Sharkey blossoms in Francis Street -Artist Kevin Sharkey, who has just opened a chic florist shop on Francis Street in Dublin, credits his love of blooms to his mother.
As a child growing up in Killybegs, he remembers the beautiful funeral wreaths she made from moss and garden flowers. The powerful scent of jasmine and tiger lilies is the first thing that strikes visitors to the shop, whose black and mirrored interior, which he designed himself, is decked out with alluring arrangements to suit any setting.
The current trend for weddings, he says, is mostly for roses and lilies, and for bouquets it's pinks, oranges and whites. All-white bouquets, either scented or non-scented, will always be in stock. His flowers come from both Holland and the Dublin flower market.
Delivery costs €5 for central Dublin and €10 for outer Dublin. He will open a second florist shop in Chq in the IFSC at the beginning of June. Kevin Sharkey Florist, 71 Francis Street, 01-4738739. - Deirdre McQuillan
Summer in the city
If you have visited Paris or Amsterdam in the summer time, you might be familiar with the weird and wonderful world of the urban beach, for which a tract of cityscape is temporarily transformed in to a sandy beach.
The Paris Plage, for example, attracts up to two million visitors annually during its month-long run. Originally conceived by Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë in 2002, the idea is to allow sweltering city dwellers to chill out and pretend they are at the seaside, and if they want, dress in beach attire without contravening city bylaws (or basic decency).
This summer, from July 4th-20th, George's Dock in the Dublin Docklands will be transformed into a "tropical seaside oasis", dotted with palm trees and beach cabanas, and will play host to activities such as yoga, tai chi, chess, volley ball and sandcastle building. Bring your own beach towel, or relax on a sun-lounger and watch the world go by. Just hope that the weather plays ball or "tropical seaside oasis" could be words the organisers may regret using. See www.dublindocklands.ie - Michael Kelly
Living With Passion -Chilean writer Isabel Allende is at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 on Friday, April 25th from 7-9pm, to talk about her life and work, and also to take questions from the audience. Living With Passion is the theme and tickets can be booked online at www.seminars.ie, or by calling 01-2875524.
Sing out loud -Dubliners are no strangers to buskers, but for something a cut above your average tin whistle tooter or human statue, head to Fishamble Street tomorrow to join in the annual anniversary performance of George Frederic Handel's Messiah.
At 1pm, Our Lady's Choral Society and the National Sinfonia, conducted by Prionnsías Ó Duinn, will stage their Messiah on the street, right beside the original site of the Fishamble Street Music Hall, where the work had its world premiere in 1742.
The performance kicks off the 2008 Handel Festival, which includes free concerts, talks, tours and various events around Temple Bar in celebration of the life of the great composer, including a full-length, free performance of the Messiah in Christ Church Cathedral. - Fiona McCann
Racing -Walkers can inspect the course at Punchestown Racecourse in Co Kildare, in advance of the festival meeting (April 22nd-26th), next Sunday between 2pm and 5pm. Certificates for kids, rosettes for doggies, an open-air concert, a carnival, magic show and a fancy dress competition complete the day.
Hot tips for the big smoke -A colleague just back from New York loved Cafe Luxembourg at 200 West 70th Street, an old-style brasserie with literary waiters. She recommends the Courbet show at the Met, and says don't miss "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway.
Game on -Banging your head off some writer's block? Cornered by a deadline? Kids clamouring for a new bedtime story? Hell, maybe you're just bored. Whatever it is, Rory's Story Cubes may well be the answer, or at least a pleasingly-packaged way to while away some downtime.
In their little black box, nine dice with pictures on them nestle ready for a throw that promises to help boost your creativity and imagination, and tickle sluggish brain cells. The idea is to see what pictures land face up and make up a story that connects all nine, beginning, as all the best stories do, with "Once Upon A Time. . ."
Rory's Story Cubes can be ordered online at www.thecreativityhub.com, and cost £14.99, plus £3 p&p (€22.73). Fairytalers and fantasists get ready to live happily ever after. - Fiona McCann