It's been a time of celebration for some, of speaking out against terrible crimes for others, of 1990s nostalgia, major upheaval, and more. Our writers Kim Bielenberg, Kirsty Blake Knox, John Meagher and Tanya Sweeney take you through it all. It was the year of new faces at the Áras and in the Vatican;
If modern romcoms aren't sweeping you off your feet any more, you're not the only one wondering where the magic went. Romantic comedies are just not as good as they used to be, according to one of the stars of Love Actually. Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played lovestruck teenager Sam in Richard Curtis's 2003 Christmas film, said the rise of streaming had led to rushed, cheaper productions, draining the genre of the spark it had in its 1990s heyday.
The much-loved cocktail spot has had a full refurb, reopening on 13th November with a nostalgic nod to the nineties and a few surprises that'll make you want to stay all night. Founded in 1998, Be At One's always been about good times and great value drinks, and the new space keeps that spirit alive but with a glossier edge.
And Oasis knows exactly how to tap into that nostalgia while making it feel, well, fresh. The show bursts with energy, from Major Hammy's charismatic Will to Mudd's neurotic Carlton. The lip-syncs, the over-the-top physical comedy, and the perfectly timed '90s references make it feel like stepping into a time machine - if that time machine also had a drag queen at the controls.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. More people are stepping away from the minimalist, open-concept kitchens that seemed to dominate design decisions for the past two decades. We want to personalize our kitchens, considering how much time we spend in them. Plus, many of us are seeking cozy comforts in today's world. This has revived past trends like choosing charming 1990s kitchen color schemes over monotonous monotone and collecting secondhand cookware and serveware to mix modern and vintage kitchen items.
A good restaurant ensures that the food offers a stellar dining experience, but Rainforest Cafe offered a one-of-a-kind enchanting (and often overstimulating) extravaganza. The name alone conjures up images of dining amongst lush greenery, and that's certainly what the chain strived for. As soon as you reached the doors, thick vegetation making up a "forest" greeted you, along with an animated red-eyed tree frog and his gang of jungle pals.
Look at the biggest trends, TV shows, and movies from the last few years, and one thing is clear: '90s nostalgia is a seriously profitable business. Those who remember the last decade of the 20th century are willing to pony up quite a bit of cash to see a return of their all-time favorites, from fashion to music to interior design.
