Dublin After Dark - Dublin - page 131

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Dublin After Dark

A more appropriate title for this chapter might be “Dublin Almost
Dark,” because during high season, Dublin's nightlife takes place
mostly in daylight. Situated roughly 53 degrees north of the equa-
tor, Dublin in June gets really dark only as the pubs are closing.
Night, then, is just a state of mind.
One general fact to keep in mind concerning Dublin's nightlife is
that there are very few fixed points. Apart from a handful of estab-
lished institutions, venues come and go, change character, open
their doors to ballet one night and cabaret the next. In Dublin and
the Event Guide offer the most thorough and up-to-date listings.
They can be found on almost any magazine stand.
The award-winning website of the Irish Times ( www.ireland.com )
offers a “what's on” daily guide to cinema, theater, music, and whatever
else you're up for. The Dublin Events Guide, at www.dublinevents.
com, also provides a comprehensive listing of the week's entertainment
possibilities. Time Out now covers Dublin as well; check their website
at www.timeout.com/dublin .
Advance bookings for most large concerts, plays, and so forth can
be made through Ticketmaster Ireland ( & 01/886-0996; www.
ticketmaster.ie), with ticket centers in most HMV stores, as well as
at the Dublin Tourism Centre, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2.

1 The Pub Scene
The mainstay of Dublin social life is unquestionably the pub. More
than 1,000 specimens spread throughout the city, on every street, at
every turn. In Ulysses, James Joyce referred to the puzzle of trying to
cross Dublin without passing a pub; his characters quickly aban-
doned the quest as fruitless, preferring to sample a few in their path.
You will need no assistance finding a pub, but here are recommen-
dations of some of the city's most distinctive.
PUBS FOR CONVERSATION & ATMOSPHERE
Ba Mizu This new bar draws the young, glamorous set. The clien-
tele includes a regular smattering of models (both male and female)