Event Guide 236: Merry Christmas!

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| DUBLIN EVENT GUIDE (for Free Events) No. 236
| 23 December 2011 Subscribers: 10181
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Hi all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to each and everyone of you! I hope you will have a wonderful Christmas with just the right amount of activities and excitement on one hand and quiet time on the other hand. Some of you might be surprised to get the Dublin Event Guide today, but because there will be a number of events over the next week and because many of you will have the time to go to some events or at least to wonder if something interesting is taking place, Christmas won’t stop the reliable and regular delivery of the Dublin Event Guide to your Inbox.
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You most likely will expect that there are significantly less events over the next 7 days and you are right. So this week’s issue is a good bit lighter, but as if intended as compensation, there are lots of Dublin News this week. Check them out, some of the news will probably interest you.

I hope you have bought most, if not all, of your Christmas presents and with pre-Christmas price reductions of already up to 50%, hopefully you have saved a bit of money while shopping smartly. The proper Sales will start on Mon (26 Dec), when most shops will be back open and with pre-Christmas discounts of up to 50%, it will be interesting to see how much more prices can be reduced. With all these savings, it would be great if you could drop a few shillings in my collection box at www.perfectresults.info/donate.htm
By the end of next week, I will have spent approx. 1300 hours this year on working on the weekly Dublin Event Guide and 52 issues of the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)” is my big Christmas present to you (spread out over the year). If you just can’t think of a big enough present for me ;-) then just go to www.perfectresults.info/donate.htm and don’t hold back. Your donation will be used to help with the monthly cost (approx. EUR 150) for sending the Dublin Event Guide and donations are urgently needed.

And remember that I had a solution for your last minute Christmas presents last week. If you are running out of time, just send the following mail to ALL of your friends and you are sorted regarding Christmas presents for them:

Dear [name],
With Christmas approaching fast I thought of you today and would like to spread some Christmas cheer. This year, I decided to spare the trees and send an e-mail to wish you a Merry Christmas, but to compensate, I would like to give you an extra special and hugely valuable gift.
For some while now, I regularly receive a weekly e-zine that tells me all about the huge number of free cultural events in Dublin and I was able to arrange that this e-mail will be sent to you as well for a whole year (or even longer). Fifty-two times this year you can enjoy this gift from me and if you go to www.dublineventguide.com and fill in your name and e-mail address on the right hand side, you will start receiving this great gift on the following Friday (you don’t even have to wait until Christmas Day!).
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year full of free events in Dublin!
Yours,
[Your own name]

So, remind your friends that they can subscribe to the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) on www.dublineventguide.com and enjoy this e-zine/newsletter every single week.

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We now more than 7200 people on the Dublin Event Guide – Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide and it would be really great if we could be as big on Facebook as we are on this distribution list. Click LIKE on the facebook page and tell your friends! You will get last minute updates and event reminders through the Facebook Page and you can share your free events directly there with the other people in the Dublin Event Guide Community.

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The “Feel Good Slot” at this place in the Dublin Event Guide is to share some inspirational, motivational or thought provoking quotes, stories or video clips. You wonder why I added this section to this e-zine? If your week was great, you might not need it, but most of us had some challenging moments in the last week and this section is for the people that want to remind that despite all, life is great and it is important to be alive!
The video clip for Christmas Week is from the Cadger Christmas Light House. The house of an American family where 35,000 (!!) lights are used to illuminate the place and to make it even more interesting they choreograph the light to music. Amazing, have a look: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u5S49XiOuM

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This part is important to “keep the show on the road”:

Last week nobody was generous enough to help the “Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events)”. But I know that Santa will bring presents AT Christmas, not before, so I am looking forward to hopefully lots of generous donations in a few days.
These donations are important to ensure that you all will continue to get the Dublin Event Guide every week. If you have never helped with a contribution, ask yourself if the Dublin Event Guide has helped you to find events that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about or if it even helped you to save money…and then go to www.perfectresults.info/donate.htm

To join the list of the much appreciated and esteemed supporters of the Dublin Event Guide, go to www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm I appreciate ANY help. EUR 12 would be great, but even if it is just the price of 2 pints it will help me to cover the cost.

To cover the cost for this Event Guide, I need about 4 donations every week and to improve the Event Guide, I need another bit more. – I am giving 25 hours every week for no pay, so that you get the Dublin Event Guide every week. I need you to help with just 25 cent per week or EUR 12 per year. Where else can you get sooo much value for soo little money!? If you have a company that would like to sponsor the Event Guide talk to me!

BTW: If you think that I make money from advertisement because you see a few ads here or on the website, then please note that only if YOU click on the link in this newsletter/e-zine AND then buy or order (for example, order books from bookdepository) a (very) small amount (EUR 0.30 on average!) will be paid to me. If you don’t BUY, I get nothing and if you don’t click on the link here every time you want to purchases something, I don’t get anything either. Have a look at the website www.dublineventguide.com and if you want to book a hotel at hotels.com or buy something from any of the other advertisers, make sure you click on the ad on the website just before you buy, only then I will get some money for the ads.

You can donate online by following this link to the PayPal&CreditCard donation page www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm If you want to transfer your donation directly to my account, just send a mail to dublineventguide@gmail.com and I will send you the details.

In the last 12 months the following wonderful people have sponsored this Dublin Event Guide: Christian K, Cathy G, Barbara Q-B, Anto K, Maria F, Tom D, Orlaith niB, Pauline R, Marta T, Anna O, Stephen Q, Kiera M, Claire McM, Corina R, Sylvie S-M, Julie H-C, Rebecca T, Arthur D, Laura B, Brenda McP, Fiona D, Keeva H, Nihar B, Brendan M, Donna M, Arthur D, Selina McC, Katrin H, Gil H, Padraig P, Melina Z, Cathy A, Thomond C, Raymond R, Nicola R and Noemi V, Ciaran W, Isabel F, Brendan M , Tom D, Luke, Monika K, Janine McK, Tom D, Sebastian B, Paul T, Anne G, Marc F, Camelia P, Nicola B, Ciaran H, Ryan M, Ellen M, Gerard C, Laura G and Fergus G, Emma S, Tara R, Karen L, Catherine T., Rainey D-G, Sally P, Johan S, Lorraine F, Eimear MacH, Elzbieta D, Monika E, Tracey OC, Julia Sch., Isabelle F, Barry P, Alan G, Gerard Ph, Irial G, Louise M, Milena V, Fanny T, Clodagh O’C, Fiona F, Yvonne S, Loretta K, Lauren O’R, Charles C, Caoimhe L, Adrian Ph, Sandi C, Elva O’G, Sally Ph, Thomas D, Emilie Ch, Hans Martin W, Eamonn O’R, Patrick O’C, Eamonn U, Fiona O’R, Louise B, Serena F, Paul M, Louise F, Colin D, Philip McK, Catherine E, Mélanie B, Irene H, Jo H, Ronan K, Clodagh O’C, Alison P, Claire H, Brian L, Therese O’R, Sean S, Zelie McG and www.GravitationalFX.ie (An Irish Web Design, SEO and Internet Marketing who offer affordable web design.), www.FlamencoIndalo.com (A group that supports and promotes the art of Flamenco in Ireland.), www.olliart.com (An art curator and seller of art to businesses and private collectors.), 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 lo w 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.

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 promise for correctness can be given.

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______Joerg’s Picks______________

This section is intended to provide some help in picking and choosing from the huge number of events by sharing with you what I will/might or would do. This is not a “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. All events mentioned here are described in detail further down.

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Christmas is all the focus this week, so there are only a few events taking place, but if you have children you should check out the events in the National Gallery and in the National Museum. A great amount of free activities for children of all ages will take place after the Christmas Holidays.

Until then there are a few more things to to: Today a Buskathon is taking place in Grafton Street, but unfortunately there is no good information available for it. All I know is that the Love Band, a great wedding band, will perform at 17:00 and Kevin Doyle and the Elvis The Way it Was orchestra will be on stage at 20:00 in Grafton Street.

On Saturday you can still enjoy some Christmas Markets, but from around 16:00 Dublin will get quieter. The shops close early and the next stop is either pub or – a little later – the Christmas Eve masses. I will be at 20:00 in St. Francis Xavier Church where the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir will sing at the Christmas Eve mass. A wonderful event to prepare for Christmas, but make sure you come early if you want a seat!

No events will take place on Sunday and very few on Monday. Then on Tuesday many might still be off work, but the events re-start again and all will lead to the New Years Eve Festival from Friday until Sunday.

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______Competition______________

This week there are no competitions, but I will have more for you in the coming weeks. If you know anybody who wants to promote a product or a non-free event, just suggest to them to contact me on dublineventguide@gmail.com

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______Dublin News______________

SANTA ON HIS WAY – TRACK HIS FLYING PATH
If you want to check where Santa is over the next few hours, you can follow him on www.noradsanta.org/en/ NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa’s movements and I was told by friends that the NORAD website can be a huge help to get the children to bed tomorrow evening. The son of a friend, who we shall call Lucas (not his real name), kept checking NORAD’s website to follow the flight path. When he checked first, Santa was far away, but then he came closer and closer to Ireland and a few hours later when the discovered that Santa was in Scotland, Lucas got seriously alarmed. He immediately insisted to go to bed and when his mother suggested to read him a story, he declared with huge terror in his voice: “Mom, there is no time for that!! Santa is already in Scotland!”. :-)

PHYSICS OF SANTA
For the geeks among us, this description is a must read: www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/physics.asp It describes the “Physics of Santa and his Reindeer”. Don’t let the kids read this, because the conclusion will not please them! I got this interesting and highly scientific description as an e-mail around 1990 (!), so keep in mind that since then the world population grew further, which increases the number of Santa’s clients by quite a lot. So if it was difficult then, it is even worse now! ;-)

OXEGEN 2012 CANCELLED
The big surprise during the week – and for some people a big shock – was the announcement of promoters MCD that the biggest summer music festival “Oxegen” will not take place in 2012. (thedailyedge.thejournal.ie/oxegen-cancelled-next-year-but-organisers-say-it-will-be-back-in-2013-310152-Dec2011/) Allegedly Oxegen will be back in 2013, but there is still lots of time to cancel that as well, so I wouldn’t out any money on Oxegen 2013 at this stage. Cancelling Oxegen makes a lot of sense for MCD: 1) The ticket sales this year were far below previous years. 2) The camping element of the festival is somewhat messy and complicated from an organisers point of view and causes unwanted hassle. 3) Last year’s ticket price of EUR 224 for the 3 days including camping could have proven to high for 2012 and that combined with a decrease in ticket sales would have been a further challenge. 4) The one-day ticket price of EUR 59 is not huge considering the large number of performers that have to be paid.
So it seems MCD did the figures and has applied for a license to run up to six concerts in Phoenix Park (spread out over a few weeks) each with a capacity of 45,500 tickets. (www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1221/breaking1.html) It will commercially probably be a LOT more profitable to sell 6x 45,500 tickets for a price even higher than EUR 59. The Stone Roses will perform in Phoenix Park on 05 July and the ticket price is EUR 63.65 with a whopping service charge of EUR 6.10.
So if these Phoenix Park concerts are half-way successful, Oxegen will possibly never again take place.

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CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN DUBLIN – MOSTLY DISAPPOINTING
Last weekend I did a tour around all the Christmas Markets in Dublin to experience them, compare them and scope out which will be good in years to come and which is doomed to fail.
Christmas Markets are still relatively new to Dublin, this is a great opportunity, but it needs a good effort on the organisers side and customer are required to make it successful. A big downside is that Dublin has no central square/place that is perfectly suitable for such a market, but with the right will, other solutions could be found. I could think of a street Christmas market along the median of O’Connell Street, for example. That might be an idea for the future, but currently we are not there yet, so let me have a look at what we had this year:
++ Docklands Christmas Market: At a whopping 7 years, this is the grand father of Christmas Markets in Dublin. For 6 years the market improved continually and then 2011 happened. The Christmas Market 2010 was run by a German events company (Go GmbH – www.ddda.ie/index.jsp?a=1794&n=105&p=94) and was the closest it ever got to a proper Christmas market. But then in 2011 a new organiser took over (Raw Marketing?) and it all went downhill. The wooden huts that are part of a traditional Christmas Market were replaced by white plastic tents, the food outlets were reduced and you even had to SEARCH for Gluehwein. The 2011 market was a massive disappointment after the continual improvement in previous years and hopefully 2012 will go back to the example that was set in 2010.
++ Winter Wonderland at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham: Not advertised as a Christmas Market, but as a Winter Wonderland because it continues until 08 Jan and because the Christmas Market is only one element of four, this event was very promising. A big site, a market combined with ice skating rink, fun fair and Circus in a nice park-like setting, it sounded like a dream come true. And I have to say that the fun fair element seems to work, the circus is a good add-on and the venue (apart from car parking nightmare and traffic challenges) could be made work. The Christmas Market element, however was too small to be impressive. Proper wooden huts along a walk way that is separate from the fun fair created the right atmosphere, but too few stalls and very few food stalls need a good bit of improvement. However, keeping in mind that this was the first year, the Winter Wonderland is very promising.
++ Tallaght Christmas Market: Advertised as a continental Christmas Market, this one was probably the worst. The organisers tried their luck with the Fitzwilliam Square Market last year and made mistakes on all fronts. This year that market was downgraded to a “in front of the entrance of Tallaght Shopping Centre” event with just a few and not very interesting stalls. The (wooden) huts are after just one year in such a state that they look like the leaning tower of Pisa and the lighting is blindingly horrible. The Fitzwilliam Square event had a chance to come good, the new location and the downgraded effort was a disaster.
++ Dun Laoghaire Christmas Festival: I liked the effort there! Nice wooden stalls, an ok number of food outlets, a nice arrangement around the Pavillion Theatre/40 Foot Bar building and a good event programme around it definitely makes the Dun Laoghaire market the most promising one for years to come. Some improvements are possible, but for a first year effort, the market was impressive and I will definitely be back for more. You can still go to it as well because it will run until 08 January!
++ Dame District Christmas Market: Approx 10-15 stalls and a stage. Is that a Christmas Market? Well, I would call it a Market at Christmas, but not a Christmas Market. I like markets, so all is well and I spent about 15 minutes on the Dame District Christmas Market. Really good effort as a new market, maybe even as a regular market throughout the year. But NO marks in the Christmas Market category.

JINXED SHOPPING MALL TO HAVE?
After visiting the Christmas Market at the IFSC, I went to the CHQ building next to George’s Dock and was shocked about the state of the shopping mall. Built around 1821 as a tobacco and wine store, this building was restored and turned into a shopping mall with 23 units. It is owned and managed by the Dublin Docklands Authority, the once successful and now rather troubled organisation that is in charge of the whole area north and south of the Liffey from the IFSC towards the port.
While I never remember all 23 shop units to be occupied, the chq building now looks more abandoned than anything else. The vast majority of units are empty and another shop (Meadows & Byrne) seems to be in the middle of its closing down sale. Only 8 units out of 23 still have shops in them and I can’t see why any new shops would be interested in moving into the mall.
If it was my job to promote the building as a home for shops, I would have extended the Docklands Christmas Market into the building to create some vibrancy inside. At least 45 stalls could have been inside and the Docklands Christmas Market could have been the best Christmas Market in Ireland. But the Dockland’s Authority have missed the opportunity and who knows if there are any shops left in the chq building by Christmas 2012.
If the building wasn’t owned by the DDA, it would probably be for sale, but who would want shopping mall that seems to be jinxed? Or is the jinx maybe the DDA themselves due to unreasonable rents? Allegedly Meadows & Byrne is closing the shop due to disagreements over the rents with the landlord, which is the DDA. The Irish Times reported on 15 November that Meadows & Byrne was locked out by the landlord on 27 October, probably over non-payment of rents. (www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/1115/1224307581936.html) The idea of turning the chq building in a “cultural centre” as suggested by Tipperary Crystal would spell the end of the shopping centre, but will that attract more people? (www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/1112/1224307460785.html) www.chq.ie/

CHRISTMAS STREET EXHIBITION – BEWLEY’S CAFÉ
Over 100 miniature life-like figures, created by the sculptor Paddy Campbell, are part of a seasonally themed front window and upstairs exhibition in Bewley’s Cafe, Grafton Street. The exhibition is called ‘Christmas Street’ and is for all the family. Admission is free and voluntary donations will be accepted for Heart Children Ireland, which the Paddy Campbell exhibition at Bewley’s is supporting this Christmas. The Christmas Street Exhibition can be seen every day until 06 January and all are welcome to visit.
Christmas Street features six scenarios with 100 life-like Lilliputian figures hand-made by Campbell and dressed in contemporary style. Each realistic set depicts scenes from everyday Christmas life. The scenarios include a lively view of Bewley’s and Grafton Street with crowds on the street, Teach Mor – a peek into Christmas morning in a suburban home, Bethsebea’s Bath – a modern day take on an old testament parable, The Train – homecoming passengers with parcels on a Christmas Train, and a scene showing ‘Santa asleep on the job’ – the great man’s elf helpers try frantically to wake him up as he snoozes in someone’s house on Christmas morning and children are entering the room.
There is also a second-take on Jonathan Swift’s novel Gulliver’s Travels, as ‘Jilliver’, a life sized sculpture of a 17th Century shipwrecked girl is captured on a beach by 21st Century holidaymakers. bewleys.com/2011/11/miriam-ocallaghan-launches-christmas-street-exhibition-at-bewleys-cafe-grafton-street Thanks to Mary who told me about this nice exhibition.

———Opportunities—————–

In order to beat an economic downturn not governments can help, but individuals are needed that take the initiative and create new markets and new opportunities for themselves and for their customers and hopefully employees. The Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) will help you if you have recently started a company and if you could do with spreading the word. Being mentioned here and being seen by the 9000+ readers of the Dublin Event Guide should help to kick start something big for you. In return I expect you to tell your clients and friends about the Event Guide and once you have made a nice bit of money, a donation would be very much appreciated. ;-) (This offer is for start-ups in relatively early stages only. Established companies can contact me regarding very affordable advertisement options in the Dublin Event Guide.) If you want to promote your start-up/young company here for free, let me know: dublineventguide@gmail.com.

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______Exhibitions_______________

Based on your feedback, I have decided to do the following with the Exhibition section in this newsletter from now on: I will provide you with a link to a near-comprehensive listing of exhibitions provided by www.visualartists.ie. For me to list all exhibitions would only be doubling their good work and would be an inefficient use of my resources. The link is visualartists.ie/category/listings/exhib-lein/
On top of that I will every now and then include here a small selection of exhibitions that either are not mentioned in the Visual Artist listing or are note-worthy to be mentioned separately.
GIANT KALEIDOSCOPES – EXCHANGE DUBLIN
Until February: Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Paul’s Giant Kaleidoscopes is an exhibition by kaleidoscope artist Paul Ga y that will run in the Exchange Dublin from 17 Dec – February. Four giant kaleidoscopes are there for you to explore. Find some more information about the artist and some pictures/videos about the kaleidoscopes: giantkaleidoscopes.com/ and www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Gay-Giant-Kaleidoscopes/245699112149258
I definitely will have a look at this exhibition. exchangedublin.ie/

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______Friday___________________

BUSKATHON – GRAFTON STREET
Fri+Sat 23 Dec: 10:00-10:00 – Grafton Street (I guess – but am not sure – near the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre.). A very unique and a little strange 24 hour Buskathon is taking place in Grafton Street for a charity called “Solas”. A Buskathon (Busking Marathon) can be great fun for participants and audience, but I don’t get the 24 hour element of it. Who in their right mind will listen at 04:00 in the morning to a band in Grafton Street? Unfortunately there is no schedule of who will perform and when. I found out that the Classic Beatles will be on at 15:00, Mundy at 16:00 and the Love Band at 17:00. Then at 20:00 Kevin Doyle and The Way It Was Orchestra, an Elvis Tribute performance, will help out. But there is no information anywhere who else will perform.
www.facebook.com/pages/Busk4Solas-2011/196533253766646?sk=wall&filter=1

** DUBLIN DOCKLANDS CHRISTMAS MARKET
08-23 Dec: 12:00-20:00 (Sat+Sun from 10:00) – George’s Dock, IFSC (next to the CHQ building). – This is one of the oldest Christmas Markets in Ireland, and while you expect an age of hundreds of years if someone mentions “oldest market”, the Dublin Docklands Market is just 7 years young. You will find stalls with Christmas presents and there will be some food- You have to search for mulled wine as there is only one place selling it. The market is situated on the George’s Dock platform, in the CHQ building and the surrounding walkways. After a very promising 2010, the 2011 market is a big step down instead of up. It is the only market close-ish to the City Centre so you can check it out with not too much effort. It will end at 20:00 this Friday. www.ddda.ie/index.jsp?p=109&n=341&i=379

** DAME DISTRICT MARKET – DAME COURT
Sat 17 Dec – Fri 23 Dec: 12:00-22:30 – Dame Court just parallel to Georges Street and behind Dame Street. – This new Christmas Market is a 6-day market in the City Centre that will feature Christmas Choirs, Christmas Theatre, Santa’s Grotto, Puppet Shows, special guest performers, Workshops, and Christmas Fashion Shows. You will find everything from hand made arts, crafts, hand made toys, jewellery, unique gifts and many other wonderful gift ideas. Hungry shoppers will find delicious street fair foods, chocolates, warm ciders and other hot drinks. Live Music performances from Moo!, Dem Fools and others will complement the programme. On Sunday 18 Dec at 16:00 even Mundy will fill a live music slot! www.dublinatchristmas.ie/events/the-dame-district-christmas-market-dec-17th-23rd/ www.facebook.com/events/122472704531115/

** A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC – POWERSCOURT TOWNHOUSE
Fr 16 + Thu 22 + Fri 23 Dec: 13:00 – Powerscourt Townhouse, Sth William Street, Dublin 2. Powerscourt Townhouse in association with Dublin City Council Arts Office invites to a series of free lunch time concerts.
A Christmas Classic featuring readings from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and Musical Classics of the Season, including: “O Holy Night”, “Wexford Carol”, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” & “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” . Members of the casts of Dublin City Council’s “Opera in the Open” will perform, including the leading Irish soprano Cliona Cassidy, performer Morgan Crowley and musical director Andrew Synnott.

** THE DESIGN CORNER – DUN LAOGHAIRE
01-23 Dec: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00/Sun: 11:00-18:00 – The Design Corner features the work of twenty-two talented craftspeople and designers for the month of December only. It is located at Park House in Dun Laoghaire, opposite the People’s Park, Georges Street. www.facebook.com/thedesigncorner
www.facebook.com/thedesigncorner

EXCHANGE REEL – FILM SCREENING
23 Dec: 18:00 – Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
A film screening will take place in the Exchange in Temple Bar. The website doesn’t specify which film will be screened, but more information and booking of a place can be done through sebastian.dooris AT gmail.com exchangedublin.ie/

LIVE MUSIC – CORNUCOPIA RESTAURANT
Cornucopia Café & Restaurant (19/20 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2) host live music three evenings a week (Thurs, Fri and Sat). The restaurant is a Wholefood & Vegetarian Restaurant and is open until 22:15.
+ Every second Thursday (15 Dec) N.C Lawlor, a songwriter, session player and troubadour plays a mix of country, bluegrass & blues from 19:30-21:30.
+ Every Friday (19:30-21:30) Junshi Murakami plays Irish Harp.
+ Every Saturday (19:30-21:30) Nollaig Mann plays a collection of popular and jazz classics that often have customers singing along and requesting their favourites.
www.cornucopia.ie

CROW BLACK CHICKEN – WHELAN’S
Fri 23 Dec: 20:00 – Whelan’s (Front Bar), 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
The band Crow Black Chicken began their life as a blues band and are now fusing jazz, blues, punk, folk and rock to create their unique style. www.crowblackchicken.com/ Admission is free. www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/6190

JAZZ MUSIC – BIANCONI’S BISTRO & RESTAURANT
Fri 23 Dec: Bianconi’s Bistro, 232 Merrion Rd, Dublin 4
Bianconi’s Bistro & Restaurant in Dublin 4 is providing Jazz every Friday night from this week until the end of January. Bianconi’s is an Italian restaurant with delicious food and, while a little outside the City Centre, it is worth the trip into Merrion Road. There is no cover charge. www.bianconisbistro.ie www.facebook.com/pages/Bianconis-Bistro/271041702925005?sk=wall

LIVE MUSIC NIGHT – MERCANTILE
Fri 23 Dec: 21:00 – The Mercantile Hotel, 28 Dame St, Dublin 1
An evening of Live Music is taking place in the Mercantile with State Midnight Mass, Little Xs For Eyes, Come On Live Long, The Pacifics and some special guests. Admission is free. www.dublinsessions.ie/mercantile.html

LIVE MUSIC – STILLORGAN ORCHARD
The Stillorgan Orchard at The Hill in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin has a full programme of live music. The upcoming gigs are:
Fri 23 Superfly
Sat 24 The Hustlers
Thurs 29 Stereofusion
Fri 30 Cornerstone
Admission is free and the gigs start at 21:00 unless otherwise stated. www.stillorganorchard.com/live_music.html www.facebook.com/thestillorganorchard?sk=wall

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.
*Graeme McKenna is playing an acoustic gig (Trad to contemporary) every Friday in the Maldron Hotel, Kingswood near CityWest from 19:00.
* Need to wind down after a tiring week? Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation (not physical yoga, but “yoga meditation”!) classes every Friday at 19:30 at 4/5 Eustace Street, Temple Bar (next to IFI, ring bell no. 3) and every Monday from 19:00 in Blakestown Community Resource Center, Blakestown Way, Dublin 15 (next to Lidl). These are drop in classes, newcomers are welcome. For more information check www.coolspirit.info or www.sahajayoga.ie.
* Ruairi Maguires Bar & Organic Kitchen, Pembroke District, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum has every weekend live music from Friday until Sunday at 21:30. Sometimes the line-up is listed here www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462805646&sk=wall often not.
* The Covers play Rock Covers from 22:00 in The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2. Later: DJ Carlos Irie. Admission is free.
* Songs of Praise, a Rock Karaoke is taking place every Friday from 23:00 in the Mercantile, Dame Street, Dublin 2. www.getpraise.com

______________________________
______Saturday_________________

SKY WATCHES & TELESCOPE WORKSHOPS – ASTRONOMY IRELAND
Sat 24 Dec: 10:00-16:00 – Astronomy Ireland HQ, Unit A8, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin. – Astronomy Ireland are hosting a number of free public Sky Watches and Telescope Workshops where you can get to use some of the most powerful telescopes in Ireland to see the wonders of the Universe along with guidance on how to get the best out of your equipment. The Watches will take place on:
Sat 24 Dec: Solstice Sky Watch and Workshops, all day, 10:00-16:00
www.astronomy.ie/watchesdec11.php

** 7UP WINTER WONDERLAND – ROYAL HOSPITAL KILMAINHAM
08 Dec-08 Jan: Mon-Wed 15:00-22:00, Thurs-Sun 12:00-22:00. (In the final week the Winter Wonderland closes at 20:00.) – Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 8 (home of the Irish Museum of Modern Art). – The Winter Wonderland at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham is many things and not just a Christmas Market. There is a Winter Wonderland Market (admission is free), an ice rink, a circus tent and a fun fair with lots of rides and attractions. It is the newest and biggest Winter Park in Ireland. I guess it is not called “Christmas Market” because it will run into January. The ice rink has replaced the ice skating facilities at the RDS and at Smithfield, which do not take place this year. As you would expect, the ice rink, the circus and the fun fair rides are not free, (Tickets are available via ticketmaster for ice rink and circus.) but access to the Winter Park is free. Visits to Santa are free, which is amazing if you compare it to the daylight robbery other Santas are and children even get a small present. Parents are allowed to take pictures of their children with Santa with their own cameras as well if they wish. There are even free shuttle buses (until Christmas Eve) for ticket holders for the Circus and the ice rink. If you come by public transport or on foot, it is just 5 minutes from Heuston station. Importantly, there is NO car parking facility on the site, so if you come by car, you better check the information here 7upwinterwonderland.ie/plan-your-visit/how-to-get-here/

** DUN LAOGHAIRE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
09 Dec – 08 Jan: 11:00-20:00 – Dun Laoghaire Centre
From 09 December until 08 Jan Dun Laoghaire town centre will be transformed into its 1st ever Christmas festival. A German style craft and artisan markets on the Metals Plaza and weaving up Marine Road to Georges Street/St Michael’s Church will run from 09-23 Dec and is open every day from 11:00-20:00. The market will feature hand-crafted traditional gifts and decorations, as well as a wide-range of artisan treats to tempt foodies.
Ice Rink, Carousel, Climbing Wall, Helter Skelter, Santa’s Train, Santa’s Grotto in Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre and a Live Crib in St Michael’s Church are features.
A festive Santa train will run every 20 minutes around the town centre. Upon presentation of a valid DART ticket, visitors will receive a 10% discount on tickets to the Winter Wonderland and Ice Rink. www.dlrevents.ie/christmas11.html

** LIVE ANIMAL CRIB – MANSION HOUSE
08-24 Dec: outside Mansion House, Daswon Street, Dublin 2
Established in 1956 by Fr. Louis Coffey, the Moving Crib at the Mansion House is a traditional nativity scene set among live animals in a specially constructed, life size stable. The animals are brought to the crib every morning and are returned to a farm on the south of the city in the evening. Admission is free. www.dublinatchristmas.ie/events/ifa-live-animal-crib/

** MOVING CRIB – ST. MARTIN’S
Until 08 Jan: (Weekdays: 14:00-18:00, Sat+Sun: 11:30-18:00) – Saint Martin’s, 42 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. (Closed on 24, 25, 25 Dec and 01 Jan.)
There is not just a LIVE crib in Dublin, there is as well a moving crib. The moving crib is in St Martin’s on Parnell Square and admission is free. The Moving Crib is like an expanded Nativity Play going back to Adam and Eve and finishing after the crib scene with the young Jesus teaching the Doctors in the Temple. There are over 100 figures in the Crib arranged in 14 different tableaux. They cover various episodes of the Old and New Testament. The figures themselves are about a metre high, moulded in paper-mache and dressed in miniature clothes. Concealed motors control the movements of the arms, head and legs. www.stmartin.ie/Moving_Crib.HTML

** CHRISTMAS MARKET – THE SQUARE, TALLAGHT
24 Nov-01 Jan: The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght
At the Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght a small “Christmas Market” will take place from 24 Nov-24 Dec + 27 Dec-01 Jan. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 12:00-Close and Sat+Sun 10:00-Close of Shopping Centre. I was in Tallaght and can’t say that I was impressed. Last year there was a Christmas Market on Fitzwilliam Square and while I had high hopes for it, it was very disappointing for a number of reasons. The same organisers seem to run the market at The Square – and they unfortunately haven’t learned from the big mistakes of last year. This is one “Christmas Market” to give a miss. www.dublinchristmasmarket.com/

EXCHANGE REEL – DARK SCI-FI FILM SCREENING
24 Dec: 18:00 – Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
A film screening will take place in the Exchange in Temple Bar. The films to be screened are the Dark Sci-Fi films The Crow (1994) and Dark City (1998). For more information and to book your free place contact sebastian.dooris AT gmail.com exchangedublin.ie/

RHYTHM ROCKER – THE GLOBE
“Rhythm Rocker at The Globe” is a weekly event in The Globe in Sth Great Georges Street, Dublin 2. It is a Rockabilly, R’n’R, Roots night with live bands Pavement Kings and The Wayward Sinner Boys (in alternating weeks, it seems) from 20:00 and with DJs from 23:00-01:30. Admission is free. www.globe.ie

Please double check if the Regular Events will take place. Because of Christmas, it is likely that many events will take a break until after New Year.

REGULAR SATURDAY EVENTS
* Don’t forget that the Temple Bar Markets (Food Market on Meeting House Square, Book Market on Temple Bar Square and the 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
* Dublin Food Co-op is open every Saturday (09:30-16:30) at Newmarket, Dublin 8 for organic wholefoods and sustainable household products, plus over a dozen producer stalls offering organic fruit and veg., baked goods, dairy produce, wines, hot and cold food, etc. Additional Co-op opening Thursdays 12:00-20:00. www.dublinfood.coop
* The weekly Honest2goodness food market with fresh meat, vegetables, fish, baked goods, wines in Glasnevin is open from 09:30-16:00. It is behind Lidl in the Industrial Estate just after the Glasnevin Cemetary coming from the City Centre. (www.honest2goodness.ie)
* At the Blackrock Market in the centre of Blackrock, you find 50 stalls selling collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, books, food + there’s free popcorn and ballons&facepainting for the kids. www.blackrockmarket.com/ Opening: Sat+Bank Holidays: 11:00-17:30, Sun: 12:00-17:30
* 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
* Nearly every day and especially at the weekend, the Porterhouse in Temple Bar is hosting live bands that are always worth a visit. www.porterhousebrewco.com/livetemplebar.html
* Trad Session – Schoolhouse Pub in 2-8 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge. Every Saturday from 22:00 singers, guitar, fiddle, banjo, accordion, whistle, pipers, bodhran etc are all welcome to join in. www.schoolhousehotel.com/
* The Black Sheep play Rock Covers from 22:00 in The Mezz 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2. Later Dj Glenn Brown (Dublin Calling). Admission is free.
* 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 latin DJs. Food is available until 00:30 and usually there is plenty of room to get dancing and you are invited to add your own percussion. www.facebook.com/pages/Havana-Tapas-Bar/10503361821

______________________________
______Sunday __________________

CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas Day is in most families a day of eating and indulgence. A “typical” Irish Christmas Day often involves a walk or visit at or by friends/relatives in the morning. Then the presents are unwrapped unless there are children in the family who probably already woke up impatiently at 06:00 or so because they can’t wait to see what “Santa” has brought in the night. Then in the afternoon (depending on the customs in each family at any time between 13:00 and 16:00) the Christmas Dinner will take place. Traditionally this dinner includes turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy and vegetables. Often the post-dinner activities will be watching TV or sleeping in front of the TV. :-) By the way, I know that every family has slightly different customs, but I guess the description above applies to quite a large number of families.
Pubs, restaurants and often even filling stations are closed on Christmas Day. Smaller shops are in recent years sometimes open if the staff is not from Ireland or is part of a religion that doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but you should not rely on finding ANY shop open on Christmas Day.

CHRISTMAS SWIM – FORTY FOOT
Sun 25 Dec: Forty Foot, Sandycove (south of Dun Loaghaire)
A tradition at the Forty Foot in Sandycove is to go for a Christmas Swim in the sea. The water is usually cold and sometimes freezing cold, but participants would call it “energizing”. ;-) There is no website and no organiser, you just arrive and get into the water when and if you feel like it.

______________________________
______Next Week_______________

———Monday————————–

ST. STEPHEN’S DAY
Despite the fact that this is the 2nd Christmas Holiday, you can expect that most shops (if not all) in the City Centre are open on Monday. Some might open later than usual (Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre opens at 11:00), others sometimes open a LOT earlier than usual. The reason why the shops are immediately back is because the Sales start in many shops on 26 Dec already.

ARCHIVE AT LUNCHTIME – FILM SCREENING – IFI
Mon, Wed, Sat in Dec: 13:10 – Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 – The IFI continues with its free Archive at Lunchtime screenings. A number of free programmes will be shown at lunchtime on Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays. The details and the relevant dates when the programme will be screened are:
5, 14, 19, 28 December: ifi.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7682
7, 12, 21 December: ifi.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7683
A double bill that includes both programmes will be screened on the Saturdays in December (3, 10, 17, 31 Dec):ifi.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7684 Admission is free, just collect your ticket at the ticket desk.

FATHER TED DAY – BERNARD SHAW
Mon 26 Dec: 18:00 – Bernard Shaw Pub, South Richmond Street, Dublin 2
The traditional and very popular Father Ted Day is taking place again on St Stephen’s Day in the Bernard Shaw Pub. There will be a “The Lovely Girls Competition” and “Ladder of Death” and “Tunnel of Goats”, all games that Father Ted fans will know and others will easily learn, will take place.
www.bodytonicmusic.com/events/2565/ www.tedfest.org/

Please double check if the Regular Events will take place. Because of Christmas, it is likely that many events will take a break until after New Year.

JAZZ KITCHEN – GRAND SOCIAL
Mon 19 Dec: 20:00 – Grand Social, Lower Liffey Street, Dublin 1 (near Ha’Penny Bridge). – This is a weekly Jazz Club in the Grand Social pub. The Jazz Kitchen presents two contrasting bands every week, offering a diverse range of jazz and improvised music from the next generation of creative emerging artists to more established jazz musicians. Admission is free (a donation of EUR 5 is suggested) www.thegrandsocial.ie/event/jazz-kitchen-0

REGULAR MONDAY EVENTS
* From 21:00 in the International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street: The Glór Sessions feature acoustic singer-songwriters, comedy, spoken word and poetry hosted by Stephen James Smith. Entry is free. www.stephenjamessmith.com/Glor.html www.facebook.com/TheGlorSessions
* Solar Trio Gig in Anseo (Camden Street, D2) on the first three Mondays of every month. Jazz standards along with totally improvised on the spot jams.
* In O’Byrne’s Beverage House at 199 King St North (Corner of Capel Street and Bolton Street) a live music session “Jam with Karmann Reeves” will take place. Musicians are welcome to participate. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001158421465
* Comedy Crunch – The Comedy Crunch is a free Stand Up comedy in the Stag’s Head, Dame Lane from 21:00 every week on Sun+Mon. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Comedy-Crunch/83791357330
* Comedy Night in Panti Bar. A new free Comedy Night with comedy improv, stand up and sketch every Monday night in Panti Bar on Capel St from 21:00. entertainment.ie/event/Comedy/Pantibar/A-Bear-A-Bull-And-A-Chicken-Walk-Into-A-Bar/2563419.htm
* From 22:00, the front bar of Whelan’s is the venue for the Open Mic event “Acoustic Nightmares Night”, organised by the band The Mighty Stef and some members from The Last Tycoons. This is a free event. www.facebook.com/pages/THE-MIGHTY-STEF/17575454643
* Upbeat Generation is playing Soul/Funk/Rock Covers in The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2 from 22:00. Later: DJ Rasheed. Admission is free.

———Tuesday————————

NATIONAL MUSEUM EVENTS
Tue 27 Dec: 14:00-16:00 – National Museum – Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2. – The “Darwin Inspectorium!” will take place on Tues 27 and Wed 28 Dec. It is a drop-in event for the whole family. “180 years ago, on the 27th December 1831, Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle. Drop into this special Inspectorium where you can inspect some Darwin related items. No booking required.” www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=2575

GYPSIES ON THE AUTOBAHN – WORKMAN’S CLUB
Tues 27 Dec: 20:00 – The Workman’s Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
“Gypsies on the Autobahn” with support from “Leaders of Men” and “The Year The Monkeys Landed” will be in the Workman’s Club on Tuesday. Admission is free.
www.theworkmansclub.com/2011/12/21/gypsies-on-the-autobahn-with-leaders-of-men-and-the-year-the-monkeys-271211/

LIVE MUSIC NIGHT – MERCANTILE
Tues 27 Dec: 20:00 – The Mercantile, 28 Dame Street, Dublin 2
The Ourz, Mr Sands, Six Over Six, Love Notes and Ashes are performing in the Mercantile and admission is free.
www.dublinsessions.ie/mercantile.html

Please double check if the Regular Events will take place. Because of Christmas, it is likely that many events will take a break until after New Year.

REGULAR TUESDAY EVENTS
* Open Mic Night with The Last Tycoons in O’Donoghue’s on Suffolk Street every Tues from 20:00. It’s free and anyone can get up, sing a song or do whatever they like. www.facebook.com/pages/ODonoghues-Open-Mic/71834618844
* O’Byrne’s Beverage House at 199 King St North (Corner of Capel Street and Bolton Street) has a live music session with Sean Og McKenna and Friends every Tue at 21:00. Musicians welcome to participate. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001158421465
* Live Jazz and Blues from 21:00 every Tuesday in the International Bar on 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2.
* 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
* From 21:30, O’Briens on Dame Street (next to the Mercantile Pub) is the venue for a further Open Mic event of acoustic rock’n’roll organised by the band The Mighty Stef. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/pages/THE-MIGHTY-STEF/17575454643
* White Chocolate is playing Rock Covers from 22:00 in The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2

———Wednesday———————-

NATIONAL MUSEUM EVENTS
Wed 28 Dec: 14:00-16:00 – National Museum – Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2. – The “Darwin Inspectorium!” will take place on Tues 27 and Wed 28 Dec. It is a drop-in event for the whole family. “180 years ago, on the 27th December 1831, Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle. Drop into this special Inspectorium where you can inspect some Darwin related items. No booking required.” www.museum.ie/en/list/calendar-of-events.aspx?eventID=2575

NATIONAL GALLERY EVENTS
Wed 28 Dec: 15:00 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The National Gallery is inviting to a Family Workshop (15:00), a free gallery tour (15:30) and a music performance (16:00) on Wednesday. And all details an be found here: www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Please double check if the Regular Events will take place. Because of Christmas, it is likely that many events will take a break until after New Year.

JAZZ – O’REILLY’S PUB – SANDYMOUNT
Every Wed from 21:00-23:00, The Swing Factory (Paul Sweeney – trumpet, Neil McMahon sax, Bob Whelan vocals/keys Dave Fleming bass, Ian Hyland – drums) will be playing Jazz in O’Reilly’s Pub in Sandymount, D4. Admission is free.

REGULAR WEDNESDAY EVENTS
* The “Havana International Language Exchange” is taking place every Wed from 16:30-19:30 in Havana Tapas Bar in George’s Street. There are many Spanish speakers and English-speakers are explicitly invited, but everyone else is certainly very welcome too, to meet for a chat to improve your Spanish or English. www.facebook.com/pages/Havana-Tapas-Bar/10503361821
* “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 every Wednesday. www.hamletsweeney.com/events/
* Traditional Irish Music Session in Hedigan’s (The Brian Boru) in Phibsborough from 21:30 every Wednesday. If you play an instrument you are especially welcome (all levels are welcome).
* Seven Deadly Skins are playing Reggae/Ska Covers from 22:00 with DJ Dotsie later. The Mezz, 24/25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2. Admission is free.

———Thursday————————

HORSE RACING – LEOPARDSTOWN
Mary O’R told me about a free event if you join (for free) the Tote Go Racing Club. All members get free admission to the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at the Leopardstown Horse Racing course (near Stillorgan) on Thurs 29 Dec from 12:30 if you join at www.totegoracingclub.com Because there is not enough time for you to receive your membership card, you might want to contact them by e-mail or phone once you have joined to ensure you will get in for free.

NATIONAL GALLERY EVENTS
Wed 29 Dec: 15:00 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The National Gallery is inviting to a Family Workshop (15:00), a free gallery tour (15:30) and a music performance (16:00) on Wednesday. And all details an be found here: www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

Please double check if the Regular Events will take place. Because of Christmas, it is likely that many events will take a break until after New Year.

S… & THE CITY – BAGGOT INN
Thursdays: 16:00 – Baggot Inn, 143 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.
The Ladies Night “S.. & The City” (I can’t write the 3-letter word as otherwise all spam filters will block this newsletter! :-) ) is a new weekly event every Thursday. At this evening of “Carrie and Cocktails”, your favourite episodes of the show will be screened and the resident Mixologist will be demonstrating how to make the
perfect Cocktail (there are specials and you can even mix your own). Call on 01 6618758 or email reservations@thebaggotinn.ie for further details. www.thebaggotinn.ie

RAILWAY SESSIONS – OPEN MIC – O’REILLY’S ROCK BAR
Thurs: 20:30 – O’Reilly’s Rock Bar, underneath Tara Street DART Station, Dublin 2
If you are a Singer, Songwriter, play an Instrument or just want to jam then come to the Railway Sessions in O’Reilly’s every Thurs at 20:00 and showcase maybe a new song or a cover. All performing musicians will receive a complimentary drink. The event starts at 20:30. To contact the organisers: info@dublinsocialtv.ie An Indie-Rock Club starts immediately afterwards at 23:00. Admission free.
entertainment.ie/event/gigs/O%27Reilly%27s-Rock-Bar/Railway-Sessions/2575255.htm

BANDA BAQUE SOUL BAND – SIN E
Thursdays: 21:00 – Sin É, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
Sin È are running regular live music events and one regular event is with the Brazilian Soul + Funk Band “Banda Baque Soul” on Thursdays. www.facebook.com/sin.e.dublin?sk=wall

LEFT RIGHT & CENTRE – FRANK RYAN’S BAR
Thursdays: 21:30 – Frank Ryan’s Bar, Queen Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7
Every Thursday “Left Right & Centre” plays a mix of blues & soul with a bit of rock&roll. www.frankryans.com/2011/10/10/left-right-centre-the-homecoming/
Thanks to Tadhg who told me about this regular gig.

REGULAR THURSDAY EVENTS
* Lunchtime Market at Christ Church Cathedral from 12:00-15:00. www.irishvillagemarkets.ie/christchurch.php
* Quiz Night in The Lotts Cafe Bar, 9 Lower Liffey St, Dublin 1. Every Thurs a quiz night with great prizes is taking place at 20:00/20:30 depending on football. Participation is free.
* Dimestore Recordings run a weekly event in Sweeney Mongrel’s, Dame Street (formerly Le Cirk) with a variety of bands and performers. It starts at 20:00 and the line up is here: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000163463304&sk=wall
* Songs from a Café is a Dublin singer-songwriter showcase session, dedicated to the art of contemporary songwriting. 20:00-22:00 at Brick Alley Cafe. www.facebook.com/songsfromacafe
* The Max Zaska group (06+20 Oct, 03 Nov) and the Patrick Groenland (13 + 27 Oct, 10 Nov) group will perform on alternating Thursdays from 21:00 in the International Bar on 23 Wicklow Street.
* “Thirsty Thursday” Open Mic Night from 21:00 in the Bridge Inn in Chapelizod Village. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bridge-Inn-Chapelizod/350005960758
* Open Music Night in Darky Kellys pub in Fishamble Street, Christ Church, Dublin 8 organised by the music duo R.E.D.. Would you like to perform or just listen? Names of contributors are taken from 21:30 and the gig starts at 22:00. www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Mic-Night-Dublin/121048244620948
www.myspace.com/redmusic11
* The Bionic Rats play live Reggae and Ska every Thursday in Turk’s Head from 22:00. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/TURKSHEADDUBLIN

———Friday————————

NATIONAL GALLERY EVENTS
Wed 30 Dec: 15:00 – National Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The National Gallery is inviting to a Family Workshop (15:00), a free gallery tour (15:30) and a music performance (16:00) on Wednesday. And all details an be found here: www.nationalgallery.ie/whatson

CROW BLACK CHICKEN – WHELAN’S
Fri 30 Dec: 20:00 – Whelan’s (Front Bar), 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
The band Crow Black Chicken began their life as a blues band and are now fusing jazz, blues, punk, folk and rock to create their unique style. www.crowblackchicken.com/ Admission is free. www.whelanslive.com/index.php/archives/6191

NEW YEARS EVE FESTIVAL
30 Dec – 01 Jan: Dublin City
The first New Year’s Eve Festival is taking place from Friday until Sunday and in next week’s Dublin Event Guide you will find more information about this festival. The weekend starts on Friday with markets (11:00-19:00) on Wolfe Tone Square (Jervis Street), Dame Court and on Barnardos Square (Dame Street, opposite the Olympia Theatre). There will be children’s entertainment on Wolfe Tone Square from 14:00-17:00 and in City Hall “Kids Rock n Roll” disco will keep the children entertained on 30-31 Dec from 14:00-16:00.
On 30 Dec for the Fingal County Youth Orchestra will perform classical pieces for the opening day of the festival at 15:00. (nyedublin.ie/2011/the-fingal-county-orchestra-live-at-city-hall/) The NYE Festival Programme can be found here nyedublin.ie

———Pre-Announcements————————

This section contains events that will 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:

CHRISTMAS!!!
Because of the upcoming BIG event called “NEW YEAR”, there are no upcoming events here this week.

______________________________
______This is odd!!______________

Please note: This section contains observations taken from the world I live in that strike me as odd. I express my personal opinion and you might not share it. If you are easily offended by opinions that are not identical with your own, please don’t read this section. ;-)

PSYCHIATRIST SUGGESTS TO POISON US
A consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, suggested in a mind boggling initiative that the government should add lithium salts to the public water supply in an attempt to lower the suicide rate and depression among people in Ireland. This is one of the craziest ideas I have heard recently. It is bad enough that the drinking water in Ireland is interfered with by the addition of a highly toxic waste product from the fertiliser industry (uncontrolled fluoridation) but a completely uncontrolled anti-depression medication for every single water consuming person is outrageous and would be similar to poisoning people.
In case you are wondering, the side effects of Lithium is just a harmless “significant amounts of weight gain”, “may cause more depression than before with suicidal thoughts and actions”, “reduces the activity of thyroid horm one”, “can cause birth defects”, “if taken during a woman’s pregnancy can cause her child to develop a heart defect”. And if these few little concerns are not enough and we have an unexpected summer during which you drink more or you do physical exercise, then we have to look at overdosing: “Lithium toxicity may occur in persons taking excessive amounts either accidentally or intentionally on an acute basis or in patients who accumulate high levels during ongoing chronic therapy. The manifestations include nausea, emesis, diarrhea, asthenia, ataxia, confusion, lethargy, polyuria, seizures and coma.”
Enough?? Stupid suggestions like that make you wonder if a doctor is fit to treat patients. Suicides and depression is a serious problem, but uncontrolled mass medication can’t be a solution to that problem.
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1202/1224308474582.html

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—————–
Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the good food, the time off and the time with your family or friends! Spread some love to others if you have plenty! And if you are alone over Christmas think of the people that do care about you even if they are not around over the next few days. And in the unlikely event that you can’t think of anyone that does care about you, let me tell you that I care about each of the 10,000+ readers of this Dublin Event Guide soo much that I have spent more than 1300 hours this year on writing and publishing this e-zine every week.

Take care,

–Joerg

dublineventguide@gmail.com
www.dublineventguide.com
www.facebook.com/DublinEventGuide

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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 so your donations are needed: www.perfectresults.info/donation.htm. 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 December 2008 in pubs and other venues.
Copyright 2011 by Joerg Steegmueller.
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