It’s all about Soul…..

Eight years ago when I lived in Manhattan, I remember a Summer’s evening when I went to Central Park with an ex boyfriend to listen to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra...it was our attempt at being cultured! Being typically Irish we just rocked in and ended up sharing my denim jacket to lie down on(they were in fashion 8 years ago!!). We looked around us at all the super organised Americans with their picnic baskets of wine, cheese & grapes, rugs, candles…you name it!! I was more than a bit envious and didn’t feel in the least bit cultured!

Are the Irish finally catching up? I think we might be! Well I thought so last Sunday as the sun shone down on Merrion Square’s Soul Picnic. All around there were families with picnics (we couldn't go too far wrong when the name 'Soul Picnic' suggested that the picnic was essential!!). The entertainment from various Soul artists was amazing and there was an atmosphere of cheeriness in the beautiful surrounds of the city centre park. The fact that it was one of the first sunny days experienced in Ireland this year definitely helped the event to run smoothly.

The Soul Festival also showcased some acts live on stage last Friday night in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square which created a great buzz amongst the crowd in Temple Bar. In the words of Oscar Wilde “Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”

Distance from Temple Bar Hotel to Merrion Square- a 10 minute walk.

Wake Up & Smell the Coffee!

There is few smells that can compare to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee! And even fewer smells compare to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the smell of cinnamon swirls!! It takes a hell of a lot of willpower to resist, especially in the mornings when I am feeling a little tired after a hectic weekend and craving the ultimate pick-me-up! West Coast Coffee, located on Temple Lane in the heart of Temple Bar serves the best coffee in Temple Bar (in my opinion!). It has been proven to brighten my day on 9 out of 10 occasions! I am reliably informed that the coffee is ethically sourced, environmentally friendly and hand roasted. It is what I’d call ‘a friendly coffee shop’. They seem genuinely interested in whether my weekend was good (or perhaps they are curious as to what gave me those dreadful bags under my eyes!!). The biggest plus for West Coast is they stamp my loyalty card twice so I only need to buy five coffees to get a free one!!! Oh it’s the simple things in life…

The coffee shop itself has a cosy charm that makes it difficult for me to leave and continue on my way to work. I stare enviously at tourists as they linger and chat over steaming mugs of coffee. I get my ‘usual’ latte which not too milky - I find the lattes in Starbucks far too milky for my liking and the prices far too steep!! Most people who are holidaying in Dublin are usually just here for a few nights so why waste time drinking horrible coffee?

I gave up coffee for April. Why April you might ask! Simply put….because I missed the boat on Lent and decided to just try April instead. Yes it did work. Once I’d made up my mind it wasn’t that difficult. I just choose a different cobbled street to walk down to work, purposely avoiding the inviting aroma of coffee beans that wafts its way down Temple Lane each morning greeting me. But once May Day rolled around I was back to my vice with a vengeance! I’ve decided life’s too short to give up coffee!

Walking Time from Temple Bar Hotel to West Coast Coffee - 5 minutes.

Make Mine a Mojito!!

Get the gals together, get your dresses on and let’s party!! I have to say the Cocktail Making Lesson is the most fun I’ve had in ages - it’s perfect for hen parties, team building days, birthday parties or a girl’s night out! It’s very informal, you will NOT learn about the history of cocktail making but you WILL have great craic!!!!

As the organiser of the cocktail making lessons in Buskers Bar, it was only right that I should test it out and see what’s involved….sure it would be rude not to!!! So I gathered the girls together and we made a night of it.

Buskers has a big main bar and then a smaller stylish cocktail bar at the front which was reserved for the 7 of us. On arrival the handsome bartender Paul, greeted us with a charming smile and a wink that had us swooning off our bar stools! We then took our seats in front of the bar and Paul expertly lined up the shots! I’m not a big fan of shots (bad memories of too many Tequilas in days gone by!!) but I decided on the ‘Banana Pudding’ shot which was yum, yum, yum!! The ‘Baby Guinness’ shots were very popular with us too.

I chose a ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’ to drink while the lesson was going on as I had already decided that I wanted to learn how to make a Mojito – my favourite cocktail!!! While Paul and another bartender made up our cocktails the cheesy girly tunes were getting us in the party mood! When we were all served up cocktails it was time to get going on the lesson. We each got a chance to go behind the bar as Paul personally guided us through what is involved in making our favourite cocktails. I made a good hand of muddling the limes and mint leaves….helped on by the cheering of the other girls! But it has to be said that the secret of a great Mojito is Rum, Rum and more Rum!!!

As the lesson finished up we were all nicely merry with belly’s full of cocktails…..Tom Cruise eat your heart out!!!

Tante-lising Zoes!

Working in the hotel I have my lunch here in Buskers Bar most days but it is nice to get out for lunch once in a while. Myself and my colleague didn’t let the rain deter us yesterday and decided to venture out for lunch. Temple Bar often gets a bad name for being expensive. But I think most places are offering great deals at the moment so I’m only too happy to take advantage of a bargain lunch!

Tante Zoe’s is located on Crow Street and they are offering a lunch time special - a main course for €8.50. The décor is lovely with creams and dark browns dominating. The service is excellent. I ordered the Cajun burger which came with home made chunky chips and my friend ordered the Blackened Chicken which also came with a side of chips and vegetables. We were told when we ordered that it would take about 15 minutes which put a stop to us looking at our watches. We still managed to get back to the office within our lunch hour!

Walking Time from Temple Bar Hotel to Tante Zoes - 6 minutes.