Pop Now

Silver Lining: 1. Elaine Butler-Doolin & Jenny Cullen; 2. Asal Rahmani & Paris Tsoulfas; 3. Caroline Hochstrat & Sive O’Brien. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

With a collective sigh of relief we spring into February from what felt like the longest January ever. Even the 5 weekends in Jan didn't do much to assuage the blues, though that was probably because there were also 5 Mondays to contend with. The social scene was pretty bleak too and it felt like everyone was nursing a NYE hangover for several weeks.

Spare a thought for the gossip columnists and showbiz writers, they've had a famine. Joanne Hegarty of the Mail on Sunday chose a good time to bow out and move abroad (but spare a thought her her soon-to-be-appointed successor Caitriona Gaffney of the NotW, she has a tough act to follow).

To The Shelbourne hotel, for the last hooray of the the 1st month, where a select group of THOMAS SABO fans were treated to a sneak preview of the Sterling Silver collection for spring/summer. This range is breaking into the bright and colourful world of the popular: into Pop Art, Pop culture and Pop music. This is where art meets commerce, kitsch meets couture, Rock ’n’ Roll meets comics and neon meets the classic.

Greeted with bright red cocktails and pretty bespoke cakes (inspired by the collection) were Elaine Butler-Doolin, Sive O’Brien of IMAGE and shopping expert Sinead Van Kampen. Anything to brighten up a day is always most welcome.

Diary Date

The 2011 Great Irish Foodie Quiz will take place on Wednesday, 2nd March from 7.30pm in The Circle Club of the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin’s Docklands, with all proceeds going to Down Syndrome Ireland.

Entry to the Great Irish Foodie Quiz costs €80 for a team of four, payable in advance at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/thegreatirishfoodiequiz

In the Driving SEAT

Car’s the Star: 1. Karen Koster & Nadia Forde; 2. Lorenzo Heller; 3. Catherine Harte. (Pix. Mike Brown)

To Cork, where a big celebration was hosted for the new Finbar Galvin SEAT and Skoda dealership in Bandon. SEAT’s brand ambassador Nadia Forde was there to support her car of choice. A former Miss Universe contestant and one of Ireland’s most popular and successful models, Nadia is the proud owner of a SEAT Leon TDI.

Karen Koster of Xpose was also in attendance - she is the new ambassador for the Skoda brand and can be seen driving the new stylish Skoda Yeti SUV (Jeremy Clarkson recently proclaimed the Yeti to be the best car in the world no less).

Once seen as a second rate auto brand Skoda is now up there with the big boys; the top of the range Superb, for example, is a thing of beauty and is now the car of choice for many high ranking officials around the world. Take note incoming Taoiseach, if you want to dismiss grumblings about the Ministerial fleet of cars then replace each one with a Skoda Superb – Isreal, Czech Republic and the NI Executive already have.

MEP Brian Crowley officially opened the dealership, saying that it was great to see such a venture opening in these challenging times and congratulated the Galvin team. Maybe Brian could be convinced to plump for a Superb if he gets elected to the Aras?

Fashion & Film

Screen style: 1. Clare Flynn & Rosemary Mac Cabe; 2. Peter O’Brien; 3. Holly White. (Pix. Elevate)

Specially invited guests and cinephile readers of THE GLOSS gathered for an exclusive screening of the widely acclaimed fashion film, “Valentino: The Last Emperor” at Denzille Lane Cinema. Upon arrival, guests were treated to a welcomed Moët & Chandon champagne reception and a feast of specially created canapés from Neil Shirt Catering.

The evening was the first Cinema Club event in 2011 and the screenings will continue throughout the year to mark the glamorous role Moët & Chandon has played in the history of film, both on and off screen. This year the Cinema Club will screen a series of iconic movies throughout the year, focusing on fashion, art and music.

Guests on the night included Brendan Courtney, The Hugh Lane Gallery director Barbara Dawson, Holly White, Caroline Sleiman and fashion designer Peter O’Brien who introduced the film, one of his personal favourites.

Jameson Film Fest

Movie buffs: 1. Maura Tierney & Emma Donnellan; 2. Aoife Cogan & Jenny Lee Masterson; 3. Louise McDermott & Sean Munsanje. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

The 9th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival programme has been launched much to the joy of avid film lovers. Top actresses Maura Tierney (ER, Liar Liar) and Charlene McKenna (Raw) were on hand to unveil the complete programme of events and officially open the ticket office on jdiff.com.

Guests at the launch event included Kamal Ibrahim, Sean Munsanje, new mum Alison Canavan with longtime friend AJ Celi star of E! show Married to Rock; Michael Hayes and his fiancé Ailbhe Lee, Elsa Jones and Lisa Cannon. Up-and-coming comedy magician Steve Spade entertained the crowds, as did the Jameson cocktails.

One of the major attractions in this year’s festival programme is the introduction of the Jameson Cult Film Club which offers movie fans an unforgettable screening experience of their favourite cult movies, held in locations highly relevant to the film’s theme, genre, set or storyline.

Live theatre, props and staging will transport the audience into the world of the characters and script to help create an electric atmosphere. The chosen cult classic for this year is The Usual Suspects and Kevin Spacey will be in attendance on the night for this one of a kind screening, which takes place on Monday 21 February.

Martin Sheen, Emilo Estevez and Richard Ayoade are just some of the stars that will be descending on the capital during the festival. The eleven-day event from 17 - 27 February showcases 130 films, alongside public interviews, industry workshops and movie master classes.

Beacon of Hope

Beauty Beacons: 1. Sinead Moloney & Linda Hill; 2. Lisa Fitzpatrick; 3. Paloma Feijoo & Tara O Farrell. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

With this month seeming to drag on forever let’s praise be for the Beacon Hotel’s pamper packages. Those in need of a bit of TLC can avail of a range of different options to sooth the soul including beauty treatments followed by cocktails and dinner at the My Thai restaurant.

To celebrate the initiative there was the Beauty Beckons fashion show produced by Andrea Roche which showcased the latest styles from Camille, Coco and Anastasia Boutiques along with well known brands such as Karen Millen, Bastyan and Louis Copeland.

The lovely Lisa Fitzpatrick hosted the evening and among those who paid a visit to the hip Sandyford hangout were models Roz Purcell and Pippa O’Connor and Glenda Gilson of Xpose.

Fine Wine

Wine lovers: 1. Anne Foley & Liz McDonald; 2. Maria Byrne; 3. Owen Byrnes & Deborah Doherty. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Patrick Materman, Chief Winemaker for Brancott Estate flew in from New Zealand to join over 60 wine enthusiasts in the Cliff Town House this week to celebrate the brand’s name change from Montana to Brancott Estate. On the night he treated guests to a wine tasting, guiding them through the finer points of Brancott Estate’s signature Sauvignon Blanc, as well as its punchy Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio. Guests included Lynda Cody of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, wine writer Liam Campbell and Aoife Cox of The Daily Spud blog.

The Gooseberries

Gooseberries: 1. Barbara McCarthy & Paddy Cullivan; 2. Madeline Mulqueen; 3. Sami Long & Adam Elligott.

The Meteor Awards have been canceled this year, but all is not lost! Ireland’s most quirky awards ceremony, the highly sought after Gooseberries were back with a bang! Homage to the Hollywood Raspberry Awards, this glittering event celebrated the worst in Irish music and media in 2010 as voted for by the public.

And the winners are:

1. Worst Irish Act - Crystal Swing

2. Worst Irish Ad - Bertie Ahern in News of The World

3. Worst Irish Radio DJ - Neil Prendeville

4. Worst Irish TV Programe - Fade St

5. Worst Irish Single - "He Drinks Tequila" Crystal Swing

6. Worst Irish Album - "Planet Jedward"

7. Worst Irish TV Host - Ray Foley

8. Worst Irish Concert - Guns n Roses @ The O2

9. Worst Irish Publication - News of The World

10. Worst Irish Journalist - Bertie Ahern

Poor Crystal Swing! But it’s not all bad. This year, for the first time ever two very special ‘Gooseberry for being Great’ awards were presented. Comedian David MacSavage picked up his special award on the night while The Rubberbandits and received a special award for their trojan work last year.

The Field

Field fans: 1. Daithi O Shea and Rita Talty; 2. Laura, Anne and Lainey Keane; 3. Moya Doherty and John McColgan. (Pix. James Horan / Collins)

“We’re paupers but isn’t it better to be a pauper and have a clean conscience about your debts?” How very apt.

This week saw the premiere of the latest version of John B Keane’s award-winning play, The Field. It is directed by Joe Dowling with Brian Dennehy performing the iconic role of ‘The Bull’ McCabe. The play is on at The Olympia Theatre where it premiered over 45 years ago and will run from January 13 through to 12 February. Among the guests were Karen Koster and John Maguire, Paul Brady, Darina Allen, Senator David Norris, Brenda Fricker, Colm Tobin and members of the Keane family.

Airs of Spring

Spring forward: 1. Karen Higgins & Sonya Lennon; 2. Mariette Doran & Sive O'Brien; 3. Katie Boynder & Carley Roberts-Gunn. (Pix. Leon Farrell/Photocall)

We may still be in the throws of wintery weather and the outlook remains so but Brown Thomas had a bright disposition this week as it showcased the future spring / summer collections for 2011. Of course there’s plenty of colour in store for fans of Stella McCartney, Balenciaga and the like but the big news is that there are over 50 new labels into the store.

Among them Project D, the fashion brand established by Danii Minogue; her style cred increases year on year. Victoria Beckham has always had style credibility but her talent as a ‘designer’ will be cemented with her latest collection which closed the show. Her long black evening gown (of which there are only two in stock) was admired by all the fashionable girls in attendance, who included Off the Rails presenter Sonya Lennon, Daisy Regan of top concierge Quintessentially Ireland, Roxanne Parker and Sive O’Brien of IMAGE magazine.

Every good deed...

Good stuff: 1. Neasa White and Chris Maher; 2. Jodi Doran; 3. Rebecca Hoey. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

A positive start to the new year with the Vodafone Ireland Foundation, the charitable arm of Vodafone, announcing the deserving winners of its first ever World of Difference 3 month paid placement programme. The programme provides 30 people with the chance to ‘donate’ themselves to charitable causes and take up a placement with an Irish charity of their choice, funded by the mobile organisation’s foundation.

Each candidate will represent leading Irish charities across important issues such as aid and development, children and youth and education and training, among others - both in Ireland and abroad. Each of the winners has a specific project to undertake, chosen due to the tangible and lasting impact they will have on their chosen cause.

Applications for the scheme flooded in from around the country since last October. They were asked to outline the role they could undertake with their nominated charity and to specifically address how they could make a demonstrable difference within the 3 month period. A panel of judges including Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Frances Black and Darren Byrne were tasked with choosing the winners.

On the Edge

Rock chic: 1. Corina Gaffey and Aoife Woodlock; 2. Anna Cosgrave; 3. Celina Murphy and Claire Byrne. (Pix. Leon Farrell)

To the revamped Andrew’s Lane Theatre where TG4 hosting a little shindig to welcome the return to our TV screens of the alternative music series Ceol Ar An Imeall (Music On The Edge).

Up-and-coming Dublin blues rock trio The Minutes performed at the event which was attended by the series presenter, journalist and DJ Una Mullally, as well as Cormac de Barra, presenter of the TG4 arts & culture series Imeall (also made by Red Shoe Productions) and a number of the bands being featured in the series such as Fight Like Apes, CODES, Cast of Cheers and Cap Pas Cap.

The new series features interviews and music from some of the hottest international alternative music acts including Plan B, The Temper Trap and Vampire Weekend. Tune in Wednesday, January 12 at 11.15pm (repeated Fridays at 6.25pm).

Cook up a storm

Gastronomes: 1. Roberto Vispo & Rachel Garvey; 2. Alannah Conlon & Rob Kearney; 3. Sarah Clarkin & Jan Leyden. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

A host of food enthusiasts turned out to eat, drink and be merry for the unveiling of the new state-of-the-art Cooks Academy on South William Street recently. Guests tasted the culinary delicacies by the academy chefs complimented by wines from Brancott Estate, a renowned match for food and creators of the Original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which is celebrating its change of name from Montana wines.

Featuring three top-of-the-range teaching kitchens and capacity to cater for up to seventy-two people for hands-on cookery lessons, the cookery school can also take eighty people for demonstration cookery lessons, and up to one hundred people for corporate cooking events. In addition to the teaching kitchens the school features a dedicated tasting room for its new wine education business, the Dublin Wine Academy.

Happy New Year

Having a Ball: 1. Norman Pratt & Avril Collins; 2. Catriona Hanly & Helen O'Dwyer; 3. Paul Ryan.

Those who are old enough to know better flee the city centre for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Why deal with crowded pubs and clubs and the inevitable long wait for a taxi home when you can ring in the New Year in the comfort of your own home? Or even better, someone else’s home.

Designer Catriona Hanly had the right idea when she gathered a together a group of her nearest and dearest friends for an intimate NYE soiree at Kilronan Castle. Back from Paris, where she’s been working on her first fashion collection (she’s already done interiors and jewellery), Catriona was the belle of the ball as she welcomed guests on the evening. Dinner, fireworks and dancing proved to be a winning formula for an unforgettable night.

Happy New Year!

Diamond Burger

Diamonds: 1. Sarah O'Connor & Elaine Roddy; 2. Yvonne & Frank Collins; 3. Shelly McGrane & Orla Brennan. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

The past couple of years has seen a proliferation of specialist burger joints spring up all over town. Good food, inexpensive and a few steps above the dreaded fast food option (guilty, but only as a last resort) the high-end burger restaurant is big business. Denizens of lovely Malahide needn’t have to venture into town for a gastronomic burger experience now that the Diamond Burger Bar has opened there.

Located in the heart of Malahide Village known locally as the ‘Diamond’ the venue is already a landmark meeting point and a hotspot for light lunches and lingering dinners alike. Created subject to a demand for such a venue locally, the restaurants opened its doors some three months ago on a soft basis to gauge customer opinion of both the concept and menu. Having listened to feedback and made some adjustments the owners, The McGovern Group, decided the time was right to officially launch with a bang.

Copan

Cop on: 1. Aisling O'Kennedy & Emer O'Kennedy; 2. Janet Durkin, Valeria Orsatti & Clare Durkin; 3. Brian Kennedy & Paul Byrne. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Dublin publican Chris Kelly launched his latest venture COPAN Cafe Bar in Rathmines this week. The new South Dublin 8000sqft venue has been styled on a Mayan theme which has been created at a cost of nearly €5 million, just a bit excessive for the times we live in perhaps. The opening night was attended by a number of well wishers including fitness expert Paul Byrne and his wife Siobhan, singer Brian Kennedy as well as models Lynne Kelly and Nadia Forde.

A Little Luxury

Luxurious: 1. Florence Dowling; 2. Kevin O'Reilly & Rita Teevan; 3. Brian O’Driscoll. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Fans of Cathy Davey got a rare treat as Lexus Ireland hosted a number of exclusive concerts with the singer to celebrate the launch of the new Lexus CT 200h. The divine Ms. D performed at five venues throughout Ireland as part of the Little Luxury tour with the event at Blackrock Lexus serving as the debut.

The exclusive invite only events were an evening of music, entertainment, luxury and a chance for guests to be the first to see the Lexus CT Hybrid up close in advance of its arrival in early 2011 as well as hear tracks from Cathy’s new album ‘The Nameless’. Among the lucky guests were rugby stars Brian O’Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald, Clodagh Egan and Graeme Slattery, stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick and Joe Kinsella.

The Lexus CT marks the introduction of the first, and only, full hybrid vehicle to the heart of the premium compact segment. Its size, full hybrid technology and ultra-low emissions are guaranteed to meet the requirements of young highly discerning, environmentally-conscientious customers while not compromising on the quality, refinement and driving pleasure which hallmark the progressive luxury inherent in every Lexus.

Assets

Shake your Assets: 1. Tiffaney Stanley, Leah O’Reilly & Jody Wood; 2. Santa & Derek Daniels; 3. Alison Boyle and Leah Duff. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Ho, ho, ho my God there fierce competition on the model agency scene this year in Dublin. I think I can count about 8 agents in this modest city of ours, how there’s business for all I don’t know.

Assets have had it good for a long time but this year the agency seems to have suffered at the hands of Andrea Roche, who set up her own shop and signed most of their big, er, assets. That didn’t stop Derek Daniels and Courtney O’Hara of Assets hosting their annual Christmas party which was attended by many of the faces still with them.