Compiled by Nicoline Greer.
FOR THE LITTLE ONES
If you feel like mollycoddling a small person, here are a few options. Italian Roberta Marangon makes cuddly little baby blankets. Each pink or blue fleece blanket is personalised with the name of the baby and a logo of baby feet, a butterfly, little boots or a teddy bear. The cost is €35-€55, depending on size. Contact Marangon on 087-2468451, e-mail robertamcards@hotmail.com or see her at Stand B7 at the Christmas Craft Fair in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin from next Wednesday to Sunday, December 8th-12th.
Ceol na Mara, Songs of the Ocean is a fun CD for children all as Gaeilge. It tackles such mysteries as "Why is Fungie so friendly?" and "How come penguins prefer swimming to flying?" in the album of newly-composed songs. The 30 young singers and rappers are pupils of Scoil Sailearna and it is the work of Spiddal-based songwriter Tadhg MacDhonnagáin. €17.99 from music and book shops or directly from www.futafata.com.
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
The FRWD Sport Performance Recorder is for serious athletes only. Designed in Finland, it combines GPS, an altimeter, barometer and heart rate monitor. Route, speed, distance, time, heart rate, altitude, temperature and air pressure can be stored for every second of the performance. After the activity, the recorded data is replayed (i.e. can be speeded up and re-run in 3D), analysed and compared by the Replayer PC Software. It can be used by runners, cyclists, triathletes, skiers, mountain climbers and even parachutists. €499 from John at inSPORT on 01-2874267 or e-mail insport@eircom.net.
HORSING AROUND
In the midst of all the helter-skelter of this month, succumb to the calming effect of an underwater scene. Seahorses - live and crystal - are bobbing about on the new second floor of Clery's. The Waterford Crystal Aquarium features serene seahorses from Seahorse Ireland, the award-winning centre in Carna, Co Galway.
CAN YOU HANDEL IT?
All around the country, people are cranking up their vocal chords for the singing of Handel's Messiah. The recently formed Resurgam choral group will perform the Messiah with the Irish Baroque Orchestra this Thursday (7.30 p.m.) in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. They will move to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity (7.30 p.m.), Barronstrand Street in Waterford on Friday. "We attempt to strip away the levels of varnish that have accumulated over the years since the work was first written, and rediscover the freshness and striking immediacy of Handel's original concept," says Mary Duley, artistic director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and founder of Resurgam, of the work that was first performed in Dublin in 1742. Tickets, €15-30. Inquiries to 01-6337283, and ticket bookings (Dublin) 01-4754817 and Waterford (051-855038). Or you can be a part of the performance at the National Concert Hall on Sunday, December 19th (8 p.m.) as the Dublin Bach Singers, the Orchestra of St Cecilia and guest soloists lead the chorus of the masterpiece and invite you to join in. Sing Along Messiah tickets: €18 €22 (€14 concessions), from the National Concert Hall box office (01- 4170000).
FOLLOW THE BLUE ROAD
Down at the Dublin Docklands, Irish artist Rachel Joynt is transforming the cobblestones. A series of stepping stones is being installed from the Custom House down to the Point Depot, with over 900 illuminated glass cobbles paving the way. The cobbles are a series of hand-made blocks in sea-greens and aquatic blues, encasing small silver and copper fish that appear like shoals swimming towards the sea.
RANELAGH MARKET
The Farmers' Market movement has spread to the well-heeled south Dublin suburb of Ranelagh. The village's multidenominational school on Ranelagh Road is the venue for the market, which will take place on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Ranelagh market is being organised by Sean McArdle, who also runs the weekly ones in IFSC, Docklands (Wednesday); Dún Laoghaire (Thursday); Leopardstown (Friday); Malahide (Saturday) and monthly markets in Glendalough, Co Wicklow, Gowran Park, Co Kilkenny and Templepatrick, Co Antrim. Hampers of the Farmers' Markets' best selling products can be ordered from Annabel Konig (087-2345753) or Barbara Dempsey (087-6798013) or from the Little Irish Apple company's stand at markets around the country. -Marie-Claire Digby
GET OUT MORE
The folks starting up Culture Vultures have been inspired by the sight of lone theatre goers, skulking around the back aisles, and by hearing cries of "I'd go to the theatre if I had someone to go with." The idea is that you e-mail them and they organise a group to meet up about half an hour before the play. There are no high-brow ideas or intellectual conversation expected of you; the only thing that is required is wanting to go to the theatre in a bit of company. Contact: culturevultures@hotmail.com (087-2560300)
COME TO THE PARTY
This Tuesday in Ba Mizu, Powerscourt Centre, Dublin 2 at 8 p.m., the Dublin, Fingal and Garden (Dún Laoghaire/Wicklow) Slow Food groups are meeting to be merry, eat seasonal nibbles, Irish farmhouse cheese and Valrhona chocolate. Anyone is welcome to attend, but book in advance with Elisabeth on (01- 8322394), €25.
shopwatch ... shopwatch ... shopwatch
It's a material world out there and this shop is strictly girl-only territory. The Pink Room is draped with sumptuous fabrics, chandeliers and chaise longues in French boudoir style. The shops in Cabinteely, Co Dublin and Carlingford village, Co Louth, stock a beautiful selection of shoes, lingerie, handbags, jewellery, soaps and bath products. Dundalk St, Carlingford (042-9383669) and Johnstown Road, Cabinteely (01-2351305).
This Thursday from 5.30-8 p.m. at the Archaeology and History National Museum of Ireland there could be some quirky Christmas present ideas. There is a range of contemporary Irish jewellery, textiles, children's and specialist books and turned wood. There will be a 10 per cent discount on the night, as well as mince pies and mulled wine. National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology and History, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
More mulled wine and mince pies at Ciara Layden's Gallery in Sligo as she launches her new photography collection this week. Textured images of landscapes, flowers from the Botanic Gardens, and fishing villages in the north-west of Ireland are on sale in in Whichcraft, Dublin; The Bay Tree, Holywood, Co Down; The Cat & Moon, Sligo, and her own gallery in an 18th-century dairy in Drumcliff, Co Sligo. Customer evenings in Sligo are on December 7th, 9th and 10th - phone 071-9140033, www.thecollection.ie