Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
A French expat has created an interactive map to help foodies pinpoint outdoor eateries across Ireland
With the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme underway and the catchy, government-propelled motto “Think Safe, Think Outdoors” gaining prominence across Ireland, Fingal County Council has unveiled plans for its own Outdoor Summer. The plans are tied to the announced reopening of hospitality businesses throughout the country for outdoor eating and drinking on 7 June, Ireland’s June Bank Holiday.
At their recent monthly meeting, councillors have focused on measures to allow residents and guests to enjoy an expanded and safe access to the public realm in some of the county’s major towns, informs the municipal website. Among them are supports put in place to facilitate Outdoor Dining in Swords, Blanchardstown, Skerries and Malahide, which have clusters of dining businesses.
The measures envisage New Street in Malahide to be made pedestrian-only from 6 June and a walkway to be introduced on Harbour Road in Skerries. Outdoor dining areas are also being set up on Main Street in Swords and Main Street in Blanchardstown.
Public Information Leaflets outlining the measures for Swords, Skerries and Malahide are now being distributed to all households in those areas, prompting residents to complete a survey on the proposals as part of a non-statutory public consultation that is open until 21 May.
Outdoor Dining will also be facilitated in other parts of those towns through the issuing of licences, grants for outdoor dining furniture and a Parklet Partners scheme which helps convert on-street parking spaces into dining areas.
The measures will also include changes to the county’s Casual Trading By-laws and installing additional garbage bins, public benches and public toilets (at Millennium Park, Blanchardstown and at Ardgillan Castle). A separate set of measures will promote Active Travel by extending the Bleeper Bikes scheme and providing additional bike parking facilities.
The grand reopening of outdoor catering areas on 7 June is eagerly awaited by hospitality businesses and foodies. Among the latter is Katia Valadeau, an expat hailing from Paris who works in financial services, acts as a social-media consultant to food industry clients, and writes a food blog.
Katia’s labour of love is an interactive map listing more than 700 food venues with outdoor dining facilities across Ireland, which she has compiled and made available on her website properfood.ie.
”As we emerge out of lockdown, many of us are looking forward to dining out again,” Katia Valadeau told the Irish Times. “I decided to put this map and list together to help people think ahead and organise their days and evenings out, for when it is safe to do so...They are not all necessarily well-known places, but they are spots where you can grab a bite to eat and be served your order at a table outside, or places where you can have a full menu, again served to you outside. It includes small cafes and fine-dining venues and a wide variety of restaurants in between, on the whole island of Ireland.’’
Katia says the response to her idea was overwhelming, so she will keep updating the original map and list.
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The previous mayor was forced out of office following a no-confidence vote in the city council
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The German Aerospace Center in Cologne is looking for volunteers for its next bed rest study
Muksubussi is nature-friendly, too, so they provide 2-in-1 benefit
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
The intervention has affected the mountainous districts of the Catalan capital
Even an Eternal City had to start from somewhere
On this day 200 years ago, the great poet lost his life in the Balkan country where he had gone to fight for its liberty
Muksubussi is nature-friendly, too, so they provide 2-in-1 benefit
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team