February arrives and the bleak month of January is nothing buy a memory. So what’s worth seeing this week? There’s the Chinese New Year Festival around Dublin, as well as the list below, this includes lectures, movies and ‘A Taste of China‘ which sounds very enticing.

Art –Alice Maher‘s show at IMMA (Earlsfort Terrace) is really impressive (until Feb 27th). Kathy Moran’s exhibition starts at the Douglas Hyde (8th Feb until March 28th). ‘In the world I live‘  (Irish artist Lawrence Carroll – until 10th Feb) and  Stepping Into the Light (Group show including Pat Scott until 24th Feb) continues at the Hugh Lane. Blackshaw at 80 (A complete legend in my book!) and Justin Larkin Scenery continue at the RHA until Feb 24th. There’s also a Richter and Polka exhibition, that has to be seen! The sketchbooks of Jack B Yeats are at the National Gallery until May. Showcase Select is at the Gallery of Photography until Feb 10th.

Private Galleries: Bono’s mate Gugi is at the Kerlin (until the 23rd Feb). Jessica Sturgess (Sculptor)  is at the Oliver Sears until 28th Feb. The Black Church Print Studio show ‘Repitition‘ is at the Cross Gallery (until Jan 31st). The Kevin Kavanagh Gallery is showing Elaine Byrne. Janus is at the Peppercanister Gallery.

Theatre – Bedroom Farce starts at the Gate. Mercury Fur is at Smock Alley from today until the 9th of Feb, expect our review tomorrow! Previews for King Lear start at the Abbey Theatre. Focal Point starts at the Project Arts Centre.  Talk Radio is at the New Theatre.

Movies –  The Year of the Snake is a festival of Chinese films, celebrating the Chinese new years, at the Lighthouse! Part 2 of their Genius of Hitchcock part three kicks off, with the 39 steps today! There’s also Secret Agent and Young and Innocent.  Film Fatale is at the Sugar Club with Singing in the rain. The Workmans Club is showing Leon on Tuesday free!

Gigs – A few good ones in town this week with two helpings of Conor Oberest (By himself in the NCH and with his band Desparecidos in the Button Factory. Dan Deacon is unmissable as ever. See the line up below…