The Wine Rack and Robert Neill Wine Spring Portfolio Tasting

The Wine Rack began life in August 2005, when Michael Mulgrew decided to turn a life’s passion into a career. From the start, he strived to do things differently by buying directly from small producers that he has built a relationship with for the last 20 years.

Venue:        

Rita Duffy Suite, The Merchant Hotel, 35-39 Waring Street, Belfast BT1 2DY, Northern Ireland

 Date:        Thursday 30th April, 2026

Session     1 – 4pm to 6pm

Session     2 – 6.30pm to 8.30pm

On Thursday 30th April over 60 of the exclusive wines from The Wine Rack and Robert Neill Wine will be available to taste at the Rita Duffy Suite in The Merchant Hotel, Belfast. They will be showing wines from some of their favourite producers from France, Italy and Spain as well as some great up and coming regions from the world of wine. Producers will include Albert Bichot from Burgundy, Le Morette from Lugana, Bellevue Estate from Stellenbosch, Roebuck Estate from Sussex and many more. This is a must attend event for anyone who enjoys wine with a rare opportunity to try so many amazing wines from across the world.

Tickets are now on sale price €35.95  (including admin fee) 

To book CLICK HERE

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A Playful City: How Community Led Design Is Transforming Urban Spaces for Everyone

What if the key to better cities wasn’t more infrastructure or smarter tech, but something much simpler, such as play? Dublin-based, not-for-profit organisation, A Playful City, is built on this idea to transform public spaces into inclusive, engaging environments shaped by the people who use them. Its mission is to make cities “fair and fun for everyone,” using community-led design to bring residents, especially children, into the heart of urban planning. In doing so, it challenges the mindset that public spaces are merely functional, and instead, reimagines them as places of connection, creativity, and belonging.

Through initiatives like Playful Streets, where roads are temporarily closed to traffic and opened for community use, A Playful City demonstrates how small, low-cost interventions can have a powerful impact. These moments invite neighbours to reconnect, children to play freely, and communities to reclaim ownership of their environment.

At its core, A Playful City is about more than play, it’s about equality, wellbeing, and human-centred design. Its work highlights that when cities are designed with play in mind, they become better for everyone. In a time of rapid urban change, it offers a convincing reminder that vibrant, inclusive cities aren’t just built through policy and planning, but through joy, imagination, and the simple act of bringing people together.

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Six exclusive seasonal fragrances that warm the skin

Vibrant citrus fruits, textured musks, amber woods, sophisticated gourmand accords: six confidential perfumes, between intensity and restraint, sketch a luminous season and leave a soft and enveloping warmth on the skin.

A textured bergamot fragrance by Essential Parfums

This nectar, a new interpretation of Nice Bergamote by Antoine Maisondieu , is distinguished by its concentration and depth. The Calabrian bergamot reveals a unique texture, a blend of vibrant bursts and delicately candied accents. From the very first spritz, the citrus fruit, with its pristine luminosity, softens, carried by the roundness of bitter orange. Ylang-ylang and jasmine sambac absolute then diffuse a sunny, almost narcotic accord with fruity nuances. At the base, the woody chypre trail, combining cedar and patchouli, is enveloped in vanilla notes, tonka bean, and amber sugar, for a warm and profoundly addictive impression.

“Nice Bergamot Extrait by Antoine Maisondieu”, perfume extract, ESSENTIAL PARFUMS. 30 ml, €98. Available at  www.essentialparfums.com

Olive, a perfume ingredient at L’Objet

Delphes, the second fragrance created by master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena for L’Objet , captures a sun-drenched, verdant Mediterranean that showcases a unique and singular ingredient: olive pomace absolute (obtained from the complete pressing of the branches, leaves, and fruit of the olive tree). Around this warm, green, woody heart, underpinned by notes of cedar and patchouli, vibrant, aromatic, and luminous top notes of black pepper and violet leaf emerge. In the base, sandalwood and oakmoss reveal a soft, enveloping warmth. A fragrance that is at once raw, luminous, and textured.

“Delphes”, eau de parfum, L’OBJET. 100 ml, €220. Available at www.noseparis.com

Floral and fruity burst by Ex Nihilo

Signed by Louise Turner , Lust In Paradise reinvents itself as a perfume extract  and joins the Quintessence collection. A more intense interpretation that exalts its vibrant and woody facets while preserving its musky floral signature, thus gaining depth and longevity. The opening, both spicy and luminous, combines pink pepper, red ginger, and delicate rosy nuances. The heart then reveals a fruity-floral bouquet where blackcurrant, jasmine sambac, and a velvety facet unfold. In the base, woody, amber, and musky accords diffuse an enveloping and refined warmth.

“Lust In Paradise”, perfume extract, Quintessence collection, EX NIHILO.  390 euros, 100 ml. Available at  www.ex-nihilo-paris.com  or, in Paris, at Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche.

The spirit of Carmen in perfume at Trudon

The Carmen fragrance reinvents the scent of the iconic Ernesto candle, conceived here as a skin fragrance. Tobacco, the signature note of the original composition, tinged with rum, gains depth and elegance. The leather accord softens, becoming more supple and sensual. At the top, bergamot and grapefruit infuse a vibrant freshness with subtly metallic accents, creating a delicate contrast with the warm, tobacco-like heart. At the base, woods and resins (patchouli, labdanum, Ambroxan…) prolong the fragrance’s trail and create a freely embraced sensuality, like the heroine of Georges Bizet’s opera.

“Carmen”, perfume, TRUDON. A collection available in 100ml perfume, €210, and 15ml, €42. Also available as a perfumed hand soap, 350ml, €85, and a refill, €52. 

A nocturnal treat by Brume Orpin

Brume Orpin unveils Odenui Extrait, a more intense and profound reinterpretation of the original fragrance, playing on contrasting textures: sweet warmth, narcotic floral notes, and amber depths. The top notes feature a honey-almond accord with delicately spiced, milky accents, evolving into an opulent and sensual floral heart built around an “illusion” of tuberose, supported by jasmine, rose, and labdanum. The rich and particularly enveloping base blends vanilla and amber notes. Remaining true to its commitment to responsible formulation, the house affirms its high standards through careful control of allergens and a rigorous selection of raw materials.

“Odenui Extrait”, perfume extract, BRUME ORPIN. 80 ml, €285. Available at  www.brume-orpin.com

Maison Crivelli imagines a musky escape

Following Les Évasions Olfactives dedicated to  ouds ,  Maison Crivelli launches a new collection devoted to musks with Musc Nurāsana. The composition opens with the vibrant radiance of bergamot, traversed by a sparkling ginger and enhanced by cardamom absolute. At its heart, incense unfolds with a dry, resinous structure, contrasting with a mineral rose. Gradually, the musk reveals itself, enveloped by the honeyed warmth of tonka bean and the depth of cistus, ultimately leaving a textured, luminous, and persistent trail.

“Musc Nurāsana”, perfume extract, Musc Olfactory Escapes collection. MAISON CRIVELLI. 350 euros, 100 ml. Available at  www.maisoncrivelli.com .

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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

J.Crew’s collaboration with State of Cotton NYC has some really lovely pieces, including this structured sweater blazer. If you’re someone who is sensitive to wool or cashmere, this is a great brand to check out for 100% cotton knits.

I’m a little bummed that it’s not as size-inclusive as the rest of J.Crew’s offerings, but hopefully there’s more to come. 

The blazer is $595 at J.Crew and comes in sizes XS-XL. It’s also available in ivory. 

Sales of note for 4/24:

• Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event, 30% off your purchase PLUS $50 off $100! Readers love this popover blouse, and their suiting is also in the sale.
• Boden – 15% off new styles
• Brooklinen – 25% off sitewide — we have and love these sateen sheets
• Evereve – Now through Sunday: up to 70% off! Markdowns include Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
• Express – $39+ Summer Styles
• J.Crew – Friends & Family Event, 30% off your purchase! Good deals on blazers and boots
• J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything, extra 50% off clearance, and extra 20% off $125+
• Lands’ End – 50% off full price styles and 60% off all clearance and sale – lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
• Loft – Friends & Family event, 40% off entire purchase + extra 15% off + free shipping
• M.M.LaFleur – This weekend only, save 25% on dresses. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
• Nordstrom – 1500+ new women’s markdowns
• Sephora – Up to 50% off hair deals today only – includes Shark Beauty tools! (See our recent discussion on how to upgrade the Revlon brush.)
• Talbots – Friends & Family event, 30% off entire purchase – today only, free shipping, no minimum
• TOCCIN – Use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off!
• Vivrelle – Looking to own less stuff but still try trends? Use code CORPORETTE for a free month, and borrow high-end designer clothes and bags!

A warm cup of coffee, a good breakfast, and extra time at home with the girls is still my favorite way to start Mother’s Day. This year, though, I’m leaning in and stretching that slow morning into something that feels like a full reset.

It starts small. Soft cashmere socks or slippers, a lightweight robe, an ice roller kept in the freezer. I’ve also been keeping a few skincare essentials nearby, like sheet masks and a richer face mask, for mornings when there’s time to actually use them.

From there, it moves into the kitchen. A fresh kettle, good tea, and a few small details like a set of colorful mugs or a tin you actually want to leave out make it feel more like a ritual than just part of the routine.

There are also pieces that carry through the rest of the day. Easy pajamas, slippers, a candle going in the background, and small extras like a claw clip or body oil that feel like everyday luxuries.

All under $100, and all things you’ll actually reach for, especially on the mornings you want to slow down.