Gourmet pride

You haven't lived until you've been let loose in the Lettercolum Kitchen Project shop in Clonakilty.

Here, Con McLoughlin and Karen Austin combine the best in home-prepared salads, preserves, starters, mains and desserts plus freshly baked bread with hand-chosen French wine and other specialist delicacies.

Offering everything from a lemon poltenta cake to a speltpastry smoked chicken and bacon tart, all use the best ingredients . . . many organically cultivated in the neighbouring Lettercolum walled garden.

Also available for private catering, check www. lettercolum. ie for full details.

Ayer 's rave

Anyone who witnessed DJ and producer Luke Chable's last assault on Irish clubbing in February will remember a night of savage tunes and incredible mixing. The Australian returns to Ireland when he plays back-to-back with Phil K, another Oz legend, on 24 September at The Vaults in Dublin. Billed as the 'Sasha and Digweed of Australia', the pair are set to churn up Dublin's docklands with their five-hour set. Maximum stamina required.

Go girl

There are certain life skills that every modern girl should know, such as how to appreciate art, the correct spa etiquette and how to get the most from underwear. These and others are covered in one handy tome, 'How to Walk in High Heels: The Girl's Guide to Everything' . . . a must-have for Fabulous Girls in 2005. Author Camilla Morton has friends in all the right places . . . Vivienne Westwood, Kylie, Manolo Blanik and John Galliano . . . who all contribute. The world can only be grateful.

Treasure hunt

If the idea of trawling auctions and antique shops appeals, but there never seems time to tackle the many options, the Irish Antique Dealers Association Fair is the perfect solution. This selling exhibition offers enthusiasts a mix of the country's finest specialists, displaying their best pieces, all under one roof. Here's where you'll find the likes of John Farrington's stunning jewellery, William Crofton of Duvalier's beautiful Irish silver, and impeccably chosen paintings by Ib Jorgensen . . . to name but a few. The fair takes place in the RDS, Dublin from 29 September to 2 October.

Julien temple

British artist Isaac Julien, well known for his film work, takes over Imma for the next three months with a trio of exhibits, one on show each month. A section of the museum will be specially reconfigured to present the work, which includes 'Paradise Omeros', a piece based on Nobel Prize-winning poet Derek Walcott's poems; 'Vagabondia', which reveals the hidden treasures of Sir John Soane's Museum in London; and 'The Long Road to Mazatlan', the Turner Prize-nominated collaboration with Javier de Frutos that's high on iconography, inspired by Andy Warhol's 'Lonesome Cowboys'. All the work is highly conceptual, conveying its message through music, dance and moving abstract imagery. Perfect to clear the head and heighten perception over a wet, wintry weekend from 21 September through to 15 January. Julien will give a talk on his work at 5pm on Tuesday, 20 September. To bag a seat, call 01 612 9948 or email talksandlectures@imma. ie.

Home run

We like things that make our lives easier, especially when the list of 'dull jobs' seems to grow rather than decrease, whatever we do. And when it comes to moving home, that list is endless. Help is on its way with www. newaddress. ie, a clever . . . and free . . . website that, with minimal effort on the part of the home-mover, will alert a growing number of companies and institutions of your move. Right now, that includes most banks, household utilities, store- and credit-card companies, loyalty programmes and mobile providers. Just fill in the on-line form once and the information will be sent to everyone. Launched last Wednesday, it's the smartest address in the country.

Bootiful

In recent years, Clarks shoes have gone far beyond the mundane to produce some real cult fashion footwear finds. Autumn 2005 sees another belter of a season. The 'Nadina' riding boot ( 100) looks fab with the latest military trends, while the mini-platformed 'Bahama' high heels ( 60) stand up well to Terry De Havilland's finest. We're also digging the Prada/Miu Miu-inspired 'Bionic' ( 60), a tan leather and suede with tone-on-tone daisies at the toe. Worth venturing beyond the school section for closer scrutiny.

Jean genie

Second to shopping for swimwear, buying jeans must be one of the most traumatic retail pursuits a human can endure. The process has been made slightly more interesting this month with H&M's launch of &denim, its jeans range that promises over (wait for it) 100 different styles for men and women, which means that even if it takes time to find the perfect, bottom-flattering, waisttrimming, leg-lengthening pair, at least it can be done in one changing room. Available in H&M's Dundrum Town Centre store now, and with prices starting at a tasty 29.90, it's time to face those denim demons.

Melanie Morris hotshots@tribune. ie