With just days until the new-look Ulster Bank Belfast International Arts Festival’s Opening Night on 9^th October, we take a look at this year’s Top Ten Must-See events.

Festival organisers have brought together a colourful programme of world-class arts and entertainment, featuring 18 UK & Ireland premieres and artists from 23 countries.  From dance to theatre, circus to opera, big band to classical piano, there is something for everyone.

Tickets are already sold out for four major events*, so here’s a Top Ten not to be missed:

1)      The Kitchen – a sumptuous visual and sensual spectacle from India, Grand Opera House, 21 & 22 October.  A fusion of food, family tradition and rhythmic Indian drums.  The theatre air is filled with fragrant spices as a large copper Indian pot of rice pudding is cooked throughout the show and is shared among the audience as the curtain falls.

2)      BBC Big Band – release your inner Strictly-Come-Dancer, as the Ulster Hall comes alive to the much-loved sounds of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing, so grab your partner and your dancing shoes on Friday 23^rd October, when the Festival Swing Dancers will show you how it’s done.

3)      James Fenton – widely regarded as one of the world’s finest poets, catch James on his first visit to Belfast since 1993, in conversation with Marie Louise Muir at the Lyric Theatre on Saturday 10^th October.

4)      Hallo – Swiss acrobat, clown and choreographer Martin Zimmerman brings his stunning and humorous one-man show to the MAC on 23-24 October. This fast-paced virtuoso performance pitched somewhere between Samuel Beckett and Buster Keaton is a beautiful blend of acrobatics, theatre, comedy with a touch a magic too.

5)      To Break – The Window of Opportunity – Enter the extraordinary world of Belgian artists, Frank & Robertt, who bring colour and life to otherwise inanimate objects in a strange Americana influenced landscape. Playful, stylish and endearingly charming, these two young theatre makers are making waves throughout Europe with their multi-disciplinary work. (The MAC 20-21 Oct).

6)      Nosotros – The Belfast International Arts Festival is thrilled to bring this multi-international-award-winning contemporary dance piece from Mexico to the MAC on 30-31 October.  A high energy study of South American masculinity, Nosotros is breathtaking, beautiful and physically dazzling.

7)      Lyndee Prickett – American journalist Lyndee will reveal how her multi-media fictional work on India’s rape crisis, weareangry.net, sparked an online political movement. Blending the written word with audio, video, pictures, statistics, thought bubbles, cartoons, artwork, music and more, it is also a work that reflects the growing role of technology in the future of mass storytelling, 23^rd Oct at Brian Friel Theatre.

8)      Chivalry is Dead – in the newly adopted home of Game of Thrones, where better to see two of Europe’s top contemporary dancers (Deutinger & Gottfarb) clad head to toe in suits of armour? In this quirky and critically acclaimed duet at the MAC on 14 and 15 October, Deutinger & Gottfarb question the prevalence of knightly valour and blood-spattered fantasy in TV and gaming.

9)      Nicholas McCarthy – the world’s only one-armed concert pianist plays one night only in Belfast’s Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church on Saturday 10th October.  Nicholas’s new album was recently named as Classic FM Album of the Week.  Playing a repertoire of Left Hand Alone music, this charming 23 year old is inspiring, captivating and undeniably talented.

10)   The Animotion Show – a FREE event on Sunday 18th October which will see Belfast City Hall become the canvas for a spectacular live art exhibition.  Watch as images are painted and projected stroke by stroke onto the façade, accompanied by world-famous percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie playing a multitude of instruments – a ticketed event not to be missed!

Full programme details and booking available at www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com

*Sold out events at time of going to press are: Georgie Fame, the BBC Radio Three Concert series, Bell X1, Dawson Stelfox, Father John Misty; Cara Dillon and The Curious Incident of the Dog & the Night-time have limited seats available.

Belfast’s multi award-winning Merchant Hotel is celebrating after the AA upgraded its rating from five black stars to five red stars at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards, making it the first and only hotel in Northern Ireland to receive the esteemed accolade.

Held at Grosvenor House in London on Monday 5^th October, the AA Awards recognise outstanding excellence in hospitality and the red star is its most supreme accolade for hotels.
Awarded through inspectors’ choice, it is only bestowed to the best hotels in the British Isles that excel in all areas and offer outstanding levels of quality, service and hospitality.  The Merchant Hotel now joins an elite group of only 50 hotels in the whole of the UK that have achieved the exclusive AA Five Red Star status.

The award was presented to The Merchant Hotel’s General Manager Gavin Carroll by BBC’s Fiona Bruce at the ceremony last night (Monday 5^th October).

Commenting on the achievement Gavin Carroll said: “This award is only achieved by hotels that meet the highest international standards and we are thrilled and honoured to receive the first and only AA Five Red Star Award in Northern Ireland.

“We pride ourselves on our excellent service and facilities and it is a privilege to have this recognised at such a prestigious national award ceremony.

“I’m extremely proud of all of our staff that have shown such passion and dedication to meet the first-class standards needed in every area of the hotel to achieve the highly coveted award.”

Attended by world-renowned chefs, prominent hoteliers, hospitality gurus and key industry media, the AA Hospitality Awards are amongst the most prestigious national awards of their kind and are widely regarded as the Oscars for the hospitality industry.

The Awards draw upon the unrivalled knowledge and expertise of the AA inspectorate and other industry professionals involved in the judging process.
Winners are selected in recognition of excellence and success within their chosen category, having shown a significant improvement in the preceding 12 – 18 months and proving their dedication to raising industry standards and enhancing both their guest and diner experiences.

The Merchant Hotel is owned by the Beannchor Group, which boasts a portfolio of over 50 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Northern Ireland.

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is this year’s pantomime spectacular at The Market Place Theatre, Armagh and some of the cast were in town to help launch this magical, fun-filled adventure. Phillipa O’Hara [Red Riding Hood] and Matthew Forsythe [Wolf] visited Armagh for the launch and form part of a six-strong professional cast who are set to give kids an unforgettably festive experience.

piPhillipa and Matthew are joined by Marty Maguire [‘Nanny No Hood – Dame], Nicky Harley

[Mammy Hood, Candy Floss, Thee Nanny Hood, Pig 1], Mary Moulds [Pig 2, Goldisocks, Gretel] and Armagh’s very own Eoin Mallon [Prince Chopper, Pig 3, Hansel].

Also getting into the Christmas spirit at the launch was Jacqueline McGonigle from ‘whatsonni.com’ who are generously sponsoring this year’s production.

The 2015 Christmas pantomime promises to be a magical, fun-filled adventure and is presented by a fabulous cast of characters, and bursting with catchy songs, loads of audience participation and plenty of bite! All the better to entertain you with! What’s happened to Grandma? Why has she got that big toothy grin, why has she stopped cutting her nails and why has her bed shrunk… or is it really Grandma at all?

Families and children will get right up close to all the action with loads of chances to cheer on Little Red Riding Hood, her friends The Three Little Pigs, and Boo the big and very bad wolf.

Traditional panto at it’s very best, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ promises an unforgettably festive experience coupled with The Market Place Theatre’s renowned reputation for high quality, professional pantomimes that are acclaimed as among the best in Ireland. We recommend this production for children aged 5 to 95!

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ will run at The Market Place Theatre, Armagh from Fri 4^th to Sun 20^th December. There will be 20 public performances of the show and these are available at www.marketplacearmagh.com, from the venue or through the Box Office on 028 3752 1821. Ticket prices for the pantomime range from £10.00 – £14.00. BSL Signed Panto Performance – Sat 12 Dec at 5.00pm | Captioned Panto Performance – Thurs 17 Dec at 6.30pm

Stay After The Show

The Market Place Theatre has enhanced this year’s pantomime experience. Audiences can stay after the show and enjoy our festivities including a visit to Gingerbread Alley, come in Fancy Dress and take your photo in our magical Winter Wonderland [with a chance to win prizes for any submitted photos], and audiences might even meet a cast member up close and personal!

The Market Place Theatre Bar & Bistro will have panto-themed menus for families and 1 adult and 1 child eatrs for only £10.00. Full menu on the theatre website.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (October 5-11).

• Towpath Cycle Safari, Newry Canal Towpath, Newry, Co. Down, October 6. Enjoy a leisurely cycle along the traffic free canal towpath with stops along the way to learn a little of the history and heritage of this unique waterway. All equipment including the bike, is provided free of charge under the Southern Health Trust’s ‘Cycling for Health’ programme.

• Fermanagh Walking Festival, Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, October 10. This family walk will be held in various locations in the Marble Arch Nature Reserve. You will be able to meet some real-life cavers, search for fossils, identify plants and mosses, discover tree trunk inhabitants and much more.

• National Poetry Day, Armagh Public Library, Armagh, Co. Armagh, October 8. The City Chapter in association with the John Hewitt Society invites you to celebrate the annual mass celebration of poetry and all things poetical with poets Ruth Carr and Frank Ormsby on Thursday October 8 at 7.30pm.

• Open Air Cinema, Banbridge Civic Offices, Banbridge, Co. Down, October 9. You don’t need to go to infinity and beyond for a great cinema experience as Solitude Park will be just the ticket when Woody and Buzz take to the silver screen with a fantastic free outdoor showing of the family favourite, Toy Story. Film begins at 7pm.

• Dance Around the World, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, October 10. Let the orchestra sweep you off your feet with a tuneful evening of lively music in this special concert, ‘Dance Around the World’. You will enjoy The Blue Danube by Strauss, Riverdance, a Slavonic Dance by Dvorak, Invitation to the Dance by Berlioz and the beautiful Bolero by Ravel and much more. Begins at 7.45pm.

• Titanic Taster Tour – Photography, Titanic Foundation, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, October 10. Become a Titanic inspired photographer for the day by learning tips and techniques while exploring Titanic Quarter’s Maritime heritage. Stops include an exclusive opportunity to go inside the H&W Drawing Offices to capture some remarkable photos of the building in its current state before it begins its restoration and transformation. The next stop gives you a chance to climb on-board and explore Titanic’s ‘little sister’ SS Nomadic – tender to the Titanic and the last remaining White Star Line Ship in the world.

• The Night Alive, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, October 9-31. Set in Dublin, The Night Alive tells the story of Tommy – a middle-aged man who is just about getting by. He’s renting a run-down room in his uncle Maurice’s house, keeping his ex-wife and kids at arm’s length and rolling from one get-rich-quick scheme to the other with his pal Doc. Shows are on Tuesday to Saturday 7.45pm / Saturday and Sunday 2.30pm.

• Commedia of Errors Presents: The Táin, Riverside Theatre, Ulster University, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, October 9. One of Ireland’s greatest tales has been brought to life in this new adaptation, turning the classic myth into a feast of sword play, buffoonery and slapstick. Fresh from its debut at the international Theatre Festival in Milan. Cú Chulainn, the hero of Ulster, stands alone against the might of the forces of Connacht. A hero at his finest, but also the worst, in this comedic, pantomime adaptation by Belfast’s own Benjamin Gould. Show begins at 8pm.

• Ssh! We have a Plan, Alley Theatre, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, October 8. Based on the Chris Haughton book of the same title, this delightful and poignant tale follows the journey of some madcap characters each of whom has a plan; they all want to capture a beautiful bird perched high in a tree! Sounds simple, but the quest becomes an obsession and the obsession becomes the absurd!  Suitable for ages 4+. Show begins at 1.15pm.

• Ulster Bank Belfast International Arts Festival, Various locations, NI, October 9 – November 1.The Ulster Bank Belfast International Arts Festival returns with a world class programme of theatre, performance art, moving image, visual art, dance and music. The new international festival will reflect both the changing city and the continuing evolution of creative practice from around the world and will feature artists and performers from across the globe, bringing everything Belfast audiences have come to expect in recent years from the Festival and more.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Renowned Chilean Winemaker visits Belfast for Exclusive
Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Wine Dinner

Northern Ireland sommeliers, bar owners and restaurateurs were given a true taste of Chile at a special event hosted by NI drinks company, Dillon Bass this week.

At the exclusive event hosted by Dillon Bass at Berts Jazz Bar, leading local wine connoisseurs were given the opportunity to experience first-hand the world class portfolio of wines from Concha Y Toro – the largest wine producer in Latin America.

Guided through an award-winning selection of vintages of Concha Y Toro’s highly acclaimed ultra-premium icon wine, Don Melchor by renowned winemaker, Enrique Tirado, guests also enjoyed elegant cuisine prepared by chef, Michael Weber from Bert’s Bar at The Merchant Hotel, created especially for the occasion.

Concha Y Toro’s acclaimed Don Melchor cabernet sauvignon is one of the world’s most celebrated and awarded wines and was recently named as the only Chilean wine amongst the world’s top 10 wines, according to prestigious magazine, Wine Spectator.

Don Melchor’s outstanding quality comes from the Puente Alto Vineyard, one of the historic vineyards that gave rise to Chile’s long wine tradition. It is located in the Alto Maipo Valley, at the foot of the Andes Mountains.

One of the vineyard’s most important characteristics is that it planted on the Maipo River’s oldest agricultural alluvial terrace, where the soil content is high in minerals, clay, gravel and rounded stones due to the erosion of the glaciers that advanced from the mountains to the valley, dragging material that was later deposited on the terraces and ultimately granting a unique character to Don Melchor.

Speaking to guests at the event, Enrique Tirado said: “Don Melchor’s style, complexity and elegance come from the perfect balance of the rocky soils in Puente Alto, the cold winds from the Andes Mountains, the generous climate of the Alto Maipo Valley, and the thirty years that the vines have taken to produce their finest grapes.”

Liam McBride, sales manager, Dillon Bass added: “We are proud to provide this unique opportunity for leading sommeliers, bar owners and restaurateurs to meet one of the world’s leading winemakers. The Dillon Bass fine wine portfolio has experienced significant growth in recent years and we are increasingly seeing a demand from the hospitality industry for premium choices. Concha Y Toro’s award-winning Don Melchor is the Holy Grail of Chilean wines, with a cult following around the world. We’re honoured to be the exclusive distributor of this wine in Northern Ireland.”

Concha Y Toro Don Melchor wine is distributed by Dillon Bass in Northern Ireland.  For further information on Dillon Bass’ premium wine portfolio and stockists of Don Melchor, contact Liam McBride at Dillon Bass on 028 9038 2233.

Bring along your youngest scientists for W5’s Little Sparks ‘Music and Rhythm’ toddler session on Wednesday 7 October!

Visit our under 8s area, the town of Discovery, and take part in a 25 minute Music and Rhythm workshop as part of your visit. Children are born natural scientists so why not bring them to W5 to let them imagine, explore, play and have fun? The town of Discovery is a place where children can learn about themselves and the world around them. Get hands-on with its interactive exhibits, play animal sounds in the farmyard, paddle in a virtual rock pool at the beach or flick through digital storybooks in the castle.

The 25 minute workshop aims to inspire your budding Beethoven’s to shake, rattle and roll their way through our musical extravaganza. Let the Little Sparks discover sound and rhythm through games, play and noisy fun!

Little Sparks toddler sessions will be held one morning a month in W5. Your special Little Sparks ticket allows you entry into W5 from 10 am – 11:30am and sessions are aimed at children aged between 18 months and 4 years. Each session will be themed and will include a 25 minute workshop at 11am with one of W5’s education team. Places are limited and must be pre booked by calling 028 90467790 or 02890467793.

Costs:

• Children 4 and under: FREE
• Adults: £5.50
• Additional (non-participating) children over 4: £4.50

For further information and to view all upcoming Little Sparks workshops, visit: http://bit.ly/1LQ7M6v.

There are some decidedly ghostly goings-on at W5 this October…

Are you and your family brave enough to investigate the creepy mansion known as Monster Manor?

If the rumours surrounding this old place are true you will encounter singing pumpkins, dancing skeletons, floating ghosts, paintings which transform before your very eyes and all manner of mysterious monsters!

It’s really spooky, a little bit scary and a whole lot of fun. So this October why not bring your family along and discover the secrets of Monster Manor for yourselves? We dare you!

With over 250 interactive exhibits including the ALL NEW technological marvel that is ‘RoboThespian’, W5’s BIGGEST EVER exhibit ‘Climbit’, ‘Discovery‘ a special exhibition area for the under eights, autumn events and science demonstration shows throughout the day, a trip to W5 is really a fantastic day out! And don’t forget all special events are FREE with your admission!

Monster Manor is open Saturdays and Sundays from 3 Oct – 25 Oct and daily from Monday 26 – Sunday 1 Nov. For further information and opening times please visit www.w5online.co.uk.

Northern Ireland has a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for the perfect short break and Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

• One Great Autumn Night, Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor. From £69.50pps. We have put together all the ingredients for one great night! Complimentary hot port on arrival, upgrade to an executive room (subject to availability) dinner in the fashionable Coq and Bull Brasserie, followed by a wonderful nights’ sleep and an expertly prepared breakfast in the morning. Available until Dec 13.  To book call (028) 9185 2500. Please quote promo code: Autumn Leaves, when booking.

• Rest and Relax, Marine Hotel Ballycastle, Ballycastle. From £89pps. Enjoy 2 Nights Bed and full Breakfast throughout September and October plus a delicious 4 course evening meal served in Marconi’s Bistro. Marconi’s Bar also has Free Entertainment on throughout the weekend.  Free WIFI and Free Parking. £89pps Mid-week (Sun-Thurs) and £109pps Weekend (Fri & Sat).  Available until Oct 31. To book call (028) 2076 2222.

• Date Night, Best Western plus White Horse Hotel, Londonderry~Derry. From £60pps. One Night’s Bed and Breakfast with a romantic 4 course evening meal in 68 Clooney Restaurant. Also included is a nibble plate and bottle of sparkling wine on arrival with breakfast in bed the following morning.  Available until Sep 30.  To book call (028) 7186 0606.

Teachers, join W5 for a FREE family day at W5 (2 adults and 2 children)* on Saturday 3rd October 2015!

Come along and see what W5 can offer your school. Discover our extensive programme of workshops and events, view resources, meet the staff and join one of our teacher focus groups to ensure W5’s education programme is meeting the needs of your pupils

To book your place on the education open day please contact educationqueries@w5online.co.uk with the following details:

Name:

School:

School Address:

Type of school (e.g. primary/post-primary):

Subject taught (post-primary/FE only):

Contact telephone number:

*Terms and conditions:

Family pass may only be used on Sat 3rd October 2015

Tickets are non-transferable

Teachers are required to attend one 20minute information session

Passes are limited to two per school.