Movies, chats and of course, brunch: the weekend starts now

Is it just us, or does it definitely feel like there’s a hint of spring in the air? We are so ready for evenings in the garden, outdoor cinema screenings and everything summer. But it is still only February, so these will do in the meantime. Happy weekend from IMAGE!

On Friday: Get some info at Consent Fest at the Grand Social

Image: Consent Fest

If you fancy spending your Friday evening listening to some unreal speakers, music and doing it all for a good cause, then this is your place to go. Consent Fest, taking place tonight at 7:30 pm in the Grand Social, “aims to ensure that the issue of consent remains at the forefront of political and social discussion and to broaden the conversation around consent and the impact within communities.” And with speakers (through poetry) like Emmet Kirwan and Una Mullally, DJ sets from Aine Molloy and Michael Pope and live street art and music, this ensure to do just that, in what looks to be a really fun and accessible way. A worthwhile way to spend an evening, especially with tickets at just a tenner.

All weekend: Go to the flicks at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival

Having become one of Ireland’s premier arts events of the year, the Virgin Media International Film Festival has returned to the capital and we can’t wait for some of the events. Featuring plenty of film screenings from international artists (both short and feature length), the festival also incorporates lots of different facets of the movie industry, including costume (check out the In the Name of the Costume exhibition at the Powerscourt Centre and the Lighthouse cinema), photography, and screenwriting (have a look at Screenwriters in Conversation at the Central Library next week). An absolute must-see for film lovers.

On Sunday: Get your brunch fix at the new Avoca in Ballsbridge

Sundays, and especially Sundays in spring, are made by a good brunch — and I’m sure we can all agree that Avoca does one of the best. They unveiled their 13th store this week in Dublin’s Ballsbridge, with all the Avoca foodie goodness that we know and love. Expect a cheese and charcuterie counter, a Parisian-style patisserie, and the AVOCA Butcher with meats from the country’s best artisan, organic and free-range meat producers. We’re already buzzing for Sunday morning.

On Sunday: Get some new (old) threads at the Sustainable Fashion Dublin’s Swap Shop

If you’ve been looking for ways to get more sustainable this year about how you shop (but still want very cool clothes in the process), you’re in luck — the girls at Sustainable Fashion Dublin are constantly putting on unreal events in the city centre around sustainable shopping and fashion, including workshops, charity shop crawls and, this week, swap shops. The idea is simple — bring along up to five pieces of clothing that you want to get rid of (only clean, undamaged items, obviously) and swap them with other like-minded fashionistas. Also includes great tunes and refreshments to sustain your sustainable shopping. Better hurry though — these events sell out pretty quick!