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Una Mullally's Lost In A Launch - Back from my holidays to the usual shower

Launch of the Cork Midsummer Festival. Cork heads hit Crane Lane to celebrate the launch of a 'festival of the senses'. Talking point - The arrival of Spencer Tunicks's installation from last year. L-R Kevin O' Callaghan, John Coman and Niamh Dunne

Cari charity fashion show at Cruzzos. The Ahern women were in attendance at the Malahide lunchtime event. Talkin Point - The Aherns love of launches at the moment – Bertie is launching a tyre service in Drumcondra next week. L-R Georgina Byrne and Cecilia Ahern.

Last night of Absolut Gay Theatre Festival. Actors, scenesters and play nuts descended on the Button Factory. Talking point - How well dressed MC Darren Kennedy was. L-R Sandra Ferreyro and Malin Muller

Opening of Shawshank Redemption. Gaiety home to first stage production of Stephen King's novel turned film. Talking point - Reg Cathey's (aka Lester from 'The Wire') star turn in the play. L-R Elizabeth Bennett and Ellen Bennett

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Lost In A Launch managed to miss some key parties last weekend (namely the launch of Super Extra Bonus Party's excellent new album Night Horses at Andrew's Lane Theatre) because we had to escape from the rain to the blistering Balearics. I didn't really want to go on holiday. In fact, the only reason I went was so I could update my Twitter with stuff like "ooh, too hot on the beach, must make a dash for the cocktail bar" in order to make people jealous in 140 characters. Then again there was one moment, while sipping a gin and lemon on the terrace of Cava d'en Xoroi, a spectacular bar built in a network of caves on a cliff face hanging over the Med that I thought, "You know, I'd really like to be snotting myself in a puddle on Talbot Street right now." Not.

Anyway, after crying my way through Dublin Airport on the way back I managed to drag myself out during the rest of the week. On Tuesday, it was time to catch the excellent Brooklyn twosome Telepathe in the Academy on Middle Abbey Street. Before and after the gig, myself and some friends (including the Skinny Wolves boys who have just released a limited-edition Telepathe record on their label) enjoyed some Guinness and – at Telepathe's request – Bailey's and brandy in the nearby pre-boom establishment of the Bachelor's Inn.

On Wednesday night, as rain continued to drizzle over town, it was time for some uplifting art by Graham Knuttel at the Private Collector Gallery on South Frederick Street. Knuttel has drifted back to his original medium of sculpture with a plethora of surreal pieces, which Ryan Tubridy nicely summed up as having an "Alice in Wonderland" vibe. Tubridy, who was launching the exhibition, was charming as usual in quite the Mad Men-esque suit. He mentioned that he's not particularly enjoying the new-found personal attention that the Late Late Show gig has brought, but nevertheless during the launch speech he took some good-humoured swipes at the photographers present, and a couple of droll pops at the more boisterous members of the crowd, ensuring that his quick wit should be his first weapon of choice when he goes to battle on RTé One on Friday nights.

Knuttel might think that going 'back to basics' is a good artistic theme for the recession, but you'd need a serious mortgage to have a gaff big enough to house some of his latest projects. The PR company was leading with Knuttel's new portrait of model Erin O'Connor as the most interesting or, more likely, most newsworthy part of the exhibition, but it was probably the most unremarkable; I much preferred the playfulness of Knuttel's animals and fish.

Speaking of models, the Suki Tea Party Fashion Show at the Westbury was full of them, showcasing Irish designs to a backdrop of green ginseng tea and cupcakes. LIAL especially liked the fun and well-constructed designs from Aisling Clancy, the delicate fabrics from Michelle Kiely, and the simple and cute neutrals by Grainne Neary. But what's with the hoods all over Irish catwalks these days? Many of the models were wandering around all Asbo-esque like the bastard children of Grace Jones and Ciaran Sweeney. Our fashion show partner Corina Gaffey, of Stellar magazine, said she thinks it's often to do with having excess material. Although having your noggin covered is probably just as well these days, what with this bloody weather.