Issue 6
Arts Lifestyle
City Breaks on a Budget If the January blues have well and truly kicked in, booking a cheap and cheerful city break abroad will give you something to look forward to while you’re trying to resettle yourself back into working life. Writers Liam Ashton and Amy Lawlor take a look at the top city destinations to explore this spring
Edinburgh With low cost airlines providing cheap flights to locations in Britain and mainland Europe, student holidays are becoming increasingly more popular. Edinburgh is an ideal location for a weekend getaway both with a partner or as part of a group. The flight is less than an hour and return ticket costs between ¤20 and ¤30. If travelling in a group, hostels are ideal and will serve their purpose as a place to sleep and are also very central costing no more the £20 per night. The most visited tourist attraction in Scotland, Edinburgh castle is a must see sitting atop the famous Royal Mile. It does come at a high
Poland Home to legendary castles, magnificent churches, bustling marketplaces and a fantastic nightlife Krakow has become the Polish tourist destination to experience as opposed to Poland’s capital Warsaw. With cheap alcohol, accommodation and food it’s a safe haven for college
6
cost however, with admission at £16.50 with no student rate. Pub crawls are the main source of nightlife entertainment starting at just £7 per person. These include the 6 Nations pub ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Oz Bar’ located beside ‘The Elephant House’, where JK Rowling first began writing Harry Potter. Arthur’s Seat is a free activity for a budget trip which also provides the chance to see an alternative side of the city. Standing in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat is a 45-minute walk to the top overlooking the entire city. This is most ideal in the evening when the Balmoral Hotel and Scott Monument are lit up.
students alike. Only a 30 minute taxi journey away from the airport, it costs a fixed fair of €25 into Krakow city which is fairly cheap if you split it amongst a group of people. Despite it’s cold weather Krakow has a lot to offer in the history, make-up and nightlife department. If you’re interested in World War II, a visit to Auschwitz concentration camp is a must. It is highly recommended that you book a combination pass costing €69 which covers your 8-hour tour of Aushwitz-Birkenau
Budapest Once the cost of flights to Budapest are covered which are between €60 and ¤120 for this time of the year your money worries will be over as Budapest is among the cheapest cities in Europe. Hostels are again the most viable option with well-known chains such as Wombat and Big Fish which have both a bar and free breakfast. Walking tours of the city are free with complimentary tips at the end which are usually 3000 Hungarian Forint, roughly €10. St Stephen’s Basilica is perfect for groups on a student budget as it too is free entry however it does take up to ten minutes to climb the three-hundred steps to the top where you will be greeted with a 360-degree view of the city.The primary
concentration camp as well as a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This pass also includes transport to and from both tours as well as including a packed lunch. The salt mine tour alone costs €60, therefore the combination pass saves you money in the long run. If you’re a make-up addict it is worth doing a day trip to Poland to stock up on your Inglot essentials. The well-known make-up brand is manufactured in Poland meaning the prices are minuscule in comparison to Ireland. Here, Inglot’s HD
source of nightlife in Budapest is the ruin bars. These abandoned buildings proved to be very popular when the trend began 10 years ago and can be found all over the city today. Pub crawls and tours are popular amongst groups navigating through each of the derelict pubs in downtown Pest for less than 3000 Forint. Any trip to Budapest isn’t complete without visiting the thermal baths. Either to relax and recuperate or to attend the weekend bath parties, the baths are suited for any size group and is worth paying the admission fee. Depending on the night, admission is between €15 and €30 however it is widely considered to be the highlight of any trip to the Hungarian capital.
full coverage foundation retails at ¤33 whereas in Poland it costs just under €18, it’s definitely worth the visit. The nightlife in Poland doesn’t kick off until the early hours of the morning so clubs at 12pm will more than likely be empty. If you’re a vodka drinker be prepared for the measures to be strong. There are plenty of cheap beers to go around but if you drink cider, ‘Tatúv Sad’ tastes similar to orchard thieves and costs ¤4 a pint. Nightclubs in Poland don’t include a service charge so if your drink prices change over the night it’s because the barman thinks you’re drunk enough to rip off so watch out for this.
Unique date ideas for Valentine’s Day BY LAURA HORAN
Arts Lifestyle
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide BY BRONWYN O NEILL Valentine’s day is just around the corner bringing with it the stress of trying to figure out what to buy your significant other. Unprepared? Don’t panic because Bronwyn O’Neill has created a cute gift guide to help. For him
T
hat one day a year is approaching when couples panic on how to impress their other half with a day to remember and the rest are hoping they don’t spend too much time with Ben and Jerry. Yes it is Valentine’s Day. Instead of booking a fancy meal weeks in advance or fighting over the last table for a few drinks in your local, here are some alternative date ideas for your day of love or lust. Skyline from Croke Park Impress your date with the beauty of Dublin from 17 storeys high on the roof of Ireland’s most famous sporting arena or scare them to death and console them with a cuddle. During the sky-high tour you will learn some history surrounding the area. La Peniche It’s difficult to be original when wanting to get a bite to eat on
Valentine’s Day but this restaurant is no ordinary one. La Peniche is a French restaurant located on a canal boat down the River Liffey. The boat won’t just serve you amazing food and drinks while sailing through our beautiful city but you will also learn about the history of Guinness and Dublin’s Grand Canal. The Adventure Rooms How will you ever know if you like this person unless you can both be locked in a room for 60 minutes and do a series of clues and puzzles to engineer your escape? Put it to the test and take your date here. If you’re not arguing by the end then they’re the one. Hiking Ticknock Bring a light picnic and hold hands as you do a walking tour around Ticknock which is just 3km south west of Sandyford. The walk is filled with wonderful views such as the Three Rock
Socks and Jocks For the practical partners out there who want to gift their boyfriend with something useful, you can’t go wrong with a packet of cute socks and comfy boxers. Everyone needs underwear and if boys think its okay to gift lingerie to their girlfriends, it is certainly okay to return the favour. For her Beauty Box Subscription If your girlfriend is beauty obsessed, why not get a monthly subscription box for 6 months or a year? Most subscriptions are less than ¤20 a month and there are offers for yearly subscriptions. For Both A homemade keepsake
For those of you who love to make gifts, Valentine’s day is the perfect time to bring out your artistic side. Whether it’s a coupon book, embroidered pillows or a pop up photo album, the thought and love behind it really encapsulates the meaning of Valentine’s day. A weekend away For those of you willing to splurge, a romantic weekend away is a win-win. Not only is it a very thoughtful gift, you also get to enjoy the gift. Ireland is full of gorgeous hotels and scenery for you both to enjoy. Night in If you’re low on funds, just have a chill night in just the two of you. No phones, no distractions, just you two. Throw on Netflix, cook dinner or get a takeaway and just chill.
Being Single on Valentine’s Day BY GABIJA GATAVECKAITE
B
oxes of chocolates, roses and embellished cards- the familiar sight of Valentine’s Day is back once again. For some of us, it means highly anticipated dates and disappointment when your other half ‘forgets’ to get you a present. For the single ladies and gents,
it may mean a night filled with feelings of loneliness, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Valentine’s day is a great opportunity to meet new people, build on potential relationships or just enjoy being single. If you choose to go out or stay in, V-day doesn’t have to be ruined just because you’re
single. If you choose to stay in, get a few friends together and spend the night watching movies with lots of pizza and ice cream, including face masks and cookie baking. If partying is more your style, ‘The Liquor Rooms’ are holding a ‘Shred Your Ex’ night on February 11th, which grants free admission with a photo of your ex and where break up stories land free drinks. Bring along old teddies and swap them for other singles’ old gifts from
their exes, or donate them to charity. If you’re looking to meet new people and your love for dogs is even more important, ‘Pupp’, the dogfriendly café on Clanbrassil St is holding a speed dating event on the day. If all else fails and you end up having no plans for the day, take a hot bath and read a good book- after all, it’s important to take time to love yourself before anyone else.
7
Arts Lifestyle
Happy Friend Hunting
Top Tips for final year semester
BY ELSA ANDERLING
F
inding friends can be difficult during your first semester at college, learning how to navigate your way through the campus grounds can be challenging enough never mind seeking out your lifelong college friends. New faces, new places and maybe even new sneakers - there is a lot to take in starting college as a fresher. Although you might have tracked down the cheapest cup of coffee on campus already, possibly the social bit has not quite fallen into place yet. Stress no more, just follow these three examples and you all have a tight squad in no time. Spot a fellow, DCU student on your local bus (it should not be too hard after some casual,
basic level Facebook stalking). Now it is time to be brave: go grab the seat next to them on the bus, simply withdraw one of their earphones and put it into your own ear. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the 45 minute long, possibly Bieberistic, bus ride into campus together. No awkward conversations, and no breathing the morning coffee in each other’s faces. Ask around for a place called ‘NuBar’. This is DCU’s beloved campus bar and this is a perfect spot for your purposes. Simply walk up to the bar, order two pints and scan the bar closely while waiting. Head straight for the person who has either a glass of water in their hand or is chewing gum.
BY RACHAEL KELLEGHER
Once there, put one of the pints down on the table and gently push the glass towards them – get inspired by the gent move in ‘Lady and the Tramp’ when one last meatball is left on the plate. This will undoubtedly result in instant friendship, because who would not bond over a drink? We are in Ireland after all. Dublin is a rainy place, and you should take advantage of this. Get yourself an umbrella that will keep two people dry (or at least drier). It should not take you more than a walk from the library to the Henry Grattan before you spot an individual with a tormented facial expression and no brolly. Save their day – offer to share your small space of shelter with them. So happy friend hunting everyone, and may the odds be ever in your favour.
Society Semester BY MICHELLE MARTIN
O
ne of the biggest challenges that goes along with life at Dublin City University, is going a day without hearing the words ‘clubs and socs’. With over 120 of clubs and societies across the two campus’ it is guaranteed that there is something for everyone and that everyone has something. If you have not quite found your group yet, why not make that your goal for semester two. Although refreshers day has come and gone, sign
8
ups can be done at any time in the Student Union for the same price of four euro (minus the goodies unfortunately). Between DCU drama’s Othello, Style socs annual fashion show and A&F’s big ball, there is plenty going on and plenty of reasons to participate. The obvious reason for the popularity of clubs and societies is fun. Fun activities, fun new friends, fun way to procrastinate. However, involvement has a lot more to offer. If you manage to weasel your way to
the top your club’s food chain and land yourself on a committee, you are sure as hell going to put that on your CV. No employer cares whether its physics research or Disney society you help out with, it shows that you are a team player who actively did more than just skip class and drink at and college. And, if nothing else, join a society for a membership card. It is worth it for the unlimited Domino’s and Camille discounts.
F
resher’s Week seems like yesterday and most of us are still looking at our timetables not quite sure which letter stands for which building. Not much has changed yet somehow you have made it to your final year. Whether it is three or four years down the line, most of us are still haunted by the thoughts of entering the unknown commonly referred to as ‘The real world’. But do not fret! We have some top tips to send you swimmingly through your final lap of the college experience. Get planning NOW- Whether it is a jam-packed portfolio, a set of exams or the submission of a ten thousand word thesis, the most important thing any final year student can do is be prepared. Keep a calendar, outline all deadlines to be completed and, of course, give yourself time. Be ahead of yourself and avoid the stress and panic as this only leads to unproductivity. Exercise- the dreaded word... exercising regularly keeps your energy levels up, resulting in a more engaged mind. Whether you are a GAA head or a gym goer, try not to drop those hobbies just because you feel you have ‘no time’. In fact, making time for exercise will help you to stay productive and of course looking mighty fine. Do not forget to let your hair downJust because you are in final year does not mean house arrest. Once you begin managing your time properly you will still be able to head to Coppers on a Tuesday night with the knowledge that you have completed a good day’s work and are on target.
City Breaks on a Budget If the January blues have well and truly kicked in, booking a cheap and cheerful city break abroad will give you something to look forward to while you’re trying to resettle yourself back into working life. Writers Liam Ashton and Amy Lawlor take a look at the top city destinations to explore this spring
Edinburgh With low cost airlines providing cheap flights to locations in Britain and mainland Europe, student holidays are becoming increasingly more popular. Edinburgh is an ideal location for a weekend getaway both with a partner or as part of a group. The flight is less than an hour and return ticket costs between ¤20 and ¤30. If travelling in a group, hostels are ideal and will serve their purpose as a place to sleep and are also very central costing no more the £20 per night. The most visited tourist attraction in Scotland, Edinburgh castle is a must see sitting atop the famous Royal Mile. It does come at a high
Poland Home to legendary castles, magnificent churches, bustling marketplaces and a fantastic nightlife Krakow has become the Polish tourist destination to experience as opposed to Poland’s capital Warsaw. With cheap alcohol, accommodation and food it’s a safe haven for college
6
cost however, with admission at £16.50 with no student rate. Pub crawls are the main source of nightlife entertainment starting at just £7 per person. These include the 6 Nations pub ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Oz Bar’ located beside ‘The Elephant House’, where JK Rowling first began writing Harry Potter. Arthur’s Seat is a free activity for a budget trip which also provides the chance to see an alternative side of the city. Standing in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat is a 45-minute walk to the top overlooking the entire city. This is most ideal in the evening when the Balmoral Hotel and Scott Monument are lit up.
students alike. Only a 30 minute taxi journey away from the airport, it costs a fixed fair of €25 into Krakow city which is fairly cheap if you split it amongst a group of people. Despite it’s cold weather Krakow has a lot to offer in the history, make-up and nightlife department. If you’re interested in World War II, a visit to Auschwitz concentration camp is a must. It is highly recommended that you book a combination pass costing €69 which covers your 8-hour tour of Aushwitz-Birkenau
Budapest Once the cost of flights to Budapest are covered which are between €60 and ¤120 for this time of the year your money worries will be over as Budapest is among the cheapest cities in Europe. Hostels are again the most viable option with well-known chains such as Wombat and Big Fish which have both a bar and free breakfast. Walking tours of the city are free with complimentary tips at the end which are usually 3000 Hungarian Forint, roughly €10. St Stephen’s Basilica is perfect for groups on a student budget as it too is free entry however it does take up to ten minutes to climb the three-hundred steps to the top where you will be greeted with a 360-degree view of the city.The primary
concentration camp as well as a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This pass also includes transport to and from both tours as well as including a packed lunch. The salt mine tour alone costs €60, therefore the combination pass saves you money in the long run. If you’re a make-up addict it is worth doing a day trip to Poland to stock up on your Inglot essentials. The well-known make-up brand is manufactured in Poland meaning the prices are minuscule in comparison to Ireland. Here, Inglot’s HD
source of nightlife in Budapest is the ruin bars. These abandoned buildings proved to be very popular when the trend began 10 years ago and can be found all over the city today. Pub crawls and tours are popular amongst groups navigating through each of the derelict pubs in downtown Pest for less than 3000 Forint. Any trip to Budapest isn’t complete without visiting the thermal baths. Either to relax and recuperate or to attend the weekend bath parties, the baths are suited for any size group and is worth paying the admission fee. Depending on the night, admission is between €15 and €30 however it is widely considered to be the highlight of any trip to the Hungarian capital.
full coverage foundation retails at ¤33 whereas in Poland it costs just under €18, it’s definitely worth the visit. The nightlife in Poland doesn’t kick off until the early hours of the morning so clubs at 12pm will more than likely be empty. If you’re a vodka drinker be prepared for the measures to be strong. There are plenty of cheap beers to go around but if you drink cider, ‘Tatúv Sad’ tastes similar to orchard thieves and costs ¤4 a pint. Nightclubs in Poland don’t include a service charge so if your drink prices change over the night it’s because the barman thinks you’re drunk enough to rip off so watch out for this.
Unique date ideas for Valentine’s Day BY LAURA HORAN
Arts Lifestyle
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide BY BRONWYN O NEILL Valentine’s day is just around the corner bringing with it the stress of trying to figure out what to buy your significant other. Unprepared? Don’t panic because Bronwyn O’Neill has created a cute gift guide to help. For him
T
hat one day a year is approaching when couples panic on how to impress their other half with a day to remember and the rest are hoping they don’t spend too much time with Ben and Jerry. Yes it is Valentine’s Day. Instead of booking a fancy meal weeks in advance or fighting over the last table for a few drinks in your local, here are some alternative date ideas for your day of love or lust. Skyline from Croke Park Impress your date with the beauty of Dublin from 17 storeys high on the roof of Ireland’s most famous sporting arena or scare them to death and console them with a cuddle. During the sky-high tour you will learn some history surrounding the area. La Peniche It’s difficult to be original when wanting to get a bite to eat on
Valentine’s Day but this restaurant is no ordinary one. La Peniche is a French restaurant located on a canal boat down the River Liffey. The boat won’t just serve you amazing food and drinks while sailing through our beautiful city but you will also learn about the history of Guinness and Dublin’s Grand Canal. The Adventure Rooms How will you ever know if you like this person unless you can both be locked in a room for 60 minutes and do a series of clues and puzzles to engineer your escape? Put it to the test and take your date here. If you’re not arguing by the end then they’re the one. Hiking Ticknock Bring a light picnic and hold hands as you do a walking tour around Ticknock which is just 3km south west of Sandyford. The walk is filled with wonderful views such as the Three Rock
Socks and Jocks For the practical partners out there who want to gift their boyfriend with something useful, you can’t go wrong with a packet of cute socks and comfy boxers. Everyone needs underwear and if boys think its okay to gift lingerie to their girlfriends, it is certainly okay to return the favour. For her Beauty Box Subscription If your girlfriend is beauty obsessed, why not get a monthly subscription box for 6 months or a year? Most subscriptions are less than ¤20 a month and there are offers for yearly subscriptions. For Both A homemade keepsake
For those of you who love to make gifts, Valentine’s day is the perfect time to bring out your artistic side. Whether it’s a coupon book, embroidered pillows or a pop up photo album, the thought and love behind it really encapsulates the meaning of Valentine’s day. A weekend away For those of you willing to splurge, a romantic weekend away is a win-win. Not only is it a very thoughtful gift, you also get to enjoy the gift. Ireland is full of gorgeous hotels and scenery for you both to enjoy. Night in If you’re low on funds, just have a chill night in just the two of you. No phones, no distractions, just you two. Throw on Netflix, cook dinner or get a takeaway and just chill.
Being Single on Valentine’s Day BY GABIJA GATAVECKAITE
B
oxes of chocolates, roses and embellished cards- the familiar sight of Valentine’s Day is back once again. For some of us, it means highly anticipated dates and disappointment when your other half ‘forgets’ to get you a present. For the single ladies and gents,
it may mean a night filled with feelings of loneliness, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Valentine’s day is a great opportunity to meet new people, build on potential relationships or just enjoy being single. If you choose to go out or stay in, V-day doesn’t have to be ruined just because you’re
single. If you choose to stay in, get a few friends together and spend the night watching movies with lots of pizza and ice cream, including face masks and cookie baking. If partying is more your style, ‘The Liquor Rooms’ are holding a ‘Shred Your Ex’ night on February 11th, which grants free admission with a photo of your ex and where break up stories land free drinks. Bring along old teddies and swap them for other singles’ old gifts from
their exes, or donate them to charity. If you’re looking to meet new people and your love for dogs is even more important, ‘Pupp’, the dogfriendly café on Clanbrassil St is holding a speed dating event on the day. If all else fails and you end up having no plans for the day, take a hot bath and read a good book- after all, it’s important to take time to love yourself before anyone else.
7
Arts Lifestyle
Happy Friend Hunting
Top Tips for final year semester
BY ELSA ANDERLING
F
inding friends can be difficult during your first semester at college, learning how to navigate your way through the campus grounds can be challenging enough never mind seeking out your lifelong college friends. New faces, new places and maybe even new sneakers - there is a lot to take in starting college as a fresher. Although you might have tracked down the cheapest cup of coffee on campus already, possibly the social bit has not quite fallen into place yet. Stress no more, just follow these three examples and you all have a tight squad in no time. Spot a fellow, DCU student on your local bus (it should not be too hard after some casual,
basic level Facebook stalking). Now it is time to be brave: go grab the seat next to them on the bus, simply withdraw one of their earphones and put it into your own ear. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the 45 minute long, possibly Bieberistic, bus ride into campus together. No awkward conversations, and no breathing the morning coffee in each other’s faces. Ask around for a place called ‘NuBar’. This is DCU’s beloved campus bar and this is a perfect spot for your purposes. Simply walk up to the bar, order two pints and scan the bar closely while waiting. Head straight for the person who has either a glass of water in their hand or is chewing gum.
BY RACHAEL KELLEGHER
Once there, put one of the pints down on the table and gently push the glass towards them – get inspired by the gent move in ‘Lady and the Tramp’ when one last meatball is left on the plate. This will undoubtedly result in instant friendship, because who would not bond over a drink? We are in Ireland after all. Dublin is a rainy place, and you should take advantage of this. Get yourself an umbrella that will keep two people dry (or at least drier). It should not take you more than a walk from the library to the Henry Grattan before you spot an individual with a tormented facial expression and no brolly. Save their day – offer to share your small space of shelter with them. So happy friend hunting everyone, and may the odds be ever in your favour.
Society Semester BY MICHELLE MARTIN
O
ne of the biggest challenges that goes along with life at Dublin City University, is going a day without hearing the words ‘clubs and socs’. With over 120 of clubs and societies across the two campus’ it is guaranteed that there is something for everyone and that everyone has something. If you have not quite found your group yet, why not make that your goal for semester two. Although refreshers day has come and gone, sign
8
ups can be done at any time in the Student Union for the same price of four euro (minus the goodies unfortunately). Between DCU drama’s Othello, Style socs annual fashion show and A&F’s big ball, there is plenty going on and plenty of reasons to participate. The obvious reason for the popularity of clubs and societies is fun. Fun activities, fun new friends, fun way to procrastinate. However, involvement has a lot more to offer. If you manage to weasel your way to
the top your club’s food chain and land yourself on a committee, you are sure as hell going to put that on your CV. No employer cares whether its physics research or Disney society you help out with, it shows that you are a team player who actively did more than just skip class and drink at and college. And, if nothing else, join a society for a membership card. It is worth it for the unlimited Domino’s and Camille discounts.
F
resher’s Week seems like yesterday and most of us are still looking at our timetables not quite sure which letter stands for which building. Not much has changed yet somehow you have made it to your final year. Whether it is three or four years down the line, most of us are still haunted by the thoughts of entering the unknown commonly referred to as ‘The real world’. But do not fret! We have some top tips to send you swimmingly through your final lap of the college experience. Get planning NOW- Whether it is a jam-packed portfolio, a set of exams or the submission of a ten thousand word thesis, the most important thing any final year student can do is be prepared. Keep a calendar, outline all deadlines to be completed and, of course, give yourself time. Be ahead of yourself and avoid the stress and panic as this only leads to unproductivity. Exercise- the dreaded word... exercising regularly keeps your energy levels up, resulting in a more engaged mind. Whether you are a GAA head or a gym goer, try not to drop those hobbies just because you feel you have ‘no time’. In fact, making time for exercise will help you to stay productive and of course looking mighty fine. Do not forget to let your hair downJust because you are in final year does not mean house arrest. Once you begin managing your time properly you will still be able to head to Coppers on a Tuesday night with the knowledge that you have completed a good day’s work and are on target.
