Seven things to do this week
TODAY: The Denny Treasure Hunt is always one of the highlights of the St Patrick's Festival, a morning when bewildered families can be seen trailing around the city trying to work out fiendishly cryptic clues. Win prizes for being the fastest, cleverest or best fancy-dressed team and gain free entry into the city's main cultural centres along the way. Meet at City Hall, Dame Street. 10am-1pm. www.stpatricksfestival.ie. Teams of four. Admission free.
TOMORROW: Give thanks to the music lords because Songs of Praise, the most credible karaoke night in Dublin, celebrates one whole year of wannabe rockers playing homage to everyone from Blondie to AC/DC. Expect free T-shirts, Tiger beer, gig tickets and other booty if you dare to grace this hallowed stage for this raucous birthday party. Between 9pm and 11pm. The Village, Wexford Street, Dublin. Call 01-6673920 for more details.
MONDAY: The French Ad-Eaters Night is not your average night out. Celebrate World Francophone Day by watching advertisement videos from all over the French speaking world. Booking is essential: e-mail serge.francois@diplomatie.gouv.fr. It's on at The Sugar Club, Leeson Street, Dublin. 8pm. €5.
TUESDAY: CoisCeim's Choreographic Manoeuvres is bound to attract the country's hottest dancers for this series of work with internationally acclaimed choreographers, such as choreographer Jasmin Vardimon, whose work is littered with themes of social manners, family tensions, relationship blunders and sexual mores. Workshops for dancers and physical performers take place today and tomorrow from 10am to 6pm, with a discussion tomorrow at 7pm. CoisCeim Studio, Sackville Place, Dublin. To book call 01-8780558.
WEDNESDAY: Time to start getting arty with that camcorder: Diversion Festival 2006 wants your short films, in a bid to find the most worthy recipient of 2006 Short Film Award. Past winners include Give Up Yer Ol' Sins. For application forms and guidelines, visit www.templebar.ie. Submissions must be in by 5pm on April 7th. For more information call 01-6772255.
THURSDAY: If you are a poet/ and you think you know it/ get a move on down to Dún Laoghaire/You're sure to find the Poetry Now festival cheery. It runs until March 26th at the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin. Phone 01-2312929 for more details. Expect better poetry than the above, with readings by Nick Laird, Vona Groake and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill.
FRIDAY: The Belfast Film Festival is the place for movie buffs and tonight you can catch Lemming at the lovely Queen's Film Theatre. Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Charlotte Rampling, the film brings two couples together for a disastrous dinner party full of suspense and suburban tensions. This is just one of 130 films and events on at the festival which runs until April 1st. Tickets £5 (€7.30). Box office 048-90330443.
