www.gfi.ie and
www.farmleigh.ie/culturalevents/currentevents/waltonsguitarfestivalofireland/

______________________________
______This is odd!!______________

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS UNNECESSARY NOW!?
Strange things are happening in this climate of economic challenges and panic. I have quite a number of examples of odd things that companies do using the ominous “recession” as an excuse, but today I just want to focus on one thing. It is customer service and here especially opening hours.
A few years ago Tesco announced with big fanfares the opening of 24-hour shops in Dublin because “customers welcomed the opportunity to shop throughout the night”: www.tesco.ie/about/24Hournational.htm. I often did some grocery shopping at 03:00 or so on the way home from a night out and while it certainly wasn’t the most fun experience because all the aisles were full of trolleys with goods that had to be out into the shelves, I preferred it at times to shopping during the day. The shops were never very busy and I wondered about the economic sense it made to keep the shop open, but often only one or two additional people were needed. However, a few months ago the opening hours in many former 24-hour Tescos were cut back significantly. Oddly even the petrol station at the Tesco in Finglas, which was always open 24 hours now closes at midnight. And today I realised that AIB’s 24 hour banking now is only open until 21:00 from Mon-Fri, until 18:00 on Sat and is completely closed on Sundays.
I do realise that longer opening hours means that more personnel is required and the cost are often not justified. On the other hand, aren’t bad times the times when you need to provide the best possible customer service to keep customers?
I would say the opening hours are only the tip of the iceberg, have you experienced other areas where the customer service went from ok to bad despite the fact that right now companies should be very much concerned about keeping their customers happy? Tell me about your experiences: dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject “Customer Service”.
Oh no! And no it turns out that even Big Brother is not shown 24 hours anymore. LOL Actually THAT is good news! ;-) current.com/items/90175490_good-news-no-more-24-hour-big-brother-coverage.htm

—————–
I hope to see you all on Saturday! :-) Let’s fill the the Lotts Café Bar with loads and loads of nice people. ;-)

–Joerg

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If you don’t want to receive this mail anymore, just click on the link at the bottom of this mail. It would help me if you told me in an e-mail why you decided to unsubscribe, but that is not a “Must”. If you only want to stop receiving the newsletter temporarily, you can – if you wish – discuss this with me by e-mail so that we find a solution that makes sense to you. If you unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of the mail and there is a chance that you – at some stage – want to re-subscribe, please make sure that you keep a mail with the “unsubscribe link” because I will not be able to add you anymore to the list once you have unsubscribed using this link. The only way you can re-subscribe is to follow that specific link and change the settings yourself.
This Event Guide (the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”) is an Event Guide with a difference. It covers mostly free events based on the thinking that free events deserve additional support and that non-free events have the money to pay for advertisement. The Guide is a _guide_ and not just a listing and is therefore at times quite extensive. It is sent for free to anybody who is interested and if you want to be added to the mailing list or know somebody who would like to receive this guide, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the Subject “Subscribe”.
If you have feedback – good or bad – PLEASE tell me via the same e-mail address.
BTW: I am not paid or otherwise rewarded for compiling and distributing this Event Guide it is purely a hobby. However, I won’t say No to donations ;-) and if you want to help me with the running of it (no minimum amount!) just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com with the word “Donation” in the subject and I will reply with a link that will allow you to make your donation by PayPal or per credit card or follow the link just above this section. Advertisement in or sponsorship of the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) is possible and very welcome, please contact me for more information.
Please note: The Dublin Event Guide (for Free Event) is not related or connected to the former fortnightly printed publication “the event guide” that you found until the beginning of 2009 in pubs and other venues.
Copyright 2009 by Joerg Steegmueller.
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