Founded in 1907, the United Arts Club is a haven, a venerable members club for arty folk. It was…read moreonce a regular haunt of mine; last Friday night the celebration of Stinging Fly publisher Declan Meade's 40th birthday was very much in line with local tradition. Troubadours, troublemakers and true geniuses bopped in the spacious front room with the sash windows open to the street below. Others blathered endlessly in the armchairs on the landing. The basement patio rang with repartee, and perched by the bar drinking whisky I was overwhelmed by waves of nostalgia, for the parties and exhibitions and larks of years gone by. Moments later I was overwhelmed by waves of Guinness as a pint was poured over me. Shuddering as the brown water trickled into my navel, and the bartender gingerly patted my shoulder with a towel, I recalled the old days - Ulick O'Connor receiving a light drubbing from a dominatrix and insisting on calling the guards, Camille performing the Masochism Tango when she was just starting out, some odd guru chanting away before a sudden bite on the arm from a stranger...God be with the days. Members can hire the function room and bar, and book keenly priced B&B rooms in the club. For a certain class of literary and artistic maven, it's a home from home. For others, it's a kip. The profile of the current membership is aging, and this place is ripe for a takeover. Now that the emphasis has shifted from conspicuous consumption and corporate fellatio to open acknowledgment of the life-enhancing value of cultural and artistic activity, it is hoped that a new generation will discover and reinvigorate this hallowed institution in the heart of Georgian Dublin.

The Repair Café found its start in Amsterdam in 2009, and it was so successful that its founder,…read moreMartine Postma, established the non-profit Repair Café Foundation to support groups in many countries where people want to create their own events. The Repair Café is voluntary is organized and staffed by volunteers who believe in sustainability and a little DIY problem-solving. In Sandymount, the Repair Café took place at the Christchurch Hall, located right on the green in the center of charming Sandymount. The even was well-organized, with greeters performing triage at the reception desk based on your item and inquiry. There are forms to fill in and a whiteboard where names are listed for the volunteers who brought with them repair tools and know-how to share. I brought a pair of shoes that I purchased new but haven't been able to wear because of a defective buckle. While I waited for the jewelry-maker to finish up with another person, I had a seat and a cup of tea at tables thoughtfully provided next to a little refreshment stand. As I sat and sipped, I watched others bringing in their conundrums in the form of table legs, lamps, bicycles, and more. There were about 8 problem-solving volunteers (about equally divided between men and women), and about 4 volunteer organizer/facilitators. I'm not sure who enjoyed the experience more - the people seeking problem-solving advice and new skills, or those helping solve DIY dilemmas? The jeweler was very helpful, but she came up with the same perspective that I've had for months: to repair the shoe would also probably ruin it. Since I grew up on a farm, I'm pretty handy with repairs and creative solutions, and so I wasn't surprised by her finding. She suggested writing to the company, which I will do. What I most enjoyed, though, was the community spirit the event evokes and talking with participants and volunteers. If you missed the Repair Café in June, you can check back on Facebook for their next event, which I was told should take place in September.

I was referred to Bow Lane by staff at the Whitefriar Grill since I found them on Yelp and needed…read moreto grab a bite to eat before the restaurant closed. There were no tables available at the Whitefriar and the host told me that they also owned Bow Lane and that I should give them a try. I was a little confused when I walked in because it looked like a bar to me and I hovered in there for a bit an no one acknowledged my presence. Since I was being ignored, I started walking around inside and found a nook on the far side of the bar is where a hostess was for the restaurant part of the bar. I was promptly acknowledged and seated. It was pretty warm inside the place, too cozy for me. I was impressed with the restaurant portion of the place as it had nice décor, nice seating arrangements and cool ceiling tile. I started off with a beer (not Guinness since I knew I would be visiting the Long Hall immediately after) and was recommended a Clever Man Attractor Beer. It was crisp, clean, refreshing, but with no bite and little character. I ordered a medium ribeye steak which was cooked perfectly. For some reason though, it did not taste like a ribeye to me. I saw that all beef is of Irish origin but just tasted different than what I'm used to in the states. The dish came with fries (chips) and I ordered a unique side dish called goat cheese croquettes which were goat cheese and mashed potatoes rolled-up and fried. I would recommend that you try them. The service was pretty good in the restaurant, friendly and attentive. I'm not sure what happened on the bar side. The food was OK, the restaurant was too warm and the décor was nice. 3 stars!

Came for a Saturday brunch. The brunch options were fairly limited in my opinion. They offered a…read more"bottomless boozy brunch" for 25 euros. I went with that and ordered a Bloody Mary which was quite spicy but otherwise pretty delicious. The service was very good. Our server, Antonio, was kind and accommodating. For the next round I asked for a mimosa but was told they aren't included in the bottomless brunch. Instead I was offered a "bow lane fizz" made with melon, apple, and Prosecco. I couldn't help feeling confused and aggravated that the arguably most popular brunch cocktail, a mimosas, wasn't included in their bottomless boozy brunch. Especially considering they were happy to serve me Prosecco, as long as it was mixed with apple and melon instead of orange juice. For 25 euros I expected more. Ordered the eggs benedict with ham. The dish was just okay. Would have benefitted from more hollandaise sauce and less spinach. My last comment is that my party arrived at 12:30 pm on a Saturday and we were seated in corner booth. The restaurant was mostly empty during our time there, however they were blasting loud hip hop and salsa music the entire time. It was too loud for my party to hear each other. We asked them if they could turn the music down just a touch and we were told they couldn't. We regret coming in and definitely will not be back.

This is a pop up park that is there until the 22nd September. This little park features lots of…read morevisual art from plants in old shoes, dream garden, outdoor library and various sculptures made from raw materials. They have a little outdoor cafe with reasonable prices....known as the as the Granby Grazer. This a non-profit operation that solely works on volunteers. Other areas that were brilliant is the stage area made out of old pallets, the sand pit for the kids made out of tyres & sand of course, climbing frames made from big lumps of wood, cement benches.....the art here is endless, with many new items to find at every turn. Would love to see something like this be made a permanent fixture here.....well worth a visit.

Today I took a break from a near-fanatical spate of research for a final grad school project. The…read moreend is nearly in sight! I bicycled down to Camden Street, and went into a shop I'd never visited - AgeAction. I love charity shops! But this one really stands out to me. It has an airier feel than many of the others in the Rathmines/Camden Street area. It's evident that staff take great care to arrange things in a pleasing, interesting, and sensible way. There's furniture -I mean furniture that you'd actually want to buy and use; I saw a darling little metal kitchen cart on wheels, but I already bought a less charming version months ago from Ikea. There's clothing. There's books - quite smartly arranged. And... there's all kinds of other bits and bobs. I couldn't resist a new-in-box mandolin slicer for just €3, and a couple of novels at 2/€1. They, like some other shops, have the "window goods are only sold on a particular day" feature, which I can't quite understand. If these were auctioned on the particular date, I think it might make more sense. I'm sure there must be a reason, but I personally find this approach a turn-off. At the counter, I was warmly greeted by staff, who were very glad to hear how impressed I was with the quality and arrangement of the store. They are obviously also very dedicated to their cause, and encouraged me to take literature and look them up on Facebook. This wasn't "pushy." It was enthusiasm for a cause about which they care and want to share knowledge. So, I read a little more, and I can see why AgeAction workers are proud of their organization. They aim to improve the quality of life for senior individuals in Ireland by doing things like helping them have a voice, get better access to care, learn, gain computer skills, and socialize. What a great non-profit! Of course, donating used items or buying goods from their shop helps their cause, but they also had a cool way to donate - people can give them their unused vouchers for refunds from the bus! I saved several of these before I acquired my Leap card, but when I looked at their value, I realized that it was only a euro or two, which wasn't worth trying to find out where the office was to claim the refund. Kudos to the shop, to the charity, and to the great idea for a donations box!

Age Action is an Irish charity aimed at improving the quality of life of older people and their…read morecarers. This store on Camden St sells clothing, homewares, books and videos to raise money and awareness of the issues faced by the elderly in our society. The shop is well stocked with a variety of men's, women's and children's clothing and other items for around the home. Items are really cheaply priced, most coming in at under a fiver, but it's a great cause you're supporting if you shop here. Every week they have a sewing circle at the centre and there is a really great community feel in the store.

An excellent theatre and performing arts school for children and teenagers with classes on the…read moreNorthside and Southside of Dublin

A place to gather and sing, act, dance and most of all, HAVE FUN! Every teen or kid is welcomed…read morewarmly and is taught to perform. Shows are often performed and never fail to impress. Very advanced with equipment and experience!

Mount Merrion Community Centre hosts a number of different facilities, from Montessori to Senior…read moreCitizen 'Friendship Clubs' (has anyone else ever noticed how older people are infantalised even though they probably know more and are more capable than the rest of us combined?!). It's a lovely modern building, with plenty of space and decorated with all the artwork of the budding J. B. Yeats (let's go with an Irish theme...we don't tend to produce Picassos!!) There's yoga classes, dance and Tae Kwon-Do too...a 'something for everyone' kind of atmosphere. The only bummer is the fact that it closes for half the summer...which would be fine if we could guarantee good weather for outdoor pursuits, but in absence of such luxuries, an ability to count on the continuation of our indoor activities wouldn't go awry...

The A.W.C.D. is a non-profit women's club for American women living in Ireland. Membership includes…read moreregular social activities, monthly meetings in Dublin, and fundraising events for local charities. The club provides key resources for women who are new to the country and trying to get their bearings. It also gives a nice boost to the community and its merchants! As a newcomer to Ireland, the club put me in touch with other women from America (some who have actually become Irish citizens) and also offered opportunities to get out and about and get to know new spots to enjoy in Ireland and meet new people in the Irish community - be it at a restaurant, museum, pub/bar, coffee shop, or even a hiking trail! The club also focuses on a new Irish charity each year and makes an effort to raise funds for it with various activities. So, members have fun together and are also doing something good at the same time! Here's to 'Girl Power'!

Don't bother if you have a day time job as all the activities cater to stay at home mothers or…read moreretirees. Wish I could get my money back!