Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby film remake update.

Story in The Telegraph todayquestions the need for a remake of this film now.

"A Gatsby moment is upon us. The Great Gatsby is by far the most popular novel of F Scott Fitzgerald; it embodies the 1920s, and has attained an iconic status, both for American novelists and for many readers. Still, the flood of adaptations about to pour over us is unprecedented. Is there something in the air? Is there something that makes this most glamorous of novels speak to us with especial resonance?

Later this summer, a new film adaptation of The Great Gatsby will be released, starring Leonardo DiCaprio  and Carey Mulligan, as Daisy Buchanan. (Read rest of story here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9284394/Great-Gatsby-a-story-for-the-modern-age.html

Richard & Judy Summer Reading 2012

Richard and Judy have launched their summer book club. I haven't followed it with any great interest before but their books this year are as follows;



I can recommend The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I started Victoria Hislop's The Thread but lost interest as the plot was rather predictable. I know two seasoned thriller readers who have read and enjoyed Lars Kepler's The Hypnotist.

Jedward in Eurovision 2012

It's stage 1 tonight. I know it's a loose use of the word culture but I love it and will be watching today, Thursday and the final on Saturday. GO JEDWARD!!!

RTE: "It's Eurovision time again and following Azerbaijan's win in 2011 with "Running Scared" sung by Eldar and Nigar this year's contest takes place in the Crystal Hall in Baku. The Eurovision is the world's biggest song contest and every year an estimated 125 million viewers tune in.
Since 2008, the Eurovision Song Contest consists of three live shows, aired prime-time to millions of homes across Europe. During two semi-finals, viewers and juries across Europe determine which countries will be represented in the final. Ten countries from each semi-final will qualify for the final and will be joined by Azerbaijan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The two semi finals take place on Tuesday May 22nd and Thursday May 24th on RTÉ Two. Ireland are the last performing act in the first semi final. The final will be covered live on RTÉ One on Saturday 26 May from 8.00pm.
Jedward were selected to represent Ireland at the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with their song "Waterline" composed by Swedish songwriter Nick Jarl and Sharon Vaughan.Marty Whelan will provide commentary" http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2012/

On the Street-James Joyce’s Dubliners

Wonderland Productions turn Joyce’s text into an audio tour, dramatising excerpts with the vocally impressive assistance of Barry McGovern, Billie Traynor and others, via mp3 player as we retrace Joyce’s steps through Dublin.Available as both A Full Day’s Epic (7 hours) and A Half Day’s Adventure (4 hours), which allow access to 15 Usher Island on Wednesdays and weekends.
At the Dublin Writer’s Museum Until May 31. A Full Day’s Epic: 10am (Sun 11am) €19/€15.
A Half Day’s Adventure: walks begin 10.30-11.30am or 4-4.30pm (Sun 11am- 11.30am, 4-4.30pm) €12/€10 wentertainment.ie.

From http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/listings/theatre.html

The resurgent restaurant scene

Good article in The Irish Times on Saturday about new restaurants; I've listed those in central Dublin and included their websites for phone numbers and menus;

San Lorenzo’s South Great George’s Street (Italian) www.sanlorenzos.ie
777 South Great George’s Street(Mexican)777.ie
Joe Macken’s Skinflint Crane lane (pizza) http://skinflint.joburger.ie/,  Bear 35 South William Street
Tel: No reservations, just turn up (steaks-see here for menu http://stylesiren.ie/bear-opening-tonight/ ) and a new Jo’Burger opening soon in Castle market
The Greenhouse Dawson Street (Fine dining) http://www.thegreenhouserestaurant.ie/home.php
Rigby’s A menuless restaurant three nights a week,(thurs,fri sat) on Upper Leeson Street with BYO wine
http://www.tasteofireland.com/restaurants/407-Rigby-s-Deli-and-Dining-Room-Leeson-Street-
Terra Madre Bachelor’s Walk (Italian)
Bite South Frederick Street (Fish) http://bitedublin.com/
Musashi Capel Street. Cheap and cheerful sushi and Japanese food bar http://www.yelp.ie/biz/musashi-dublin-2
WJ Kavanaghs Dorset Street. A sister gastropub to Stoneybatter’s L Mulligan Grocer http://www.wjkavanaghs.com/

See link  below for full article
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0519/1224316340492.html

Donal Skehan's lime and mint mojito chicken

Lime and mint mojito chicken.

Now this is a lovely recipe which can be easily altered with whatever you have in the cupboard. I've used lemons instead of lime before but the chopped mint is the thing that gives it the taste. I have it growing wild in my front garden so that is very convenient.

Serves 4
4 chicken breasts
1 garlic clove
4–5 tablespoons of rum
Juice of 2 limes
2 limes quartered
1 tablespoon of olive oil
A small handful of fresh mint
A generous pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Chop the mint and garlic finely and place in a large resealable bag. Add the rum, lime juice, oil, salt and pepper to the bag.Put the chicken in the bag and seal. Toss the chicken around in the bag and make sure the breasts are covered in the mint and garlic mixture.Leave in the fridge preferably overnight, or you can make in the morning and leave for the day.

To cook the chicken, heat a pan over a high heat and fry the breasts and marinade for about 3–5 minutes on either side, depending on the size of the chicken breasts.

Alternately dice the breasts and use to thread onto skewers for kebabs. Grill or cook on griddle pan.

Smock Alley Theatre

Smock Alley theatre has reopened after being closed for over 200 years.

The Smock Alley was the first Theatre Royal built in Dublin. John Ogilby opened it in 1662 as part of the Restoration of the British monarchy and King Charles II in 1660, along with the London's Drury Lane (1662) and the Lincoln's Inn Fields (1661). It was the first custom-built theatre in the city and still remains in substantially the same form, making it one of the most important sites in European theatre history.

The first play to be performed in the newly rebuilt/refurbished theatre is

She Stoops To Conquer

Tuesday 15th May - Saturday 2nd June 2012

First performed in Smock Alley, in May 1773, Irish playwright Oliver Goldsmith’s, “She Stoops To Conquer” , makes a triumphant return 239 years later in the newly restored theatre with re-formed Smock Alley Players (est. 1662).
http://www.smockalley.com/theatre/