Recently in Dublin Category

Dracula roamed the streets of Transylvania, but Bram Stoker, the blood-thirsty vampire's creator, was born in Dublin. Yes, good old Dublin, Ireland, home of Guinness and shamrocks. But how about the city's medieval graveyards and haunted staircases? You'd like to get a little bit closer to Ireland's ghoulish side this October wouldn't you? Well then, I suggest you book yourself a room at the marvelous Westin Dublin Hotel, because when you do, in addition to being settled in at one of the city's loveliest five-star accommodations, you'll get two tickets for the Ghost Bus Tour.

Bedecked in gothic decor, the Ghost Bus winds through Dublin's historic (and haunted) streets, while a guide recounts tales of murder and intrigue. Passengers disembark the bus twice during the two-hour tour, once to learn about body snatching at St. Kevin's Graveyard, and again at Dublin's most haunted locale. If it's a fright you're after, the Dublin Ghost Tour's for you, but there's quite a bit of comedy and historic fact to be had as well. If you're traveling with kids over 14, bring them along, they'll love it. Oh, and remember to snap a few pics, there's no telling what powers of the paranormal you'll pick up.

If it's a sly sort of mood you're in post-tour, head to the Mint Bar back at the Westin, which is housed in the former Allied Irish Bank building. The bar's in the old vault. Get yourself a Jameson and plot out your own Dracula story. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this one created by a true "Edward Gorey" fan.

With more than 30 plays over two and a half weeks, the Dublin Theatre Festival is an excellent opportunity to see a wide range of theatrical styles, from classics to the avant garde from September 27th to October 14th.

Productions such as Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night starring Oscar nominee James Cromwell, a new take on The Playboy of the Western World and the Japanese dance performance Hibiki are hotly anticipated, but also worth attention are such offerings as Dostoyevsky's great monolog The Grand Inquisitor Lori Anderson's Homeland and a piece based on the art of Robert Rauschenberg.

If you plan on attending, you'd better hurry and get your tickets now, as many performances have already sold out. You do have an in, though: The Westin Dublin is an official sponsor of the festival; if there's a particular show you'd like to attend, you might check with the concierge to reserve tickets when you book your room.

Looking for dinner before the play? Tradition would dictate a pre-theater meal at the Trocadero, but the three-course prix fixe at Chapter One is also a good bet.

Dublin has grown so much in the past two decades that it can be hard to keep up with the new and noteworthy additions. The New York Times has a nice rundown of the Irish capital's most interesting contemporary features, as well as a few sites of historical interest. To start off on a sweet note, enjoy a slice of chocolate ganache cake or a plum tart with a cup of tea at the Queen of Tarts sweet shop (pictured) in the town's medieval area. Then take a stroll through the National Gallery of Ireland to see works by 20th century Irish artists such as Jack Butler Yeats along with paintings by European masters like Caravaggio and Van Gogh. For fine art of a different kind, take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse. This historical brewery has a modern and fun visitors area, where people learn the story of the delicious dark stout's humble beginnings in 1759. The best part: the tour ends with a free pint of Guinness at the sleek new seventh-floor Gravity Bar, which offers tremendous views of the city. Fans of literature will appreciate the Old Library Building at Trininty College, which houses the Book of Kells as well as a first edition of Dante's Divine Comedy. As for the dining scene, Dublin offers a lot more than pub grub. At Ely Wine Bar, for example, diners choose from among 470 bottles of wine to pair with dishes such as bangers and mash and lamburger. Guests at the The Westin Dublin will find fun and excitement around every corner of this amazing city.

[image via The New York Times]

It might be a tourist trap, but we're still fans of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Located inside the Guinness Brewery, the Storehouse is, well... a beer amusement park. Although guests cannot see the actual manufacturing process, there are exhibitions, beer-themed computer games, tasting rooms, and, of course, multiple bars. Tickets run a healthy €14, but frequent discounts are available online. In Dublin, we recommend the Westin Dublin.

So what if St. Patrick's Day was a few months ago? It's always a good time for having another magazine roundup of things to do in Dublin. This time around the goods come courtesy of the New York Times and their popular "Going To" feature. Of course, the usual Dublin cliches are here - There is lots of talk of the Celtic Tiger, Starbucks franchises a stone's throw from the Liffey and how Dubliners now eat (gasp!) olives before dinner. For attractions, the Times takes a veiled swipe at the gamed Guinness Storehouse ("hordes of tourists") and recommends visitors check out the Hugh Lane wing of the Dublin City Gallery for modern art and the newly renovated James Joyce Center instead. Hotel-wise, their choice is the Westin Dublin, the city's "reigning luxury hotel."