The countdown is on: 25 days til Christmas; 20 days til Hanukah. With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday behind us, holiday shoppers are searching for the perfect gift to fill out their shopping list. Professional organizers tout the wisdom behind finding one great gift and giving it to everyone appropriate on your gift list: this year, its Boston Dining Cards.

First rolled out in Buffalo, this new product launch has now come to Boston along with Rochester, Pittsburgh, Phoenix and Indianapolis. Its a hip, fun and giftable deck of cards, offering $ 10 off a meal of $ 30 or more to 50 restaurants, and now, its in six cities across the country.

Heres how it works: customers purchase a deck of Boston Dining Cards at one of dozens of area retailers for just $ 20. Every deck has 50 card-sized coupons for $ 10 off a $ 30 meal at a restaurant in the Boston area. (Two cards are wildcards, good for freebies from local merchants.) While paying, you simply hand your server the card for $ 10 off your bill.

Its a win/win/win scenario, City Dining Cards founder Patrick Finan explains. Unlike new internet based promotions that offer steep discounts but exact a heavy cost from restaurants (sometimes a loss of as much as 70% for participating), the deck of Dining Cards builds business for short money. At a cost of only $ 20 per deck, customers love the savings to 50 restaurants, worth $ 500 if you ate at every restaurant, and $ 1 from each deck supports Childrens Hospital of Boston. Another bonus: the local economy gets a boost.

Some of the hottest eateries in Boston are included. Whats not to love about Chicken Saltimbocca at Bella Luna, Lobster Tagliatelle at Davide, Bi Bim Bab at Mr. Sushi, Crispy Pressed Duck with Turnips at Sibling Rivalry and Roasted Butternut Squash and Carmelized Onions over Coconut Rice at Veggie Planet. Cards are valid through the end of 2012, and there are no blackout dates, and no exclusions.

You can purchase cards at ten area Barnes and Nobles stores, the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Grand in Somerville, Stoddards in Newton, Booksmith in Brookline, or go to http://www.bostondiningcards.com for a complete list of retailers or to purchase online.

City Dining Cards, which produces Boston Dining Cards, began in 2010 in Buffalo NY, when a team of five hungry designers put a new spin on an old idea. And they fit right in a stocking.

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10.

TALLAGHT Saint Mary - The Friars' Walk


Image by Fergal of Claddagh
In 1324 Archbishop Alexander de Bicknor built the Castle of Tallaght, on the site of the monastery that had existed there from St. Maelruain's time. The altered state of affairs rendered it necessary to fortify such places, and this castle was frequently enlarged and altered during the disturbed and troubled years, that may be called the Dark Ages of Ireland-from 1300 to 1600. The frontspiece to this book, if a correct view, will give an idea of the stately edifice that once stood in the little village of Tallaght. It was probably in the form of a square, with a large court or bawn in the centre, surrounded by lofty buildings and walls. The many foundations that have been from time to time uncovered show how extensive these must have been. I have not been able to trace from what sketch this view was engraved, but have heard that in the salon of the old palace there were painted medallions on the walls, representing the different progressive stages of the castle and buildings. It may have been from some of these that the sketch was taken. The plate is now very rare.

In 1332, O'Toole of Imaile, at the head of a numerous train of armed followers, plundered the Palace of Tallaght, carried away a prey of 300 sheep, slew many of the Archbishop's servants, and defeated, in a pitched battle, Sir Philip Brett and a body of the citizens of Dublin, who came against him. Watch and ward were afterwards constantly kept here, and at Bray, to repel similar attacks.

In 1356, Walter Russell, being Constable of Tallaght Castle, the Lord Lieutenant entered into a compact with one of the O'Tooles, whereby the latter, with 40 hobillers, or horsemen, and 40 armed foot, was to defend the English marches, from Tallaght to Windgates, against the invasions of his countrymen. In the following year, the said Walter Russell was directed to levy from the vicinage reasonable pledges and subsidies for maintaining the wards stationed on these marches.

In 1378, Matthew, the son of Redmond de Bermingham, took his station here, with 120 hobillers, to resist the O'Byrnes; and, in the same year, John de Wade received £20 from the King's Exchequer, as a remuneration for two horses, and other goods of his, burned at Tallaght by the O'Nolans.
In 1448, by an Act of Parliament of that date, Tallaght, with other towns, was privileged to take custom.

In 1540, the O'Tooles invaded and devastated this and the adjacent Royal Manors, with deadly enmity and destruction. [In the reign of Henry VIII the O'Toole were only restrained by armed force. Lord Deputy Skeffington writes, in 1535, portion of his forces lie at Tallaght. Two years later Robert Cowley, a well-known official, writes to Lord Cromwell that Ballymore and Tallaght are the most important places for the defence of the counties of Dublin and of Kildare against the O'Tooles and the O'Byrnes, and that tenants should be placed there, who would prove "hardy warders," able to defend the Pale. - State Papers of Henry VIII.] that In 1729, Archbishop Hoadly demolished the. castle, using the materials to build the palace, as previously mentioned; and the Archbishops of Dublin used it until 1821 as a country residence.

Brewer, in his Beauties of Ireland, describes the palace as a spacious, but long and narrow, building, composed of the grey stone of the country, and destitute of pretensions to architectural beauty. He says: "The interior contains many apartments of ample proportions, but none that are highly embellished. The hall, into which the visitor is conducted by a flight of stone steps, measures 21 feet square, and is lighted by two tiers of windows. The dining-room is 25 feet in length, by 21 in width, and is ornamented with the archiepiscopal arms, impaled with a shield, quarterly, charged in the first quarter with a pigeon. The date is 1729, and, above, is the crest, a hawk perched on a round ball.

Underneath the coat of arms is the following inscription:-" Johannes Hoadly, hanc domum refecit."

The great drawing-room, or salon, measures 33 feet by 21, and contains the only portrait in the palace, a full-length of Archbishop Hoadly, who was translated to the See of Dublin in January, 1729. The library is a small apartment, having a window of large dimensions, from which, as from all the windows of the reception-rooms, very fine views are obtained of Montpellier Hill, and the adjacent tract of captivating scenery. The gardens are disposed with unpleasing formality, but the antiquary will derive some gratification from finding here the remains of a tower, which constituted an integral part of the former palace. Archbishop Fowler, translated to Dublin in 1773, surrounded the demesne with a wall, and bestowed other improvements."

One small tower, part of the old castle, was left standing, and still remains, though much altered. The accompanying sketch represents it in 1770. It was repaired in 1835 [In the same year, close to the site of the Palace, a bulla of Pope Leo X was discovered when a field was being ploughed. Sir John Lentaigne presented it to the Dominican Fathers, in whose possession it now is. The bulla is of lead, and about the size of the large penny of George IV. On one side is the inscription in large Damascene letters "Leo Papa X." On the reverse are two vesica-shaped panels; in one of these is the traditional head of St. Peter, and in the other that of St. Paul. Between these panels is a Latin cross, over which are the letters "S.S. PE. PA." There is no date, but it is in a state of perfect preservation. The bulla was attached by a silk or parchment band to the Papal Bulls, and served as a seal to guarantee the authenticity of the document.] by Mr. Lentaigne, who then had in it a great collection of curiosities, including a small brass coin found at Tallaght, having on one side an ecclesiastic holding a long staff with a Latin inscription round the margin, and on the reverse, "IVO" in two or three places; and a round stone, four inches in diameter, gradually sloping from the centre to the edge, which was found there, and which was probably one of those blessed stones which are still remembered and revered in different parts of Ireland.

In repairing the staircase, Mr. Lentaigne found a head carved in stone, which was firmly set in the wall, with the back part outwards. This fact shows that the builders made use of the materials of the ancient church or monastery which had stood there centuries before. The head is not of ordinary size, the nose is partially broken off, the chin low and retreating, the eyes prominent, and placed high up, with a very low forehead; the face is rather long, and the workmanship is rude. There was a long house, which is now the chapel, attached to the castle. Formerly part of it was used as a brewery, and the adjacent field was known as the hop garden, which proves that the archbishops brewed their own beer. Subsequently it was used as a granary and stables. It apparently was of the same age as the castle.

The archbishop's palace has been now completely removed, excepting, as before stated, one large and strong vault, over which the archbishop's dining-room was placed. This vault is now completely overgrown with trees, planted either by Major Palmer or Mr. Lentaigne. There is a fine raised walk within the garden, running from north to south, called the "Friars' Walk," with a round, moat-like eminence at the north end, called the "Bishop's Seat." This walk was planted on each side with large elm and yew trees, the best of which were recently cut down. To the right of the walk stands an immense walnut tree of great age, called St. Maelruain's Tree." It looks like two trees arising from one stem ; but it was originally one stem of about 10 feet high, dividing into two branches, which towards the end of the last century separated about five feet from the ground. It still remains healthy, and bears loads of fruit. Many of the branches rest on the ground, and, having taken root, serve to prop the tree. It is a wonderful tree, and must be many hundred years old.

When a bath-house which had been built by Archbishop Fowler was being cleared by Mr. Lentaigne, the workmen found at the bottom a round lump of granite. It has a hole through the middle, remarkable for being cut in a screw form, which looks as if the pedestal of a cross had been screwed into it. This stone is now lying at the end of the "Friars' Walk;" and there are also lying, about half-way up the walk, some fragments of the old cross of Tallaght, referred to under the year 1778.
In clearing out part of the fosse, which was said originally to have surrounded the castle, the workmen turned up another shapeless mass of stone, about 200 pounds weight, with a round cavity, about one foot deep, and one foot wide at the top, tapering to the bottom. It must have been one of the old holy water fonts; in workmanship it corresponds with the other stone and the font in the churchyard, all these being certainly older than the monastery. This stone is said to be foreign porphyry, and may have had a history in bygone times, like the celebrated Liafail, or stone of destiny. The moat was of great depth, and was supplied from the Jobstown stream, about a mile from Tallaght, from whence it was brought in an ancient watercourse.

The foregoing account was written about 40 years ago, by Eugene O'Curry: since then there have been many changes. Mr. Lentaigue leased the principal part of the old manor of Tallaght to the Dominican Friars, who, as before stated, have built a large monastery there. In the garden lies the disjointed skeleton of an immense whale, taken on the coast of Mayo, about 1840, and brought here by Mr. Lentaigne at great expense. He made a lofty arch in the garden with the vertebrae strung on iron bars, the ends of which were embedded in two great millstones about four feet in diameter, and two feet thick, with large square holes for the axles. He brought these from the old powder-mills at Corkagh, near Clondalkin, where they had been used for crushing the powder until, in 1787, the mills were blown up.

Diem


Image by [ Tam Nguyen Photography ]
Tam Nguyen Photography by Tam Nguyen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

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The St. Regis Monarch Beach one of Californias only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond resorts today announced the grand reopening of its salon, renamed The Salon at Spa Gaucin and redesigned to offer the ultimate in luxury salon services. Formerly operated by Vogue Salon, The Salon at Spa Gaucin now is managed by the unparalleled salon and spa experts behind the award-winning Spa Gaucin at The St. Regis Monarch Beach.

While much of our industry has moved toward express blow-outs, mini color touch-ups and strip mall nail salons, weve found that our discerning clients are seeking a pampering, bespoke experience and a respite from their busy lives, says St. Regis Monarch Beach Salon and Spa Gaucin Director Valory Reed. At The Salon at Spa Gaucin, we are committed to delivering Southern Californias highest quality hair, nail and makeup services in an atmosphere of sophisticated yet relaxed and unhurried elegance.

This innovative, return-to-luxury approach to salon services is attracting top regional and national talents to The Salon at Spa Gaucin, including Dennis Lee, Elizabeth Castillo and Lois Kinsey, all of whom bring with them impressive rosters of loyal, high-profile clients to the salon.

Elizabeth Castillo

Premier stylist Elizabeth Castillo comes to The Salon at Spa Gaucin with a star-studded following, including work for Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa, Kelly Rutherford, Jennie Garth and more as well as photo shoot hairstyling for superstar photographers Annie Leibovitz and Harry Langdon. In addition to her previous work at the Ritz-Carlton, Langham, and Peninsula Hotels, she also served as artistic director at Vidal Sassoon and enjoyed a successful career at Umberto Salon in Beverly Hills. Known for both hair and makeup artistry, Castillo comes to The Salon at Spa Gaucin to serve her long-time clients, new local clientele and the resorts valued guests. Available Fridays and Saturdays.

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Los Angeles celebrity hairstylist, Lois Kinsey, is a dominant force in hair and makeup design. Lois' celebrity resume includes CBS's "The Bold and the Beautiful" and world-renowned artists Salvador Dali and Elton John. Former Artistic Director of Hair and Makeup of the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui, Lois' master certification allows her to effortlessly capture the personality and beauty of her clients and she is especially renowned for creating magnificent looks for weddings and special occasions services that will be in high demand at The Salon at Spa Gaucin at The St. Regis Monarch Beach. Available Fridays.

To schedule appointments with these star stylists (all of whom are available by appointment), or any of the other highly skilled stylists at The Salon at Spa Gaucin at The St. Regis Monarch Beach, please call 949.234.3367. In addition to expert haircut, color and styling services, The Salon at Spa Gaucin offers a full range of luxe and indulgent nail and makeup services and uses only the finest products, including such exclusive lines as Schwarzkopf, Davines, Cuccio, Essie, Spa Ritual and TRUE. The Salon at Spa Gaucin is open daily from 8am-9pm.

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Overlooking the blue Pacific waters of Southern California, the St. Regis Monarch Beach beckons guests to indulge in luxury accommodations and personalized service at its Tuscan-inspired retreat. This quintessential Southern California beach resort offers guests 400 elegantly appointed and spacious guest rooms and suites, a private beach club with "Surf Butlers," six ocean view restaurants including Michael Minas Stonehill Tavern, a Forbes Five-Star and one of the "Top 25 Hotel Spas in the World" by Travel & Leisure Magazine extraordinary spa, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf course, tennis courts and nearby recreational activities. The resort is located just 22 miles from the Orange County Airport and 65 miles to both LAX and San Diego Airports.

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