Melting Streets & Vivid Evenings: An Introduction To Dublin's Temple Bar Arena - Feature

The effervescent night of Dublin in the tinge of Ireland ranges within its ability to create a sense of fun, adventure and a bit of shenanigans. The arena known as Temple Bar, easily traversed over the nearby Liffey River, offers a journey of late-night tendencies to behold the utterly seasoned or the inherent novice. The key becomes to wander beyond and find those hideaways that lie just beyond the grasp of knowing.Before the intention begins in such travails, certain standards must satiated, namely those of the stomach variety. Culinary aspects of this sector have their mainstays in play too but with a nightlife persona, the personification of this specific mindset becomes one of "cool" or "on-the-go".

To begin, the Brewery Bar hidden within the Guinness Storehouse just beyond Christ Church, offers the official intonation of the infamous Stout within its dishes buoyed by the fact that the brewery itself is running full force just across the street behind the St. James Gate.

While the Guinness Stew is one of flavor, the Guinness Burger optimizing aged Irish cheddar and local bacon, offers a tendency of heartiness and comfort especially when served with a bottled Foreign Extra Stout which is only available in parts of the Caribbean and Africa beyond the walls of this establishment.

However, the most vivid item within the restaurant, consumed in the taste of Guinness is the mustard-infused mashed potatoes which are a godsend replete in its ideals of sheer fun.

Down the street about three blocks from Guinness, directly across from Christ Church, Leo Burdocks, world famous fish n' chips hole-in-the-wall, sits unassuming right around the corner from the Lord Edwards Tavern (whose potato salad is superb). While its portions are abnormally vivid, the requisite taste despite the influx of malt and chips waxed pale with an overabundance of breading.

Just across the river though, near the utterly cool and supremely located Morrison Hotel, which knows its ability with design decor rooms bleeding reds and art with a sense of knowing, Fusciardi's Cafe gave the fish n' chips gurus at Burdocks a run for the money with a serving that, while not overtly filling, punctuated with the right blend of fish, crispiness and full flavor along with a scintilating mouthful of fries that hit the spot.

Another possibility before the intention of the Temple Bar area resides in the evening of the Old Jameson Distillery. While no production still happens inside these walls, this is where the entire empire began. What it does offer beyond the standard tour which anyone can take during the day is a multi course meal inside is corridors knows as "The Shindig".

While the intention would have thought to have been a meal punctuated at each vision by a different vintage (considering the wondrousness of some of Jameson's more reserve brands), the delivery was still adequate, though respective at times more of a dinner theater chophouse than a world class distillery.

The progression of a brisk but thin potato leek soup led into a prevalent darne of salmon, intensive in its breathe to be almost overwhelming, ensconced in a lemon chive sauce over a bed of mashed potatoes and vegetables. Its vilification though tended to wax as typical Irish fare with an intention for the hearty.

The warm apple and berry crumble along with a rich Jameson Irish Coffee resounded beautifully as a three piece Irish band accompanied by a talented troupe of dancers quipped with a sense of vision that had the room jumping with energy buoyed by an international mix of young and old.

Leading into the night, up Georges past the screaming roar of pubs from the Liffey to Edwards, the key, like any of the cool areas in NYC or London, is to find the spot of life that exists beyond the forced energy of the norm.Happening upon The Hairy Lemon, true up along Dame Court, the idea became golden for this was a true local bar, not trying to be "that Dublin" but rather packed with incessantly beautiful girls and cool gents while not being overly pretentious of itself. The space itself was packed to the gills but still gave room to move. The drinks did not overcome with price but let you know they were there. Above all, the general courteous vibe of the locals inside this bar was all encompassing as a gift of a Baby Guinness combining Kahlua & Baileys simply hit the spot for its novelty.From this perception, local talk perceived to "The Bar With No Name" which was apparently located in a nearby converted loft with no sign and the requirement to know the entrance that led to the second floor. After consulting with the effervescent Google, the address was revealed but the sneaky irony is that the true number of the venue is actually three numbers off.

Arriving a little after 1am, the place, known as Bar 3, is hopping with a distinct feeling unlike other places around Dublin. It has an almost carnival atmosphere with its outside tent structure which is an utter surprise. Inside the feeling is just as vivid though with a sense of dark sultry intensity that is neither forced nor obvious as girls sing with abandon to a mix of metal, old school rock and soul as the lead bartender, older and covered in tattoos, pours the Guinness with sound creation, like a God in his work.

Dublin is a place of knowledge, especially where the backwater textures of high vision drink and culinary balance is concern, especially in a world where Guinness is the norm. The Temple Bar area, bathed in the melting sun reflecting off the Liffey, knows its identity but continues to grow as a global community discovers its possibilities.