An Introduction to Malin + Goetz

It's pretty wonderful when you can tell from the first time you try a brand you're going to love all of their products and Malin + Goetz is certainly one of those brands. Here I take a look at their stand out products.

I originally discovered Malin + Goetz during a stay at the remarkable Marker Hotel in Dublin who use exclusively Malin + Goetz toiletries in their rooms. Quite the treat! It was love at first use with their hair and body care products and, after reading so many good reviews of their cult Lip Moisturiser and Vitamin E Face Moisturiser I had to try them out too and they certainly didn't disappoint. After using the brand for a few months it's plain to see that Malin + Goetz strive for simple, well researched, and highly effective products.

Siopa, Siopaella - The Best of Dublin

There are many reasons why Siopaella has become one of the most popular places in Dublin for fashionistas of all ages to flock to as often as possible and why the business has grown so significantly since its establishment in 2011.

Siopaella owners Ella de Guzman and Steve Ryan seem to have cracked the formula for sartorial success because of their clever business skills, their unique to Dublin consignment store framework, their friendship towards their customers leading to an ever-growing loyal following, and being exactly the right business at the right time in Dublin. Penelope's Bed took a tour of both Siopaella stores and had a chat with the owners, staff, and their two ridiculously cute dogs Louis and Raquel, who are an intrinsic part of Siopaella!

Quite a Taboo

I got the opportunity to speak with best-selling novelist Melissa Hill and her husband Kevin - collectively known as Casey Hill - in Dublin’s Central Hotel when they released their debut collaborative crime fiction novel Taboo.

Interviewing novel writing duo Mellissa Hill and husband Kevin is an absolute treat and, after a couple of minutes of talking to the married couple, you can see so clearly why collaborating on a novel was such a good idea. They finish each other sentences with constantly shared excitement and enthusiasm. You could talk to them all day.

It's A Dog's Life!

Siopaella, one of the most original and innovative businesses in Dublin, is proving its generosity and love for animals with yet another fundraising event in aid of a selection of animals welfare charities.

It's no secret that the owners of Siopaella, partners Ella de Guzman and Steve Ryan, are very fond of animals. You need but to walk into either of their Templebar stores to see this as you will more than likely be greeted by their adorable pooches Raquel and Louis, one for each store. And they have shown this endless love for our furry friends by hosting regular fundraisers for animal welfare charities and this Sunday, June 29th, marks three years of Siopaella's generosity with yet another fundraiser. Since June 2011 Siopaella has raised a whopping €15,000 for charities including A Dog's Life, Cara Rescue, My Lovely Horse Rescue and Cat's Aid.

Beauty News - June 2014

Here's the lowdown on all the news in the land of beauty this week:

Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner is almost here!

Launch Date: Saturday June 28th

First things first, probably one of the more exciting summer beauty events is the launch of the much talked about They're Real Push-Up Liquid Liner (€25) by Benefit. I've not seen as much excitement over a beauty product in a long time and the Push-Up Liquid Eye Liner seems set to at least equal the success of the mascara in the same range which really was everything it promised.

A Tour of Benefit Boutique - The Best of Dublin

I have been a lover of Benefit cosmetics for many years and have always been so excited to try all of their constantly original products so when I saw that a Benefit Boutique was opening on Dublin's South William Street I squealed with joy (no exaggeration).

Benefit have always had a knack of making their customers feel special and understood and, above all else, pampered so the advent of this opening meant that not only was there another place to go to buy Benefit's exciting range of cosmetics but now we in Ireland had the *benefit* of our very own salon by the famous American brand.

Book Review: Crossfire: The Battle of the Four Courts, 1916

Crossfire: The Battle of the Four Courts, 1916
Paul O'Brien

With only two years to go to the centenary of the 1916 Rising, the shelves of bookshops are already packed to the brim full of a wide selection of titles about that momentous and defining week in Ireland's history.

Having already written two books on 1916 - and with more in the pipeline - Paul O'Brien's expertise on the period and fascination with it shines through in Crossfire: The Battle of the Four Courts, 1916. The first in a series of books about the rebellion called 1916 In Focus, Crossfire is an on-the-ground, nerve-wracking, detailed account of the rising in the Four Courts and its environs day by day from Easter Monday 1916, the day the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was read by Pádraig Pearse, to five days later when the order was given to cease fire.

School of Seven Bells - Live Review

I was deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of the great Benjamin Curtis in the last few days and I realised how lucky I was to have been able to see him perform with School of Seven Bells when they played Dublin a couple of years ago. Here is my review of the night.

An air of a well kept secret swept across the admiring audience when New York trio School of Seven Bells took to the stage of a packed Whelans on a Monday night. It seemed almost wrong that a band like this were playing such a small venue with such a mature sound and likeability.

James Yorkston - Live Review

An old review of a very memorable night
 
From the moment James Yorkston took to the stage of a packed out Crawdaddy, the room was filled with a hushed respect for the Scottish singer. The audience was treated to an acoustic gig, without his backing band The Athletes; which was a perfect opportunity to enjoy his smooth and silky vocals and guitar playing.

Yorkston didn’t seem to have a set list per-say, so he just kept playing song after song with intermittent shy banter. Each song was sung with such tenderness that even the smallest creak could be heard in the room by fans who hung on his every word.

Yorkston’s real talent lies in the poetry of his lyrics and his speech in general and his songs tell incredibly raw, sometimes melancholic, stories.

A highlight of the night was when he called for a female member of the audience at random to join him singing ‘Blue Bleezin’ Blind Drunk’; which turned out to be a beautiful duet, as the traditional nature of the song suited the Irish female voice. He was also joined on stage by his support for the night and good friend Adrian Crowley.

 It was wonderfully intimate, thoroughly enjoyable night.

Deirdre O’Brien

Of Montreal - Live Review

This review was written a few years ago and was my first introduction to this great band who know how to turn a gig into a party!
 
Georgia band Of Montreal took to the stage of a sold-out Button Factory to the rapturous applause of an audience that immediately started dancing on seats and cheering.

The band itself made a colourful sight; adorning neon blazers, over-sized sunglasses and black angel wings. It looked like they had been beamed straight out of the glam rock era of the seventies.

Live, the band sound like an eclectic mixture of The Killers, The Rapture, David Bowie and Prince. The songs built up to a frenzied crescendo.

Dry ice, disco lighting, smoke machines and neon images on the screen behind the stage seemed like a perfect accompaniment to this energetic, colourful group.

The music was a perfect mixture of electro, pop, funk and rock and charismatic lead vocalist, Kevin Barnes’, voice was the most impressive part of the performance; soaring in Brandon Flowers fashion through a range of both upbeat and piano-driven numbers.

It was almost a theatrical experience which was impossible not to enjoy.

Deirdre O’Brien.

David Byrne Live at the National Concert Hall

I wrote this review of a gig I could easily say is in my top three concerts of all time. I was left with the widest grin for days after this show and still think of it often. I think because I wasn't expecting the night to be so incredible it made it even more enjoyable. If you ever get the chance to see David Byrne live, I would highly recommend going without a second thought; he's a musical wizard!

David Byrne’s live performance in the National Concert Hall was a once in a lifetime experience for music lovers. The former Talking Heads front man was joined on stage for the night by a seven-piece band and three interpretive dancers, who added to the performance greatly.