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Life

15th May 2014

Stop, Look, Listen: Tapas Trail, Godzilla and O.R.B.

From a brilliant food and wine tour of Dublin and Cork to the latest and best new movie and music, this week's cultural guide has something for everyone...

JOE

From a brilliant food and wine tour of Dublin and Cork to the latest and best new movie and music, this week’s cultural guide has something for everyone.

Godzilla (123 mins, 12A)

The most iconic movie monster of all time, Godzilla, is crash, bang and walloping its way into cinemas this weekend (Friday 16th May). Prepare to have your socks well and truly blown off, as the beast from below returns to the big screen to wreak all sorts of high-rise havoc. This classic cinematic creature is undoubtedly a terrifying force of nature – a bit like JOE after we’ve had our Friday night vindaloo special.

Gareth Edwards, following on from his super success with the low-budget 2010 film Monsters, has been tasked with taming the gargantuan Godzilla and boy does he do a mighty fine job. Of course, it certainly helps when you’ve assembled an all-star cast consisting of talented thesps such as Bryan ‘Breaking Bad’ Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Ken Watanabe and David Strathairn.

And what about those two lads in the big rubber Godzilla suit!? Impressive stuff.

godzilla5

This sci-fi action epic maybe doesn’t quite live up to the dizzy heights achieved by the terrific teaser trailers that preceded it, but if it’s a bombastic stomp and romp roar-fest you’re after this weekend then this is most certainly the film for you.

Most importantly though, there’s no need to worry, because this latest incarnation is waaaaay better than Roland Emmerich’s 1998 Godzilla movie. That’s right, that’s the one where the movie monster ended up looking like Jay Leno pretending to be a killer chicken.

Here’s a wee scary snippet to help get you in the monster mood…

Campo Viejo Tapas Trail

Now in its fourth year, the Campo Viejo Tapas Trail is about to kick off for summer 2014. And this year it will be held in Dublin between June 4 and 29 and from July 2 to 27 in Cork.

If you have any interest in food, wine or the city then the Tapas Trail really is a must, with four of the best tapas restaurants in the city serving you the finest food and wine on your three-hour tour.

Dublin restaurants participating in the 2014 Campo Viejo Tapas Trail are Drury Buildings, Drury St., The Market Bar, Fade St., Baggots Hutton, South William St., Zaragoza, South William St. Participating Cork restaurants are Arthur Mayne’s, Pembroke St., Electric, South Mall, The Cornstore, Cornmarket St. and Oysters, Lapps Quay.

campo tapas

At each stop you will get some tapas, and a glass of Campo Viejo Reserva too. And in between each stop, the guides will speak to about various aspects of the city, be it street art, the history of the buildings or some of the characters that used to stalk the streets.

For €25, it might be the best value you’ll get for that much food, wine and entertainment and it is great to feel like a tourist in your own city. Plus, they have commissioned some great unique art at each location from illustrator Steve Simpson that is almost worth the price of the ticket on its own.

For further information and to purchase tickets log onto www.campoviejotapastrail.ie

O.R.B. – ‘All We Are

Sean ‘Neddy’ Arkins, Robert Burch and Sean ‘Walshy’ Walsh came together in Dublin in 2011 to officially form what is surely one of Ireland’s most exciting, young, hippenin’, hoppenin’, happenin’ hip hop acts… with a healthy dose of indie acoustic thrown in too; it is, of course, O.R.B. (formerly the Original Rude Boys).

The three very talented lads had actually known each other for many years but, following the success of their first viral single, ‘Stars In My Eyes’, decided to take the music world by storm and were soon playing festivals, gigs and concerts all over Ireland and the UK. A first album, ‘This Life’, was released in 2012 and it has now been followed up by the great ‘All We Are.’

And, although the sun may not be shining outside right now, the second single from their brand new album is most certainly a feel-good Summer anthem. Check out ‘Feel It In Your Soul’, the perfect follow-up to their first release from the same album, ‘Never Gonna Walk Away’…

All We Are’ is available to download on iTunes now or you can purchase it in all good (and evil) music stores.