Leisure listing

Bahrain Science Centre will host a Poetry and science event today featuring a recital by South African actor David Muller of the epic poem ‘Whale Nation’ by Heathcote Williams. This will be followed by an Introduction to the Bahrain Writer’s Circle and Poetry Group by David Hollywood. A Bahraini poet will also conduct a recital of science poems in Arabic. The poetry evening is suitable for children 10 years and older and adults. Younger children can use all the exhibition galleries on the ground floor during the evening. Entrance is free but booking in advance is essential.

For details, call 17686466 or visit www.bahrainsciencecentre.com

The 10th Bahrain International Gardens Show (BIGS 2014) will open at Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre today. The event, organised by the NIAD in collaboration with Tamkeen and the Unido under the theme Agricultural Technology, will be open to the public from Thursday until March 1.There will be more than 130 exhibitors. The show runs from 10am – 9pm tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.

For details, visit www.bigs.com.bh

The Education Links Fair 2014 will be held today and tomorrow at the Movenpick’s Al Murjan Ballroom from 10am-1pm and 4.30pm – 9pm. Entry is free.

For more information, call 17255909.

Willie Russell’s Educating Rita, British Club, until Friday. Review on Page 7.

Bahraini flautist Ahmed Al Ghanem, accompanied by Jill Laping on piano, will perform in St Christopher’s Cathedral at 6pm and feature a world premiere piece entitled Samaee Ghanem composed by Ahmed himself.

Tickets for the show cost BD5 and may be ordered in advance by calling 1723866 or bought on the door.

For more information, call 39522547.

Head down to the Royal Golf Club today to enjoy the Links Friday Carvery Feast. As it’s the fourth Friday of the month, it’s Russian week – in addition to all the usual roasts and live cooking stations, guests can also enjoy the new Russian station featuring traditional dishes as well as a classic potato-based beverage as part of either brunch package.
 
The Links Friday Carvery Feast costs BD18 net per person with unlimited selected soft drinks or BD27 net per person with unlimited selected beverages.

For details, call 17751262.

The Muju Jazzy Brunch is held every Friday between midday and 5pm at the Dragon Resort & Hotel on Amwaj Islands. The Muju Jazzy Duo, Jamelo and Sariefa, will provide entertainment.
There are also activities for children. The brunch offers unlimited beverages, all for BD25 per person. Children aged six to 12 pay half-price to dine. Discounts are available for advance and larger bookings.

For more information, call 16039800 or email rm@mujuamwaj.com

Elite Seef Residence & Hotel has a Family Friday Brunch Buffet and unlimited soft beverages (soft drinks, canned juice and water). It runs from noon to 4pm and costs BD10 for adults and children’s rates vary according to height. There is free access to The Kids Club (arts & crafts, games, early learning activities).

The Royal Golf Club’s new All You Can Eat Buffet will be held every Saturday lunch time in Prego! Italian Restaurant. It will include salads, pastas, pizzas and risottos as well as Italian desserts for BD12 net for adults (members’ discount applies) and BD5 net for children under the age of 12, inclusive of unlimited selected soft drinks.

Children under the age of five eat for free. The buffet is available between noon and 3pm.

For more information, call 17750777.

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa’s Saraya Restaurant has brunch from 12.30pm to 3.30pm at BD18 net per person inclusive of soft beverages and BD22 net per person with selected beverages.

Every Tuesday there is a Moroccan night from 7pm to 10.30pm priced the same as the brunch.
For more information,call 17636363 or visit www.sofitel.com

A Future of Finance Conference – Transparency and Fairness will be held today from 5-7pm at the Capital Club in Bahrain Financial Harbour.

The conference will discuss the insights on the on-going challenges the industry faces in the areas of shareholder protection and disclosure.

For more information, email Vadia.rai@fticonsulting.com or call 00971 507096545.

Wahooo! waterpark has launched a new ticket deal to entice families to slide in and splash out at the Middle East’s first ever indoor-outdoor waterpark at Bahrain City Centre. The popular mall attraction features rides including the Master Blaster, Sidewinder, Matt Racer, a multi-level rain fortress, wave pool, toddler pool and lazy river. 

A spokesman said: “Wahooo! waterpark invites you and the family to ‘live the WAHOOO! world’ – a whole world of refreshing excitement, thrills and relaxation!

“Whether you were in for a relaxing float on the lazy river or up for an exhilarating ride on the slides, action, fun and adventure are guaranteed to splash your day! With the new Family Fun Offer introduced now, enjoyable times are guaranteed for a very special price. For a limited time and for only BD30, you and your family are invited to ‘live the Wahooo! world’, experience and indulge in the happiest and most fun moments.”

The offer covers four members, where any additional guest enjoys a special offer of BD7 admission (up to three additional guests).

Two-time Grammy-nominated DJ/producer AVICII, above, will be performing live at the 2014 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).

AVICII is among the top-class international artists signed up by BIC as part of the entertainment package for grand prix weekend.

The Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix takes place April 4-5-6 in Sakhir.

The concerts will be highlighting the spectacular off-track celebrations marking BIC’s 10th anniversary and landmark 10th hosting of the Formula One race, which will be held at night for the first time.

AVICII will be performing on April 5 of the Grand Prix weekend. His recording Wake Me Up was Number One in 81 countries, went triple platinum in the US, and the video for the track has been watched over 235 million times on YouTube alone. Hey Brother, his current single, is a radio favourite and he has just launched Addicted to You internationally.

Rock band The Scorpions, right, will also be performing on the same night. The act’s greatest hits include Rock You Like a Hurricane, Wind of Change, Still Loving You, Send Me An Angel and No One Like You. Formed in 1965 the band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Tickets to the 2014 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix are now available. They can be purchased at the BIC stands in Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall; online at www.bahraingp.com or on the official BIC page on Facebook; or by calling the BIC Hotline on 17450000.

Tickets to the Main Grandstand cost BD150 for the race weekend. Oasis Grandstand tickets cost BD120 apiece. A Turn One Grandstand ticket costs BD100, while tickets to the University Grandstand and Victory Grandstand are BD60 apiece.

All tickets are for all three days, giving each holder access to the three major concerts.

The next instalment of 338’s Got Talent takes place on March 15. The event promises to be one of the best monthly programmes in Bahrain, with guaranteed laughs and fun for the whole family. It continues on April 12 and May 10. Have you got a talent? Do you sing, paint, dance, write, train animals, act, do stand-up comedy, magic tricks or anything unusual that everyone else considers amazing? Call 338 Garden Restaurant and book an audition or simply show up.

For details call 33304030.

The Ministry of Culture and the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) this week announced the programme details of the two-month-long 9th Spring of Culture Festival.
 
The festival will run for two months and the programme will include:
* Five Hundred Year of Islamic Calligraphy - Masterpieces from Sakıp Sabancı Museum (Turkey), will start in February and continue through to April 13 at the Bahrain National Museum.
* Souq Bab Al Bahrain will continue to offer local designers the chance to present their merchandise and products from March 1 – 29 at the gate of the old Manama souq.
* Art Market will be held at Bab Al Bahrain for two days from March 13 to 15 and April 10 to 12 and local artists will present their work.
* The programme will include music concerts for Michael Fadel from Lebanon and the Arab Idol talent, Ahmed Jamal, above.
* A concert for the Grammy award winner, Ramsey Lewis, the American jazz composer and pianist along with seven-time Grammy winning singer and song writer, Philip Bailey who will perform at Arad Fort will take place on March 5.
* Rock star Eric Clapton’s concert will be held on March 8 at Arad Fort.
* Arabic artist Mohammed Abdo’s concert will be held at the Arad Fort.
* Performance of Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and other kids stories by Canada’s Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will perform at the Alumni Club from March 27 to 30.
* The Turkish dancing band, The Fire of Anatolia will perform at the Arad Fort.
* The Chinese culture week which is organised in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy, will feature the Silk Road exhibition and will be held April 10 to 19.
* Liaoning Ballet of China will also perform at the festival.
* The China National Acrobatic Troup will continue to entertain families at Arad Fort from March 20 -22.
* A Japanese Maki-e exhibition will be held from March 2 –April 6.
* Jose Carreras will entertain opera devotees on March 5 at Arad Fort.
* American soul and disco singer Gloria Gaynor will perform at Arad Fort on April 4.
* The 16th Bahrain International Book Fair will run from March 27-April 6.
 
The 22nd Heritage Festival will be held during the Spring of Culture and as part of its programme this year, the festival will focus on fabric manufacturing and Bahraini traditional outfits and will include an exhibition and market for the designers to offer products.

In addition, Bait Alqous’s The Diving House will be opened on April 13. One of the 16th locations in Muharraq which represents the pearl road, Bait Alqous will feature an exhibition to present the lifestyle traditional to Bahraini pearl divers. Ebrahim bin Saad Gallery will also be opened at the same day as well.

l The festival will also include the opening of a photo exhibition for six professional photographers who were in Manama last year to capture the capital as they saw it.

Educational workshops will be held for young talents to enhance their skills. They will be offered free of charge for people who sign up in advance and will feature international artists and bands such as the Very Hungry Caterpillar and the Chinese Aerobatic band.

Workshops will be offered in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Royal Charity Organisation, and Arabian Gulf University, including a week-long sand painting workshop.
 
For more details, visit www.springofculture.org