Why do we celebrate St. Patricks Day? Who was that guy and why is it a major beer-drinking holiday celebrated with parades and shenanigans? Why do we wear green?
Well, we can look no further than the Irish, as St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patricks Day started as purely a Christian observance holiday, then was developed into a feast holiday, and today is celebrated by Irish descendants world-wide.
St. Patrick was born into a Roman-British family in the early 400s AD with the birth name, Maewyn. He was given his Christian name of Patrick when he entered the priesthood later in life. He was captured by Irish raiders and taken into slavery at the age of 16. After six years he was able to escape and he fled to Gaul where he joined the Church and studied to be a priest. I suppose if one was held captive by the Irish for six years, one wouldnt be too eager to return however in 432 Patrick returned to Ireland as a bishop and spent 30 years teaching Gods word. During that time, St. Patrick was successful in converting a large number of Irish citizens to Christianity. The Irish were certainly thankful for Patricks forgiveness of their sins; in return they dubbed him a saint and declared March 17th an official holiday in remembrance.
Originally St. Patrick was associated with the color blue, however over the years the transition has been to green, mainly due to the shamrock. The wearing of the shamrock is a Christian tradition. It is said that St. Patrick used the shamrock as a teaching example to explain the Holy Trinity the father, son and Holy Spirit. Today, whether Irish or not, green is a customary color worn, along with shamrock pins, beaded necklaces and Leprechaun hats.
Starting in the 1600s, March 17th became a day that Irish Christians could take a break from fasting during the 40 days of lent. They were allowed one day to feast and drink alcohol. Over the centuries, the day has evolved to include parades, pub events and outrageous green attire. In 1931 the first St. Patricks Day parade was held in Dublin. Today New York City hosts one of the largest St. Patricks Day parades in the world. Chicago even goes so far to dye the Chicago River green.
Green Beer and Irish Stout
Green beer is a popular drink on St. Patricks Day, a way to truly show your spirit. Many bars and pubs offer a special green beer on their menu during the week of St. Patricks Day. Often just a drop or two of food coloring in a light colored lager is all you need to add to festive touch to your beverage, but beware of green teeth if you have one too many!
A good Irish stout is another widely consumed beverage on March 17th. Dublin-brewed Guinness is by far the most popular and well known choice. Guinness is a dry Irish stout, but other types of stouts to sample include imperial stouts, sweet milk stouts, oatmeal stouts and a close cousin to the stout, the porter. Domestic company Lagunitas out of California brews a mean Cappuccino Stout. An imperial style stout, Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout boasts 9.2% abv with dark malts, roasted barley and local coffee thrown in the mix.
If you want to really get festive, ask your friendly bartender to whip up an Irish Car Bomb. Half a pint of Guinness and a shot of Baileys Irish Cream mixed with Jamison Irish Whisky. Simply drop the shot in the pint glass and chug. They are dangerously delicious, so make sure to pace yourself!
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For more details, Please visit our site : http://www.decantedwines.com
Looking up places where you can holiday by spending endless days and nights relaxing at the beaches of Thailand? Khao Lak is the place to hit this holiday season. With its pristine sandy beaches, local restaurants and sports activities for one and all, Khao Lak is a major getaway for most tourists and locals. Khao Lak is also popularly known for its vibrant nightlife. Visitors can enjoy cocktails at the Dragon Bar thats on the beach where they can relax in a tranquil ambience with the sound of the waves as an accompaniment. For some hot and happening entertainment, the Moo Moo Cabaret Show & Barat Bang Niang offers a great cabaret show. The Red Snapper Bar offers dinner and drinks as a quiet interlude and the Kuk Kak Club keeps up the beat with dancing and good food.
Khao Lak is known for its charming and boisterous cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs. With an extremely cosmopolitan crowd visiting this seaside resort, hanging out in bars brings you face to face with people from all over the world. Sharing stories over glasses of wine and pints of beer comes naturally to one and all in these friendly pubs. The nightlife might not be very hedonistic but that does nothing to decrease the charm of the laid-back pubs. La On Village is famous for the comfortable little bars and cafes it has to offer and just a walk around the Village will lighten your spirits.
Flow with the Tide on Your Vacation
The Ska Bar is one of the comfortable little places around this Village. As the saying goes about best things in life come in small packages, Ska Bar is an apt example with its comfortable seating arrangement for twenty, live music played softly in the background while truly rejuvenating the soul. The most happening place is the Happy Snapper Restaurant and Snap Bar which is known for its nighttime appeal and thus easily enchants people. A perfect concoction of dcor, music, food and people, it is the place to be whilst in Khao Lak. One can literally boogie here at this lively pub and have the time of their life. Some of the other popular pubs and bars include the Monkey Bar, the Tarzan Bar and the OConnors Irish pub, which is known for the single malt whiskies and international draught beers it serves to its customers.
The nightlife at the Bang Niang Beach is quite innocuous and light hearted. The Smile Bar here offers a gamut of cocktails and plays some very lively music. One can feel free to jive the night away in this part of the island. The Jerung Street named the liveliest city of Khao Lak, boasts of a handful of pubs and bars all blasting different music to suit your taste, and also restaurants and some of the finest boutiques and stores. One can combine shopping with bar hopping here and voila, the perfect holiday it is! Visitors can relax at luxurious hotels in Khao Lak that add to the comfort of a marvelous holiday.
Let Khao Lak Spice up Your Life
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Excitehotels.com as a leading hotel reservation agency takes the traveler to experience a vacation in beautiful budget hotels in Khao Lak. Tourists can enjoy great hotel accommodations with Excitehotels.com and have a memorable holiday.
Nearly everyone has a soft spot in their hearts for Disney characters, possibly because we associate them with happy childhood memories of watching Saturday morning cartoons in our pajamas on a day off from school. We also cherish those memories because they are most likely some of the first comedic stories that we remember from our childhoods. The slapstick humor, fantastical yet believable story lines, and the stunning artwork are what make Disney characters so memorable.
Now as an adult, you can continue your love of all things Disney by starting or building a collection of Disney figurines. There are several beautiful Disney figurine models from which to choose, and they are valued in fine collectible circles.
Disney collectibles are one of several popular figurine lines. There are many themes for Disney figurines, so that you have a great deal of choice in picking out those that are your favorites. You can select from baseball, fairies, Irish, John Deere and sports themes, or choose a Disney figurine that commemorates a family member, such as your daughter or granddaughter.
For those who enjoy Mickey Mouse as well as baseball, you cannot go wrong with a Home Run Hero Mickey figure. Produced in conjunction with Major League Baseball, these figurines, which start at just under thirty dollars, feature the Championship New York Yankee’s logo on hats as well as a replicated Yankee uniforms that Mickey wears.
The most widely admired Disney cartoon fairy is Tinkerbell. You will find several Disney collectibles that feature her beautiful countenance and clothing. There are figurines of Tinkerbell seated on a diamond, on a sugar and spice shaker, on a glorious flower or magical mushroom, or posing by a mirror. Tink’s image has also been captured in clear art glass, in the Reflection of Tinker Bell figurine collection, the figurines of which are hand-numbered and come with certificates of authenticity, which adds to their value.
Tinkerbell also spills over into Disney’s Irish line of collectibles; one figurine in their Irish Luck collection depicts her lying on top of a green pot of gold.
For those who enjoy farm motifs in their collectibles, Disney has teamed with John Deere tractors to craft a figurine that you will like. Mickey Mouse is seated on a bright green John Deere tractor model, with the brand’s distinctive bright yellow wheels. Mickey wears a blue pair of overalls with a yellow shirt and cap.
To see these and other Disney figurines, you can visit an online fine collectibles dealer.
About the Author:
In this article Jonathon Blocker writes about
disney figurine also read about thomas kinkade collectibles
1. Use a professional photo of yourself and use it
consistently on all of your online profiles. Using the same
photo helps potential clients and the media recognize you. Using cropped or
unprofessional photos can really hurt your image. If it was taken on your cell phone,
it shouldn’t be your profile picture. Also, use a picture of you, and not your logo on
the accounts with your name on them. A photo of you makes you more approachable.
If you have a company page or account, logos are fine, but make sure they are correctly
sized and clear.
2. Use established social media sites. These include
MerchantCircle, Facebook, Plaxo and LinkedIn. The idea behind using social media is
for you to be reachable and visible on the sites where your clients and customers
already are. You might personally find an up-and-coming social media site to be great,
but the majority of your potential customers are on the major social media sites and
may not want to join you on a lesser known site. Don’t forget the Yahoo! and Google
local business directories which can help you show up to local searchers. Beware of the
business directories that solicit your business, wanting you to pay for your listing and
promotion on their unknown site.
3. Sharpen up your resume and experience, and be
consistent. If someone is looking for you on the Internet and gets three or four
different versions of what you have been up to these past few years, they are not likely
to call you or visit your establishment. Be honest and straightforward about your
experience, awards and purpose.
4. Tweet professionally. You may have a personal Twitter or other
microblogging service where you keep up with friends and family. That’s fine, but make
sure you keep your personal tweets, like the fact that you had a miserable time at the
company picnic, to yourself. Keep a separate account for your professional updates and
share information that is helpful to your readers, not just memes about how great you
are. Share tips and advice that make your readers’ day better and they will return to
you when they need your professional service.
5. Use privacy controls. You might already have personal accounts on
social media sites, but these should not be synonymous with your business persona.
Use privacy controls to make sure your personal conversations and activities are not
getting in the way of your business. You can like” a political party candidate or post
those pictures that show what a great time you had out on the town last night on your
own account but make sure you limit who can see that information.
6. Put your best foot forward by having a short
summary of who you are and what you offer. Many professional
sites have space for a summary, which allows you to highlight your strengths. This is
a great spot to point out how you are unique and how your experience and skills work
to your customer’s advantage. Be creative and catchy in your self-description, but don’t
sound like a braggart or unprofessional. This is your career, not a dating ad. Licensed
Financial Advisor and Youth Volunteer” is far more likely to get you a call than Perky
Fun Video-Gaming Gemini.”
7. Consider a video interview or demo. Many sites like VisualCV,
MerchantCircle and Facebook have the ability to host short videos. These can help
highlight your abilities to your clients. For a retail location, shoot a short video
showing your establishment and describing your services. For a service-based business,
include a description of what you do, and how you do it. Trainers, coaches,
salespersons and anyone who delivers presentations as part of their job can use a short
video to show their effectiveness, humor, clarity and style. Showing your comfort
working with various groups, and your ability to deliver a message effectively over
video, is important to many career paths and for clients who want to see who they will
be working with.
8. Remember to offer information you would want to
receive as a customer. When building and reviewing your online profiles,
remember to think like your potential client or customer. Is your contact information
readily accessible? Did you include a link to your website or address of your location?
Do you clearly state the purpose and offerings you and your business have to offer?
Ease of finding information on your social media profiles is what starts the client or
customer’s experience of working with you and your company. If your profiles are only
half completed or don’t offer helpful information, your potential clients and customers
will assume the same is true about you and your business.
Before you start building your online presence, make sure you have the tools to do
the above steps at hand. Gather them all in one place so you can reference them
quickly. It is also better to have a few well-done social media and online profiles than
to have a multitude of incomplete profiles.
If you work in a niche market, search online to see where your competition or
similar organizations or professionals have online profiles and view their pages. That
way you can make note of what you do or don’t like about their profiles, and what
seems to be working for them as they interact with their customers.
Most importantly, if you need help, find someone to help you. It may be hard to
admit that you need help with all this technology, but biting the bullet and asking for
assistance is much better than the potential of ruining your professional or business’
online reputation.
Pam Lontos is the of author of I See Your Name Everywhere: Leverage the Power
of the Media to Grow your Fame, Wealth and Success. She is president of PR/PR, a
public relations firm that has recently placed clients in The Wall Street Journal,
Cosmopolitan, Forbes and USA Today. As the former VP of Disney’s Shamrock
Broadcasting, she knows how to get you great publicity to boost your business.
Martha Ciske is the Technology & Social Media Account Executive of PR/PR Public
Relations.
For a free consultation, e-mail Pam@prpr.net or call 407-299-6128. Sign up for a
free publicity tips e-newsletter at www.prpr.net.
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Do you find yourself attracted to beautiful pieces of jewelry? If that’s the case, after that there is a bit of jewelry that you should be checking out and include in your range of jewelry selection: Cartier jewelry. If you value collecting jewelry, then you definitely ought to add Cartier jewelry items to your collection. They aren’t only stunning but they are additionally classic and beautifully designed, you certainly will enjoy accumulating as well as with them. Additionally they are actually excellent heirlooms as well as gifts for the loved ones. There are plenty of types of Cartier Jewelry, each one of them providing something towards the individual not only the beauty-from gold Cartier jewelry to gold Cartier pendants as well as necklaces, men’s Cartier jewelry pieces to ladies’ Cartier rings as well as bracelets.
Through Cartier bracelets, bangles, brooches, earrings, chains, and necklaces, you cant ever fail along with Cartier jewelry to add to your own selection.
What you really are Paying for Whenever Getting Cartier Jewelry
Most people are hesitant to purchase Cartier jewelry due to the price. Believe that that it is too expensive for their taste. The reason behind this is that in contrast to most of the jewelry items currently available which are device designed, Cartier jewelry pieces will always be created by hand. This is actually the major reason why they offer the items so expensively. The actual complex designs turn it into a stunning piece along with a fantastic cherish resulting from a true labor of affection through the producer. This will make Cartier jewelry for example mens Cartier jewelry as well as gold Cartier jewelry even more special and the ideal expense to grow your jewelry collection.
The actual Timeless Styles
Other activities that you’re obtaining when you purchase your own group of Cartier Jewelry would be the ageless designs from the jewelry. You don’t have to worry about your jewelry going out of date and thus not really allowing you to wear it anytime. Cartier styles are meant to serve you for a lifetime. Actually, the actual styles themselves originated from centuries ago, in the unique Cartier tribes. Consequently, you can put on all of them for every occasion without stressing whether the styles fit the existing pattern of today. Cartier jewelry will always be cherished for his or her enduring styles. They may be passed on from one era to the subsequent, and they’ll undoubtedly remain stunning.
The Significance
Another thing which makes Cartier jewelry precious may be the importance at the rear of every piece. There is almost no piece of Cartier design which has no which means. Nearly every design is actually implanted having a precious tale of significance that you could cherish permanently. For instance, the Cartier cross looks like an individual’s faith and the man is a Religious. Simultaneously, every stage from the cross implies the 4 universal elements, what are earth, blowing wind, fire, and drinking water. Ancient Cartier custom says that these same elements caused the existence of our planet and thus the actual Cartier cross respects all of them.
What ever type of Cartier jewelry you may want, gold or precious metal, men’s or ladies’, or whether you intend to obtain earrings for yourself or provide your partner an attractive Cartier diamond ring to indicate anniversary with her, you can be sure these items will be some thing worth treasuring.
Proceed get a own Cartier jewelry right now from Irish Indeed! You will surely look for a item worth giving to your family member or contributing to your personal selection.
About the Author:
In cartier jewelry, I would like to choose New Cartier Watch. We all know that New Cartier Watch is the best jewelry for you to express your mind to your lover.
A wedding should be reflective of ones culture, faith and belief. And with the blessings of the parents and the attendance of friends, weddings are intended to bring good graces to the couples as well. Ireland is a unique country where tradition and customs can be felt in almost any occasion. While they adapt some cultural infusions as well from other countries, Ireland has unique and colorful traditions that make them distinct. Personal celebrations such as weddings are no exceptions, and there are many customs as well that should be practiced by Irish couples.
The Claddagh Ring This is the brides engagement ring and wedding ring and it represents the virtues of love and honor for the couple. This can also be worn by a single woman but the ring should be worn on the right ring finger to symbolize such. It also symbolizes the friendship between the couple and the understanding that their relationship will grow if it is based on both friendship and love. This is perhaps one of the most notable and unique traditions in Irish weddings.
Celtic music This type of music is still very popular and can be played whether by DJs or the notable bagpipes of Irishmen. Because the history of Ireland is rich in Celtic influences, this type of entertainment during weddings should not be omitted.
A blue wedding gown Because the tradition of Ireland believes that blue symbolizes purity, it is up to the bride to wear whether a white wedding gown or a blue gown.
English lavender This flower is revered in Ireland and is usually incorporated in the brides bouquet to wish for a joyous married life.
Horseshoe This is a traditional gift given to newlyweds and the couple must display it at their home. This gift is an invitation for blessing to come in to their home. Horseshoes are also commonly used as a symbol of good luck and fortune.
Wedding cake A traditional wedding cake is one that is decorated with shamrocks and filled with Irish cream, a notable recipe perfected by Irish people.
Mead This liquor is being offered at the celebration and the drink is said to have properties that can improve the fertility of the couple and create a big, happy family in the future.
Honeymoon Couples usually go on a month long vacation to try to get the wife pregnant and the presence of mead is important in this period as well. This four week vacation lasts as such to make sure that when they both leave after one month, the bride is indeed already pregnant and no one can already separate them from each other.
Weddings are important social celebrations in Ireland and months of preparation are required for the event to go smoothly. It is not hard for Irish couples to stick to their traditions because their customs are both meaningful and fun as well. These traditions have been practiced for hundreds of years and their appeal of course will never fade.
About the Author:
Criss White is a professional article writer for bridal, wedding, and various other topics. To view some Irish wedding favors or to get more wedding favors, visit Bridal and Wedding Favors. Note: This article may be reprinted in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active.
Wear a mother’s ring to show the birth months of each of your children. The ring is made up of birthstones – one for each child – arranged in one of several styles.
A school ring that displays your year of graduation and the activities you are involved in. Tradition has it that the ring is worn with the insignia facing inward (toward you) while you are in school, and is changed so that the insignia faces out (away from you) after you have graduated.
Wear a friendship ring to symbolize a close – but not necessarily romantic – relationship. This ring is often worn on the little finger, but can be worn on any finger of either hand.
Choose an Irish Claddagh ring (two hands clasping a heart with a crown) as a friendship, engagement or wedding ring. Each item pictured is symbolic, as is the way that the ring is worn. (See “How to Wear a Claddagh Ring” in Related eHows, left.)
Give or wear a promise ring to symbolize love, faith and commitment – but not engagement. This ring is usually worn on the ring finger of the left hand, but is not as formal or expensive as an engagement ring.
Wear a diamond ring on the ring finger of the left hand to signify engagement. The diamond symbolizes purity and light.
Place a wedding ring on the ring finger of your left hand. Tradition says a vein from this finger runs directly to the heart, putting a ring worn here closer to the heart than a ring worn on any other finger.
Some jewelry has symbolism that is quite evident just by the design of the piece itself such as that of a Christian cross which shows the wearer is a believer or that of a Star of David which of course stands for the religion of Judaism. Others may require a little more investigation but the ring is a piece of jewelry that is full of symbolism in itself regardless of the design. The shape of a ring with its never ending circle is what makes it the perfect selection for the eternal love of a couple joined in marriage which is why they are used for weddings.
Rings like Citrine Ring and emerald rings have more symbolism in some cultures than others. Some cultures may have certain classes of people who wear rings while others do not. Another use of rings is to signify the fact that one belongs to a certain group or fraternity. Graduation rings are a popular ring that is used for this purpose as are those worn by the winners of major sports events such as the Super Bowl or the NCCA Football National Championship.
The actual stones have their own meaning as well; birthstones are a great example of this with different stones having a meaning for each month of the year. Everyone has heard the statement, “Diamonds are forever”, which is why they are used for engagement and wedding rings.
In many cultures the finger upon which a person wears a ring bears a certain significance as well. Some societies view the thumb as a symbol of will power and therefore a person that wears a ring on their thumb is viewed as having a strong will. If one wears the ring on their index finger this is considered the authority finger and can indicate that the person is of higher political or social standing. Those who where a ring on their ring finger are seen as being imaginative and having a high degree of creativity.
The act of giving someone a ring requires a lot more forethought than you would imagine. Some people place a higher importance and significance on rings and on what finger the ring is worn on so you need to have a good understanding of the person’s personal feelings and beliefs about rings before you buy them one. This is why it pays to try to slow down and understand the reason behind the creation of a certain ring like citrine ring or other piece of jewelry like Bracelet Necklace and realize that their may be enormous symbolism behind it.
About the Author:
For more information about Citrine Ring, princess cut diamond Ring, emerald rings and tanzanite ring, visit dacarlidiamondjewels.com
For fashion lovers, just wearing the latest clothing, shoes, and accessories is not enough. Over two thousand years ago, the Celtic people adorned themselves with handcrafted jewelry made from precious metals and stones. Today, people’s desire for fine jewelry has only grown. For many, their fashion ensemble simply isn’t complete without some form of jewelry adorning their neck or wrists. While any jewelry may do, it is best to invest in jewelry pieces with designs that will be loved even after five generations. This is where Celtic jewelry offers something very unique and different that other jewelry do not possess.
Celtic jewellery dates back to the time before Christ in the form of the Celtic cross. Despite having been designed so long ago, Celtic jewelry maintains it’s everlasting luster as a fashionable piece of jewelry worn by many. One does not have to be Irish or Scottish to wear Celtic jewelry as Irish jewelry. The symbolism and metaphysical connotations of the ancient designs found in Celtic rings and other Celtic jewelry make them increasingly popular items to give as gifts and to consummate wedding vows. The intricate designs in Celtic jewelry are an everlasting reminder of the proud traditions of the Celts. Many of the popular Celtic symbols have their own meaning that are as timeless as the jewelry design and Celtic jewelry’s popularity will only grow more with time.
Celtic jewelry enables the jewelry wearer to express their unique personality. In particular, custom handcrafted Celtic jewelry trumps mass-produced jewelry any day simply because it can be tailored to your preferences. For more affordable options, you can go with existing, pre-designed Celtic jewelry that is made to your size such as Celtic rings and add your own personal touch to it such as an engraving.
Celtic jewelry comes in different forms. Celtic crosses, mentioned earlier, is a form of popular Celtic jewelry. One of the most popular forms comes in rings. Celtic rings and Claddagh rings are very often used in special occasions such as an engagement or a wedding. Celtic engagement rings and Celtic wedding rings are perfect jewelry for such occasions because of their timeless charm and deep meanings. Other jewelry you will find are Celtic pendants and earrings.
Celtic rings and jewelry can also be found made out of silver. This makes it an affordable option for those jewelry lovers on a budget. Oftentimes, these are mass-market versions of these fine handcrafted jewelry. If you are truly serious about buying Celtic jewelry that will be treasured for generations though, buying jewelry made out of precious metals such as gold and platinum are highly recommended. Celtic jewelry also includes precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires, and rubies as in the case of Celtic rings, Celtic earrings, and Celtic pendants.
Whether Celtic jewelry is to be given as a gift or to be used in a wedding, it makes any fashion outfit perfect. Since Celtic jewelry never goes out of style, you can be assured that it will match any outfit of the current times.
About the Author:
Read more on Fashionable Celtic Jewelry at Fibre2fashion is World’s Largest B2B Marketplace. Find Buyers, Suppliers, Manufacturers, Exporters, Importers of Textile, Garment & Fashion Industry.
Decorating the home for the holiday season is a great way to kick off the festivities. There are not very many things that can be done that will bring a sense of cheer and joy quite like seeing a lavishly decorated holiday display. Each year brings with it something new to behold, and every year families find great enjoyment in setting up their old favorites and newly acquired seasonal decorations throughout the home. One especially cheerful way to brighten up holiday decorations is the addition of decorative dolls.
Decorative dolls can be displayed in many ways for the holiday season. Placing them in realistic settings that correspond with the outfit the doll is wearing is always a hit. Creating a scene of Christmas joy is easy when the dolls are displayed in a snowy setting. They could be caroling outside a door, sledding down a snowy mountainside, or even unwrapping seasonal gifts under a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. The possibilities are endless when they are put on display in holiday settings.
Another way to display decorative dolls is using stands specifically designed for their use and placing them in an area of the home reserved especially for them. A well-lit glass display case or hutch can be a great showcase for decorative dolls. Another positive side of this method is that they can be displayed all year long. There are a number of ways to arrange the dolls inside their case or on their shelf. They can be arranged by animal, color of the outfit, by value, or according to the personal taste of the collector. A light can be placed in the area, shining from above or below to further accentuate the setting.
Decorative dolls can be displayed yearlong throughout the home, as well. Adding them to display shelves that house knickknacks and other keepsakes will ensure that they become a part of the decor throughout the year. Themed dolls can be purchased that match the decor of the room in which the doll is to be displayed. A decorative doll wearing glasses in a school uniform can find its home on the bookshelf, while another with an apron or a chef’s hat could easily find a home in the kitchen. Family members will always find a home for their favorites, but it can be a simple process for those who own one or two to display them in such a way that both adds to the ambiance of the room and respects the original intention of the doll itself.
About the Author:
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about Seasonal gifts, please visit http://www.annalee.com/.
I had heard the rumours, “the luck of the Irish” they had told me. “Finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” old hands had said. It wasn’t until my first journey to Melbourne East’s oddly positioned Seamus McPeakes’ Irish Pub that I realised the true meaning of the fables my predecessors had forewarned.
I face initial disbelief at the line up to such a small venue which, despite the name, is treated as the favourite local night club by the youth of Knox and surrounds, and my suspicions are beginning to rise. “What luck?”. 20 minutes, and 10 wolf whistle fuelled jeers from the (mostly male ) crowd later, I suddenly realise what this so called “luck” was in reference to. A swarm of relief overcomes me. Thank God I didn’t wear my shortest skirt.
Upon entrance into Seamus McPeake’s Irish Pub, more endearingly known as ‘The Irish’ by regular attendees, I find that not all revelations make me want to remove my heels, launching into a stiletto-stab self defence against potential predators. Instead I am met with pleasant surprise. For a venue which is hidden in an outside restaurant/bistro area of the nearby Knox City shopping centre, The Irish’s innards present themselves with the life of a club you might expect only to find in Melbourne’s CBD.
Both young Barbies and old bogans are seen lining up and paying the small entry fee of $5 to get their shot at that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on any given night of the week, the most popular nights being Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It seems that the Irish folk know not of such restrictions as “school nights.”
Dark wooden interiors draped with large golden framed artwork juxtapose the young, hot, sweaty (and at times bald and aging) bodies which quickly fill a packed, quaint dance floor. The lighting is low, adding to the dungeon like atmosphere. A man with a ponytail serves me my first drink, and if Lady Gaga wasn’t being played and I hadn’t just escaped my second arse grab, I would feel a definite urge to draw a scar on my forehead and pretend I’m on my way to potions class.
Drink prices are relatively cheap, as you would expect for a Melbourne bar, which is certain to have you paying a large amount in taxi fee’s due to it’s disconnected location. Unlike the smorgasbord of boys and men, there aren’t as many choices in alcohol – and it’s best to play it safe with a beer. A mention of a cocktail turns me red-faced and feeling foreign.
Towards the back of the venue a small amount of boothed areas provide seating space for those who’ve danced their darn hearts out, fiddley-dee. Every booth also seems to provide a peep show of two leprechauns who have found that gold at the end of the rainbow.
Considering the size of the venue, the bathrooms are large – the Irish are a generous sort after all. The stained glass entrance door provides a preview of a screaming, goon guzzling girl standing under the hand dryer with her top off attempting to dry that Raspberry Cruiser stain. I avoid chest-eye contact and head for the nearest cubicle.
The outdoor smokers area, positioned towards the very front of Seamus McPeake’s packs hundreds of men like cattle, with a squeeze and a smile getting me my very own seat under the stars. A push and a shove from the nearest fake-titted cow brings me back down to earth, with a spill of her drink across my crotch marking the end to a night of Irish luck. Until next time.
About the Author:
By Sophie Lane forSydneyBars,Perth Bars andBrisbane Bars
