Desire Lines: A versatile Dunnes jacket, family events in Fota, and perfect pizza
Summer fashion on this lovely island of ours is all about layering. We can see ourselves turning to this delightful pop of colour from Helen Steele's latest collection at festivals, on a hillwalk, grabbing a coffee with friends... a truly versatile jacket. €35.
dunnesstores.com
The gift site
Check out Wrapped in Kindness, a beautifully curated site stocking over 30 Irish makers. Ten per cent of all sales go to a charity of the customer's choice, with 11 partners to choose from, including Pieta House. Among the brands on offer are incredible vases from Laois based-EDP Creative, pictured. Other wonderful names brands include Studio Byrne, De Danu, Bread and Weather and more.
wrappedinkindness.ie
The Buddha bowl
Saba and Saba To Go's new Buddha bowls are now available for dine-in and takeaway across six branches in Dublin and Kildare Village.
Balancing fresh ingredients and moreish Thai- and Vietnamese-inspired flavours, they offer a summery taste of Asia across 4 flavours, €16.95-17.95. We like the sound of red chicken mango bowl, with chicken marinated in red curry paste, brown and red rice, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, shredded carrots, bird's eye chillies, spring onions, pomegranate. mango, basil and mint in a tangy dressing.
sabadublin.com
The wildlife events
One of Fota Wildlife Park's giraffes in front of the Panoramic Wheel. Picture: Darragh Kane
Fota Wildlife Park is bringing back its annual summer educational weekends with a programme of interactive, family-oriented events. The three themed weekends covering science, native species, and insect life will be held at Fota Wildlife Park's Education, Conservation and Research Centre (ECRC) and are included with entry.
The Native Species Weekend on July 26 and 27 will focus on Ireland's rich biodiversity, with a series of interactive exhibits and biofacts highlighting the country's native wildlife and conservation efforts.
Among the organisations taking part are Fota Wildlife Park's Education team, Dublin Zoo, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Nature Network Ireland, Irish Bee Conservation Project and Atlantic Technological University, Galway. August 16 and 17 will see the return of the Bug Bonanza Weekend. The new panoramic wheel also remains at the park for summer.
fotawildlife.ie
The pizza
With sweeping sea views, Dunmore House's Boatshed Pizza is the place of summer dreams. Nestled in Clonakilty Bay, the award-winning hotel is famous for sea walks, beautiful beaches – and great food.
With a state of the art pizza oven on the Sea Terrace, there's a taste of Italy with chef, Paolo Chiappa. Making his own dough and tomato sauce, Paolo sources local ingredients to finish his pizzas with a West Cork accent on an Italian favourite. Using vegetables and herbs from the scenic organic Ocean Garden at Dunmore House (you can also visit this), Paolo adds firm favourites like Toonsbridge mozzarella, O'Neil's black pudding, Gubbeen cheese and Cashel Blue to his menu. The service is another standout, pure down-to-earth, West Cork authenticity. Don't miss it this summer. Open 1-7.30pm, Thurs-Mon.
dunmorehousehotel.ie
The chocolates
Gunpowder Irish Gin and Butlers Chocolates have launched a new range of premium-gin truffles. In-store in Butlers Chocolate Cafés in Dublin, Cork and Belfast International airports, they will roll out to international markets in the coming weeks.
The original Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin milk chocolate gin truffle is joined by the summery sounding Sardinian Citrus white chocolate lemon gin truffle and the Californian Orange Citrus milk chocolate orange gin truffle.
butlerschocolates.com
The watches
Perfect for the rebel in your life, Swatch's new No Rules launch has been designed with Mercury Prize- and BRIT-nominees Nova Twins.
With names like Lash Out and Distort Mode, the colourful collection brings an edgy post-punk sensibility to the Swiss timepiece, in 5 bold designs. From €90-140.
swatch.com
Compiled by Vickie Maye, Nicole Glennon and Jillian Bolger. weekend@examiner.ie
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I think anybody who gets through, even week-one, has a lot to be said for them because they've never done that before. It's live, in front of an audience. There's voting, a lot of pressure. I don't know how they do it. And I don't know how we've any more celebrities left in the country, but apparently, we do. So, we're gonna keep doing it until we've got through all of them.' Jennifer Zamparelli is touring The Rocky Horror Show, including Cork Opera House (Tuesday, August 26 – Saturday, August 30). See: A Question of Taste Best recent book you've read: I've just finished the whole Elements series — Water, Earth, Fire, Air — by John Boyne, which is a bit dark, but I do like a bit of darkness when I'm reading. They're all intertwined. I'm not a fast reader, so they're the perfect read for me. I really enjoyed those books. Best recent TV viewing: I tend not to watch much TV until the wintertime, but I did watch the latest White Lotus series. 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