During a torrential downpour at the Robert Frost Farm in New Hampshire, cameraman Michael Sutton filmed the denizens of a frog pond in the forest.
This just in
Broadsheet Pub Spook Karl went inside the €3.40 a pint, Guinness-free JD Wheterspoon-controlled controversial new pub in Blackrock , Co Dublin.
The verdict:
“Since I’m based often around the corner from The Three Tun Tavern, it was inevitable that I would and up there for at least one meal there today. I’d forgotten it had opened for breakfast till I got to the office, so the next best thing was to go for lunch.
Inside it seemed brighter and airier than the previous incarnation, Tonic. The bar has been moved from the center of the building to along the back wall, opening it up a lot more space. Some of the internal walls have been removed as well so there’s more overlooking the central area. The over all impression though wasn’t of a brand new pub, rather one relatively recently renovated but lived in.
There were an awful lot of staff on but it’s not clear if that’s just because it was opening day or will be the norm. They were certainly needed today as there were a constant stream of customers coming in, as well as a few curious people just having a nose around.
Food wise, the menu is rather extensive albeit standard pub grub fare. They’ve various food ‘clubs’ on during the week with themed specials.
Being lazy and since it was their Tuesday Steak Club, I (and most of the rest of the guys I was with) ended up having a rump steak and chips for €9.95 (it’s normally €12.95). A few more chips wouldn’t have gone astray and the steak was a tiny bit overcooked for rare but the meat was flavourful. Considering the price (which included a soft drink) it was good value.
It was opening day though, so there was the inevitable hiccup with one of the meals which left one of the guys waiting 30 minutes for his veggie burger. It’s probably a little unfair to judge them on this though since it was opening day.
Overall the consensus was that the food was fine and filling but nothing spectacular. It’s another lunchtime option for Blackrock, but you wouldn’t be going out of your way to eat there.
I will be back at least once more though as they’ve a good selection of craft beers on tap that I’d like to try (and retry Hobgoblin to see if my college days impression of it being vile is true).
Okay so it’s a Wetherspoon’s pub but to be honest, it’s not particular different to many pubs already operating here. It’s probably going to do a decent lunchtime trade from the off but I wouldn’t like to make predictions about the evening.
Alternatively…
Ah here.
FIGHT!
Via Publin.ie
(Mark Stedman/Photocall ireland)
Pulling an all nighter In Dublin 2?
Oh go on then.
Moxie writes:
Moxie Studios [Pembroke Row, Lad Lane, Dublin] is hosting events every weekend for the rest of the summer – this Saturday, July 12, we have the return of Dub Till Dawn, with live music sets by 48HZ and Tony Power, and Dashing Damo on the Decks. Doors open at 10pm, €10 in and BYO til LATE!
Hawthorns’ Brian Lake (top) and North Melbourne’s Drew Petrie (bottom) and some extreme Australian Rules throttling.
He criticised his short shorts.
Australian rules football player chokes opponent on the field (NYDailyNews)
Van Worship
at
Outside Stephen’s Green shopping centre this lunchtime.
Thanks Jojo
How Much?
at
Twenty three.
Per cent.
Squid Limerick writes:
“Is VAT for service industries not 9 per cent….”
UPDATE: *cough* (see comments)
[Former Senator Martin McAleese with his report into the magdalene laundries in
February last year]
In today’s Irish Independent, Maeve O’Rourke, a barrister and member of the Justice for Magdalenes Research advisory committee, calls for the magdalene laundries to be included in the Commission of Investigation into mother and baby homes – echoing the call from the Irish Human Rights Commission and other support and campaign groups.
She explains why former Senator McAleese’s investigation was inadequate and how the Government’s use of the report’s conclusions in correspondence with the United Nations Committee Against Torture – which has made repeated calls for follow-up investigations into the laundries since the McAleese Report – is ‘shocking’.
She writes:
Some 793 pages of testimony, which Justice for Magdalenes transcribed and submitted (and offered to have sworn) alleging systematic abuse were not mentioned in the report.
The Committee did not set itself a framework of potential human rights violations and evaluate the evidence received against it.
It did not find whether or not any human rights violations occurred. It did not have the mandate.
Perhaps the most shocking thing to happen as a result of this gap in the terms of reference and powers is the following assertion by the Government in its August 2013 letter to the UN Committee against Torture: “No factual evidence to support allegations of systematic torture or ill treatment of a criminal nature in these institutions was found … in light of facts uncovered by the McAleese Committee and in the absence of any credible evidence of systematic torture or criminal abuse being committed in the Magdalene Laundries, the Irish Government does not propose to set up a specific Magdalene inquiry body.”
Anyone who reads the McAleese Report will see that it is strewn with uncontroverted evidence of young girls and women being imprisoned, working long hours, receiving no wages, not knowing why they were there, not knowing when they would get out.
This is grave human rights abuse.
It’s time we learnt the truth about Magdalene Laundries (Maeve, O’Rourke, Irish Independent)
Previously: The Magdalene Report: A Conclusion
Fa-fa-fa-fa-for your consideration.
“I went to see Stop Making Sense (1984) every week for about 15 weeks during its run at the Ambassador cinema in Dublin. They had to hire bouncers to stop people dancing, and when David Byrne ran round the stage, we ran round the Ambassador.”
Graham Linehan
Emma writes:
“Mermaid Arts Centre [Bray, Co Wicklow] are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Talking Heads film Stop Making Sense on Saturday 12 July. Stop Making Sense was released in 1984 and played for 20 weeks in Dublin’s then Ambassador cinema. Mermaid Arts Centre are screening the film in its original 35mm format (see above) and pushing back the chairs to accommodate the messers who want to run around the dance floor.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjVSF8PpCvg#t=56
If you like the regular videoblogs of New York puppeteers Damien Eckhardt-Jacobi and Vincent Bova, like we do, you’ll love this. Like we do.
Previously: You Won’t Believe What Happens Next. It Will Blow Your Mind And Be The Best Part Of Your Day