Dates for the diary

The Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) will be holding a murder mystery dinner entitled ‘Murder in the Thirties’ at the British Club of Bahrain’s Ascot Restaurant on February 18.

Tickets are BD12 per person including a three-course dinner and refreshments for tables of eight players (four male, four female). Tickets are available at the Club in Um Al Hassam and the Thrift Shop on Budaiya Highway. Character info and costume suggestions will be provided.

There are prizes for the winner of the ‘Whodunit’ draw to guess the murderer and for the best costume.

For more information, call 39609714.

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa will host an evening with former football manager Harry Redknapp on February 26, where he will share stories from his colourful career.

Tickets are BD30 each, which includes entry, a gourmet dinner, a prize giveaway and a sports memorabilia auction.

For more information and tickets, visit www.ssmena.com or call 34552161. Comedian Imran Al Aradi is hosting another instalment of his Open Mic Comedy Night at the Polo Gastropub, Palace Boutique Hotel in Adliya.

It will take place on February 18 and will feature special guest comedian Adnan Nalwala.

Awali Ladies Hospitality Group is staging its ‘mega yard sale’ at the Bapco Club in Awali on February 20 from 11am-2pm. All proceeds will go towards a local charity and entry is 500 fils. Tables can be rented for BD10.

For more information, call 39321436 or 39459217.

The Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain unveils its Belgian Week from February 22-29 featuring specialities such as mussels, fries, steak tartar, selected beverages with more available from the a la carte menu.

For more information, call 17460017.

The Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival will be coming to Bahrain for the first time in March. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will join Donald and Goofy, along with 25 of the world’s favourite characters, in what promises to be a fun-filled live theatre experience.

Ticket and timing information will be available soon.

Celebrity speaker and best-selling author Deepak Chopra will host a workshop based on ‘The Future of Well Being’ at the Bahrain Conference Centre, Crowne Plaza on April 11.

For more information, visit www.bihr.com.bs or call 36048699.

Lucky VALENTINE’S Winner

Lucky Elena Shilimanova has a special Valentine’s date lined up with her husband Basem Ali after her entry was first out of the bag in our competition to win dinner for two at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain.

She correctly spelled out the full name of Julio Iglesias’ romantic ballad Begin the Beguine.

“I love this song and I have loved Julio’s music for such a long time,” said Elena. “Winning the prize means I can treat my ‘best husband’ thanks to GulfWeekly.”

Russian Elena and her Bahraini sweetheart Basem will celebrate the occasion at the hotel’s Flamingo Bar & Lounge which is staging a ‘steamy Havana love affair’ which includes a delicious five-course menu with selected beverages, accompanied by live Cuban entertainment featuring international act, Black & White.

Euro Motors is marking the first anniversary of the Land Rover Experience Bahrain, located at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, on February 19.

The dealership will host free sessions for current and prospective clients, who will get a chance to sample the 3.5km of varying terrains such as sand, rock, hill and water landscapes.

There are 32 natural and man-made obstacles on the course, such as slide slopes, humps, rocks, gravel roads and watercourses, all the while getting a chance to assess the driving environment, maximise the capability and technology of the vehicle and develop driving skills in the range of Land Rover models.

For more informational, call 17450000.

The Fourth Al Basta Market will host its final two days on Friday and Saturday. Entry is free from 3pm-9pm at the Bahrain International Circuit. The market, organised by the Southern Governorate, features stalls, live Bahraini bands, farmers and productive family stalls and other activities.

The Crowne Plaza Bahrain Bfit Health Club is staging a Biggest Loser Challenge until May 10. The person who loses the most weight at the end of the four months will win three months free health club membership, a T-shirt and a one night stay-for-two at the hotel, inclusive of breakfast.

For details, contact 17531122.

Excitement is growing this week as organisers revealed more details about acts scheduled to appear during the coming 2016 Spring of Culture.

‘Kan Ya Ma Kan’, by the Caracalla Dance Theatre, will bring a star cast of 75 artists that will blend dance and music from the Orient. They will perform at the Bahrain National Theatre on February 25 at 8pm.

Halit Ergenç, an opera singer from Turkey, will perform at the same venue and time on March 3.

Gregory Porter, an American awarding-winning jazz, soul and blues singer and songwriter who recently claimed his second International Jazz Artist of the Year gong, will perform at 8.30pm at Arad Fort on March 5.

And ‘Kaash - Akram Khan’ brings a five-strong cast of international performers to Arad Fort to build bridges between the worlds of contemporary dance and the Indian classical dance form ‘Kathak’ on March 11, also at 8.30pm.

Tickets prices are to be announced shortly and they will go on sale at noon on February 17 at the Spring of Culture stand at City Centre Bahrain. They will also be available online at www.springofculture.org

A popular television channel is set to entertain mall goers with an Optical Illusion Gallery that will have shoppers either levitating or shrinking.

Seef Mall and regional TV company OSN are bringing the National Geographic Channel HD to life by staging an ‘Entertain Your Brain’ set from its Brain Games series.

Split into four cubicles, the venue situated in the West Wing of the mall, will feature different brain teasers in which visitors will appear to be clinging to furniture in an upside down room, floating in mid-air, serving their heads on a platter or shrinking to fit into a tiny chair.

According to Ahmed Yusuf, Seef Properties managing director, the Optical Illusion Gallery will add an exciting touch of edu-tainment to the array of existing family attractions at the mall.

Mr Yusuf said: “Basically we want to mix the shopping experience with entertainment. This is something that is geared to everybody in the family. They can take pictures together so that they can always remember the experience.”

Each cubicle also features a photo booth for families to snap up some memorabilia and even email the photos to relatives and friends. There is also an attendant at every booth to educate guests and ensure that visitors have a great experience.

Chinese tourists Bask Bao, 25, and John Xiaoru, 28, enjoyed the levitation section. In that room, a chair disappears under an over-sized coat making it appear as though the visitor is floating.

Bao, an account manager, said: “I think it’s very interesting. My friend and I found it both creative and fun and particularly enjoyed the illusions. We like the National Geographic channel.”

That is exactly the experience that the OSN team wanted to deliver.

Yaser Alamoodi, director of marketing-Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for OSN, said: “We wanted to stage something in a public arena where people could actually experience what they see on TV.”

Shoppers can also share their experience on social media by by using the hashtag #OSNNatGeoBrain.

The promotion will continue until February 20.

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Waterpark has announced its Season Pass 2016 offer. This special membership card enhances the park’s offerings, allowing guests to access discounts and special deals. It is available in Silver, Premium and Ladies Night exclusive versions.

Guests with a Season Pass have access to unlimited rides, attractions, entertainment and in-park activities for the entire 2016 season, plus discounts on entry, food and selected merchandise items. In addition, the Premium passes also offers LPOD souvenir tumblers, priority parking, 50 per cent discount on VIP Cabanas and fast-track entry. In addition, they can make use of a ‘bring a friend day’ where each member can choose any day to bring a friend for free.

Pierre Vasseur, general manager of LPOD, said: “The new season passes are something that our guests have asked for and we are pleased to make it happen for them. We believe that our guests, especially those who love to enjoy the waterpark again and again, deserve something more special.

“Due to the high volume of guests that also arrive during our popular Ladies’ Night, for the first time we have also introduced a premium pass that will cater to them. It easily gives them access to the waterpark with all its perks and privileges.”

Available in both single and family versions, the season pass is currently available at an early bird discount offer until Monday – to register and for more information, call 17845100.

The Rotary Club of Manama is staging its annual six-a-side Kick for a Cause football tournament on Friday to raise enough funds to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to assist children and adults suffering from leukaemia.

Fareed Bader, organising committee chairman, hopes to raise BD80,000 for a cytometer which is a laser-based biophysical technology used for cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection and protein engineering that can help with blood cancer diagnosis and treatment.

According to Mr Bader, with the partnership of the Bahrain Cancer Society and sponsors, the community and international service organisation has already collected BD60,000 towards the machine which will be allocated to the oncology centre at Salmaniya Medical Complex.

He said: “Children are so dear to our hearts so let us help them and give them the treatment they deserve. This new technology has proven performance accuracy and high quality results.”

More than 30 teams have signed up for the event to be held at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club which will kick off from 3.30pm. After the matches, visitors will be treated to food and fun as well as the chance to win a variety of prizes donated by companies in a raffle. Frankie & Friends will also provide musical entertainment.

For further details, contact Mr Bader on 17583121 or email Fareedbader@gmail.com

Re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will ring in Chinese New Year with a one-night-only special event that will include a festive prix-fixe menu honouring the Year of the Monkey curated by Executive Chef Brian Becher next Wednesday.

Becher, pictured right, has created a three-course menu that begins with a Whole Jumbo Head-on Prawn, which represents family togetherness. The second course, which represents the five blessings of the New Year including longevity, riches, peace, wisdom and virtue, includes Cumin-Soy Marinated Lamb Chops with a five-vegetable stir-fry. The final course includes Monkey Bread Sticky Cake with tangerine ice cream and was chosen because the pronunciation for the word ‘tangerine’ sounds much like the pronunciation of the word ‘monkey’ in Mandarin.

Prior to dinner, guests will also have the opportunity to indulge in five live-action stations that include delicacies such as Roasted Whole Duckling, Xio Long Bao, Chinese New Year Dumplings Crispy Lamb Belly and Longevity Noodles.

The entire evening is priced at BD29 per person with an additional BD15 per guest for an optional grape pairing.

Until February 23, the restaurant is offering a special five- or seven-course Chinese New Year tasting menu in lieu of regular tasting menus that include Xiao Long Bao, Hunan BBQ Style Lamb Chops, Longevity Noodles and more. The menus are priced at BD35 and BD50. Regular a la carte items will also be available.