Right here, right now

A miscellany of stories from The Irish Times

Crunch and munch through yoga and lunch

Breathe, bend . . . and fill your belly at The Elbowroom this winter, where healthy living and hearty fare can be found together at last. For as little as €6 for the unwaged (€12 waged), you can
avail of any of their lunchtime yoga, Pilates or body-conditioning classes, and get a scrumptious hot lunch into the bargain. The nutritious vegetarian fare on offer includes stews, soups and curries, though you do have to work up an appetite first with some yogic postures or a body-conditioning
workout. The crunching and munching all takes place in their bright Brunswick Street studios, just off Smithfield Square in Dublin. More information on the lunchtime drop-in classes and other
courses at www.the-elbowroom.com.

Fiona McCann

Jimmy Choos - but cheaper

Today, diehard fashion fans will be queuing up to get their paws on something from the one-off Jimmy Choo collection for HM, which goes on sale this morning, just in time for the opening of the party season. We’ve been told that the biggest selection will be in the Dundrum and South King Street outlets, where skyscraper stilettos – all peep-toes and ankle straps – can be found at the Swedish giant’s low prices. The collection, which also includes clothing, bags and accessories, has many shoe styles that will be familiar to Jimmy Choo aficionados, but in less expensive materials. Given that many items tend to get ripped off by high-street brands, the virtue of Choo managing director Tamara Mellon’s imprimatur in this venture at least ensures the collection’s veracity. With off-the-shoulder studded or fringed dresses, deep-cleavage jumpsuits and leather leggings, the clothing, like the shoes, rocks with studs, crystals and hard-edged attitude – but we do rather fancy the zebra-print clutches.

Deirdre McQuillan

Will Souter's prints get off to a flier?

“We don’t want to see blood” is the statement on a limited edition print for Imma by artist Camille Souter, who last month celebrated her 80th birthday at her home on Achill Island. It is the first print of its kind that she has published in her long and distinguished career, and it depicts an image of an aircraft hovering over an exploding landscape (aviation and war being frequent themes in her work). In fact, this remarkable artist learned how to fly in her 60s, in order to further a series of paintings on flight and flying.

Her choice of printer was Reginald Hastings, a fine art printer based at Grennan Mill, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, who has produced art and photographic editions for many artists and photographers using advanced digital pigment print technology and imaging methods. Pigment ink can produce the closest image to the original work in appearance and texture, which explains its growing popularity in the art community. The Souter print (€600), limited to 50, signed and numbered by the artist, and bound to become a collector’s item, is part of the Traces exhibition at Imma, in the Gordon Lambert Gallery.

Deidre McQuillan

Youthful Yasmin not averse to risk

With the opening of Bow Boutique in the Powerscourt Centre last month reviving flagging spirits in Dublin’s fashion world, another opening this week shows that Irish designers aren’t averse to risk in recessionary times. Yasmin Velloza, that spirited young designer, who spends a chunk of the year in Shanghai supervising the manufacture of her glamorous high-end collections, opened a new boutique on Dawson Street on Thursday, with Liz O’Donnell, one of her most high-profile fans, on hand to perform the opening honours. Velloza’s long-planned new venture will showcase her own collection, of which this sexy pleated silk evening jacket (€430) and dress (€450) are typical, along with other selected items and accessories. Yasmin Velloza, 43 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

Deirdre McQuillan

Bazaar times in Ballsbridge

This Sunday, a corner of Ballsbridge will be temporarily . . . well, any one of 40 countries, whose diplomatic communities are joining up to bring the overseas Christmas market experience to Irish shoppers. Tax-free crafts and clothing, wines and foods (prepared by the embassies’ chefs) from countries such as Cuba, Cyprus and the Czech Republic, as well as Estonia, India and Austria, will be on sale at the D4 hotel on Pembroke Road from 11am to 4pm. All proceeds will benefit four charities: Spirasi and ATD Fourth World, both based in Ireland; an Order of Malta project in Bethlehem; and Concern’s work in Pakistan. There will also be displays of crafts from each of the countries represented, and the raffle prizes include holidays in New York, Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul. Admission is a very diplomatic €2. And while you’re in the area, you could make your way to the RDS Main Hall for the Art Fair, which continues today and tomorrow.

Joyce Hickey

Christmas time, charity and wine

Sheridan’s Cheesemongers will be holding a Christmas wine evening in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital next Monday at Sheridans on the Docks, Dock Road, Galway. Tickets are €10, with all proceeds going to the hospital. Book on 091-564829/832, or e-mail galway@sheridanscheesemongers.com.

O’Donovans will host the ninth Cork Wine Fair next Thursday, November 19th, at the Clarion Hotel Cork. Tickets are €15 from any O’Donovans outlet county-wide. Proceeds will go to Friends of Marymount Hospice, Cork.

John Wilson