Art enthusiasts will find plenty of inspiration at Art Source in the RDS, which is on until Sunday. As Ireland’s largest art fair, it has assembled works by 175 Irish and international artists (including Roy Lichtenstein, pictured) and galleries under one roof. “Art Source offers visitors the opportunity to purchase a one-off affordable original artwork and also the opportunity to meet the artists and hear about their work,” says show organiser Patrick O’Sullivan; www.artsource.ie. Elsewhere, Graphic Studio Dublin is celebrating 40 years of its “Visiting Artists Programme” with a new exhibition at the Gallery in 8a Cope Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. With pieces priced from €300 to €2,300, the exhibition includes works by Gwen O’Dowd, Diana Copperwhite, Mark Francis, Cian McLoughlin, Colin Martin and Hughie O’Donoghue. The Visiting Artists Programme has made an important contribution to the development of printmaking in Ireland. “Under the programme towering figures of 20th century Irish art including Tony O’Malley, Louis le Brocquy, Michael Farrell and William Crozier worked with us to create a very impressive body of fine art prints. It is an important historical archive,” explains Peter Brennan, Gallery Director, Graphic Studio Gallery; www.graphicstudiodublin.com. Finally, for an infusion of colour Daniel Rios Rodriguez’s “Serpentine Dream” exhibition at Kerlin Gallery, Anne’s Lane, Dublin 2, combines images of nature and fantastical visions inspired by the Texan-based artist’s dreams; www.kerlingallery.com.

Cork Science Festival 2021 is underway (and ends on Sunday, November 14) with accessible science for all ages and interests. It comprises (free) at home science kits, live science shows, interactive workshops, online talks, video content and a festival reading list. As for public events, if you’re in Cork pop in to see the family science shows taking place at Cork’s Marina Market. Learn about the “Science of Bubbles” with Scientific Sue during live shows at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, November 13. On Sunday 14 learn about “The Science of Dragons” with a show looking at the science of fire and flight that is inspired by the Cressida Cowell books How to Train Your Dragon at 12pm, 2pm or 4pm. Spaces are limited so these performances must be booked in advance on corksciencefestival.ie.

Dara Ó Briain is back on tour with a new live stand-up show called So… Where Were We? starting in Vicar St, Dublin with dates through until December. As one of the most recognisable faces on TV, Ó Briain is host of Mock The Week, Stargazing Live, Robot Wars, Go8Bit and the quiz show Blockbusters. Ó Briain will also host Channel 4’s newest daytime quiz, One & Six Zeros, where contestants will compete to win a prize of £1,000,000. In this new show, Ó Briain will hardly mention the last year and a half, because, who wants to hear about that, but will instead fire out his usual mix of stories and one-liners. Tickets are on sale directly from the venues in with details on www.daraobriain.com.

Heading to the shops? If at Dundrum Town Centre, there’s a special “Shop, Style, Sleigh” event happening at Harvey Nichols which runs until Sunday, November 14. Visitors can expect discounts off beauty (15%) and selected fashion items (20%) as well as pop up counters from brands such as Sarah Chapman and Revitalash and a masterclass by Stories Parfum founder Tonya Kidd-Beggs. Melissa Mills Bari will also be in store with her brand MMB, which launched a pop-up in store this week. Goodie bags and prizes will also be on offer; www.harveynichols.com.

If you’re in Dublin, Avoca’s seven-level Suffolk Street mini department store, restaurant and food market has opened after 18 months and is looking lovely after a revamp. New to the store is the addition of a Jill & Gill concession pop-up, which sells a vibrant edit of unisex clothing and fine art prints. The food market, deli salad bar and coffee shop located on the basement level, has been expanded, while the light-filled, award-winning café based on the top floor of the store is open for breakfast and lunch table service; www.avoca.com. 

At Arnotts, on Ground Level, there is a new Christmas Market championing 36 Irish brands. These include coveted “Pitch ’21” brands which called on budding Irish start-up companies to pitch for an opportunity to retail their product in the department store and online, with the chance of winning a €10,000 business development fund to grow their business. The five finalists include Pure Clothing, a sustainable clothing range consisting of sweatshirts, hoodies and joggers made from organic cotton; JimJams, an ethical and sustainable brand committed to a transparent supply chain, with a collection of luxurious pyjamas; Nancy D’s offer unique, quality baby gifting boxes which include shoes and socks to soother clips and weaning and nursery accessories; Thomp2 – Thomas’ Trendy Socks produce fun, colourful socks for men, women and children. With every sale the company contributes five per cent to St John of Gods charity; Dublin-based brand Orca Board are on a mission to create versatile paddleboards suited to all Irish locations, whether a calm lake or the on the coast. In addition, the brand’s range of changing robes and swimsuits are the perfect companion for enthusiastic swimmers. Do take a look at these brands and all of the others on display; www.arnotts.ie.

Officially a trend, people are already putting up their decorations and if you are looking to buy some new ones, I know where to find them. Fernhill Garden Centre in Athlone, has undergone a refurbishment and expansion programme and is now bigger and better than ever. For those decking the halls, Fernhill launched its extensive range of Christmas decorations this week. Carefully curated into five themes such as “Winter Joy” and “Bright Luxury”, Fernhill has an impressive edit of Irish brands in line with its “Shop Local” ethos. There’s also a new Dubarry concession store and Savoury Fare, its award-winning restaurant which serves wholesome food throughout the day and for takeaway. Located on Ballymahon Road, Cormagh, Athlone the garden centre is open seven days a week; www.fernhill.ie.

Staying with the Christmas theme; are you looking for a chic event for a pre-festive get together? Look no further than the exclusive Champagne Evening in Wilde at The Westbury on Thursday, November 25. This will be hosted by Cyril Brun – Chef de Cave of Charles Heidsieck Champagne. Guests will have the opportunity to experience five of Charles Heidsieck’s exceptional Champagne selections alongside a five-course tasting menu created by executive chef Sandeep Singh. Each individual course has been developed in collaboration with Philip Dunne, group sommelier of The Doyle Collection to complement the specific cuvées presented on the evening, while also celebrating the very best of Irish seasonal produce with a creative twist. Tickets are extremely limited and are available for €175 per person via the website; www.thedoylecollection.com.

Are you worrying (already) about cooking a vegan Christmas for guests? Then sign up for two new online cookery courses by Holly White, which will help you to prepare an epic Christmas dinner and perhaps make the transition to a vegan lifestyle. White switched to a vegan diet seven years ago due to health reasons and since then her quest for knowledge about veganism has taken her all around the globe. She holds a certification in Plant-based Nutrition from Cornell University and has trained with some of the world’s best vegan chefs, including The Wild Food Café in London and PlantLab in Los Angeles. White has used her expertise to develop two vegan online cookery courses that make creating tasty nutrient-dense meals at home effortless. “A Very Vegan Christmas Dinner” is €32 per person and can be booked online now at www.holly.ie. Recipes for the class are sent out in advance and those taking part will need to source and weigh out their own ingredients.

Bibliophiles have no doubt been keeping track of the Dublin Book Festival 2021 programme which continues this weekend with some interesting conversations. President Michael D Higgins will be at Smock Alley Theatre, where he will be discussing his latest book Reclaiming the European Street: Speeches on Europe and the European Union (Lilliput Press). This event will also be live streamed. Also on Saturday (at 5pm) renowned immunologist Luke O’Neill will discuss his new book of lockdown diaries Keep Calm and Trust the Science. Mark Henry’s new book In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100 (Gill Books) is a much-needed uplifting read after a challenging year. Using facts and stats, Henry’s book is packed with positive news to hold onto; tracking our progress over the last 100 years through 100 undeniable national achievements, highlighting that, while there is still much to be done, Ireland is in a better place now than it has ever been. For information on these and other weekend events visit www.dublinbookfestival.com.

The National Library of Ireland has launched a new winter programme which begins on Wednesday, November 17 around the theme of “Border Literature” and runs until March 2022. It will share diverse literary perspectives of the experiences of borders in Ireland and elsewhere, and examines how writers from different backgrounds and perspectives represent ideas of partition in their work. Next Wednesday begins with a panel discussion of author Eugene McCabe’s book Death and Nightingales. Eoin Flannery, Eoin McNamee, and moderator Martina Devlin will explore the themes of the novel, which chronicles the events of a single day in 1880s Fermanagh. On Wednesday, January, 16 2022, Alison Garden, Dawn Sherrat-Bado, and Freya McClements will discuss Sue Divin’s novel Guard Your Heart, set in Derry in 2016. Both novels examine the complexity of family and romantic relationships against the backdrop of sectarian divisions and political turmoil. To find out more visit www.nli.ie.

Staying in? Then if you love a good heist film, I suggest Red Notice which has been released today on Netflix. Directed and written by Rawson Marshall Thurber the cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson. It’s been described as a stylish globe-trotting game of cat-and-mouse. The synopsis goes like this: “When an Interpol-issued Red Notice – the highest level warrant to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted – goes out, the FBI’s top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him smack dab in the middle of a daring heist where he’s forced to partner with the world’s greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, “The Bishop” (Gal Gadot). The high-flying adventure that ensues takes the trio around the world, across the dance floor, trapped in a secluded prison, into the jungle and, worst of all for them, constantly into each other’s company.” That’s just the sort of light caper we need on a dark evening. Have a good weekend!