le cool issue *165

Merrion Square Pop-Up Design Shop 

For me what makes Dublin so magical and picture perfect at Christmas are the reliable Georgian squares and streets lined with the era's architecture and decorated from the inside out via high portrait windows that look in at warm fires and twinkling trees. Other seasonalfavourites of mine are mulled wine and mulling about town, familiar faces in crowds, each and everyone focused on buying presents. Well fancy this, the Irish Architectural Archives are throwing their Merrion square paneled doors open for a one day pop-up co-hosted by the Irish Design Shop. Standout gifts will be GarvandeBruir's sheepskin-lined laptop bags, Jenny Walsh's witty clocks, Merle O’Grady's jewellery, stationary brand Keep Sketch and Little Hill Design's gorgeous chopping boards. Warmth provided by the designers themselves, a chorus and spiced swigs.

Circustravaganza

As Napoleon Dynamite pointed out, 'girls only like boys who have good skills,' and as most of us are aware there's nothing more romantic then running away to the circus. Two very good reasons to go to Circustravaganza. Also I don't know about you but I've never been to one, so there's another reason. I can only imagine the fun it's going to be. Oh, for even one day to be part of the Big Top excitement! since this summer I have taken up hula hooping; I like it's rhythmic, meditative aspect. There's only so much Youtube videos can explain to you though so I'm going to focus on getting some sound, personalized advice from the tutors and being impressed by their close-up tricks. I'm not sure what hat manipulation is but the other classes are for various levels of juggling and clowning, body movement, poi and diablo. What a day out.

Full issue -HERE- 

le cool issue *164

Kenny Werner

Kenny Werner ia a jazz pianist from Brooookl-yn. A legend. A man of substance. He has this book he wrote called Effortless Mastery which is basically the go-to book for musicians aiming for improvement and understanding of improvisation but interestingly it's also a bit of a cult classic read for artists, business professionals, chefs (probably) and people who are interested in a free-flowing thought process that will lead them towards greatness in their work and life. That's the kind of thinking that goes into the music he makes. Proficient. So it's kind of a big deal that he's playing here in the Hugh Lane gallery for one of their lovely Sunday concerts. For free. He will be playing a solo so get there in time to be seated FROW. And if you have a copy of Effortless Mastery bring it along and get it signed.

Full issue -HERE-

le cool issue #163 (the food issue)

Peperina 

I feel like Ranelagh is constantly trying to fatten me up. There are SO many reliably good restaurants and cafes. Peperina is slightly out of Ranelgah (located beside Mortons, Beechwood luas stop) so there's less temptation or decision to battle with and you can still remain sure of a dependably appetising and spirited meal. I had a late breakfast here, poached eggs, bacon and freshly squeezed OJ. I completely forgot that I'd just brushed my teeth and had a big gulp. Disaster. So I got a coffee too and it turns out they serve great coffee. Fun lighting fixtures as well. What else can I say? For one I really like the mix of produce for sale towards the front, gluten free, artisan pastas and well designed kitchen appliances. I just wish the weather had been nice enough to sit in the herb garden.

Full issue -HERE-

le cool issue #162

Tropical Popical 

Five days is good going. The whole salon is good going- it's good going there! Kitsch, completely unpretentious and from €7. I never get my nails did except in NY but I'd been following their twit and facyB so was pretty psyched. Through a half open door it's squeal worthy and awe-some from within. The signature Tropical Popical nail has palm trees and flamingos. 'Can of Lilt with your mani?' Amazing. I haven't had one since my grandad was diagnosed diabetic. 'Open that before you get your nails done'. Excellent. I brought Donal - 23, single, straight (he'll want me to mention that) - to prepare for winter dates. You gotta be buff. His technician wasn't as chatty as mine but gave him a hand massage that made me blush. Apparently they've had more men in. I'm looking at my nails right now five days later. A couple of premiere chips appeared last night on MY date. In a good way.

Full issue -HERE-

le cool issue #161

Dazed and Confused 

Here's one hell of a movie sure to get you in the mood for a party. I pity the chumps who consider Project X their celebration inspiration. Do they know how many times Mitch Kramer touches his face (drink up)? Or that main characters are based on real people from the director's high school who consider their names slandered. I'd be happy being portrayed by such attractive future stars but apparently it's now really hard for them to get dates without being asked if they still deal drugs. Were bongs really made during woodshop? 'Oh, no, they did that, but it wasn't me' says the real, adult Slater. What a cop out. That's what I love about this movie. The world gets older and more responsible, it stays the same age. L-I-V-I-N.

Issue -HERE-

le cool issue #159

Dealz

€2 store, I love you, but you're ripping me off.Dealz is €1.49 or less. Halloween's coming up? Sorted. I got luscious hair extensions in blue, pink and red and turned a massive room into a mermaid cave, almost exclusively from here. As for Xmas? In the (shopping) bag. Fairy lights - €1.49. Glam Mrs. Clause washing up gloves - €1.49. Stick on moustaches, inflatable saxophones, DVD's and CD's - all €1.49. Packs of THREE blade disposable razors - €1.49. In the food aisle? ALL the dealz. Hellmann's mayo, Ocean Spray craisins, Heinz ketchup, Denny and Galtee!NUTELLA. Five Capri Sun for the lunches and twenty socket covers to keep your new born safe. A friend talking with a taxi driver- "I'm not cheap," he told her, "but I'd buy my Nestle coffee there." 

De La Soul 

I found Hip Hop in my youth. I watched Wild Style, acquired some sick Adidas, bought a book on subway graffiti and let the tunes loose from my ghetto blaster (I actually did have an inherited ghetto blaster). De La Soul, BABY, that's the good stuff. The mixes and lyrics - consistently profound. Though only their first album, 3 Feet High and Rising became a massive commercial success, and  every single one of their albums has been critically acclaimed. Cult style. They've sampled 417 songs and, very flatteringly, have been sampled 116 times. Jay wowWW. Also it turns out that, hilariously, they got sued for a sample on 3 Feet... by some chancer 60's band who didn't even write the original song themselves. If no one wants to come with me to this I will literally go just by Me, Myself and I.

Full issue -HERE-

le cool issue *155

A Proposed Exhibition For The Irish House, Wood Quay 

You going to the Proposal exhibition? It is, quite humorously, not an exhibition but, as I've said, a proposal for an exhibition to be held in the legendary Irish House pub. Which you may not be familiar with as it no longer exists. Although some of you might be familiar with it for its historic social importance or from a scene from JoeStrick's 1965 Ulysses adaption. It's elaboratestuccoed facade could easily rival the Bernard Shaw and, in fact, trump it with blatant nationalist symbolism. I suppose I should say the building no longer exists as a whole because the plaster figures from it's front were preserved (by Guinness) and now (owned by Diageo) are shown here and there - for example in the Civic Tristbuilding where they create a comfortable backdrop for work created as a proposed exhibition within the walls they used to coat.

Issue *155 -HERE-