February issue 2012

February 2012 - issue # 157 b a z a a r - m a g a z i n e . c om

Intr

The bazaar team...

Syndicates and Sources

Ahmed El-Adly

LA Times Daily Star USA Today MTC International MIT Review Travel Times Hollywood Watch Tribune Media Services

Operations

bazaar can be found at the following locations:

Boss

Yusra Ahmad

Writing the intro to bazaar is always a difficult process, since I need to write it about a week before the magazine is out on the stands, and if I start off by talking about how fracking cold it is, there is a very good chance that by the time you read the intro, the weather will have changed, again! However, I am positive that even if that happens, there is no way you won’t know what I’m talking about, since its 2 degrees Celsius right now, and from the number of images posted on facebook of people’s thermometers in their cars, everyone can feel the cold as much as we can here in the chilly bazaar office. I actually spotted a few pairs of gloves on people’s hands this morning. However, just to be fair, one of our friends who is lucky enough to be living in Canada these days responded with a picture of his cars temperature gauge which showed minus 27 degrees Celsius! So, yeah, it’s cold, but hey, we aren’t stuck at home waiting out a snow storm.

Business Development

This issue of bazaar promises to be one of our most exciting ones in a long time. We are honored to have some of the infamous 99 super heroes gracing our cover along with an in-depth article about them inside, and an Up Close and Personal interview with Dr Naif Al Mutawa, the man behind the whole thing. Naif is a good friend of mine, and I still remember very clearly when he started the whole thing many years ago, and how it has transformed from what it was to what it is today! He is an inspiration for Kuwait and the whole Middle East for that matter, and it just goes to show that no dream is too far-fetched if you put your mind to it. Is it just me, or are dining options in Kuwait becoming more and more irresistibly mouth-watering? The long-awaited arrival of Potbelly is finally upon us, and is just like we imagined. A sandwich done right! Although as bazaarites we do not celebrate Valentine’s Day (we’re a love-yourpartner-year-round kinda people), but the options for Valentine’s Day celebrations around k-town are a-plenty. From Hotel Missoni’s ‘ti amo’ Valentine’s Day experience, to Baskets Made Perfect and their beautifully-created, custom-designed gift baskets to pleasantly surprise even the “impossible to buy for.” In celebration of Kuwait this February, don’t miss our special dining feature on everything Kuwaiti food – what it is, how it’s made and where to find some of Kuwait’s most precious hidden gems. As we strive to bring you the latest happenings in Kuwait, we can’t forget to mention all the talented, determined people of Kuwait that make it all happen and give us something to talk about every month! Happy Birthday Kuwait!

Yasmine El Char if

On a final note, we were totally overwhelmed and humbled by the number of emails, phone calls, and blog mentions we got about our 2012 dining guide. You guys have no idea how much it means to us to realize that all of our hard work (and all the kilos gained!) are appreciated like that. We still have plenty of copies stashed away in our warehouse, so if you work for a company, school, or embassy and want copies to distribute to colleagues and friends, please drop us an email and we will send some over as soon as possible.

Photographers

M ai Jado

Communications Consultant Hala Y. Sharara

Design Sumaiya AL-Shar han

Staff Writer/Social Media

Editor A. Al-Duaij

Contributing Writers Bibi Al-Falah Dr. Juliet and Dr. Nisrine Elie Fares Elisa Franceschinis Jaye Sonia Loaay Ahmed Meghan McCabe Noha Al-Awadi Sumayyah Meehan

Bader Al Bassam Sumaiya AL- Sharhan

Printing

British Industries for Printing and Packaging

Starbucks Coffee (65 branches) Cozmo - 4 branches Topshop Galleria Complex The Video Club Souk Sharq Energie Costa Café H&M Bredz Jacques Dessange Miss Sixty Airport Mall Häagen Dasz Virgin Megastore The One Café ACK (Australian College of Kuwait) AUK (American University of Kuwait) AUM (American University of Middle East) Boxhill College Marble Slab D’Lush Early Bird Café Harley Davidson Al-Kout Mall Centrepoint Café Johnny Rockets Pizza Express Al Corniche Club Kuwait Airways Oasis Club Shay W Nanaa Le PQ Cafe Boushahri Clinic Al Salam Hospital 4 x 4 Customs Ligne Roset Hard Rock Café Pilates & More Mowasat Hospital Camille Albane Dar Al Funoon I.O. Centers Cutting Edge Salon Dasman Diabetic Centre The Burger Hub Dunkin Donuts Waterlemon Café Supreme International Clinic Casper & Gambini’s Segafredo Cafe O Pao Cafe

Happy Reading!

Ahmed El-Adly

The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).

No one likes to be dumped;

recycle me, please.

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INDEX FEB. ' 12

42

32

48

26

30

MASHROU 3 LEILA

LADY FOZAZA

PROJECT ARIJ

SUPER ARAB

MISSONI LOVE

A transient musical experiment, literally translated as an overnight project, a band whose music is synonymous with Beirut, its daily absurdities and addictions, Mashrou3 Leila ignites passion, incites nonchalance, and spurs the imagination.

Founded by Alanoud Badr, (Lady Fozaza), her fierce line of limited edition statement blazers are garnering rave reviews from the fashion-crazed.

The style symbol that is Lady Fozaza is skyrocketing towards iconic status.

Creating opportunity out of trash, Project Arij aspires to provide an alternate source of income to underprivileged women in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon by “upcycling” waste-water and paper into contemporary stationary and accessories.

Writer, doctor, psychologist and entrepreneur, such are the many vices of the Super Arab. Learn about Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, our up close and personal, and the man behind THE 99, the internationally acclaimed comic book series, TV series, and animated phenomenon.

As Hotel Missoni celebrates the week of romance, prepare to fall in love with pure Italian charm. From rose infused drinks at the Luna Lounge, to candlelit dinners at Cucina, Valentine’s Day comes alive in the most stylish of fashions.

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GOJI FRESH

Q82061

Starting the new year with a spanking new collection, Goji Boutique unveils a selection of new and exciting international designers. Get styled this season with the likes of Poca & Poca, Fiona Paxton, and Rachel Pally.

Organized by the SSH Design Club and in cooperation with the Architect of Kuwait creative platform, we find out more about the unveiling of the beautiful story that takes us back to Kuwait’s early days, and envisions Kuwait’s future.

THE 99 , p. 52

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BASKETS MADE PERFECT

68

40

ART OLYMPIAD

GEEKS AND GAMERS

POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP

‘DEAR JAWAHER’

Redefining the art of gift creations, sisters Maya and Zena Dabbous relieve you of the daunting task of tastefully wrapping your gifts, or even buying them, with their onestop online destination for finding the perfect gift!

The annual art competition, hosted by the Landmark Group, is the eagerly anticipated event of the season for many artistic hopefuls across schools in Kuwait, inviting students to bring their best efforts forward.

He’s back! And here to tell you all about how discrimination isn’t always such a bad thing.

In a world where there’s no lack of options and our days are crammed with endless engagements, discrimination helps weed out the unnecessary.

1977 antique shop turned worldwide sandwich sensation; Potbelly Sandwich Shop has made its long awaited debut at the bustling Avenues mall.

Authentic Lincoln avenue Potbelly experience at your favorite shopping destination.

The soul-stirring legacy between mother and daughter marks American born, Middle Eastern Mona Al-Hajjaj’s debut not only as a writer, but as a mother as well. Dear Jawaher presents “Tips to my daughter from the classroom of my life.”

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bazaar connect Freedom to touch us

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With a bilingual audience, our articles are in English and Arabic, and cover everything from what’s on to the bizarre. We print and distribute 10,000 copies of bazaar every month; each issue is read by an average of 4 people, giving us a total readership of over 40,000 bazaar is published every month (except August) and delivered free of charge to a large subscriber database, as well as distributed free of charge in all of the following locations: Cafés & Eateries

Breadz Burger Hub, Gulf Road Casper & Gambini, Kuwait City Chocolate Bar, Al Bida'a Crumbs, Shaab Dunkin Donuts, Salem Al-Mubarak Haagen Dazs - Souq Sharq, Arraya Hard Rock Café Jade Garden Restaurant, Gulf Hotel, Salmiya Johnny Rockets - Opposite Salhiya Complex, Salmiya, Alia & Ghalia Complex Living Room Lounge MILK, Sief Strip Opao Organica Fish & Chips, Jabriya P.Q. - The Palms Pizza Express - Dhahia, Bida'a Complex, Hilton Kuwait Resort Prime & Toast - Al Bida'a, Seif Strip The Early Bird - Fahaheel, Jabriya Starbucks Adeliya Airport Mall Al Ghanim Al Rai Al Mowasat Hospital Al Muhalab Al Shaya Head Office Aliya & Ghalia Complex AUK

Awtad Kuwait City Bairaq Mall Baitak Tower Behbehani Complex Bida’a Complex BMW Showroom Daiya Co-op Dar Al Awadi Fashion World Salmiya Hilton Resort Jabriya Jabriya Land Keifan Khalifa Resort Kout Mall Marina Crescent Marina Mall Mishref NBK Nuwaiseeb Nuzha Co-op Plaza Hawalli Rosa Castle Salhiya Salmiya, Salem Al-Mubarak Salmiya Co-op Salwa Co-op Scientific Center Seif Hospital Shaab Shamiya Co-op

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Sharq Co-op Sheikha Complex Souk Salmiya Souk Sharq The Avenues The Palms Hotel Zain Headquarters Clinics & Hospitals Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center International Clinic Kaizen Seif Hospital Soor Clinic Hotels & Health Clubs Al Corniche Club Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya Flex Hilton Kuwait Resort & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula The Palms Beach Hotel Malls 360 Mall Dunkin Donuts Arraya Haagen Dazs Galleria

Marina Mall/Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Virgin Megastore Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Breadz The Avenues Johnny Rockets Paul Pizza Express Crumbs Haagen Dazs Starbucks Airport Mall Pizza Express Starbucks Dar Al Awadi I.O. Center Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks

Stand Alones 4 Boutique A.W.A.R.E. Center Alghanim Marine

Beautylicious Brush Salon Cozmo Bowling - Salmiya, Kaifan, Discovery Mall, Mahboula Dar Al Funoon Gallery Tilal Goji Boutique Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab Karizma Kuwait 4X4 Landmark - Al Rai café, Fahaheel, Salmiya London Limos N Bar N Style Pink Moon Boutique Sultan Gallery THE One The Video Club TIES Center Schools & Universities American International School American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Boxhill College Universal American School Kuwait University Starbucks Khaldiya Starbucks Adeliya Starbucks Jabriya Starbucks Shuwaikh

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what’s on?

GALLERY TILAL

Date: 12th - 23th February 2012 Title of Exhibition: Abdel Moein Saleh Exhibition Artist Abdel Moein Saleh reveals that no Artwork can be born without a stimulant or an idea that possesses his thoughts and feelings. These ideas will then be explored and studied in an artistic manner while taking into consideration mass, void and surface.

Once that is accomplished; Abdel Moein begins to translate and transform the idea from a concept into a physical work of art that may be observed or touched!

With simple lines, Abdel Moein masters the idea that he wishes to convey. With the use of a hard metal, as bronze, he captures the softest of feelings and relations. His sculptures’ titles may provide an idea of his exhibition, Day Dream, Anticipation, Compassion, Night resistor, Awakening, The Cat, Mother and more.

Gallery Tilal is located in Shuwaikh, Jahra Road, Tilal Complex, M3-M4. For more information please call: 222 56101 or email gallerygallery@hotmail.com.

You can also check out their facebook page.

DAR AL FUNOON

AL M. GALLERY

Artist: Group (Jassem Bu Hamad, Ibrahim Ismail, Ayoub Hossein Al Ayoub, Issa Saqer, Abdul Rida Baqer) Exhibition Title: Free Kuwait Opening on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 7-8pm.

Exhibition ongoing until 1st of March, 2012 Free Kuwait brings together a collection of works created between 90`s and 2011by artists Jassem Bu Hamad, Abdul Rida Baqer, Ayoub Hussein Al Ayoub, Sami Mohammed, Ibrahim Ismail, Issa Saqer and others.

Exhibition is dedicated to the 21st Anniversary Liberation of Kuwait. Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991) started with Iraqi invasion and concluded with liberation of United States led coalition forces had deep influence on the local artists.

The artists worked on memories of the tragical moments of the history of Kuwait, creating a collective sense of national identity exhibition explores the complex emotional field ranged from the dark military scenes, human crisis and destruction of the country to the moment of happiness with symbols of Freedom.

Exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

Thuraya Al-Baqsami was born in Kuwait in 1951 and is a dedicated artist and writer. She is bestknown for her colorful paintings and prints that tackle many themes including women's issues and include folkloric elements from a number of cultures.

She studied for two years in the College of Fine Arts in Cairo, Egypt (1972-74) and completed her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Master's degree in Book Illustration at the Surikov Arts Institute in Moscow, Russia (1974-81). She also completed several courses in silk painting, batik and ceramics in Dakar, Senegal and has exhibited her work all over the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US. The classes at the Contemporary Art Platform are a part of the ongoing program showcasing Jafar Islah and his peers. Participants will learn to how to creatively use a number of materials and to create prints without the use of a press, making it easy to continue art practice at home. Thuraya Al-Baqsami has previously taught classes at the American University of Kuwait; Bayt Lothan; Kabul University in Afghanistan; Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Mauritius; in Brussels, Belgium; and in Essen, Germany; among others. For class fees and registration please email info@capkuwait.com or call 24925636.

Let There Be Night - Film Screening Date: Wednesday, February 15. 7 pm CAP Kuwait is a nonprofit venture, supported by an extensive private collection of modern and contemporary artwork. The Contemporary Art Platform is located in Industrial Shuwaikh Block 2, St. 28, Life Center, top floor (Across from the Shuwaikh Immigration Dept). For more information email info@capkuwait.com or call 2492 5637.

BOUSHAHRI ART GALLERY

Al M. Gallery is located in Kuwait City, Salhia Complex, Mezanine 2, Gate 4, Place 16. For more information, log onto www.al-m-gallery.com or call 2299 6447.

Working Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10 am-3 pm and 5pm -9 pm. Saturday by appointment only.

Artist: Hussein Madi Date: 30 Jan - 23 Feb 2012 Hussein Madi, painter, sculptor, and printmaker, is revered among the Arab world’s foremost artists.

Born in 1938 in Chebaa, Lebanon, Madi studied painting at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA) in Beirut. In 1963 he traveled to Rome to pursue his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti, the Accademia San Giacomo and a number of the city’s free ateliers.

Madi resided in Rome for the next twentytwo years. In 1987 he returned to live permanently in Lebanon. He has had more than ninety major exhibitions all over the world.

Dar Al Funoon is located in Al-Watiah, Behbehani Compound, House No.28. For more information please call 2243 3138 or log onto www.daralfunoon-kw.com

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CAP KUWAIT Mono-print and Mixed Media classes with Thuraya Al-Baqsami

Private Collection Dali – Matisse – Margo Villon – Amin el-Bacha – Paul Guiragossian and others Date: Sunday, January 29 – February 9, 2012

Date:

February 6, 7, 8, 9. Monday – Thursday 11 am - 1 pm

Boushahri Art Gallery is located in Salmiya, Baghdad st., Building 36, in front of Al-Laheeb Mosque. For more information please email them at boushahrigallery@gmail.com

up close and personal

SUPER AR AB Dr. Naif A. Al-Mutawa By bazaar staff

Although he started writing at a very young age, wishing to pursue writing as a full time career, Dr. Naif Al Mutawa’s parents advised against it. He states, “Deep down, I knew their advice was correct, yet I 26

continued to write as a hobby and in doing so I wrote everything from essays, plays, poetry, short stories to comics. Career wise, I chose to pursue psychology, and writing essays in my field was a definite forte.”

Perhaps a rather natural decision, entering into the field of psychology for Dr. Al-Mutawa stems from his inherent interest in interacting with people. Dr. AlMutawa has extensive clinical experience working with former prisoners of war in Kuwait and the Survivors of Political Torture unit of Bellevue Hospital in New York.

He has seen, first hand, the cancer that intolerance can bring to any society. His direct contact with the horrors of people tortured because of their religious and political beliefs, led to his writing a timeless children’s tale that won a UNESCO prize for literature in the service of tolerance. Dr. Al-Mutawa is the Founder of The Soor Center for Psychological Counseling and Assessment, Kuwait’s leading professional source of a broad range of psychological services.

With a string of accomplishments under his belt, we proudly believe that Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa is our very own, modern day Super-Arab. Also the founder and CEO of Teshkeel Media Group, for which he created THE 99, the first group of comic superheroes born of an Islamic archetype, Dr. Al-Mutawa is successfully changing the recent negative perception of Islam and Arabs in the eyes of the West. Forbes named THE 99 as one of the top 20 trends sweeping the globe and most recently, President Barack Obama praised Dr. Naif and THE 99 as, perhaps, the most innovative of the thousands of new entrepreneurs viewed by his Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship. For comic book aficionados, the monumental cross-over that is taking place between THE 99 superheroes and Superman and Batman residents of DC Comics, also part of Time Warner, the largest media company in the world, is both record-breaking and a proud moment for aspiring entrepreneurs. Most likened to the character, Dr. Ramzi of THE 99, whose mission is to find all 99 gem wielders to unite them and change the course of human civilization towards the better, Dr. Al-Mutawa is not only redefining the face of Islam and Arabs in the West, but is creating a pivotal change in the way in which both the Western and Arab youth are being educated about Islam, Arabs and their relationship with the west.

According to Dr. Al-Mutawa, 2012 marks the turnabout year for THE 99. After reaching new heights of success with THE 99 TV series, the ‘made-from-TV movie, THE 99: Unbound, is achieving remarkable accolades. He states, “We shared the movie ‘screener’ with some of our television licensees and before long we were invited to show it at film festivals from New York to Dubai. And everywhere we went, we received great notices…so much so that we were asked to release it as a theatrical property in motion picture theatres, which will happen first in Kuwait.”

bazaar questionnaire: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Perfect happiness for me is spending real time with my wife and children away from phones, the Internet and other distractions. When it happens it's bliss.

What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is that one of my children has a problem I can’t help them solve, or worse yet, that I can solve but they won’t allow me to.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I am a workaholic and sometimes I am like a hamster on a wheel, going nowhere fast, yet not taking the time to rest even thought I know my best ideas come to me

when I am relaxed. I deplore the fact that I can’t unwind even when there is nothing to do. It takes me a while to power down. In that respect I’m more PC and less Apple!

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

A blatant disrespect for the law is what I most deplore in others. My pet peeve is people who smoke in nonsmoking areas. I think if one has no respect for laws, then one has no respect for themselves or for others.

I think not following laws creates insecurity and a lack of feeling safe in a society. People need to feel that they are safe. We need to either change that laws we’re not following or follow them. Any other option is a civilizational failure that has far reaching ramifications.

Which living person do you most admire?

I would have to say that the living person I most

admire is my wife Rola. She is the mother of 4 and stepmother of 3 (yes, 7!). She is a full time dedicated mother that spends time with her children. I mean really spends her time with her children. She wakes them up in the morning, puts them to sleep at night after personally bathing them (the younger ones!) and reading them stories. She takes them out and spends real time with them. She is calm and collected and is my biggest supporter and confidante. I am proud to say that she is my partner on the journey of life.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I can honestly say that my greatest extravagance is being able to read and write what I want to, not what I have to. I love reading novels and I love writing essays and stories but I am so busy that it becomes impossible.

So when I am able to read a book, or write something, it really feels like a million bucks!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

If God had wanted us to be parrots, he would have given us feathers and beaks instead of a mind and free will.

When were you happiest?

I am happier today than I was yesterday and am confidant I will be happier tomorrow than today. I am a process-oriented person and although there are ups and downs in my life, as there are in anyone’s, I am constantly redefining who I am and what I do and am passionate about my work. I love what I do. And I love how I am doing it. And I love the impact it is making on a global scale. I don’t focus on moments. I don’t focus on the past. I focus on the future.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I would love to be a master of work/life balance, to know when it’s ok to be online and when it’s ok to be offline. They say you are your own worst boss. I’d like to be my own best boss but I am far from it.

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

When I was 24 I wrote a series of books with a character named Bouncy Junior. When I was 30 I thought that was my greatest achievement. Then at 32 I created THE 99, now at 40 I think that’s my greatest achievement. I am confident that my answer will change by the time I am 50. For now, the fact that I created something out of nothing, created THE 99 out of thin air, raised millions of dollars in financing, created hundreds of jobs and made a dent on how Islam is being perceived globally is my answer at 40. But I believe that the greatest achievement is yet to come.

Where would you most like to live?

I love New York and spend at least 4 months of the year there. I would love to live there full time and will ultimately retire there, but that won’t be until I’m at least 99 years old!

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THE GIFT CONNOISSEURS Baskets Made Perfect By bazaar staff

As Sisters, Maya and Zena Dabbous are redefining the art of gift creations. The process of buying a present, let alone wrapping it tastefully, is itself a daunting task for many. When it comes to holidays, birthdays-or any occasion for that mattereverybody needs a little help with the perfect gift! With Valentine’s day just around the corner, everyone should resist the urge to procrastinate by looking no further than the gift basket connoisseurs, who came up with the one-stop online destination for locating that perfect present: Baskets Made Perfect (basketsmadeperfect.com).

Due to their interest in art and design, Maya and Zena considered creating a gift baskets business as a great opportunity for a creative outlet; it has also been a passion of theirs to be their own business owners. Combining those two passions while finding a way to bring people joy, sparks their creative mind, bringing them an exciting experience on a daily basis. Maya states, “Between Zena and I, we’ve got a great creative energy. We love working on each gift, whether it is a requested basket or customized design.” Zena adds, “We’re different because of our design and style. The way we present our gifts goes a long way with our clients, especially that the service is boutique-like and customized, as we create the look of each basket or gift item from start to finish.”

Upon visiting basketsmadeperfect.com, each specified category makes the overwhelming process of searching for the perfect gift a complete breeze.

The website includes a private consultations, exclusive shopping services, professional designing and packaging of either baskets or gifts, all within a prompt delivery time frame. Even if you wish to 28

immediately purchase a gift without consultation or customization, the sisters have added a category with ready gift baskets and gift items. Maya explains, “Ready-made baskets, with their inclusive items, are sourced by Zena and I. We have baby items, tote bags, miscellaneous items we see and like based on our feeling that these items would add value to our customers.” Furthermore, the sisters ensured to add two luxury lines for customers to choose from. Zena explains, “With Miglio, this gorgeous jewelry line from South Africa, customers reacted positively right from the start. The line is unique, funky different, and affordable! I think it appeals to modern women in their twenties and thirties. We also added Phillipi, a German brand for luxury corporate or office gift accessories.”

The sisters’ chic style and practiced craft is visible in the various baskets on display when glancing through the different categories available at Baskets Made Perfect.

The presentation is a gift in and of itself, and rather than gifting someone special with a package that will be torn apart then thrown away, a gift basket from Baskets Made Perfect is a treasured souvenir, ultimately giving a whole new meaning to gift baskets. Zena states, “Offering customized services gives us an extra edge. For instance, perhaps you spotted that perfect bag for your mother, and wished to package this gift with other items you think would be suitable, we will present a totally different idea of packaging. It could be a box, a basket, a type of wrapping, we will come up with a way to suit your customized design.” In doing so, Maya and Zena ensure that the actual gift is the focus of the basket or packaging, rather than the accessories used to make the gift basket. Maya explains, “It all depends on the gift item in question, as it is the focus of

the gift basket. We always try to make the basket about the selected items being displayed in a beautiful way rather than just the decorations of the basket. We like to shop locally, but then you tend to develop a talent of deciding what would look good in a basket. We were once asked to design a basket for a male who was interested in Japanese tea and sushi, so we decided to modernize the final basket with bamboo elements, black and silver. He really liked it, and our client was very pleased.”

As much as the craft of gift baskets is an art form, both Maya and Zena believe that their business is also based on forming a trusting relationship with customers. Maya insists that, “the first time you do this, you will trust in the work we present. At first, customers are picky and worried, as they worry that what they see online is not reflected in the actual product. After the first time a client tries our services, our briefs get shorter and shorter with increasing loyalty.”

How does a typical order process take place? Zena states, “Customers can contact us online or via telephone, and the client gives us a brief about their requirements, the age group, and what the person likes. From our website, customers get to know more about our categories, where they can pick a ready-design package and change it in terms of color or contents. Based on that, we create the concept and design of the basket.”

Paying extra attention to details and their customers’ needs, Maya and Zena further added another category focused on packaging. “We receive requests for packaging a present, a packaged display for companies’ products, so we realized that this service is in demand. This is proof that we sell a design rather than just a package that looks good.” Maya explains.

To get your Basket Made Perfect, email basketsmadeperfect@gmail.com, or info@basketsmadeperfect.com, or please call 66690443.

For more information, please visit www.basketsmadeperfect.com.

MY MISSONI VALENTINE… Say ‘Ti Amo’ at Hotel Missoni this Valentine’s Day By bazaar staff

For most of us ladies, Valentine’s Day is a declaration of love, which we eagerly await, for many reasons; the endless romance, waking up to roses at your bedside, arriving at your office, naturally dressed in your finest red dress, to be greeted with another splendid arrangement of ornate flowers, heart-shaped chocolates at noon and hidden jewelry in our drinks over dinner… presents, presents and more presents. Let’s be completely honest, us lovely ladies wait for this day with much patience, as we enjoy being spoilt with gifts from our loved ones on a day that doesn’t happen to be our birthday. For this fashion-obsessed meets hopelessly-romantic editor, my Valentine’s experience is every girl’s dream come true: a whimsical experience of glorious fashion, styled in a romantic setting, saying ‘ti amo’ at the fabulous Hotel Missoni.

It is absolutely true when they say that the Italians know a thing or two about charming a lady, as, upon my arrival at the vibrant lobby of the grand Hotel Missoni, my surprise present that was written so simply on my Valentine’s card was suddenly a grandiose gesture of elegant charm. From the signature scent that greets you at the reception, to the welcoming smile of the stylish receptionist; I didn’t even have a chance to admire the signature pattern on her jacket before I was whisked away to the unforgettable Missoni Maggiore suite. Knowing that I was staying in one of the most glamorous hotels in the world was already presented as the perfect Valentine’s present, yet witnessing the bespoke design of the Maggiore suite, and the stunning view of the Arabian Gulf, shook me to my very core. The deep azure waters of the Gulf danced with the myriad of colors that adorned the room, with brilliant shades of chic mauve, cyan blue, bright orange that symbolize the magnificent brand. For me, simply being in the presence of such design counts as the romantic move of a lifetime, yet my heart melted further when I saw the rose 30

petals carefully placed throughout the suite and special cake waiting for me.

At that moment, I was sure my spouse was enjoying the astonished look on my face, yet as I turned to thank him profusely, he was completely engrossed in admiring the state of the art Espresso machine, then ventured to play with the Bang & Olufsen TV System. After I finally managed to pull him away from his innate habit of endlessly admiring technology in purely typical male fashion, we leisurely strolled throughout the beautiful hotel grounds before settling for a special evening arranged at the fabulous Cucina Restaurant. Before we arrived at Cucina, however, we enjoyed some refreshments at the hotel’s latest addiction and place du jour in Kuwait, the Luna lounge & Grill. Located on the 18th floor with yet another spectacular view of the gulf, a complete mocktail bar, coffee bar and private terrace, Luna is the place to meet, see, and be seen. We’re promptly served with the Giardino aromatizzato, an aromatic peachy concoction and also my absolute favorite drink, and the rose-petal garnished Profumo di rosa; we were completely mesmerized by the outstanding views from the terrace, and were even quite hesitant to leave for the romantic meal awaiting at Cucina. Noticing plenty of diners arriving for their evening of romance, we realized that the Valentine’s Day festivities are carried out at various venues at the hotel.

Located on the first floor of the hotel, Cucina is the stylish restaurant that offers a contemporary yet elegant feel, an echo of the great Italian family

kitchen that can seat up to 106 people. As Cucina also means 'the kitchen', and traditionally the kitchen is the heart of the Italian home, I’ve always admired this special restaurant for its timeless charm and resplendent display of stylish couture.

My heart skipped a beat as I glanced at the tables dressed for dinner in immaculate white tablecloths, with romantically placed floral and candlelit centerpieces. The lights were dimmed to give way for a quick surrender to the intimate setting. With the live music that perfectly complimented the romantic ambience, I was soaring with pleasure, completely enamored by the beauty of how my Valentine’s Day has unveiled into an even more exquisite evening. Towards the end of the night, the hotel also arranged for a special Missoni surprise gift that was so spectacular.

As if we hadn’t had enough of the pleasing Cucina, we went back downstairs for breakfast the next morning for yet another superb meal. After all, this restaurant is a place I personally couldn’t get enough of, as it is the inspired culinary vision of Madame Rosita Missoni, Mama Missoni herself, and is realized by renowned Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli, the hotel’s consulting chef and owner of London’s Locanda Locatelli restaurant. As our breakfast came to an end, I bid adieu to the gloriously romantic setting, for I will forever remember Hotel Missoni for its charming Italian elegance, and its splendid celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Hotel Missoni is Celebrating the week of Romance between the 9th and 18th of February. Book your unforgettable weekend getaway at the Missoni Maggiore for KD 165 per night, or your romantic evening at either Cucina, or Luna Lounge for KD 20 per person. For more information, please call 2577 0000.

Check out Hotel Missoni Kuwait on Facebook by visiting,www.facebook.com/pages/Hotel-MissoniKuwait/144658072260299 or follow them on twitter by visiting, twitter.com/HotelMissoniKuw.

fashionality

LADY FOZA ZA

By Alanoud Badr

Are we fashion followers, or creators? Has it become an intrinsic result of social norms to follow any given trend dictated by glossy magazines and glamorous editorials? What makes any individual unique?

How are we inspired to dress in a specific way? bazaar explores the philosophy of ‘fashion’ by interviewing the style innovators of our generation, with a special focus on their picks for the season.

Step aside, Lady Gaga. For as much as the fashion world idolizes your unique style, we choose to stick with one of our own. Call us biased towards Arab fashionistas, if you may, yet the fashion and style symbol that is Lady Fozaza, is skyrocketing towards iconic status.

Founded by Alanoud Badr, a.k.a. Lady Fozaza, a nickname she's better known for amongst fashion circles, her fabulously fierce line of limited edition statement blazers are garnering rave reviews from the fashioncrazed, and is now being sold at Dubai’s glamorous Bloomingdales. Why did Lady Fozaza choose the blazer to launch her design debut? She believes that this item is timeless and flexible, and a wardrobe staple that everyone seems to take for granted.

Not only is Alanoud a creative fashion force of nature, she is an accomplished fashion consultant and buyer, and her blog, fashiongossip10, receives high traffic and satisfies even the most insatiable fashion cravings. With a cocktail pedigree of being half Saudi, half LebaneseAmerican, Alanoud brings embellished elegance, confidence and bold beauty to her creations.

Does fashion ‘make’ the person or does the person ‘make’ fashion?

I believe the person makes the fashion, or at least ‘should’! ‘Wear the dress don’t let the dress wear you’ is something I always go by. To give the clothes you wear a voice is to wear them with respect to who you are and your true style.

How would you describe your style?

Rock n’ Runway.

How do you get inspiration for your style?

My inspiration comes from within. However, I’m a huge fan of anything that moves all senses when worn and seen. For example, Balmain, Alexander McQueen and Michael Jackson have reinvented fashion to make it not only timeless, but priceless!

What does it take to become a style innovator?

To stay true to your personal style and to create a signature look that will follow you through all your collections, making your fashion followers not only devoted, but also loyal.

What’s exciting right now in fashion?

The many risks big fashion houses are making these days and the many ways they are getting our attention back.

Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?

My mother is, by far, my greatest fashion influence.

She was, and still is, a great trendsetter of her time and one who has taught me that fashion is never bought but 32

rather created. Also, the fabulous street style of people you see on the streets of London and NY. It’s the RAW fashion I look for when it comes to influence.

Who are your favorite designers, and what is it that you love about them?

I’m fascinated with Mary Kantranzou and the great job Olivier Rousteing is doing for BALMAIN, because I thought one of my favorite brands would go up in flames and the opposite is happening with Olivier. When it comes to local emerging designers I LOVE KAGE, which can be found in Boutique1.

What is the highlight of your ‘style’ career?

When seeing Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian wear one of my blazers on several occasions, it was, and still is, a pleasant surprise and one that I’m proud of.

Every fashionality has as a style obsession, what’s yours?

SHOES!!!

Do you follow any fashion blogs? If so, what are they and which would you recommend?

I have a list of ones I’m addicted to. These include: Pintsized fashionista, Mahryska.com, Anybodysomebodynobody.com,Theshadesandscarf.com, Thefiercediaries.com.

To be stylish is to be fashionable. True or False and why?

FALSE! To be stylish is to be unique and true to your fashion!

Lady Fozaza’s signature blazers are sold at the Walkin Closet boutique in Kuwait. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/LadyFozaza.

Season’s picks:

COCKTAIL DREAMS

AMAZON

SASSY

KRAZE

MATRIX 33

CAKE COUTURE Cake designs by Talal Al Hamdhan By bazaar staff

Meet the inspirational talent that is Talal Al Hamdhan, the pioneer of cake designing in Kuwait.

As a cake designer, Talal believes that every occasion deserves a special cake that needs to stand out in two aspects, taste and presentation.

A mastermind in the field of edible art, we learn more about Talal’s cakes in this special interview.

How did you get started?

I started by coincidence. My family and I had moved to the US as my wife was working on her PhD. At the time, I had a group of Arab friends I met up with every weekend, so I got into the habit of cooking for them. I realized I missed home-cooked food, especially my mother's cakes! I called her up for some recipes, and I just became very interested in baking. I started with my close friends, and then my weekend specialties spread around the community I lived in. I used to watch the Food Network, watch the cake challenges, and I became completely engrossed in the whole art of cake designing. I then took classes with teachers of the cake challenges such as Michelle Bommarito. The cake challenges taught me so much, and I learnt so many techniques by simply watching, let alone taking classes with these great masters.

Is there a certain chef, or cake designer, that you look up to?

Chef Ron, of Ron's Cakes, in New York is absolutely 34

an inspiration, especially his work with flowers. I was lucky enough to take a class with him during my time in Los Angeles. We learnt how to create decorative items for cakes, like poppies, lilies, tulips, and crafting jewelry out of sugar.

Do you also bake the cakes?

Of course, I create the whole design, including the cake. No body touches anything, except for my wife who helps me with the decorating at times, as I trust her taste.

I have several recipes that I like to make; my specialty is the chiffon cake, which is a mix between the sponge cake and the Bundt cake. White angel cakes, marble cakes, raspberry, blueberry, cheesecakes, all kinds of flavors, I even make a delicious cheesecake konafa. However, my specialty lies in cake designing, I am really not a chef.

How would a typical order take place?

Say that you are planning your wedding; you would use a designer for your gown, a wedding planner, etc. I do the same for your cake. I would design a masterpiece. I'll ask you about your theme, your color preferences, your dress, and then I would start designing. Depending on the size of the cake, and the details required, I would then determine the time needed to execute the design. I also bake the full cake as well, after deciding on the design of the cake.

How did you get started in Kuwait?

My sister first requested a cake for a friend's birthday, I did it, and her friends went mad for it. They were so surprised that her brother actually designed and baked the cake. After that, word of mouth took over, and people started calling me for orders. I

thought, why not? This always adds to my portfolio.

Suddenly, the media contacted me, and I was so surprised by the interest people showed towards my hobby. I think that this is because my specialty is very rare, and I am the first Kuwaiti male cake designer trained with such great teachers. Sadly, people still don't fully understand the concept of cake design, yet it is picking up now given the positive feedback I am receiving.

What inspires you?

A teacher once told me, 'Once you reach a point where everything and anything you see inspires you, you know you have reached a high level of creativity.'

I see a window design, flowers, anything around me inspires me. I take plenty of pictures, and then I expand based on that.

What is your favorite technique, or kind of design, you like to create?

I love working on flowers, roses, as they are the most challenging and deliver a very desirable effect.

What are your hopes for cake designing in Kuwait?

It's too early to tell. I would love to start a cake designing school in Kuwait. I learnt so much in the US, and would be introducing new cake techniques which I would love to put Kuwait on the cakedesigning map on a global level. That is my ultimate goal. Another goal of mine is to participate in a large cake challenge in the US at a cake Expo in Oklahoma.

It's a reunion with your colleagues, your teachers, and the experience alone would teach me a great deal.

The Kuwaiti bride, and our culture is the inspiration behind the design I wish to enter with. I would also love to cake salon, or cake atelier, to allow for my work to develop further.

For more information, please visit http://www. talalscakes.com, email q8@talalscakes.com or call94455259.

bazaar goes dining

POTBELLY GOODNESS Chicago’s favorite sandwich shop By bazaar staff

An antique in of itself, the Potbelly sandwich comes with a bountiful heritage identical to its deliciously rich fillings. What started as a small antique store in 1977 run by a quaint, nice young couple, unexpectedly turned into a flourishing sandwich business with the wife’s use of the traditional Potbelly oven as a sandwich toaster for snacks made to visitors and passersby. Used as a tool to bolster business in the competitive world of antique-dealing, the couple never expected the warm and toasted sandwiches to become an instant hit; people who couldn't care less about vintage glass doorknobs were stopping by to enjoy special sandwiches and homemade desserts in this unusual atmosphere.

As the years passed, the lines grew. Booths were added, along with ovens for toasting sandwiches to perfection, hand-dipped ice cream - even great music.

A signature element present in today’s many Potbelly Sandwich shops is the vintage photograph of the first live jazz band entertaining Potbelly goers outside the sandwich shop, a reminder of a charming time, and timelessly mouthwatering great sandwiches. Soon enough, the little antique shop became a full-fledged, totally unique sandwich joint. When entrepreneur Bryant Keil brought the original sandwich shop to Lincoln Avenue in Chicago in 1996, the true journey for Potbelly began. Keil, along with his team of experts, embarked on taking the original Potbelly experience to new heights, obsessing over every detail of each new store to ensure that they maintained the authentic charm and heritage of the original store. With a current standing of over 200 stores, Potbelly remains a neighborhood favorite, and a welcome addition to the local dining scene in Kuwait in the heart of the Avenues shopping haven.

As soon as we heard about the opening of the new sandwich joint, we invited blogger, and bonafide foodie, Ansam AlRadwan (www.ansam5I8.com) to join us in sampling the authentic Potbelly experience.

Upon our arrival, we are transfixed with the smiling staff eagerly inviting us inside; the charm of a vintage shop quickly takes over. Potbellies in different sizes 36

and forms are apparent throughout the shop, along with grand wooden tables, walls adorned with antique posters, and the rising aroma of warm toasted bread ushering us closer to have our taste of Potbelly greatness. Known for toasty warm sandwiches, extra good soups and salads, and cookies that are baked every day, we decided to try the whole Potbelly package.

The actual experience of ordering couldn’t be simpler or faster than ordering at a fast food joint, except that the difference in taste and quality is monumental.

First of all, you simply choose your sandwich and bread.

For the breads available, you choose between two sizes of bread, the original or bigger size, and then you have

your option between regular or healthier multigrain. Do not be fooled, as healthier does not mean tasteless. If anything, the multigrain bread makes for a richer flavor when deciding on one of the delicious fillings on offer.

For health watchers, you can order your bread “thin-cut” for about a third less bread, leaving off the mayo, and loading up on lettuce, tomatoes, or sliced pickles.

As soon as your choice is made, the friendly staff places your sandwich through the oven to appear mere minutes later, and that’s where all the fun begins; when you enter the sandwich fantasy of your dreams. Double up with meats, extra cheese or mushrooms, extra hot peppers and veggies a plenty. Then it’s done; Potbelly

greatness between your fingers in absolutely no time.

As we earlier decided, we ordered the broccoli cheddar soup, a heartwarming start, as well as the uptown salad. Diced cubes of juicy grilled chicken, dried cranberries, whole grapes, diced red onions and apples, with crumbled blue cheese and candied walnuts, this salad was an instant hit with us, especially with our customized dressing of ranch with a dash of balsamic vinegar. Not only so, the kind people at Potbelly also offer you the choice of dressing and tossing your salad for you, so the perfect marriage between dressing and salad happens even before you crack open the lid. Offering a great value meal on its own, the salad is quite filling, and we had to take a long pause in order for us to dig into our sandwich choices. Instead, we each sipped on a handdipped, real strawberry ice cream milkshake that is made with love, as the milkshake comes with a cute little butter cookie on the straw. We got two of them.

Torn between inhaling the creamy goodness of the milkshakes, and finishing off the salad, we decided to calm our nerves, and give our taste buds a whiff of the freshly toasted sandwiches.

The passion for food couldn’t be more apparent in these delicious Potbelly sandwiches. From simple smoked turkey breast, traditional meatballs tossed in marinara sauce and provolone cheese, to all-star favorites like the carnivorous ‘Wreck’, the select ingredients signify the Potbelly greatness. Going for the ‘Wreck’ as one of

our sandwich choices, we glanced at its meaty filling, and immediately understood why Potbelly became a sandwich sensation rather than an antique store. Made with roast beef, old world salami, oven roasted turkey breast, hickory smoked turkey and melted Swiss cheese, each bite was a perfect balance between the veggie toppings we opted for, and the meaty variety. Another favorite of ours included the grilled chicken and cheddar cheese sandwich, along with leafy toppings, mustard and mayo. Trying this sandwich on regular bread rather than multigrain, our testament is slightly changed, as our bread verdict approves both as equally delicious!

Although we ordered two original sized sandwiches and went for halves, we were so surprised to be completely stuffed.

Ansam, however, would truly make for a welcome addition to our dining guide tasters, as her eagerness to try dessert matched, if not rivaled, ours. Holding the urge to go all out and try the ice cream sandwiches, we tried the homemade brownie cookie, as well as an unforgettable oatmeal and chocolate chip cookie. Both were still warm and chewy, fresh out of the oven, and melted in the mouth upon contact—those cookies, with their outrageous goodness, delivered the truly desired, earth-shattering effect that is only induced by the successful cookie.

Will we be going back to Potbelly? Absolutely! And we’re pretty sure we’ll be running into Ansam, munching

on a ‘Wreck’ sandwich, her new favorite. On a more editorial note, we will be going back to Potbelly for its great tasting sandwiches, good vibes, and its quick and breezy ordering process. By the time we were done with our meal, we witnessed a birthday group come inside, place their what-seemed-like-an-endless order, receive their sandwiches, sit, eat and sing happy birthday.

This large group was served in less than ten minutes!

Coffee lovers on the go come in and order their favorite Starbucks fix (Starbucks coffee is sold in store, as well) along with their Potbelly sandwich, and promptly leave after quickly having their meals. In a bustling mall like the Avenues, Potbelly is the charming haven filled with good vibes, and great sandwiches.

Get your own Potbelly, and make your sandwich dreams come true, by heading to the food world at Phase II of the Avenues. For more information, please visit www.Potbelly.com or call 22581997.

37

‘FIFTY: FIFTY’ The SSH Design Club Competition By bazaar staff

Without having an understanding of our past, we can never hope to plan for an enlightened future. In light of the challenges we face to live in a sustainable world, the SSH Design Club, part of the SSH professional, multi-disciplinary building services, engineering, planning and sustainability consultancy, has embarked on an inspiring journey born from the very essence of our roots, the manner in which we communicate. Collaborating with the Architecture of Kuwait creative platform, the SSH Design Club has sparked an engaging initiative like no other, to complete a book that is a masterful blend between history, design, and architecture in the Kuwaiti context and serves as a rewarding contribution to this nation’s memorable history.

A creative mastermind of sorts, Waleed Shalaan, Principal Architect at SSH, has taken this initiative to heart, moved by how a converted empty room, or dead space, at the SSH head quarters has spurred a creative collective materialized by the Design Club. He states, “The story of a space, the lessons learnt here are the impact of space on the quality of our lives. This dead space, or any given space for that matter, was our haven where we would bring books, play chess, communicate.

This is how it ultimately led to the initiative.”

The idea of creating a book, which showcased Kuwait’s history in such a unique light, started with the dead space Waleed refers to, “With the design club, we conducted weekly meetings on a regular basis, and Mr. Sabah Abi-Hannah, who happens to be the founder of the company, was invited to give a speech. He spoke about the past, and how he decided to venture into the 38

world of architecture, inspired by a historical municipality sign he noticed on the streets of Beirut.” Inspired by his speech, Waleed pivotally envisioned an initiative that showcased the history of Kuwait over the last fifty years in the eyes of its architectural context. He continues, “I thought to myself, Kuwait's 50th anniversary coincided with our company's 50th anniversary. Let's create a book showcasing these intertwining stories for this is a golden opportunity. We were looking for an opportunity to give back to the country where we grew as an organization and individuals. This is our contribution in saying that here’s a history book that tells a story rather than print some images.”

Abi-Hannah’s story fits perfectly within Kuwait’s developmental history. Rather than listing dates in a static manner, the story of Abi-Hannah and the SSH’s journey shows a grand history of Kuwait’s development through the projects executed by the organization and its dynamic evolution. Waleed states excitedly, “We show that we have made a difference in Kuwait throughout fifty years. We are a part of a history and we steer these contributions in context. The history suddenly comes alive through architecture. For students in the field of design, architecture, and many other fields, an inspirational dimension is achieved. Students can, indeed, dream to achieve, just like Mr. Sabah Abi-Hannah.”

Waleed ensured us that the SSH is almost done with completing this story, yet a final chapter was dedicated to the future. “Rather than naively predicting the future in the next fifty years and looking like Jetsons while we try to do it, we wished for the youth to take part in this segment of the book. That’s where the competition comes

in—Q82061. We’ve looked at fifty years from the past, and now we wish to include fifty years from the future.”

Launching the competition on the 10thof January, at an event that was held at the Sultan Gallery, The SSH Design Club collaborated with the Arch of Kuwait to showcase a collection of photographs from the KOC, Kuwait Oil Company, archives, which displayed Kuwait in its early beginnings. Waleed recounts that “the setting fifty years ago is truly astounding, as little did anyone know about what the future held for Kuwait's economic, social, and architectural landscape. With these photographs, people were absolutely taken fifty years into the past, and upon leaving the gallery people are 'brought back to the future', and in essence we are the future of the past. The event was like time travel, even museum curator Farida Sultan spotted a picture of her grandfather during his youth.” This special event, perhaps, creatively ignited the invitees to envision Kuwait in 2061. Waleed adds,“We invite anyone to participate, and the only two constraints include time and space. In terms of space, participants have a 50 by 50 by 50 cubic area, to convey the idea.

A model, plasma screen, a sketch, a fold out, anything goes! The other constraint is another fifty, the number of days participants have to create their submission. The closing date of the competition is the 29th of February.”

Also promoted by the Architecture of Kuwait creative and professional platform, participants claim their entry numbers via their website. A jury of five people will be judging the competition, which will include artists, businessmen, architects, engineers, thinkers, painters, and visionaries of the future. The First prize winner will receive a KD1000 reward. In essence, all the entrants are winners, as their work will be featured in the book to complete its final part to make it truly fit for its title, 50:50. A secondary event will take place, this time showcasing the competition entries, the judgment process,and then announcing the winners.

Fifty days later, the book will be launched during a third and final event.

For information about the SSH Design Club, please visit www.facebook.com/SSHDesignClub or www.sshic.com. To enter the competition, please visit www.archofkuwait.com.

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: DISCERNMENT

By Jaye Sonia

I don’t think it matters which game we play, be it the brand new Star Wars: The Old Republic, Skyrim, Battlefield 3, or the venerable World of Warcraft – games take up a lot of our time. With a host of available options, we spend more of our “gaming” time choosing how to best optimize our playing experience. This means sorting through a host of class options, weapon unlocks, vanity achievements, professions (and the time-consuming ‘farming’ that goes along with them in most MMOs), and any number of other options a particular game offers.

Of course, if we have multiple characters – either in a single game or across a series of games – we find the demand on our time multiplied accordingly. Then, we’re faced with a choice – do we game more or do we split our time. Assuming we have a healthy addiction to gaming (and by healthy, I mean we still interact with others outside of gaming), we’re forced to step away from the game and split our time.

This is where using discernment in our gaming life comes into play (and yes, the pun is very much intended).

Socially, we’re generally taught not to discriminate.

It’s frequently seen in a negative light – the sure sign of a small mind. But it’s also a tool that allows us to make choices that affect our lives, day-to-day. Do we buy the new phone? Do we invest time and money into the Star Wars or do we stick with World of Warcraft (or do we do both)? Do we choose to level our holy paladin, our 40

Imperial agent, or our engineer? That’s a lot to decide, but in deciding – and making that decision a concrete one – we definitely enhance our playing experience.

I think it’s wise to point this out – especially to newer gamers (or those with noticeably short attention spans cough, cough…. this would be Mr. Frostfire) - the more characters you build, the harder it is to achieve a level sufficient to really enjoy end game content. This may not be a big problem with single player games (like Dead Island or Skyrim), but it definitely comes into play in most of the popular MMOs. Of course, with the increasing complexity of games in general, this isn’t going to change. If anything, the open content and available options we love, as gamers, will only increase. So, unless you’re planning on creating more time in the day, you’re going to have to ration the time you do have.

I think the best way we can do this is by, first, deciding which games hold the most value to us as gamers.

If you’re like me, you’ve got a little more to sort through. I like games in general (not to mention writing about them), so I have a little more to juggle. You may have other hobbies (like paintball, driving your parents crazy, or racing dune bikes through the desert) that demand an equal amount of time. If so, you understand the dilemma.

So how do we pick?

I think the best first step is to identify how much time you can reasonably dedicate (without our mothers

calling in for a search party). I think 1-2 hours a day is reasonable, more if you limit the days you play. I certainly wouldn’t play more than 14 hours a week (but hey, that’s me).

Secondly, I’d identify where my current passion is. If you’re in love with the Star Wars universe, for instance, you’re probably going to choose to play Star Wars: The Old Republic and focus on that. Once you know that, it should be easy enough to pick your faction (and of course, play a Sith on Niman with the rest of us… hehehehehe).

Thirdly, I’d play each class a little to get a feel for what character or storyline fits your play style the best. But before you do this, make sure you set your own level cap.

Know that, for instance, you’re going to choose by level 7. Once you get there, it’s easy enough to move forward with the class that fits the best.

Then, focus on that character. Pour yourself into the story, study the class, and make the most of it. When you do need breaks, look to simpler games (console games with a pause button are a great choice) to fill the gap. You maintain a level of variety while keeping your skills sharp in other games (like your favorite FPS).

But, and this is the most important, you determine just which games are the most important to you. This keeps your gaming in perspective and allows for an almost critical approach to play – something all of us can benefit from.

Until next time, get your game on!

artist of the month

MASHROU 3 LEILA By bazaar staff

An extreme, yet precise, dose of Beirut is embodied by Mashrou3 Leila. A transient musical experiment, literally translated as an overnight project, a band whose music is synonymous with Beirut, with its daily addictives, daily absurdities, and as band member Raafat Majzoub effortlessly describes, “The product of its day-to-day experiences, its stubborn security and lack of the latter…its musical bombshells.”

Starting out as a musical workshop at the American University of Beirut in 2008, the sounds of band members Haig Papazian, Carl Gerges, Hamed Sinno, Omaya Malaeb, Andre Chedid, Firas Abou Fakher and Ibrahim Badr came together in an experimental manner, mixing in hints of Arabic Tarab, folk pop, electro, and rock. Perhaps best known for their many street performances throughout Lebanon, Leila is heard in various venues in Beirut, taking over public piazzas as well as clubs and pubs. A place 42

to play, to match and mis-match, Mashrou3 Leila is the musical project which ignites passion, incites nonchalance, and spurs the imagination.

How did your musical journey begin?

It began during our University years at the Architecture and Graphic Design department.

We had all stopped playing music because of the workload from our studies and one day Haig, Andre and Omaya hung some posters calling for a weekly jam for whoever played music. So once a week we met, composed and played our music.

What/Who inspires you to write your music and lyrics?

I think each member comes from a distinct place when writing music, but we all realize the importance of the bigger picture. So the diversity doesn’t amount to conflict but rather to richer textures and sounds.

Much of the writing happens inside the jam room, when all of us are together, so on our first album,

we were heavily drawing on our daily experiences as young adults in a troubled Beirut. But as time has progressed I feel the topics and the themes have evolved to a more personal human level.

Is the final sound of a musical track an individual or group effort?

Definitely, a group effort. We all like to believe that we contribute to whatever makes the song better, whether that means that we are playing several instruments, doing percussions or sometimes not playing at all! We like to experiment with the sounds we can obtain in the studio and in the technical process of recording and producing music.

Who/What in your early beginnings influenced your music?

Like I said, much of our early work was derived from our day to day experiences in Beirut. From the moment we met we agreed to start writing our own original music—we never covered other bands or

things like that. And I think we were all silently (maybe not so silently) fed-up with a lot of the Lebanese music that was being produced, things that are very plastic and far from our realty.

In your opinion, what was the hardest challenge you faced in your musical career so far?

Being a musician in the Middle East is definitely a challenge. The lack of infrastructure and funding forces musicians to be their own managers, booking agents, distribution label and marketing team. This takes a big chunk out of the time reserved for writing music which, theoretically, is supposed to be the primary concern. Balancing everything needed to keep Mashrou3 Leila alive and spreading the music is

definitely a big challenge.

How has the Middle Eastern world reacted to your sound?

Other than Beirut, we have played in Cairo, Amman, Dubai and Doha, and all of these cities had exceptional audiences. I think that the Arab world has started sharing its cultural productions through things like Facebook and Twitter and other social media.

This is starting to diversify and educate artists on the goings-on in countries around them.

Do you feel that music should always serve a specific purpose?

Not necessarily. Music can be a vehicle for advocating change or for spreading awareness or even just for fun.

What are some of your favorite tracks, and why?

My favorite track is a new, not yet recorded track called ‘keef bitbee3ni lal romaan’. It’s really a great track to get audiences pumped up!

What would you like to accomplish in the future?

Play more gigs and put out more recordings.

Will Mashrou3 Leila visit us in Kuwait?

Get us a gig!!!

For more information, please visit: www.mashrou3leila.com 43

THE LUVCAKES Cakes made with love by Sevan By bazaar staff

An Anonymous quote once stated, "My soul has had enough chicken soup, now it wants cupcakes."

Sometimes, nothing hits the spot like a batch of cupcakes made with love, that even the baker feels a wave of happiness wash away any negativity once they see their efforts consumed with such pleasure.

Take Sevan Vartanian, who leads a high powered, highly stressful, position by day. At heart, she is simply a baker who wishes to be, loving to surround herself in her designated corner in the family kitchen, being one with her ingredients. Her story with her famous ‘LuvCakes’ is one of inspiring passion, driven by her search for a release from life’s daily pressures.

According to Sevan, her passionate affair with baking stems from her mother’s love for cooking. She states, “In our house, we love to cook and bake. During the weekends, my mother and I are always in the kitchen.”

She kids, “We don’t have lives like that.” Before embarking on her journey towards cupcake heaven, Sevan was the cookie savant. “I’ve perfected the art of baking the immaculate cookie. With an increasing amount of stress in my life, I just came home one day and decided that's it!

I had to let this stress out. I simply started baking, wishing to do something different. Then I thought to myself, why not cupcakes?” A meticulously careful person by nature, Sevan spent her time researching different recipes in her family’s ‘recipe book room’ as she likes to call it, “It’s basically a room filled with recipe books. Literally!” Upon finding recipes she liked and taking her mother’s advice, she entered the kitchen to see how she would fare with her first attempt at cupcakes.

She recounts the very first LuvCakes, “My first 46

batch included chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, and of course the topping was horribly executed. I didn't know anything about cupcakes, let alone frosting, yet I felt keen on giving it a go.” Taking her time to execute the whole process from scratch, Sevan rushed to her brother, a foodie like herself, to try them out. “What surprised me was his facial expression when he first tried them. The smile of pleasure that came across his face was the first sign that I was on the right path.”

She excitedly returned to the kitchen, eager to try out different flavors. Taking that special smile on her brother’s face as a sign of encouragement, Sevan ventured to develop orange cupcakes, created a special vanilla orange frosting, cinnamon and apple cupcakes.

Ever since that first day when she stressfully entered the kitchen looking for an answer, she made cupcakes a therapeutic ritual. She states, “I would bake for 2-3 hours every Saturday for a continuous period of a year and half.

Whenever I baked, I took the cupcakes to the office the following day. Now, my colleagues expect my cupcakes every Sunday. My friends recommended that I start my own business, and now that is my dream; a small bakery where I make my cupcakes and cookies. I wouldn’t want anything too grand, just a small place where I can pursue my passion.”

For Sevan, the process of perfecting her LuvCakes didn't happen instantaneously, it required a lengthy period of experimentation. She states, "My friends and family are like my guinea pigs, they kept trying all the different cupcakes I’d make and give me their recommendations. These would include making them moister, adjusting the sweetness of the frosting, or the

size of the cake. So one can say that I have perfected these LuvCakes after an extended period of experimentation."

She knew she was on the right track whenever she saw the look she once saw on her brother’s face when he first tried the cupcakes. She adds, "I knew that when I'd see that same look, that same facial expression, that I'd have done it."

Always eager to perfect her recipes out of her passion for this hobby, the biggest challenge for Sevan was achieving the perfect red velvet recipe. She laughingly states, “The first time I tried it, it turned brown, the second time the frosting was horrible. It took me about ten attempts to get it right! But because I LOVE what I do, I never stopped trying. Eventually, I came up with my own trick for the cheese frosting; now I make THE red velvet cupcake. " Stemming from her innate characteristic of always trying to make people happy, Sevan finds great joy and pleasure in having someone's day turn around after trying her cupcakes. For Sevan, choosing the name, The LuvCakes, signified her whole goal of baking; what started as a form of stress release for her also helped others. She concludes,“the happiness I see on people's faces made me happy!” Try any one of Sevan’s delicious LuvCakes, choose from vanilla, double chocolate, vanilla chocolate, red velvet, apple cinnamon, lemon, orange, or coconut and toffee frosting.

To order a batch of Sevan’s famous LuvCakes, please visit www.facebook.com/TheLuvcakes.

we care

PROJECT ARIJ Creating opportunity out of trash

By Elisa Franceschinis

A Story of Women’s Empowerment

Can we turn trash into a means for women’s economic empowerment and, possibly, a business opportunity, as well? Siham Nuseibeh, a young Kuwaiti social activist of Palestinian origin certainly thought so when she envisioned Project Arij for The en.v Initiative.

Project Arij (Arij) was launched by Theen.v Initiative (en.v) in March of 2011. Arij aspires to provide an alternate source of income to underprivileged women in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. What makes this project especially innovative is the way that this is achieved: Using waste-water and waste-paper, women are taught to “upcycle” by turning trash into contemporary stationery and accessories, which can then be retailed to turn a profit. “Upcycling” has gained popularity in the 48

United States and Europe in recent years, but this Arab initiative also incorporates a cultural and socioeconomic component; converting local heritage and ecoconsciousness into a sustainable business model. en.v is a Kuwait-based, carbon-neutral organization that promotes social responsibility in the Arab World. en.v and its parent organization, El Boutique Creative Group, are seen by many as a beacon of alternative art and creativity in Kuwait – compounded by a strong message for social progress. REUSE, an annual exposition to promote eco-friendly living, is one such example of en.v’s unique platforms to promote sustainability. Over the span of four days, REUSE showcases the efforts of innovative and socially conscious Arab entrepreneurs, artists and initiatives via creative mediums such as film,

music, art, fashion, and so forth.

In early 2011, en.v launched en.v Social Programs – A not-for-profit division within the organization to foster and support social development programs in the region.

Their objective was simple: “we need to play a handson role when it comes to our community and society’s development.” Arij is one of several en.v Social Programs (one they are particularly proud of!). en.v selected The Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts (Al-Jana, ARCPA) to be the implementing partner and project lead for Arij. Al-Jana is one of a handful of NGOs that attempts to preserve and promote cultural heritage by working with underprivileged individuals in Lebanon. Al-Jana has launched a host of initiatives in the field of the arts, such as the Palestinian Film Festival,

the Children’s Film Festival, and the International Youth Photo Gallery. Through Arij, Al-Jana continues to support art and culture in a modern eco-friendly format, while providing training and opportunity to marginalized women, as well.

The first phase of Arij was funded by The Body Shop Foundation. The Foundation is The Body Shop International Plc's charitable trust. It supports innovative projects in the fields of human rights, environmental sustainability and animal protection. The Body Shop Foundation selects initiatives to fund on an annual basis through recommendations made by their global network of employees. When Arij was recommended to them (by The Body Shop, Kuwait), they were so excited about the prospect of the program, they tripled their initial grant offer! Thanks to their generous support, the first phase of Arij was completed successfully.

Eight women were selected to participate in the first phase of Arij. All eight women were previously unemployed and came from low-income families. They are a varied and spirited group of women. Some are married with children, some are widows and some are single. They are bound by a thirst for knowledge and a will to help support their families.

In order to help facilitate their ambitions, Arij secured

a workspace, and re-developed it into a functional facility where the women can be trained in the art of paper-making from agricultural and paper waste and transforming it into stationary, decorations, post cards and gift bags. The women also engaged in trust and confidence-building exercises in order to match their new skills with greater self-assurance and self-esteem.

The results were spectacular. As Laila, a 52-year-old Palestinian widowed mother of four puts it: “I feel how important I am now and that I have rights and should do my duties.” Or, as Zahira, a 48-year-old Lebanese mother of two, points out: “I increased my will and self trust, and I can now express myself freely.” The women have just developed their first sample collection, and are eager to move forward to the next stage of the program.

The first collection includes colorful and original trays, bowls, photo albums, bags and portfolios, as well as heritage notebooks, cards and envelopes. The level of craftsmanship and creativity achieved was made possible by the expertise of artist Deborah Di Fiore.

Deborah, a guest trainer and graphic designer from France, personally trained and guided the women in developing their own techniques and original designs for their first collection.

Arij is now embarking on phase two, which includes a fundraising-event in Kuwait as well as a marketing

and business-management-training component for the women. en.v and Al-Jana aspire for the women to fully own and manage Arij as a self-sustainable business within the next 16 months. And so, feel it important to equip the women with the tools and encouragement to take their first collection to boutiques and retail outlets around and about Lebanon, market it, and hopefully have them place orders to stock their products.

Arij also aspires to take it one step further. They envisage having graduates from the program host workshops in year three; as previously trained workers will be able to run their own empowerment courses to pass their know-how and skillsets onto other women in the community.

“Arij has the potential to become wholly autonomous and sustainable in the long-term, improving the lives of a great many number of women. In order to achieve this, it has to be supported and nurtured in the short-term financially and scholastically.” Zahed Sultan, CEO and Managing Partner, en.v.

To find out more about Arij, their wonderful collection, or make a donation contact: env@envearth.com, T + 965 22524614, F +965 2252 4615 www.socialprograms.envearth.com.

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closet Bibi

NATIONALISTIC RETAIL THERAPY

By Bibi Al-Falah

There are obvious ways to support Kuwait during this month filled with festivities. The MOST obvious would be heading to the Gulf Road in your favorite Kuwait T-shirt and some spray— if you can get your hands on any! I don’t know anyone who has the patience to be stuck on the 50

road for that long nowadays, but without fail, that street gets bumper-to-bumper traffic every year in celebration. The best part is actually seeing all of the crazy classic cars that seem to emerge.

Houses become covered in flags and lights while mothers dress their children in adorable black,

white, red and green costumes (side note: these are not ALWAYS so adorable). Last year was truly unforgettable with the 20 years of liberation/50 years of independence decorations gracing the streets and the gorgeous (and ridiculously expensive) fireworks behind the Kuwait Towers.

Personally, I think we should embrace the less obvious and more significant ways to celebrate this special time. We should enjoy the month that holds our National and Liberation days by actually supporting our nationals, particularly the youth. The best way to do this is by encouraging small businesses by shopping at places created and established by Kuwaiti entrepreneurs.

I can’t even count the number of establishments and stores that are locally-owned and currently all over Kuwait. I recently saw special edition T-shirts that celebrate Kuwait on Taw9eel.com featuring graphic images of the skyline amongst other funky designs. Other well-known shopping websites by talented Kuwaitis include mypinkmoon.com, shopclosetcandy.com and venyooo.com. Shopping for clothes and other goodies isn’t the only thing we can do, there are SO many amazing restaurants to choose from, as well!

I can’t stop hearing good things about Solo Pizza Napolitana in Kuwait city, where even the waiters are Kuwaiti. I recently visited The Breakfast Club in Fintas, and there were also young Kuwaitis serving the tables. Seeing the youth really giving businesses their all, and not just paying someone else to run it really makes me happy. Other fabulous locally-owned restaurants and cafes include Breakfast & Brunch, Slider Station, Milk, and an endless list of specialized home-delivery places.

Just a quick browse through the archives of popular blog ilsul6ana will give you an endless list of small businesses specializing in home deliveries.

Exhibitions are constantly held to showcase local designers of jewelry, furniture, and almost anything else you can think of! A trip to 52 Degrees in Tilal Complex will give you plenty of Kuwaiti designers and entrepreneurs all under one roof. It has clothing and other merchandise by local brands as well as restaurants like Choowy Goowy, Baked and Froobie for frozen yoghurt. Also in Tilal Complex, you will find the November Company: a locally-owned and operated event planning company that has now become synonymous with elegance and style.

So feel free to drape your house in all the flags you want (or one seriously colossal flag like some people do) and parade around with Kuwaiti merchandise all over your car. Just remember to support the people that make up the country, as well. Good luck to all of the entrepreneurs out there, and a very Happy National and Liberation day to our beloved Kuwait.

ENTER THE 99!

From a London taxicab to the covers of Newsweek and Forbes, it’s been an amazing journey for Kuwait’s Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa and his heroes of THE 99.

A product of Kuwait’s Bayan Bilingual School and the government’s educational largesse in form of successive scholarships abroad, Dr. Naif, as he is universally called, is one of his country’s most accomplished students. An honors degree from Tufts University capped off a triple major 52

undergraduate career and was quickly followed by two masters degrees in organizational and clinical psychology, and an MBA from Columbia University’s School of Business and finally by a PhD in clinical psychology from Long Island University. Along the way he penned a children’s book that won a 1997 UNESCO prize for “children’s and young people’s literature in the service of tolerance.”

After graduate school, Dr. Naif returned to Kuwait and a teaching position at Kuwait University’s Faculty of Medicine with a continuing itch to do more to advance the cause of peace and tolerance by enlisting the imaginations of children in its support. Eight years ago, in a cab ride in London with his sister, a Kuwaiti fashion designer, the origins of the idea for THE 99 began to take shape. She pressed her brother to go back to writing his children’s books. He told her that to influence the world through its children, the premise would have to be as big and far reaching as Pokemon, the multi-media, multi-billion dollar franchise that now transcends all the world’s borders, languages and cultures.

As they talked, his imagination took flight and the idea began to take shape. He would create a group of superheroes that would reflect the teachings and culture of Islam not in a religious document but through comic books that would use values that are common to all the world’s cultures and religions. They would become the building blocks of his characters. He would create role models for peace and tolerance from the same places and messages where others found excuses for prejudice and violence. And to do so, he would use derivatives of the ninety-nine attributes that Islam uses to describe Allah; strength, courage, wisdom and other virtues that all good people throughout the ages have tried to emulate.

The backstory of THE 99 begins in 1258 when history tells us the Mongols invaded Baghdad and destroyed it. All the books from the Dar-

Al-Hikma library, the largest, most famous library in its day, were thrown in the Tigris River, changing its color with all the ink. Here is where the liberties of the slightly bent pen of Dr. Naif (or historical fiction) take root.

When the librarians find out that the Mongols are on their way intent on destroying all of Baghdad, they create a special solution called King's Water that when mixed with the waters of the Tigris running black with the blood of the library’s books and then soaked into porous stones, could save all the knowledge in the books onto ninety-nine special stones. The librarians succeed, and over the course of days and weeks, they dip the stones into the Tigris to absorb all the collective wisdom that even today, most all think has been lost to civilization. Once created, the stones were then hidden as three sets of prayer beads and successfully smuggled through Arabia to Andalusia in Spain where they were safe for 200 years.

But in 1492, Granada, the last Moslem enclave in Europe falls to the Spanish. As a result, thirty-three of the stones were smuggled on Columbus’ ships and are spread in the New World. Thirty-three went on the silk routes to China, Asia and South Asia and thirty-three were spread among Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Now it's 2012 and there are ninety-nine heroes from ninety-nine different countries.

Even before the launch of the comic series, praise for the concept came from every quarter. A young documentary filmmaker, Isaac Solotaroff, began tracking Dr. Naif and the development of THE 99. Even as the first comic continued on next page...

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books began to appear, the world’s press took notice. Soon, a visit from the television giant, Endemol, took place and an agreement to create twenty-six episodes of an animated television series was signed. An Islamic investment bank joined in to finance the venture.

THE 99 was praised by the world’s press and especially so in the United States: “One of the top 20 trends sweeping the globe,” said Forbes, “The antidote to Bin Laden” said Newsweek. From the American Left and Right, THE 99 was praised as ‘part of the solution’ by gentling the children of the world with new superheroes created in their own image of innocence and promise.

As expected, THE 99 had its objectors. For a while, it was banned in Saudi Arabia and fringe conservative groups in the United States threatened to boycott it largely because of an event on April 26, 2010 when President 54

Barack Obama, in a major address on international entrepreneurship, publicly praised THE 99 and Dr. Naif for inspiring the world’s youth with its innovative message of peace and tolerance.

Shortly after the Obama speech, THE 99 began to appear standing cape to shoulder with Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in a six-part comic book crossover series, which will soon be released in the Middle East.

In October of 2011, the documentary film of Dr. Naif and the making of THE 99 was broadcast nationally to more than two million viewers in the United States on the season premiere of the PBS television series, Independent Lens.

Later that same month, the New York Film Festival invited Dr. Naif to preview THE 99 in America’s renowned Lincoln Center, which he did to great acclaim.

Kuwait’s homegrown filmmaker and THE 99 had taken New York by storm.

The future of THE 99 is even more certain than its past. This month, that same movie of THE 99 will debut in Kuwait’s theatres. And shortly after, the animated TV series will begin its worldwide premiere in more than sixty nations around the world including MBC in our region. A second season of THE 99 is already in production. Live action motion pictures are now in discussion and a treasure trove of proposed licensed products are now being considered. It’s website www.the99.org grows each week and its Official Facebook site www.facebook.com/THE99FanPage is about to hit the rarified mark of one million ‘Likes’.

2012 is shaping up to be the Year of THE 99.

CELEBRATING NATIONAL FOOD The local taste

By Meghan McCabe

What is Kuwaiti cuisine? I believe that people ask this question because until recently, there were less than a handful of Kuwaiti restaurants in the entire country. Most of the restaurants that you see here are Lebanese, so people assume that Kuwaiti food is of a Mediterranean nature. Where Mediterranean cuisine is light, Kuwaiti is more of the comfort-food variety: hearty meals with large portions of fish or meat and sauces. You won’t find nouveau cuisine portions at Kuwaiti restaurants. Comfort food comes in family/economy sizes, so pull up your 58

sleeves and put on your most comfortable stretchy pants. Generosity is a pillar of Kuwaiti hospitality and that means bringing out the large trays when guests arrive.

Generally, all Kuwaiti restaurants will offer the same dishes (it would be similar to comparing menus at steak houses). What defines one restaurant from another is their use of spice (baharat); as the spices are key to completing the dish. For example, murubbian (shrimp with dill, peppers, and cilantro over rice) would not be good without just the right amount of seasonings:

Fresh dill is a must. Without turmeric or saffron (or in some dishes, pistachios or dried cherries), rice can be bland and boring. There are many spice markets in Kuwait and I suspect that this is where McCormick™ shops; as spices here are sold by the kilo and/or sack-full. Kuwaiti mothers and grandmothers blend their own “secret” spices for unique tastes.

So, when you visit a Kuwaiti restaurant, you learn to compare how good the cuisine is by the spices used (and how fresh the fish, lamb, or chicken. Beef is rarely used). Your palate will eventually differentiate between sumac and dried lemon (for example). Both are bitter, but there are slight nuances. Sometimes, it is even possible to determine (perhaps after many years of eating Kuwaiti cuisine) where the chef is from and if he/she is trying to impersonate a Kuwaiti grandmother-chef. (At this point in my life, I am actually able to make that distinction; my waistline is my evidence.)

Types of Kuwaiti Cuisine, broken down (English spelling of translated names may differ; sometimes you will find funny spellings on menus like “lamp” for lamb.): Daqoos is a tomato sauce that accompanies rice dishes. It is made with tomatoes, salt, and garlic. Hareesa is similar to a ratatouille with chicken, meat, or shrimp, onions and peppers and accompanied by bread. Jarish (pronounced “yareesh” in Kuwaiti dialect as Kuwaitis turn “J” sounds to “Y”) is a thick oatmeal-based stew with meat broth and small pieces of lamb. Jarjeer is a form of watercress or rocket. Most meals will include jarjeer either in salad or alone. Logaymat are Kuwaiti-style donut holes. The best logaymat are crisp on the outside, lightly seasoned with saffron, coated in a sugar paste and with a very slight taste of lemon. Machboos is a dish cooked with either lamb or chicken (sometimes, although rarely, with camel), browned then baked, and served on a bed of yellow rice. Mowish is similar to murubbian, but with dried shrimp, shrimp, spices, and onion (sometimes green pepper) served on a bed of rice. It is more aromatic than murubbian. I prefer murubbian which is fresh fish, dill, cilantro, onion and green peppers. Mutabag is an accompaniment; a tomato-based stew and can be made with fish, chicken or lamb. Qabot is Kuwaiti-style dumplings: rolled dough around ground meat with raisins served in a tomato broth. Tashreeb: I love tashreeb. It is Kuwait’s lasagna and uses very thin flat bread in place of noodles, and a tomato lamb stew with vegetables and dried lemon. Tashreeb is the ultimate comfort food in Kuwait. Torshi is homemade pickles which accompany most meals.

(A note on biryani: Although you will find

biryani on almost every menu in almost every Kuwaiti restaurant, biryani is an Indian dish so I haven’t included it above. A variation of biryani, Kuwaiti-style, which I have not come across in restaurants, is pouring a small amount of saffroninfused rosewater over the rice at completion for aroma.)

Fish is an entire section on its own. Hamoor (grouper) and zubaidy are the favorites in Kuwait.

Sheem is my favorite; similar to a small bluefish with dark meat. Kuwait exports jumbo prawns; they thrive in the shallow waters in Kuwait at the

tip of the Gulf. Seafood is cooked a variety of ways in Kuwait (although steaming is not common).

Fish is either fried or grilled with hashu (stuffing consisting of dried lemon, cilantro, raisins, onions and spices). A true Kuwaiti fish meal will never neglect the accompaniment of tamarind fish sauce. Gub-gub (crabs), although plentiful and cheap in Kuwait, are not popular and great deals can be found at the fish markets. There are many seafood restaurants that are either carry-out or delivery only. Whole fish can be ordered to cook any way you like and several of these restaurants

can be found online. Try the crabs from Fresh Grill or grilled shrimp or hareesa from Fresh Fish; both on 6alabat.com.

[A note on ingredients: Lamb: Most Kuwaitis will tell you that local lamb is better than imported; it is certainly much more aromatic. If you are really lucky, you might find camel on a menu – take the opportunity and try it. It tastes like a very lean beef – if you’ve been given a good piece, especially from the hump of a young camel.

Rice: Always basmati. Vegetarian dishes: If you are a vegetarian, Kuwaiti cuisine is really not for you. If you ask for “no meat”, they will just remove it (meaning that the stew may have been cooked with lamb). However, there are several very good vegetarian restaurants in Kuwait and you can always find veg dishes in Indian restaurants.]

Fresh fruit juice can be found everywhere in Kuwait: You can find just about every possible type of fruit juice here, from moz-halib (banana and milk) to shammam (mellon), to layered cocktail juice with banana, strawberry and mango stripes.

Try a samadi (mango juice with fresh pieces of fruit) or an embratoor (similar to a samadi with ice cream). If you don’t like too much sugar; let them know as it is added generously.

Tea in Kuwait has different variations of seasonings like saffron, cardamom and mint.

Loomi tea is dried lemon (and great for colds).

Kuwaiti restaurants and décor: There seems to have been a cultural revival going on during the past five to seven years in the restaurant industry in Kuwait. Most of the Kuwaiti cuisine restaurant-owners have honored their ancestry and heritage by decorating their venues to depict a former traditional Kuwaiti way of life; many even showcasing photos of their family members from years ago. It seems to be almost a statement on social life and values, as the country has modernized so quickly. Even fifteen years ago, most Kuwaiti families didn’t dine in restaurants and today, many modern families don’t eat (or have the time for) home-cooked meals. Perhaps the owners are creating interactive mini-museums, nostalgic of a previous existence not so long ago.

Almost all of the Kuwaiti-cuisine restaurants still maintain the tradition of “family” sections and “singles” (male) sections. Many offer “cabinas” or private dining rooms – most often to make the veiled ladies more comfortable while dining. So now, an introduction to Kuwaiti restaurants (in alphabetical order): Al Boom restaurant in the Radisson Blu hotel is of Kuwait’s oldest landmarks and the only restaurant in Kuwait which is housed in an authentic Kuwaiti boom (sailing ship). It is a truly unique dining experience and anyone visiting continued on next page...

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Kuwait should really take the opportunity to visit it. Walls of the boom are decorated in teak with inlays of brass. The restaurant specializes in seafood and always has a fresh and interesting salad buffet bar. Coffee is served on an upper level and guests can get a view of the surrounding waters from visiting the top deck of the ship. Fresh bread is baked in an outdoor oven at the entrance, enticing hungry customers to venture inside.

Alwatani Kitchen has locations in downtown Kuwait, Hawalli and Abu Halifa and can be ordered online. Those who don’t like a lot of spice in their food will enjoy the meals from Alwantani.

Beit Dixon Restaurant (although spelled slightly differently) is the namesake of the historic residence of Dame Violet Dickson and British Colonial Administrator, Harold Dickson. The Dicksons were beloved by the Kuwaiti people, having spent most of their lives in Kuwait. Beit Dixon’s décor is traditional Kuwaiti; decorated to replicate old Kuwaiti living. The walls are reflective of the mud walls used in housing; there are wood beams with old/traditional food storage baskets hanging from them, and artwork which depicts Kuwait’s history.

(Note on the word “Freej”: Many Kuwaiti restaurants are prefaced with the name “Freej”.

Freej is an old Gulf term for “neighborhood”.)

Freej Bin Shamlan has one of the nicest homedelivery packages I’ve ever come across – and even includes a traditional plastic table (ok, floor, as many people sit on the floor to eat) covering.

Sometimes it is the extras that set a restaurant 60

apart from the competition. Their food was well seasoned and fresh.

Freej Suwaileh is on Salem Al-Mubarak Street in Salmiya. The décor is a replica of a Kuwaiti village with items that depict Kuwait’s history and heritage. They say you can tell how authentic a local cuisine restaurant is by the number of locals who dine there. Freej Suwaileh is packed on the weekends, especially on a Friday after prayer services. They serve a sample portion of logaymat as soon as guests are seated which is a nice touch and always makes you want to order more at the end of the meal.

Freej Eqaab is located in Dajeej off 6th Ring Road. Similar to other freej’s, it is decorated to replicate old Kuwaiti living. Freej Eqaab is my pick for an inexpensive menu, offering items at prices lower than other restaurants I’ve listed.

Maadenaa Restaurant is the most elegant Kuwaiti restaurant in town. Perched on the 28th floor of the Jasem Tower in downtown Kuwait, the restaurant offers a 360 degree view of Kuwait and the Gulf. Maadenaa serves an updated Kuwaiti cuisine and also offers Morroccan food on the menu. There is no traditional ambiance at Maadenaa; furniture and décor is modern.

Muhallab at the Palms is a traditional Kuwaiti seafood restaurant that offers all-inclusive pricing on meals. For example, if you order a whole nagroor (fish), the meal includes (for the table) mezza (assortment of cold salads), freshly baked bread, fresh fruit basket, tea and deserts.

Muhallab’s seafood is consistently high quality as

is their service. As a bonus, the restaurant is beachfront, overlooking the Hashemi boom next door and the gulf waters. It is a weekend lunchtime “must-do” especially if you are entertaining out of town visitors.

The oldest Kuwaiti restaurant in the country is Shatea Alwatyia restaurant in the Behbehani Homes complex in downtown Kuwait behind the Sheraton. Unlike many Kuwaiti restaurants that have followed, Shatea Alwatyia is located in an original old Kuwaiti-style family home, built in the 1950’s. The Behbehani houses are the few remaining remnants of Kuwait’s (not-so-distant in Western terms) past; now lost to concrete and glass.

Many current Kuwaiti restaurants have tried to replicate the ambiance of yesteryear whereas Shatea Alwatyia’s ambiance is original. If you are interested in seeing how Kuwaiti families used to live, in rooms surrounding an atrium and courtyard supported by original wood beams, Shatea Alwatyia is the place to go. The restaurant began with a Kuwaiti grandmother in the kitchen.

She has managed to retain her legacy through several chefs who have retained the consistency of quality Kuwaiti food.

Setinat is located in Hawalli on Beirut Street and offers the most tender lamb I’ve had at any restaurant. Like it’s freej cousins, Setinat is also decorated in old Kuwaiti traditional style.

Sandwich shops are everywhere in Kuwait and all you have to do is pull up to one and honk your horn and you’ll get immediate service. If you are looking for a shawarma (similar to a gyro) try Nowara with locations downtown and Salem Al-Mubarak Street in Salmiya. Doo restaurant in Salmiya has the best falafel anywhere – try it with mint. Caporia serves wonderful grilled shrimp sandwiches. You’ll find many sandwich shops for a quick-fix on Shaar Al-Mata’em (Restaurants Street) in Salmiya.

You would be remiss (as a resident or a visitor) if you left the country without ever having experienced a meal at Souq Mubarakia in downtown Kuwait. Mubarakia is the oldest and largest traditional Kuwaiti souq. It is home to numerous small restaurants that specialize in seafood, grills and other delicious items. The restaurants are mostly open-air and the best time to visit is in cooler months in the evening.

Sample great Kuwaiti food, then take a walk down numerous off-shoot alleys that sell gold, spice, Bedouin weavings, and a variety of miscellaneous merchandise within the souq.

(A note about delivery: Most of the aforementioned restaurants deliver. Many are listed on www.6alabat.com.)

‘DEAR JAWAHER’ Tips to my daughter from the classroom of my life By bazaar staff

Dear Jawaher, the soul-stirring legacy between mother and daughter, marks American born, Middle Eastern Mona Al-Hajjaj’s debut not only as a writer, but as a mother as well. As Mona’s first book, which she claims, includes ‘tips to my daughter from the classroom of my life’, the messages conveyed from Dear Jawaher are the product of a passionate affair between writing and motherhood.

Mona states, “With writing this book, I’ve accomplished a long awaited dream of mine. At the same time, I realized the integrity of its content when I became a mother myself.” For many reasons, Mona delayed publishing her first work, such as working long hours before getting married and settling down to have children, or even living abroad to pursue her studies. However, as it is always the case with destiny, everything happens for a reason, and all good things come with time. She adds, “When you've been working for a long time, you really can't sit and do nothing, and that's where I saw the light through writing.”

Deciding to write about a subject she is passionate about, Mona felt like she needed to tell her daughter more about herself, her mother, where she came from, her background, and her grandparents. “Like myself, my daughter is a mixture of many different nationalities. Her grandfather passed away a month before she was conceived, this made me feel even more compelled to tell her more about her background. If I'm her mother, she needs to learn more about me, to know the person who is going to profusely influence her life.” Besides writing about the memory of the great people in Jawaher’s life, Mona insisted upon instilling her history to provide Jawaher with the tools she needs to arm herself with when facing life’s many challenges.

Perhaps, we may perceive this gesture as highly overprotective. However, when reading through the various vignettes, or chapters, which effectively describe phases in life, Mona’s take is quite the refreshing one. For, before Mona became a mother, she led a completely different lifestyle; it is not one that is necessarily crazier, nor busier, she simply describes it as 'different'. Honestly speaking about love, marriage, how she met Jawaher’s father, mood swings, death, and even pregnancy, Mona explains that these are inevitable facts of life, she can’t sugar coat them even if she tried to. “For instance, death is a reality that is difficult to make peace with, and sadly, I cannot protect my 62

daughter from it. Introducing death in a way that she can understand was important for me, we never know how long we are going to be here for.”

Teenagers, young adults and young mothers alike will find this book to be truly refreshing, and an honest guide to live by. On the single life and motherhood, Mona believes that motherhood is something she was never prepared for. “I got married at a later age, and I am still dumbfounded by the experience. Motherhood is frightening in reality, when you see a part of you, walking around. If we worry about ourselves so much, you can only imagine how much more you are going to worry about a part of you walking down the street. It's crazy! How scared could you be?”

Once Mona made peace with that fear factor in her life, which she beautifully explains in the chapter about motherhood, she was able to portray these phases in her daughter’s life with a unique passion. She adds, “For me, this book is written to help my daughter throughout life. Teenagers, and young adults can find the answers some mothers refuse to acknowledge, a breed of honesty that is neither morbid nor too rosy, an ideal blend of both, sprinkled with the most important ingredient—hope.”

The last part of Dear Jawaher includes a series of poems Mona wrote at earlier, and various, stages of her life. She felt that the final message she wished to convey to Jawaher was her passion. A passion that she conveyed through the written word, Mona wrote poems depicting Palestine, cynicism, Kuwait and even education. These are all but some of the many subjects that have moved Mona in some way or another. On the end of the book, Mona states, “I would like to say that it is not a complete work. I’m still learning about life and motherhood, I'm already thinking of a second series as my education as a mother grows with its endearing, and sometimes frightening, experiences.”Mona hopes that someday, Dear Jawaher is read in schools, picked up by daughters like her own, and that she may also write a second book for her son, Majed.

Dear Jawaher is available for purchase on www.amazon.com, Mona Al-Hajjaj also regularly writes at www.jewelsinabox.com, a blog dedicated to her journey with Dear Jawaher and every daughter looking for answers to life’s endless questions.

Goji's Pick

FRESH NEW YEAR, FRESH GOJI SELECTION By bazaar staff

There is nothing better than a brand new year, a blank slate, fresh start- and Goji Boutique has decided to bottle that energy and unleash it in one fell swoop. 2012 sees a tumble of new and exciting designers added to their lineup, many a label recently bursting onto the scene only recently themselves. Added to the international lineup of brands come Poca & Poca, Eleven Objects, DANNIJO, Daniela Zagnolli, and Monserat De Lucca, Stretsis, and Haute Betts along with new arrivals from Tunisian-via-Paris Shourouk, venerable queen of jersey Rachel Pally, fierce accessories designer Fiona Paxton, and perennial favorite Katerina Psoma.

The internationally coveted label DANNIJO was founded by the Snyder sisters in 2008. Hand made in New York, the line combines Danielle's bohemian rocker vibe with Jodie's timeless sophistication with a stellar outcome.

Poca & Poca is auber feminine and girly Polish brand based in Dubai. Launched in 2010 by Karolina Gniewek, Poca & Poca is hand made in Poland and can already boast a regional celebrity following by the likes of Tala Samman and Butter Hot Shoes, among others.

Fall/Winter 2011 was the first season for Eleven Objects, a devastatingly chic line of detachable collars and collar sleeves, started by the unlikeliest of pairs- a biologist and architect. Devastatingly chic is the only way to describe the result.

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Shiny crystals, Czech glass beads, gems, stone skulls, metals, Swarovski crystals, and charms combine to form Haute Betts, a boho-rock-hipster line of accessories straight out of California, sported by the likes of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Rachel Zoe, and Nicole Richie.

Brazilian Daniela Zagnolli is based out of New York, and in 2010 launched her eponymous line of handcrafted line of jewelry that combined natural products with rare materials.

Where the spirit of a biker and bohemian collide, you will find Monserat De Lucca accessories. Made for everyday use, the line is all at once delicate, edgy, feminine and masculine.

Thai Pim Sukhahuta launched Sretsis while still a junior at Parsons School of Design. Quirky, whimsical and delicate, the line is carried in Thailand, Hong Kong, USA, Australia, Japan, France, Russia, and now on Goji Boutique. Fitting that a line so universally appealing is carried around the world.

This month we bring you the inside scoop on one of the favored new additions, Poca & Poca: Colorful, sweet, and ready to… eat!

Fashionistas, after your lesson in perfecting whitechic last month, now is the time to follow in Goji’s fabulous footsteps and invest in some wardrobe essentials. White shirt aside, filling your closet with versatile, yet statement pieces, doesn’t come easy to many. Some of us are born with that innate talent in picking versatile yet timelessly elegant fashions, and some like to pay close attention to their favorite shopping destinations for making that perfect choice. For us, we look no further than the absolutely fashionable Goji boutique. Always showcasing a select group of unique designers with individualistically inspired fashions, Goji Boutique successfully evolved into a modern online fashion haven.

Exclusively bringing fashionistas the latest brands, Poca & Poca is Goji’s latest fashion house arrival to update your wardrobe with seductive pieces in candy inspired colors such as pink, violet maroon, peach, and green. Not only so, the transition from winter to spring comes easily, with elegant pieces that look sweet enough to eat! As part of Goji Boutique’s dedication to continue diversifying its wide fashionable offerings,

the exclusive addition of Poca & Poca is only a natural progression for Goji; tapping into what fashionistas desire to wear, a raw and undiscovered brand that is favored by the region’s most stylish bloggers and people in the fashion industry alike. Taking Dubai and international fashion circles by storm, fashion bloggers including butterhotshoes, Tala Samman from myfashdiary.com, as well as Candy Couture can’t get enough of Karolina Gniewek’s Poca & Poca.

Poca & Poca is a young and emerging fashion brand from Poland founded in 2010 by Karolina Gniewek who brings her overall creative vision to the brand through her exceptional style, use of unique fabrics and eye for detail. Dedicated to the vibrant woman at heart, the Poca & Poca woman is feminine, sweet, simply adorable yet naturally individualistic.

Inspired by the passion for individuality and love for precious pieces, the brand creates distinctive and exceptional designs that accentuate the personal style of the individual wearing them. Exceptionally detailed towards signifying the Poca & Poca woman, a baby pink thread is used in the finishing of the collections’ pieces. Not only so, the chic designs created by Poca & Poca are artfully handmade in Poland by a team of talented tailors and artists working together

passionately and impeccably to fashion pieces of the highest caliber in terms of design and quality.

For this season, Goji Boutique carries a selection of delectable pieces from Poca & Poca that are inspired by the 50’s and 60’s in terms of cut and colors; the shorts are gently pleated while the jumpsuits bring out the girly yet sophisticated character of the collection. With prominent features of seamless ruffles, bows teamed with high wasted trousers and alluring capes in colors so seducing like a box of candies, one is inspired to not just look at it but to taste it and enjoy its sweetness.

The selection of items available include the wool cape with a bow tie neckline accented with buttons, ruffled collar blouses, and cotton high waist trousers with a bow tie front. Our favorite picks include the vibrant purple structured jumpsuit with the front accented with two golden buttons, as well as long sleeved cotton blouses that are pleated at the front and are ‘flavored’ with a mini-bow tie. Other favorites include the high waist knitted cotton pants with ankle cuffs.

Poca & Poca is carried exclusively online in Kuwait at www.gojiboutique.com.

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ART OLYMPIAD Smiles galore at the fifth “Art Olympiad” hosted by Landmark Group By bazaar staff

An eagerly anticipated competition by young artistic minds across many schools in Kuwait, the Art Olympiad is the annual art competition of the season that is hosted by the Landmark Group. On the 18th of January, the competition took to new heights, challenging the youth to present their best efforts throughout a fun an entertaining atmosphere filled with art as well as fun competitions. Amidst all the buzz and excitement that took place at the award ceremony, Landmark Group awarded the artistic talents of eight students at the fifth Art Olympiad. As with each passing year, the Art Olympiad involves competitions in two main age 68

groups; students between the age group of 9–11 years and 12-14 years. Hosted at the JW Marriott Hotel, the Art Olympiad witnessed an overwhelming response from the sixteen participating schools.

With an inspiring judging panel boasting esteemed painters from our society as well as creative leaders, the paintings were judged by famous Kuwaiti artists Assad Bunashi and Ahmad Jowhar along with Mr. Houssam Afyouni, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Raad Afyouni, and Mr. Hussam Yassin, Managing and Creative Director – Lemonad. A total of eight winners were selected at the end of the Olympiad on the basis of Creativity, Workmanship, Overall impression and Relevance to the theme. Whilst the students competed in various fun competitions after the submissions were made to the judges, the lengthy waiting period infused with entertainment proved to show that the paintings of the young talented artists offered the judges a challenging task to choose the best of the best.

As every year entails, the students were to draw inspiration from a choice of themes, this year’s competition themes, which the students could select from, included: wildlife, a favorite monument, my desire, the future gadget of 2020, what I want to be when I grow up, and finally, create your own hero/character and name it. Not only so, special categories were allocated for the most colorful artwork and the most creative artwork.

Once it was time for the students to begin drawing, the event hall became quiet as the students took to their art, as all themes, despite their apparent differences, brought out the unique talents and skills of the participants. Visitors and attendees intently observed the students as they toiled away at their drawing boards, truly captivated by the students’ total engrossment in portraying their individual visions.

After a lengthy period of deliberation and artistic critiquing, the following winners were selected. Awarded for the most creative artwork was Dana Al Ghazali - The English

School (TES), and most colorful, Isabella Joseph - Fahaheel Al Watanieh Ind. Pvt. School Ahmadi (FAIPS). In the first age group, 9-11 years, the winners included: First Winner, Naina Parasher - Fahaheel Al Watanieh Ind. Pvt. School Ahmadi (FAIPS), Second Winner, Jade Buchawski - The English School (TES), and Third Winner, Hanan Abdullah - Fahaheel Al Watanieh Ind. Pvt. School Ahmadi (FAIPS). In the second age group, 12-14 years, the winners included: First Winner, Keerthiga Nagarajan – Indian Educational School (IES), Second Winner, Catherine Biju - Indian Educational School (IES), Third Winner , Sonali T. Rane - Fahaheel Al Watanieh Ind. Pvt. School Ahmadi (FAIPS).

Each of the winning students was awarded with a number of exciting gifts. One of the winners said “It was fun taking part in this competition, I thank Landmark Group for giving me an opportunity to express myself and I look forward to participating in the competition next year as well.” The winners received certificates and trophies as well, and their schools were given a plaque of appreciation. To instill the belief that participation and efforts are worthy of rewards, all students who participated in the Art Olympiad were provided with gifts.

Mr. Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer of Landmark Group Kuwait said, “Every year the Olympiad proves to be a great accomplishment; it only gets bigger and better.

Our heartfelt congratulations go out to the winners as well as all the other participants who made this year’s judging challenging, as well as exciting. By conducting the Art Olympiad on an annual basis, we hope to raise the spirits of the students and encourage them to express their views strongly and in an innovative manner about anything and everything that concerns their world. We look forward to preparing for the sixth Art Olympiad next year. We are really pleased with the winning artworks and we think that they look absolutely brilliant. I would like to thank our esteemed panel of judges

who have helped make this event bigger and better year after year. With such an overwhelming response we are definitely looking forward to preparing for the sixth Art Olympiad next year.

“I would like to thank Assad Bunashi and Ahmad Jowhar for being on the judging panel for committing again this year as a judge and am also happy with the fact that Houssam Afyouni Founder and Chief Creative Officer , Raad Afyouni and Hussam Yassin, Managing and Creative Director, Lemonad, came to co judge the competition” further concluded Saibal.

The participating schools for this year’s Olympiad included: Indian English Academy School, Dasman Model School, Kuwait Bilingual School, Fahaheel Al Watanieh Ind Pvt. School Ahmadi, The English School Salmiya, Indian Educational School, Indian Community School, Khaitan, Kuwait English School, Salwa, Carmel School Kuwait, Kuwait American School, Salmiya, The English School Fahaheel, Ajail Bilingual School, Canadian Bilingual School, Kuwait International English School, Kuwait National English School and Al Ghanim Bilingual School.

For further information about the Art Olympiad and the Landmark group, please visit www.cplmg.com.

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Do the Woo

HAPPY VALENTINE’S WITH PAUL How sweet it is!

The saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is no doubt also applicable for the women of this world. So, to impress your loved one this Valentine’s there is definitely no better way than turning to PAUL’s exquisite pâtisserie section to win the heart of your loved one in a second!

On offer will be a heart-shaped Gâteau au chocolat et banane in an individual portion size and a larger cake for 4-6 people. Made from vanilla sponge, filled with banana and bavarois cream and covered with a chocolate ganache and small chocolat croustillant drips, it will no doubt delight. If this doesn’t do the trick, then try the heart-shaped Meringue à la framboise - a sweet and crunchy meringue, filled with crème patissière and crème Chantilly, topped with fresh raspberries, pistachios and raspberry coulis. A perfect combination, your loved one will not stand a chance!

PAUL locations in Kuwait: Marina Mall - Rotunda, Tel. 2 224 4599 Marina Mall - Al-Mubarak Street, Tel. 2 22 44 588 The Avenues, Tel. 2 259 7044 Al-Kout Mall, Fahaheel, Tel. 2 3930 302

BLANCPAIN SAINT-VALENTIN 2012 Faithful to its annual rendezvous, Blancpain once again presents an exclusive creation for Valentine’s Day. This limited series of 14 watches, each set with 2.95 carats of precious stones, offers a fresh take on the refined aesthetics of the Blancpain Women collection, while associating it with the technical subtlety of the flyback chronograph.

With its diamond-set bezel and lugs, caseband set with four diamonds and a heart-shaped ruby, crown adorned with a diamond and pushpieces covered with cabochon-cut rubies, the white gold case of this Saint-Valentin Chronograph 2012 sparkles with dazzling splendor. Its engraved mother-of-pearl dial, featuring a marquetry-work motif composed of three white mother-of-pearl hearts and set with 8 diamonds, highlights the exquisite craftsmanship of the masterdialmakers of the Manufacture. In an additional nod to Cupid, the heart-shaped counterweight of the central sweep seconds hand is delicately hand-painted with a feather, thus endowing it with a distinctive convex shape. The sapphire crystal back of the 36 mm case reveals the complexity of the movement with its 308 parts and 37 jewels, along with the oscillating weight clothed in pink mother-of-pearl.

This delightful model, fitted with a white alligator leather strap and presented in a precious wooden box delicately lined with white nappa leather, is available exclusively from Blancpain boutiques.

CHOPARDISSIMO So very Chopard…

Chopardissimo: a name that single-handedly sums up the essence of this collection. The heart, a theme cherished by Chopard, is a recurrent leitmotif. This symbol of love has been fashioned like a dancing drop bead, lending a lively and playful dimension to the bracelets, rings, earrings and pendants in the collection. Pendants, rings, bracelets and earrings are interpreted in yellow, rose and white gold variations, thus facilitating perfect mixing and matching of the jewellery pieces.

This game of multiple combinations can be taken to extremes when the multi-coloured rings are layered or when the bracelets are associated to create a fascinating dance. However they are worn, either alone or in compositions, a model from the Chopardissimo collection will remain a precious object that is as much a classic piece of jewellery as an enduring fashionable accessory. As one of the symbols of the House of Chopard, the heart serves as a tiny messenger of love. This joyful and enduring whirling motif embodies a two-fold declaration: a token of a man’s feelings for his beloved, as well as a sign of Chopard’s enduring love for women.

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bazaar around town ALI ABDULWAHAB SONS & CO. INTRODUCES “The North Face” Ski Collection for Women “The North Face” has developed a superior reputation for quality, performance and authenticity by providing technically advanced products capable of withstanding the most extreme conditions. For nearly 30 years, The North Face’s outdoor apparel and equipment have been the brand of choice for numerous high altitude and polar expeditions. The North Face, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of technical products that meet the specific needs of skiers, snowboarders, climbers, runners, hikers, backpackers and mountain enthusiasts around the world. While the reputation of North Face was built on outfitting expeditions, the company's later growth has come through the introduction of high-tech apparel in upscale retail stores.

Women’s Snow Cougar Print Jacket Recco Hyvent Don’t be fooled by the rip some rad lines and soft fabric—the new Women’s Snow Cougar Print Jacket is one seriously hip and hardy snowsports jacket. Cut from waterproof, breathable HyVent® twolayerfabric and stuffed with proprietary Heatseeker™ Eco 100% recycled insulation. To keep out the elements, the Snow Cougar Print Jacket boasts sealedseams, snap-back powder skirt withgripper elastic and a zip collar gusset. Adjustable hem system and pant-a-locks integration ensures the jacket doesn’t ride up during inverted pipe tricks or aprèsride antics, and the buddy lift clip keeps passes at the ready.

Women’s Stretch Highlander Pant Recco Hyvent Updated with new colours and an improved lining fabric, the Women’s stretch highlander Pant pairs perfectly with the Snow Cougar Print Jacket to create a functional, stylish ensemble for big mountain ripping or park & pipe playtime. More than just a pretty face, this pant is cut from waterproof,breathable, two-layer HyVent™ fabric, with an embossed taffeta lining. And, recycledHeatSeeker™ Eco insulation in the seat and knees ensures muscles and joints don’t get chilled onlong chairlift rides or swift, windy descents. Additionally the featureslike pant-a lock compatibility and StretchVent™ gaiters with gripper elastics keep the elements. This remarkable collection is found in Explorers Base, Al Tilal Mall Shuwaikh and Carbon Fiber stores, in The AvenuesMall and Kuwait International Airport – Arrival area.

Ali Abdulwahab Sons & Co. is a leading retail and wholesale company, and one of the oldest trading companies in Kuwait enjoying over 90 years of success. The company has adopted a vigorous expansion policy and is the agent of more than 40 distinct global brands.

For more information on Ali Abdulwahab Sons & Co., visit our website at www.aaw.com. Follow them on Twitter @thenorthfaceKWT.

Q AT THE VILLAGE A Kuwaiti concept that aims to deliver a unique dining experience Their mission is to develop a relaxing atmosphere accompanied with an outstanding service that delivers a selection of freshly made dishes, to enhance the appetite of guests. Simple food made well, with a professional barista production, set in the interior of a challenging rigid material to create a homey warm effect. The hangings on the wall pay homage to typography, with the music changing through the day, focused on elevating any guest’s mood.

With Appetizers, salads, main course, sandwiches and a large variety of in-house made deserts to choose from, there is something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Enjoy the pride and joy of Q; a Naples dark roast bean coffee to scintillate your senses. Not a coffee fan? Choose from their selection of teas, shakes, mixes and seasonal fresh juices – something for everyone.

Q Café is open from 10 am till 11 pm and is located in Funaitees, Shareet Al Sahel, Block 9 Plot 241 exit 208 from Fahaheel road. For more information, please call 99696718 or log onto their website: www.qcafe.com.kw.

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NAZ Persian Soul Food Developed by Gulf Franchising Holding Company to raise Persian dining to new heights within the Gulf and beyond, NAZ is a contemporary casual franchising restaurant renowned for offering heartwarming, freshly prepared meals both for a speedy delivery, and dine-in service.

Naz offers a large menu supported by their unmatched expertise in creating fabulous food which draws its influence from Persia, which has over the years established itself as the culinary mother of the Middle East; making the food extremely aromatic and flavorful. Allowing one to finally experience NAZ; one is immediately at ease upon entering the doors of the restaurant enjoying the Persian hospitality along with the warm and vibrant contemporary décor.

Expanding upon the original menu, NAZ chooses to offer exclusive dishes making it a perfect experience for all. For a wholesome appetizing experience there exists a selection of starters; soups & salads to begin with. One may try their seasoned soup like Ash Joe or increase the appetite further by trying mast – o kheyar; kashk bademjan or nargesi. For a healthy start one can also indulge in crunchy salads like shirazi or panir ba sabzi. The main course offers a wide selection of stews, NAZ grilled (kebabs) selection meat, chicken & sea foods accompanied by side dishes like breads, rice & sandwiches.

Naz is located in Zahra, Jabriya, Bayan and Sharq.

Visit www.naz-restaurants.com for more information.

DISCOVER THE CHEF IN YOU WITH ITALIAN CULINARY EXPERTS AT “CARLUCCIOS” Carluccio’s most flavorful dishes will come to life for the entire month of February as the restaurant chef will host exclusive cooking classes and demonstrations. Discover the 'Masterchef' in you as you set out on a culinary journey with expert Italian Chef Davide Barison. Watch him in action as he whips up traditional favorites from Northern Italy.

Guests at the classes will have the opportunity to recreate some of the restaurant’s signature dishes and indulge in their culinary masterpiece while taking advantage of fantastic dining offers in-store.They can also enjoy tasting samples of all the dishes which the chef will prepare on the day, in addition to all the recipes featured in the class and a goody bag containing some lovely Italian products to enjoy at home.

For the month of February, Chef's menu will consist of "Zuppa di Funghi" - a hearty soup made with mixed mushrooms, potatoes and chives. Second course will include "Gnocchi al Ragu di Agnello" - fresh potato dumplings, handmade from scratch, cooked with diced lamb and vegetables - a hearty dish for the winter season. To finish, chef will demonstrate how to make a "Pasticcio di Cioccolato" - a delicious Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding.

The classes will be held at Carluccio's Restaurant, Avenues Mall on 21st and February 17th. It will cost 12 KD per class, which includes breakfast, juice and coffee - all served from 9.30am. There will also be a pizza making session for kids on January 27th. Classes start at 10.30am.

Contact the restaurant on 22597310 for more information, or to reserve your place.

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WHERE DO WE GO NOW

By Elie Fares

Lebanese cinematic talent has not been given much room to grow. In a country where art is the least concern, cinema has found it especially hard to take off. However, a string of Lebanese movies have been finding their way to our theaters - some, like Nadine Labaki's Caramel, were a huge hit with viewers.

Others were not as lucky.

But the fact remains that the Lebanese audience is hungry for movies that describe its society, its problems, its worries and woes.

Enter Nadine Labaki's latest, Where Do We Go Now, with its Lebanese title: W Halla2 La Wein (also in French: Et Maintenant, On Va Ou?) The premise of the movie is quite simple – and for many Lebanese, worry-inducing for fear of overuse of clichés. The overall basis of the plot is the coexistence of Lebanese Muslims and Christians in one community, sometimes peacefully and other times, not. Many, like yours truly, felt the issue was overdone. Maybe not in cinema but in everyday life. Most of us are sick of being bombarded with commentary about the struggles that face our very diverse community. But this is not the case in Where Do We Go Now. An unnamed village during the later part of the 20th century has its only connection with the outside world in the form of a very rudimentary bridge, around which land-mines had been planted and never removed.

Television reception is very poor in the village and the movie begins with a few youngsters searching for a broadcast signal to set up a TV night for the town-folks.

This village is also a religiously divided community where the Church and the Mosque are only a house apart. And more often than not, the people live together happily.

Despite barely having any access to news from the outside world, the men of this village start to confront each other in violent ways. Little things that 74

would normally pass unnoticed cause them to explode, igniting the anger they'd been bottling in. And it is then that the few women of the village start to devise plots to keep the men busy, entertained, in order to keep their minds off being violent. These plans varied, from fake miracles to putting hashish in cakes – whatever it was, these women would go to any measure possible and break every limit imposed on them by society to keep their town together. And it is for these women, representing a vast majority of our Lebanese mothers, that this movie is so aptly dedicated.

Nadine Labaki, director of the movie and starring as Amal, is astonishing as always. You, really, cannot see her eyes on screen and not be mesmerized. She's simply entrancing, even when she doesn't speak. Then how about when she delivers a tour de force performance as one of those women, who happens to be in love with a man from the town's other religion? But to be perfectly honest, the accolades one ought to give Labaki are not for her acting but her directing. Never had I imagined a Lebanese movie could turn out this good, and she makes it seem effortless. Her camera shots, her focus on details, her keen eye… all of these elements combine to give you a cinematic experience that will entrance you.

This movie, like Caramel, features mostly unknown faces and all of them deliver just as well. It is hard to believe – and yet in retrospect so evident – that such acting can come out of common people that we all meet on the street. Where Do We Go Now is a movie of such epic proportions that these "unknown" actors and actresses (mostly actresses) deliver performances that are so subtly nuanced, so exquisitely flavored and so astonishingly well-done that they would put the best actresses and actors of Hollywood to shame. Yes, I said it.

The score of the movie is chilling and haunting and wonderfully executed by Nadine's husband

Khaled Mouzanar. The movie also features a few highly intelligent songs, written by Tania Saleh.

And let's talk about the script. What an ingenious way to tackle the subject at hand. Not only did Nadine Labaki not fall to any cliché known to us as a ‘Lebanese community’, but she managed to introduce it in a subtle, comical way that would make us laugh at ourselves for uttering or doing them in the first place. The script is so strong it will turn you bipolar. Yes, lithium is advised.

Why? Never have I laughed so hysterically one moment and wanted so desperately to cry the other. And then after being utterly devastated, it brings you back to laughter. The movie plays with you like a ping pong ball.

And you cannot but love every moment of it.

I was talking to my friend the day before we went to watch Where Do We Go Now, which happened to be the day it won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, and she said: "I'm very cautiously optimistic about this. I'm not letting my expectations overreach because I don't want to be disappointed." Well, I'm pretty sure she agrees with me on this: Where Do We Go Now brings out things in you that you didn't even know you had. It brings out the best in you, as a Lebanese, sitting in that cinema chair for ninety minutes. And you need the best of the best to do that. Nadine Labaki, you deserve more than the few minutes of applause the people in the movie theater gave you. You deserve a full blown standing ovation. You have done the impossible. Again.

Lebanese cinema has no excuse but to overreach for excellence now. And this movie deserves an Oscar win.

Cheers to our mothers.

For more of Elie's views and stories, please log onto his blog A Separate State of Mind at http:// stateofmind13.wordpress.com/

THE KITCHEN A festival of tastes By bazaar staff

Renowned for offering gourmet inspired renditions of heartwarming, freshly prepared meals as a speedy delivery service, The Kitchen has flourished onwards to its next stage.

Operating a dine-in service at their latest restaurant concept located at the eclectic food hub of The Village complex in Abu Al Hassaniya, The Kitchen now offers a larger 76

menu supported by their unmatched expertise in creating fabulous food with an artistic flair.

Allowing one to finally experience The Kitchen experience, one is immediately at ease upon entering through the large glass doors of the restaurant, the décor inspired by rustic countryside cottages emulating warm Tuscan summers. Should you choose to be seated

outdoors, prepare to be greeted with homemade lanterns created using emptied jars of preserves, vintage wax candles for lighting, and large wooden communal tables.

Expanding upon the original menu, The Kitchen chose to offer exclusive dishes for dining, after realizing that many of the delivery dishes on offer make for a perfect dining experience. Now exists a larger selection of starters presented in a tapas-style fashion that are perfect for sharing; from the lightly spiced potato croquettes stuffed with mini hotdogs to the deliciously-breaded toast rolls with flavorful mushrooms. Ensuring that an array of international dishes is made available in the form of appetizers, one may easily go all out with a foray of different appetizers for their meal. The gnocchi, expertly sautéed in two flavor offerings, herbs & tomato sauce, mushroom & white sauce could easily be ordered twice.

The Falafel on pita sandwiches are given a true Lebanese twist by including tabouleh with the diced falafel inside the sandwich, drizzled with a lemon and olive oil dressing. Fancy something slightly different? Tantalize your senses with the Quesadillas and the crispy Pepperoni chips offered with a guacamole dip.

Taking the greatest care and paying meticulous attention to present the palatable recipes in the most elegant fashion, the cuisinières at The Kitchen excel on both fronts of presentation and taste. A simple glance at the flawlessly presented main dishes is enough to trigger the senses of sight, smell, and taste all at once, as the perfect blend between texture and flavor is faultless.

The Veal Milanese is a promise authentic Italian flair where thinly breaded tender veal cutlets are accompanied by a spaghetti pomodoro that could only be described as sublime, as the taste of the fresh tomato, garlic and aromatic basil leaves one extremely satisfied. A truly indulgent choice, one may venture towards the European cuisine and order the Braised Maple Glazed Lamb Shanks and a side order of light and airy basmati rice.

Prepare to completely succumb and devour this offering, as the lamb shanks are slowly braised, and the reduced maple sauce tenderizes the lamb even further to deliver a texture which teases the palate, as the lamb succulently melts in the mouth.

Also specializing in preparing classic pot pies like the traditional Shepherd’s pie, Cottage pie, and Chicken potpies; a side order of mashed potatoes, potato rosti, or mixed mushrooms simmered in lemon make for the ideal accompaniment.

Another signature offering includes Chef Adoola’s famous lasagna, as well as the fun penne pasta with mushrooms and grilled hotdog pieces.

End your perfect meal with the classic delivery favorite that has been reinvented for dine-in guests, the Cookies & cream ice cream cake. Offered as a classic cake with a twist, the

Cookies & cream ice cream cake is now served with a bed of cranberries, and is lathered in a seductively devious fudge and chocolate sauce, as well as a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

The Kitchen’s new second branch is located at the Village Complex in Abu Al Hassaniya. Operating times are from 12 pm- 11.30 pm. For more information call them on 23901022/33 or visit them on www.thekitchen.com.kw or find them on facebook.

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DELIVERY EXPRESS “We pledge to deliver you your world”

Since October 2011, Delivery Express, the latest professional delivery service provider in Kuwait, has been successfully operating, offering its clientele a wide array of services. From door to door delivery services across all areas in Kuwait to unique, tailored, delivery service packages and subscriptions, Delivery Express offers solutions for both small to big business owners and personal users wishing to deliver any kind of package. For restaurants wishing to include the option of delivery yet isn’t ready to expand its operation cost wise, the restaurant delivery solution provides a perfect option. Corporate deliveries solutions are also available for companies in need of an extra hand on board when needed.

For event planners and corporations alike, invitation and brochure distribution across Kuwait is also made available. Furthermore, Delivery Express gives corporations advertising solutions, including the distribution of flyers, cards, menus, etc. For online retailers, restaurants, and business owners alike, an extra service is offered for their customers through the Delivery Express on door K-net payment service option. Clothes, electronics, flowers, food, gifts and documents are some of the many items one can delivery via Delivery Express, including the option of gift wrapping for certain items.

“Our mission is to deliver goods in an efficient manner.We aim to get it right from the first time in a fast and reliable way. The ease and comfort of the delivery services in a broader look and our services in a much specific perspective is that vision we proudly pledge upon. We at Delivery Express pledge to deliver you your world.” Said Fahad Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah, Founder, Delivery Express.

Al-Jarrallah added “Our delivering strategy has led us to diversify and expand into strategic areas of businesses, areas that vary from small home businesses, reaching out to bigger established businesses such as restaurants, corporates, firms, media agencies, and retail.We can help those businesses to reach out to new clients and increase their market share by advertisement and reaching new areas in Kuwait.”

“We striveto explore and promote profitable delivering strategies to our clients and business partners, adding a sense of quality of life toour customers and their businesses, and there is only one right way to do so, that of course the express way!”

Delivery Express Code of Conduct: • We do it right the first time.

• We add value to our clients’ businesses.

• We believe that communication is essential of which we consider as a core

factor when engaging in delivery services.

• Time is a vital part of mission, we highly our clients’ time and schedule.

• Building a strong strategic business relationship with our clients is a belief

and not a process.

• We are always there for our clients and business partners.

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• We deliver you your world.

Delivery Express operates a large fleet of regular cars supported with heating and cooling facilities as well as vans with large central refrigeration. All cars are supported with a GPS tracking system that can be followed from the call center. The call center accepts all requests immediately and dedicates the driver responsible for the order. Most orders are performed in a very short time frame with no delay.

Delivery Express offers Long-term packages and subscriptions: Long term contracts: an experienced driver is assigned with a fully equipped car daily during specified working hours of the day.

Subscriptions: with a number of delivery orders (25,50,100,125), which the client can use within a certain timeframe (usually one year).

Highlighting the future plans, Al-Jarallah said “Currently we are building our reputation as an excellent delivery service company, focusing on the quality of the service we provide. In line with this objective, we are finalizing the online order feature on our website, which will be available soon.”

To meet the high demand we have, while ensuring the best service, we are working on opening our second base in Farwaniya area to increase our efficiency in the deliveries targeting that area.”

For more information please contact Delivery Express at 22499996; 8am to 11pm every day. Online orders: coming soon through www.delivery-express.com.

Promotions are usually announced on our twitter account: @Delivery_Xpress.

'YOUNG ADULT' Charlize Theron returns to the dark side

By Donna Freydkin

Charlize Theron won a best-actress Academy Award for playing a physically repugnant killer in 2003's Monster. But in the black comedy Young Adult, she's just as terrifying, and she looks exactly like herself.

Theron's Mavis Gary is trouble - an author of teen fiction and a narcissistic former prom queen with a non-existent moral compass. She returns to her small Minnesota town to win back her high school boyfriend Buddy, who's now married with a newborn daughter. As Mavis, Theron is a one-woman cyclone of destruction who spends her days either chasing Buddy or getting drunk with a disabled former classmate (Patton Oswalt) whom she alternately mocks or dismisses.

Yet for Theron, Mavis Gary is a ravishing work of art.

"I'd be blind to not see the potential in the character. These are the kinds of roles women wait for," Theron says. "Yeah, it scared me. There's so much about her - when you hold up the mirror, you see almost too much you don't want to acknowledge. But that coincides with what makes my job exciting."

The performance has earned Theron, whose career has been more sluggish than spectacular the past few years, first-rate reviews and put her back on Oscar watch lists. Director Jason Reitman says he can't imagine anyone else inhabiting his unapologetically prickly heroine.

"I just knew how tricky this character would be. In 80

the screenplay, Mavis is nuanced and troubled. All that could have been done away with if the actress decided to portray Mavis as some sort of caricature. Charlize has a way of showing how broken she was," says Reitman.

"She's fearless in her approach. Most actors would find a way to tell the audience that they're nothing like the character. It takes (courage) to stare this character this straight down."

Such is Theron's clear-eyed commitment to the role that when Mavis utters a three-word line at the end of the film that is so despicably, deliciously nasty, you end up applauding her for it. Mavis is thoughtless, selfish and rude. She sleeps around. She ignores her dog, Dolce. And she has a bad habit of tugging out pieces of her hair, once her golden crowning glory in school. But Theron wasn't deterred by Mavis' venom.

"I didn't try to make her a human being. I really believed that she was," says Theron, 36. "There's so much about this that's hard for me to admit, that I've done things like this to get through the day.

"She does things that are really despicable. But overall, the survival techniques - the meanness, the lying about her life being so great - are things we can relate to."

As are Mavis' rough mornings. Somehow, the dazzlingly gorgeous Theron - the face of Dior, the cover girl of Vogue, the icy-glam red-carpet presence - looks icky and worn out in the film. There she is,

waking up bleary and hung over, guzzling Diet Coke while wearing a crusty T-shirt.

As real as real gets For the role, Reitman says, Theron wanted to look as real as she could, as cliched as that might sound.

"Charlize was doing her own makeup. She was making her eyes as ugly as possible. She said, 'We should make my hair look thinner' and 'When I get naked, there cannot be one sexy thing about it, it should be awkward and sad,'" he says. "Mavis is a person who is very focused on how she presents herself to the world. Charlize was instrumental in creating those looks."

Indeed, Oswalt says, "Charlize wanted to show what she looked like in the morning, with no makeup, with a bit of a gut. She was so committed. In ‘Monster’, she gained weight and had prosthetics on. And here, she plays such a horrible person. There was nowhere to hide."

So convincing is Theron that one has to wonder whether she's somehow playing a younger version of herself.

"No way," she retorts.

The actress didn't draw on her own high school experience in South Africa to play Mavis, but she could relate to being one of Mavis' victims. In primary school, Theron was shut out from the ‘in crowd’, something that still sticks with her.

"Emotionally, it hurt me. But by the time I was in

high school, I was so focused on ballet and wasn't sitting around worrying about that stuff. In a way, I got that out of the way by the time I was 13 or 14.

"My school was really mellow. It was an art school.

We didn't have anyone in our school that was really that extreme. There was the popular girl. There were two girls - they were nice girls, they weren't evil. Not a lot of people dated. I didn't date. I wore these huge Sally Jessy Raphael glasses, and boys don't like those."

Suffice to say, that has changed dramatically for Theron, who in person is astonishingly foxy. But it's her salty, acerbic and thoroughly ribald sensibility that ultimately sticks with you. "I don't know how she does it," Reitman says. "When I met her, I was completely intimidated by her beauty. She finds a way to dim the light bulb and be a normal, lovely, really darkly funny person."

A Kardashian fan For starters, she's enamored with a certain ebonyhaired reality TV family. When told that this reporter spent time covering the Kardashians, Theron leans back and demands details. "Really? Oh. My. God. Tell me everything. What did you do?" she asks, before precisely mimicking Kim Kardashian's mellifluous voice. "Kourtney. Stop."

As for her relationship with Twilight's Kristen Stewart, who plays Snow White to Theron's Evil Queen in next year's lavish production of Snow White and the Huntsman. "We totally get it on. She doesn't know it yet, but I've been working on some rewrites," Theron cracks.

She also has navigated celebrity admirably,

revealing just enough to be interesting without selling out her privacy. She'll glow at you from magazine covers, but you have no idea what Theron just had for dinner.

And tabloid buzz of a clandestine relationship with Ryan Reynolds aside, you have little insight into whom she's dating (after a long relationship with Irish actor Stuart Townsend ended last year).

"I don't want to talk about it too much because I'm scared things will change. I've never been that way. I've never been OK with it. Those values have sustained for me.

"I don't really talk about my personal life and I don't really talk about my relationships. I'm not a big partier. I like the simplicity of my life, and I've chosen the kind of life I really want to live. I don't think my life is boring at all."

'Blessed' with friendship Theron's idea of being out of control? Gorging on ham during a recent trip through Spain with one of her close girlfriends. "I gained two dress sizes," she says, and arrived stateside just in time to shoot her most recent Vogue cover.

"There's this kind of idea that someone like me would be horrible with women. That acknowledgment that if you look a certain way, you can't be a girl's girl. I have way deeper relationships with girls than I do with guys. I get along with guys. The women in my life are the ones who move me. It sounds so hokey, but I've been blessed with incredible women in my life."

Of course, being friends with Theron has its perks.

Among them: access to her wardrobe, which she says isn't too egregious.

"All of that stuff is really nice. I do have a bit of a guilty - I don't know if it's the African in me - but I'm one person and how much makeup do I need? I have a normal-sized closet. I donate things. I don't have a nature in me to want things in excess. I actually don't like it.

"A lot of times, I will auction it off and have it go to charity. And my friends benefit a lot. I call it Narnia.

When I see a girlfriend and say, 'I like that top,' she's like, 'Narnia, from your closet.'"

For now, the actress is focused on more practical pursuits. After three years of small roles in small films (among them The Road and The Burning Plain), Theron is back with a vengeance worthy of Mavis.

She wrapped Ridley Scott's alien thriller Prometheus, opposite current it-guy Michael Fassbender, and showcases her nefarious side again as Queen Ravenna in Snow White. And then she's heading to Australia to shoot Fury Road, part of the Mad Max franchise, in the desert. "I'll come back looking like a leather handbag," she quips.

Should her schedule clear up, Reitman is ready to go a second time. "I can't wait to work with her again.

I'm closer to her than probably any actor I've worked with. She has a practical way of viewing the world, and she's killer in the way she approaches her career and her work."

As for Theron, she's nothing if not appreciative.

"I'm very blessed," she says. "You find yourself in a very fortunate position when you don't have to go do something to pay the rent."

Copyright Š 2011, USA TODAY International.

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two cents

Loaay’s Two Cents Got business problems or challenges at work? With his Two Cents column, Loaay Ahmed shares his expertise in strategic management consulting to help managers, employees and entrepreneurs thrive.

Q

Bhutan has been measuring their gross national happiness since the 1970s. If they’re well paid, does measuring happiness even matter? And how can we convince the board to approve such spending, if it’s a must?

LA: In the heart of the Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness a concept that’s best described as ‘development with values’. They recognized the fact that while people need to financially grow issues like culture, society, health, and family can’t be ignored. Imagine a country called Garbageland where public healthcare and hygienic standards are the worst worldwide.

Now, meet an average Garbagelandian citizen Mr. Luck. He always complains about how the Government is not taking care of the sanitation problem. Last week, Mr. Luck won the lottery with a whopping prize of one million dollars! While Mr. Luck can now afford to change his own personal environment, he’s still living in Garbageland. One year from now the spark of winning that lottery is gone and the stench in Garbageland will remain upsetting Mr. Luck.

Companies are not any different from countries in this issue. You have your own ‘citizens’ to care for and that means more than just paying them.

Without good culture, processes, support, care, problem solving and flexibility employees won’t be happy and that means more turnover and less productivity. In the next board meeting, ask the board to compare the general characteristics of citizens of leading countries against those from poorly managed countries and ask them: “If our company was a country, which one of the two would we like to be?” If they choose, the first option then they have to invest in their people like advanced countries do. The return on this investment will be far greater than what just tempting the team with additional bonuses is generating right now…and that’s just my two cents.

Q

Can Sales Executives work better and reach their targets if they’re paid only salaries and not incentives or commissions?

LA: Years of research by many international professional organizations and universities show that incentives are usually offered in two areas: physical and mental performances. In physical jobs, like farming or construction, offering the employees extra cash on the spot if they finish more than their daily load, will work wonders and because all they have to do is to push their bodies and muscles the extra mile to perform faster.

In mental jobs, like Sales, for example, it’s a different story. When Sales Executives are given incentives they get excited and push their ‘brains’ to focus more and to close more deals, but they can’t make their brains work faster, better or smarter. So, incentives to the sales team end up bringing more pressure and anxiety rather than motivation and joy.

If you decide to keep your sales team on a fixed income package, you need to make certain adjustments. The company needs to offer a more comprehensive package to cover many of the employee’s lifestyle needs.

The advantage to your prospective customers is nonbiased support from the Sales Executives knowing that they’re not a commission. If you’re worried about being taken for a ride by some poor performers, just implement a stricter system that aims to help good performers do better and poor performers find another job in or out of the company…and that’s just my two cents.

Q

Our company is in the international real estate investment business. The newly hired PR Manager is pushing for more publicity and mass communication. She believes that we can attract more investors by having a stronger presence. We’ve been doing well without all that. Do we need the additional expenses?

LA: It depends. Is your new PR Manager spotting an existing or upcoming problem related to your organizational reputation? Maybe you’ve recently had an internal scandal or major management change and she wants to reaffirm that your business is solid. It’s possible that your Business Development team is looking for ways to reach more prospects for a soon to be released product from a different target audience than your current customers. Perhaps you have exhausted your existing customers with so many cross investment opportunities and you need some new blood. Sometimes, newly hired managers want to make changes to show that they’re doing something different and new that’s much needed, but wasn’t done until they joined the organization. Which one is the real reason? You need to find out.

Assuming that having a stronger presence is strategically needed, mass communication and big budget spending is not necessarily the only way to reach your goals. The focus is on reaching a specific target audience with a certain profile that qualifies them to be profitable customers for your business. Study this segment’s demographics, lifestyle, behavior, and mindsets to design tactics that target them at the right places, the right times, and in the right frame of mind. If your company needs stronger presence, it’s with a specific audience not the entire market. Corporate communication is not a popularity contest… and that’s just my two cents.

For Loaay Ahmed's advice on business or work matters, send a short email to loaay@knightscapital.com. Please note that only the questions chosen for publishing will be answered.

Loaay Ahmed is a management consultant and strategic expert. To learn more about Loaay and his consulting service, strategic business therapy, visit www.knightscapital.com.

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bazaar a la mode

TED BAKER Spring/Summer 2012 The Great Exhibitionist and his private views Not one to blend into the background, Ted’s collections become literal works of art this season. Rich prints, sharp silhouettes, a palette of paint-box brights and bold brushstrokes in the form of textural and tonal highlights are at the very heart of Spring/Summer 2012. Add to that Ted’s unwavering attention to detail and you have a collection that’s sure to be a real talking point and worthy of a walking exhibit.

Womenswear celebrates the female form with defined waists, full skirts and cut away detailing. Flower power reigns supreme with English roses, peonies and cherry blossom in full bloom on feminine 50s dress shapes. The Rosebug print featuring bright roses, bugs and butterflies is key and appears on everything from cropped jackets to shorts and from peep-toe heels to clutches. The floral theme continues with laser cut appliqué and intricate floral cutwork adding interest to dresses, tops and flirty shorts.

In a way, Ted’s menswear collection is like a self-portrait, capturing all the elements of his personality. Larger than life, it’s bursting with vivid colour and detail, offering a bright and breezy take on riviera dressing. Chinos in slim and classic fits come in a rainbow of brights and earthy shades such as burnt orange, forest green and rustic red with contrast turn up detailing. Pastel and check chino shorts are worn with nautical stripe tees and polos with slim collars. Prints come through in the form of subtle polka dots and paisley trims on shirts and polos. Layer up with ribbed and fine weave summer knits.

The collection is finished with canvas duffle bags and shoppers, paisley and spotty neckerchiefs and bright suede deck shoes or brogues.

Ted’s new S/S12 collections’ exceptional quality and distinctive detailing are masterpieces of both style and substance…and set to be a sensation worldwide. Because after all, Ted’s always been the Great Exhibitionist.

JIMMY CHOO Justine Bag Seventies cinematic icons continue to inspire the Jimmy Choo Spring Summer ’12 Collection. Think Anouk Aimée from the film Justine with her sultry glamour and insouciant style. The direction is decidedly sporty, loose and manifests in ‘Justine’, a new bag with unstructured slouch appeal.

The craftsmanship of Justine reveals an attentive hand, with traditional artisanal stitching and piece work with each bag requiring more than two weeks to finish. The subtle “bombé” padding technique around the flap is a luxurious detail that softens the edges and creates texture while drawing attention to the distinctive hardware, a slip-lock inspired by a gold lipstick case.

The Justine bag is designed with an unzipped front pocket, variations of which expose a hidden flash of textured python in bright colors of yellow, coral and emerald. Other more opulent options are made entirely in matt and shiny crocodile in Klein blue, acid yellow and violet.

GIVENCHY Spring/Summer MAKEUP COLLECTION Rebirth, Energy, Freshness.

Summer is on its way. Color comes to life in the meadows and freshness resists in the air. Spring’s good news is conveyed by the youthfulness of green wheat, in multi-hued strokes. The colors bloom with the sun’s first rays, then disappear as quickly as a whim. The poppy dances in the breeze, held up by a thread of light that breaks with the first passing cloud.

It sparkles in the meadows like vintage candy on the tongue. Mischievous and dazzling, it is torn between the red of a fleeting passion and the buoyancy of an orange hue. The rapeseed blooms from a solar contrast. The wild hyacinth sows bluish traces in the undergrowth, inviting us on a rural treasure hunt. Bolts of color burst with fragility from the surrounding uniformity in joyful energy. I love this gentle violence of Nature when it emerges from the shadows to bring us back to the light of the moment.

“Instant Bucolique” is the rural inspiration of a stunningly natural beauty. A breath that instills freshness and optimism into the heart and mind.

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BOTTEGA VENETA When Your Own Initials are Enough Steeped in the traditions of Italy’s master leather craftsmen and renowned for its extraordinary leather goods, Bottega Veneta stands for individuality and self-confidence, a philosophy expressed in its famous motto, “When your own initials are enough.” The principles that define the brand are unchanging: outstanding craftsmanship, innovative design, contemporary functionality, and the highest quality materials. Also constant is Bottega Veneta’s commitment to its ateliers, where artisans of remarkable skill combine traditional mastery with breathtaking innovation. Bottega Veneta, the eau de parfum, evokes the suppleness and sensuality of the house’s renowned leather goods. The fragrance, a leathery floral chypre, marries the olfactory language of the Venetian countryside—fresh meadows, mown hay, flowers, earth, and wood—with the gentle richness of leather in a creation crafted with the meticulousness of a master artisan. The backbone of the fragrance is chypre with a combination of bergamot, patchouli and oak moss. Sensual floral and spicy components gesture toward the East, a recollection of Venice’s place at the end of the Silk Road. Natural ingredients trace a global path: there is bergamot from Italy, Jasmine Sambac picked in India, pink peppercorns from Brazil, and patchouli from Indonesia.

THE LONGINES COLUMN-WHEEL CHRONOGRAPH Having launched a watch fitted with an exclusive, self-winding chronograph movement featuring a column wheel which controls the chronograph functions in 2009, Longines has now devised new uses for this exceptional, user-friendly calibre.

Representing an updated version of the timing equipment that Longines has developed over the years, and guaranteeing complete ease of use, these models have been named the Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph. Longines mandated and paid ETA to develop a brand-new exclusive self-winding movement with a column wheel for a wrist chronograph. The reference number given to the new calibre was L688.2. As part of the continual programme of reviving the mechanical watch that was started at the beginning of the 21st century, this new creation meets the requirements of changing demand with regard to watches as well as the growing popularity of mechanical chronographs and the fascination for traditional horological devices.

Column-wheel chronographs correspond to the new taste in watches. As part of the line of timing instruments created by Longines, this calibre constitutes the present-day embodiment of the far-reaching experience in mechanical timekeeping that is the heritage of the famous Swiss watchmaker.

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS GOES BRIGHT FOR SPRING American Eagle Outfitters announced the launch of its new Spring collection in its Middle East stores.

For the AE girl, the Spring collection features three key trends: Pretty Hip, Bright Things and Bohemian.

Pretty Hip: Inspired by the 70s, this look is layered, polished, cool and clean. Chiffon printed tops and textured sweaters are paired with the Hipster Flare jeans. Bright Things: All about saturated colors, pops of neon and bold color blocking. As always, denim is the foundation of the AEO collection with a wide selection of jeans and denim shorts. Bohemian: Sheer fluid fabrics and open stitched silhouettes set the mood for femininity. Lace, floral prints, and nomad graphics in tops reflect the bohemian trend.

For the AE guy, the Spring collection features three key trends: Bright Prep, Maritime and the new Slim Straight Jeans.

Bright Prep: Introducing a variety of new T’s in Pop Solid and Fun Graphics with V-neck that is especially stylish this season. The Preppy Polo is fresher with new bright colors. Maritime: A traditional look that is updated this Spring with nautical striped T’s and plaid shirts, relaxed Henley’s and blue light chambray shirts. Slim Straight Jeans: The Slim Straight Jeans extends the wide selection of fits for men; a new style that sits low on the waist with a straight leg.

BATH & BODY WORKS LAUNCHES THE NEW SIGNATURE COLLECTION “CHARMED LIFE”IN THE MIDDLE EAST A fragrance that will charm you the moment you twist open the cap!

Charmed Life is the latest addition to Bath and Body Works’ Signature Collection, waiting to be worn by women who want to feel lucky. The new Signature Collection “Charmed Life” is a blend of juicy guava, sparkling pear and creamy vanilla musk, creating a positively adorable fragrance inspired by feeling lucky and savoring life's fabulous moments. The Charmed Life Signature Collection exudes indulgent aroma bright fruits, dazzling pink pepper, and frosted white orchids to accompany you through your day, creating an air of chic and confidence that leaves others in your wake. Offering a completely customized fragrance experience, the collection features an eau de toilette, body splash, moisturizing body cream, pampering body lotion, lathering shower gel, lip gloss, as well as gift sets for you to share it with your loved ones. If you want to make a statement, start with the shower gel, apply the body lotion and finish with a spritz of the fragrance mist. No matter what your preferences are, you can mix and match to get the scent strength you desire.

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DRIVING FOR A WORTHY CAUSE GulfRun7 Car Show Attracts Huge Crowds at 360 Mall By bazaar staff

Car Enthusiasts supporting the Hayatt, Ruqayah Al-Qatami Breast Cancer Foundation

Over the course of two days, GulfRun’s team of automobile enthusiasts took over 360 Mall showcasing the race cars participating in their 7th annual event at the Bahrain International Circuit. The GulfRun7 Car Show attracted huge crowds at 360 Mall on 13th and 14th of January where visitors got a first-hand look of the incredible car line up.

The two day GulfRun7 race taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit will take place on 26 – 27 January 2012 and is sure to keep the drivers busy throughout the days, from practice runs to the actual races.

Ahmed Al-Mudhaf at GulfRun said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this year’s Car Show.

Every year, we have been successful in attracting so 86

many enthusiasts and visitors interesting in seeing the super cars participating in the GulfRun race. This year, we welcomed hundreds of visitors, and we were able to raise over KD7000 which will be donated in full to Hayatt, Ruqayah AlQatami Breast Cancer Foundation.

“All the drivers as well as the GulfRun team are excited for this year’s race in Bahrain. It promises to be quite competitive and we look forward to an exhilarating couple of days in Bahrain,” added Al-Mudhaf.

GulfRun held a raffle draw from the GulfRun7 Car Show ticket sales and raffled off a Vespa Motorcycle with Hala Saleh being the lucky winner. This program highlights GulfRun’s collective dedication to raise social awareness with emphasis on social responsibility.

“We strive to be a socially responsible company through giving something back to the community

and help save lives. This would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, audience, bloggers, and GulfRun participants,” concluded Al-Mudhaf.

GulfRun’s management team extends its gratitude from continuous support by Kuwait’s private sector, which acknowledges the important role sport plays amongst Kuwait’s youth. GulfRun7 is supported by a wide range of sponsors: Title sponsorship is Wataniya Telecom; Platinum Sponsors are: Jashanmal, Fasttelco and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC); and Gold Sponsors are: Slider Station, Credit One and AlSawan Travel.

For more details about the GulfRun7 Car Show & Bahrain International Circuit race, please visit: http://www.thegulfrun.com/events/gulfrun7.

SPIELBERG RIDES 'WAR HORSE' TO HELLISH WORLD WAR I

By Anthony Breznican

Imagine a nightmare vision of Norman Rockwell.

A group of fresh-faced boys in tweedy caps and their Sunday-best jackets and pants tromp their shiny shoes through the muddy center of a village, while admiring townsfolk line the road, smiling and cheering them on with patriotic songs.

Only the few horses trotting beside them seem wary.

It's 1914, the start of England's involvement in World War I. A cold autumn wind snaps the Union Jacks hanging over the streets. The boys are smiling and confident, eager for the adventure the war promises.

But as they leave the gates of town, they may as well be falling into a meat grinder. Few will ever see home again.

This is an early scene in Steven Spielberg's War Horse, which arrives in movie theaters Dec. 25 and is already riding a wave of Oscar buzz. Though the film originally was scheduled for summer release, executives at DreamWorks and Disney eventually decided to take their chances in the holiday marketplace against such highprofile fare as Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and 88

Spielberg's own The Adventures of Tintin; The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and We Bought a Zoo; and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

War Horse, based on a popular young-adult novel that begat an award-winning theatrical production, is expected to have broad appeal. It tells the odyssey-like story of a farm animal named Joey who is sold to the war effort and starts in the British cavalry before passing through various hands on the battlefield, finding friends among foes, and witnessing firsthand the brutal and indiscriminate machinery of war.

Meanwhile, Albert (newcomer Jeremy Irvine), the farm boy who loved Joey back in simpler days, embarks on a parallel journey as a young enlisted soldier, hoping someday they will cross paths again.

While Spielberg is known for his warmth and nostalgia as a director, often bringing the human touch even to the harshness of war in films such as Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List, this time he is employing that warmth as contrast. The day's scene of eager young

men marching out of town, unaware that slaughter awaits them instead of honor, is a prelude to that.

"That's the idea. They were all happy. The town is embracing them, singing them off," says Spielberg, wrapped in a thick jacket and scarf against the cold rain that is pelting the English countryside during the filming.

"They're all heroes, before they even lift a gun."

War seen as 'great sport' The similarities with Rockwell are no accident Spielberg is one of the foremost collectors of his work.

In War Horse, that down-home sensibility and idealism is played as earnest naivete in the face of a war that would eventually claim tens of millions of lives - and for no discernible reason.

"It's bittersweet because, remember, in World War I, the soldiers thought they were going to be back for Christmas dinner," Spielberg says. "People fought each other to recruit themselves. They lied about their ages. There was massive enlistment in Britain because everybody wanted to be part of this 'great sport of war.'

Once they got over to France, they all woke up and realized that they were going into the worst four years of their entire lives. Many of them came home without their friends."

When a particular group of soldiers was overrun, a small town - like the one Spielberg is shooting in - could lose an entire generation of its young men all at once.

This place, called Castle Combe, is a town of about 350,

located 90 miles from London in the lush county of Wiltshire. It was a wool-producing farm region, dating back centuries, and its small stone houses and narrow streets make it look like a village out of time. Now, it's a tourist destination, renowned for its quaintness.

But as the massive filmmaking apparatus fills the town's tiny streets, just out of view is a medieval church, and inside is a plaque on a wall commemorating the

dead of World War I. The nine men listed there might make it seem Castle Combe got off easy, but the size of the memorial - the largest in a town that has seen many centuries of war - suggests it was a far greater loss than can be fathomed now.

Movie magic onstage War Horse is based on a young-adult novel by Michael Morpurgo, published in 1982. It came to Spielberg's attention after his longtime producer, Kathleen Kennedy, saw a stage version of the story in London, performed by the Handspring Puppet Co. That show, which debuted in 2007, came to Broadway in March in a production by London's National Theatre and won five Tony Awards this year, including one for best play. It was acclaimed for its soulful use of large wood and leather horses as the animal characters, and employing many cinematic flourishes on stage, such as simulated slow-motion battles, to tell the story of Joey's journey through the trenches of battle-ravaged Europe.

On the recommendation of Kennedy, Spielberg picked up Morpurgo's book and instantly knew it was a potential film. "I loved the play, but I actually bought the rights to the book before I saw the play," says Spielberg.

He uses real horses, of course, not puppets, but faces a similar hurdle as the Handspring theater company: "It's challenging to tell a story where you have to look at a horse and wonder what the horse is feeling from moment to moment. But that's why I wanted to direct this picture," Spielberg says. "You're giving language to a horse based all on physical performance."

The play and, now, the movie have brought new life to his nearly 30-year-old book.

"Like all writers, we have stupid fantasies. You have a fantasy that your novel will be made into a movie

by Steven Spielberg," Morpurgo laughs. "What had happened for years and years and years was, when the phone rings on the weekend and everyone says 'Don't answer it, don't answer it,' my wife would say to me, or I would say to her: 'Yes, we better answer it. It could be Steven Spielberg.' I promise you, that has been going on for fully 25 years.

"And then the phone rang one day..."

War Horse has been given a PG-13 rating, which means this drama likely won't thrust the audience as deeply into the gory maw of battle. Like Morpurgo's book, it aims to explore horror through innocence - a horse that doesn't understand, and the young men who find they don't either.

It's the older men who send these boys to war, and Spielberg says they listen, never questioning it, which is something universal to most young people. It goes back to a theme of responsibility and fatherhood Spielberg has explored in many films.

Copyright Š 2011, USA TODAY International.

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bazaar music THE DREAMER, THE BELIEVER

by Common

The Dreamer, The Believer delivers the consciousness Common's audience has to come expect from him, but also a rawness and passion that might come as a surprise. Some might even say that he's rapping with a chip on his shoulder. Recording sessions for the album began in 2009, and was originally due for a spring release, but was not completed because Common wanted to concentrate on acting.

BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK

by Red Hot Chili Peppers

With valuable assistance from producer Rick Rubin, the Peppers find just the right blend of punk, funk, and hiphop. Even with a running time of 74 minutes, this 1991 breakthrough has continuity and cohesion both within and across the 17 cuts. Riding Flea's surging bass, Anthony Kiedis delivers his explicit lyrics with a rapper's flair, extolling the virtues (and outlining the dangers) of sex and drugs. Plaintive ballads such as "Breaking the Girl," "I Could Have Lied," and the hit "Under the Bridge" give the album depth and provide contrast to the raw energy of "Mellowship Slinky in B Major," "Funky Monks," and "Give It Away." Rubin masterfully fuses John Frusciante's raunchy guitar with the irresistible grooves.

COMEBLACK

by Scorpions

Comeblack is the nineteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, a collection of rerecordings of some of their choice cuts as well as covers of some of their favorite songs originally performed

by The Beatles, The Stones, T. Rex, The Small Faces, The Kinks and others. Their 2010 album, Sting In The Tail, sold 18,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart, which marked the band's highest chart debut in over 20 years. The CD also landed at No. 6 on the Rock Albums chart.

LIONESS: HIDDEN TREASURES

by Amy Winehouse

2011 posthumous release; a collection of previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions of existing classics, as well as a couple of brand new Amy compositions. Following her tragic passing, some of the producers and musicians who worked closely with Amy Winehouse, among them Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, spent time listening over the many recordings that Amy had made, before, during, and after the release of Frank and Back To Black. It was said by all who worked with Amy that she never sang or played a song the same way twice. It quickly became apparent to Salaam and Mark that they had a collection of songs that deserved to be heard, a collection of songs that were a fitting treatment to Amy the artist and, as importantly, Amy the friend.

UNDUN

by The Roots

Undun is telling a story about their semi-fictional character, Redford Stephens. The album gravitates around Redford growing up in an urban landscape struggling with survival. He is forced to juxtapose between the choice of making something of himself or living a life of fast money and crime, and he chooses the life of crime.

The album's name is inspired by The Guess Who's song "undun," and the character was named after the Sufjan Stevens song "Redford." The album features artists like Aaron Livingston, Big K.R.I.T., Phonte, Dice Raw, Truck North, Bilal, and Sufjan Stevens. The band went back to their original "roots", by returning to lyrics revolving around struggle and making something out of nothing.

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source: www.amazon.com

bazaar investigates LIMITED EDITION HULME SUPERCAR MAKING ITS MIDDLE EAST DEBUT AT BIG BOYS TOYS 2012 Artaaj Events announced that the super sporty and limited ‘Hulme CanAm Spyder’ will make its Middle East debut at Big Boys Toys, the region’s premier lifestyle event, courtesy of Gillette. Named in honour of Denny Hulme, New Zealand’s only Formula One World Champion and double CanAm Champion, the ‘Hulme CanAm Spyder’ is not for the faint-hearted. It is a unique car for those with a desire for performance, exhilaration and style, and will be on display at the show on February 9th – 11th, at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai.

The Hulme CanAm Spyder, which will be displayed on the Gillette stand at Big Boys Toys 2012, will be a very limited edition ensuring its rareness and exclusivity.

It has the latest crash absorption systems in place and a fully developed ABS electronic driver aid system to provide a safe driving experience. To achieve the 980kg vehicle weight it uses a state of the art carbon/titanium/Kevlar composite chassis and composite body panels.

The Hulme CanAm Spyder features a F1-style high down force generating aero package and push-rod suspension to provide superior road holding, handling and ride comfort. It is a true driver’s car powered by a hand-built, supercharged, 600HP, Chevy V8 providing amazing torque and tractability.

The Hulme CanAm Spyder will join the Nissan GT-R VVIP 2012 model as ultra exclusive and limited edition vehicles debuting in the Middle East at Big Boys Toys 2012. Both of these special vehicles will be made available to visitors to order and purchase during the show.

For the first time, companies can take advantage of the Corporate Hospitality Chalet that will offer VIP treatment to the invitees from valet parking to a private entrance where they will bypass the registration process, and shall have free-flow food and beverages, as well as an array of other premium services.

Companies seeking an ideal platform for regional or international launches or offering current exclusive and innovative products and services should contact Raha Moradi at Artaaj Events at on +971 50 240 340 6 or by info@bigboystoysuae.com.

BMW GROUP WINS FOUR AWARDS Ending 2011 on a high BMW Group Middle East celebrated the end of 2011 with four awards for two of its newest models: the BMW M5 and BMW 6 Series Convertible.

Following an impressive start on the international automotive circuit, including its November launch in the Middle East, the new fifth generation BMW M5 was awarded three coveted titles by two of the region’s most respected automotive publications; Wheels magazine named it their ‘Car of the Year 2011’ and ‘2011 Sports Saloon of the Year’ whilst Evo magazine also awarded the high performance sports car ‘2011 Sports Saloon of the Year.’

The decisions followed heated debate by staff and contributors and were based on their experiences of the cars driven over the past 12 months. In the end, BMW triumphed over rivals.

It was a good year all round for BMW Group as the world’s leading premium automotive manufacturer's new third generation 6 Series Convertible also emerged victorious in Evo magazine’s 2011 Convertible of the Year category.

HAMAD AL-HUMAIDHAN THE INTERNATIONAL SENSATION PRESENTS A MASTERPIECE TO MCDONALD’S KUWAIT McDonald’s Corniche hosted the Kuwaiti prodigy Hamad Al Humaidhan at its restaurant on Saturday 31 December. Dubbed by international media as the ‘Young Picasso’, Hamad used his colorful imagination and passionate strokes of his brush to put the final touches on an exclusive painting for McDonald’s Kuwait.

The painting called “McDonald’s Family” portrays Ronald McDonald and the culture of McDonald’s in an impressionistic form and can now be seen displayed at McDonald’s Corniche.

McDonald’s Kuwait is a constant supporter for local talent and is keen to provide a platform to allow individuals to showcase their creativity and talent.

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PORSCHE ANNOUNCES RECORD BREAKING YEAR ACROSS REGION Porsche Middle East celebrates best ever year for regional sales Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has had a remarkable 2011, as the latest sales figures show that the brand is more popular than ever. The regional office, with a presence in the Middle East since 1999, celebrates its most successful year ever in the region, with a 16 per cent sales increase on its previous record year of 2010. Close to 8,000 (7,949) vehicles were sold in the region in 2011. The highlight of this record-breaking year was August – which was Porsche Middle East’s best ever sales month; with 924 vehicles being delivered to customers. Globally, Porsche is also celebrating a new delivery record in 2011: 118,867 vehicles were sold worldwide; a 22.2 per cent increase compared with the year before. In fact, since setting up a direct presence in the region, Porsche has enjoyed a continuous sales growth, with figures surpassing expectations. Innovations that continue to impress customers include the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), which offers seven automatic gears, shortening acceleration times.

Compared to manual transmission, PDK offers lower fuel consumption, due to intelligent shifting strategy.

G-STAR SPRING/SUMMER 2012 MEN”S COLLECTION RAW ESSENTIALS RAW Essentials offers wearers the ultimate in denim craftsmanship, washings and hand-stitched detailing, creating a premium, luxury product for the true denim addict.

Spring/Summer 2012 sees the introduction of ‘Moulded Denim’: an innovative new wash that uses steaming and baking techniques to permanently embed 3D human form into the fabric. Selected men’s items include the Morris Tapered fivepocket in Conn denim, with its ‘2 years worn’ wash inspired by French Sateen vintage work pants; the 3301 Straight in Firn denim, featuring local abrasion, scraping, belching and paints spots; and the RE State Chino tapered with its extreme vintage destroyed wash RAW Essentials also includes this season two new variations on the iconic Arc Pant, the second 3D denim ever designed by G-Star. The denim/linen fabric mix of the RE Arc Loose Tapered intensifies the take-up of indigo dye, which results in an extra deep 3D-effect color finish. The RE Arc Loose Tapered in Conn denim offers an extra-low crotch, ‘crinkled’ lower leg and highquality hand stitching.

STARBUCKS AND DIWAN BOOK CLUB HOST THE 4TH COFFEE CHAT SESSION Dr.Naif Al-Mutawa Talks of the Journey of ‘THE 99’ In partnership with the Diwan Book Club, Starbucks hosted the fourth Coffee Chat Session on January 15th, 2012 at the Starbucks coffee shop located in the Al-Daiya Co-op Branch. The bimonthly event has become a regular occurrence for the club members at Starbucks coffee shops. It featured Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, creator and author of the famous THE 99 comic book, the first group of comic superheroes born of an Islamic archetype.

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa shared his experiences with the Diwan Book Club members and Starbucks customers about the journey and the fruition of THE 99. Starbucks Coffee Chat Series, in partnership with Diwan Book Club, will continue hosting prominent Kuwaiti figures who have made a difference in the Kuwaiti community through their outstanding work of Art, Literature and Sports.

All interested individuals over 18 years of age are welcome to join the Diwan Books Club for free by registering online at http://www.diwanbookclub.com/.

THE WINNER OF THE 2011 AL DANAH MILLIONAIRE DRAW Mr. Waheed Ahmad Gulf Bank announced the long awaited and highly anticipated winner of its latest Al Danah 1 million dinar prize draw. Mr. Waheed Ahmad’s name was drawn during a special live event hosted by Abdallah Al-Ruwaished and Najwa Karam at The Avenues Mall on January 5th. The event was streamed live through the Bank’s website, making Gulf Bank the first Bank to offer this service to its customers.

The declaration of the winner of the 1 million dinar draw followed shortly to the great adulation of the jubilant crowd. Al-Wogayan contacted Mr. Waleed Ahmad expressing his great joy and elation over winning the prize draw. Mr. Waleed Ahmad shed tears of delight during the call capturing the momentous occasion and emphasising his deep gratitude at receiving such a life changing prize.

For information about the Al Danah account or any of the Bank’s other products and services, log on to www.e-gulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s bilingual website.

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bazaar psych

By Dr. Juliet and Dr. Nisrine

Do you have questions for a psychologist? Are you afraid or embarrassed to see one?

Well, we may have the answers you need! Now you can ask Dr. Juliet and Dr. Nisrine for psychological and social advice for free!

Q. I'm a 24 year old female who just got diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I am very surprised with this diagnosis and don't know what to do or what to expect. Thanks, BD A. Bipolar Disorder consists of extreme mood changes between depression and happiness (called mania). These episodes of depression and euphoria can be triggered by situations that may seem trivial and unrelated and that is why it may be confusing for you and the people around you to deal with a bipolar patient.

However, Bipolar Disorder can be treated by taking the right medication prescribed by your psychiatrist. Regular therapy sessions also help you and the people around you deal with symptoms of the disorder. I would suggest you see your therapist and ask him / her to provide you with an appropriate plan to tackle your disorder. Now, there are a lot of research that believes Bipolar Disorder is manageable with the proper care and medication, so please the earlier you start with therapy, the more at ease you and your family will feel.

Q. I am a 30 year old female and I have been engaged for a year. Recently I began experiencing some depression and I have been very irritable and frustrated with my fiancé. I don't mean to be that way because I love him and care about him. What hurts me most is that a part of me expects him to understand and another part of me feels bad because he thinks he is one of the reasons for my depression.

Frustrated fiancé A. It is not unusual to feel depressed or frustrated when you are in a long term relationship. These feeling may be normal given that at the the age of 30, you are ready to start a family and move on with the relationship.

And if your fiancé doesn't seem to be doing anything about it, or if he is not as ready as you are to move to the next step, this may make you feel depressed and frustrated. It is also not unusual for your fiancé to feel that he may be the reason behind your depression especially if you don't share with him your feelings and explain the reason behind your frustration and if you are constantly 94

Dr. Nisrine

Dr. Juliet

irritated by whatever he does.

I suggest if it is true that you are frustrated because his inability to finalize marriage plans, please discuss it with him. If this is not the only trigger for your mood change, try to find out other reasons behind your depression and frustration and then talk to your fiancé about it, and together you should be able to reach a solution for the issues that are behind your negative feelings. If that means moving on to the next step, your fiancé needs to be aware of that so that you can find a solution that would make you both satisfied. Remember if you can't communicate now then when will you? The most successful marriages are those who talk with each other about anything and everything. Good luck!

Q. I am a 24 year old male recently diagnosed with MS. I am very spiritual and faithful and I think I am handling it well but I am so worried about my family members as they don't seem to be handling it that well. Thanks, MS patient A. It seems that you are coping well with MS, and it is normal to be concerned about how your family is dealing with the stress, but I can assure you that nothing would make them feel better more than your ability to positively cope with MS. Communicate your fears and concerns to them and ask them to discuss their concerns with you. This would be healthy for your relationship with your family members, and would allow them to adapt to the needs of the situation. MS usually conjures up supportive and nurturing qualities in partners and family members, but caregiving should never evolve into pity. Discussion sessions between family members and professional psychologists can help identify personal, appropriate boundaries to refrain from overprotectiveness and to preserve the independence of all family members. We are very proud that you are not victimizing yourself or minimizing your potentials just because of MS, keep up the good work!

Q. I'm a mother of an 18 year old boy. Recently I have noticed concerning changes in his behavior.

He sometimes talks to himself and claims that he

sees or hears things that none of the family members can see or hear. Until last year he had high grades in school but recently his school grades are becoming considerably lower than before. What should I do and how could I help him? Regards, concerned mom A. It is sometimes hard for teenagers to cope with personal changes and challenges and parents often assume it is a phase of difficult adolescence which may lead teenagers to exhibit behaviors that are unusual. However, I understand your concern towards the changes in your son’s behavior, as they might be symptoms of schizophrenia. It is a complex illness that tends to emerge during teen years and young adulthood and may be triggered by environmental factors in people who are genetically at risk, or have a family history of the illness.

Schizophrenia makes it difficult to differentiate between real and unreal experiences and also can cause problems with concentration, anxiety, and social isolation. These symptoms are easily controlled with antipsychotic medications, which are the most effective treatments for schizophrenia. However, psychiatric examination is necessary before a complete diagnosis.

Therefore, I advise you to talk to your son about your concerns in his behavior, encouraging him to see a psychiatrist immediately before his symptoms get worse. If he is not able to control his delusions, pursuing normal activities such as, finishing school, going out with friends, communicating with family members and other social obligations will be impossible. Remember the earlier he gets evaluated by a psychiatrist the sooner he will get better.

For psychological advice, send your questions to dr.jdinkha@kaizen-kw.com. Please note that not all questions can be published. Dr. Juliet and Dr. Nisrine are bilingual and bicultural expert psychologists on various personal and social issues.

Visit www.kaizen-ke.com. or follow them on www.facebook.com/kaizen2q8.

bazaar techno Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~ Arthur C. Clarke

MACRO LENS PHONE BAND We've seen all sorts of elaborate ways to add extra optics to a phone's camera, so the Macro Lens Phone Band ($15) isn't just clever — it's refreshingly simple. This sturdy band holds a built-in macro lens that should work with most any phone, letting you take sharp close-ups when you need them, and wrapping safely around the included card for safe storage when not in use. And let's be honest: you've probably spent more than this on photo apps anyway.

http://photojojo.com

HIDDEN SPEAKER We like it when products combine multiple ideas into one — so integrating a speaker into a giant volume knob is pretty much the best thing we've ever seen. Okay, so maybe it's not that amazing, but the Hidden Speaker ($120) is pretty damn cool. Powered by rechargeable internal batteries offering over 30 hours of play time, it uses Bluetooth for wireless streaming audio support, and also offers a built-in AM/FM radio, and a 3.5mm input for technologically challenged audio sources.

www.kickstarter.com

GLASS MULTI-TOUCH KEYBOARD & MOUSE And you thought Apple's input devices were minimal. This Glass Multi-Touch Keyboard & Mouse ($350) uses infrared LEDs placed at the edge of the glass — in conjunction with one or more cameras — to detect your touches on the completely clear tempered glass surface. Other features include Bluetooth support, rechargeable lithium polymer batteries, tactile sounds and lighting that can be disabled at your desire, and solid metal bases that'll look great next to your rig, be it a PC or Mac.

www.kickstarter.com

TASCAM IM2 STEREO MICROPHONE Looking to do some recording with your iOS device? Unless you want sub-par sound, you're going to need a beefier mic — one like the Tascam iM2 Stereo Microphone ($80). Made specifically for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, this pocket-sized powerhouse features two high-quality, adjustable condenser microphones, an internal microphone pre-amp and analog-to-digital converter for pristine sound, a stereo limiter to quiet sudden loud sounds — like gunshots — and a USB port for keeping things charged up while you're recording. Great for interviews, concerts, and attracting inquisitive "What the hell is sticking out of his iPhone?" stares.

www.tascamcontractor.com

PICO DOLLY You know the real difference between Hollywood-looking video and the stuff you've been shooting on your phone or DSLR? Proper camera movement. Even the steadiest of hands can add unwanted shake, so eliminate the possibility altogether with the Pico Dolly ($90). This simple, sturdy unit features a metal dolly unit with a tripod mount, a reposition-able 11" arm, a clamp for holding phones or cameras that lack a tripod mount, and rotating wheels so you can shoot in a circular motion or in a curve.

http://photojojo.com 96

AL SHABAB REWARDS MERCEDES C CLASS By bazaar staff

A part of being young is having an incredible zest for life, and everyday is an exciting one with new discoveries, challenges and rewards. We all started off the New Year with high hopes and dreams, sticking to our resolutions to eat healthier foods, treat people with more tolerance and kindness, and well, take charge of our lives to make each day better than the one before it. The way to happiness is rather simple, starting with making more informed choices in life, researching different options to organize one’s life and making an educated decision. When it comes to our finances, our generation is sometimes at a total loss, not knowing whether to go with incentives to increase our finances or finding a suitable bank to handle their finances.

For Hanan Al Khaldi, her new year proved to be a rather exciting and eventful one, as she is the proud winner of a brand new swanky Mercedes C Class, thanks to banking with theNational Bank of Kuwait’s Al Shabab program. She made the smart choice of transferring her student allowances to Al Shabab, and by doing so she entered the grand reward of winning this exciting new ride.

Hanan picked Al Shabab for it’s many benefits. An 98

account program aimed towards the youth, Al Shabab is in every essence young at heart. Catering towards college and university students between the ages of 17-23, Al Shabab offers various financial, social, and lifestyle solutions for the blooming age group. With chances to win exciting prizes like the Mercedes C Class, Al Shabab simultaneously offers ongoing discounts at many retail outlets, including students’ favorite shopping destinations, cinemas, and restaurants.

Not only so, the Mercedes C Class campaign is one amongst many that is aimed at rewarding Al Shabab customers who transfer their student allowances to NBK. “Banking with NBK is rewarding in every way,” Hanan stated excitedly, “NBK is truly the best bank in the Middle East for its unique services and exclusive offers as well as valuable prizes,” she said.

Hanan isn’t the only one, for many students eager to make the best out of their college and university careers make the choice to transfer their allowances to NBK’s Al Shabab account program, too. Ahmad Al Khader, NBK’s Assistant General Manager, Consumer Banking Group, further elaborates, “NBK is keen to provide youth customers with the best banking services and exclusive offers to cater to their needs. Al Shabab account is the

first choice for youth who want to save money and organize their finances.” He also adds, “We congratulate Ms Al Khaldi for winning this exciting car. It is a great way to start off the New Year.”

So, if we are all so keen on sticking to our New Year resolutions, add ‘switch student allowances to NBK’s Al Shabab program’ to your list, and simply relax. Not only will your student finances be in the safe and secure hands of the renowned National Bank of Kuwait, yet you could start off your next semester in a super-cool ride like the Mercedes C Class. Besides the amazing discounts on offer, NBK’s rewarding campaigns never truly come to an end, as Al Khader adds, “NBK’s rewarding campaigns continue throughout the year. Now, we are offering Al Shabab customers a chance to win an all new 2012 Nissan Juke when they transfer their student allowances to NBK.” If you’re not already tempted, we know we are!

Students can open an Al Shabab account by visiting any NBK branch in Kuwait.

For more information, please visit www.nbk.com.

To connect with NBK, find them on facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/NBK.fans and twitter by following www.twitter.com/NBKPage.

KING EVOKES HORRORS OF HISTORY IN '11/22/63'

By Carol Memmott

On the day John F. Kennedy was shot, the teenage boy who would grow up to write bestselling novels guaranteed to make you scream for your mommy, was sitting in the back of a hearse.

"How Stephen King is that?" asks the author of Carrie, The Shining and It, flashing a devilish grin.

On a gorgeous fall day, not unlike that fateful one in 1963, King is sitting on a bench in The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza - a place once known as the Texas School Book Depository. To King's right is a recreation of the shooter's nest, the spot from which Lee Harvey Oswald gunned down JFK. Like everyone in Dallas on Nov. 22, Oswald knew the route of Kennedy's motorcade. Here, hidden behind boxes of schoolbooks, Oswald waited, rifle in hand, for Kennedy's open convertible to pass on Elm Street below.

King is here to talk about his new novel, 11/22/63 which takes Kennedy's assassination as its inspiration but he's still mining memories of his ride in the hearse in 1963, when he was 16. It belonged to a Lisbon Falls, Maine, taxi driver who turned it, King says, into 100

a modified limousine that he used to cart King and his high school buddies to and from school.

"We got out of school at 1:30 Eastern Time. We didn't know anything," says King, 64. "We got into the hearse. We heard on the radio that President Kennedy was dead. There was total silence. Nobody cried, but Mike (the driver) said, 'They will catch the man who did this, and someone will kill the son of a *itch.' And that's what happened."

Parts of that anecdote have found their way into 11/22/63. It's the story of a Lisbon Falls high school teacher, Jake Epping, who finds a portal to the past and goes back in time in hopes of killing Oswald before he shoots Kennedy and, in effect, changing history.

11/22/63 went on sale in November and USA TODAY gave it a four-star review. Even before it was published, a film deal was announced. Oscar winner Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) will write the screenplay and direct.

Destination: Dallas The sun is shining brightly through the window

from which Oswald aimed his mail-order rifle and then with three shots ended the life of America's 35th president. From a window to King's left, you can see the X on the street below that marks the location of Kennedy's car when the shots were fired.

"We were just stunned," says King, still looking back. "It was the sort of stunned feeling that I had on 9/11. Those were the only two times in my life when I was totally flattened and I didn't know what to think."

King had been holding on to the idea of writing 11/22/63 since Nov. 22, 1971. He was teaching high school in Maine, and the talk in the teachers' lounge was about Kennedy. "Somebody asked the question, 'What would it have been like if Kennedy had lived?' and I thought, 'This would make a great story.' " But he wasn't ready to write the book, and his first novel, Carrie, wouldn't be published until 1973. "My talent wasn't strong enough to bear that," he says, "and I was working full time and had two kids at home, and Tabby (King's novelist wife, Tabitha) was working at Dunkin' Donuts. So I couldn't do the research. You

didn't have the tools you have now, like Google and Bing and stuff like that."

By the time the new century rolled around, enough time had passed for King to feel comfortable writing 11/22/63. "Back then, the wounds were too fresh," he says. "I wouldn't even today want to consider a novel for entertainment purposes about 9/11. It would seem almost blasphemous."

King acknowledges there's a real generational split when it comes to how people remember JFK. His publisher even asked him to consider changing the title, thinking young people wouldn't get what it meant.

"They argued with me a little bit," says King, who said he would have never changed the title. "That's what it was from the beginning, and I think it's a jinx to change it."

He also wasn't worried that younger readers might not relate to the time-traveling story. "I was just fascinated by the idea of a moment in time, sort of a pinch point. Beyond that, everything changes one way or another, but at that one little point, you could make a change and influence things for the future."

King was fascinated by Oswald, "this one little geeky guy" and his "half-baked ideas about socialism and the utopian state in his mind when he did this thing."

And no, King doesn't buy into the conspiracy theories. He's convinced Oswald did it.

One challenge, he says, was not portraying the 1950s and '60s - most of his novel takes place between 1958 and 1963 - through rose-colored glasses. "The challenge there was not to turn it into a Norman

Rockwell cover. I loved my childhood," says King, who grew up in those decades, "and I think most people, if they had a decent raising and nobody was whopping them around and putting cigarette butts out on their nose, can look back and say it was great. But as an adult, you have to look back and say, 'Well, where are the nuances and where were the shadows?' " And those "shadows"- the racism and bigotry - are as prevalent in the novel as the cars, music and movies of the era, for which King does feel nostalgia.

As for this first run at blending history and fiction, King says it was exciting.

"There's a scene early in the book where Al Templeton (the owner of the diner that holds the portal to the past) says to Jake, 'I met him (Oswald), you know," and I can remember writing that line and saying, 'I'm actually going to meet Oswald in my imagination.' I don't think I really have been as excited or turned on or had all my lights go on since (1977's) ‘The Shining’."

King says that he tried to remain objective about Oswald, that he didn't want to despise him for what he did. "It's tough to get rid of that completely, but the bottom line was not to vilify him or glorify him but to say to the reader, 'This was a real man. This is what he looked like and this is the way he behaved and this is what he did.' " Nicola Longford, executive director of The Sixth Floor Museum, says King did a terrific job evoking the early '60s. "He has an amazing ability to transport somebody back to that time. You're almost living in the period. He addresses a lot of the topics really provocatively."

Nan Graham, King's friend and editor at Scribner, agrees. "He's looking at the great parts of the '50s and '60s, the pieces that he loves - the dancing and the cars and the music and the small-town goodness - and then he looks at the darkness, too. Not just Oswald but segregation and white supremacy and smallmindedness and hypocrisy."

Looking for new readers Tackling historical fiction for the first time - a huge departure from much of what he's written - has King hoping 11/22/63 can win new readers.

"I'd love to see that happen, I really would," King says.

And why would the man who has sold more than 350 million books want more readers? "That isn't the driving force," he says. "All I'm trying to say is I want to write a story that people want to read. I'm wired that way. I want to entertain people."

When he's not writing, King plays guitar and watches TV, "probably more than I should." He likes Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, The Hour and Revenge.

And he walks a lot. "Because I had this accident," he says, looking down at his leg, "and it seems to keep things limbered up." In 1999, King was critically injured after being struck by a van. Among his injuries were multiple fractures to his right leg.

He says he still has some pain, "but it's not bad. I'm glad I can walk. I can get on the treadmill and I walk 3 1/2 miles a day. It's just so great I didn't wind up in a wheelchair or as a vegetable."

And King says he takes no prescription pain medicine. "Not anymore. That's all gone. (After the accident) I got totally hooked on Oxycontin. I say it without shame or anything. It wasn't like I went seeking it, but if you use it medicinally for a while, it's very powerful, and you get hooked."

In 2011, looking fit, energetic and thoroughly happy, he can only revel in his current good fortune.

"This stuff (writing) keeps you young," he says.

"They let us guys go out and be designated kids for everybody else, and we get to make stuff up and live on the playground. The challenge is to be an adult at least 50 percent of the time."

Copyright Š 2011, USA TODAY International.

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big boys toys

MAKERBOT THING-O-MATIC Forget buying gifts this year — create your own with the MakerBot Thing-O-Matic ($1,100). This automatic 3D printer can print full objects instead of pieces, and includes MakerBot StepStruder MK7 software to let you easily design your own creations. Just think of it as your own personal assembly plant, minus the questionable labor practices and potential regulatory hassles.

www.store.makerbot.com

MISSILE SILO CABIN Lots of people can claim to have a big house, a nice yard, or even their own private airstrip — but virtually none can claim to live in an old abandoned missile silo. You'll be able to do just that if you pay the price for this Missile Silo Cabin ($750,000-$1.75 million) available on its own or in a package with a ton of extra land, another log cabin, and an airplane hangar, this unique home is tucked away in the pine forest of Upstate New York's Adirondack State Park, and is perfect for those looking for extra security, zombie outbreak safe haven, or a proper base from which to start their quest for world domination.

www.coldwarmissilesilo.com

COSMONAUT Sure, it's got a funny name, but the Cosmonaut ($25) is no joke when it comes time to use your iPad. Designed from the ground up to be a perfect stylus — and therefore not constrained to a pen-like body — the Cosmonaut features a thick rubber body that's comfortable to grip and a tip that glides smoothly across the screen (That's what she said?). Available with Aluminum or Wood bottom trim.

www.studioneat.com

ROLLER ROCK GLASS Ever notice how fun it is to swirl your glass when sipping on a smooth concoction? Apparently so did the makers of the Roller Rock Glass ($22). Arriving with its own ice ball mold, this clever glass features a spike in the middle to guide the ice ball around the edge of the glass, slowly cooling your drink without watering it down.

www.homewetbar.com

TACTICAL BLEEDING ZOMBIE TARGETS Filed under "We can't make this stuff up", these Tactical Bleeding Zombie Targets ($90-$100) are a great way to liven up a day at the gun club without risking bodily injury. Life-sized and full of biodegradable matter, these gruesome three-dimensional targets "bleed" when you shoot them, and are great for target practice, Halloween events, or as cheap extras for your upcoming underground outbreak flick.

www.zombieindustries.com

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JADE GARDEN A Chinese delight

By Noha Al-Awadi

Simply put, Jade Garden is the best, most authentic, Chinese restaurant in Kuwait.

With an extensive menu that can cater to any palate, this restaurant goes far beyond what we have come to expect from Chinese food. Serving up much-loved staples, as well as new creations, most of the dishes at Jade Garden hail from the Schezuan province of China.

You will find all your favorites here, such as the beef oyster, Kungpao chicken, a variety of Schezuan dishes and Kindo galore. These are 104

tastier than their counterparts found at other Chinese restaurants around town, mainly because they are prepared by Jade Garden’s chef, who is in fact, Chinese. This is as authentic as it gets!

Open for one year now, Jade Garden offers its patrons an amazing dining experience with a lovely view of Kuwait. Decorated with red and gold and overflowing with Chinese lanterns, the ambience really does compliment the amazing

dining experience offered.

Start your meal off by ordering the Seafood Chowder. Not on their menu, but prepared specially for their guests, this rich soup is brimming with bell peppers, celery and potato, swimming in a sea of squid, fish and shrimp. Simply divine.

Love your starters? Try the seafood dumplings, steamed to perfection. Just the right size, served piping hot with just the exact amount of ginger to make them just right. The accompanying dipping sauce (light soy, sesame oil, ginger and green onion) is the perfect match, and also fared well with other dishes. Follow up with a basket of shrimp spring rolls; crisp on the outside and just perfect on the inside, definitely a favorite and this version did not disappoint.

A must-try here is the Beijing (nee Peking) duck.

Absolutely delicious. The duck arrives to your table pre-sliced, with pancakes steaming in their basket waiting to be covered in dollops of plum sauce and heaps of green onion and slivers of cucumber.

Kindo chicken at Jade Garden is unlike any other we have tasted. Everything about this dish was prepared the way it should be. The sauce wasn’t too sweet, it was just right. The sesame seeds sprinkled on top weren’t overboard, they were perfect. This dish will definitely be one of our regular dishes on future visits to Jade Garden.

Accompany all your dishes with an order of rice (we had the mixed fried rice, which comes with an array of mixed seafood with peas and carrots) and noodles (our order was beef fried noodles – yum!) from their extensive menu choices. Looking for something new? Try the beef bacon fried with cumin and chilli. Served on a wooden skewer, this

is a sensory delight and a fun addition to your meal, guaranteed.

Vegetarian? Don’t worry. Jade Garden will cater to your palate by offering you one of its many tofu dishes, prepared just the way you want it.

Located on the 12th floor of Gulf Hotel on Baghdad Street, Jade Garden brings real Chinese food to the heart of Salmiya! For more information or to make a reservation please call 2572 1040 Ext.111 or 9939 7147.

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KUWAIT CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Gears Up For Best Shows

For car aficionados there’s nothing like seeing rare antique cars in motion—with sights & sounds teleporting them back in time. Now you can enjoy all the nostalgia and thrills, once again, during the third Kuwait Concours d’Elegance classic car competition on February 15-18, 2012 organized by the Historical, Vintage & Classic Car Museum in Kuwait.

Organized by the Kuwait Historical, Vintage & Classic Cars Museum, the third Kuwait Concours d’Elegance, the only event of its kind in the Mideast today, has quickly established itself as a premier event giving Kuwait’s Concours a seat at the table of top-shelf automotive shows worldwide.

Kuwait Concours d’Elegance is fashioned in Italian style. The focal point of the show is hand-made classic cars featuring automobiles produced during 106

the early stages of automotive industrial history to bespoke cars designed into the mid-1970s.

Collectors from Kuwait and the Gulf region, Europe, the United States, Australia and Pakistan will showcase elegant distinguished automobiles at the Kuwait Concours. Nearly 100 automobiles will compete for overall honors grouped together in the following classes: Class A, 1910-1930; Class B, 19311945; Class C, 1946-1960; Class D, 1961-1975; Racing Cars; Muscle Cars; Grand Prix; and Hollywood Cars plus other featured cars as every group includes fantastic automobiles.

This year Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance 2012 celebrates the great history of racing cars and their drivers with the slogan ‘Euphoria of Victory’. To celebrate racing history, the Concours features for the first time in the Mideast a special historical racing car stand focusing on some of the great racing cars in the history of racing from all over the world. It will also feature a Hollywood stand with some very special guests. This is a ‘must see’ for all racing car enthusiasts.

No Concours could succeed over time without a strong list of entrants.

Fortunately, the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance 2012 has gathered together an impressive array of cars including the 1927 Ford Model T (one of the rarest cars in Kuwait); 1971 Lamborghini miuras (belongs to the Shah of Iran); 1923 Aston Martin Side-Valve (the twelfth Aston Martin ever built and the world’s oldest surviving Aston Martin); Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Chassis DB4GT/0189/R (one of just 19 examples; ‘0189’ was the last Zagato ever built); 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante; Bentley EXP (world’s most important historical Bentley); and 1987 Porsche 959 (belongs to late king Hussein Bin Talal) plus many other famous and rare classic cars, racing cars, grand prix cars, muscle cars and Hollywood cars.

Kuwait Concours d’Elegance 2012 takes place February 15-18, 2012 at the Marina Crescent, Marina World, a prestigious location at the center of the city with access to prime restaurants and shopping centers. All in one place, the Concours’ venue is located near the Marina Hotel; along the Marina Crescent itself where you will discover a variety of cafés and restaurants along the water plus other entertaining activities during your stay.

IMAGINE CUP

2012

Challenge Yourself to Change the World

By Imagine Cup

There are many challenges faced by our world today and even in your local communities. But did you ever imagine that you could help solve these challenges? It’s true, you can! The Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012 Software Design Competition is all about creating real-world applications and solutions that can help make the world a better place. Using Microsoft tools and technology, student competitors can unleash their ideas and technical talent to create cutting-edge software applications.

You and your team will develop, test, and build your ideas into applications that can help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, such as poverty, hunger, gender inequality, environmental sustainability, and access to education and healthcare. We know you have the knowledge, the passion, and the drive to make a difference.

Ready to Get Started?

We know you are excited, but before you start building the next software design solution that benefits people around the globe, take a few minutes to read the Software Design Rules and the Imagine Cup Official Rules and Regulations. Kuwait is hosting a local Software Design Competition for the very first time this year!

Next: Register and sign up to compete in the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012 student technology competition, using the steps below: Step 1: Register. We need some basic information from you before you can get started.

Visit: http://imaginecupgulf.com/ and click “Register” to sign up! Select Kuwait as your country to compete in the local competition.

Step 2: Sign up to compete in the Software Design Competition through your My Profile page at: https://www.imaginecup.com/UpdateProfile.aspx Step 3: Read the Software Design Rules before you 108

begin your project.

Step 4: Start building your solution!

Software Design: Round 1 Your Mission: Create and submit a Round 1 Preliminary Summary that is inspired by the Imagine Cup 2012 Theme – Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems. Round 1 submissions are due by February 28, 2012.

All Software Design competitors who are competing locally in Kuwait or online through Imaginecup.com are required to complete and submit a Preliminary Summary through this website. The Preliminary Summary is in addition to any materials teams must submit locally.

Here is what you need to do: 1. Download proposal template from our website www.imaginecupgulf.com 2. Complete the 3-4 page proposal, outlining the problem identified, proposed solution, business viability and technical architecture 3. Create a 5-15 minute video walking through the team project 4. Submit both elements (proposal and video) in a single .zip file online at www.imaginecupgulf.com by the set deadline 5. Top teams are invited to compete in Kuwait country finals in April 2012 6. First place winning team will represent Kuwait at the worldwide finals in Sydney, Australia in July 2012.

Need a little Inspiration? Not sure which one of the world’s toughest problems you want to solve?

Get motivated by one of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals. While these are not required to be in your solution, the Imagine Cup offers these ambitious challenges as a guide to promote change all around the world. Watch how the

2011 Software Design Winners Team Hermes, Team NoteTaker and Team Oasys, presented their solutions last July at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City, USA. Next July, it could be you on stage.

You have a team but need a mentor? Let us know and we will help! There are many developers in Kuwait who have volunteered to mentor students in Kuwait.

Simply send an email to shaymaa@microsoft.com with the subject line “We need a mentor!”.

Windows Mobile Development Competition Microsoft and Zain are calling all creative students in Kuwait to join Imagine Cup and unleash their imagination. Join us in creating a different era of next generation mobile applications.

All apps should reflect this year's Imagine Cup theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.

The Mobile Development category is embedded into Software Design. Students are challenged to develop software applications for mobiles that fit the 2012 theme, using Microsoft platform technologies such as Windows 7, Windows Live SDK, Windows Phone 7 SDK, Silverlight, Azure and/or Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK. The entries will be judged by our expert panel based on the following scoring system: 50%: Idea 10%: Problem definition 20%: Developing prototype 20%: Presentation What’s the timeline?

1. Register & create team: Now 2. Develop idea and upload entry: Now – February 28, 2012 3. Kuwait country final: April 2012 4. Winners receive Mobile Development Award

and prize from Zain The top teams who develop mobile applications will be invited to compete at the Imagine Cup Kuwait country final. During the April event, teams will demonstrate their application to the panel of expert judges. Winners will be announced during the event and will receive a special prize from Zain.

When registering, be sure to select Software Design as your main category, and when you submit your proposal, mention Mobile Development.

Let your imagination take flight and may the best innovator win!

The Imagine Cup 2012 Kuwait competition is supported by Zain, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), and Burgan Bank.

For more information please visit: Website: www.imaginecupgulf.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/Imaginecup Facebook: www.facebook.com/microsoftimaginecup.

YouTube: www.youtube.com/imaginecupmicrosoft Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/imaginecup/

IS IT JUST ME OR… Is Kuwait Getting Smaller?

By Sumayyah Meehan

“It's a small world, but we all run in big circles.” ~ Sasha Azevedo

The State of Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world, and is just a wee bit smaller than the U.S. State of New Jersey. However, as the old adage goes, good things come in small packages. And Kuwait is just one of those good things. Anyone who has ever left Kuwait, even for a short time, feels the pangs of longing within hours of departure. I have experienced the phenomenon myself and always feel homesick for Kuwait even when visiting my own country. This small desert country has carved quite a comfortable niche in my heart where it is destined to stay for a lifetime.

Over the years, however, I have noticed that Kuwait seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Granted, there does not appear to be a geological disturbance shrinking the country that I am aware of. It’s just the traffic on the streets and crowds in the marketplaces keep getting bigger and bigger with each passing season. Overall, it seems that there is just a lack of space, which makes getting around frustrating.

A trip to the mall, for example, highlights the increasing “smallness” of Kuwait perfectly. First order of business when going to the mall is to find a 110

parking space for your car. Now, unless you’re wearing your lucky underwear or the planets are aligned just right, you can expect to wait in upwards of 30 minutes to find a parking space within spitting distance of the mall.

Making your way into the mall and actually finding the store that you are looking for is another exercise in futility. Some shoppers often push and shove in order to get where they are going, others have little choice but to knock elbows with you as there simply is nowhere else to go.

Last but not least, it seems that checkout lines are getting longer and longer.

At the most popular stores, you can expect to linger in lines for a minimum of twenty minutes. Long lines take the fun out of “retail therapy” and can even force the most seasoned shopper to head home early due to fatigue.

Malls are not the only places in Kuwait that are overcrowded. Restaurants, cafes and even select beauty salons are bursting at the seams with eager clientele willing to slap down some cold hard cash for some personalized service. Perhaps it’s not Kuwait that is shrinking after all. Maybe it just that our lifestyles are growing to grandiose proportions.

bazaar goes to cinema The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in February

CHRONICLE Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly and Alex Russell Synopsis: Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.

THE DEVIL INSIDE Genre: Horror, Thriller Cast: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth Synopsis: In 1989, emergency responders received a 9-1-1 call from Maria Rossi (Suzan Crowley) confessing that she

had brutally killed three people. 20 years later, her daughter Isabella (Fernanda Andrade) seeks to understand the truth about what happened that night. She travels to the Centrino Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Italy where her mother has been locked away to determine if her mother is mentally ill or demonically possessed. When she recruits two young exorcists (Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth) to cure her mom using unconventional methods combining both science and religion, they come face-to-face with pure evil in the form of four powerful demons possessing Maria. Many have been possessed by one; only one has been possessed by many.

SAFE HOUSE Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery Cast: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds and Robert Patrick Synopsis: Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-thriller Safe House. Washington plays the most dangerous renegade from the CIA, who comes back onto the grid after a decade on the run. When the South African safe house he's remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative (Reynolds) escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer and Ciarรกn Hinds Synopsis: Young lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) leaves his son in London to settle the legal affairs of the recently deceased Alice Drablow. He discovers that a series of inexplicable accidents and suicides have forced the parents of her village to barricade their children indoors, as if protecting them from an unseen foe. When Arthur stays the night all alone at the Drablows' foreboding house, he hears the screams of a drowning child and sees decaying children listlessly wandering the marshes. He will soon discover these haunting figures share the same date of death, and the same killer.

THIS MEANS WAR Genre: Comedy, Action, Romance Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy Synopsis: The world's deadliest CIA operatives are inseparable partners and best friends until they fall for the same woman.

Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis ever - each other.

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For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, log on to www.cinescape.com.kw

bazaar checks it out A THIRD SEASON OF EXHILARATING DRIFT SHOWS WITH “RED BULL CAR PARK DRIFT” Regional qualifications take off once again from Kuwait on 10 February 2012 Following the tremendous success of the past two years, “Red Bull Car Park Drift” has become a highly anticipated yearly event, not only in Kuwait but in most of the Middle Eastern countries participating in the regional competitions. Once again this year, drifting shows and exhilarating performances take off from Kuwait, opening a whole new season of heightened and exciting challenges, to conclude with an outstanding finale in Lebanon.

The opening local championship kicks off on Friday 10th of February, with heady rounds of drifting competitions, leading up to the crowing of the “King of Drift” and the representative of Kuwait in the Beirut finals. The competition which is taking place at Parking Lot 4 of the Kuwait International Fair is sponsored

by Chevrolet and in collaboration with the “Quarter Mile” club in Kuwait. It returns once again to provide motorsport lovers in addition to the thrilling show performances, a chance to experience high speed and utmost suspense.

Rally and hill climbing champion and Red Bull driver, Abdo Feghali, will be evaluating the drivers’ performances along with a panel of esteemed judges. The evaluation will mainly assess the drift shows presented by the drivers in their modified cars, through the use of hand breaks and exertion of outstanding skills to take on turns in the most dazzling and accurate ways. In addition, judges will consider the engines’ roars and the external look of the car, the smoke produced by the friction of the tyres and finally the audience’s excitement and cheers for each performance to make their final decision.

Last year’s competition led to the crowning of Salah bin Aidan in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, as he represented Kuwait in the final qualifications in Lebanon, after taking on 27 other drivers who fiercely competed in front of a raging crowd of three thousand spectators at the Kuwait International Fair, in Meshrif.

Besides Kuwait and Lebanon, participating countries in the Red Bull Car Park Drift 2012 include the UAE, KSA, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Iran and Bahrain. Before gaining international fame and exposure, this sort of competition started in Japan back in the 1970’s based on the idea of competing in a parking lot.

To participate in Kuwait’s local championship, please call 66406020. Participating cars must be four-wheel or rear drive.

THE FIRST SWISS LUXURY SMART PHONE - TAG HEUER LINK When Swiss Watchmaking Heritage meets Avant-Garde Technology What happens when a Swiss watchmaker, world renowned since 1860 for its skilled workmanship, precision engineering and avant-garde design, extends its savoir-faire to the leading edge of 21st century communication technology? The answer is the TAG Heuer LINK, the first Swiss luxury touchscreen smartphone, operating on Android. Swiss-engineered, French-built, and powered by the world’s most advanced operating system, it shares the core values of every breakthrough TAG Heuer creation: advanced design and materials, peerless handassembled and finished craftsmanship, unsurpassed reliability, and a total commitment to the avant-garde. The first luxury smartphone with a tactile screen, it is also the first equipped with upgradeable Google Android software, meaning unparalleled access and connectivity. Android’s ability to switch quickly between applications brings incomparable multitasking power, making the TAG Heuer LINK one of the fastest phones on the market. A superlative design object and a powerful resource, a pleasure to hold and delight to use, the TAG Heuer LINK is essential equipment for adventurers, sportsmen and business executives.

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BAUME & MERCIER, SIHH 2012 BM.SIHH12.COM: Baume & Mercier puts on a show…online!

To tweet or not to tweet? Baume & Mercier definitively answers this timely question by giving us exceptional online access to the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2012 using Twitter! Baume & Mercier, partnering with Worldtempus, will bring together hashtags and other news, putting everything on a web page, www.bm.sihh12. com, where Twitter followers can read conversations about the show, the brand’s latest news, and the world of watchmaking. This information treasure trove from numerous network contributors can be accessed in a single click and in real time...even journalist-bloggers will tweet live from the brand’s press conferences, all enhanced with copy and photos. In short, it’s a fabulous and comprehensive information tool at your disposal throughout the SIHH 2012…one that shows once again how Baume & Mercier stands firmly in tradition while riding the leading edge of the innovation wave. To your blogs, everyone!

For more information; www.facebook.com/BaumeEtMercier, twitter.com/BaumeEtMercier.

ORIS MALDIVES LIMITED EDITION Stop the Countdown for the Maldives Following the success of the Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition in, Oris proudly presents the Maldives Limited Edition Series. Limited to 2000 pieces, CHF 20 per watch will be donated to environmental NGO Bluepeace, to help protect endangered marine life in the Maldives. Available in a titanium case, the back of this unique divers watch features the Manta Ray Logo, paying homage to the endangered species. The dark blue ceramic inlay on the unidirectional revolving top ring comes with an engraved 60 minute scale which can be used for precision timing for diving and other sporting activities. The indices and hands of the time piece are in Superluminova dark orange – resulting in an easy to read timepiece even when under water.

The titanium crown protector is fixed with distinctive Oris screws for added security and the double curved sapphire crystal is coated with an inside anti-reflex layer. The buckles of the rubber strap and metal bracelet can easily be adjusted to the desired length for comfortable fitting. Water resistant to 30bar (300 m 1000 ft), the Oris Maldives Limited Edition is perfect for serious Scuba Divers along with those looking for the stylish aesthetics of a beautiful functional divers watch.

YACOB BEHBEHANI SONS & LUMINOX SPONSOR RUNKUWAIT JOURNEY A first of its kind event in Kuwait, Yacob Behbehani Sons Company sponsors the 200K RunKuwait Journey with Luminox Watches Yacob Behbehani Sons Company through their brand Luminox watches announced that it will be the silver sponsor of the RunKuwait journey, a 200 Km self-sufficiency journey from the Northern to the Southern borders of Kuwait. RunKuwait, headed

by Yousef al Qanai and the Aymstrong team is scheduled to take place on the Kuwaiti National Days, 25th and 26th of February 2012. This idea came about because the company believes in supporting the Kuwaiti Youth in trying to achieve national support in such causes to show unity and determination of the Kuwaiti youth.

Yousef Al Qanai, Runner and Founder of Aymstrong Enterprises came up with the idea of this event as an effort to promote a sense of determination, and unity within the society and amongst Kuwait’s youth. The journey will take an estimated time of between 2 to 3 days to complete with 5 -7 runners.

Luminox is known for being a self-empowered watch, American invented and Swiss made. Due to the Luminox Light Technology it is always visible for up to 25 years. The model Yousef Al Qanai wears is COLORMARK CHRONOGRAPH 3080 SERIES it is known to be light, made of carbon fiber with an extra hard mineral glass so it’s unscratchable, and it is 200m water resistant.

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snap

Title: Olga the ballerina Location: Train station, Moscow, Russia Discription: Professional ballerina, Olga, in raw, creative “Bader Colors”.

The beauty of photography is that it is left open for the viewer’s interpretation. It is an art form in which the artist sees and captures a moment in time for us to forever contemplate. Instead of saying “this is how I saw it” a photo asks the viewer to simply “see”.e For your snap submissions, please send an email including the photo with its title, location, and description, to snap@bazaar-magazine.com. Give us something to see.

freedom to express 116

Photographed by: Bader Al Bassam

bazaar scopes

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

TAU R U S

April 20 - May 20

GEMINI

May 21 - June 21

Normally this is your month to sit back and relax. But for those born in the month of February, there is no time for that. Uranus has moved into your 1st House of Self and for many years to come you will be a lightning bolt of energy. You could in the next few months find yourself suddenly in or out of a committed relationship. Either way the timing is right. On the 14th, be prepared for a snag when a child or romantic interest could cost you money that you weren’t planning on spending.

Venus moves into your 2nd House of Cash by the end of the month and there could be news of a pay increase coming from your career sector.

CANCER

Happy Birthday! With the Sun and Neptune in your 1st House of Self for the first three weeks of the month, you will have attention poured on you from friends and possible romantic interests. Venus and Uranus are working in your 2nd House of Cash providing you with some positive surprises as well. On the 10th a new and powerful friend could enter your world and they could change your thinking in some regards. On the 21st, the Sun joins your ruling planet Uranus in you 2nd House of Cash to give you another financial boost. With Mars moving into your 4th House of Home by month’s end you could find some home improvement or some decorating project you might like to undertake.

June 22 - July 22

The Sun, Mercury and Neptune are all in your 2nd House of Cash this month. On the one hand there is clear thinking and good management skills. On the other, the urge to splurge is lurking in the background. Accentuate the positive. Use your head when you’re out shopping. Money saved now will finance the upcoming romantic opportunities coming your way this month, especially around the 26th. You could receive some exciting news on the 21st.

It may be about a new job opportunity. Be advised, if it is, it could require you to make changes that reflect your more responsible side. Like that’s a problem for a Capricorn.

LEO

Communications could be garbled and unclear this month. There could be unintentional deceptions or omissions in vital information.

Keep a cool head and work through the information coming your way. Don’t get upset and don’t count any chickens until they’ve hatched to avoid disappointments. Resolve joint money issues after the 14th. There could be changes coming regarding your base of operations toward month’s end. Romance could also come your way at that time. Efforts you make early in the month could pay off in a large way by the 26th. If you’re looking for employment this month, it could be offered on a silver platter. Having plans in place early insures your success and happiness.

July 23 - Aug 22

Matters surrounding your home base keep you busy and occupied.

Double check all information coming to you and be clear about what your intentions are. Think things through. Know why you’re doing what you’re doing with regards to your home base. Romance could creep up from behind and catch you unaware on the 20th.

Just when you thought things were clear and settled…wham. The romantic theme continues for the remainder of February. Thoughts of commitment race through your mind and could leave you drained of energy. If a new alliance is formed, save making that commitment until the 26th, when your dreams could come true.

VIRGO

Nov 22 - Dec 21 Dec 22 - Jan 19 Jan 20 - Feb 18

A romantic partner could be giving you some interesting food for thought this month. You vacillate between common sense and wishful thinking. Could you be in love again? Your employment could throw you a curve or two this month. Changes there may require you to fulfill certain commitments before you can move ahead. This may come to a head on the 14th. By the end of the month you could be caught in the throes of taxes. The 26th is the best day to handle these matters. Also the month’s end could bring you some fun times by getting out and enjoying a social event. Take a friend.

Aug 23 - Sept 22

LIBRA

Sept 23 - Oct 22

S CO R P I O

Oct 23 - Nov 21

S A G I T TA R I U S C A P R I CO R N A Q UA R I U S PISCES

Feb 19 - March 20

what’s your sign?

The Sun is in your 11th House of Friends this month lighting up the lava lamp. With Mercury moving through this same house, invitations could flow in. Time to put on the party face and have some fun. You’re ruling planet Mars is in your 1st House of Self, bringing out your natural high-energy tendencies. Be careful not to overdo anything as you could pay a heavy price later. On the 14th, Venus crosses over from the 12th House into the 1st House of Self and forms an unhappy aspect to Saturn for the day. This could signal a tap on the shoulder from reality telling you to examine you living situation. Be gentle on yourself.

The Sun lights up your career sector this month and by the 10th there could be positive changes in this area. They could be reflected in the bottom line of your paycheck. Venus and Uranus are in your 11th House of Friends, Hopes, Dreams and Wishes. New friends could bear surprises for you before this month is out. Mars moves into your 1st House of Self on the 3rd adding to your sex appeal.

On the 27th Venus will be in your 12th House, Behind the Scenes forming a good aspect to Pluto and there could be a re-evaluation of your love interests or a secret love could come your way.

Traveling for business reasons consumes the first half of February.

With Neptune and Mercury passing through your 9th House of Big Trips, it’s a good idea to know where you’re going and how you’ll get there. Double check your itinerary. This way you will enjoy the trip more. You make a smashing show with your career this month. You could turn some heads of the higher-ups. Expect the unexpected. Planets moving through your 11th House of Friends, Hopes and Wishes, enliven your social calendar all month long. Dust off the dancing shoes. These activities could be the direct result of changes occurring with your career. These changes could also affect your committed relationships in a positive way, as well.

Joint money matters could leave you scratching your head this month. The Sun, Neptune and Mercury are passing through this sector. You may need to seek the help of a financial advisor to straighten out the mess. Wait until after the 20th, when the Sun moves into your 9th House of Professional Advisors for the best results. Venus moves into your career sector on the 10th, but there could be a snag on the 14th that might leave you conflicted.

Ride out the storm; things will improve by the 20th. Mars moves into your 11th House of Buddies and Big Plans on the 3rd. These come together in grand style on the 26th. Use the energy to your advantage. Have plans in place by that date so that you can move quickly on them as opportunities present themselves.

Your Committed Other could be looking alluring, seductive and mysterious this month. Not that the Lion could ever be responsive to such stimuli. OR…it might be you doing the seduction routine. Either way, the results could be wonderful. You might plan a quick romantic get-away after the 3rd. It would be memorable. Planetary forces combine all month to improve your finances and career standing.

Spend time during the first week of the month strategizing. Be ready to move plans ahead on the 10th, 13th, 21st, and especially the 26th.

Avoid traveling on the 14th. You could be accident prone or it may be a ploy to get you out of the way for the day.

The work place could be a source of mystery and intrigue the first three weeks of the month. Try to stay under the radar and keep your focus. Romance from your Committed Other could provide a diversion from work pressures this month. Happy times abound.

There could be a jolt over money on the 14th coming from a friend who may request your help. Avoid lending money. With Jupiter still in your 1st House of Self, you may be concerned about your physical appearance. Diet plans are best put into action on the 26th. Or you may feel the need to do a new make-over with some new clothes. source: www.horoscopessign.com

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