Set aside the buzz around tricolour triumphs at Sundance and Slamdance, Oscar nominations and the forthcoming film festival and spare some time and enthusiasm for Oska Bright. Needless to say, you probably haven’t heard of this festival so listen up! Run for and by people with learning disabilities, Oska Bright brings its selection of short films to Dublin for a day of workshops, talks and screenings. All films submitted must have people with learning disabilities in control of making them – be it as script writer, actor, artist, camera person, sound person, director or producer. One of the stand-outs is Matthew Eggers animation called ‘Save Our Sheep’ based on an idea he got from a holiday in Iceland after a near distasterous toboggan ride. And the Oska goes to? / Zach Joyce

The Crow Gallery’s inaugural fundraising exhibition is cramming a lot into a small space. In fact, each artist has been limited to 25cms x 25cms of wall to display their wares. Among my own favourites on display are Brian Gallagher’s scraperboard of ‘Tory’, Eleanor Reilly’s (the same Ms Reilly behind the Karaoke for Haiti poster elsewhere in this issue) mixed media collage ‘Lovebird’ and the simply brilliant Killian Dunne action figures from the ‘Intergalatic Bastards’ series which feel like they should be in the little shop of horrors rather than the Little Picture Show. Also showing are, among a shedload others, Glenn Gannon, Niamh Moran, Donna Cooney and David McDowell. All prices are commission-free, so it’s a great opportunity to pick up a bargain. I’ll see you there. / Luka Scoones

Since the corporate farce that is Valentine Day is rushing towards us to kick our self esteem in the nether regions, why not attend an art exhibition with a difference; Anewspace presents ‘The Love Story: Julia Doesn’t Do Tongue.’ Check out Jasper Goodall’s magnificently subversive ‘Bad Bambi’. Antony Lister’s artwork includes ingeniously distorted view of pop culture icons while Canvaz is an incredibly gifted graffiti artist, whose work with stencils is spectacular. Other featured artists include Aine Macken and Loki Desmond. The Anewspace store consists of such unusually awesome fare such as the terrorist teapot, a great selection of Obey t-shirts and Marc by Marc Jacobs bags at surprisingly fair prices. Don’t miss out! / Hannah Shorten

A ‘colorful, cussing cell phone mogul’ is how Forbes magazine describes Denis O’Brien, listed at # 305 ($2.2bn) in their 2009 billionaires poll. At 51, this self-made entrepreneur interests also span media, property, aircraft leasing and golf. This rare public Q&A is in the cosseted confines of his alma mater. However, having renowned current affairs broadcaster Pat Kenny asking the questions means there should be some punch to the procedure. From paying the wages of our football manager to membership of the Bilderberg Group, O’Brien is a highly influential player on the international stage. His increasing dominance in Irish media and personal insights from Haiti where he operates a telecoms business and has pledged €3.5m to the earthquake victims all add up to a lot of questions in a short space of time. / Zach Joyce

We know the drill by now: 10 speakers, 20 slides each, 20 seconds a slide. As usual, The Irish Architecture Foundation and The Small Print have rummaged around in the Irish illustration/design lucky-dip bag and come up with a fairly appealing mix of speakers. Highlights are probably: Fergal Brennan (check out his awesome new animated video); the inimitable Steve Simpson, who also appeared at Offset last year; and Detail Design Studio. Brian Ward, lecturer at DIT, will be weighing in on the architectural side of things. There’ll definitely be a few ups and downs during the night, but there’s nearly always more good than bad — and the talks only last six minutes. Generally a decent turn out at these things too, and the Sugar Club is the perfect venue for it. / Brian Herron

Those krazy kats at Come As Soon As You Here are hosting another night of creative funtimes (the last one being a clothes swap night of rowdy fun), presenting the Letter K at the Bernard Shaw. Expect a celebration of all things krazyseksykool in the anything goes style of the CASAYH collective. Music from the aptly named punksters Kid Karate and DJ kDamo, plus promise of krispie buns, kola, kolouring kompetitions and a plethora of K related joy. This one will have you delving through your dictionary for fancy dress inspiration – kissogram, koala bear, keyring, karma police…. it’s Make and Do-tastic! And the best part; it’s kompletely free! / Aoife Concannon

George Clooney’s ‘Hope for Haiti’ may have had the likes of Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Madonna but tonight’s ‘Karaoke in Aid of Haiti’ is likely to feature almost as impressive an array of singers, giving it welly for the same deserving cause. An assortment of Dublin’s arty types, including the head honchos at Le Cool, are collaborating on this special event to help raise vitally-needed funds for Architecture for Humanity and Our Little Brothers and Sisters, two organisations working on the ground in Haiti. As well as the singing, there will be a raffle with some fantastic prizes up for grabs and the organisers have promised conga lines, dance offs and stripping. Drinks at the Ringside Bar are nice and cheap, which should allow you to dig deeper in your pockets for this worthy cause. / Joey Kavanagh

Toby is a very smart boy who lives with his Dad, who builds robots. He is very smart too. They live in a floating place called Metro City. After a very sad accident, his Dad builds a robot that looks and talks like Toby. He can fly and has x-ray eyes and has lots of weapons. He even has guns in his bum. He has lots of funny adventures. He meets a very funny robot dog who looks like a bin. His bone is a spanner. He also meets a very silly robot called Mike the Fridge. He is a fridge and spits out ice cubes. In the end, Astro Boy has to fight a huge big bad war robot who is controlled by the evil president. The film is very funny and is lots of fun. I think boys and girls would like this film very much. / Edmund Roche (Aged 6)

If you were ever locked in a room with just some pens and paper and some instruments and maybe some decks and stuff, it would be a bit weird. But it would be better if you were locked in there with Alex Metric . Because he’s well good at music – he sings songs. He sings songs that he writes with his own hand. And he can DJ as well. And he has a BBC Radio 1 show. So being locked in that room would be a lot more fun if he was in there too. Plus he’s really, actually brilliant to see live. So check him out in Wax tonight. As it’s a DJ set the voice might not get an outing, but you could always ask. Now, I’m not sure where everyone else has gone. Or why the doors are locked. Weird. Win Tickets / Josh Jones

In the 90s, I did a stint in the flats of D6. Those Georgian residences of tarnished elegance often housed an older tenant; a man in his 50s or 60s living alone in the attic or basement bedsit. I wondered what their stories were but we rarely spoke, uncomfortable as they appeared with conversation beyond ‘awful weather’. The Mines, Dublin 6, reveals the thoughts of two such men. Friends Willy and Michael are long term tenants in the same house. Both have arrived there through tragedy, but while Michael’s past is his prison, Willy’s anarchic playfulness may yet free him. Written and performed by Tommy O’Neill in two parts, this is a moving play with much humour. It gives a voice to those men; men sometimes ignored, sometimes left behind, and often forgotten in today’s fast paced society. Win Tickets / Shirley Chance

Sport movies are a notoriously difficult genre to master, and the thought of Clint Eastwood directing a rugby biopic does not fill the casual moviegoer with confidence. Yet, Invinctus is saved by its intriguing story and the central performances of Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The story is of Nelson Mandela’s (Freeman) attempts to reach out to the white population through rugby, and unite the whole country behind The Springboks in the 1995 World Cup. No easy task, as the black population saw the SA rugby team as a potent symbol of the earlier apartheid regime. The relationship between Mandela and Springbok captain Francois Piennaar (Damon) makes the film, as two men from different sides of the class and colour divide attempt to reconcile their conflicting constituencies and build the Rainbow Nation. / Nick Royle

What we have right here is some bona fide German cosmic space lords from deep down in the early 70’s. Cluster was conceived in ‘67 at the experimental Zodiak Free Arts Labs performance space in West Berlin (for a brilliant and comprehensive history of the music of this period, see hier or here). Many, many band members have come and gone but the duo of Hans-Joachim Rödelius and Dieter Moebius have long been the engine that drives this Kosmiche juggernaut. They recently released Qua, their first studio album since 1994. The pair are bringing this hugely influential electronic sound here as part of a short European stint. Not sure if Moebius will repeat it here, but one of the more unusual highlights from Qua is his surprisingly melodic solo with a squeaky door. Ach ja! Win Tickets / Simon Judge

They say good things come in small packages, and at just under an hour, Finegan Kruckemeyer’s one-man show The Girl Who Forgot To Sing Badly is a wee gem. Peggy’s parents pack for a living – grand pianos into jars and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious into a single breath to name but a few of the quirkiest ones. But when work suddenly dries up and Peggy returns home to find her parents – and the entire city – have literally jumped ship, she embarks on a fascinatingly re-enacted rescue mission. Louis Lovett is an absolute charmer, chopping and changing between ad-libbing narrator and Kruckemeyer’s motley crew of characters, all played out on a set made entirely from a wooden crate. A tiny treat for not so tiny audiences, then. Win Family ticket for Wed. 10th / Babs Linger

Six Nations time! And lucky us: first up we’re taking on rugby whipping boys, Italy. We should walk away with it – if any of our team are left walking after colliding with the monstrous butt-ugly Italian pack. Munster fans will be delighted that poor old Johnny Sexton ballsed up his leg. We’ll all be delighted if Ronan has an ‘on’ day. There’ll probably be tries all over the place. And we’ll find out if Trimble was the right choice. And Geroge Hook will have a bit of a whinge about the scrum. And Paul O’Connell will give it his all, God bless him. And Brian O’Driscoll will do something or other and be a hero. And Declan Kidney will be very modest about the whole affair. If we win, as expected, there might be a minor session in the offing. Take the chance to celebrate before France next week. / Brian Herron

Newsflash! The IFI has new toilets! There is no better way to spend a weekend afternoon than a leisurely lunch in the excellently priced cafe, followed by reclining comfortably to the latest Romanian family saga or indie horror flick. But the cinema is not without its faults and when compared with the jazzy cineplexes dotted around the city, the two screen limit and endless bathroom queues can deter… However, the cinema has just had a renovation and now boasts 6 girl’s cubicles, 1 new screen, 1 film shop with great foreign and independent films and 1 renovated cafe restaurant. To celebrate their new look, the IFI is hosting a day of free screenings. Tickets for the 14 films will be released at 11am on Saturday. With family films, classics and recent releases there’s something for everyone. / Fiona Swan

Not only is he DFA Records’ only Irish signing, but Markus Lambkin aka Shit Robot claims to have introduced king of the hipsters James Murphy to dance music – or at least to decent dance music. Without him, there might be no LCD Soundsystem or DFA Records as we know them. And sure then where would we be? If that doesn’t make you cool I don’t no what does. As is fitting for a member of DFA, the Dubliner’s own releases contain edgy disco and electro-flavoured house but his influences range from punk and indie to techno. We’re looking forward to his album later this year but in the meantime we’ll make do with tonight. After 12 years in New York running respected club nights and playing gigs (he now lives in Germany) it’s fair to say this man knows what do when he’s facing a dancefloor. Win Tickets / Anne Hayden

Greg O’Brien, he tells us, writes and records music in the house he grew up in. It’s no surprise then that that his subtle, charming, electronic pop vignettes have echoes of the homespun, lo-fi elegance of Casiotone For The Painfully Alone and the found sound embrace of The Books. His debut album as At Last An Atlas, ‘From Which We Were Raised’, showcases O’Brien’s ear for a melancholy melody, and a wistful narrative, reinforced with unassuming beats and keys, warm reflective vocals and bittersweet female backing. There is an endearing empathy with the listener here; one that invites you in wants to make you feel welcome and does its level best to beguile you. This gig will celebrate the release of an alluring debut album and features support for Limerick’s own playful pop stalwarts Windings. Win Tickets / Mark Keane

For over 30 years, Dutch masters of tumult The Ex have pushed the boundaries of their early punk origins, channeling a multitude of influences and exploring hitherto virgin sonic territory with a wanton, feral and cerebral dynamism. Embracing their position as outsiders looking in, The Ex have revelled in this freedom, and always looked for new avenues to occupy. Here they embark on another singular venture, performing with Brass Unbound, a world class four piece horn section consisting of Matt Gustafsson (baritone sax), Ken Vandermark (tenor sax), Roy Paci (trumpet), and Walter Wierbos (trombone). The collaboration promises to be a maelstrom of kinetic energy; a visceral collage of brass, rhythm, and post-punk freneticism. A high-wire show. Support from Zun Zun Egui. / Mark Keane

As classics go, The Last Picture Show is bona fide. Written by Larry McMurtry and directed by Peter Bogdanovich, this coming of age tale is set in a ramshackle Texas outpost. Duane (Jeff Bridges) is a roughneck, Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) a good boy and Jacy Farrow (Cybil Shephard) a femme fatale. There’s not much to do other than drink, dream and squabble over a girl. Time passes and life passes, whiled away at a jukebox, in the pool hall or the picture house. The sense of entrapment extends to a promiscuous wife. Something must snap for all concerned. Shot in crisp black and white, it’s framed like a Walker Evans or Dorothea Lange dustbowl print. It lost the best picture Oscar in 1971 to The French Connection, remains a career highpoint for Bogdanovich but will live forever as celluloid magic. / Zach Joyce

Sometimes I get dressed in the morning and throw together an outfit that’s a bit more bizarre than my usual get up. I think “Dublin’s just not ready for it yet” so I disassemble and change tactics. When I look at Circus I sometimes think the same thing applies; here’s a store with a genius concept, fantastic space and exceptional buying but somehow Dublin just wasn’t ready. Carrying labels like Henrik Vibskov, Unconditional and Poltock & Walsh, mixed with vintage gems and exclusive magazines Circus became the store that most people aspired to shop in and feared in equal measure. A double-edged sword; like the announcement of their closing down sale. Get your arse in gear and bag a bit of history before we bid a fond farewell to one of the most innovative stores Dublin has ever had. / Angela Scanlon

The folk-rock revival continues apace as The Low Anthem come to Ireland for the first time, playing a gig moved from Whelan’s to Vicar St in response to demand. The three-piece Rhode island outfit, fronted by Ben Knox Miller with band-mates Jocie Adams and Jeffrey Prystowsky, deliver a melodious, harmonious, lo-fi, multi-instrumental sound that has been described as “tumbling and rustically exotic”. With obvious influences from Guthrie, Dylan and Waits, their music also evokes more recent artists such as Will Oldham. Touring (as a quartet, by all accounts) their third album, ‘Oh My God, Charlie Darwin’, you can expect a evening with everything from the fey falsetto charm of the album’s opening track, ‘Charlie Darwin’ through to the Waits-esque stomp of ‘The Horizon is a Beltway’. Win Tickets / Simon Mills

Don’t let the fact that the gallery looks as if it is under construction put you off. Make sure you look through the windows and climb the steps to nowhere. The ‘work(s) in progress’ look is the whole point. The mix of artworks on show will change constantly from now to mid-April in this exhibition which explores the idea that the impact of art changes according to the context in which we see it. Last Friday, a blindingly clear and sunny day, an excellent video installation shot in the Ballymun flats cast its rotting shadow over the rooms, making every other piece a part of its story of decay. I plan to visit more than once just to test the theory, next time in the rain. After all, it’s free and IMMA is beautiful in every way. We’re lucky that we still have it. / Kay Scorah

Ireland’s sunny south east is no California sun coast. And our movie industry can’t rival Hollywood either. But in a week when the powers that be surprised the Irish film industry by granting recognition to our animated films, it’s a good time to look around and see what else are we able to do. In this film the titular character heads on a holiday like we all had in our youth. Buckets, spades and rain. But his parents aren’t playing happy families. They are in fact sexually frustrated. The film is unmistakably Irish. Unsurprisingly, the hunks on the beach can’t rival Hollywood. But the movie is topical: The Oscars may at last reward a woman director, and we have the chance to support a first time Irish woman film maker. She may someday be shooting the truly beautiful on the sunny beaches of LA. In the meantime she’s stuck here looking at us. / Niall Murphy

Posing the question ‘What do you do with your revolution once you’ve got it?’, this 1967 documentary offers a fascinating insight into Irish society. Commentators discuss a lethargic society which lacks moral courage and lives in self-interested silence. Sound familiar? Applauded at the Cannes Film Festival in 1968 and screened by the student revolutionaries in Paris, Rocky Road was staunchly repressed in Ireland by the church and state until the 1990’s. The depiction of the grip of the Catholic Church is frankly terrifying, especially considering the many dark secrets only recently coming to light. Director Peter Lennon burrows deep into everyday life as he meets ordinary men, women and children as well as public figures such as Father Michael Cleary and Conor Cruise O’Brien. / Aoife Concannon

Thanks to Cpt. William Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame. In 1801, he proposed building the North Bull Wall as a solution to silting in Dublin Bay which hindered the passage of ships. The gradual formation of Bull Island was an unexpected result. Reached by bridge, it is a UNESCO reserve and a haven for birds, photographers and allegedly, dogging. In the past, Dollymount Strand was also a haven for ‘boy racers’. Recent strategic placing of boulders has reduced this. Strolling across the dunes on a Winter’s day, foxes and rabbits scatter, the wind throws salt on your skin, and the kite surfers form a rainbow splash on the waves. Wrap up well and pack a flask of your favourite tipple; it’s cold out there. But the Brent geese returned from the Arctic during the week, a first sign of Spring. / Shirley Chance

Certain Dublin wine bars can be likened to a cabernet sauvignon (over-priced and conspicuously consumed by the status-conscious). The recently opened Ormond Wine Bar, with its accomplished blend of contrasting parts, is more like a pinot noir: it manages to be both cosy and elegant without being pretentious. The wine list is brief but eclectic and very affordable, while the food menu is similarly diverse. The space is high-ceilinged with a long dark-topped bar reaching into the surprisingly large interior. The décor combines minimalist glass stairs with ornate chandeliers, and exposed brick with burgundy couches. The result is a place which seems appropriate for anything from a first date to a laid-back Sunday afternoon with the paper. Win Dinner for Two / Holly McIndoe