Probably my favourite district in Seattle!

Bags and bags of character; vibrant atmosphere; with myriad interesting (even eclectic) coffeehouses and bars… fantastic!

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Chuffed, my first Explore!

1. St Peters

…you never forget your first time!

Patsy’s Corner

Originally uploaded by Kieran Lynam.

Spent a lovely February weekend in the charming town of Kinsale, in the south of Ireland. We stopped off for coffee in this cozy and charterful cafe called Patsy’s Corner for cappacchino and apple pie! Wonderful!

Acrid, pitch-black satire… deeply deeply funny!!!

The narrative acrobatics are startling, Amis is a formidably talented writer. Above all, I’m unlikely to forget the crass, profoundly repulsive, vice-addicted anti-hero protagonist, John Self, in a very very long time. Fantastic!

First item knocked from my goal to read The Observer’s best British, Irish or Commonwealth novels of the last 25 years.

This movie is incredibly funny, real laugh-out-loud funny—but that’s not why I love it so much: I find it to be heartfelt and poignant.

Neurotic (of course!) Alvy’s relationship with free-spirited goofy country girl Annie, provides the backdrop to this exploration of Alvy’s inner emotional demons. He introduces her to the world of New York intellectualism (and pompousness!!) and provides her support and stimulation until she eventually outgrows, and leaves, him.

The one-liners are hilarious (“don’t knock masturbation, it’s sex with someone I love”), the structure while loose has moments of lovely invention (like when Alvy walks down to street and gets advice from strangers as they pass by, all of whom know his back-story), and performances are uniformly excellent.

Comedy is rarely this funny or eloquent.

“My grammy never gave gifts. She was too busy getting raped by Cossacks.”

IMDB

See more progress on: list my favourite films and explain why

This guy is an inspiration!!

I put this 1995 film at number one not because it’s my favourite but because I think it was first movie I saw that left a real, lasting, profound mark on me.

A day in the life of three underclass youths (one Arab, one Jew and one black) – in the banlieue, projects, outside Paris – as they basically lay about and talk nonesense. When a friend is beaten to an inch of his life in a police station after a riot, the housing estate erupts and our three protagonists are drawn into the festering violence.

It is visceral, gritty, raw, important, real, energetic—and very funny! It successfully and entertainingly weaves the personal tales of the three youths/yobs into a wider social context. The black and white photography is both bleak and beautiful – and there is one staggering aerial tracking shot over the estate, as an amateur DJ fills the open space with sound from the decks at his high-up window.

The film seems to take on even further importance after the French riots last year… but, irrespective of all, it is close to my idea of a perfect cinema experience!

IMDB

See more progress on: list my favourite films and explain why

The Piano Teacher

by Michael Haneke

A grim watch, to be sure, but a fascinating and thought-provoking one. Isabelle Huppert is simply outstanding as a musician who sacrifices her humanity, and eventually her sanity, in an attempt to attain perfection in her art.

See more about The Piano Teacher (Unrated Edition)

The photographic reconstruction of The Last Supper, by artist John Byrne, which runs along one side of Dublin’s Quartier Bloom (just off Ormond Quay) is meant to reflect the multiculturalism and diversity of modern Dublin. (The artist walked around the city, picking his apostles right off the streets!).

More info here.

And the team is playing with a real swagger now – reminiscent of earlier seasons.

I think Rosický and Gallas have added some needed maturity to the side… and the youngsters, one year older now and with a tough season under the belts, are still the best around!

Still football from the heavans though… Arsene Knows!