Bags of style:The current issue of American Vogue claims that the US disposes of 100 billion plastic shopping bags a year, bags that in landfills can take up to 1,000 years to degrade.
Such statistics are all part of the growing pressure to avoid using plastic bags, while at the same time keeping a focus on the subject of bags in general. Most of us have far too many bags, but given their huge popularity with the brand-conscious, the fashion industry has been quick to respond with alternatives. Designers are turning out their own alternatives to the non-cool plastic. Stella McCartney is to release an organic cotton shopper along with her organic cosmetics later this year. Prada's little black nylon number is but a variation on a common shape, while Martin Margiela's white cotton tote is cut to look like a paper bag. Star of the show, however, is Anya Hindmarch's brilliant "I am not a plastic bag" shopper (left), which at €12 sets a new standard in affordable cult items. Due in Brown Thomas branches from mid-July. Get in line now. Deirdre McQuillan
Art attacks
Robert Ballagh will launch "Drawing Day" at the National Gallery in Dublin today, where he will unveil new drawing kits for adults which will be available for use free of charge in the gallery, year-round. Other cultural institutions are also setting up drawing days, including the Hugh Lane, the ark, IMMA, Lewis Glucksman Gallery in Cork, the Hunt Museum, Limerick, Model Niland Gallery in Sligo, Dundalk County Museum, Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny and Galway City Museum.
At the National Gallery, there will be a drawing session for adults from 10.30am to 1pm, and an afternoon session for families and children from 3-4.30pm. Admission is free. Bring an A3 sketch pad, pencils and an eraser. Contact each museum for details of their programme. Patsey Murphy
Artistic interpretation
It seems rather appropriate that an artist called Rasher should be exhibiting in a former butcher's shop. From May 30th to June 15th, Rasher will be joined by Charlie Whisker, Pauline Bewick, John Kingerlee and designer Peter O'Brien (among others), as well as young contemporary artists fresh out of college, in the exhibition From Cobblestones to Carcasses at Dalkey's Tramyard Gallery. The Tramyard building dates back to 1829, and if the ghosts of its former incarnations (butcher's, bank, gift shop and grocer's) haunt the walls, then the exhibiting artists are putting a shape on those spirits. Responding to the idea of the building's past (peacocks strutting their stuff in the back yard, tellers counting out money, kids wasting pocket money on PacMan), the invited artists have made work including paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture and glasswork. Tramyard Gallery, www.tramyardgallery.ie, 01-2351346. Gemma Tipton
Palace party
With the school year coming to an end, Malahide Castle is one of those places to keep in mind for a good day's outing, with terrific playgrounds, well paved pathways for novice cyclists or skaters, the elaborate model train exhibition and, of course, Tara's Palace, the best dolls' house in the country. The trust which maintains Tara's Palace is an indefatigable crew and, in addition to finding sponsors for each of the rooms (Derry Clarke from L'Ecrivain is in charge of the kitchen, for example), they have more recently commissioned two sisters, Stephanie (14) and Amanda (11) Stafford, to write and illustrate (see above) a book of stories. The Story of the Present, published by the Tara's Palace Trust, costs €14.95 and is perfect for anyone - of any age - who loves dolls' houses and the imaginary worlds they invoke. Opening hours are 10am-1pm and 2-5pm Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and 2-6pm Sundays and holidays. Friday is a closed day. Admission is €3. Patsey Murphy
Safe in the sun
Children spend more time outdoors than most adults, and over a lifetime most people will get 80 per cent of their exposure to the sun in their youth and only 20 per cent as an adult. It goes without saying how important it is to protect vulnerable skin against the sun's harmful rays. Hamilton Toddler, one of the world's oldest sunscreen brands, is medically researched and used by the Australian Olympic team. This high-protection sunscreen supports the Irish Cancer Society's "SunSmart" campaign. A donation of €1 from the sale of each product will be made to the charity. It has SPF50, and costs €14.98 at selected pharmacies. Phyl Clarke
Parolari, oh-oh
Treat yourself tonight to dinner in The Cellar Restaurant at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, where Luciano Parolari of the Villa d'Este on Lake Como (left) - who revels in the title "The Risotto King" has collaborated with resident chef Ed Cooney to concoct a very special Italian menu, complete with some remarkable Italian wines. Dinner is served 6-10pm and it's part of an ongoing exchange between these two members of the Leading Hotels of the World group. A good way to celebrate the end of the election, perhaps. Book with the Merrion at 01-6030630. Patsey Murphy
Red alert
Aisling Owens's all-red collection (left) at the National College of Art & Design graduate fashion show in Trinity College, Dublin was one of the event's hottest items - in every sense. She called it "Rosaleen" and based it on Neil Jordan's 1984 film The Company of Wolves, which was loosely drawn from the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Using different fabrics such as chiffon, knit, sportswear jersey and lambskin, all in exactly the same shade of red "was a challenge" she says. Overall, the graduate work from the fashion and textile students was very feminine in spirit, with a noticeable emphasis on traditional skills of embellishment such as embroidery, pleating, folding and pintucking, but done in a modern way by students such as Elaine Murray, Arlene Hopkins, Ann-Marie Rigney, Aoife Perry and Yu Wang. Owens will be selling her collection at the NCAD Degree Exhibition from June 9th to 17th, at which the work of the other graduates can also be viewed. Eileen Tyrrell's delightful collection of polka-dots and prints could be instant best-sellers, too. Deirdre McQuillan
Casa mia
"Hotels are a form of retailing," maintains Miguel Fluxa, vice-president of Camper, the Majorca-based shoe company company whose new hotel in Barcelona, Casa Camper, has the same fresh and innovative design approach characteristic of its celebrated footwear. Everything about this city centre hotel, where I stayed recently, makes its own bold and individual statement about modern hospitality. Guests are provided with two rooms on either side of the corridor, one for sleeping and washing, the other for meetings or watching television. The bathroom, filled with natural light, faces an 18-metre high "vertical garden" decorated with 117 huge aspidistra plants in terracotta pots (below), quite an unforgettable sight. The bedrooms have Shaker-style hanging systems, and a variation on opticians' visual acuity charts with slogans about working and walking is a clever graphic touch in the loo. Water is recycled, simple snacks are freely available day and night, and the sixth-floor terrace has spectacular views across the city (though I'd prefer it without the piped music). The lobby, only accessible to guests, always seems empty, even when the hotel is full, a deliberate tactic aimed at keeping curious spectators (of which there are many) at bay. Rates vary from €210 to €245 for a standard double which includes an excellent breakfast. Camper is currently building another hotel in Berlin, due to open next year. See www.casacamper.com. Deirdre McQuillan
Richard Ford fans take note: the great American novelist (above) will read from The Lay of the Land at 6pm on Wednesday, June 6th, at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Admission free but booking essential. Call 01-8787222.