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Glimmer of hope in Covid Times! – And also: Food Markets, Botanic Garden Walks, Dublin Theatre Festival

Some of you know that I am involved with the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir in technical capacity. Until March we sang every Sunday at a Gospel Mass in Gardiner Street Church. On 08 March we had our 20 year anniversary gig in the Button Factory and then it all stopped!

Standing close together as 25-30 people choir is NOT an option at the moment and singing is currently seen as one of the most riskiest hobbies. How times have changed!

So what can we do? How can we get together again and sing as a choir in a totally safe way? We tried Zoom and it didn’t work, we tried other online platforms and they were unsuitable, but we didn’t want to give up. We worked hard on this idea and last week we ran a trial to see if the concept that we came up with could work.

The great new is that it did work! And we are now planning for a full choir rehearsal in a totally safe way. For me that is a glimmer of hope in the current times. Maybe even more than a glimmer!! ;-)

And this is what we did (more details can be provided if you want to know):
Every choir member is on their own in their own car, their own safe cocoon, in which they can sing without endangering anybody else. Every choir member has a microphone and all microphones are connected to a mixing desk. The output from that mixing desk is fed back to the car radios so that everybody can hear all other singers. There is no delay and (unlike via online platforms) singing together works perfectly.

We are now looking for a roofed/underground car park that would let us do a weekly rehearsal and if you have a suggestion, please let me know via dublineventguide@gmail.com. Ideally there would be a power socket in that car park. We don’t need anything else.

We might even do a gig around Christmas! Watch this space!!

Do you also have a story that gives some hope? Send it to me and I will post a few interesting ideas in the next few weeks. :-)

Right now, we have less innovation regarding events than in March an April, but there is nothing to say that we can’t develop new ideas again or go back – for a while – to what was done a few months ago.

And whatever I find out, I will report back to you in the form of the best free events that I can find! Week after week! To do this effectively, there are some cost and so we have found this deal: I do the work and you help me pay the bills through donations. As long as this works, I will continue. If I have to do the work AND pay the bills, I will stop. Fair??? I think so!

I am not asking for a lot, but I think one or two Euro per MONTH is a very fair suggestion. So for the year, this would be 12 Euro or – for people you can afford a bit more – just 24 Euro per year! That is ONLY 23 or 46 cent per Dublin Event Guide edition! An amazingly low cost for the great value that you get every week! :-)

Please donate via www.paypal.me/DublinEventGuide
or for Revolut users among you just via 0872931571.

And if 12 Euro is too much for you, then it would be great if you bought one or two or even three virtual coffees for the Dublin Event Guide and you can do that on the “Buy Me a Coffee” page here www.buymeacoffee.com/DublinEventG

And come over to www.DublinEventGuide.com to check out some of the ads and click on the ones that you find interesting, that also helps!!

Thank you very very much!

The EPIC Zone

“EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum” (www.epicchq.com) are currently sponsoring the Dublin Event Guide and this section of the weekly newsletter will contain relevant information about events in general or about EPIC-related news and happenings.

 

++ EPIC is currently closed, but they will be back as soon as possible and in the meantime I want to tell you a bit more about EPIC:
“EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum” is based in the CHQ Building in the IFSC area of Dublin on Custom House Quay. CHQ, formerly known as Stack A, or the Tobacco Store, was built between 1817 and 1820 to store cargoes of tobacco, tea and spirits. And the building was made famous when it hosted the Crimean War Banquet in 1856, celebrating the return of 3,000 Irish soldiers.
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In the early 2000s the building was restored by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and after trying life as a shopping destination in the Docklands, the CHQ was bought by Irishman Neville Isdell, former Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola, in 2013, with the intention of developing it into a tourist destination at the social heart of Dublin’s Docklands.
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In 2015, a strategic advisory group was assembled to create “EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum” and in May 2016, this very modern and highly interactive museum that tells the story of the 70 million Irish people around the world, opened its doors. epicchq.com/history-and-vision/ 

And here are as many free events for you as I could find:

 

Saturday

+++ Dublin Festival of History 07-27 Sept with daily events (online and free): dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/programme/
+ The SuperNatural Food Market 09:00-15:00 St Andrew’s Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse St., Dublin 2 www.facebook.com/thesupernaturalfoodmarket
+ Honest2Goodness Market – Food Market – 09:30-15:00 – 136a Slaney Close, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 www.facebook.com/GlasnevinMarket/
+ Virtual March for Choice 2020 Events 10:00-22:30 Online www.facebook.com/events/1646452738848430/
+ St Anne’s Park Market – Farmer’s Market 10:00-16:00 St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 www.facebook.com/RedStablesMarket/
+ Bushy Park Market 10:00-16:00 Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6W www.facebook.com/bushyparkmarket
+ Marlay Park Market 10:00-16:00 Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 www.dlrcoco.ie/en/markets/marlay-park-coco-market
+ Bicycle Maintenance Clinic 10:30-12:30 Stillorgan Library, St. Laurence’s Park, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin www.facebook.com/events/3391063854316610/
++ Family Day: Draíocht Rocks Part 4 11:00-18:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/883968548810202/
+ Big Bang Dance Project 2020 11:00-12:30 Richmond Barracks, off Bulfin Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 www.facebook.com/events/686571932069670 (Booking required)
+ Ukulele Licence – Play Along – Rock Jam School 11:00-11:30 Online rockjam.ie
+ Temple Bar Food Market 11:00-16:00 Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 www.templebarmarkets.com/foodmarket
+ Blackrock Market 11:00-17:30 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin www.facebook.com/BlackrockMarket/
+ September Daily Guided Tours of the National Botanic Gardens 11:30-12:30 + 15:00-16:00 National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 www.eventbrite.ie/e/118597727997 (Registration required)
++ Vitality Expo – Online Health Expo with talks, fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and more 12:00-00:00 Online www.vitalityexpo.ie
+ My Psychic-Medium Toolbox with Nadija Bajrami – Talk 12:00 Online www.dublinmindbodyexperience.ie/nadija-bajrami-psychic-medium-live-streams
+ Family-friendly Guided Tour of the National Botanic Gardens 12:30-13:30 National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 www.eventbrite.ie/e/118600205407 (Registration required)+ Chocolate Swiss Roll – Baking Workshop 14:00-15:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/934084703747750/
+ illicit LIVE @ The Sound House 15:00-23:00 www.facebook.com/events/1654510768058213/
+ Botanic Gardens Themed Tour: Wild Ireland – Meet the Native Trees 15:30-16:30 National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 www.eventbrite.ie/e/116719704779 (Booking required)
+ Infinity guided meditation – Live Webinar with Isha Online 16:00-17:00  Online www.ishayoga.eu/index.php/live-webinars/
+ The Value of Latin – Talk 17:00-18:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/828050291336507/
+ Virtual Festival @ The Live House with 4 DJs 17:00-21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/1653940764769933/
+ Alternative Market 18:00-21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/1149278255431486/
+ English Folk Club – German Version 19:00-21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/326017995279379/
+ Online Karaoke with the Happy Man Karaoke 19:00-21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/757079041804899/
++ A Night in with Brian Kennedy 20:00-21:15 Online www.facebook.com/events/2676622502592969/
+ Totally Wired – Comedy & Music 20:00-22:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/357832661905025/
+ Grand Concert & Book Launch – Traditional Irish Singing – Frank Harte Festival 20:00 Online www.facebook.com/The-Frank-Harte-Festival-109795519120250/
+ Cloak Dagger’s Casa Tropical – Hard Rock Cafe Gig 20:00-21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/557958338252600

 

 

 

+++ National Walking Day www.sportireland.ie/participation/european-week-of-sport/national-walking-day Today is National Walking Day and you are encouraged to go for a walk, but there are no specific events
+++ Dublin Festival of History 07-27 Sept with daily events (online and free): dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/programme/
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+ Dun Laoghaire People’s Park Market 10:00-17:30 People’s Park, Park Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin www.dlrcoco.ie/en/markets/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-coco-market
+ Walking Meditation in the Park 10:30-11:30 Phoenix Park Entrance, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8 www.facebook.com/events/331882854898738/
+ The basics of post production in video making – Webinar 11:00-12:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/377485299939949/ (Donations welcome)
+ The Frank Harte Festival Virtual Traditional Singing Tour 11:00-?? Online www.facebook.com/The-Frank-Harte-Festival-109795519120250
+ Marlay Park Market 11:00-16:00 Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 www.dlrcoco.ie/en/markets/marlay-park-coco-market
+ Blackrock Market 11:00-17:30 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin www.facebook.com/BlackrockMarket/
++ Vitality Expo – Online Health Expo with talks, fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and more 12:00-00:00 Online www.vitalityexpo.ie
+ September Daily Guided Tours of the National Botanic Gardens 11:30-12:30 + 15:00-16:00 National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 www.eventbrite.ie/e/118597727997 (Registration required)
++ Vitality Expo – Online Health Expo with talks fitness classes and more 12:00-00:00 Online www.vitalityexpo.ie
+ Love yourself with hypnotherapy with Nadija Bajrami – Talk 12:00 Online www.dublinmindbodyexperience.ie/nadija-bajrami-therapist-live-stream
+ Family-friendly Guided Tour of the National Botanic Gardens 12:30-13:30 National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 www.eventbrite.ie/e/118600205407 (Registration required)

+ “L’Histoire Du Soldat” – Theatrical work by Igor Stravinsky – Masters Recital 13:00-14:00 www.facebook.com/events/778761339586713/
+ Virtual March for Choice 2020 Events 13:00-16:30 Online www.facebook.com/events/1646452738848430/
+ September Daily Guided Tours of the National Botanic Gardens 15:00-16:00 National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 www.eventbrite.ie/e/118597727997 (Registration required)
+ Techno Disco Livestream 17:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/654695192097602/
+ Self-Breema exercises for balancing body, mind, and feelings 19:00-19:40 Online www.breema.com/events/2020-09-27/all-doors-are-open-to-the-open-heart-online-self-breema-class
+ Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Online Mass 19:30-20:30 Online www.facebook.com/events/618767912076311/
+ Robin James Hurt – Live on Irishgigs 21:00-22:30 Online www.facebook.com/events/332126274824252/

 

I found a few more things to keep you going or that you might find interesting:

1) CHRISTMAS 2020 – TALK TO YOUR CHILD! ;-)
Oh, I know! September and I am already talking about Christmas. But you know, we are going into the last quarter of this strange year and there is no avoiding of the fact that the next big stop on our path is Christmas. But there is a very good reason for me mentioning it: My local Lidl (and without a doubt many other supermarkets as well) have shelves stocked with Christmas chocolates and cookies and Christmas events are starting to sell their tickets to Santa Experiences (minus meeting Santa due to Covid!!!)
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With all that, the first (smart ;-) ) children have started to wonder (and worry) if Santa will maybe not come this year because of Covid! So you have to take action and maybe pro-actively talk about it and take your children’s/grandchildren’s/nephews’/nieces’ worry away!
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I don’t have any children, but I have a wonderfully curious nephew and niece and this is what I would say:
“This year Christmas will be very different than in other years and we don’t even know yet what the difference will be, but one thing is certain: Santa will definitely bring some presents and you don’t have to worry about that! He lives in the same household with all the reindeers and helpers, so they are allowed to work together and the reindeers can pull the sledge. And because he brings his own sledge, he is ALSO allowed to fly into Ireland and all other countries without being tested, but to make sure that he will stay healthy, he might not come into the house this year to have milk and cookies, instead he will just drop the presents in the chimney and then move to the next chimney. This way Santa will stay safe, but you will still get your presents!” ;-) Let me know if it helps! :-) Here is the British view: www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-53055224

2) MARITIME MUSEUM, Dun Laoghaire
Do you remember that a few months ago I regularly posted links to virtual/online tours? The Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire now also has a online 3D tour and you should have a look. The Maritime Museum has its home in a former church just behind the library in Dun Laoghaire and many people don’t even know about the museum. It is normally not free, so I usually can’t list some of their events in the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events), but now that they have a free virtual tour, have a look here: my.matterport.com/show/?m=NtUcQ6qJFJP

3) DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL
Last week was National Bikeweek in Ireland and I totally missed it! Weird times! There were mainly a few Zoom calls or webinars but hardly any live events.
In the coming week the Dublin Theater Festival will start (Thursday 24 September – Sunday 11 October) and I won’t miss that, but – as you can imagine – a lot of events again are online. Find the programme on dublintheatrefestival.ie/

4) Birdsong Challenge – Natural History Museum
To keep kids busy, the Natural History Museum has created a website for a Birdsong Challenge.
Watch the videos on the website here www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Natural-History/Engage-And-Learn/Learning-Resources/Birdsong-Challenge
Then learn to recognise the birdsongs and when you are next time on a walk with the whole family, identify the birds that are singing around you.

5) Online Courses – Special Offer
During the Covid lockdown, enrollments in Udemy courses increased by 425%! Wow! What did you learn during that time? In September most Udemy courses will cost between EUR 10.99 and 12.99 again. At some point in August the courses were even reduced to 9.99, but these things happen sometimes without advance warning. I checked though and in September and October there are no 9.99 discounts planned, so you better get the courses when you see form for between 10.99 and 12.99. Please use this link shor.by/GqCk because if you buy through that link, you help the Dublin Event Guide! ;-)

6) Books – BIG DISCOUNT ON BOOK DEPOSITORY
A new free Book summary can be found here every week: readitfor.me/91927 Readitfor.me actually provides a number of weekly free book summaries and they also have a special offer at the moment still that will expire soon: For $99 you will get Lifetime access to ALL book summaries! This is a great price if you consider that their normal monthly charge is EUR 10, so in just 10 month you would have spent more than with the lifetime access.
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To buy physical books and e-books I recommend Book Depository because they are usually cheaper than others and they always include delivery for free (and by using this link you help the Dublin Event Guide). Please don’t use any other links than the one below!! (Book Depository changed all their links and with the old one you don’t help the Dublin Event Guide.) With this link you do help the Dublin Event Guide when you purchase a book and it doesn’t cost you a cent: shor.by/BookDepository
And until Sunday 04 October, Book Depository is giving everybody in Ireland a 10% discount!! Use the link above and then enter the code IE10 in the coupon box at checkout.