Out and About

Wednesday (September 26)

• The 15th Annual Al Ayam Book Fair is being held at the Hall 1 in the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The fair is open daily from 10am to 1pm and from 8pm to 12am till Saturday. For more details contact 17725111.

• The Indian Ladies Association (ILA) is hosting a Ramadan Nite at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant in Adliya. The evening will consist of traditional Arabic cuisine and music. For more information contact 39134027.

Thai artist Nudaeng Yensabai opens her art exhibition today at the Bahrain Arts Society in Budaiya at 8.30pm. For more details contact Shakir Selvikul on 39416959.

  Thursday (September 27)

• A grand celebration to mark Sri Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi’s 54th birthday will be held at the Tathai Mercantile Community Hall in Manama today and tomorrow. The event will be held from 6pm to 9pm on the first day and from 6am to 8.30pm the next day. For more information call on 39722659, 39204779, 39275429 or 39461746.

• A seminar on 'Building Relationships' at the Bahrain Meditation Centre in Adliya from 7pm to 9pm. The evening will explore topics on the foundation, structure and materials needed to build healthy positive relationships. For more information contact 17712545

Friday (September 28)

• A group of Indian artists will perform a comedy play entitled ‘Funny Thing Called Love’ at the Indian Club in Manama.  The cast will include renowned artists including Vijoo Khote, Mangal Kenkre, Atul Parchure, Liladhar Kambli amongst others. The show will begin at 8pm and tickets are priced at BD10 for two. For more information contact Anand Lobo on 39401279 or Nirmala D’Mello on 17250074.

• The Bahrain Sports Disabled Federation is hosting a Girgayan cultural evening at the University of Bahrain’s Sports Hall from 8pm onwards. The event is only for members, volunteers and invited guests. For more information contact 39336575.

Saturday (September 29)

• La Mediterranee at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa is offering a wide range of Middle Eastern specialties as part of its Iftar. Timings are from 5pm to 8pm. Prices are BD13 from Sunday to Wednesday and BD15 from Thursday to Saturday.

Sunday (September 30)

• Artworks in coffee, chocolate, ink, pencil and water colours at the Bashar Art Gallery near the British Club in Adliya. The gallery is open daily from 8.30am to 7pm. Art classes are also held for beginners at the gallery for both adults and children at BD4 per hour. For more information contact on 17727326.

Monday (October 1)

• The YMCA’s Bahrain Counsellors Forum (BCF) is organising a personality development programme called ‘Empower’ for children of all nationalities from class eight to 12 at The New Millenium School in Zinj until October 4. The training will be conducted by a team of professionals from India headed by James Joesph. For more details contact 39402771.

Tuesday (October 2)

• Bahrain’s famed culture club, Elham, will be hosting a list of programmes for its Autumn/Winter sessions starting today. Artist Arthur D’Souza, South African writer Melissa van Maasdyk and award-winning Bahraini poet Hameed Al Qaed will present their skills at the Lina’s Café in the Wind Tower, Diplomatic Area, Manama from 8.30pm. For more information call on 17717 441 or visit www.elhambahrain.com.

One for the Diary:

• An exhibition entitled ‘The Doors to Yemen’ will be presented by notable personalities from Yemen – antique dealer Mohamed Al Thamari and movie director and writer Khadija Al Salami. The exhibition will be held at the La Fontaine Centre in Manama on October 4. For more information call on 17230123 or log on to www.lafontaineartcentre.com.

• Centrepoint Desert Symphony will bring legendary Indian singers K S Chitra and Hariharan to perform at a live musical concert on October 14 at the Pakistan School Open Air Grounds. The duo will be joined by a team of 10 leading musicians performing Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Karnatic, Hindustani, Ghazal and English songs. The concert will be held in aid of the Bahrain Down Syndrome Society. For more information contact 36655356 or 36066022 or email events@synergymiddleeast. com. 

• The Royal Society of St George will host its annual Trafalgar Day Ball at the Grand Ambassador Suite in the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel Residence and Spa in Manama on October 25. Entertainment will be provided by the Bahrain Police Band’s Chamber Orchestra who will play during dinner. A Latin Jazz Ensemble will be set including renditions of salsa, tango and samba for dance enthusiasts. The evening will also see fun interactions with Radio Bahrain DJ and GulfWeekly columnist Krazy Kevin. The event starts at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at BD23 for members and BD27 for non-members. Dress code is black tie or national dress. For more details contact 39726329.

• The Ecumenical Conference of Charity is organising a Benefit Dinner Dance on October 26 at the Dilmun Club in Saar. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the Dilmun Dixielanders and the DJ & MC for the event will be Radio Bahrain’s Krazy Kevin. For passes contact the Cathedral office on 17253866, NEC office at 17254508 or the Bible        Society at 17272249. For more details contact 39870815, 39440319 or 39863792.

• In support of its Sneha Centre for children with special needs, the Indian Ladies Association is planning a major fund raising dance and fashion extravaganza – Universal Utsav 2007 at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa's Grand Ambassador Suite on October 27.

The event will have a creative fusion dance organised by Kalyani Tripurasundari and Mythili Venkataraman.

Fashion and beauty expert Albert Gayo and choreographers from the Victoria Ballet Centre will present a world dance segment. A fashion segment will be presented by well-known fashion designer and choreographer Shamima Noorani. Models interested to audition for the same can contact Annapurna on 39349825.

The ceremony will also feature the launch of ILA's 2007-2008 collection of Sneha greeting cards created with the artwork produced by the Sneha children through ILA's Assisted Art Programme.

For more details contact Florine Mathias on 39134027, Toshi Deora on 39554134, Shiney Koshy on 36715550, Rajani Chowdary on 39214221 or e-mail to ilabahrain@gmail.com.

• The American Women’s Association has announced its 29th annual fall Craft Fair, themed ‘Holiday Festival’, to be held on October 27 in the Palm Hall of the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC). The Mercure Grand Seef Hotel is facilitating this event for the AWA. The fair will be open to public from 1pm to 6pm. Entrance fee is 500 fils. Forms and applications are also available at the Good Life Gallery in Budaiya. Tables are not confirmed without payment.  Deadline for reserving a table is October 15. For more information on the fair contact Betty Niemann on

17754667.

• A musical night – ‘Music Mela’, will be held on November 1 at the Gulf Air Club in Salmabad. The event will showcase the performances of Asian rock band - Roxen, DJ HHH (Triple H) from India and an Indian dance group - Rangla Punjab Bhangra Group. DJ HHH is one of the youngest DJs from Bollywood and has played with renowned artists like Bally Sagoo, Dj Doll, Atif Aslam, Roxen, and Himesh Reshammiya. The Bhangra group will perform a cultural dance and a Live Dhool Performance, much appreciated in the Asian community. Leading Pakistani rock band Roxen will feature Mustafa, Jawad and Omar. The band’s famous tracks include Yaadein and Tau Phir Aao. For free promotional CDs of the band contact now on 36673301 and 36611425. Ticket details and dates will be announced soon.

• The Kerala Catholic Association (KCA) in association with the Soorya - Bahrain chapter is set to stage the Rhythm Nite 2007 on November 30 at the Indian School in Isa Town and will take place on November 30 from 7.30pm. Directed by Soorya Krishnamoorthy, the show will feature contemporary Indian dance and drama theatre troupe – Samudra and seven member music group – Trisakthi. Also performing are playback singers Gayathri, Manoj, Sayanora along with Bharathanatyam performance by Mythili Prakash. Trisakthi group is a seven-member team led by the legendary percussionist Mattannur Sankaran Kutty, considered in some circles as the greatest living exponent of the Chenda and Tayambaka traditional musical instruments. Accompanied by MS Lavanya on saxophone, Attukal Balasubramanium on violin, Jijith on keyboards, Karunamurthy on the tavil, Sasi on the Western drums and Mahesh on the mridangam, the Trisakthi group will be playing a fusion of North and South Indian musical styles coupled with Western styles. The Samudra troupe includes Madhu Gopinath and Vakkom Sajeev, who main dancers, choreographers and leading figures in the contemporary Indian dance theatre of the Samudra Dance Research Centre in Kerala, India. For more information contact 36067799, 39867041, 39470713, the KCA office on 17232109, or

e-mail kcages@gmail.com.

• A Srilankan musical extravaganza is being organised by Jayantha Pathmasiri for the likely second day of Eid, October 14, at the Baan Saeng Thai Restaurant in Adliya. The ‘Eduwapa Gee Supernight 2007’ will feature popular Srilankan artists Anusha Sunali and Susil Fernando. The event will also have a performance by local band, Satsara. For more information on the event and sponsorship deals contact 39155404, 39806856 or 39652479.

Think Pink diary of events

October 8

The American Women’s Association will host a ‘Think Pink’ Breast Cancer Awareness Meeting for its members at 9am at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Manama

October 20

‘Breast Cancer Awareness Day’ at World Beat Fitness, Budaiya.

Half-hour classes in belly dancing, pliates, capoeria, salsa, karate, mat-science and yoga will run throughout the day starting at 10am until 6pm.

The morning will be dedicated to ladies and the afternoon for families

Tickets: BD10 for whole day, all proceeds go to Think Pink. Tel: 17612576

October 26

Think Pink’s Gala Evening Event will kick off at 7.30pm at the Bahrain International Circuit.

There will a three-course meal, music entertainment and an auction.

Tickets: BD25, call The Spa at the Coral Beach Club on 39617257, Jacque Dessange on 17713999, NIC Homes on 17587222 or Jules Sprakel on 39076717.

A corporate BD1,000 pledge entitles companies to 10 free tickets, corporate table and company logo in local publications and on the Think Pink website in addition to a banner which will be put up at the event.

October 30

‘Think Pink Bahrain Day’ in which everyone is encouraged to wear pink and raise awareness about breast cancer

‘Pink Day’ at EzyFit, Saar.

Step, weights and abs classes from 10.30am, bums and thighs classes from 4.30pm and evening Taibo classes 6.30pm.

Tickets: BD3 per class, but people are welcome to donate more, all proceeds will go to Think Pink. Tel: 17692378

• Martial arts classes for

children at the Master

Khan’s Fighting Arts

Academy. For information contact 390456565.

1 November

‘Think Pink Fitness Day,’ at Bodyline is Saar, will offer spinning, steps, sculpture and pilates classes from 9am. All proceeds will go to Think Pink. Tickets BD10 Tel: 17793932

Project Ramadan at The Yateem Centre

AN inspiring initiative entitled ‘Project Ramadan’ aims to breakdown barriers by basing itself upon three significant elements of Ramadan: ‘communication, community and charity’.

A joint venture  by Unisono, a strategic branding company, and Manama’s Yateem Centre, it has been designed not only to enhance Bahrain’s vibrant culture by entertaining visitors through innovative and fun activities but to also raise funds for several charity organisations aiding underprivileged families.

A main attraction is an animatronics display of Ali Baba’s Souq, a life-size structure with animated puppets emulating a traditional Arabic bazaar.

A special help desk from Discover Islam will also be close to the display, where all questions regarding Islam and Ramadan can be answered.

A gallery of rarely seen old photographs of Bahrain will astonish visitors as they see just how far the island has come on the last 50 years.

A collection point will be on the same floor as the gallery for visitors to donate books, toys, clothes, and other such items. Children can also enjoy Henna, face painting, hair braiding, nail art, arts and craft making workshops and even story-telling!

Another main feature is the traditional indoor bazaar by Bahrain’s craft families, a diverse spread with all sorts of traditional handicrafts like Arabic calligraphy on palm tree paper, stained glass, woodwork, ceramics, weaving, and traditional wooden chests.

Ghabga dinners will also be offered to visitors for a minimal fee that would go directly to the charity fund, with guest speakers from various backgrounds giving talks revolving cross-cultural communication to promote interfaith dialogue.

A nationwide hunt has also been launched for traditional Bahraini recipes. Since most Bahraini cuisine is cooked in family homes, recipes are generally unattainable so to preserve the flavours of the kingdom’s colourful culture all recipes received will be reviewed in a cookbook entitled ‘Our Legacy: A Taste of Bahrain’.

The wide range of activities start tomorrow and end on Wednesday, October 10. For more information contact Unisono on 17 811 802 or email at info@inunisono.com

THE search is on for ‘Mr. Pogi International 2007’ Male Beauty Pageant. It is open for gentlemen of any nationality, from 18 years and above.

All participants will go through a ‘personality development course’ to be conducted by fashion and beauty expert Albert Gayo who is also directing and hosting the pageant on November 2 at Baen Saeng Thai Auditorium.

“The main objective of the pageant is to improve participants’ personality, unity among different cultures - and to win the title,” said Mr. Gayo.

The course will include hair and skin care, photo & video shoot, public speaking, fashion power and ramp modeling.

Participants will go through four rounds which will include traditional, casual and formal wear.

Part of the show proceeds will be donated to distressed workers of OWWA of the Philippine Embassy.

Prizes will include cash, electronic items and goodies from participating sponsors. To register or more information call 39277920 or you can send your name, contact number and full size photo to albertgayo@lycos.com

Eid treat with Karl Wolf

• Montreal-based singer, songwriter, producer and musician Karl Wolf is set to perform at a family event on the third day of Eid Al Fitr at the Gulf Hotel’s Gulf Convention Centre in Adliya. Tickets are priced at BD60 for VVIP, BD35 for VIP and BD15 for regulars. Gates open at 8pm and show runs till 12am. Opening show is by resident DJ Jackson and internationally-acclaimed DJ Crow. MC for the show is Krazy Kevin. A press conference will be held at the Riviera Palace Hotel in Sehla on the second day of Eid at 11am. For more information contact 39111943.