SIZE MATTERS "Home stereo. Reinvented." "The stereo for the new century." The marketing drive for Apple's new iPod Hi-Fi is shameless, its makers claiming that the shiny white black-grilled box will outperform your home stereo.
No way! But the €379 box does sound a whole lot better than you might imagine. It has seamless integration with iPods, can be hooked up to other sources (wirelessly, too) and has its own power supply (and digital audio converter, for the technically minded). And it comes with a usefully long power cord and a tiny remote control. Place it according to the instructions and you'll find yourself smiling at this quart-out-of-a-pint-pot device. You can even run it off batteries (six hefty size Ds) if you must. Michael Dervan
SEEDS OF HAPPINESS
Oxfam's shops have just added another dimension to their fundraising. Gardeners all over the country have been quietly planting and nurturing flowers and shrubs in preparation for Oxfamgarden, which has just launched for spring. Oxfam shops are selling hanging baskets, planters, window boxes, bedding plants, shrubs and garden furniture and are inviting schools, community groups or individuals to grow and donate plants and flowers to their local Oxfam shop. In addition, four varieties of seeds will be for sale in the shops: mixed nigella, sweet pea, cornflower and giant Russian sunflower promise to brighten up the dullest of gardens. All the money raised goes towards Oxfam Ireland's projects in 11 countries. You can order seeds online at the Oxfamgarden website: www.oxfamireland.org/oxfamgarden. Nicoline Greer
MAISON EXPANSION
In just a few years, La Maison des Gourmets has made a big difference to life in Dublin. It brought with it the true smells and tastes of proper French bread, cakes and tartlets. La Maison's impeccable sandwiches are probably the best in the city and the tiny upstairs cafe is a haunt for bon viveurs in search of coffee and pain au chocolate, or a simple but perfect daube with a glass of wine at lunchtime. The little outlet in Castle Market was originally opened as a patisserie by Johnny Cooke of Cooke's Cafe, just opposite, but La Maison des Gourmets as we know it now was set up by Patrick Guilbaud in partnership with Penny Plunkett, who had worked in his restaurant, and other investors. Having wowed the food enthusiasts of Dublin and beyond for several years, now it seems that things are about to change in this little corner of Ireland that has a distinctively French flavour. Patrick Guilbaud sold his interest in the business some time ago with a view to concentrating on his brasserie, Venue, which is due to open soon. Penny Plunkett, whose down-to-earth style has been in many ways the heart and soul of La Maison des Gourmets, has done the same and is now looking at a number of other options in the food business. The remaining shareholders plan to carry on the business in Castle Market and industry insiders are predicting they will turn it into a franchise. Tom Doorley
IDEAL WORLD
Action without Borders is an ambitious programme to create a single global directory of organisations in the non-profit sector. For anyone interested in volunteering in far-off places, the scheme's website lists about 10,000 volunteer placements, almost 2,000 internships and more than 5,000 jobs with organisations trying to make the world a better place. If you see yourself working in an orphanage in the Brazilian rainforest, building a school in Ghana or diving on a reef-conservation project in the Mexican Caribbean, check out www.idealist.org. Nicoline Greer
KIDS ON FILM
You might think that film-making is anything but child's play, but Fresh Film Festival, which takes place in Limerick and Ennis from Monday until next Saturday, features films made by children as young as seven. Now in its ninth year, the festival is for and about young people. The centrepiece is the screening of entries for Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year competition and the announcement of the winners in the seven-12 years and 12-18 years age groups. A number of feature films will also be screened, including The Edukators (2004, below), Jeux Interdits (1952), Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998) and Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), as well as several documentaries. There will be workshops for young people on flash animation and make-up and stunt for film; teachers and facilitators will also be able to attend workshops and discussions. You never know, you might see a film by the Spielberg or Scorsese of the future. Call 061-319555 or see www.freshfilmfestival.net. Eimear McKeith
SLICE OF THE ACTION
Bistro Bianconi dominates the pizza action in Sligo and Ranelagh, Dublin 4. Now Dale Barber from the Sligo branch and Fran Carroll from the Ranelagh one are taking their gourmet flair to a tiny spa town called Salsomaggiore Terme, south of Milan, where they will have 15 minutes to prepare pizzas fit for Italians. This is the first time Ireland will be represented at this event, and the Irish guys will be up against the US pizza team, who take the competition very seriously - if you don't believe us, check out www.uspizzateam.com. The Bistro Bianconi team will be presenting their Michelangelo pizza (topped with pepperoni, goat's cheese, caramelised onions and pesto) and, to give the Italians a taste of Ireland, their smoked-salmon pizza (with Irish salmon, smoked cheese, capers and red onions). They hope to start an Irish pizza championship next year, and the staff are already in training for the acrobatic category of freestyle pizza tossing. Watch out for the new Bistro Bianconi opening in Westside Shopping Centre, in Galway, in the next couple of weeks. Nicoline Greer
GRANDEST BALL OF ALL
Gather up the gunas and pack the smart valises for a trip to Russia for what promises to be the most ambitious and glittering charity event ever staged by Irish fundraisers: the inaugural St Petersburg Ball. Hosted by Norma Smurfit and Bill Cullen, it will be held in the city's magnificent 18th-century Marble Palace (so called because it was built with 32 types of marble), which is now part of the Russian Museum. The 180 guests for the four-day extravaganza will fly from Dublin to St Petersburg on a chartered jet, stay at the five-star Grand Hotel Europe, be treated to ballet at the Marinsky Theatre, take an exclusive tour of Catherine's Palace and enjoy other entertainments before the gala black-tie ball, on the Saturday night. Tickets are a mere bagatelle, at €2,500 each, to cover flights, accommodation, breakfasts and dinners. Proceeds will go to three charities: the Irish Famine Commemoration Fund, the Irish Youth Foundation and To Russia With Love. To reserve a place, contact Anne Dargan at 01-2691261. Deirdre McQuillan