The Dubliner Magazine

Savoy Paradiso

Harry Leech meets projectionist Liam Hughes, who retires this month from his job at the Savoy Cinema after 40 years’ service

As you sink into the plush seats and the red curtains slowly pull back to reveal the cinema screen, you could be forgiven for thinking you have been transported back to the Savoy’s opening night on November 29th, 1929. But no – it’s 2009 and it’s Harry Potter up there rather than Hal Roach. Still, everything about the Savoy exudes the class of a bygone era.

The cinema celebrates its 80th birthday later this year, but this month reaches another milestone with the retirement of its head projectionist, Liam Hughes, on August 7th after 40 years of service.

The man I meet in the projection room is sprightlier than his 68 years suggest, and is clearly as passionate about cinema now as he ever was. A chat with Liam about what’s currently showing in the Savoy brings numerous detailed recommendations.

Just F***ing Hit Him!

Phil Mac Giolla Bhain speaks to the Krav Maga instructors hoping their Israeli self-defence techniques will make the streets of Dublin a bit safer

Afew months ago in Galway, a man attacked me. He came at me from behind and choked me. He was very strong. I came close to losing consciousness as he squeezed my trachea. Just as it seemed hopeless, I managed to make enough wriggle room for my head to turn just slightly. I sank my teeth into his arm. He screamed in agony and relaxed his grip. This was all I needed. I spun around and attacked his eyes, ears and throat. I must have looked like something from a wildlife film.

A second man was standing a few feet away, smiling serenely like a Tibetan monk. His face beamed approval. After all, I had done exactly as he had asked.

“Nice shred, Phil,” said Patrick Cumiskey.

When Dublin Convenience Stores...

... turn into places of sacrifice

"And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears."

Leviticus 2:14

Nothing says inner city tough...

... like a miniscule toy dog telling you where to go

Kings of Concrete

B-boys, b-girls, parkourers, graffiti artists and skateboarders unite

Wood Quay, ramps, breakdancing mats and a lot of scabby knees - it's the Kings of Concrete last weekend.

Parkourers recreate the tough urban environment of giant wooden boxes.

Home is Where the Harp Is

What I Miss About Home...

is the rain and the Nitelinks that don't run on weekdays and the pubs that rob you blind and the off-licenses that close before 22:00 and the pint of Harp.

I Wonder Where They're From...

Tourists from some unknown nation on South William Street

   

Shamrock Roving Eye

Ronaldo comes to Tallaght

The country may be falling apart at the seams, with us soon to receive more cuts from An Bord Snip Nua than a Chinese prisoner, but we are at least hosting the world's most expensive player at the moment.

At a price tag of £80 million (nearly €93 million, or about the same amount that is proposed to be cut from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism's budget), Cristiano Ronaldo better be worth the cash.

See what you think with this riveting highlight of the young Portuguese man's, er, prowess.

Pecha Kucha

When the unpronounceable becomes the unmissable

Ten speakers with 20 slides of 20 seconds each: it's Dublin's inaugural Pecha Kucha night. Now that may sound like the noise that accompanies a night of vigorous boozing, but apparently it's the hottest presentation format to come out of Japan since schoolgirl's knickers in vending machines.

Find out for yourself on Thursday, 16 July 2009 at the Sugar Club, when the city's best, brightest or most available take to the Powerpoint podium.

Hamburglars

From Dublin to Jo'burger

With a grim inevitability, Dublin has again topped some sort of survey about how mercilessly we are getting screwed out of our hard-earned Euro dollars.

This time it's Mercer's most expensive fast food chart, which has shown that Baile Átha Cliath is serving up hamburgers meals at an average of US$9.16. The muchies-having clog-wearers of Amsterdam are next up at a cost of $7.88, while in gay Paris le 'amburger will knock you back $7.43.

The cheapest city in the list of 20 international locations was Johannesburg, at a slender average cost of $2.50, but since it also regularly crowns the rape capital run-downs, perhaps there are some benefits to living by the Liffey.