The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo casts its heroine

Its the news we've all been waiting for. Would it be Natalie, Ellen, Emma, Scarlet? Turns out they didn't have a chance. Sony announced today that Rooney Mara will take on the role of Lisbeth Salander, in the upcoming trilogy. Mara will join Daniel Craig, who is slated to play Mickel Blomkvist, in the US film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's thrilling books. As a massive fan of the books, I hope the newest addition to the film can carry Lisbeth over onto the big screen.

CONAN REIGNS SUPREME!

Jay Leno, you may have stolen the Tonight Show back from America's favorite redhead but at the end of the day the laugh is on you. Conan O'Brien, the king of everything funny in the world, scored an Emmy nomination today for best variety series. Conspicuously absent from that category? One Jay Leno. It just goes to show that being a cheater doesn't always mean that you win in the long run.

Look out for Conan's new late night show on TBS starting this fall. And Conan, if you are reading this now, I have just one question for you: how did you achieve such a stunning hairstyle?

Spinning the Globe: where to visit in Ireland

In July, I will have the chance to be in Ireland for a few days. I've been pouring over travel books, blogs, and of course Irish America's April/May 2010 Top 100: People, Places and Pleasures issue for the best places to go. I know I will have one day when I can travel (by bus, train, car) out of Dublin to one of the counties. I have no idea which one to choose! So I'm writing this blog post in hopes that some of you that have visited Ireland more frequently than I (I've only been once) can post their favorite destinations in Ireland. Thanks everyone!

The Irish at the Newport Beach Film Festival

Today the Newport Beach Film Festival kicks off its Irish Spotlight. As a huge fan of Irish films, I was interested to learn that t first film to be screened is "A Shine of Rainbows" starring Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielson. Based on a novel by Lillian Beckwith, the film tells the story of an orphan whose life is transformed by an extraordinary woman who teaches him to conquer grief and discover magic in nature and himself. Other films include "Ondine", starring Colin Farrell and "Atlantic", directed by Conor Ferguson and starring Liam Cunningham.

Although I haven't heard much about this film or read the book, I'm excited to see that it is getting coverage as one of the 400 films being screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Now in its 11th year, the Newport Beach Film Festival is one of the leading film festivals in the United States.

After checking out the film, don't forget to stop by Muldoon's Irish Pub for an Irish celebration filled with food, music, and craic.

If you're in Southern California, don't miss this special event. Tickets to the screening are $12.00 and $20.00 if you choose (and you should) to attend the party afterwards.

For more information about the Newport Beach Film Festival, visit their website.

Maeve Binchy books made me fall in love with Ireland

Today is one of those days when England, my second home where most of my family lives, is on my mind. While this does make me want to jump on a plane (volcanic ash be damned) and spend time with my cousins, it also brings up a rather interesting memory that I only recently dug up from the recesses of my mind (being a history major in college means that anything that doesn't involved history is pushed into the back of your brain to make room for the names of every major general involved in the Battle of Gettysburg). It seems I've finally remembered when I truly fell in love with Ireland.

I'm known for being a rather long storyteller so you may want to grab a cup of coffee or a doughnut before continuing to read.

My love of Ireland blossomed out of sheer boredom. It sounds terrible, I know, but its the truth. And isn't this blogging all about telling the world the truth?

I had just arrived at my grandma's house at the age of 15 after spending two weeks helping my cousin take care of her newborn baby. It was a wonderful, and as anyone who has ever taken care of a newborn for an extended period of time knows exhausting, experience and I had arrived at my grandma's to rest and spend a few days in London with the rest of my family. This turned out to not be the case. Instead, I was too tired to spend the entire day shopping in London at Harrods (shocking I know) and a bit too cranky to deal with everyone's queries as to when I was planning on becoming a doctor.

So I retreated to the quietest place I knew, the library across the street from my grandma's in Bexleyheath (a tiny little town in Southeast London). When I was younger, I thought the library was absolutely massive but looking back it must have been quite small. I wandered around for awhile, looking for an interesting book to read. That's when it happened. My eyes landed on Maeve Binchy's Copper Beech. I had grown up seeing Maeve Binchy's name on the books that my mom read but had never read one myself. They seemed too grown up and not nearly as interesting as whatever I was reading when I was 15 (Harry Potter maybe?). But it was the only name that was familiar to me and so I picked it up, used the library card stating that I was 85 years old, and walked across the street and back into my grandma's house.

I loved it from the very first page. Its a hard feeling to describe but one that I feel other Maeve Binchy readers would understand. You fell in love not just with the characters, but with the whole story, the atmosphere, and most of all Ireland.

I quickly finished Copper Beech and found that I was facing a six hour plane journey with no books. And I couldn't very well steal a book from the library-my mother is a librarian and that is considered a mortal sin in our household. I was lucky enough to find Light a Penny Candle at the airport bookstore. It went on to become by favorite work by Maeve Binchy-I still cry each time I read the passage where Elizabeth returns to Ireland and sees Aunt Eileen for the first time. The copy is now so worn from countless readings but I would never buy another copy. I've spent countless hours since then devouring each of Maeve Binchy's books right up to Heart and Soul, which was released last year. Some of her newer books have taken place in modern day Ireland and though I've loved them, I enjoy the older ones the most. They evoke the Ireland that I grew to love, small towns with intrigue and gossip, but also camaraderie and faith in dark times. I could pick up any book, turn to a page, and just start reading. I don't think there are many books out there that have that power (that is, of course, implying that books have power).

This may not be the reality in Ireland today but its what I looked for when I traveled to Ireland in 2004. I visited Dun Laoghaire, the setting of books such as Circle of Friends, and Co Wicklow, where characters like Cathy from Scarlet Feather went for romantic weekends. And it was like how I imagined it, even with modern advancements. I owe the beginnings of my Irish education to Maeve Binchy. She set the foundation for my knowledge and I carried that with me through my Irish Studies minor at NYU and currently with my job at Irish America magazine. Often I know the answer to a random Irish fact because I read it in one of the novels.

So there you have it. That's how this half Indian, half English, American born girl fell in love with Ireland.

Coco is back!

This just in: Conan is back! According to CNN, a press release was sent out by TBS announcing that Conan's new late night show will debuting in November. Conan also announced it on his twitter account. I think I speak for all Conan fans when I say thank god that tall gangly red headed bombshell is back.

Why did it take the world so long to notice Phoebe Prince?

I've been following the story of Phoebe Prince, the 15 year old South Hadley by way of Co Clare teen who committed suicide on January 14th since the news appeared in the Irish Voice. Given that Irish America magazine shares the same office as the Voice, I've listened as my coworkers expressed shock, sadness, and anger about the the devastating fate of Phoebe.

Up until the last few weeks, when the news that nine of her classmates were facing criminal charges, I did not realize that this heartbreaking story had also caught the attention of the mainstream media. I opened the New York Times one morning to find an article about Phoebe's suicide and the subsequent charges against her classmates. I was asked by a family member if I had heard about the girl from Massachusetts who had hung herself after being bullied. Its been nearly three months since Phoebe took her own life and yet the rest of the world is only hearing about it now. We all know that bullying takes place in schools, many of us have watched it happen or experienced it first hand. Schools run seminars for teachers and students on how to deal with bullying. Students are encouraged to tell teachers if they are being picked on. Teachers and parents are trained to look out for signs of bullying.

And yet all of this failed. In the end, all the plans put into place to protect children were not implemented. Some stories say that school officials saw Phoebe being tormented on the day of her death and did nothing. Her mother expressed concern over the threats towards her daughter. Phoebe cried outside of classrooms and told others of the harassment.

Blame is being placed everywhere: on school officials, the students, the internet, texting, and even on Phoebe herself. Blaming Phoebe will solve nothing. It will only allow for bullying to continue and more children to fall prey to bullies.

I don't think there is a clear solution. If the school is reprimanded and the students are found guilty, will that really stop the bullying trend? It might stem the tide for a bit but new methods will arise and the trend will continue. How many of us can remember the countless names of other victims of bullying, abuse, and rape? Their names, along with the anger people felt about their untimely deaths, fade away and are replaced with the latest pop star news. If we let what happened to Phoebe fade away then we will only be facing a similar story in the future.

Just Dance: Riverdance's Final Shows

I did something a bit different for St. Patrick's Day this year. Instead of going out with friends all day, I went to see one of Riverdance's final shows at Radio City Music Hall. I was unsure of my choice at first-while all my friends were out, I would be sitting in a crowded theater hall with a bunch of random people by myself (I only had one ticket). But I had always wanted to see Riverdance and this was my only chance. And I'm so glad that I saw it.

Radio City Music Hall was packed with people, from young girls dressed in their own Irish step outfits to people fresh from the St. Paddy's Day parade. Needless to say, green was everywhere.

The show was amazing. I knew of the famous dance sequence from watching it in my Introduction to Celtic Music class through the Irish Studies department at NYU. Nothing compares to seeing it live. Since this was the opening night, the audience was excited and so was the cast. Their excitement was evident and brought the crowd to their feet. My favorite numbers were thunderstorm, riverdance, and trading taps. If you can somehow find trading taps on youtube, it will absolutely amaze you!

Yet nothing beats the dancing. Some of the dances incorporated the dancing techniques from other countries, including a flamenco dancer and Russian acrobats (anyone who has seen the show can probably describe this with a bit more artistry than I can), but each routine evolved into the typical Irish step dance.

While I know that people are upset that this is their farewell tour, all I can say is that they saved the best for last. It is truly an unforgettable experience!

Irish Irish Everywhere

With six days left before St. Paddy's day, it seems some people have decided to start celebrating early. And I'm not talking about all those crazy (i.e. incredibly smart and lucky) people who have started off the holiday season with pub crawls in various cities last Saturday. Tonight's episode of The Office featured a hilarious homage to St. Paddy's day including Irish accents, green outfits, a kilt, and an Irish jig. Enjoy!

The Script: A bright spot on a snowy day:

It is snowing in New York City. And not the nice pretty snow but the wet, slushy, cold snow. This weather can make for a long day at the office. But one thing that has definitely helped the day pass by is my recent discovery of the band The Script. They are so great! I know I might be a bit behind when it comes to music discoveries but I plan on going home and downloading all their music, especially Breakeven, which when I played it caused one of my coworkers to shout "Oh my god is that the Script? I love them!". Check them out now or if you are already a big the Script fan, let me know your favorite songs so I can listen!

When Zoroastrian Eyes are Smiling ...

Without fail, every times I tell someone where I work and what I do I get the a variation of the same question. "An Irish magazine? Well at least you're working and getting experience"; "How did you end up at an Irish magazine"; and the ultimate "but you're not Irish...".

It's true. I'm not Irish, not even a little bit. I'm 100% Indian, technically Persian if you go back a couple dozen centuries. I'm not Christian, although I celebrate Christmas like its going out of style. I'm Zoroastrian, which is actually the first monotheistic religion upon which Christianity and Judaism were built. And perhaps most damaging of all, my mum was born and raised in London, England. And with my duel citizenship that makes me British.

And yet here I am. With all this working against me (as some might say), I love everything Irish. I have no idea where this love came from. Maybe it came from spending summers and vacations in London and having my cousins take me out to an Irish pub for my first real pint when I was 15 (although technically it was a half-pint and it was shandy but the meaning is the same). Or perhaps it was the Irish presence in one of my favorite books, A Tree Grows in Brookyln, about a young Irish girl growing up in, you guessed it, Brooklyn, that sparked my interest. Or even later, when I was 16, visiting Ireland, searching for the statue of Molly Malone in Dublin.

I don't really think it was one life-changing event. More a culmination of all the forces in the universe coming together to create my Irish obsession (yes I know this sounds very dramatic).

I've decided in my next few blog posts to talk about my rather humorous introduction to the Irish world. All I can say is that my birthday is February 1st, which happens to be St. Brigid's day. If that's not fate I don't know what is.

To be continued ...

O'Brien, Stewart, Colbert: Clash of the comedy titans

An oldie but a goodie (as someone incredibly old would say). I had seen this when it first aired and had forgotten about it until this morning when I was trying to think of a blog post. The 'epic' battle between Conan O'Brien, John Stewart, and Stephen Colbert over who created Mike Huckabee is a bit silly but the three comedic geniuses fighting for their claim to the title is a great laugh.

The Conan O'Brien jig

It started with a hoot of laughter. The morning so far had been
relatively quiet -the daily greetings, the questions about the previous
nights activities, the general office banter. And then we heard the
hoot. Make that plural, the hoots of laughter emitting from Niall
O'Dowd's office. Laughter in our office isn't that unusual, but this
was different. Something incredibly funny was being watched. I craned
my neck to see what it was and caught a glimpse of pale legs
gesticulating wildly.

Niall came out of his office, still laughing, and said something to
the effect of "Conan O'Brien was dancing a jig with Robin Williams."
All my brain heard was Conan and jig. Immediately Amy and I googled
and hulued and youtubed. We couldn't find it until Niall, wanting to
watch it again, directed us to the correct place.

It was hands down one of the funniest things I've ever seen. As my
readers now know, I love Conan. I also love Irish dance. The
combination of the two is basically the best thing in the world. Throw
in Robin Williams and you've got the Trifecta.

It started and ended with a laugh. In fact it hasn't ended yet as I'm
onto my second viewing.

Before you run to watch the video, make sure you check out Irish
America magazine online through Irish Central. We've got some great
articles up right now that you don't want to miss.

Video / See Conan and Robin's Irish jig / Click here

I'll follow my 'Irish boyfriend' Conan O'Brien anywhere

Conan O’Brien seems to be everywhere this week. From the New York Times to the gossip rags to our very own Irishcentral.com, Conan’s uncertain fate is being discussed. After the initial shock of hearing that television funny Irishman might be shunted around (tears welled up in my eyes), I began to search newspapers, magazines, and the Internet for any Conan news. I might even go so far as to call that period of time Conan-watch. Eventually all the news became confusing and disheartening. Would he stay or would he go? Did he have a choice? Would the tall redhead be overtaken by that other guy with the big chin? His fate was in peril. My devotion however, remained steadfast.

Ever since Conan took over the Tonight Show in June, I’ve followed him with the dedication of a crazed fan. As much as I loved Late Night, it was just too late for me to fully enjoy all that Conan had to offer. I often fell asleep before Conan jumped his way onto stage. But come June, everything changed. I began to spend my free nights with the guy I referred to in passing as my new Irish boyfriend. He was dependable. He was never late, was always up for a good laugh, and on the rare nights when he looked less than stellar (his hair has a mind of its own) there was always a cute friend (guest) to watch.

With all that has been going on this past week in Conan’s life and with his recent statement that he will not host Late Night after Leno’s new gig, I’ve chosen to go back to the basics. I’ve been watching funny new clips and classic old interviews. In need of a good laugh? Check out my personal favorite: Conan’s interview with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who just happened to be his first female guest (he refers to her rather awkwardly as ‘his laaady’). And most recently, his interview with Aziz Ansari of NBC’s Parks and Recreation. I’ve been forcing friends to watch it and after they forgive me for forcing them to do something, they laugh so hard they almost cry (some of the tears are of course residual tears from being chained to their computer screen).

Conan’s job status may be in question but for devoted fans like myself, that doesn’t really matter. Whenever and wherever he goes, I will keep watching. Because I love that crazy redheaded guy.