Compiled by Nicoline Greer.
LONDON CALLING The most talked-about shop in London at the moment is the new Dover Street Market. Described by fashion snobs as a "concept store", it is the brainchild of Rei Kawabuko, the innovative Japanese designer of Comme des Garçons whose idea was to create "an ongoing atmosphere of strong and beautiful chaos". A four-storey building off Bond Street, it is an extraordinary and surreal mixture of high fashion and low art, of museum exhibits and Savile Row suits, all shown in an industrial presentation in which theatre designers rather than architects were involved. So, for example, on the first floor, the whacky, 1960s-style platform shoes of Terry de Havilland share space with Azzedine Alaia, Junya Watanabe and Didier Ludot, known in Paris for his collections of little black dresses. Everything, however, from vintage Chanel, antique Afghan dresses to Hedi Slimane furniture and the ubiquitous Comme des Garçons (right), comes at a cost. Still, it's worth the visit. Dover Street Market can be found at 17-18 Dover Street, London, open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. By the way, there's no signage or window displays. -Deirdre McQuillan
CAN OF WORMS Composting is all very well but the problem with it is that, unless you have a substantial garden with lots of compost-able grass clippings and branches, it is virtually impossible. If you want to get rid of food waste and skip the landfill, what you need is a wormery. You can put both cooked and uncooked food into it and the worms convert it to fertiliser packed with nutrients and micro-organisms. Element Green Solutions make a stacking worm tray that is vermin and pong-proof, they say. €169 plus approx €10 postage. Element Green Solutions, Acorn Business Campus, Mahon Industrial Park, Blackrock, Cork (021-4536153) info@elementgreen.com www.elementgreen.com
POTS OF TALENT Seven Irish ceramicists have reached a milestone in a creative journey started three years ago. Their pioneering collection of contemporary ceramics has just opened. New Irish Ceramics: A Journey offers the first chance to the results of the Crafts Council of Ireland's Contemporary Ceramics Programme. The artists already have impressive experience but this has allowed them to develop under the tutelage of experts. This is not merely a collection of functional tableware and bowls. The exhibition represents a ground-breaking change in style toward one-off, decorative and collectible pieces. So as well as being beautiful to look at, these pieces are an investment. New Irish Ceramics: A Journey runs until November 28th at National Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny. www.ccoi.ie. Pictured is work by (from left) Michael Jackson, Roger Harley and Lucy Dolan.
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Little bookworms can read all about it with 500 countrywide events organised by the 14th Children's Book Festival starting this week. They can meet Ireland's most gruesome author, as Darren Shan finally does a public signing, his first ever in Dublin. Sales of his Vampire Assistant series are now passing the one million copies mark. Or get a sneak preview of Danny Boyle's new film Millions at The Ark on Monday. For the first time, the Children's Book Festival will also bring festival events to the playrooms in Crumlin Hospital. And the readers of Ireland can vote for their champion author - in 2002 they voted JK Rowling number 1, beating Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson, JRR Tolkein and Roddy Doyle. Ballot Boxes in local libraries and at www.childrensbooksireland. com. To find out more, see www.childrensbooksireland.com or phone Mags Walsh at the Children's Book Festival 2004 (01-4763715, festival@ childrensbooksireland.com)
MASAI SHOES IN IRELAND With promises of improved posture, reduced joint pain, toning of muscles and the banishment of cellulite, it's no wonder MBTs are such sought-after footwear. And these clunky runners, sandals, boots and casual shoes are now available in Ireland. "The secret to the success of the MBT, designed by a Swiss engineer plagued with chronic back and knee pain, is the 12-layer curved sole that makes a flat surface seem unstable, thus forcing the foot, leg, lower back and abdomen muscles to work as naturally as intended," says stockist and therapist Ciaran Handley of Dublin's Anu Healing Centre. The shoes are inspired by Masai warriors, who walk barefoot over long distances without suffering from back and joint pain. Be warned: at first I felt as secure as if walking on mini- waterbeds. Coming in 11 styles for which you need to be fitted, they range from €179 to €207. www.anuhealing.com. Inquiries 021-4821106. Niamh Hooper
CONTROL YOUR CREDIT It's a modern dilemma. You regularly fail to pay your credit card bill, and have now plunged yourself into so much debt that there seems nothing for it but to terminate your drastic piece of plastic. But, as you prepare to snap it into two impotent halves, you wonder: how now will I book my flights on the web and my cinema tickets on the phone? The answer is you keep the card intact, but instruct your bank or provider to whisk out the full amount you owe by direct debit every month. That way, you are forced to pay off your debt once a month, rather than keep the credit card company at bay with a minimum payment. A credit card company can do this over the phone, and at a stroke transform your card from parasitic debt accumulator into risk-free financial accessory.
TAKE A HAIKU "The way of haiku is first of all a way of life," says French haiku poet, Alain Kervern. The way of haiku next week takes a route along the Liffey from Islandbridge to Chapelizod and part of the southern end of the Phoenix Park for a haiku walk - known as a "ginko". The Japanese miniature poems are being celebrated by a new organisation, Haiku Ireland. The two-hour haiku walk, combined with a workshop, next Saturday (October 16th) will be led by Jim Norton, an internationally recognised haiku poet. There is no charge for the event and all are welcome to join in: the group will meet at 2 p.m. at the main entrance to the Islandbridge Memorial Park. No previous experience of haiku or poetry writing is necessary. Just bring a notebook, a raincoat and an open mind. For further information on all Haiku Ireland activities, e-mail haikuireland@hotmail.com or visit the site hosted on www.haikuspirit.org.
CUPPA LOAD OF THIS For those who really appreciate a nice sit-down and a cup of tea, there is much joy to be found browsing www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com. Here's its mission statement in full: "Well I think we should all sit down and have a nice cup of tea, and some biscuits, nice ones, mind you. Oh and some cake would be nice as well. Lovely." Run by a British husband and wife, it is a repository of witty yet thoughtful biscuit reviews. The Tunnocks Tea Cake is lovely despite "a consistency somewhere between shaving foam and bath sealant". Café Noir "carries off the feat of being coffee flavoured, while preserving its dignity". Jacob's, it says, does the classic Fig Roll and McVities the best Digestive. It recently took a trip to Ireland in search of the "biscuit trinity" of Kimberly, Mikado and Coconut Cream and also has a handy section on the "taxonomy of biscuits" for those who need guidance. You might ridicule such a notion, but there is a serious debate over whether the Jaffa Cake is a biscuit or a cake. www. nicecupoftea andasitdown.com -Shane Hegarty