1. A visit to Token in Smithfield
You’ll surprise yourself at how much time you’ll be able to waste here. They recently added a Dance Mat and Time Crisis, which will keep you occupied and entertained for ages. Once you’re fed up with the games upstairs, you can head downstairs and play pinball until you run out of tokens. They also put on events every now and then, which you can keep track of here.
If you want to make a night of it, Token’s food menu is unreal and includes a heap of vegan options that you can try and convince yourself are healthy too.
Token also do a weekly Cheapskate Night, where you can get a main course, a side, unlimited soda (or an alcoholic drink – but that’s not what we’re here for) with 10 tokens for €19.95. However, since everybody’s poor this month, every single day of January they’ll be offering their Cheapskate Special. You can’t go wrong.
2. Go see a play. When’s the last time you did that?
Until the 20th of January, The Abbey are running Let the Right One In – based on the novel and film by John Ajvide Lindqvist. It’s not often that we get a gory vampire film at the Abbey, so you should try catch it before it’s over. It’s being compared to Stranger Things, so if you’re into anything like that, it’s worth checking out.
Once Let the Right One In wraps up, the Abbey’s next play ‘CLASS’ is running from the 24th of January to the 3rd of February. It’s a comedy that sold out every show at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
It follows two separated parents who go to their son’s parent teacher meeting to find out that their 9-year-old is struggling in school and their teacher thinks he should see a psychologist. The pair of them hated school and hated teachers, so they’re quick to brush off his recommendations.
Over in The Gate Theatre, they’re bringing Hans Christian Anderson’s story The Red Shoes to the stage until the 27th of January. The new version of the story, written by Nancy Harris tells the story of an orphan who is adopted by a wealthy Dublin family.
3. Go get some proper fresh air.
With all of the Christmas shopping, sitting around the house anticipating your return to work, and finally, you’re return to work, there’s a good chance your life over the last few weeks has been quite stuffy. Just make sure you wrap up.
There are plenty of places for a nice stroll in Dublin. You could get the DART out to Howth, where there’s several lovely walking trails (both suitable for people who love cliffs and people who are absolutely terrified of cliffs) that vary in length.
If you’re feeling very adventurous and have some newfound energy from waking up without a hangover every weekend, you could get a bus out to the Hellfire Club or Ticknock. You could even get a bus from town to Glendalough.
Alternatively, if these all sound like far too much effort, you could pay a visit to the Botanic Gardens which has some nice warm greenhouses.
4. Go see a load of films.
That’s what Dry January is for, isn’t it?
December was so busy that there’s a very good chance you missed most last month’s big releases. It’s not too late to see The Last Jedi, Molly’s Game, Jumanji and loads of the other films you might have missed out on.
Here’s a list of the movies coming out in the next few weeks, if you want to see if anything new takes your fancy.
5. Finally get around to checking out the new wing of the National Gallery.
It’s been open since the 15th of June, but chances are you haven’t dropped in yet. It’s actually really, really impressive how big it was, compared to what was open to the public for the last few years. Unlike before, it now takes at least good hour to get through the place. A nice way to relax after some lunch.
6. Get some nice brunch, without a hangover.
A little known fact is that brunch tastes just as good, possibly better, when you’re not hungover. Everyone deserves to treat themselves to some nice food on the weekend. Here are some excellent options for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
7. Check out the Dublin Bowie Festival.
From the 4th to the 8th of January, there are loads of events on to honour the late David Bowie. Here are all of the events that take place during the festival.
There’s an exhibition in the Image Now gallery from the 5th to the 25th of this month called Sound & Vision, featuring 25 posters – one for every studio album released by the singer, that are for sale with proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society.
Another exhibition will focus on paintings of Bowie’s face, and there’ll even be one on South William Street featuring art by David Bowie himself. That’s not to mention the Bowie themed brunches, Labyrinth screenings and quizzes that’ll take place. Something for every David Bowie fan.
8. Go to a comedy show.
Cherry Comedy in Whelan’s is only a fiver and rarely disappoints. However, if you don’t trust yourself to resist the temptation of a jar or two while watching a comedy show in a bar, don’t worry.
Accents Coffee & Tea Lounge on Stephen Street Lower offer alcohol free comedy nights fairly regularly, and they open until 11pm every night. So if you’re looking for somewhere to socialise with friends in the evenings without alcohol, this is a decent spot.
