HOW WOW Caroline Keran loves finding those one-off pieces that stop people in their tracks, which explains the name of her new interiors shop - Wow! House, on the seafront in Howth
It's a small place crammed with very likeable objects - cutlery, ceramics, paintings, lamps, cushions, CD cabinets, tables and chairs, subtly divided into the three ages of house-owning: groovy pieces for new apartment dwellers; mid-range stuff for thirtysomethings and grander furniture for more mature (and moneyed) folk. Having crossed from graphic to interior design, colour is one of Keran's strong points and she will also source furniture and offer advice to clients. And if you are out in Howth for a walk, she has lots of fun and not over-priced items such as fish-shaped coat hooks, pewter salad forks and so on, that you could easily carry away in your knapsack. Patsey Murphy
GUILT-FREE SHOES No Sweat runners are just one excuse to go to our favourite cafe in Dublin - at Amnesty International in Temple Bar - which is run, in part, by some of the most charming, cheerful Italians you could ever meet, who happen to make the best toasted sambos in town. While you are waiting for your homemade soup, salad, toasted foccacia, or fresh coffee or juice, there is a great selection of books, greeting cards, world music, Fair Trade chocolate, and ethnic giftware to lure you (all proceeds to Amnesty). The No Sweat brand is relatively new and represents union-made casual attire - each item comes with information about the wages and benefits of the workers who produced them. Unlike your Nikes. No need to step on the backs of the workers who make your shoes. They come in pink, black or red in adult and children's sizes, and cost €49.95. Amnesty International is at 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2 (01-6776361). Patsey Murphy
GLASS EYE There are no models at the fashion show that has just opened in the shop, gallery and cafe called Equinox in Belfast. "Catwalk", an exhibition of delicate frocks on hangers and spiky-heeled shoes crafted from colourful glass, has been created by Swedish designer Kjell Engman. To research the project, Engman visited museums and came across an intriguing history of shoes and fashion. He is described as "a mysterious, secretive man" and designs for Kosta Boda, the very funky Swedish homeware and jewellery glassworks. It's the first time Engman's work has been shown in Ireland or the UK - although he has exhibited just about everywhere else in the world, and many Swedes see his larger-scale installations on display on public places there. "Catwalk" runs until November 12th. www.equinoxshop.com. Nicoline Greer
LITTLE GEM JEWELS With this autumn's romantic trend in dark, plummy velvets, draped bohemian layers and an imperial Russian feel, you need jewellery that can hold its own and complete the opulent look. But, usually when you find that perfect piece, you need an equally well-stocked wallet to pay for it. Not so with Irené Callanan's label, Little Gem (below). Her spangly ornaments drip with richly coloured beads, sparkling sequins and jewels in purples and chocolates. Prices range from €30 to €60, so they won't burn a hole in that silk purse. Stockists include Luizzi, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin; Serena, Sandymount, Dublin 4; O'Couture, Malahide, Co Dublin; Regis, Galway; Chocolat, Wicklow; and Glamour, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Christine Madden
BANG ON THE DRUM Rossa Ó Snodaigh, member of the band Kila and also the man behind Speaker's Square in Temple Bar, is not a man to be idle. He plays djembe, bodhrán, bones and bongos with Kila, and his new project is the Dublin City Drum Circle. After a four-week trial, it has been given approval by Dublin City Council to make some noise every Saturday between noon and 4pm. Drummers of every level play in the open-air amphitheatre behind the Civic Offices at Wood Quay – to "get the sound of the drums up there like they used to on the Viking ships," says Ó Snodaigh. African, Latin-American, Irish and European rhythms are banged out, and Ó Snodaigh encourages everyone to come along, equipped
with flasks of tea and coffee, warm clothes and "a big warm heart". See www.dublin.ie/drumcircle for more and for details of drumming classes
Nicoline Greer
READIN' AN' WRITIN' Children do better in school when their families support education. But what can parents of young children do, especially if they don't feel confident in their own teaching abilities? The National Adult Literacy Agency has produced a new book for parents who want to improve their families' literacy. This well-designed and accessible book is filled with fun activities for babies, pre-schoolers and young schoolchildren. The activities range from ways to make homework fun, to learning out of doors, and all of them should help parents create a school-friendly home environment. For more information ring NALA at 01-8554332 or go to
www.nala.ie. Anna Carey
GOOD NIGHT OUT Musical variety shows are rare enough these day, so Reach For The Stars in The Olympia Theatre, Dublin tomorrow night is a must for anyone who hankers after a bit of good, old-fashioned entertainment. Hosted by Gerry Kelly of UTV and RTÉ DJ Ronan Collins (who is expected to do a party piece) the event features Red Hurley, Paddy Cole, George McMahon, Hilda Fay, Finbar Furey and the Three Irish Tenors. The event is in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Hopesource Foundation which is raising money for services at Temple Street Hospital to help the 1,000-plus young people in Ireland who live with the disease. Tickets ¤22.50/¤27.50 from www.ticketmaster.ie or The Olympia Box Office on 0818-719330. The show starts at 8pm. Róisín Ingle
LIGHT UP WICKLOW Next weekend's Wicklow Mountain Festival begins on Friday, when an 8.3-kilometre, torchlit hike will make its way along the Wicklow Way to Glendalough (bring your own torch). Some of the hikers will repair afterwards to Lynham's pub in Laragh, where music and hot whiskeys will reward weary walkers. There will also be more conventional daytime walks, for varying levels of fitness – all through beautiful scenery. The organisers have added family rambles through the woodlands on Sunday 30th, when children can hear about such things as fairies in the forests. If you're not feeling energetic, there's always "Tranquility 05", which aims is to reflect the serenity of Glendalough with reflexology, reiki and Indian head massage. Entry is free but there is a charge for treatments. It runs at the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh, 1-5pm, on the Sunday. For more,contact Wicklow County Tourism on 0404-20070 or see www.wicklow.ie/tourism. Nicoline Greer