BT's window We might miss the mechanical elves from Switzer's windows, but Brown Thomas's oriental window dressing is stunning, a real pick-me-up if you're feeling recessed.
Vegetarianism Good for the environment; good for individual and public health; good for Ireland, Inc.
Vampires The success of Twilight shows mulled blood is the drink of choice. And we won't be brandishing garlic at its star, Robert Pattinson.
Renards Because it's there! After all these years. Others come and go, but the disco ball in Renards, and that drunk guy who should go home to his wife, never go out of fashion.
Open fires We've been snuggling up next to the open fire in the Bite of Life on Patrick Street and hearth next to the bar of the Trocadero on St Andrew Street. Absolute luxurah!
Ice skating in Central Park Or even at the Rockefeller Centre. One-way flights on Aer Lingus start from €87 . . . excluding all those taxes and fuel surcharges, of course.
Reads of Nassau Street God bless its piles of cut-price books, helping keep the economy's rusty old crock of an engine turning over.
Withheld numbers Why is it always the people we don't want to talk to who block their mobile phone numbers? There's a new rule in town - blocked digits go unanswered.
Hair-raising hairdressers' prices It's time for the rest of us to pull the plug on this waste of money. Haircuts and toys may be kind of recession proof, but the cost of colour and blow-dries does our head in.
Nancy Reagan Red Brilliant red coats, red jumpers, red stockings, and red party dresses with matching red shoes should not be seen outside of Santa's grotto this Christmas.
Mobile phone shop assistants How often do you hear the line, "I use that model and I like it!". Or, "I think we have that in pink". Whatever happened to real expert technical advice?
Christmas music We can't go into the local shop for a pint of milk because the chirpy jingles drive us up the walls.