October 2017 | Issue # 219 www.bazaar.town
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Int “Nobody reads magazines anymore”. If I had a dollar (better yet, a dinar) for every time I heard that statement, I’d be a rich man right now. Every month we print and distribute thousands upon thousands of copies of bazaar magazine all over Kuwait, and every month they fly off the shelves. And the funny thing is that the more active we are online, both on our website bazaar.town and on our many social media platforms, the faster the print copies fly off the shelves. I used to worry that if all of our content was readily available at peoples’ fingertips, via their smart phones or laptops and tablets, the urge to grab a physical copy of bazaar (like the one YOU are reading right now) would decrease. But somehow that hasn’t happened, and on the contrary, what’s actually happened is that our readers have become more refined, more discerning, and more appreciative of what the magazine is all about. From the unique content, some of which can only be found in the print edition, the beautiful ads, the size, touch, and texture of the magazine, the smell of a freshly printed copy that somehow reminds me of the smell of a freshly cut lawn, to the enjoyment of losing oneself for a while in our pages, with no pop up ads, no social media notifications, no WhatsApp messages, and no billion other distractions that bombard us while online. Prepare to fall in love with all the amazing new places we visited and people we met to bring you our October issue. We begin with the beautiful business-savvy AlRamadhan sisters who deliver us with Apotheca Beauty in Up Close and Personal, and follow with the incredibly talented Liane Al-Ghusain in Truth or Dare. From building a fast-growing beauty empire from the ground up, the Al-Ramadhan sisters showcase a family-run business like no other. As for the amazing Liane, her ability to put her passion for writing to work through her copywriting business The Scribes is a breath of fresh air. We also hung out with the good people from Jukebox Productions to take a tour of this up-and-coming musical hub, and seeing a large group of Kuwait’s talented musicians in one room was inspiring to say the least! We headed to the Avenues and enjoyed everything that the all-new Bouchon Bakery has to offer, including a one-on-one interview with the bakery’s founder 7 Michelin Star chef Thomas Keller. As if that didn’t keep us busy enough, we also made time to speak with none other than Erdem Moralioglu, the designer behind the eponymous label, to speak about his latest collaboration with H&M.
The bazaar team... Boss Ahmed El-Adly
Operations Tim Burns
Business Development Ihab Mokalled
Mixed Media Solutions Jennifer Cádiz
Content Coordinator Yasmine El Charif
Design Ahmed Al-Ashab
Staff Writer/Online Media Amira Haroun
Staff Writer Yasmine Dalloul
Online Producer/Project Manager Umika Pidaparthy
Communications Hala Y. Sharara
Editor Alia Al Duaij
Contributing Writers Faris Almussallam George Tarabay Nejoud Al Yagout Reem Al-Gharabally Rita Makhoul
When it comes to dining this month, trust us when we say that this issue won’t leave you wanting! Just in time for Diwali, we decided to indulge in fanciful Indian cuisine, and checked out Asha’s new global menu at The Boulevard for a lakefront view, and Soul and Spice at the sleek Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Kuwait City for modern Indian delicacies. If the mood calls for an authentic deli experience, then you should totally check out The Untitled Deli in Pearl Marzouq—you won’t be disappointed when you sink your teeth into their amazing homemade roast beef. We also heard that the famous Turkish restaurant Hatay Sofrasi recently revamped their look and menu, and we dutifully went to Murouj to bring you our culinary findings. Bon Appetit!
Contributing Photographers
Happy reading!
Printing
Ahmed El-Adly
British Industries for Printing and Packaging
Muneera Alkhulaifi
Syndicates & Sources Baraka Bits Fast Company Kingdome.co LA Times MCT International Newsweek
members of:
w w w. b p aw w. c o m 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).
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No one likes to be dumped;
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recycle me, please.
#ThisIsYourTime
Tissot
TISSOT Ballade lady. SILICON BALANCE SPRING.
INDEX OCTOBER 2017 42
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THE AL-RAMADHAN SISTERS
LIANE AL GHUSAIN
THE UNTITLED DELI
HATAY REVISITED
Beauty, brains and business-savvy makes for an unbeatable trio, just like the three AlRamadhan sisters! This month, we get Up Close and Personal with them to learn about their family owned business, Apotheca Beauty. A store that’s been saving our beauty routines since 2013.
How do you pinpoint an exuberant personality such as Liane’s? You don’t, you embrace it! This month, we play Truth or Dare with one of the most outgoing and vibrant personalities in Kuwait’s creative scene, as she tells us all about her copywriting business The Scribes, and how her love of learning about life ties into it.
This is not a drill: there’s an authentic deli in Kuwait! Serving up sandwiches the likes of what you’d find in the streets of London, Montreal and New York, this delicious place has become our new obsession since its recent opening. Read all about why we love it in this issue.
Hatay has a new look, and we think it looks great! Fresh, modern and airy, we enjoyed every bite of our light Turkish meal sitting inside, without even the slightest pine for their lovely outdoor terrace. And of course, while dining, our food’s presentation was a performance.
THE JUKE
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BOUCHON BAKERY
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ERDEM X H&M
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WEAR YOUR ESSENCE
Seeing a lot of Kuwait’s talented musicians in one room doing their thing sparks a lot of inspiration. For one day only, we’re invited into Jukebox Productions to take a tour of the place and experience what it’s like to be part of the musical community in Kuwait.
Living up to its luxurious standards, Grand Avenue – The Avenues has added Bouchon Bakery to its fabulous repertoire of delicious offerings. We were lucky enough to experience the opening, and met with 7 Michelin Star Chef Thomas Keller in the process!
An ERDEM collection in H&M? Yes, please! We love this designer’s wild patterns and florals, so we couldn’t be more excited that he’s teamed up with one of our favorite fashion stores to debut a complete collection, and a menswear line for the first time ever!
Did you know that your scent speaks volumes about who you are as a person? If you have no idea who you are, don’t panic – Harvey Nichols is ready to help you figure out! Decode your essence and find out who you are in this issue!
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With a bilingual audience of both English and Arabic, we cover everything from what’s on, to the bizarre. We print and distribute 10,000 copies of bazaar every month; each copy is read by an average of 3 people, giving us a total readership of over 30,000. bazaar is published every month (with a double issue for July/ August), delivered free of charge to a large subscriber database, and distributed free of charge in all of the following locations: Cafés & Eateries
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Clinics & Hospitals Al Mubarakiya Dental Clinic - Egaila, Salmiya Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center Gulf Clinic International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Noor Clinic Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic
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Al Salam Mall Arraya Haagen Dazs Galleria Al Hamra Elevation Burger The Boulevard Mall Starbucks Costa Coffee The Promenade Mall Caribou Mall 360 Dunkin Donuts Marina Mall/Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Breadz Symphony Mall Juan Valdez The Avenues Elevation Burger Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi I.O. Center Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks
4 Boutique Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel beau-Tique cosmetics British Embassy Brush Salon CAP Gallery Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra Italian Center Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab KAICO Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges N Style Nail Lounge Media Elephant Pink Moon Boutique Sultan Gallery THE One The Chairman's Club USA Embassy
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c a l l i n g
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what's on October 2017 URBAN CULTURE WEEK Date: October 1-10th Location: Various locations around Kuwait In an attempt to keep supporting the culture scene and boost creativity, Urban Culture Week returns to Kuwait for the third consecutive year, this time with many creative collaborations. The week will feature leading local scene members and professional mentors conducting a variety of workshops centered around art & music. For the first time ever, Urban Culture Week will dedicate a dance workshop focused on females. In Collaboration with: Artspace Studio/Gallery/café , Kingdome, Kuz Store - Graffiti Supplies, Promenade Culture Centre, Belong Work-Space and Blue Cave (Dubai). Workshops: Digital Art (Art Concept) Workshop: 2 Days with Abrar Allahou/ Graffiti Workshop: 2 Days with Kuz Store/Hip Hop Dance Workshop (Females Only): 2 Days with Asmaa Eidian/ DJing Workshop: 2 Days with Gilbert Sabarez Semillano/ Music Production: 2 Days with Kade B Kade B/ The Mysteries of the Rainforest Acrylic Workshop: 2 Days with Tarsila Schubert /Mystical Geometry Acrylic Workshop: 2 Days with Fernando Chamarelli. For more info on locations, workshop times and fees, visit www.redbull.com. THE AFTERTHOUGHT Date: October 7th Location: Promenade Cultural Center Get Out Blog and Promenade Culture Center will be hosting Co-Exist Kuwait's debut concert of the new season, featuring none other than The Afterthought with an opening act by Melissa Azavedo and Joshua. Sweet treats and drinks by Made Caffe. Shout-out to Urban Q8 Films @urbanq8films! Viva collaboration! For more info follow @getoutblog @promenadeculturecentre @coexistkuwait @afterthoughtrox on
Instagram! RAGHEB ALAMA’S CONCERT Date: October 7th Location: Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center He first appeared on The Arts Studio program and continued to rise to become the beloved star he is today. Ragheb Alama will be performing to his wide audience in Kuwait for the first time in Jaber AlAhmad Cultural Center this season. In this concert, Ragheb Alama will be performing a selection of his classic hits, the ones his audience have sung along to throughout his 35-year career. He has captivated audiences in tens of festivals and live performances in Carthage, Lattakiya, Jerash, Beirut, Bahrain and Dubai to name a few.
For more information and tickets, visit www.tickets.jacc-kw.com. AN EVENING WITH ABDULLAH FADHALAH Date: October 17th Location: Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center A music tribute to a true Kuwaiti artist, a writer, composer and singer; he wrote poetry in both colloquial and classical Arabic and has composed and sung more 500 songs, most of which were written by him. He has contributed and enriched the music of Kuwait, influenced by Indian and Yemeni music. A man ahead of his time, credited with introducing the piano to Kuwaiti songs, taking it beyond borders to the gulf and Egypt. He is also known to be the first to record in Kuwait. Abdullah Fadhalah’s artistic journey will be presented by Kuwaiti director Bader Mohareb. For more information and tickets, visit www.tickets.jacc-kw.com.
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what's trending October 2017
What: @becafe_kwt Info: A space to simply be yourself. Editor’s Note: Opening soon!
What: @maha.bookstore Info: Used books for sale in English and Arabic. Editor’s Note: Read a book and pass it around!
What: @kuwaitventures Info: Startup and venture assistance. Editor’s Note: SME owner? Meet your new best friend.
What: @leefbar Info: Sustainable glass and bamboo flasks. Editor’s Note: Great for tea, coffee and infused water!
www.bazaar.town
What: @hubkuwait Info: Gallery space, library and café. Editor’s Note: A great getaway for the creative individual.
What: @soaprisekw Info: Beautiful handmade, organic soaps and bath products. Editor’s Note: Great gift alert!
What: @arabnetme Info: A hub for digital professionals and entrepreneurs. Editor’s Note: Get ready for the conference this month!
What: @studiospaceq8 Info: Artspaceq8's dedicated creative studio. Editor’s Note: Offering more services than ever before!
As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it! Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more. facebook.com/bazaarmagazine 34
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RUNNING FOR A CAUSE
RunKuwait’s seventh annual charity race By bazaar staff
Are you ready for another fun-filled charity sporting event? RunKuwait is back, with a slightly new look and the same great attitude, and we couldn’t be more excited to participate for a great cause. We had the chance to have a chat with Dr. Elham Hamdan, the medical director of Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network (FSHN), formerly known as Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute to find out more about this year’s event. “We want to evolve and keep up with what is trending in Kuwait and RunKuwait is our small way in doing that. The essence of our race remains the same but we definitely have an intensified goal of raising awareness and funds for the treatment of children with disabilities who do not have access to appropriate healthcare. Therefore, the proceeds from the 36
event registration are channeled through the Children Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center (CERC), which was established as part of FSHN due to the community’s need of facilities offering multidisciplinary care for children with disability,” Dr. Elham said. With a successful event last year and over 2000 participants, FSHN was able to treat 20% of the children for free and provide subsidized treatment for 60% of the children treated at CERC. This year, RunKuwait aims at increasing those percentages to help with the treatment of a higher number of children in need and raise awareness about the different treatment children receive from CERC’s on-site team, which includes pediatric physiotherapists, speech and communication disorders therapists, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists. “Raising awareness and money towards the rehabilitative treatment of vulnerable children
with disabilities is the heart of what we do, and that is precisely why we continuously seek new approaches in providing specialized care for the children. Every year, the RunKuwait initiative brings us one step closer to our goal and through the support of our participants and sponsors we are able to increase the numbers of the treated children at our facilities,” added Dr. Elham. Now in its seventh year, RunKuwait is designed to be one of the most fun sports activities for the entire family, with a 5KM & 10KM run or walk. All participants who register before October 31st will also be entitled to the early bird discount, so get moving, Kuwait! We hope to see you running with us on November 11th! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 11, 2017 and register now through runkuwait.org. For more information, visit @RunKuwait on Instagram and Facebook. You can call them at +965 2572 0338.
harvey nichols
bazaar tries
THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN Upgrading my Yoga practice with patience By bazaar staff
“Okay, breathe. Take a deep breath through your nose and activate your cleansing Ujai breath from the back of your throat. Stand strong in Tàdàsana Mountain pose. Feet together, arms stretched at your sides, palms facing towards the ceiling. Close your eyes. Ground your feet. Feel one with the Earth. Today will be the day.” Welcome to the narrative that’s been playing in my head for an average of four times a week for almost a year now, since I first introduced Yoga into my life. I had always been familiar with Yoga, but never felt a commitment to it and its benefits until recently. The Yoga journey is a powerful one that requires a lot of effort, emotional strength, and most of all, patience and humility. You can’t expect to go in knowing how to jump into a headstand straight away, and you might not even get a position as simple as Downward Dog correctly right off the bat, but the learning experience ranges from intensely to subtly identifying the progresses of your practice. Perhaps I’m getting way ahead of myself here. You see, I’m still elevated from what I was finally able to achieve not mere days before writing this article. Gather ye round, I will tell the tale of how this bazaarite was finally able to break out of her fear and into a posture that she’d only ever dreamed of conquering: Salambasana Sarasana, or in layman’s terms, the supported headstand. In January 2017, I never thought I’d find myself upside down at an Alive Yoga class circa now. I was attending Vinyasa classes frequently at my gym, and after noticing the precision of my alignment despite my clumsy balance and weak ankles, the instructor told me about Alive Yoga – a well-known studio for Yoga enthusiasts in Kuwait, cradled between canopies of trees in Bneid Al Gar. “They have all these great classes, a discount for new members, and their 30 Day Yoga Challenge is starting next week. You should give it a try and see if you can get into it.” And so I did. I completed the challenge, kept renewing my membership, and learned more about my body’s strength and capabilities than I ever had doing anything else. I indulged in the variety of classes the studio offered: Vinyasa Flow, Rocket Yoga, and Ashtanga being my favorites. I could never do the headstands, because I’d always recoil in fear every time an instructor would try to help me, so I’d settle on planting my feet firmly on the wall while my hands would flatten the earth and my head would hang down between my shoulders, forming an awkward “L” shape of sorts. I did this for months and felt that I was only just getting by – a feeling not dissimilar to getting straight C+s in my 10th grade Physics class. But remembering the guidance received by different instructors, I tried 38
to channel the patience, kindness and humility Yoga has taught me to embrace with this mantra: “Don’t rush things. They’ll happen when you’re ready.” With that in mind, I decided to go with the flow, release all expectations, and see what I could do at Rawan’s 5:30PM Ashtanga class on an idle Sunday afternoon. We begin in Tàdàsana and activate our breathing. We flow through our vinyasas a total of nine times. We move through strength-building standing sequences, we find control and concentration through our centering balance sequence. We stretch through the invigorating seated sequence, and finish off with our Bridges, Wheels, and shoulder stands. I know what’s coming next, and I feel the butterflies form in my stomach as I get up to move my mat against the wall. I hesitate and wave Rawan, the sweet and quirky instructor, over to spot me. As she helps me find
proper support, I hear myself saying “please don’t leave me, I’m scared.” But before I know it, lift off! I’m positioned in a strong, straight line resembling an (almost) perfect “I” with my shoulders supporting my head. So, do I think I can do this again? Well, I already have, and that’s a great sign but, the Yoga journey is never-ending, and I still have a lot more to achieve. However, it’s nice to know that I can finally say I know what the world looks like upside down. And let me tell you, it’s certainly a lot different than hanging like an L and staring at the ground.
Alive Yoga is located on Bneid Al Gar next to Massaleh Towers. Follow them on Instagram @aliveyoga and on Facebook: Alive Yoga. Who knows – maybe you’ll get to achieve your headstand goals too!
certina
truth or dare
LIANE LEARNS LIFE
Writing, Tarot, Yoga, and everything in-between By bazaar staff
Liane Al Ghusain is a mainstay of Kuwait’s creative community. But what is she known for, exactly? Being quirky? Intelligent? A talented writer and good teacher who appears at events with tarot cards in hand? After trying to break the code of “what does Liane do?” the answer came clear: she does everything, in time, because she loves it. “I love learning, and I love teaching. I feel like there’s always something new to do. But the trick is, I take my time doing it so that I can do it with confidence – not do it for the sake of doing it.” Taking a look at Liane’s achievements, this proves to be true. After receiving a BA in English Literature from Stanford University, a master’s degree in the same subject followed, specializing in creative writing, she topped off [her education] with a self-written novella entitled Ectopia as her thesis. “Writing is my love – it’s how I feel accomplished.” She began working as a freelance writer in 2010, and started publishing articles about young Kuwaiti artists, as she felt “it’s so important to document our creative growth as a country.” At some point along the way she noticed that there was a shortage of writing services in Kuwait – from writing websites and corporate profiles to helping businesses understand their own brand and how to communicate their values. Her accomplishments with writing are consistent with her journey in professional self-discovery, each posing as a milestone in her life. “When I left my first job as the managing director at CAP (Contemporary Art Platform) it was to keep writing.” From being a part of the Stanford Spoken Word Collective, to joining Beirut’s Ashkal Alwan postgraduate art program, writing for magazines, printing a short story, writing performances, and creating Nuqat’s conference briefs; Liane’s return to Kuwait as a researcher for the Venice Architectural Biennial led her to yet another curious quest. “I became obsessed with fertility rituals and Failaka’s ancient Greek lore. Did you know that goats still roam around [the island] because people wouldn’t be allowed to slaughter goats if it wasn’t in the name of [the goddess] Artemis?” I did not, but Liane began to make sense to me during that interesting tangent, depicting a person whose interest in history, culture and mythology would create something revolutionary. The Scribes, her copywriting business, is proving to be the first of its kind in Kuwait. “Once I decided to work for myself, I began noticing through freelancing a niche in the market for writers to help brands find their real identities and right words to express themselves.” As for her love of tarot, “It’s a scientific process, and you have to be very open to people’s vulnerabilities. I find that it helps me trust myself in being non-judgmental and allowing people to open 40
up, which is essential in my business as a copywriter as well. I end up offering a form of business therapy through The Scribes. Like, what does your business really stand for? What do you have to offer the world?” The more I talk to Liane and learn more about her qualifications, interests and professions, (CELTA certified ESL teacher, certified tarot reader, yoga instructor, copywriter, published novella author and “level-one psychic and Reiki healer,” she grins) I can’t help but think of a mandala: the Buddhist circular representation of the universe, and how everything connects in a full circle in Liane’s life.
TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE
How would your mother describe you in one word? Wild. How would you describe your mother in one word? Fierce. What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? “But, how is it for a woman in the Middle East?” Honestly, my only answer to that is an eye roll. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? Jumped on a plane. Also, not jumped on a plane. Spontaneity is just a mind-set for me. What is your theme song? My karaoke song is “Like a Virgin”…does that count? What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Onomatopoeia. Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? I’m a New Yorker at heart, and I’d like to retire on the Mediterranean, in a cottage with a succulent garden and light-filled studio. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?
Ugh, please let's not. What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? A horse: Loyal, sensitive, smart, strong and gentle. What do you miss about your childhood? Being able to say whatever I wanted! Wearing print on print! If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Liane Al Ghusain. Or something that would bring joy to say. Like Zaza Tralala. How would you describe your handshake in one word? Direct. What is the toughest part of your character? My tongue. It can slay, honey. Who is your favorite historical figure? My grandmothers! The things they did for their families! My father’s mother was one of the first women in Kuwait to drive and wear pants. What in the world do you least desire? I’d rather not entertain that thought! What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of would make the world a better place? Good intentions, eye contact, and properly placed punctuation marks. Why do you think most girls/guys like you? My genuine curiosity in people and their dreams. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” How could you fill that blank in with anything but love?
Interested in Liane’s services? Contact her via email at liane@thescribes.me, and follow her on Instagram @thescribes.me and @cardtherapy. You can also find some of her writing at www.lianealghusain.com.
COLLECTION
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up close & personal
PURVEYORS OF BEAUTY Discovering Apotheca Beauty with the Al-Ramadhan sisters
By bazaar staff
Years ago, I remember seeing Nora Al-Ramadhan perched atop a stool in a mutual friend’s New York City studiosized apartment kitchen. She was hunched over her laptop, and typed thoughtfully as she paused to ask our group of girls if we felt that there were “any products we loved that hadn’t yet made it to Kuwait?” I knew she was working on an SME with her sisters Dana and Sarah, and that our mutual friend was designing their website and logo, but I had no clue that the Apotheca dream in 2013 would turn out to be the beautiful store in Salhiya that’s giving our nation of beautyholics something that they’ve always wanted. As someone who knows the ladies personally, let me tell you that if there’s one family we could trust with our skincare and faces, it’s the AlRamadhans. Widely known for their flawless skin and striking beauty, its no wonder that the three gorgeous sisters have turned their talents for spotting the best products on the market into an enterprise to benefit the ladies of Kuwait and the region. Perhaps what we found most endearing is how the sisters work together harmoniously, and attribute their ability to do so in having grown up in a household that is primarily dominated by motivating women. According to Nora, co-founder and General Manager at Apotheca Beauty, having an incredibly inspiring, health-conscious mother and her sisters by her side made the decision to pursue the Apotheca dream a natural one, as their upbringing truly sparked her love for all things beauty. As for Dana, her appreciation of beauty and makeup was passed down to her by her mother, who she also endearingly claims to be a “huge influence” on her life. When it came down to Founder and Managing Director Sarah, beauty is clear obsession, and she’s been finding the ‘right’ collection of beauty products since a young age. “I’ve had far from perfect skin as a late teen into my early 20s,” says youngest sister Nora, but with her glowing, dewy skin, we find that sentiment hard to believe. Perhaps it’s because of her reported expert skill in curating products? Nora says that her troubled skin had led her to experiment with all types of products ranging from harsh dermatologically42
Sarah Al-Ramadhan
prescribed to organic regimens, which eventually guided her to the best of the best in the market. Coupled with middle sister Dana’s skill for sourcing the best beauty treatments across the world, and eldest sister Sara’s love for travel and sense of adventure broadening her horizons with brands and practices, Apotheca had a strong basis to succeed in Kuwait’s selective market. The sisters’ journey began in 2011, when a Los Angeles-based dermatologist connected with the sisters about a potential business opportunity in seeking a distributor in the Middle East. They put their talents to work, assessing the market carefully and after months of research, they unveiled a strategic gap in the market for specialized beauty products. At the time, the supply for niche products was almost nonexistent, but demand was clearly on the rise. Fast forward to July 2013, and Apotheca Beauty was launched as the first online beauty destination to bring niche beauty brands to the region. Nowadays, Nora manages logistics and regional operations out of Dubai, while also focusing on the expansion of the company. Taking care of the retail operation and all contracts in Kuwait is Dana, and Sarah manages the financial aspects of the business
and directs the strategic growth of the company also out of Kuwait. Today, the Ramadhan sisters proudly showcase a plethora of award winning skincare and makeup brands through Apotheca Beauty. Our favorites that they carry are definitely Malin+Goetz, Lime Crime and the magical Sarah Chapman products – routines so powerful, that I’ve seen it transform people’s lives within a fortnight. They also hold exclusivity to retail all Anastasia Beverly Hills products! Say goodbye to fussy brows and do yourselves a favor by popping over to their Salhiya boutique for a pen.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE: What do you most value in your friends? What we most value is having someone to talk to when you need advice, a second opinion, or perhaps when you just need to vent after a hectic day. It always helps to talk out loud and bounce ideas off of a friend whom you trust. What is your idea of perfect happiness? We believe that happiness comes from within,
Dana, Nora and Sarah Al-Ramadhan
so if you are happy and comfortable with yourself then that is perfect happiness. Happiness is also entirely perspective, and what may be one’s personal happiness may not be someone else’s. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Nora: I would say the trait I constantly need to improve and work on is patience. What is the trait you most deplore in others? It is easy to become all consumed in your daily life, that often times others can forget what it means to be considerate of other people’s time, feelings, and efforts. Taking a moment to think about another person’s needs and point of view can make a wonderful difference. Which living person do you most admire? Nora: This is different, because there are so many inspirational people I admire in the world. I can’t say that there has been just one person that has inspired me throughout my life. However, I have found inspiration in several women, and actually some of the women we at Apotheca work with, such as Anastasia Beverly Hills and Sarah Chapman. Women who came
from humble beginnings and a staff of simply, “themselves” before building the magnificent empires we know of today. Not only were these women able to succeed, but they were able completely change the way certain industries operate and totally set new trends! What is your greatest extravagance? Nora: I love to shop and invest in high-tech, top of the line kitchen appliances. I enjoy cooking and really enjoy to cook with innovative appliances that make your life easier in the kitchen! I use my nutribullet daily, and am always on the look-out for the latest sous vides. What is it that you most dislike? Nora: What I most dislike would be driving. I am not a fan of spending hours in a car and risk getting stuck in traffic. I tend to feel like my time can be better spent elsewhere, so I try to avoid driving as much as possible. Which talent would you most like to have? Nora: I have always wished to be more proficient in languages. Unfortunately, languages do not come as easy to me as they do for others, and I
have always admired people who can speak 3+ languages fluently. If you could have any job, what would it be? What we are already doing! We are fortunate enough to be doing the job we have always dreamed of and re blessed to be able to share this with our family. What would you consider your greatest achievement? We would consider starting Apotheca to be our greatest achievement. It has been an incredible journey these past few years, and we are lucky to say that it is never a dull day when you do something you are passionate about, with people you respect. What are your favorite words to live by? Do what makes you happy and success will follow.
For more information, check out @Apotheca_ Beauty on Instagram and visit the Apotheca Beauty boutique in Salhiya Complex’s M2 level in Kuwait City. 43
THE STATE OF KUWAIT’S DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
ArabNet Kuwait 2017 to shed light on Adtech, Investment & Innovation, and Digital Commerce
By Rita Makhoul
Across the Middle East, startups have been overcoming cultural, political, and economical barriers to tap into technology and digital innovation. Some governments have been introducing initiatives to shift their traditional economic models to a digital economy and Kuwait has also been trying to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Will Kuwait, whose oil accounts for approximately 60 percent of its economy, be able to make the shift from oil to entrepreneurship? Kuwait’s Entrepreneurial Scene On the entrepreneurial level, Kuwait’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has gained momentum since the announcement of the $7 Billion Kuwait National Fund for SMEs in 2013. The market has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurship support and institutions, funds, co-working spaces and angel investors. The Kuwait entrepreneurship scene has had a great year, with the acquisitions of Carriage and Masbagti making headlines and inspiring new startups. A number of new funds, accelerators and support institutions have launched, and Kuwait is increasingly attracting the interest of regional and global investors. Online food takeaway firm Delivery Hero, which sources have said is considering a flotation imminently, has acquired Carriage; the latest in a series of technology deals in the region for a rumored amount $200 million. If the rumored amount is true, this may be the highest IRR in the region to date. Carriage had received a seed capital fund of $1.3 million in January 2016 to kickstart the project, and Kuwaiti investors increased the funding again in May for an undisclosed amount. What's interesting to note is that Rocket Internet has invested $613 million in Delivery Hero. Rocket Internet acquired Carriage's main competitor, Talabat.com, in February 2015 for roughly $170 million. However, Kuwait throws at its entrepreneurs a number of hazards to overcome, despite being considered one of the best places to do business and validate a tech startup; inherent bureaucracy, people’s mindset about entrepreneurship, limited VC funding, and lacking qualified candidates are all considered challenges. ArabNet Kuwait will feature top investors highlighting their investment strategies and the market trends, and successful entrepreneurs sharing best practices for fundraising, team building and scaling. Kuwait’s Online Influencers Kuwait is famed for its youthful population; around 67 percent of the inhabitants are young, and the median age in the country is just 29. As a result, the nation scores one of the highest social media 44
penetration rate globally – 96 percent. This makes the country home to the GCC’s most affluent online influencers. Social Media penetration in Kuwait is at 96 percent and leading the MENA region on platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. Kuwaiti publishers, agencies and brands are transforming their activities to keep up with online consumption habits, leveraging branded content and storytelling, as well as new technologies like native and programmatic. ArabNet Kuwait will shed light on best practices for content creation and distribution, as well as technologies that are reshaping marketing and the consumer journey. Digital Commerce in Kuwait Digital commerce is flourishing in Kuwait, with KNET processing over $1.6 Billion in online transactions in Kuwait in 2016. Banks, retailers, and services businesses are increasingly investing in digital innovation to meet consumer demands: 24/7, convenient and seamless across touch points. Moreover, Kuwait’s banks are looking to fuel their success by investing in digital economy and new technologies, including contactless payments, to blockchain wallets, technology is rapidly transforming the banking sector. The resilient financial sector is expected to rise 3 percent in 2017, according to Gulf Bank. ArabNet Kuwait will highlight the latest trends in e-retail and e-commerce - including omnichannel and on-demand strategies - as well as fintech and banking innovation - including mobile banking / payments and the future of the branch. Over 60 Stellar Experts Coming to ArabNet Kuwait ArabNet Kuwait offers a platform for stakeholders to discuss trends and developments across three
major tracks- Adtech, Investment & Innovation, and Digital Commerce. Here are just some of the speakers who will be at ArabNet Kuwait: Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Group and Founder of Aramex. He is the most active angel investor in MENA, with many success stories like Maktoob and Careem. Benjamin Ampen, Head of Revenue at Twitter MENA. Before that, he worked at Google for four years, where he spent his last years spearheading the business development team across the UK and EMEA region. Kunal Kapoor, CEO and Founder of The Luxury Closet, a marketplace for luxury new and pre-loved items for top luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier and Rolex. The company started in his own apartment, however now has close to 80 employees, across UAE, India and KSA, and raised over $10m from leading regional investors like MEVP, Wamda Capital. The CEO and Co-Founder of Carriage, Abdullah Al Mutawa will be sharing the story of their journey to success and the reasons behind it. He studied Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech and worked at Schlumberger for a few years after graduating. Shortly after that he opened up his own restaurant in Kuwait City called the Stack, which led him to founding Carriage. Carriage was the first service of its kind in Kuwait, which combined online food ordering and delivery at the same time. For more information on ArabNet Kuwait check out https://arabnet.me/conference/kuwait/. We’ll see you at the Arabnet Conference at Arraya Ballroom on Oct 17-18!
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STARTUP SCENE ME
A platform dedicated to uncovering the Middle East’s entrepreneurs
By Dana Ghazawnah
Stories of the Middle East’s fiercest entrepreneurs are growing into a massive forest with Start Scene ME. It’s a platform dedicated to uncovering and supporting the Middle East’s nascent entrepreneurial scene. A spin-off from the explosively popular CairoScene, Startup Scene ME builds up on the success of the original platform in tracking and boosting startups, innovators and business opportunities across the Arab region. It’s a virtual space where entrepreneurs, investors, tech geeks and innovators can connect, stay informed and spark conversations. “This is not just about business. We’re telling the other story of the Middle East; the story of young, valiant, relentless entrepreneurs taking it upon themselves to drive innovation and socioeconomic change. This is the most exciting moment to showcase the entrepreneurial passion thriving in the MENA region,” says Valentina Primo, Editor-in- Chief of Startup Scene ME. 46
Startup Scene ME is giving the chance to many ambitious and inspiring entrepreneurs to share their stories and projects. It supports, covers and discovers MENA’s budding entrepreneurs. With the media power of MO4Network and the experiences of sister sites CairoScene and CairoZoom, Startup Scene ME enters the digital media space with the know-how and experience to engage an ever-growing audience. Having already reached millions through articles and video features on CairoScene, as well as Startup Scene ME’s own social media accounts, the new site offers a more focused look at the booming, regional start-up sector. MO4Network is a leading creative and media agency, setting the standard for digital content creation in the Middle East since 2012. Having grown from a team of four siblings fighting over who gets the nicest chair to over 120 "never say die" individuals across offices in Cairo and Dubai, today they fuel two of the region’s biggest content platforms – CairoScene and CairoZoom – and handle over 140 clients including some of the world’s most powerful brands.
“With an in-house production studio and legion of creative content creators, Startup Scene ME produces high-quality media across several platforms underpinned by MO4Network’s five years of digital production experience,” says” Amy Mowafi, Co-Founder of MO4Network. As well as informing and educating entrepreneurs and small business owners, Startup Scene ME sets off to be a one-stop hub where investors can discover and connect with the Middle East’s burgeoning, most innovative entrepreneurs just as they launch their businesses. Rather than echoing stories circling across high-level meetings, the platform will scour the MENA region for the most promising, inspiring, and unique entrepreneurs.
For more information on Startup Scene, follow them on Facebook as StartupsceneME.
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comfort zone FITS, SIMPLY, ALWAYS
DECIPHERING THE MOVES AT THE CYFR By Ashley Alleluya
People know me as a social dancer at best. In my head, though, I’ve got some serious moves. I can pirouette and krump like the best of them (thanks, So You Think You Can Dance). Take me to an intense dance battle between the new and seasoned B-Boys in Kuwait, however, and my inexperience shows. At the CYFR, I had much to witness, and much to learn. When we got there, the energy was already palpable – groups of young men, warming up, chatting, and sizing up the competition. Across from the drinks station and the DJ Boiskout’s booth along the edges of the room, we found a prime spot to watch the events of the evening unfold. Then the fireworks began, slowly at first. An initial warm up round had each contestant take to the center of the floor and do an introductory jig. Once that was done, led by MC Slash or Hussein Al-Shammery to the rest of Kuwait, and judged by renowned acclaimed B-Boy Primo Cherbal, the battles commenced. The first round had 16 participants square off against each other. While immediate standouts for me were Hush, Anthony, Nana and Beiruti, I was also baffled. Where were the stunts and the tricks that I had prepared myself for? I was to get my answer soon enough. But first, we took a break from the building intensity as all participants were treated to some sliders from Rockhouse Sliders. Once we returned, the boys 48
went back into battle and how! As Round 2 began, and the remaining 8 battled it out for the top prize, I began to notice something. Each of the contestants had amped their performance. There was a sense of urgency in the battles this time around – a lot of 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' personas from the boys. A word about Walid Al-Enezi or Hush, as he’s called. He caught my eye at the start, this dancer who seemed to know everyone in the room. But there was something about his movement. Slow, cautious almost during the warm-up, performing only for a fraction of the time the others did, with about half the moves. His first battle, against another B-Boy Roughness, went well, with Hush taking that round, but I didn’t think he’d go very far. Anthony Ahmed Atef, on the other hand, impressed me from his very first battle – confidant, sure, alive and electric. Anthony’s battle during Round 2 was just as magnetic. From the minute he took on his competitor, it was an easy guess that he was the one advancing. Hush, for his second battle, had a lot of moves that were good, but didn’t seem to guarantee a place in final battles. That is until the last few seconds of his battle, when he executed this one-fingered flip to perfection. “So he has a few tricks up his sleeve”, I thought. A friend sitting with me concurred. “It’s all about the strategy”, he told me. “He’s not going to reveal everything he can do right away, wait till he goes up to the finals”. This second round saw four of the dancers moving on to the final stages of the battle – Hush, Anthony, Andrea Joseph (Link) and Tails. While they took the time to pause between battles, the crowd was entertained by rappers Tripla Abdulla Trip,
Abdullah Trill and Dom Shatti who put each up a fun performance. Then the final battles took place. Anthony against Tails, and Hush against Link. And let me tell you, the electricity in the room was worth bottling up. You could have powered a house with it. And I, your ignorant dance battle visitor, got to witness firsthand how the smartest strategists save their best for last. Link, who had been skating from one round to the next with some low-key battle moves, ended up placing second, against eventual winner Hush – whom I had grossly underestimated (despite my friends pronouncing him the eventual winner from minute one). Anthony ended the battle beating out an almost equally stellar show by Tails for third place. For the other highlights that night, we had three master classes - one by the judge Primo and another by Doss and the third by performers Ahmed Kicks and Melanie. When I got home, my family asked about my evening. I wanted to answer that I spent the event at a dance battle but wouldn’t have been the entire truth. What I had spent the entire evening experiencing, was a brilliant case study in the anatomy of a battle and its battle horses – those who assess the competition, those who analyze the other’s game, and those save their trump cards for when it truly matters.
Photography by Salman Moghaddam.Originally published on www.kingdome.co. You can follow Kingdome on Facebook and Soundcloud @KingdomeMagazine, Instagram @Kingdome.co, Twitter @KingdomeCo and on YouTube: Kingdome Magazine.
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HORROR-SCOPES
We need to talk about this By George Tarabay
Have you ever logged on to Facebook, scrolled down 3 to 4 posts, saw something cute, contemplated who’s behind UVB-76 (look it up, seriously freaky) and amidst that depth you saw someone share a horoscope post and you just felt devastated? No? just me? Cool. I know what some of you are thinking right now: This is such an expected statement from a Capricorn, right? Yea, well you’re wrong, I’m a Cancer…to society and also, that happens to be my actual Zodiac sign. As an engineer, a critical thinker and a person who “can afford to grow up a little” (my wife’s exact words), I whole heartedly believe that we live in an intertwined universe that is governed by an infinite exchange of energy, be it at a cosmic level or on a cell to cell level (not cellphones, but like the biological, gooey stuff). I do believe that the average human’s mood is at the core of every conscious decision, and it is affected by stellar energy and other peoples’ moods too. Hence it’s basically a matrix of vertical influence that gets translated in horizontal exchange and so on. I also do understand the butterfly effect, Murphy’s law, Black Swan Theory etc. But for the life of me, what I do not understand is people who I meet for the first time and after ten minutes into a conversation, they lead with: What sign are you? I honestly do not know how to answer that question, and there are two reasons behind that: a - I honestly don’t know how that makes for an adult conversation. b - I have to fight my instinctive inclination to slap said person across their face. I say instinctive, so I remove consciousness from the equation, so that I am not met with “Oh cancers are very emotionally intense” as a response. No. What is even scarier is that this question often comes from people who have executive positions, a.k.a a job where extreme rationalization is key to lead or be led in a functioning economical machine, also where any risk is weighed against gut feel at best. And while many readers would disagree, please try to see it from my perspective. I too, like any other breathing creature, long for validation sometimes and while I understand people are different, I do also understand that validation should come from within. My validation didn’t and won’t ever come from what is written about my date of birth in an old newspaper. Harsh, I know, but that’s just me. I cannot fathom (big words today, I actually read this one in my horoscope) how grown adults can utter sentences like: Jupiter is in your sign today, that’s why you feel iffy. Seriously? Can’t I be feeling iffy because I can’t practice self-control and I overate every day of my life? Can’t I be edgy because I tore my shirt wearing it 50
without you claiming that Pluto’s influence on cancer today will be negative? Yet, as with every dilemma I face, my brain quickly comes up with a solution, and if you’re anything like me, here’s what you should do in a hypothetically similar social situation that includes dining with a big group of friends and some people you never met before at your favorite steak joint. Horror-scope individual: So, what sign are you? You (let’s assume you’re a Cancer): Oh. I’m a Libra (try to maintain a straight face). Horror-scope individual: Oh. This explains a lot, because I noticed you’re into this, and [bla bla bla] Listen for a good three minutes before following up with this line: You: Oh hold on, I’m born on July 10th, what does that make me? Horror-scope individual: Oh that makes you a Cancer and not a Libra! Now enjoy your favorite dish of Fillet-Mignon as you listen to them try to explain that Libras and Cancers share a lot of traits and how they make a perfect match to each other, as sweat rolls down their eye lids. Pay the bill and walk away, knowing that you unleashed a spark in their mind now that you’ve
shattered their reality, because their whole conversational system was shook to the point where even they could consider the notion that maybe, just maybe, horror-scopes aren’t real! I mean seriously, have these words ever crossed your sight in a newspaper? “Urgent! Reputable Newspaper looking for an astrologist for their horoscope column. Candidate must be truthful and accurate. Candidates must send their CVs to hire@newspaper.com only if their daily horoscope says they will land the interview.” Now, for those who agree with me: Thank you! I appreciate it. Please use my technique with caution. For those of you who don’t, remember: Don’t be upset! Cancers usually say things on an under calculated burst of emotions, and that cannot upset you, right? I mean, it’s what my horoscope reads. George “The Cancer“ Tarabay.
George Tarabay is a local comedian, and marketing expert. For his latest updates, follow him on Instagram: @GeorgeTarabay. For more comic relief, check out George on Facebook.com/Georgethecomic.
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GHAZI AL-MULAIFI
On music, pearl diving, and Kuwait’s cultural renaissance By Reem Algharabally
Self portrait by Ghazi Al-Mulaifi
“It’s fun, it’s festive and when it is sad it’s like the blues,” is how musician and ethnomusicologist Ghazi Al-Mulaifi describes Kuwaiti music. Ghazi, Assistant Professor at the Department of Music at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, is also the band leader and composer of the world Jazz Ensemble Ghazi Al-Mulaifi Quartet. The music boom experienced by Kuwait in the last few years does not surprise him with more opportunities for young Kuwaiti musicians to play live and a renewed interest in the bahri (sea music) of the pearl divers. “It is because we are waking up from a cultural amnesia that has been imposed upon us by external 52
influences,” he says. “We are a musical people who love to move and sing.” For Ghazi, the grandson of one of the last Kuwaiti pearl divers, Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Mulaifi, it is the bahri music as a dialogue with modern styles that could be a key to a unique genre of contemporary Kuwaiti music that captures the true spirit of the country – outward looking, diverse, adventurous. “I was very close to my grandfather –he was a master pearl diver and a nokhada (captain of a pearling ship) and speaking about the sea was something he never did. It was too painful for him,” he says. ”He made really incredible sacrifices and I benefited from all those sacrifices just by pure luck. So what is this thing we are trying to forget. I understand when it comes to my grandfather’s generation and beyond. They wanted to forget the pain. But I think it is also our role not to
forget their pain.” For Ghazi the line between his work as a musician and ethnomusicologist, is beginning to blur. He describes himself as an applied ethnomusicologist. “Music embodies memory and emotion. And to revive the spirit of dialogue in Kuwaiti music goes beyond creating interesting music. I want to do that for sure – but I also want to show the world that the story of Kuwait is not just about oil, it is about engagement and exchange. Music becomes this very strong, salient example of all of those things. It’s about not wasting the potential of this awesome history that gave us this great music.“ In 2012, his passion to do homage to his grandfather led him together with his friend, photographer Mike Krueger, to join a pearl diving trip lead by the Nadi Al Bahri (Kuwait’s Sea Sport
Club) where 100 boys embarked on sea expedition and trained to become pearl divers as their elders would have. This involved learning to perform the traditional pearl diving songs. On the trip Ghazi met Abdulaziz Al-Hemely, the ship’s nahaam. The Nahaam stands in front of the crew, chanting melodically to positively channel the crew’s energies and help dissipate the hardships at sea. The crew collectively hums as a response to his call. “Their role was to sing songs that instructed the divers to perform a task (raise a sail, raise an anchor, row the boat etc.). But also, the role of the nahaam was spiritual in nature. He would keep a sense of unity and spiritual balance among the weary sailors,” says Ghazi. Al-Hemely, who has also captained the Sea Club’s pearl diving expeditions, leads the Mayouf Mejally Folkloric Ensemble of seven percussionists of traditional Kuwaiti instruments including twaysat (hand cymbals), tiran (framed drums), yihala (clay pot), tabl bahri (large sea drum) and mirwas (hand held double sided drum). “Abdulaziz and his percussion ensemble are really the living archive of Kuwaiti Bahri music. The music has been passed down to them orally and corporeally and within the space of a Diwaniya, generationally. They are like the keepers of this past,” Ghazi says. To his delight, Al-Hemely’s ensemble was very interested in creating a musical dialogue between traditional and modern styles. “Kuwaiti sea music was occasioned by trade and exchange with other civilizations, ranging from Zanzibar to Sri Lanka and everywhere in between along the trade routes. In fact there is a beat in Zanzibar right now called Kuwaiti beats,” he says. The sangini beat in Kuwaiti music was bought back by the Nahaam Bin Hussein. “From his ship he would hear this rhythm over and over again coming from Hindu places of worship. And he bought some these instruments he heard back to Kuwait.” Ghazi says. It is this give and take between musicians where Ghazi sees parallels between Kuwaiti music and jazz. “It is an improvisatory musical tradition that continuously reinterprets melody and motif (like Kuwaiti music used to do much more),” he says. “We have become stuck. I want to unstuck our music." I ask him why so many young Kuwaiti musicians seem to draw their inspiration from Western music genres and sing in English rather than exploring their own musical heritage. “I think it is because as Kuwaitis we don’t have an intimate relationship with our old music. And it is funny because our old music is really not that old – I am talking before 1980, “ he says. Ghazi is involved in a project to archive and record traditional Kuwaiti music, but warns against music being turned into a museum piece. He also feels the role women played historically in traditional music has been ignored. “When Kuwaiti music started being presented as a piece of heritage production it ceased to be a dialogic force, and some people were excluded
Image courtesy of Mike Krueger
Recording in the studio with some members of the Meyouf Mejally Ensemble Photo by Abdullah Awadi - like women’s music. A lot of the heritage music we celebrate today is men’s music and at the most that is only half the story,” he says. “When I think about the memory of my great grandfather, their survival was based on engaging with other people and learning other languages and marrying other cultures. We have always been a mixed people but we live in a time where neo-tribalism is a kind of willful amnesia.” Ghazi himself played and toured extensively with bands in the US. “I have no problem with this pull to Western music. For me to play Western music symbolized freedom and room to breathe. I am not sure if that is necessary today because there is a lot more room to breathe.” He says there are young bands like the psychedelic rock band Galaxy Juice that is catching what he calls “the bug” to find ways to fuse old traditional styles to Western music styles. He says his dream is to dissolve the dichotomy between people playing shaabi (popular, local
music) and people playing Western music. His project Ghazi Al-Mulaifi Quartet fuses Khaleeji beats, Jazz, Rock, and Sawt (popular Kuwaiti music genre). The other members are all recognized musicians in the Kuwaiti scene - Yousef Yaseen, Adel Al-Qattan and Abdulaziz Al-Hemely. “They are all from families with deep ties to the sea, and Kuwait sea music,” Ghazi says. Ghazi hopes to collaborate with Kuwaiti female musicians too. “Let us bring Kuwaiti women’s music back in the spotlight,” he says. He is optimistic that as long as Kuwait continues to have space to create art, music and have concerts the future of the Kuwaiti music scene looks bright and will put Kuwait back on the map as a musical center in the Gulf. Because? “Our beats swing,” he concludes. Visit Ghazi’s website for more information at: www.ghazimusic.com and follow him on Instagram @ghazimusic for the latest updates! 53
4 EMOTIONAL-INTELLIGENCE JOB SKILLS YOU’LL NEED IN THE FUTURE Build your EQ today with these awesome tips By Lydia Dishman
All the data suggesting that coding is rapidly becoming an essential skill for any job–not just one in tech–only tells one side of the story. The other side indicates that soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, attention to detail, and writing proficiency top the list of what hiring managers find missing from job seekers’ personal tool kits. But according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, one the job skills that will make a candidate competitive in the job market of the future is emotional intelligence. The WEF predicts it will be among the top ten in 2020. How emotionally intelligent are you now? While there are several ways to test it, the good news is that even if you’re a bit deficient on some traits, emotional intelligence can be improved. Here are some suggestions on boosting your EQ right away. IMPROVE YOUR LISTENING SKILLS Most people are, by nature, bad listeners. People spend 60% of their conversations talking about themselves, according to the Harvard University Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab. And when others are talking, we’re busy trying to craft a response so that we’re not really listening. Learning to be a better listener is a matter of doing a few 54
simple things. One is simply to take a pause after the person is done speaking and then think of a response. Another is to paraphrase what you think you heard to make sure you are really paying attention. MANAGE STRESS MORE EFFECTIVELY It’s tough not to blow your stack when annoying coworkers or a demanding boss are getting on your last nerve. But emotionally intelligent people understand that it’s important to de-escalate anxiety whenever possible. You can do this by relinquishing some control and admitting you need some extra help. There are no brownie points for heroic handling of projects if it causes you to burn out. Keeping a cool head while critical mass is being reached will get you noticed and may put you in line for a promotion. GIVE GOOD FEEDBACK Emotionally intelligent people are excellent communicators and giving quality feedback is part of that skill–even if it’s negative. Checking yourself before you start spouting any specious commentary can increase the chance that your feedback will be most constructive. For that, it helps to channel the words of 13th century mystic Sufi who wrote: “Before you speak, let your words pass through these three gates: At the first gate, ask yourself, ‘Is it true?’ At the second gate, ask yourself,
‘Is it necessary?’ At the third gate, ask yourself, ‘Is it kind?'” If your suggestion doesn’t check all those boxes, best to keep it to yourself until you’ve had some more time to process. EVALUATE YOUR EMPATHY An empath is aware of others’ feelings and takes them into consideration when they’re working with them. It doesn’t mean they’re a pushover who lets others do as they will in order to be well-liked. They just know how their words and actions will affect individuals and teams. Becoming more empathetic starts with being curious about where other people are coming from. You can also try putting yourself in a colleague’s shoes, especially if they are angry or upset. Try to understand their motivations, even if you don’t agree. And share your own thoughts and feelings. Nothing builds trust faster than being open yourself. If you’re able to show that you can manage your emotions (especially when everyone else is losing their cool), collaborate with a variety of people, listen well, and offer constructive feedback, you’ll be way ahead of the curve come annual review time. And you may even find an open path to your dream job in the coming years.
Photo by Bethany Legg on Unsplash.
NEW FOOD
LOUNGE LEVEL 1
360 8 CUISINES 13 FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS 13 FULL SERVICE RESTAURANTS 4 CONFECTIONARY STATIONS GARDEN THEMED SEATING WATERFALL FEATURE REFINED DINING EXPERIENCE
NAIL POLISH SALON
At the Promenade? Pass by Nail Polish Salon!
By bazaar staff
For those of you that don’t know, it can take a while to find a salon that you love and a service that is your go-to beauty treat when you need a pick-me-up. So, when bazaar heard that new services have been added to the Promenade branch of our tried and trusted, locally owned, Nail Polish Salon group, we went to take a look for ourselves. Immediately as you walk into the salon you can tell that they mean business. The staff greet you professionally and in a friendly manner. The salon manager Lorin is genuinely proud to be a part of the Nail Polish team and you clearly see that, simply by the way she shows you around the salon. No wonder though, as upon further inquiry we find out she’s been with the brand for 10 years, mere months after the initial opening in Kuwait. This is the third salon for the family owned business, the others being in Salmiya’s Tala Center and Jabriya, the first being established over a decade ago in 2006. This salon feels relaxed and pops of bright color on the essentially gray color scheme keep the whole place cheery. And it is incredible spacious! Three large screens drop down from the ceiling so that, no matter where you are seated while getting a treatment, you can clearly see what is on the screen. The unique thing about the Nail Polish Salons is that they constantly play episodes of Friends, the famed NBC sitcom, and this certainly brings a smile to your face. If you’re not watching Friends, then take in the expansive vista through the windows of the salon which is simply splendid. On a clear day, you can distinctly see every important piece of corporate architecture which defines the Kuwait cityscape. It is stunning to behold. The beauticians are all incredibly knowledgeable about their tools, skill and trade. They confidently explain to you the color focus for the season and which nail polish brands are good for your desired finish. The range of polishes include well-known fashion brands like Inglot to the well-respected OPI and Essie among several others. It was certainly interesting to find out the common misnomers that are held with regard to hand care and to be able to fully trust the person looking after you. Once you have made your color choices and discussed the treatments available to you, you are seated in a wonderfully comfortable chair in the main treatment area and offered a range of refreshing drinks and teas. It was delightful to be served this way, especially that our tea came with a lovely homemade oatmeal and chocolate chip cookie, which was an little naughty treat that added to the luxury of the services 56
being offered! Another extra luxury was the application of the hand scrub. After the skilled manicurist massaged the sweetly scented concoction, she used a soft brush to scrub at the hand, exfoliating, massaging and moisturizing all at the same time! Wonderful. Exclusively available at this branch is a decadent 60-minute full-body massage with your choice of lavender or jasmine oils or if you prefer, a deeply moisturizing vanilla body cream. It is also possible to have a hair treatment of natural masques made from aloe vera to high end lotions and this can soak in while you enjoy your manicure or pedicure. A fully kitted out hair treatment salon exists in this branch so you can finish with a blow-out after luxuriating in any number of the other indulgent services on offer. It is lovely to witness the kinds of customers that use the Nail Polish salons, as it feels like such a family atmosphere. Mothers come in with their daughters, cousins sit down and chat to each other across the way while being attended to, and it is a calm but bustling energy which surrounds you the whole time. If you do desire the ultimate alone time however, there is
another entirely separate room which is very peaceful and quiet so you can choose from the best of both worlds, as you wish. If you would like to take the time to disconnect from your phone, for a limited time Nail Polish Salon is collaborating with BASTA (@Bastakwt on Instagram) to offer customers a collection of books to choose from which you can purchase for only 1 KD. This money is then donated to charity, so you can give back while you treat yourself too! This is also the perfect place for busy mothers to come and pamper themselves while their children play in the game area at the mall. Ultimately, the Nail Polish salon comes highly recommended, so why not give it a try!
For further details on the Nail Polish Salons follow Instagram @nailpolishsalon and follow their Snapchat: Nailpolishkwt. To book the Nail Polish Salon exclusive full body massage, hair treatments, or manicures and pedicures, please call the Promenade Mall salon location at 5111 3305/6.
Faces
ABSOLUTELY PREFABULOUS!
Prefab technology helps simplify set builds for movie productions By Todd Longwell
At first, it seems like an improbable pairing. Glenn Gainor is head of physical production for Screen Gems, Sony's genre film division (Underworld: Blood Wars, Don't Breathe). Noel Maxam is a veteran producer and director of soap operas (Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless). But their minds -- and business plans -- met because Gainor is always looking to make film production more efficient and environmentally friendly, and Maxam has developed a system to do just that. Now CEO of Emagispace, Maxam showed up at Gainor's office on the Sony lot in Culver City, Calif., lugging a suitcase containing a stack of MDF (mediumdensity fiberboard, for the uninitiated) boards, screws and Lego-like plastic tops. Recalls Gainor, "He said something like 'I'm going to show you something so simple you're going to think why the heck aren't we already doing this?'" With that, Maxam demonstrated his EmagiBlocks, a kit-based interlocking construction system with easyto-assemble components that can be arranged in a seemingly infinite variety of configurations. A single 4-by-4-foot pallet of EmagiBlocks, according to Maxam, can be turned into 400 square feet of double-faced wall that can be hinged and outfitted with doors and windows, as well as plumbing and electrical -- and at half the cost and in a tenth of the time it takes to build a traditional set. Once 58
shooting is completed, the walls can be quickly disassembled and stored or shipped. "It can be reused many times, so you can imagine that's much better for the environment," says Gainor. "I said, 'OK. I'm in.'" An obvious question that comes up in connection with a modular system that reduces labor requirements is whether some production workers could lose their jobs. Gainor says that's not the case. "It's just allowed us to do things that previously wouldn't have been affordable, and to build more and bigger environments," he says. Maxam's urge to innovate was inspired by his 25-plus years in daytime TV, where productions go through as many as 16 sets a day. "We spend a lot of money to put them together; then we throw them out," he says. So he set out to devise a reusable construction system, experimenting with materials such as cardboard, plastic and steel. He brought in his older brother, Clark Maxam, a portfolio manager and an early-stage investor, as co-founder. They decided MDF was the way to go because it can be cut locally by any shop, saving on shipping costs. Screen Gems became Emagispace's first big customer, using its system on a pair of features. The first, Cadaver, shot at New England Studios in Massachusetts, where construction coordinator Ted Suchecki says he used it to build walls in assemblyline fashion. "It was super quick," he affirms. When the film wrapped, the sets were disassembled, and the EmagiBlocks were stacked on
pallets and transported 40 miles away to construction coordinator Kurt Smith on another Screen Gems production, Proud Mary. "We had two truckloads of walls, and we sent them back when we were done," Smith says. Normally, they "would've been stuffed in a dumpster." Gainor explains that traditional sets built with plywood are specific to the project. "So you have specific storage requirements," he notes. It's a restriction that doesn't apply "when you can disassemble them block by block." Another plus: The walls don't need to be taken apart for a set changeover. "Skins" such as painted surfaces and paneling can be applied, and window and door sections can be swapped. "It's often faster to change the living room to the nurse's station than it is to move the company from one place to another," Maxam says. "So now you're saving a fortune in lighting time and everything else, and you're able to put all that money and time onto the screen rather than destroy the Earth." EmagiBlocks can also be used to build structures for trade-show booths, office spaces and art installations. That diversity helped Emagispace close a $4.2 million (KD 1.2 million) Series A funding round in August led by Alpha Edison with participation from Circle Ventures, United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer and 54 Madison. "If it's an outside four-wall tilt-up, we're not that, but we're every wall in that interior," boasts Maxam. "We're going to replace the 2-by-4." Photo by Laura Lee Moreau on Unsplash.
bridgewatetr
THESE BAD HABITS ARE MAKING YOUR WORK STRESS WORSE Here’s how to deal with them
By Art Markman
There are plenty of workplace stressors you can neither avoid nor minimize–you’ve just got to deal with them. Maybe your performance review is around the corner and you’re worried you won’t meet expectations. Perhaps you’ve just been criticized by your supervisor or a colleague and are anxious to get back on your game. Or possibly it’s that the project you’re managing is destined to go over budget. These experiences can be stressful in their own right, but sometimes people create more stress than a situation requires. Research going back some 100 years, on the so-called Yerkes-Dodson curve, finds that most people have a “sweet spot” in terms of stress, or what psychologists refer to as “arousal.” Too little, and you won’t be able to generate enough energy or motivation to work. Too much, and you’ll crumple under the pressure, unable to focus on the task at hand. To keep things in balance, try kicking these three common habits people fall into when coping with work stress. MISTAKE #1: TRYING TO GO IT ALONE One side effect of stress it that it can sap your focus. You tend to get stuck in a cycle of thinking, called “rumination,” about the thing that’s stressing you out. In addition, since stress is your brain’s and body’s response to something you deem potentially dangerous, you become extra sensitive to things going on in your immediate environment (due to the fact that many of the stressors our evolutionary ancestors faced involved physical threats, not conceptual ones). To compensate for these distracting tendencies, many people try to isolate themselves from other people when they’re under pressure. “If only I can get a few hours alone this week to really focus, I’ll be able to get a better handle on this,” you may think. But this habit might only make things worse. In fact, one way to help yourself get productive work done while you’re stressed is to work together in a group. After all, another psychologically hardwired lesson from humans’ evolutionary past was safety in numbers. When we’re feeling threatened, we gravitate toward teams. Your brain will likely be able to stay more focused in stressful situations when you’re working with others than when you try to hack away at a problem on your own–that is, just as long as you don’t spend the whole time talking about whatever’s stressing you out. 60
MISTAKE #2: SACRIFICING YOUR DOWNTIME Depending on the root cause, some stressful situations unfold over long periods of time–a few days, a couple weeks, even the better part of a year. If you work for a company that’s struggling to survive, you may see no end in sight to the highpressure environment you’re working within. In cases like these, you need to find ways to escape at least for a while. Unfortunately, many people’s first reaction is to do the reverse–cutting back on personal time in order to slog through a tough situation. Remember, stress isn’t just a response to what’s already going on around you–it’s also your reaction to negative things that might happen but haven’t yet. So it’s important not to sacrifice the habits and routines that sustain you over the long haul. And somewhat counterintuitively, one solution is to do things that lessen work-related stress in the nearterm. Yoga and mindfulness exercises are common ways to create a sense of peace and serenity. No, they won’t eliminate your dread of what might still be on the horizon, but they can dampen the arousal that’s getting the best of you right now. The other alternative is just to find something truly enjoyable to do, whether or not it induces calm or mindfulness. Go to a movie or concert. Play a game. Do some exercise. In this case, you’re focusing your motivation on something desirable, rather than something stressful. The motivation to do pleasant things competes with the motivation to avoid negative ones.
MISTAKE #3: LOSING PERSPECTIVE When a big negative outcome feels like it’s right around the corner, it’s likely that your fear outstrips the potential reality. Stress causes you to magnify the imagined impact of the event you’re worrying about, which makes it hard to actually plan for it. To regain some perspective, force yourself to think through the worst-case scenario as methodically as you can. For example, if your company does go bankrupt, what would that actually mean for you within the first week after it’s announced? The first month? How hard would it be for you to find another job? Would working somewhere else really be that bad? When we’re under stress we can’t seem to control or mitigate, we tend to believe that bad outcomes will be much worse than they typically prove to be in reality. The researchers Dan Gilbert and Tim Wilson have found that people regularly overestimate the long-term impact of negative events. Just telling yourself that you’re worrying needlessly isn’t likely to de-stress the situation, of course–you’re going to feel what you’re going to feel. But to help you manage those feelings, try just accepting the worst imaginable outcome rather than struggling to avoid it with everything you’ve got. This way, if it really does come to pass, you may find yourself more resilient and adaptable than you’d thought. Photo by Olu Eletu on Unsplash
careem
ERDEM X H&M
Designer ERDEM presents men's collection for the very first time! By bazaar staff
It’s always exciting to see what H&M has in store for fashion lovers with their new collections. They’ve often introduced fun and innovative styles that take local wardrobes by storm, regardless of the season. Now, as the colder weather seasons approach, H&M welcomes in autumn by curating one of their famously collaborative collections into the mix. This November, it’s ERDEM. An ERDEM piece can be easily spotted from a mile away thanks to Canadian designer Erdem Moralioglu signature use of floral prints reimagined with modernmeets-classic structures. When we heard that his work would be making its way onto H&M’s racks, we were thrilled and mentally shopping his looks. Moreover, the designer's recent presentation at London Fashion Week left us ripe with anticipation, and the fact that his floral beauties have for the first time, translated into a Men’s collection, that added even more intrigue. And so we chat with Erdem himself about the collection, as well as H&M Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson about this monumental step for both ERDEM and H&M. INTERVIEW WITH ERDEM What was the inspiration for this collaboration? There are so many different inspirations that all come together to make ERDEM X H&M. As well as my previous collections, I was thinking about my childhood, and pieces that we wore when we were growing up. I also thought about a group of friends coming together at an English country mansion, finding these pieces and wearing them in their own way. What excites you most about creating a Men’s collection? It was such a joy designing the men’s collection. It’s such a different process, because womenswear for me is so deeply based in the narrative and story. With men’s, I was thinking about what I wear, as well as my childhood and youth, and what my father wore. I loved the idea of creating a men’s group of clothes that could be absorbed by women too. It’s great to think of someone taking the fleece from the men’s collection and wearing it over the sinuous sequined slip dress. 62
Erdem Moralioglu
How was the process different from designing womenswear? It was such a forensic process, because we were designing these menswear pieces for the very first time. Take a piece like the parka. It was something totally new to me. How should I design it? How should it fit? How long should it be? It was such an interesting process to go through with every single piece. What elements do you use to give your collection the quintessential H&M touch to your ERDEM masterpieces? The collection is pure ERDEM, with no compromise on
design or quality. The biggest difference to my catwalk collections is that it is much looser, with many different narratives joining together. It was so much fun to design, and I wanted it to be a collection that will be fun to wear, too. What are some key pieces to look out for from the men’s collection? My favorite piece is the tweed blazer, because it’s got such a sharp silhouette. I also love the tailored coat with the removable lining, and the nylon zip-up shows how florals can work perfectly for men. I love the sweater that’s like a graphic take on a Fair Isle, and the parka
has such a great shape for the city. I’m so proud of the collection, I could mention every piece! INTERVIEW WITH ANNE-SOFIE JOHANNSEN What’s most exciting to you about introducing this collection to your stores this season? I can’t wait to see how people around the world wear ERDEM x H&M in their own way. This is such a special collection that can be dressed up, or dressed down. It’s perfect for the party season, and it’s also a collection that can then mix into someone’s wardrobe. I know that people will be wearing pieces from ERDEM x H&M for so many years to come. [Continued...]
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How does this collaboration differ from past H&M designer collaborations? I would say that every collaboration gives a different thought process, and offers something new and unexpected. ERDEM’s creations are about pure beauty, romantic, magical, feminine and powerful at the same time. It is all about the love for the craft and delightful textiles and delicately designed feminine fashion. So if you compare it with the sassy Balmain and street smart KENZO, it is definitely something new. How does ERDEM capture the essence of H&M while still keeping his design ethos intact? Looking at the result, I think the marriage between both styles couldn’t be better. I feel we need more beauty in the world these days and this collaboration will bring in something new and unexpected to our customers 64
[...Continued]
in that sense. H&M’s audience is very wide and we have a great variety of customers, therefore playing with versatile collections is key for us as we can give the opportunity to more people to discover ERDEM’s universe thanks to this collaboration. What can men and women shoppers alike look forward to in their respective collections? Rich fabrics, lovely embellishments and vivid florals are all part of ERDEM’s signature style. As I said, the whole collection is very versatile, you can easily dress it up or dress it down depending on different occasions. For example, you can mix the lace blouses or the long dresses from this collection with a masculine style blazer over your shoulders to get the look. Regarding our men’s collection, the result is a tight, well-edited collection built around favourites from the male
wardrobe. You can easily see ERDEM in every piece of the men collection. The tweed suit, white shirt, together with sportier garments is something he wears everyday as his favorite pieces. What are your favorite pieces in the collection? It is hard to select only one, I love all of them! I really like the jacquard suit, the tweed garments or the leopard faux fur long coat, together with the jewel bag, making a whole outfit. I also love mixing the collection with garments from the men’s collection, such as the silk pyjama. The H&M X ERDEM collection will be available at the H&M store at Grand Avenue-The Avenues starting November 2. Follow H&M on Twitter @HMKuwait, Facebook and Instagram @HM.
NEW COLLECTION
48.000KD
98.000KD
55.000KD
45.000KD
e Fashion coach
H awa l l i - Op p o si t e to Q a d si a C l u b - e M a l l Fa h a he e l - D a bb o u s S t r e e t - Ya a l M a l l 2576 1337
efashionq8
A LABOR OF LOVE
The pure luxury of Leonor Greyl
By bazaar staff
Is there anything better than a love story? Forty years ago, a French couple by the names of Leonor and Jean-Marie Greyl found a mutual bond in knowledge of haircare and botanicals throughout the world, and created a brand using perfectly curated ingredients to nurture hair. Today, the award-winning Leonor Greyl continues to luxuriate women and men’s crowns through all-natural, vitamin-rich plant extracts, and have continued to reign supreme with everyday folk and elite celebrity stylists alike. beautique cosmetics international was lucky enough to experience the fruits of this great romance by welcoming Sylvia Gonzales from Leonor Greyl to their TONI&GUY salons for and in-depth training seminar on various products and treatments, enlightening the stylists with 66
revolutionary haircare insights. By focusing on the importance of the scalp, Sylvia explained how it all comes down to the hair follicles and their need to breathe. But unfortunately, with today's constant use of standard haircare and styling products that containing chemicals, breathable hair is almost impossible to achieve. The use of silicone, parabens and sulfates may give your hair instant external results, but internally, each hair and its follicle is at risk for deep longterm damage. Overusing such products would require constant treatment and drastic haircuts to revive your hair into a presentable condition. To prevent such horrors, Leonor Greyl is somewhat of a hair protocol. By using appropriate Leonor Greyl products tailored to suit your hair’s unique needs, your follicles will be cured of the chemicals it’s been exposed to, and will revert back to its original, flourishing state. Another area that sets Leonor Greyl apart from other brands is the exclusive use of organic ingredients in all of their products. Many brands label themselves as "organic" on the basis of having one or two certified ingredients mixed with an assortment of chemicals, but Leonor Greyl products
are all composed of natural, cruelty free, gluten-free ingredients including quinoa, seaweed, cactus, bamboo, hibiscus, biotin and honey. Furthermore, their magical golden viscid is sourced from Leonor Greyl’s very own hive cultivated by beeopic; a cause that assures the conservation of bees, which are the most important creatures on our planet as they pollinate the world allowing our foods to grow. With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that Leonor Greyl was a product stemmed from love. Everything about this brand exudes passion, care and quality and we’re so glad to have such a considerate legacy available to us in Kuwait, handled by experts who know what will suit our follicle needs. Whether your hair needs some revitalizing or major damage control, do it a favor and leave it in the loving hands of the Greyl family – you deserve it.
Leonor Greyl is exclusively distributed by beautique cosmetics international and is available at Toni&Guy Salons. For more information please call 2225 1285 or visit www.beautiquecosmeticsintl.com. Follow them on Instagram @beautiquecosmetics for the latest updates!
royal hayat
SWINGING TO LATIN BEATS
Cultures converged at the Palladium after it opened to artists popularizing mambo and cha-cha By Randall Roberts
If Sunset Boulevard represents a kind of metaphorical artery pumping rhythms across the city and around the world, worth examining is how those sounds were built, heard and danced to. “We always need a through line, and I’m intrigued by the street itself as the through line that cuts east to west,” says Anthony Macias, assistant professor of ethnic studies at UC Riverside. There’s a strong argument to be made that the Hollywood Palladium marks the center of that line. Macias, who wrote Mexican American Mojo: Popular Music, Dance, and Urban Culture in Los Angeles, 1935-1968, says his reflex when considering Sunset is to think of “the early punk scene and the hair bands.” But that tells only part of the story. Missing, for example, is how venues such as the Palladium and Club Havana in Silver Lake, which in the 1950s and ‘60s hosted Latin big bands including Tito Puente and Perez Prado, served as points of cultural convergence. Club Havana “had a battle of the bands,” Macias says. “It had enough room for two stages, so it must have been a pretty big venue. And those Latin bands were big — they weren’t the little quintets at that point.” 68
Macias cites another little Sunset venue a few blocks west called Ramona’s, where Cuban conga player Mongo Santamaria had a band in the early 1960s. A few miles farther west, the Palladium in the ‘50s was struggling to fill its massive dance floor while adapting to the decline of the big band era. Mexican Americans, who had formerly been hassled at the Palladium for their dress, were hitting Sunset. If they dressed conservatively, there wasn’t a problem, says Macias, “but sometimes, if they looked like pachucos, they would try and stop them at the box office or at the door.” In such cases, adds Macias, attendees forced bouncers to confront the hypocrisy: “‘You can measure my cuffs. I’m not wearing a zoot suit.’ They forced their own way.” Macias says the Palladium started booking Latin bands, which were composed mostly of Mexican American and other Latino musicians, in the early ‘50s to perform during intermissions, “but jazz waned in popularity and this Latin craze hit. By the mid-’50s, the mambo and the cha-cha-cha were all the rage.” In 1955, disc jockey Lionel “Chico” Sesma started promoting his Latin Holidays at the Palladium, in the process, transforming the venue. The DJ, who is credited with popularizing the mambo and cha-cha in Los Angeles, commenced an annual event that endured for decades.
Still, just because mambo fans cruised to the Palladium didn’t mean they rolled to Ben Frank’s for burgers on the Strip later. Writes Macias in Mexican American Mojo: “Although people may have mixed in particular dance venues, this contact did not necessarily continue outside of the music scene, or back in their respective neighborhoods.” The result was a gradual assimilation as Sunset culture evolved and as Latinos “went from being sort of ‘nonblack’ and therefore admitted as patrons, to actually being permitted onstage, to being booked and being requested as Latin music got popular,” Macias says. Unlike Club Havana, the Palladium still stands. Although it’s been dormant from time to time since its rise, the Palladium, which is now owned by Live Nation, isn’t going anywhere. Asked about another enduring Latin spot, Club Bahia — the first music venue, geographically speaking, on Sunset — and Macias laughs with recognition. “I courted my wife — I took her dancing there,” he says, adding with surprise: “Oh yeah, that’s on Sunset too. If you only think of the Strip, you forget about all these other joints.” Photo by Adrian Lumi on Unsplash.
centerpoint
FEEDWISE
A Humanitarian effort to alleviate suffering
By Nejoud Al-Yagout
Feedwise was founded in May of 2016 – with a mission to feed the needy. On a monthly basis, volunteers are invited to participate in a food drive where they focus on distributing food that is uncooked, needing only water, so that the migrant workers can consume them at their own pace. It is always refreshing to interview souls who are participating in the ascension of our planet from fear into love. Many people are complaining about the current chaos on the planet, but I find the converse to be true. Amidst the chaos, love seems to be reigning. Your cause is a testament to that. Does being part of charity work give you hope that we can, in fact, help others – with determination and action? Definitely. I believe that one cannot expect perfection from any society, but there always needs to be a start; and what better way to start than with oneself? 70
Taibah, it is no secret that you founded Feedwise because of a thirst to give. Please describe the emotions and faces of those who receive. We founded Feedwise mainly because there are people who work very hard in our society, yet don't always live comfortably or have a means to support themselves as well as we are able to; and it always humbles me to see how grateful some people are to receive something as simple as a meal. It makes me realize how much we can sometimes take things for granted. You once mentioned that your volunteers encouraged you to extend to other branches of charity work as well. What exactly did they suggest? When we first started out, Feedwise was a small way to give back and help the less fortunate by providing meals meant to last for more than a day. However, our volunteers were so passionate about a plethora of different causes and we eventually branched out into other areas such as environmental and awareness causes. Give us some tidbits about the Feedwise team and your selection process.
Our team consists of our management- Shahad AlBusairi, Ali Burhama, and Badriya Al-Ali who are each an important part of keeping things running. Our volunteers are chosen based on whether or not we share the same vision and goals, for the most part; and we base our selection process not on what they have already done, but rather what they wish and hope to accomplish. We usually sit down with the volunteers beforehand and get to know them via an interview. And, finally, there are many people who would love to contribute to your noble cause. When and where do you collect uncooked food from people? We usually offer to collect the food and items from the contributor's home. Our Instagram page is open for any inquiries, as well as our email.
To find out more about the amazing Feedwise, follow them on Instagram @feedwise or visit their website: www.feedwise.org. You can follow Nejoud on social media @nejoud.alyagout or visit her website www.nejoudalyagout.com.
bab alqasr
Wear Your Essence F inding your ideal perfu me at Harvey Nichols K uwait
By bazaar staff
Picture it: Your hair is done up the way you like it, you’re wearing those great new trousers you coveted last week that show you as a strong boss lady. Your stunning shoes make you feel powerful, svelte, and their slingback style says that you’re a modern, strong woman who knows what she wants out of life. Your jewelry is simple and contemporary, without flash. You’re the complete package. But wait – what about your perfume? You aren’t going to walk out of the house smelling like nothing, are you? Of course not – because, if you have no signature scent, none of the above even matters. Frankly, without perfume, you have no idea who you are. If you’re finding yourself in the throes of an identity crisis, don’t panic – there’s still time to save yourself! You just need to remember that choosing a perfume is like choosing a perfect partner: You need something that has the right elements that will only complement you, not overpower you, and won’t cause you to break out. You also have to remember that everyone is built differently, from the inside out. Some scents will smell better on some people than others, which is why you should always be the person choosing your own perfume! So how does one find the perfume to match their personality? We’ve broken it down into categories to make it easier for you to decipher which scent captures your essence. FLORAL Ideal for feminine romantics who are partial to traditional scents, floral scented perfumes are some of the most popular scents on the market. We recommend: Duchess Rose Eau de Parfum by Penhaligon's: A fresh English rose at the first glance, flecked by scents of modern ambroix. Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle: Features intense scents of tuberose. Salt Floral by ASAMA: Embrace top notes of lemon, orange and jasmine; with coriander, floral notes and clove middle notes, and finish off with warm base notes of vanilla and musk. FRUITY Are you young, spirited and energetic? If you enjoy fresh scents like citrus with a hint of spices, these scents are for you. We recommend: Pulp Eau de Parfum by Byredo: Featuring bergamot, cardamom and blackcurrant top notes, with crisp fig, red apple and tiare flower middle notes. The base notes welcome in rustic cedar, praline and peach blossom. 72
ORIENTAL These fragrances pair with bold personalities: People who like to stand out of the crowd enjoy making a statement, and a spicy scent will do just the trick. We recommend: Soleil Au Zenith by Prada Olfactories Les Mirages: This has a perfect mix of peach, ylang ylang, sandalwood, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, pimento and cumin. A truly spicy scent! Vanille de Zanzibar by Boucheron La Collection: Top notes are pear, mandarin orange and Jasmine. Middle notes are Bourbon vanilla, Heliotrope and Peru balsam. Base notes are white musk, sandalwood and patchouli. You can’t go wrong with that blend! Aoud by Roja Dove: Featuring a complex blend of bergamot and lemon top notes, with geranium, jasmine, may rose and ylang ylang middle notes. Finish off with a medley of agarwood, cashmere wood, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, patchouli, rhubarb, saffron, sandalwood, ambergris, leather, musk and vanilla to give a spicy, wintery kick. Nightfall Patchouli by Carolina Herrera Confidential: Softness of benzoin resin meets the liveliness of cinnamon and Indonesian patchouli leaves. GREEN Relaxed and laid back personalities will pair wonderfully with these scents. They love to be outdoors and enjoy earthy smells that remind them of being outside. We recommend: Parco Palladiano V by Bottega Veneta: This earthy fragrance features laurels, rosemary and sage. Muguet Porcelain by Hermes Hermessence: This classic fragrance opens up with green top notes like pear, and continues towards middle notes of lily of the valley, hedione and neroli. It finishes with white musk and animal notes. WOODSY Another ideal scent for the nature-loving individual, woodsy scents have strong notes of amber and patchouli, making you long for the outdoors all year round. We recommend: Tuxedo by YSL La Vestiaire des Parfums: Featuring strong accords of patchouli and spices for a crisp evening scent. Ambre Nuit by Christian Dior: This beauty opens with fresh notes of grapefruit and sunny bergamot. Turkish rose combined with pink pepper and warm amber notes round up the whole composition. Supreme Sandal by Roberto Cavalli Gold Collection: Inhale deep notes of sandalwood, honey, saffron and black vanilla. Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian: Top notes are jasmine and saffron; middle note is amber wood, base notes are fir resin and cedar. Oud & Oud by Cartier Les Heures de Parfum: Composed of notes of precious oud, providing intoxicating and intense sweet-wood aromas to excite all the senses.
Have you discovered your signature scent yet? All of these great perfumes can be found at Harvey Nichols Kuwait in Grand Avenue–The Avenues. Follow them on Instagram @harveynicholskuwait for more information and the latest updates. 73
HOW TO FAKE HUMILITY (AND WHY YOU SOMETIMES SHOULD)
Even the most effective leaders could benefit from being self-deprecating By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
We’re generally quick to celebrate arrogant, egotistical people, especially when they’re clearly talented (Kanye, anyone?). But what if–like most people–you’re not extraordinarily capable? The answer is simple: You’re better off being humble. Or at least seeming humble to others. Psychological studies have found that when people appear to be less competent than they believe– when their self-image is more positive than others’ views of them–they’re likely to be less popular and successful. In other words, confidence and assertiveness are adaptive only when they’re proportionately backed up by competence. Thus we are better off seeming more competent than confident, even if that might mean faking humility.” THE CULTURAL ELEMENT Most people aren’t naturally humble. That’s true despite certain cultures valuing outward shows of humility more than others. According to Gaijin Pot, a website that helps people around the world find study, jobs, and travel opportunities in Japan, “my stupid son” and “my foolish wife” were common expressions used by Japanese men to refer to their families until quite recently. “It is said not only because is it frowned upon to say nice things about your family, but it is actually better to sound like you are putting them down,” the site’s blog informs Western readers. And as the British social anthropologist quips in her 2004 book, Watching the English, the typical Brit would only report being “quite good” at a sport only if they’re the world champion in it. While every culture has its own norms for encouraging modest self-presentation, most people (and societies) favor humility when interacting with friends and family, yet permit a measure of braggadocio when dealing with strangers. Either way, it’s likely there will be certain occasions where you’ll need to deliberately come across as humbler than you actually feel. Here’s how to do it convincingly. TALK LESS ABOUT YOURSELF Research shows that there’s a positive correlation between how frequently people use self-referential pronouns–words like “I,” “me,” or “mine”–and their likelihood of narcissism, a trait describing self-centered, egotistical, and entitled behavioral tendencies. And while we all talk about ourselves without even noticing it, those who come across as more humble spend less time focusing on themselves while speaking with others. So if you consciously tamp down how often you refer to yourself, you’re likely to appear more modest. DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY If you do have to talk about yourself, do it light-heartedly. 74
Although humor is somewhat culture-specific, the ability to laugh at ourselves is pretty much universally advantageous. If you can be a little self-deprecating, you’re likely not just to seem modest but also witty, moral, and smart. Even leaders have been found to be more effective when they use a dose of self-effacing humor. COMPARE YOURSELF TO MORE (NOT LESS) CAPABLE PEOPLE A simple way to aim high while remaining humble is to put your performance into context with those who are more capable and talented. You’ll still benefit from putting yourself in their theoretical company, but you won’t seem obnoxious in the process. By the same token, if you draw comparisons between yourself and those who are generally seen as low performers, you may artificially inflate your ego while seeming arrogant and tone-deaf to others. RESORT TO (GENTLE) FLATTERY No matter how smart we are, most of us are highly susceptible to flattery, even when it’s blatantly false. In fact, even computers are deemed more likable when they suck up to us. Stroke other people’s egos and they will see you as both more genuine and more humble.
And the good news is that this is probably the easiest rule to implement. As the hedonistic villain Svidrigailov in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment puts it, “nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery”–uncomfortable coming from him, but not too far off the mark. If feigning humility feels dishonest or manipulative, think of it this way: You’re simply toning down what you believe to be your praiseworthy accomplishments to give other people a chance to see them as clearly as you do. After all, just consider the alternative; people who spend most of their time talking about themselves, being “brutally honest” and critical of others, and taking themselves way too seriously often end up worse off. Rest assured that despite appearing genuine, people who operate this way are likely to be unpopular (this is true even on social media, by the way) So just as there are times when you’ll want to fake confidence when you’re feeling unsure of yourself, remember there are other times when you need to do the reverse. A little modesty goes a long way, no matter how self-assured–or even arrogant–you may actually feel. Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash.
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MADE IN SPACE
Here’s why the next manufacturing boom could come from space By Marisa Kendall
These days, it’s hardly exotic to see a “made in China” sticker slapped on your favorite product. But what if that sticker said “made in space?” A Mountain View-based startup revealed new breakthroughs in its quest to build in-space factories that will orbit the Earth and pump out products that are too difficult or expensive to make at home. The technology is expected to revolutionize space exploration by allowing scientists access to better tools in space, and also provide people on Earth with unique spacemade products such as improved fiber optic cables. “In-space manufacturing and assembling has been the stuff of science fiction and the dream of the industry for almost the entire existence of the industry,” said Made in Space CEO Andrew Rush, who hosted journalists and NASA representatives at his company’s headquarters for a demo. “But now, for the first time, we’re making these really transformative steps toward making that a reality.” In June, Made in Space successfully completed the first test of its manufacturing equipment in a vacuum chamber that simulates the micro-gravity environment of space — a major milestone, Rush said. The company’s partners at NASA hope to take that technology into orbit as early as 2020. Made in Space’s project is part of a broader trend toward the commercialization of space. As NASA prepares to retire the International Space Station in 2024, private companies like Axiom and Bigelow are rushing to take its place — the same way Elon Musk’s SpaceX stepped in when NASA ended its Space Shuttle program in 2011. Made in Space hopes to help turn those private space stations into manufacturing hubs, producing what Rush calls a “low Earth orbit economy.” Today, most things that are used in space have to get there via rocket launch. That’s expensive, slow, and subjects the payload to intense G-force during the ride. Within the next decade, Rush hopes to manufacture most satellites in space — eliminating the need for launches. Eventually, he hopes to use his company’s technology to build human settlements on Mars. In-space manufacturing also could have major implications for the search for life on other planets, said Steve Jurczyk, associate director of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. Scientists can’t launch a telescope into space that’s big enough to produce high-quality, color images of planets that orbit other stars, Jurczyk said during the demo day. If that telescope instead could be built in space, scientists could 76
use it to study the atmospheres of other planets and determine whether they could support life. NASA is working with Made in Space on its in-space manufacturing project as part of a $20 million (KD 610,000) partnership. Made in Space operates from an unassuming building in Moffett Field, an abandoned naval air base that now houses NASA’s Ames Research Center and a cluster of private space-focused tech startups. That’s where engineers perfected the Archinaut — basically a 3-D printer with robotic arms. The printer prints out beams and other pieces, and the robotic arms are designed to autonomously assemble them into, say, a piece of a space station. Unlike traditional 3-D printers, which produce objects smaller than themselves, the Archinaut can print massive pieces — it recently printed a 37.7 meter beam (the longest ever made by a 3-D printer) which the Made in Space team now proudly displays in its second-floor hallway. Made in Space also has had a small 3-D printer, about the size of a microwave, onboard the International Space Station. The company sends it instructions remotely, via a “mission control room” in the Moffett Field office, and the printer has spit out everything from radiation shields to a game that can only be played in microgravity — something for the astronauts on the Space Station to do if they get bored.
Some experts say what Made in Space is attempting represents the next necessary step as humans continue to explore the universe. “It’s essential for the growth of the industry,” said Sean Casey, co-founder and managing director of the Silicon Valley Space Center, an accelerator for space-focused startups. “We as a species need to understand how to build and construct things in low Earth orbit.” Of course, there will be a learning curve, Casey said, as building in space requires humans to re-learn the manufacturing process. “There’s still a lot of ground to cover in perfecting that technology,” he said. In-space manufacturing also has the potential to change life here on Earth. In November, Made in Space plans to start in-space production of optical fiber — the building block of the telecommunications industry. Rush says the space-made fiber will be capable of conducting a signal that’s between 10 and 100 times better than what we use today because it will use an exotic glass called ZBLAN instead of the traditional silica fiber. Making the cables with ZBLAN doesn’t work as well on Earth, Rush says, because it forms crystals when subjected to gravity. The company also is testing making bricks out of a synthetic material designed to simulate the topsoil on Mars — with the goal of someday building settlements on the planet out of its natural resources.
Max
CIAO, BELLA!
When in Rome, ride a Vespa! By George Hobica
There are many ways to see a city when we travel. Some of us take guided tours by bus, some set off on our own by public transit, and some of us just walk aimlessly, discovering new things. No matter which way we go, we risk looking like that currently out-of-fashion word, a “tourist.” (Travel magazines these days seem to prefer “traveler” or “voyager” or “wanderer” from what I’ve seen.) But here’s an idea: When in Rome, see the city as the Romans do — on a Vespa. I stayed not long ago at Rome’s newly renovated Le Meridien Visonti Palace Hotel (rates from 200 euros per night), where the concierge handed me a brochure for a company called My Vespa (myvespatours.com). In addition to renting Vespas they offer several 78
tours, with clients scooted around Rome with an experienced driver. Of course, I could have just walked a few blocks from my hotel and seen a lot, too. The Meridien lies a short distance from Vatican City, the Villa Borghese, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Trevi Fountain, among other wonders. It’s probably the best-situated luxury hotel in Rome if you like to walk. But, I did some research online before booking and a 90 percent “excellent” rating on TripAdvisor sold me on My Vespa. I took the “Panoramic Rome by Vespa” tour with a driver (145 Euros [KD 50], and one of eight tours offered) although it’s also possible to drive oneself for less. Because you’re on a Vespa, Rome’s challenging traffic (what city isn’t challenging these days?) is more navigable, so in a half-day you see all the major sites plus a lot of little-visited ones that even some Romans might not know about.
And because you’re on a Vespa, you can snap photos at will, like a paparazzi, weaving in and out of traffic like a local. The drivers love what they do and have a wealth of knowledge. They’re also very patient whenever you’d like to stop and snap a picture or ask a question and they all speak impeccable English if that’s your language preference. Back at the Meridien, the concierge asked how I liked the adventure. By the smile on my face he could tell that the answer would be molto bene! The best part? I felt like I had seen Rome not as a tourist but as a local, driven around by a friend and not a tour guide, and I found myself thinking that all cities should offer this experience, although what is more synonymous with Rome than a Vespa?
Photo by Vincent Versluis on Unsplash.
dean & Deluca
79
BUILDING A COMMUNITY
A walk-through of ‘Live at the Juke’ By bazaar staff
Left to right: Timmy, Buzz, Zeus, Khaled, Zak and Aziz
“Hello? Hello!” We call out as we find our way onto the third floor of a nondescript building tucked into the urban maze that is Kuwait City. We’re searching for the hidden space where Kuwait’s all-inclusive musical community initiative, Jukebox Productions, is located. We spy a door covered with thick padding of soundproof material and shyly tap at the door till we hear a collective muffled “COME IN.” Walking into the studio, an overwhelming feeling of communal support rushes over me. Every corner you look, someone is contributing to the creative energy brewing in the Jukebox. Though it seems an ordinary Tuesday night for them, the compact space is abuzz with an energetic flow of musical tinkering and creative 80
direction coming from all different angles. Perched on stools at the stage, the frontman and guitarist of The Afterthought are jamming to an acoustic version of Pearl Jam’s “Last Kiss” as a deep voice booms on the microphone testing sound levels for the latest “episode” of Live At the Juke, featuring The Afterthought. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Live At the Juke recording live from Kuwait City” echoes as the pleasant crooning switched to “Poison,” an original Afterthought track that displays soulful lyrics. As the camera starts to roll, I notice the wellknown musician Timmy CatDog in the studio. TCD is here as a supporter, but he informs me that he frequents the studio, records here and jams here from time to time. “I met Zeus (Juke founder Aziz Alsharhan) in spring 2016 where I was featured in their first Live at the Juke filming, and it was awesome,” he says as the jamming switches to a fitting feel-good jazzy riff. "We needed a place for musicians to
meet and collaborate." Then, I hear the band slowing down into an eery rendition of “The Ants go Marching One by One” in whistle form, going into one of their most well-known covers, “When She Says That She Loves Me” by forgotten 90s band Tonic. As the music keeps playing, Zeus and partner Khaled Almansour take me into the quieter mixing room where all recorded content is played around with to perfection. When we go into the room, I’m surprised to see that absolutely no music is heard. It is dead silent, thanks to the expert soundproofing in the studio. “Have a seat,” Zeus says, gesturing toward the comfortable couch adorned with cushions and a blanket draped over the side. Zeus and Khaled start off by telling me about what inspired them to start this initiative in the first place, and how they met in Hawalli last year when Zeus and his other partner Mohammed Al Mazeedi were operating out of the crowded district. “I was drumming for another band, and
recorded at the Hawalli studio last spring. I really loved the vibe at the Juke, and so I used my production background and got in as a partner.” Khaled is referring to his self-run production company whose talents he incorporated into the Juke after joining. “Music is my life, but it’s difficult being a musician and playing live in Kuwait. So production was the way to invest myself into the musical lifestyle.” Zeus agrees to that sentiment, tying into why the Juke was established in the first place. “It’s a way that gets me to do my own music, because I don’t think if I worked anywhere else, I’d have time or energy to focus on my own personal work.” The creative buzz constantly flowing in the studio also means that it’s a place where people feel safe when it comes to self-expression, making it stand out in the musical community. “Music is everywhere around the world,” Zeus says. “It’s in Kuwait too, historically – it died out a bit because the resources were lacking. I mean, it was always here! I remember going to live shows when I was a kid – like bahari music shows, at least.” “It’s in our blood,” Khaled interjects vehemently. “Kuwaitis know how to break it down with music, especially drums!” he laughs in reference to his own talent. But in all seriousness, the Juke seems to be benefiting the creative community as a whole, and it’s quite clear from the enthusiasm seen throughout the studio during our visit. TCD and the Afterthought aren’t the only acts to notably mention. The [studio’s] stage has also seen performances from Carol Souki and Fabrice, to Galaxy Juice and Shanice Whitney. While musicians regularly schedule studio time, many lurk around with respect to the creative process and end up collaborating with one another. “I’ve literally seen bands born out of here, because so many people spend so much time over here, you have no idea.” Zeus says, referring to Jukebox-born band StereoMalt, scheduled to perform live at some point in November. “It’s like a musical incubator of sorts.” And then there’s the matter of the Live at the Juke shows, where these musicians are given a chance to showcase their music in raw, natural fashion, bringing light to the fact that there’s a collection of talent ranging in genres in Kuwait – just like an actual jukebox. Our interview is interrupted by a cajone drum emergency, and we make our way back into the room where we’re automatically transported back into a world of music. Sound tests are made while someone is playing around with a heavy bass rapping “Jungle is my scene – wicked! Wicked!” in a cool funk tune. People are greeting one another, picking up instruments and strumming along in harmony amid chatter and laughter. Local guitar legend Hashim Al Nasser, another regular at The Juke and an old friend of mine greets me with his guitar, and after pleasantries have been exchanged he tells me “there’s something big happening here, and
"People are making crazy art behind closed doors" - Timmy CatDog
Live At the Juke with The Afterthought it has all the support in the world from me.” As I’m about to leave, I look around at all the great talents in their own happy world where they feel they are finally free, and something that Zeus and Khaled had previously told me resonates within me: “We’re combining all these great individuals and forming a community. By giving them the resources that they didn’t have before, this is what’s going to break the market.” I then remember visiting Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where I learned that so many of history’s greatest musicians had performed
in: from Billie Holiday and The Supremes to James Brown and The Jackson 5. And because so many of Kuwait’s greats have too, performed with the Juke, I help but wonder if The Jukebox is Kuwait’s very own monument for music? I sure hope so, because Hashim was right: something very big is happening here. Jukebox Productions is promising a huge musical season approaching. Be sure not to miss a show by following them on Instagram @thejukepro and on Facebook: Jukebox Productions. 81
CAN BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS GET AID TO PEOPLE IN POVERTY?
It’s often impossible to find and locate help that’s available By Ben Paynter
One of the biggest challenges that aid groups face when battling poverty in the developing world is that being in poverty can make it nearly impossible to act in your own longterm best interest. Offering someone access to a savings account that generates good interest, for instance, isn’t particularly enticing to a person who is worrying about not having enough money to get through that day. It’s harder for a family to save scholarship money earmarked for an upcoming school enrollment, say, when everyone’s stomach is rumbling. These problems stem from two well-known psychological ticks that come with stress: present bias (favoring immediate rewards over long-term considerations) and limited attention (when lack of money, time, hunger, and/or sleep affect rationalization). Sure, the wealthy might be pressed for time, too, but they compensate by hiring more help or outsourcing chores. Poor people can end up trapped in a vicious cycle. To combat this, some interventions are designed to reduce the upfront costs (in terms of money, but also time). Others can be presented at moments when the beneficiaries feel somewhat financially stable. Together, these assists toward a more stable financial future have been shown to be extremely effective, according to a recent review in the journal Behavioral Science & Policy. The article, entitled Overcoming Behavioral Obstacles To Escaping Poverty was commissioned by the Behavioral Science and Policy Association, a group of public and private researchers, policy analysts, and aid agencies committed to exploring the potential of behavioral economics to nudge people in subtle ways that also benefit them. “Even considering just a couple of the most widely and thoroughly researched behavioral science principles, [they have] the potential to improve the effect of development programs and development policies–in some cases pretty dramatically–at little or no cost,” says Christopher Bryan, an assistant professor at University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who coauthored the report. “Once you put in that sort of extra mental effort, it’s often zero or close to zero marginal cost in terms of the actual execution of the policy.” A huge stumbling block for getting assistance, for instance, is paperwork. But offering assistance that saves time and eliminates confusion, by, say, 82
auto-populating forms ahead of time, or offering some sort of automatic enrollment could be an equally powerful incentive: In Morocco, for instance, offering households assistance filling out forms for an interest-free loan for piped-in water increased program participation by 59%. Strategically timing when and where a subsidy is offered can also dramatically affect participation. To increase the rate of health insurance adoption in Tanzania, for instance, advocates have tried targeting cash-transfer points on disbursement days—the place where people are most likely to be flush and optimistic—increasing enrollment by 20%. To that end, some farming improvement groups have learned to approach growers about reinvesting in better seeds or fertilizers for the next year right after their current harvest. That concept, matched with a limited-time discount to take advantage of it, has proven particularly effective, notes the review. In Bogota, Columbia, the distribution of educational subsidies has shifted to be aligned more closely with when that money needs to be spent so it isn’t used for other things, something that has led to higher participation rates among the neediest. Basic reminder prompts for dire situations
that can begin to feel commonplace help, too. As the report notes, the number of HIV patients in rural Kenya who stuck to their medical treatment regimens changed from 40% to 53% with weekly text reminders. Even informal reminders and rewards can be powerful: In Chile, the members of another community improved their ability to generate savings not by tracking interest rates, but by forming a self-help group, where people openly share goals and cheer progress. For Bryan, one of the most surprising findings was how easily some life-improving changes might be implemented. “When people’s attention is so heavily taxed that they simply can’t devote any of it to noticing interesting things that might be useful to them, then something as simple as pointing out what seems obvious to you can be really useful.”
Photo by Ben Dumond on Unsplash.
Soul & Spice
3 TIMES IT’S WORTH BURNING A BRIDGE IN YOUR CAREER
There are times when cutting ties is the best thing to do By Anisa Purbasari Horton
There is certain career advice that just about everyone seems to take as gospel. Always pay your dues, don’t be too picky about your first job, and keep your options open when you start out. The merits of these types of advice have been questioned, debated, and in some cases–even debunked. But there’s one piece of advice that seems to stick: “Whatever you do, avoid burning bridges!” But is this still good advice to follow? After all, we live in a time where job-hopping isn’t considered to be too much of a stigma, and where career changes are commonplace. Not to mention, technology has forced many industries to undergo rapid transformations, which means that layoffs and restructuring are also pretty common among companies. According to HR professional and career strategist Dorianne St Fleur, this advice isn’t always applicable to the modern workplace. She tells Fast Company, “Most of it stems from the way the workforce used to be. The market…we have now, where people can jump around, and they do jump around, it’s not really looked down upon anymore. I don’t think the advice is keeping up with the way the workforce works.” St Fleur began to understand the flaw in the advice that you should avoid to burn a bridge at all cost. Of course, it’s never okay to do anything with malicious intent, and you should always strive to be as professional and as transparent as possible, she 84
asserts. But sometimes, ruffling a few feathers is what it takes to move forward in your career. Here are three instances where it may be worth burning a bridge: 1. YOU ARE EXPERIENCING HARASSMENT, OR THE JOB HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH. “If your health and well-being are in danger, it doesn’t matter if you’re burning bridges,” St. Fleur says. In the ideal world, individuals who are mistreated at work should be able to report their experience, and have the company take appropriate actions. Unfortunately–as we’ve learned from the experiences of several women in tech this year– many times companies don’t do so. This leaves the employee with a choice of putting up with the abuse, or leaving the company and potentially burning some bridges in the process. 2. YOU HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION THAT THE COMPANY MIGHT BE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. If there’s evidence that the company is on thin ice financially–and likely to go out of business soon, it’s probably smart to start planning your next move, even if doing so might upset your employer. “You can read the writing on the wall, they’re not doing well,” St Fleur says. As she pointed out earlier, companies rarely hesitate to let go of employees when they need to cut costs or restructure, so an employee shouldn’t hesitate to protect themselves when they need to. 3. IT’S THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR CAREER. For former attorney turned publicist and Fast Company contributor Kristi A. Dosh, it was
necessary to burn a professional bridge, because if she didn’t do so, she’d be missing out on opportunities for career growth. When Dosh was laid off as an attorney in 2009, one of her partners at the firm connected her with a friend who was a partner at another law firm, and she secured another job straight away. She soon found that it was the opposite of her previous firm. She was micromanaged, and was told to fire a client she bought to the firm who generated $80,000 (KD 24,000) in revenue. After just four months on the job, Dosh left. She wrote, “Traumatic though it was (and still is), it was the best decision I ever made for my career.” St Fleur agrees that if a better career opportunity came along that would be better for you in the long term, you shouldn’t hesitate to take it. “You should be doing things that are in your best interest, and if you leave early, you should never feel bad for making moves for yourself and your family.” HOW TO REBUILD A BURNED BRIDGE It’s important to mention that if you’re ever faced with circumstances that require you to burn a bridge, it is possible to rebuild it. St Fleur says that a lot of times, people assume they can’t mend the relationship, so they don’t even try. But that’s not necessarily true. It is important to give them some distance to heal the wounds, but once sufficient time has passed, she recommends making an effort to touch base. St Fleur urges people to remind themselves, “At the end of the day, these managers, they’re human. They can change their minds.” Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash.
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CAN WE ALL AGREE THAT PLASTIC STRAWS ARE TOTALLY UNNECESSARY? Seattle’s Strawless September By Eillie Anzilotti
We suck. Some of us suck more than others, but really, we all do, or have at some time. We suck because collectively, we toss 28 billion pounds of plastic into the oceans each year. We suck because those bits of floating trash, like six-pack rings and soda bottles, are strangling fish and sea creatures and killing coral reefs from the inside out. We suck because we know all this and continue to buy up and discard plastic anyways. And we suck because there’s one type of single-use plastic in particular that is, when you think about it, totally unnecessary, yet we continue to use: straws. For the month of September, the Lonely Whale Foundation, a clean-ocean advocacy nonprofit set up by actor Adrian Grenier and entertainment entrepreneur Lucy Sumner in 2015, ran a campaign in Seattle to point out just how ridiculous our reliance on straws is. “Across the board, the first question everyone asked us was: Will customers like it?” Plastic straws are made from the petroleum by-product propylene, which is, in larger iterations, recyclable, but because straws are so tiny, they, along with other small items like bottle caps, slip through the cracks in the recycling conveyor belt and end up in landfill, and from there, the ocean. Once in the ocean, that same small size renders them especially pernicious to wildlife–recall the video of a sea turtle with a straw embedded in its face that went viral in the summer of 2015. What the “Strawless September” campaign (part of the Lonely Whale’s larger Strawless Ocean initiative) and its digital leadup, the #StopSuckingchallenge, wanted to prove is that it’s possible for life in a city to go on without plastic straws. The Lonely Whale has coordinated an expansive effort across the city to get restaurants, facilities, and events to trade out plastic straws for paper alternatives, and for customers to say “no, thanks.” “There’s at least 20, if not more, plastic straw campaigns out there already,” Dune Ives, the Lonely Whale’s executive director, tells Fast Company. One, “Be Straw Free” was launched by Milo Cress, then nine years old, who went door to door in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont asking businesses to stop offering straws after he realized that the one he received at a restaurant was unnecessary to his drinking the soda he ordered. “We wanted to find a way into the conversation and add to what all these ocean-health organizations have been doing for years,” Ives says. And what they landed on as a solution was humor. 86
The #StopSucking campaign is a bit tongue-incheek, but the playful approach seems quickly caught on, Ives says. After a successful launch at South By Southwest this year, where a PSA showing straw users being sucker-punched by an octopus tentacle, the Lonely Whale hoped that the challenge to go straw-free caught on in the same way the Ice Bucket Challenge raised millions of dollars to fight ALS since it took off in the summer of 2014. It’s one thing to personally decide against using straws, but it’s another thing altogether for a whole business or city to decide to go plastic-straw free. “Across the board, the first question everyone asked us was: Will customers like it?” Ives says. Paper straws, despite being more sustainable, are relatively uncommon, and have a reputation for not being all that sturdy. But Ives says that they’ve encouraged businesses to have fun with it–to customize the straws with unique designs and logos, and to engage customers in a conversation about why the switch is necessary. Moving away from plastic also presents an opportunity for businesses to explore other alternatives: Seattle-based restaurateur Renee Erickson, for example, has switched to metal straws in all of her ventures.
They’ve encouraged businesses to have fun with it–to customize the straws with unique designs and logos, and to engage customers in a conversation about why the switch is necessary. Seattle made sense as a launch city because as Fred Felleman, Port of Seattle Commissioner, tells Fast Company, it fits in with the city’s overall ambition to be a leader in the environmental sustainability space. The Port, which Felleman oversees and which encompasses both the city’s airport and seaport, “has a basic mission to be the cleanest, greenest, most energy-efficient port in the nation,” he says. Phasing out straws was a natural step, and one that he anticipates will continue beyond the end of the “Strawless September” campaign. Just like Ives hopes that the Strawless September efforts in Seattle got more local business on board, so too does she hope that the plastic-straw effort follows the path of the plastic bag ban, and becomes a movement that spreads out from individual cities and counties before reaching the state level.
Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash.
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BOUCHON BAKERY
Chef Thomas Keller’s Grand Avenue opening By bazaar staff
Who knew that when Thomas Keller first rolled up his sleeves in the kitchens of the Palm Beach Yacht club, he would become one of the most celebrated chefs in the world. This genius culinaire sports 7 Michelin stars under his belt, a Légion d’honneur around his neck and the accolades abound for his restaurants and books. For more than three decades, Chef Keller has received countless awards and sumptuous praise, proving more than anything that he has been at the top of his game. Strolling up the main street of Grand Avenue, it’s easy to spot the latest international eatery to grace Kuwait. They’ve certainly pulled out all the 88
stops (or bouchons, if you may!) and the same interior designer, Adam Tihany, who has been winning adulation for his work with the American born chef since the 1980s, clearly stamps his signature design for this location. That familiar pastel green façade with chestnut wood accents gives off a rustic-chic vibe with interior design reminiscent of a French café, but with a fresh Californian feel to it. There is a brightly colored display of macarons, pastries and tarts, and a blueberry religieuse, which is a wonderful fruity take on the two layered, typically chocolate, choux dessert. It is only just after 8 a.m. and there is an excited buzz around the bakery, as everyone is preparing for the official opening and ribbon cutting in only 4 hours’ time. The finishing touches are coming together, and the press meet and greet is located across from the bakery, on the first floor of the Williams Sonoma. Through an open balcony door, we can observe all that is going on. Chef Keller is making his way over to the interview location and
we can see him stopping graciously for pictures or to sign the Bouchon Bakery cookbook for fans dressed in kitchen whites. As with all things, research gives the best foundation for understanding, but there isn’t really anything that can prepare you for the absolute humility which Chef Keller possesses. He’s barely sat down and there hasn’t been enough time to switch on the memo-app before he begins talking about the talented, young, Kuwaiti chefs that he had the pleasure to share time with the previous day. Feras Alzaid, Faisal Al Nashmi, Zeyad Alobaid and Maryam Al Jasser, some of whose initiatives have already been covered by bazaar, proudly presnting Kuwait's vibrant culinary scene and what they contribute to it. Thomas Keller was kind enough to say how thoroughly impressed he was by them all, the chosen dishes they cooked for him, and stated in no uncertain terms that they are the future of Kuwait cuisine. So how did this journey start? Necessity is the mother of invention, they say, and in 1998
there simply were no restaurants open late at night in Napa Valley; everything closed at 9 p.m. But there was a community of hospitality professionals who also wanted to enjoy a meal out with friends after work, so they founded the Bouchon Bistro which was the first restaurant to be open late at night. As Napa itself became more popular, customers started finding the bistro for themselves, essentially because it was the only thing available, but it started to build a reputation for itself; timing, quality and ideas combining to create the perfect recipe for success. Bouchon Bakery was conceived to supply the bistro and The French Laundry restaurant, both of which required fresh, artisanal and one-of-a-kind breads to serve. Baking twice a day to ensure the offering was always fresh, the menu grew and the bakery became an important establishment in its own right. The brand now exists in 7 locations worldwide, the eighth being the Qatar branch set to open next. bazaar sat down to have a chat with the American chef extraordinaire. What is the one thing that you think is important for the customer in Kuwait to know about Bouchon Bakery? For us, what we want to be is consistent. Consistency in anything you do, is the most important. We want you to be able to come back in six months from now and still have that same experience with that special macaron. Why do you think so many of your teams have longevity within your restaurants? If you do the hiring, training and mentoring of a person in your team correctly and everyone is able to achieve a certain amount of success, then that person should turn out better than you are, because if he or she’s not better than you are then you’ve haven’t done your job. It’s hard for us in our industry though, ego keeps getting in our way. Back in the day when I was starting out it was all about the chef, and in many cases, ego plays an important role in the ability to be successful, but you have to be able to temper your ego so that you can really allow other people to be successful. Is there any advice that you would give to entrepreneurs starting out? In your career, you are who you are because of the things that you’ve done, the experiences that you’ve had, both good and bad. Certainly, the bad ones afford you more opportunity to learn than the good ones, so failure is probably the most important part of your career. If you realize that you’ve failed, then you understand that you need to improve to become really successful. Do you have any advice for the chefs you met yesterday? You are the first generation of Kuwaiti chefs and you need to be able to embrace it, it’s going to take you a while and you have to be strong, but
you have to find that voice, you have to find that collective voice together to be able to express it so people understand what it is you’re trying to do and support it, and then you need to train the next generation. You’ve mentioned that mentors have been influential in your career and your brother Joseph was one of your first. Yes, he taught me how to make a hollandaise sauce, but I don’t know who makes the better one. It’s been a while since we’ve had a “hollandaise sauce off”. When we do, I’ll let you know!
Which is your favorite Bouchon Bakery item? I do have a sweet tooth and my favorite thing is shortbread. Shortbread has always been my favorite cookie. Dine at Bouchon Bakery at the Grand Avenue—The Avenues, opposite Williams Sonoma. Open Sunday to Thursday 9 a.m.-11p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 8 a.m. - midnight. To see the latest at Bouchon Bakery follow @bouchonbakeryme on Instagram and Facebook. Limited signed editions of Chef Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery cookbook are available for sale at Bouchon Bakery at The Avenues. 89
FREEZING POINTS
Nighttime forecast for Mars: Bursts of rapidly falling snow By Amina Khan
Headed to Mars? Remember to pack your snow gear. Turns out that there are snowstorms on the Red Planet at night, according to a new paper. The findings, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, could shed light on the dynamics of the planet’s ancient climate — and reveal that even today, Mars remains a more dynamic world than some scientists expected. Today, the Red Planet seems dusty, rusty and dry, with an atmosphere that’s about 100 times thinner than Earth’s. But scientists say that early in its history, Mars probably looked a lot like Earth, with a thick atmosphere, puffy clouds and liquid water. That’s part of why researchers study Mars — to understand why our next-door neighbor ended up with such a different fate than that of our planetary home. Even now, Mars has some thin clouds, as well as water-ice deposits on and beneath its surface. (It’s cold enough to have carbon dioxide ice deposits too.) A laser instrument on NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander even discovered signs of actual snowfall, years ago. But many scientists figured that whatever the contribution made by snowfall, it was very slow, building up gradually over time. But lead author Aymeric Spiga, a planetary scientist at the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique in Paris, and his colleagues wondered if some other phenomenon was at work. Thanks to data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Global Surveyor, they had noticed strange temperature patterns beneath the Martian waterice clouds that hinted at a surprising amount of air movement in the atmosphere. “It was like the temperature profiles were showing very strong mixing and were representative of very strong winds below the clouds, and it was at night,” Spiga said. The understanding at the time, he added, “was that water-ice clouds on Mars were not supposed to create very strong winds, especially at night, and the winds at night were supposed to be very calm.” After developing models that simulated these temperature patterns, Spiga and his colleagues realized that the natural explanation for these patterns were brief but strong snowstorms, triggered by radiative cooling at night. Snowfall on Mars, it turns out, could be much more dramatic than expected. “It seems quite satisfying that data acquired quite a few years ago from the Phoenix lander can so nicely be explained by the model,” said Paul Mahaffy, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center who was not involved in the work. These snowstorms aren’t quite like those 90
on Earth, Spiga pointed out. For one thing, the “snow” probably isn’t made of delicate, crystalline snowflakes; instead, it’s probably more like tiny chunks of ice just a few micrometers thick. But the snow would be coming down fast, he added — about as fast as during a moderate thunderstorm on Earth. “The amount of water overall is quite small — so you won’t be able to build any snowmen on Mars with that, and you won’t be able to put up a ski station,” Spiga quipped. Still, the fact that so little water in such a thin atmosphere could have such a pronounced effect on the mixing of air shows that far more remains
to be learned about the dynamics of the Martian atmosphere, he said. Understanding the influence of these storms will also help researchers better understand the Red Planet’s dynamics many millions of years ago, when the planet’s axial tilt toward the sun was more pronounced — which meant that the poles received far more sunlight than they did before, resulting in a very different climate. Mahaffy, who leads instruments on NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover and the MAVEN spacecraft, agreed. “It’s a little piece of the puzzle in our understanding of Mars,” he said.
boccini
HIEROGLYPHICS
An important lesson on their existence By Dana Ghazawnah
When we mention the word "Hieroglyphics", our minds take us all the way back to ancient times. Here's everything you need to know about this incredible writing system and how it started. Hieroglyphic writing is a system that employs characters in the form of pictures. Those individual signs, called hieroglyphs, may be read either as pictures, as symbols for pictures, or as symbols for sounds. Egyptian hieroglyphs are among the oldest writing systems in the world, dating back to some 5,200 years. In ancient Egyptian, they are known as the medu netjer, or, “language of the gods” and said to been created by the god of knowledge, Thoth. The word hieroglyph comes from the Greek hiero ‘holy’ and glypho ‘writing’. 92
Hieroglyphs were vital in the fulfillment of royal duties and were used by powerful pharaohs and their scribes to record the achievements of their reign. Today, millions of hieroglyphs in sacred texts, sarcophagi, tombs, and monuments remain as memories of a highly civilized, bygone era. The need to identify a pictorial representation with a royal individual or a specific, unique event, such as a hunt or a particular battle, led to the application of hieroglyphic writing to a monumental context. The script was composed of three basic types of signs: logograms, representing words; phonograms, representing sounds; and determinatives, placed at the end of the word to help clarify its meaning. As a result, the number of signs used by the Egyptians was much higher compared to alphabetical systems, with over a thousand different hieroglyphs in use initially and later reduced to about 750 during the Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BCE).
The inscriptions are found to display different types of information: some of them are numbers, others are believed to indicate the origin of goods, and the most complex show administrative information related to economic activities controlled by the ruler. Other signs found on pottery and stone vessels were used to indicate ownership of their content, probably connected with taxation and other accounting data. In addition, the signs on pottery vessels became increasingly standardized and since these pot-marks are believed to express information about the contents of the vessels (including their provenance), this tendency may reflect a growth in the complexity of record keeping and administrative control. The most ancient hieroglyphs date from the end of the 4th-millennium BCE and comprise annotations incised onto pottery jars and ivory plaques deposited in tombs, presumably for the purpose of identification of the dead.
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'IT' IS STAND BY ME WITH A KILLER CLOWN
Movie review By Michael Phillips
The slick, numbingly relentless new film version of It, adapted from the 1986 Stephen King best-seller and a lot rougher than the 1990 TV miniseries, gets a few things right, in flashes of imagery and in the performances. The opening scene is brutally effective, depicting the little Derry, Maine, resident Georgie meeting his cruel preteen doom at the hands, and teeth, of the malevolent supernatural clown Pennywise, and then dragged at alarmingly high speed down into the sewer. Director Andy Muschietti (born in Argentina, previously known as Andres Muschietti) knows the visceral cinematic value of something wicked this way coming at you, very quickly, herky-jerky style. That was the key to his splendid little short film Mama from 2008, which was then expanded into a 2013 feature. Going into “It,” I hoped we’d get more of that visually suggestive fright. It’s there in a few shots: the initial glimpse of the floaters down below, for example, or the slide carousel running amok and then springing Pennywise, played with formidable, unblinking glee by Bill Skarsgard, off the projection screen and into 94
the faces of the kids he’s trying to scare to death. Those kids are played by some skillful young actors, notably Jaeden Lieberher (“St. Vincent”) as the anguished protagonist Bill. In the prologue his brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) slips out of his life, leaving only a puddle of blood in the street. Bill’s makeshift gang known as “the loser’s club” constitutes a familiar, King-style band of bullied, abused, marginalized teenagers. It’s Stand by Me with a killer clown, a shape-shifting, endlessly versatile scare mechanism tailored to each character’s worst fears. Sophia Lillis plays Beverly, the boys’ lust object, whose incestuous father (Stephen Bogaert, always falling asleep in front of the TV like every bad parent in “It”) has prepared her for evil in many forms. Lillis and Lieberher keep the emotional stakes as high and honest as possible. The screenplay that is credited to Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga (originally set to direct) and Gary Dauberman shaves King’s massive book roughly in half. In this two-hour, 15-minute picture, we’re dealing only with the kids (transplanted from the 1950s to the 1980s), not their adult selves. The sequel promised by the movie’s finale will take place 27 years later. That narrative change works fine in principle. The larger question is one of rhythm, and the diminishing returns of one jump scare after another. Director Muschietti’s film is afflicted by a weird case of clutter; nearly every scene begins
and ends the same way, with a slow build, a vulnerable child in a cellar or an old, dark house, a violent, bloody confrontation (either in the everyday bullying sequences, which are psychotically vicious, or in the Pennywise appearances) leading up to a KAAA-WHUMMMMMM!!!! sound effect. Such familiar tactics will likely ensure a healthy box office return (the movie’s expected to make $70 million (KD 21.1 million) opening weekend), but the result plays like an Olympic hurdles event, with a really, really long track. King knows what he’s doing: Back in 1986, the year “Stand by Me” came out in theaters, “It” put the whammy on millions. He couldn’t lose. Sinister red balloons. The geyser of blood gushing up from the bathroom sink. Coulrophobia, the famous fear of clowns, is money in the bank, as well as a tiring cliche, one the World Clown Association takes seriously. From their recent, sternly worded protest letter: “People dressed as horror clowns are not ‘real clowns.’ They are taking something innocent and wholesome and perverting it to create fear in their audience.” King was hardly the first to exploit that fear factor, and won’t be the last. While Pennywise has been given a fabulous costume (thanks to designer Janie Bryant), and cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung’s smudged interiors and not-quite-blue skies do their part, what do we have here, really? We have a story that feels not so much freshly imagined as dutifully recounted.
elevation
bazaar goes cruising
JAGUAR E-TYPE ZERO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ELECTRIC CAR IN THE WORLD By bazaar staff
Jaguar Land Rover Classic has recently presented an electricpowered Jaguar E-type at the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest that took place at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London from 8 to 10 September. The car, known as E-type Zero, has been restored and converted at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Coventry, UK, not far from where the E-type was born.
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Tim Hannig, Director at Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “E-type Zero combines the renowned E-type dynamic experience with enhanced performance through electrification. This unique combination creates a breathtaking driving sensation. Our aim with E-type Zero is to future-proof classic car ownership. We’re looking forward to the reaction of our clients as we investigate bringing this concept to market.” “In order to seamlessly combine the new electric powertrain of E-type Zero with the dynamic set-up of the original E-type specification, we have limited the vehicle’s power output. We believe this provides the optimum driving experience.” The Jaguar E-type Zero not only drives and looks like an E-type, it also offers outstanding performance. It’s quicker than an original E-type: 0-100km/h (62mph) takes only 5.5sec, about one second quicker than a Series 1 E-type. The E-type Zero vehicle, displayed at Tech Fest, is a restored Series 1.5 Roadster. It’s totally original in specification, apart from its 21st century state-of-the-art powertrain and modified instrumentation and facia – although these are also inspired by the original E-type. LED headlights are also used to achieve energy efficiency. Again, they adopt the styling theme of the original Series 1 E-type. Bespoke electric powertrain An electric powertrain developing 220kW has been specially designed for the E-type Zero. Its lithium-ion battery pack has the same dimensions, and similar weight, to the XK six-cylinder engine used in the original E-type. The experts responsible for developing the electric powertrain have ensured it will be placed in precisely the same location as the XK engine. The electric motor (and reduction gear) lies just behind the battery pack, in the same location as the E-type’s gearbox. A new propshaft sends power to a carry-over differential and final drive. Total weight is 46kg lower than the original E-type. Using an electric powertrain with similar weight and dimensions to the outgoing petrol engine and transmission means the car’s structure, including suspension and brakes, has not changed, simplifying the conversion and homologation. It drives, handles, rides and brakes like an original E-type. Front-rear weight distribution is unchanged. Tim Hannig said: “We have integrated the new electric powertrain into the existing E-type structure, which means a conventional engine could be reinstalled at any point. We think this is essential as it ensures a period Jaguar remains authentic to its DNA.” The XK six-cylinder engine was made from 1949 until 1992, and was fitted to nearly all iconic Jaguar models of that period, including the E-type, XK120, Mk2 and XJ6. The new electric powertrain could be used in any of these vehicles. ‘The most beautiful car ever made’ The E-type, launched in 1961, has regularly been voted the bestlooking car of all time. Even Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made”. E-type Zero’s unique electric powertrain was developed by an electric powertrain specialist in conjunction with Jaguar Land Rover engineers and to a specific brief from Jaguar Land Rover Classic. It uses some technology and components borrowed from the upcoming I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover’s first production all-electric vehicle. The E-type Zero has a ‘real world’ range of 270km (about 170 miles), helped by the low weight and good aerodynamics. It uses a 40kWh battery, which can be recharged from home overnight (typically in six to seven hours, depending on power source). For more information on Jaguar in Kuwait, call 1808010 or visit them at Al-Rai, 4th Ring Road. Check them out online at: www.jaguar-kuwait.com, or follow on social media @JaguarMENA.
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JUNK FOOD
The scent of plastic makes fish think it’s food, new study finds By Amina Khan
If you thought “empty calories” were bad for you, consider this: Plastic is ending up in the bellies of fish and other marine life — and it may not be an accident. A new study finds that anchovies were actually attracted to some kinds of plastic, mistaking it for a tasty meal. The findings, described in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, shed light on a worrisome reason that so much plastic could be ending up in the ocean’s delicate food web — which includes humans. As plastic continues to accumulate in our oceans, scientists are looking at the long-term effects that the man-made material might have on the animals that eat it, and on the animals that eat them. But lead author Matthew Savoca, a marine biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Monterey, Calif., wondered why the animals were eating it at all. “The aspect of the problem that was most interesting to me was, why are these animals making this mistake in the first place?” Savoca said. After all, fish and other marine life have evolved to target specific kinds of food, which should mean they’d avoid plastic entirely — 98
unless the plastic was somehow “tricking” the animals into thinking it was edible. “What we really wanted to do was actually think about this problem from the animal’s perspective,” Savoca said. Some observers have speculated that sea turtles end up munching on plastic bags because they look so much like jellyfish, a regular meal for leatherbacks. But marine creatures often follow their noses rather than their eyes, Savoca said — which might be a counterintuitive concept for humans, who evolved as visual hunters. Savoca and his colleagues tested different odors on wild schools of anchovies that had been caught off the California coast. They made the smells by soaking different substances in seawater: krill (very tiny crustaceans eaten by anchovies); “biofouled” plastic coated in algae and bacteria (which happens when plastic enters the ocean); and clean plastic. “You can sort of think of it as steeping tea, or something, and then presenting the tea to the fish,” he said. Savoca put each flavor of sea-tea into a syringe and injected it into a container holding the swimming anchovies, watching to see how they reacted. (The scientists also used actual krill, in addition to krill-flavored water, in their experiment.)
When the fish sensed the krill-flavored water, they quickly bunched up to focus on the potential food source. They didn’t react that way to the clean plastic, but they did cluster around the biofouled plastic, covered in algae and microbes. So plastic in the ocean could indeed be attractive to fish because of the algae that live on it. Algae give off a sulfuric smell, Savoca said, and many birds and fish have learned this odor signals a tasty meal. “It was surprising how obvious and dramatic their responses were,” Savoca said of the experiment. What happens to fish that eat plastic? And what happens to humans who eat those fish? The effects on marine life of eating plastic aren’t fully known, although researchers have noted certain changes in fish behavior: weakened schooling and a weakened ability to evade predators. It’s possible those responses could be caused by malnutrition, Savoca said, if fish were eating plastic and thinking they were full. Perhaps scientists could design plastic surfaces to keep algae from clinging to them, Savoca suggested. He added that in the meantime, people can reduce the amount of trash going into the oceans by cutting down on single-use plastics.
sutis
WHAT THE WORST RESUMES HAVE IN COMMON Are you making one of these top five mistakes? By Rich Bellis
Recruiters know all too well that not all resumes are created equal. But while the weaker ones land in the rejection pile for lots of different reasons, there are some common themes. Here are a few resume mistakes recruiters say they keep running into. MISTAKE #1: NOT ENOUGH NUMBERS “Anyone can say they are results-driven or a great leader, but we want to see metrics,” says Nicole Hubmann, a recruiter at Webdam, the asset management platform owned by Shutterstock. “It’s the lack of metrics that stands out as a red flag, whether it’s on a resume or in a phone discussion.” Job seekers may feel pressed for space or worry that there’s no single data point they could share about their work history that’s jaw-droppingly impressive. Don’t worry about being impressive, though–focus first on just being specific. “For example,” says Joe Shao, cofounder of talent-acquisition platform PerfectLoop, “I might read a line such as, ‘consistently exceeded sales quota.’ That’s forgettable. Then I jump on the phone and learn what they meant was, exceeded sales quota 220% in 2017, becoming the top salesperson in the company.’ That is much more compelling to me and hiring managers.” If you don’t provide enough metrics, you may never even get to that phone screener where you can explain to a recruiter why they matter. MISTAKE #2: BAD FORMATTING OR TOO LONG Resumes need to look pretty–not because recruiters are interested in your aesthetic sense but because they care how you organize information. David Lewis, CEO of HR consultancy OperationsInc, runs through some of the most common offenders: “Font is too small. Font is too large. Oldest job listed first. Resume is too long.” Hubmann explains why these misfires matter: “We are looking for candidates who want to be part of a winning culture that is results-oriented and performance-driven. A candidate who is self-aware enough to understand their impact is more likely to give concise, clear examples on their resume.” MISTAKE #3: RELEVANT SKILLS ARE TOO HARD TO FIND Kari Guan, a recruiter at the apartment rental finder Zumper, says that in weak resumes candidates typically fail to “list any experience that is translatable to the role they’re applying for. This might sound fairly obvious but it happens more than you’d think, and makes me think they didn’t read the job description.” In other words, explaining your top overall job skills is one thing, but highlighting the ones that make you
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competitive for a specific role is another thing entirely. Guan says this is true even for entry-level roles, where candidates may not think they have much work experience that counts as “relevant.” Even then, she says, “If they’re a recent grad, I always appreciate including a note about a personal experience they’ve had that’s applicable to the role and I might not otherwise know about.” MISTAKE #4: THERE’S NO CLEAR NARRATIVE Says Shao, “The thing that I see all the time is that candidates miss their chance to tell their most compelling narrative. It’s especially common for a certain type person who isn’t great at self-promotion. But it is a resume,” he says–“This isn’t an Instagram selfie at some party, it’s actually an appropriate time to brag factually. If you don’t, you might lose the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager.” Many think the time to do that is in their cover letter, but the fact is that many recruiters don’t even read those. So you need to show how your experiences have built upon one another and that you’ve grown as a result. “For tech, we are not seeking consultants,” says Hubmann. “Instead, we look for someone who has experience working with a team on an evolving product. Often, consultants produce an app or a website and then move on to the next project, never having to deal with the
impact of their product on the customer or the company. We want someone who has been through the long haul with customers and understands the importance of integrity in the product.” So make sure your resume is a clear story about your progression, and not, as Lewis puts it, “a summary of [your] career greatest hits, with mention of what occurred at the end in a smaller section.” And whatever you do, he adds, never list your oldest job first. MISTAKE #5: IT’S SUSPICIOUSLY VAGUE OR JUST BORING Sometimes resumes stand out for what they don’t say. Lewis says one hallmark of a crappy resume is that the dates of employment are either year-ranges only, like “2012–2014,” without any months, or leave off those dates altogether. That may be a sign that a candidate is trying to mask a history of job-hopping or a long stretch of unemployment. But for Guan, vague, generic qualifications often mean passing up a candidate for another reason: “When the responsibilities they list are too general, there’s nothing that grabs me and makes me interested in learning more about the person.” Recruiters are people, too, and reviewing resumes can be dull work. If you can’t get them excited to find out more about you, they’ll find someone who can.
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YOU ARE BEING EXPLOITED BY THE ALGORITHM-DRIVEN ECONOMY
Online shoppers are totally oblivious to the actual forces controlling their reality By Ben Schiller
Is internet shopping like The Truman Show–a movie about a man who thinks himself free, but whose life is actually controlled by a TV producer? Are we online consumers like Truman Burbank, hopelessly and blissfully naive while titanic companies control our fate? Are the prices we pay online a function of a competitive market, or are our choices framed in ways we don’t quite fathom? These provocative questions are posed in a fascinating book about how platform internet companies (Amazon, Facebook, and so on) are changing the norms of economic competition. Virtual Competition: The Promise and Perils of the AlgorithmDriven Economy argues that these companies, with their immense data advantage, are effectively making their own rules in the marketplace, beating back new market entrants, and disadvantaging customers. As the internet took off in the 1990s, it was said, by some dreamy-eyed commentators, to be a giant-killing, democratic medium–a sort of antiWalmart. You could start a business from your bedroom. You could win a $100 million in venture capital while still in your bathrobe. The internet was to emancipate commerce and to embody Adam Smith’s “invisible hand”–the beneficial, and mutual, economic effect that comes from people acting aggressively in their own self-interest. “We have no idea about how, and the extent to which, we are being exploited.” In Virtual Competition, economists Ariel Ezrachi and Maurice Stucke document the subtle ways the invisible hand is becoming what they call a “digitized hand” with platforms playing gatekeeper roles. “The invisible hand of competition was replaced by algorithms that structure an environment that might look exactly the same [as the real world] but in essence are very different,” says Ezrachi, a professor of competition law at the University of Oxford, in an interview. “In the online environment, our reality is manmade. What you see is like The Truman Show.” Or, as the authors say in the book: “We, like Truman, may think that we’re ordinary consumers with ordinary lives with unremarkable purchases. We have no idea about how, and the extent to which, we are being exploited.” Traditionally, when companies acted anticompetitively, they formed cartels in back rooms to agree on prices instead of competing to see which could have the most affordable product. On the internet, competition and competition law is perverted in several new ways, Ezrachi and Maurice Stucke argue. 102
First, computers are trained to track and respond to market conditions. Amazon, with its 80 million Prime subscribers, dynamically adjusts its prices every few minutes to match other retailer’s prices. Uber raises prices in surge periods, allegedly obeying laws of supply and demand on its grid (the balance of drivers and passengers) but in a way that’s opaque to the outside world. Second, platforms engage in behavioral techniques (“discrimination”) tailoring offerings to different customers. Armed with data about you, they change prices (or discounts) to reflect who is shopping, adjusting based on where you live, when you shop, how often you visit a site, what you’ve bought in the past, and even what device you use. Someone surfing on a MacBook as opposed to an Android smartphone may be charged more. And third, internet companies co-operate in partnerships online, being both rivals and collaborators (“frenemies”). Ezrachi and Stucke expect companies to deepen their abilities to understand marketplace dynamics, even to the point of predicting what their rivals will do in the future. They sketch a scenario where companies together have a “God-like view” of the market (the phrase is from a mode in the Uber app available
to the company) to the point of being able to peer into entire supply chains. They may know that a competitor has ordered extra stock for the Christmas season, and react with their own purchases to keep up. Moreover, as computers begin to learn-bydoing, they’ll develop the artificial intelligence to automatically adjust prices and offers, effectively taking over some managerial decision-making. The computers will collude by rapidly pricing off one another, in effect fixing prices without human intervention. A new generation of trustbusting intellectuals, mostly on the left, but also on the right, has called for the government to update its views on how competition is promoted, arguing that the internet throws up unprecedented problems. Amazon, for instance, is criticized for its dual role as retailer and marketplace for other merchants. “The concern for small and medium sized enterprises is that if a majority of us are using Amazon, and they are selling on Amazon, it is able to exert market power in its relationships with sellers. It means they use that [power] to sell something directly because they’re vertically integrated and able to push out other sellers,” Ezrachi says.
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bazaar goes dining
SOUL AND SPICE
Contemporary Indian dining in the heart of the city By bazaar staff
When it comes to shopping and dining in the city, there are endless options on the horizon. From the streets of the old Mubarakiya souq, to the amazing new high-rises that grace Kuwait city’s skyline, you’re truly never at a loss for choice. What does one do, however, when they’ve got a crazy hankering for contemporary Indian cuisine (Who could ever resist it?), but can’t handle the outside heat? You simply head to Arraya Complex and let the Zen vibes take over. You look at the charmingly merchandized shop windows and indulge in a few key pieces you’ve been coveting for some time. Then, take a leisurely jaunt over to the sleek and modern Marriott Courtyard for an incredible meal at Soul and Spice—the specialized Indian eatery that serves up delectable dishes showcasing the nation’s rich culinary landscape. Before you walk through the sleek, modern façade of Soul and Spice, you can’t help but stop at the entrance to admire the beautiful regalia they’ve got on display on a contemporary console, a playful hint at the culinary experience that is soon to follow. Walk through the doors, and let the warm and inviting vibes take over. Shades of dark red and royal blue are cleverly juxtaposed against earthy tones. Glamorous chandeliers elegantly showcase the rich mahogany wood paneling along one wall, and towards the back of the restaurant you can see the open kitchen through glass panels to watch the action taking place. Tandoori grills are fired up, you take your seat, and let the festive feast ensue. At Soul and Spice, you can opt to go down the classic route of ordering separate appetizers and mains, but you can also order a bunch of dishes from different parts of the restaurant’s varied menu to share with your loved ones. Because this establishment is all about cooking from the soul, we thought we’d share in this special spirit as well. The first dish we tried, the Dahi Puri Chat, offered Indian street food with panache. Our eyes eagerly danced over the clever presentation of this classical favorite that is comprised of crisp Puri rolls seasoned with handmade spices gently placed over mashed sweet potato and lentil and finished with a generous tamarind glaze. Perhaps what we love most about Soul and Spice is the exquisite, modern presentation of 104
international ingredients that are expertly prepared using traditional techniques. From the tandoor oven, we opted for classics like chicken but prepared with two different marinades: Mint and coriander, and classically spiced. The result, bold flavors that beautifully warmed the soul. Then came the amazing modern option of the Tandoori Phool, where crunchy broccoli florets are flavored with garlic, chat masala, and lemon juice and fired up in the tandoor oven. Not only were we surprised at this clever offering, but we thought that it paired wonderfully with our succulent pieces of chicken because the contrast in texture was beyond pleasing, and the broccoli was a hearty change to traditional rice. An important note that is truly worthy of mention is the impeccable presentation of all of the dishes at Soul and Spice. They say that you eat with your eyes first, and as soon as each dish came to our table, our eyes lingered at the artfully plated dishes. Don’t be fooled into thinking that modern presentation means a lack of flavor, as our tandoor offerings were well-seasoned, and the flavors sang together. Still craving some seafood, next came several delightful shrimp-based dishes that were complemented with Bhindi Singhada—cubed okra pieces with water chestnut and julienned ginger, all of which are presented with a charred chili rested on top of this mix. We fell in love with this hearty vegetarian offering, from texture, presentation to flavor. As for satisfying that intense craving for shrimp, we cooled down our palates by taking bites out of the super zesty and fresh Jhinga Aur Makhanphal Salad, a yummy concoction of prawns, avocado, mango and orange. To heat things up again, we switched the cool salad with the crunchy and delicious Tilwali Jhinga. Finished off with a sesame crust, the tiger prawns in this dish also came with a scrumptious tomato chutney. Because we went for a long and leisurely lunch at Soul and Spice, we really had no room left for dessert! However, a quick scan of the menu quickly had us planning our next visit. Who could ever resist the thought of Masala Chai-infused Crème Brulee? If it’s classics that you’re craving, then you can rest easy at Soul and Spice. From favorites like Biryani, Butter Chicken, and your favorite lamb dishes, the menu at this establishment will take you on a wondrous culinary journey across India but with a globalized modern presentation. From reimagined tandoor using broccoli and Hammour to a cozy, hearty Dal Makhni, our tummies, and souls, were satisfied at Soul and Spice.
Soul and Spice is located in Marriott Courtyard, in Kuwait City on Shuhada Street. Join them for lunch or dinner by calling 2299 7000 for reservations. Photography by Muneera Alkhulaifi, @I9ora on Instagram. 105
bazaar eats in
A TASTY TRADITION
Putting the “Fat” in “Fatteh” with Fattet Baba
By bazaar staff
What makes a good fatteh? If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that we at bazaar are completely obsessed. We stem from households that pride themselves in their fatteh making – Palestinean, Lebanese, Egyptian… fatteh is a welcome staple in all of our households. So when we heard that Nour AlKawass – a fellow creative whom we know and love dearly for all her contributions and vibrant spirit – was introducing her Syrian style fatteh under the name Fattet Baba to the community, we had two thoughts: “I’ve never had Syrian fatteh!” and “A fatteh recipe passed on from generations?” All in all, sign us up! We agreed to have our fatteh in the company of the lovely maker of this masterpiece. Am I giving too much away already? Well, that’s only because this dish was so good that it deserves all orchestras playing high praise to its deliciousness and decadence – but I digress. Nour arrives at our offices at a quaint 10:30 on a Wednesday morning to join us for a fatteh brunch. She greets us good naturedly as she waltzes into our office warmly, holding a huge platter of fatteh in an aluminum pan. I can barely contain my excitement upon picturing what’s 106
inside, but I know better, being a skilled and responsible food writer! Swatting away the team that shares my enthusiasm and intrigue, I firmly say, “pictures first, food later.” We convene upstairs to snap some photos and chat about Nour’s journey with Fattet Baba – because with a name like that, we know there must be a story! “My father, who I’m very close to, was always known for his Syrian-style fatteh recipe. Two years go, we were in an AUK market-style event called ‘I Need My Space’, and it was just a hobby. We’ve reintroduced it this year after some time off, during the last days of Ramadan. We held a suhoor, and it was a hit!” Indeed, it was, because we kept hearing about this fatteh from all over the creative community. Soon after the suhoor, Nour hosted a brunch at ArtSpace, where the fatteh’s appearance was once again, the talk of the town. “During that brunch, I also sent my dad home because he was tired. He’d been doing everything in the past events, but by that point, I knew what I was doing! So that’s what Fattet Baba is, essentially. My dad’s recipe and guidance, but I’m the one doing the cooking now,” she says with a proud smile. So, does Nour’s rendition of her father’s famous fatteh make the cut? As you may guess due to the overzealous spoiler a couple of paragraphs above, smitten doesn’t even begin to express the feelings of indulgent joy we felt upon taking a few bites of fatteh. When revealed, the fatteh appeared similar to what my Palestinian upbringing
was used to, laden with ripe chickpea and topped with pine nuts, parsley and pomegranate for good measure of color. But that bite – this is something different. An overwhelming taste of ghee exploded onto my tongue and I was in love. “OH MY GOD!” was the first thing that came out of my mouth in a slightly uncouth matter, between bites of possibly the best fatteh I’ve ever had in my life (I sincerely hope that my mother isn’t reading this.) Nour sits perched on the table with a satisfied grin on her face. She knows exactly what this fatteh is doing to us, and as we each help ourselves to yet a second bowl, for the first time in Eats In history, she knows she’s done her father proud. “Fattet Baba is a passion project, meant to inspire kids to be closer – no, no thank you, I don’t want a bowl. Sa7tein! Enjoy!” She says, as I interrupt her thought, insisting for her to sample the magic that she’s brought into our office. “Our parents have all these great traditions and if we don’t carry them on, who will?” I agree wholeheartedly – especially if those traditions taste as good as Mr. AlKawass’ fatteh. Editor’s Note: A third serving of fatteh happened at the time of writing of this article. Fattet Baba can be ordered via Instagram @fattetbaba. You also might find the pop-up in markets and events as the season approaches! Follow them on Instagram for the latest updates!
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SAY HELLO TO REAL CHICKEN, KUWAIT!
Elevation Burger brings the real taste of chicken to Kuwait By bazaar staff
Who says that chickens can’t fly? Elevating chicken to soaring new heights comes Elevation Burger with a whole new menu section dedicated to their 100% USDA-certified organic, cage-free, halal chicken. Always committed to bringing you the best quality ingredients, it is right that the expectations for the chicken should be stratospheric, and trust us when we say that they do not disappoint. The wait is finally over, as the previously sold out chicken is back on the menu at Elevation Burger. Word has it that people loved the initial offerings so much, that it sold out in under a month! Now that the chicken menu is back, we finally had our chance to try it! As the weather is getting a little cooler, bazaar took advantage of the gorgeous Al Bida'a Elevation Burger location to enjoy the new menu items. This venue has loads of outdoor seating lined with gorgeous little street lamps, as well as a spacious interior, so it’s relaxing to spend time here. Perusing the menu listings, it looks simple but there are so many ways you can have your chicken! As well as burgers, there are chicken tenders and both options are made of 100 percent chicken breast. Experiencing the tenders is where you really can appreciate the chicken at its finest. The breadcrumbed chicken is moist and easy to bite into. 108
You may also like to dip the grilled chicken tenders into the honey mustard sauce or tantalizingly tasty barbecue sauce that also comes as a choice of dip. ‘Chicken your way’ means that you can have your chicken burger plated with all the freshest ingredients of your liking; sauces, tomatoes, pickles…it is all there. Luckily Elevation Burger really knows what tastes delicious so they’ve thought up some great combinations already for you. ‘The Original’ chicken burger comes with ranch, pickles and shredded lettuce. The lettuce is so fresh that you can hear the crunch as you bite into the burger. It’s less of a ‘burger’ actually and more of a sandwich of two-pieces of thick, fillet of chicken breast which you can have grilled, or bread-crumbed. Inside, a substantial slice of real cheddar has been artfully placed to melt over all the chicken so you get a full flavor combination with each and every bite. As a cheese fan, it was more than a pleasant surprise to be able to detect the taste of the cheddar coming through, because the flavor of the chicken is so subtle. The sharpness of the pickle really sits well alongside the cheddar so it’s a very satisfying choice. The original sandwich was tried with the glutenfree bread-crumbed chicken too and the way this coating is seasoned is delicious! The expert Elevation Burger staff next switched up the cheese to the Swiss cheese option on the original chicken burger choice. This brought out an altogether different and enjoyable flavor profile, as the almost nutty cheese combined with the seasoned bread-crumbed fillet provides taste notes that were not previously
experienced. The lovely thing about Swiss cheese is that it keeps its pull for longer than cheddar, so you get to see those satisfying strings of melted cheese with each and every bite. Then, we decided to dip into a sassy little offering with the ‘Spicy Sriracha’ burger. A chunky slice of whole, flavorsome, fresh tomato sits in the in-house Sriracha sauce. You choose again between grilled organic chicken breast, or coated with a subtly spiced, gluten-free light breadcrumb, and your cheese of cheddar or Swiss. The sauce has a warmth to it that envelops the taste-buds with pure deliciousness, so do take a walk on the spicy side and give this one a go! All the burgers come in a potato bun with a texture strong enough to hold everything together but light enough so that you can squeeze the burger down to get a bigger bite of your sandwich. If you prefer an even lighter option though, you can of course order the chicken burger wrapped in Iceberg lettuce leaves. If you haven’t tried chicken from a burger specialist like Elevation Burger before, then you simply must. This is real chicken like you have never tasted before! The sandwich flavors are subtle, well combined, and you’re left feeling fully satisfied. Definitely something you should cock-a-doodle-do! Elevation Burger is available in eight locations across Kuwait! Find the locations and their latest updates on Instagram @elevationkw and on Facebook Elevation Burger – Kuwait.
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@PinkberryME /PinkberryMiddleEast
TRAVELEYE TASTES VALENCIA
The Bobal experience By Faris Almussallam
During my last trip to Spain, I decided to go to Valencia. Although it is Spain’s third largest city, it doesn’t get enough attention as its flashier siblings: Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Marbella. Being the curious traveler that I am, I booked my flights and set off to discover the city. In general, I found the city extremely vibrant culturally, with a buzzing art scene. One aspect of the city that cannot be overlooked is its cuisine. This, coupled with the overall warmth of the locals, engenders a dining experience that is elevated yet humble at the same time. There was one evening in Valencia where I had some free time and I didn’t feel like staying in. So, I did a bit of research online and found an interesting restaurant not far from where I was staying, Bobal, which bills itself as a Mediterranean restaurant. Once again, I got a typical Valencian welcome, friendly and down to Earth, as if they were welcoming a real friend, and was shown to my table. It was quite quiet, as I had gotten there very early by Spanish standards (dinner is usually had at around 10 p.m. in Spain). I took some time to figure out the menu, as there were quite a few options, and they were also proactive in asking if I had any dietary requirements. They were flexible enough to replace the pork ingredients with something else, a mark of a real hospitable restaurant, not because of bogus “customer service” claims, but it’s a mini challenge to the chef to see if it can make the dish work without the original ingredients. Saying that, I would never request that a pork steak be replaced by a beef one, I would just opt for something else. But perhaps if something had bacon bits, then perhaps it could be done with something else. They have an a la carte menu, and also a set menu, which I chose from with some modifications. The journey started with a marinated sardine with Valencian tomato, onion, and local herbs. This was then followed with fruits de mer with squid ink sauce, followed by gratin cod with allioli of apple and a “soft” soup of garlic and seafood. To continue, I went on to the crispy roll stuffed with goat cheese and smoked beef with compote of pears. The dish after this, I must admit, didn’t fit with the rest of the meal, and wasn’t of the same quality, but was edible nonetheless. This was the milk-fed lamb that was slow cooked at a low temperature with apple marmalade and a thyme flavored sauce. To finish, I was presented with the “dulce final” (i.e. sweet ending) which consisted of a melon sorbet with watermelon foam, black 110
chocolate with pralines and white chocolate, and a goat's cheese based cheesecake with pear ice cream with apple sauce. This place was absolutely amazing, and well worth going to. I loved the warm service and attention from the staff, and the creativity of the dishes, as well as the care that went in to craft and present them. I’ll definitely be visiting
Valencia again, and when I do, I’ll be sure to pass by Bobal for another unforgettable meal. Keep up to date with Faris’ journeys around the world by visiting his website: www.traveleye.net, and follow him on Instagram @travel.eye, and on Facebook: Gotraveleye. Follow his YouTube channel @TraveleyeGlobal.
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GLOBAL DESI
Asha’s worldly creative cuisine By bazaar staff
There’s no doubting that the taste of India is all pervasive and you can see influences across the globe from curries being the No. 1 dish in the UK to the popular biriyanis right here in Kuwait. In their new Global Desi menu, Asha’s brings you a world of new dishes. They have taken the very best of traditional fare that we know and love and successfully put the Asha’s twist on it. You are in for a journey where diverse flavor profiles complement and lift each other to deliver astounding new taste and texture sensations. The glorious royal colors of the interior of Asha’s at the Boulevard is a portent of the rich deliciousness to come and it is thrilling to sit down in this wonderfully luxurious environment. Chairs are furnished in a plush velvet paisley pattern and others display a devoré velvet backing. The deep-purple velvet sofas create a booth-like seating situation and their edges slightly wrap around those seated which creates a feeling of privacy, but you’re still visible to the attentive servers. While we perused the new menu, we nibbled on an appetizer of three dips and papad. But there is nothing standard about this particular offering. As well as the expected green mint chutney and spicy mixed pickle with chunks of mango seed, the homemade Asha’s exclusive sweet papaya pickle is a recipe secret they keep only to themselves, so you will have to visit any Asha’s to give this a try. To whet the appetite and cleanse the palate it is suggested to try one of the most popular drinks available. Half a huge strawberry placed in a well of half a passion fruit sits atop a crushed ice medley of strawberry, passion fruit, rose water, lemon juice and topped with 7-Up. This mocktail is beautifully put together and the passionfruit really comes through. Probably because they are clever enough to provide you with a straw which allows you to suck up the whole seeds, so this adds to the taste experience. Of the 10 new dishes on the menu we decide to go for 4 which represent four areas of the world well-known for their food; America, Italy, UK and the Caribbean. First to the table is the Makhani Mac and Cheese. Each of the four mac and cheese balls are exactly the same size, so there’s no fighting over who gets the biggest as we’ve decided to share this main dish. The bread-crumbed exterior crunches open with a silver fork and the hot, gooey, cheesy macaroni oozes out with steam rising to reveal chunks of chicken tikka enveloped in this comforting concoction. A side sauce of Makhani Marinara is 112
made up of a cream of tomato with fenugreek and adds to this indulgent experience. Next we cross over the pond to the traditional UK treat of Fish and Chips with a Masala makeover. A stack of perfectly cooked fish sits next to a pile of the fluffiest chunky chips imaginable and a twist of a tartar sauce with its foundation of labnah. It can only be the delicately spiced coating that is keeping this golden-brown fried hammour fillet together, because as soon as you bit into it, the fish just melts in your mouth and you luxuriate in the feeling as well as the various masala flavors that come through. This is such a light meal that you don’t feel bad about gobbling down each and every last chip on the plate! As we’re in Europe already, we saunter up to Italy with a big bowl of steaming risotto and a pile of prawns placed in the middle. This was a recommendation by the servers and we are so glad they did. The Burnt Garlic Risotto Khichdi is tomato based with parmesan running through the sauce to create a rich texture but stays true to the vegetable’s fresh taste. The prawns are seared to perfection and the tender shellfish are easy to bite through. This particular risotto surpasses expectation, and despite its large serving for such a dish, leaves you feeling comfortably replete. Last but not least we journey to the Caribbean and this is a plate that looks bountiful with pure goodness. Brimming with chunks of lamb, there is a subtle taste difference to a Caribbean curry that is so particular to these tropical islands. Asha’s has carefully created a Quorma blend that embraces the migrant Indian influence on this traditionally goat dish. The jasmine rice could almost be a dish by itself with kidney and black beans running through this daily staple. This herbed side is delightfully tasty and sits well with the green salad that also comes with this menu option. The salad’s freshness perfectly cuts through the sauce of the curry and it’s a very well balanced meal. To finally return home, we’re brought what is typically the drinks order of the day in Kuwait. This is the new take on Lemonade and Mint. What Asha’s has added is ginger and this freshens up the whole thing completely! As we stir this mocktail with our straw we can see bits of ginger, lemon and mint floating in the luscious liquid and when we try it, wow is this fresh! The new Global Desi menu is certainly a journey that is worth taking the time to explore and enjoy. The service at Asha’s is impeccable, extremely attentive and the environs always charming. Where will your taste buds take you next?
Asha’s new menu is available at all Asha’s locations; The Boulevard lakefront, Marina Crescent, The Avenues, Spoons (Mahboula) and 360 MALL. For more on the dishes available at the restaurants and the latest updates, follow @ashasmiddleeast on Instagram and Facebook. Enjoy your favorite dishes from Asha's within the comfort of your own home and enjoy their dedicated delivery service either by calling 1852 852 or order through Talabat.com. 113
NOW THAT’S A REAL SANDWICH We feast at The Untitled Deli
By bazaar staff
When we first heard that The Untitled Deli was opening, we were super intrigued. Most of us had lived abroad for a while, and knew of classic delicatessen sandwiches consisting of Russian dressing, salt beef, smoked meat, rare roast and rye bread with hot mustard very well. And of course, you can’t have any of that without a huge dill pickle and a cherry coke, right? So after looking into the Untitled Deli’s prospects, we were overjoyed to know that partners Nima Algooneh and Muneer Hanbali were also passionate about the build, standard and authenticity of meaty deli sandwiches, and had decided to enforce their belief system onto the enthusiastic tummies of Kuwait, teaching them a thing or two about proper meat-filled sandwiches. We walk into The Untitled Deli, and the space is small, yet extremely welcoming. There’s a counter where you can see the meat carvers, servers and sandwich builders dancing around jovially to the old-time jazz playing in the background, expertly carving freshly brined, cooked and smoked meat to perfection, and gaily calling out names of sandwiches while sliding them onto the counter on plates heaped with bread and meats alongside portions of potato salad, coleslaw, and the essential pickle. Coupled with steam wafting from the authentic range of meat cookery, (a steamer, a smoker et al), and the mouthwatering aroma of quality beef, it is truly every carnivorous being’s dream come true. Choosing what to eat would’ve been difficult if we hadn’t been sent with a recommended list of sandwiches to try. We were requested by Muneer and Nima to try out the Salty Pete, a Roast, the Mountain, and the Rachel, so we decided to stick to our instructions and put in our order. Our sandwiches make their way to the counter one by one, and we start off with a Salty Pete: piles of salt beef topped with hot English mustard and pickles, wedged between a locally sourced, soft and accommodating bagel. At first bite, this sandwich is overwhelming – but once you get past the initial pile of beef and hit the part with the pickle, that’s when the taste floods in! This salt beef is just asking to be paired with a pickle, guys. For even more fabulous results, alternate with a bite of the dill that comes with every sandwich, alongside your choice of chips, potato salad or coleslaw. Next up, the Roast: that praised rare roast beef paired with Swiss cheese and Mesopotamian red pepper Ajvar paste on pillow-soft sourdough bread. This sandwich brought automatic smiles to our 114
faces, and we were automatically so glad that we made the last minute switch. In fact, this sandwich was so good, we were only slightly polite about fighting over its remnants. But we couldn’t get too full on the Roast, because it was Rachel time! The Rachel, traditionally a sister to the classic Reuben sandwich, was constructed of pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw (rather than sauerkraut) and Russian dressing on rye bread. Another winner in our books, especially since the in-house-made coleslaw at Untitled is lemony and light. It only added to each satisfying bite the sandwich offered. And last but not least, we ventured onto MY personal favorite, the Mountain. It seemed to bring a nice combination of so many elements that not only make sandwiches good, but that make Untitled’s sandwiches stellar: Medium rare roast beef, Swiss cheese, rocket, house-pickled red onion, horseradish mayo all on that soft, soft SOURDOUGH ROLL. Not only did it deliver an electric taste, this sandwich had a much softer bite to it. Don’t get me wrong, all the others were amazing, but their overwhelming mounds of meat could potentially slide out and land on your lap without warning – but
not the Mountain! Everything was so nicely compact and risk free. Definitely a winner if you’re dining in, and not in the safety of your living room couch in front of Netflix. Needless to say, we were stuffed after our sandwich adventure. That of course, didn’t stop us from ordering more sandwiches to take home to our loved ones in order to share the experience. Right now, it’s only take-away and dine-in, including the option to take home grams of freshly carved meats of your choice they have on offer to add to your athome deli meats stash. If you do opt to takeaway a sandwich, expect Nima and Muneer to butt in and curate the whole thing in order to guarantee quality. It must’ve worked, because it was reported back to me later that the “recommended-to-pressat-home” Roast was just as good three hours after its creation, and that the Mountain made for an excellent midnight meal. Head over to Pearl Marzouq complex next to The Scientific Center and get yourselves a sandwich! Follow The Untitled Deli on Instagram @theuntitleddeli, and check out their website at www.theuntitleddeli.com.
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HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PRODUCTIVITY
When I started eating breakfast By Michael Grothaus
If eating breakfast won’t make you healthier, maybe it will at least make you more productive. In order to find out, I spent two weeks eating breakfast every day (after abstaining for almost five years) to see if I’d get any kind of productivity boost. For my unscientific study, I continued to drink my normal morning cup of coffee, but I added typical breakfast foods like eggs, toast, fruits, and sometimes even sugary cereal. Here’s what happened: I INSTANTLY FELT MORE READY TO START THE DAY Sure, my usual cup of coffee always gives me a kick in the morning that wakes me up and helps me focus on all the work I need to get done, but when I added food, my morning jump-start felt less like a “kick” and more like an energy steadily growing in me. “That’s not surprising,” is what nutritionist, hypnotherapist and life coach Kimi Sokhi told me when I relayed my experiences. “Our brains need fuel to work. When you eat, you give your body and brain the fuel they need to operate.” And this food fuel is vastly different than the caffeine kick coffee gives us. “Coffee and black tea do contain caffeine, which stimulates our body into being more alert. However, the more you rely on coffee in the morning or throughout the day, the more you’re putting your body in a state of ‘fight or flight’ instead of its natural state of ‘rest and digest’.” Sokhi says that if you want to get an even bigger breakfast boost, swap out your coffee for a large glass of warm lemon water with a teaspoon of turmeric. “Lemon juice is a great way to flush your system first thing in the morning. It also helps detoxify the liver.” NOT ALL BREAKFAST FOODS ARE CREATED EQUAL On days I had a bowl of cereal (my favorite is Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs) I did feel really alert when I sat down and started working. However, I then usually found myself hungry again in a few hours and also felt tired and run down around the same time, which led to me constantly looking at the clock to see when I could bolt for lunch. “That’s not surprising either,” Sokhi says. “Having sugar and refined carbohydrates does boost our blood sugar levels very high, but only to fall quickly, sending us into a sugar low. That leads us to have hunger cravings for more sugar and carbs. The same applies for any snack or meal. Ever notice how you feel sleepy after a very heavy pasta lunch? It’s the same principle.” Matter of fact, Sokhi says if you aren’t going to eat a nutritious breakfast, you may be better off skipping it entirely. 116
THE BEST “PRODUCTIVITY” BREAKFAST FOODS ARE PROTEINS AND COMPLEX CARBS When I switched from those delicious sugary cereals to more nutritious foods like fruit, oatmeal, or eggs and whole wheat toast I didn’t get that “awake kick” I got when eating cereal, but I still felt more ready to start work. I also noticed I didn’t get that sluggish feeling or get hungry again until well in the afternoon, which enabled me to concentrate more on my work. “That makes complete sense,” says Sokhi. Having a healthy, balanced meal with fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats will keep you full for a lot longer and give you sustained energy for several hours instead of a sharp sugar spike.” As for what to eat, Sokhi says a combination of proteins and complex carbohydrates is ideal for breakfast. That includes things like eggs, Greek yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, and green smoothies. Just avoid the cereals with cartoon mascots. “A sugary breakfast with frosted flakes will spike your blood sugar levels and will likely lead to a sugar crash midmorning, leaving you feeling tired and sluggish.” I FELT LESS STRESSED Perhaps the biggest change I noticed to my productivity when I started eating breakfast was that I felt both less stressed and overwhelmed at
the tasks that laid before me each day. I still had the same amount of tasks to complete as I normally did, but the internal chaotic mad dash to finish them didn’t materialize in my mind. Sokhi says this is the most interesting of my observations–yet no surprise once you understand the science behind how food fuels our brain and affects our mental state of mind. “Food can greatly impact our moods and mental health. When our body and brain are starved, we can start of feel low in energy, foggy, and easily overwhelmed,” she notes. “Our brains need glucose to survive, and when you skip a meal (such as breakfast) and your body goes into starvation mode your cognitive function along with attention and memory take a nose-dive. Our mood is also affected when we skip meals. Ever felt ‘hangry’ when you haven’t eaten all day? Our neurotransmitters that impact mood are affected when meals are skipped, so it’s not surprising that having a healthy breakfast leads you to feel more in control and less overwhelmed in related to your tasks at hand.” So, after two weeks of eating breakfast again, I’m a believer in its positive effects on my productivity–as long as I’m eating nutritious breakfast foods. But as I found, eating a nutritious breakfast can take no more time to prepare than that bad bowl of sugary cereal does. Photo by STIL on Unsplash
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THIS POP-UP RESTAURANT TRAINS REFUGEE CHEFS
This Brooklyn spot is serving up delicious food for an amazing cause By Ben Paynter
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The menu at the Emma’s Torch Classroom Cafe, a pop-up brunch spot in Brooklyn, features hip staples like poached eggs with avocado toast and a more exotic variation called shakshuka, which has heirloom tomatoes, garlic confit, and mixed peppers alongside saffron toast. Shakshuka is a classic North African and Middle Eastern dish that pays homage to some of the people cooking at the cafe: refugees, people seeking asylum, and human trafficking survivors, who are working there as part of a culinary program that launched this year. The school and eatery are partnered to give students a free chance to learn cooking skills and practice them in a real restaurant, boosting their work experience so they can go on to get jobs in the restaurant industry. All told, students at Emma’s Torch spend 200 hours over eight weeks–mostly on eight-hour shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On the first day, they practice cooking skills and perfect the recipes on that week’s rotating menu. For the next two, they’re cooking under pressure: The pop-up seats 40 people total, but the classes are small. The school trains only two people at a time. “Lessons cover things like knife skills, kitchen movement, how to follow and scale recipes, dish plating techniques, and how to improvise when necessary in ways that maintain consistent and quality food.” The group is named after the poet and activist 118
Emma Lazarus, whose famous words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. “Something that is so fundamental to who we are as a country is this idea that we are founded to be a haven, a refuge, and a place for people of every background to come together,” says founder and executive director Kerry Brodie. “And so we wanted to carry on that same ethos . . . into our work today.” To do that, the group coordinates with refugee resettlement agencies, including Church World Service, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and International Rescue Committee, to find candidates who are interested in culinary careers. “What we’re looking for when we bring on students is a passion for food but not necessarily a food background,” says Brodie. Lessons cover things like knife skills, kitchen movement, how to follow and scale recipes, dish plating techniques, and how to improvise when necessary in ways that maintain consistent and quality food. At the end of its program, Emma’s Torch ensures all workers are licensed for food handling. It also offers a separate ESL program focused on cooking terminology to make kitchen life easier. “You know that person who made the most delicious avocado toast you’ve ever tasted? They’re a refugee.” Career wise, those skills are adaptable to many jobs in the food service industry. To make connections to those jobs easier to find, Emma’s Torch has also recruited a “Chefs Council” of
prominent instructors, chefs, recruiters, and business owners across the industry, which also shape and audit their curriculum, offer job leads, and help the nonprofit grow. The roster includes James Briscione, the director of culinary development at the Institute of Culinary Education, and Michael Vigna, the head of restaurant staffing firm The Chef Agency. The idea sprang from a much shorter pilot that Brodie ran in December 2016, which was just 18 hours and focused primarily on technique. Since then, two of those candidates have had either medical or family issues that have kept them from working. The third was hired, but she foresaw an uphill battle for taking the program mainstream. By December, Emma’s Torch will have run five separate training sessions. Of the first two graduates, who finished in July, one has earned a job at upscale eatery, The Dutch, while another is working in a small Japanese restaurant. The graduates of the latest class, which graduated September 3rd, have both already received job offers. Eventually, Brodie would like to reach about 50 students per year. By the end of 2017, she projects that revenue from meal checks will cover only 15% to 20% the group’s overall costs–its operating budget is about $200,000–with the rest coming from grants, individual donors, and corporations.
Photo by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash.
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IT’S SHOWTIME!
Experiencing the new Hatay Sofrasi at Murouj By bazaar staff
When Hatay Sofrasi came to town in 2015, we knew that we were in for a treat. Why wouldn’t we be? Fresh Turkish dishes served while you bask comfortably underneath the hot sun in the midst of a crisp winter’s day? That was our last experience, at least. Because September’s weather isn’t as accommodating as December 2015’s was, we obviously opted to sit inside when we recently revisited Hatay’s Murouj location for a light lunch. And were we ever glad we did! The restaurant’s interior was completely changed from its family-style décor two years ago. When you walk in, you’re greeted with a sense of modernity and change. A beautiful open-concept kitchen stretches across the far-left hand side of the restaurant, where chilled meats and ingredients sit on full display behind glass 120
canister counters. The dining hall seemed to be bigger, brighter and more whimsically decorated with scenic portraits depicting landmarks in Turkey’s Hatay region, pops of greenery to complement the dining space’s fresh energy, and even a peaceful fountain babbling quietly in the center alongside the tables. And the layout, now flooded with even more light thanks to large windows adorning the place, provided more empty space for diners to relax at their tables and share leisurely meals, and of course, for the serves servers to display the innovative style in which Hatay’s delicacies are served to diners. My favorite touch? The authentic well accompanied by cold-to-the-touch metal cups that are used for pouring out laban ayran drinks straight from the tap! Thinking we were going to save the indulgence for another day, we also heard that Hatay’s new look included a brand-new menu, offering all of our Turkish favorites with the addition of extra special delights and staples.
We didn’t know, however that “new menu” also meant a literal new menu, reprinted and bound expertly into a hardcover book, which made flipping through our options so much easier, and added to the classic contemporary outcome of Hatay’s makeover. The menu is filled to the brim with even more options to what we already know, and could barely contain our resistance to stray away from decadently delicious simit breads with spread and buttery, flaky bourek pastries. Yet, such cravings had to wait another day to be fulfilled, and so with a fresh-from-the-well cup of refreshing ayran in hand, we placed our order for some of the light bites on the menu. A lovely salad first arrives, entitled Special Hatay Fatoush Salad. This salad embodies many of the Mediterranean’s best salad qualities: you get your Levantine-inspired holy grail of seasoning (lemon, olive oil, salt and a sprinkle of sumac) with the fresh combination of fresh cut salad vegetables and tangy leaves like rocket and mint. Combine that with Greek
salad’s signature addition, lovely chunks of feta cheese, and surprise! Roasted pieces of that delicious simit bread sitting in as croutons! I guess you really can have the best of both worlds. Alongside the salad, we enjoyed a beautifully made Fattet Eggplant that was stunning in presentation, showcasing the familiarities of the fatteh variations we know and love, with a Turkish twist. The dish was compiled of a bed of eggplants, balilah chickpeas and innovatively shaped crispy fried pita forming shapes that actively made my mind wonder about how they were made. Did they crimp it then fry it? How did they not unravel? Either way, I now know that my fatteh making will be taking a more adventurous turn. Over the eggplants and pita, a generous portion of seasoned yogurt was ladled and topped off with toasted pine nuts, parsley and spices. Absolutely delicious, and very reminiscent of what your mother would make at home – a perfect hack for those craving fatteh, but have no way to get to it. And then, somebody had placed a small pan of hot cheese bubbling at the table. Called Muhlama, this mixture of melted cecil and feta cheeses, semolina and butter came piping hot and was so inviting that we couldn’t help but tear apart pieces of freshly baked Turkish-style pita bread and dip right into that delicious, addictive and buttery cheese. Good thing it came when it did too, because we had something to munch on while watching the show that was about to be put on for us. All of a sudden, a man arrives at our table with a cart – which is where the restaurant’s more spacious interior comes in very handy. What’s special about this cart is that it contains a jar that’s quite literally on fire! As the expert server puts the fire out and he begins his preparation process, we learn that this traditional dish is called Cerra Kebap (Meat Jar), and that it contains Meat cubes placed in a clay pot with onion, garlic and vegetables, special sauce blends and selected spices from Hatay, and that it’s been cooked in a wood- red oven. Apparently, this is how people from Hatay eat their stew, and honestly, sign me up! It’s meant to be served with yogurt and rice, but I was more than happy spooning out succulent chunks of meat and vegetables onto my plate and attacking them with pieces of delicious bread. And to this day, when thinking about that little clay pot and its delicious contents, I’m inclined to start torching my meat to give it maximum flavor. Although we were quite ready to throw in the towel at this light, yet highly effective lunch, we couldn’t do without something sweet, and what we’d eaten wasn’t really heavy as much as it was comforting and sleep-inducing. And so, we opted for a classic Turkish delicacy to satisfy the hankering to end our lovely meal on a sugary note: classic Akdeniz Fistigi topped with Turkish Dondorma ice cream and pistachio. A couple of bites of this baby, coupled with a Turkish coffee straight from the source, and you’re set for life. Thus concluding our lovely experience at Hatay, we walked out, as always, satisfied and having learned a lot. These are the lessons we’ve learned: 1. Arabic food and Turkish food can be similar, only the Turks have more fun with actually making the food. 2. It’s time to start setting our meat on fire before we eat it. 3. When a restaurant has been as beautifully revamped as Hatay was, sometimes, it’s just as nice, if not even nicer to sit inside. Hatay Sofrasi is located in Murouj off sixth Ring Road. Follow them on Instagram @hataysofrasi_kw. Hatay is also available on Talabat Go! Order from them today and enjoy your Turkish experience at home with the click of a button. 121
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big boys toys
TECHNICS REFERENCE CLASS SP-10R TURNTABLE
2019 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT
BANG & OLUFSEN BEOVISION ECLIPSE TV
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-ADX5000 HEADPHONES
Turntable historians might remember the Technics SP-10 line of direct drive tables that reached the height of popularity in the 1980's. And now, the SP line is being resurrected in the form of this immaculate SP-10R Turntable. The brand new deck comes with a 7KG platter for rotation stability and is made of brass, aluminum, and rubber. Audiophiles are sure to be wooed by the SP-10R's incredibly low wow and flutter, along with the world's best signal to noise ratio. The vinyl revolution shows no signs of slowing, and it's nice to have more premium turntables like this one available for purchase.
Combining the Danish firm's audio and design expertise with LG's display acumen, the Bang & Olufsen BeoVision Eclipse TV promises to be one of the best-performing and best-looking sets you can buy. At its heart is a 4K OLED panel offering unrivaled black levels and contrast ratio, picture quality rivaled only by the audio emanating from its integrated three-channel, 450 watt sound system. The design sees the speakers' aluminum grille used to break up the expanse of black glass, complemented by a motorized double-axis stand or wall mount. Available in 55 and 65-inch models.
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The ultimate grand touring car just got better with the new Bentley Continental GT. The exterior retains the theme of the previous model, but with a crisper, more aggressive and defined edge. Inside, the interior is pure Bentley — opulent to the extreme, with new textures and an extreme eye for detail. The center console houses a 12.3" revolving touchscreen that rotates the wood veneer to hide away when not in use. All this is what we expect from one of the top luxury marques, and no less is expected from the drivetrain and chassis. The Continental GT debuts at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Audio-Technica is ready to take a big step forward with the ATH-ADX5000 Headphones. The latest high-end headphones follow in the footsteps of the ATH-AD2000X, but really take things to the next level. They feature 58mm tungsten-coated drivers, a headband with deluxe Alcantara covering, and soft, extra large pads ideal for longer listening sessions. And they arrive in a super luxurious case that might be nicer than your actual luggage. Hand-assembled in Tokyo, each unit is laser-etched with a serial number and are available starting in November.
CROSSHELMET X1 HUD MOTORCYCLE HELMET
The filter-down effect of tech in the motorcycle world has introduced many exciting feautres, but some of the most promising developments are in the most important piece of motorcycling gear — the helmet. Startup CrossHelmet's X1 HUD has a built-in HUD display and rearview camera, along with a striking Stormtrooper-esque look. With the companion smartphone app, you get voice commands, CrossSound control for dampening environmental sounds, and GroupTalk for communication with other riders. CrossHelmet's Kickstarter launched last month, September 13.
CROSLEY ROCKET JUKEBOX
The Jukebox became a cultural norm in homes, restaurants, and bars in the 1950s. And now, with vinyl making a comeback, the Jukebox is back from Crosley with this Rocket Vinyl model. The only vinylplaying jukebox being made in the world currently, the Rocket can store and play up to 70 7" records and features a revolving title rack to pick your favorites, a remote control that controls selections, volume, and shuffling, and a D4 amplifier with a five way in built speaker system. The jukebox also gives you the option to play digital tunes through the speakers via auxiliary output or via Bluetooth stream.
Source: www.uncrate.com
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bazaar apps
POLYGRAM
CLOCKWISE SMART ALARM
THROWBACK STORIES
RACCOON
SLIDESHOW MAKER
ADAPTICONS/MASKIT
There's a new social network in town and it's packed with some pretty smart and savvy features. Polygram is an interesting take on picture sharing, with its main contribution to the hard-to-break-into social media world being its ability to detect facial expressions, allowing users to respond to messages with an emoji based on their actual expression. And rather than just tallying likes or a selection of reactions that viewers have to choose between and click, Polygram allows users to see the face-based emotional response of those that viewed their post. Users can also animate emojis that stay animated even when posted to other social media.
Throwback Stories is an application developed by Beta Labs and released on iOS. The app is compatible with iOS 9.1 or later on the following devices: iPhone 7, iPhone 6, iPad 3, iPad Mini and iPod Touch 5G or newer. This app is still early in its development and what few features it has enabled in need of some polish. But it should definitely be on your “to watch” lists. It basically allows you to auto create stories from your pictures / videos taken on a specific day or over a specific period. Then, have it trimmed and set to share over Instagram and Facebook.
Similar to Throwback Stories, you can select photos and videos to instantly get an awesome video slideshow, but with tons more features and transitions. Incredibly easy to use, yet highly powerful and has many options to customize and make it personal. You can add photos and videos from your gallery, camera or web, choose from over 100 stickers (and search for more on the web via the app), and add text with a selection of 55 different fonts. Filters and social media sharing come as standard. The best part is, being able to add your own music.
Have a hard time waking up? Then try waking up easier with Clockwise. Clockwise builds off the traditional alarm clock app functionalities and brings something fresh to the table - it speaks custom content. This content ranges from news, weather, travel time, and much more. Overall Clockwise aims to make waking up a less painful experience. Clockwise lets you customize what content you want to hear, making your wake up experience tailored to you. You can specify just about everything, including the various types of content, which voice you want to hear, and the order you hear your content.
WattPad has just launched a new digital storytelling app called Raccoon. This app leverages video to tell great stories that are told in 60 seconds or less. Each of these videos is brief, and they feature a true story told by the person who lived it. They can be funny, eye-opening, serious or entertaining. The experience is sort of like a popcorn confessional. Each week, there are new story challenges that give storytellers ideas and help them get on the frontpage. . For example, this week, Raccoon is prompting users to share their travel stories. If the weekly challenge isn’t of interest, you can swipe left for more ideas
One of Android 8 Oreo's fresh new features is the adaptive icons — provided the app developers allow it, you can choose custom shapes for your icons, be it circles, squircles, teardrops, or squares. For older OS, many developers are creating fixes for Google's shortsightedness. Just like Adapticons, MaskIt gives the power back to the user. Now anyone can change the style of their icons by choosing their own mask shape. This way you can make all of your icons match with ease. Just keep in mind that you will need a launcher that supports third-party icon packs and you should be all good.
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AHMADI MUSIC GROUP
Sixty years of song in Kuwait By bazaar staff
Performing at the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre
Do you sing in the shower? Hum along to the radio? Then you have what it takes to join the Ahmadi Music Group! While AMG performs musicals, operas, choral recitals and has performed at the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre (JACC), there are no formal auditions to join. You just have to love music and be able to commit to a couple of hours each week on a Sunday evening. Luckily it’s no longer based far away in Ahmadi, but rehearses in Jabriya. In 2006, the outgoing director of AMG approached Richard and Harriet Bushman to see if they would be interested in running this musical ensemble and they took it on with gusto. Pushing the potential that they’d seen in the group, they produced some wonderful musical extravaganzas and memorable evenings, with the promise of much more to come. From West Side Story to Gideon, jazz to opera, the musical range is vast. Even embassies would host events with AMG like Last Night of the Proms which, for three years in a row had people planning their calendars around this very British live music event boasting an impressive 120-piece choir and orchestra. 128
It is important to the Bushmans that the people of Kuwait are introduced to other kinds of musical cultures to support the musical educational and cultural development in Kuwait. Last year two of the most incredible concerts Kuwait has seen happened in the Abdulhussain Abdulredha Theatre in Salmiya. Sponsored by the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters, both concerts were free and open to the public. All the way from Cuba, Sobreandor had the dishdasha clad VIPs samba-ing in their seats. The audience went wild on the balcony with many standing to dance. Two days later, the future of contemporary jazz, the Kevin Davy Sextet from London, was performing onstage, both bands handpicked to perform by Richard Bushman, as talent scout is one of his many skills. Auditions took place all over Europe to find a top-quality, international cast of successful professional musicians to fill the roles for the production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. The level of work and commitment that goes into creating this kind of cultural experience is extensive, but it will have a positive impact on young, music students in Kuwait. “We hope that Kuwait will begin producing more experienced musicians so that local artists can do more and more of the roles” Richard is quoted in the Arab Times. “We’re currently digging the foundations and figuring out how opera gets produced in Kuwait,
written in Kuwait and exported by Kuwait,” says Richard. “The ultimate goal, is to make Kuwait the world leader in new, Arabic-language opera.” He insists that the talent is present in Kuwait and can be grown here, if continuously nurtured and developed to produce enough creative content to sustain a full cultural schedule annually. Burgan Bank has fervently grasped at the opportunity and huge responsibility to contribute to such a noble cause. This includes playing a significant part in the growth of live music performance in Kuwait through the patronage of the Ahmadi Music Group. Their generous support continues for the upcoming season, which is an impressive sixth year in a row for the local bank with AMG. Richard effuses, “We are consistently overwhelmed by the sheer enthusiasm and high level of support that Burgan Bank shows the Ahmadi Music Group each season. We continue to celebrate and appreciate this special relationship, and look forward to the great many more things we will no doubt continue to achieve together in the future.” Playing in the orchestra of the first symphony performed in its entirety in Kuwait was Preslav Petkov on the clarinet. An outstanding soloist in his own right, Preslav often plays clarinet and saxophone with the AMG orchestra and says, “I
Anna Karadimtrova on stage with Perslav Petkov in the Orchestra
Performing Abba with Arabs Got Talent winners Sheyaab
One World Actors Centre production of Sweeney Todd, with the support of AMG
joined AMG with my wife in 2006. I can't forget those days as that’s when I first saw Mr. Bushman’s passion. Since then I've had a chance to collaborate and meet new people, make a lot of friends and last but not least to enjoy performing. I'm extremely grateful to be part of the AMG family and big thanks should go to the Bushman's for keeping it running all these years.” Preslav’s other musical collaborations with Richard Bushman have included a specially curated jazz ensemble at the Dar al Athar Yarmouk Cultural Centre with other AMG musicians, and in the orchestra of the One World Actors’ Theatre production of Sweeney Todd, supported by AMG singers and players. “What I enjoy most,” Preslav continues, “is the opportunity to perform at several venues across Kuwait, and sharing the stage with other wonderful people based in Kuwait.” This is a sentiment echoed by his wife, opera Soprano Anna Karadimitrova. It’s not unusual for Preslav to be seen playing in the same orchestra which sits in the pits below a performance of Anna’s. The couple moved to Kuwait together more than 14 years ago and have been instrumental in bringing over some excellent Bulgarian singers and orchestral musicians to AMG performances, which embraces and further solidifies Kuwait’s international musical connections. “Ahmadi music group has dramatically changed my life in Kuwait.” says Anna. “By joining I resumed my stage performances with professional soloists, choir and orchestra. The AMG repertoire is very broad and makes the group unique indeed. I have encouraged all my voice students to attend the AMG concerts throughout the years.” But AMG music really isn’t quite as serious as you may think. The wonderful thing about Ahmadi Music Group is that you’re surrounded by 50 amateur singers and a full orchestra with hundreds of cumulative years’ professional experience amongst the players, which can hide a multitude of sins. “The audience will never hear you over the brass” Richard often jests in choir rehearsals. Last year’s hugely popular three days of ABBA event had the entire audience singing along, and from the stage all you could see was an audience dressed up in 1970s flares and costumes! If you’d like to sing along in an AMG audience then the next opportunity to do so is at the Beatles concert 7.30 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, 5 at the Kuwait National Museum Theatre. Get dressed in your best colorful 1960s gear and bazaar will see you there! There are many more events planned for the upcoming season; a brand-new outdoor performance venue is opening in Kuwait City where a number of jazz performances will be held regularly. The AMG jazz week is happening again so the Cubans are coming back! And a new African Salsa band will be visiting for that festival too. The traditional seasonal concert which occurs each year at the New English School in Jabriya is coming in December, so do bring your younger children to this enjoyable performance.
To stay updated about AMG's latest events, you can subscribe to the mailing list and book tickets by visiting www.ahmadimusicgroup.com, and follow them on Instagram @ahmadimusicg. For further enquiries you can email info@ahmadimusicgroup.com or call 5063 8435. Choir rehearsals are Sundays 7 p.m.-9 p.m., at the New English School, Jabriya, Block 12. 129
bazaar music
By Benjamin Clementine
I TELL A FLY
By Liam Gallagher
AS YOU WERE
PINEWOOD SMILE
Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine unveiled a new track, "Phantom of Aleppoville" and he’s announced details of his upcoming new album. I Tell A Fly will be out via Virgin/EMI, and it’s been entirely written and produced by the musician himself. Speaking of the album, Benjamin said: “I've written my second piece called I Tell A Fly. In little words - it’s a story about two wandering flies finding fleet. I'm neither a politician nor prophet but an artist who creates to only entertain is no better than a con. I hope this album fulfils its purpose as the continuation from At Least For Now”.
The former Oasis frontman is set to release his first lone effort As You Were this month. He’s already preceded the LP with lead single "Wall Of Glass". Gallagher also posted the album’s front cover to Twitter, depicting a portrait of the singer. Liam’s solo album will arrive a month before brother Noel’s new album is slated for release. He recently discussed his potential chart battle with his older sibling. “I’m sure he definitely knows that I’m gonna come again, without a doubt,” Liam said in a new interview with Q Magazine. “Course he’s annoyed. He plays it like he isn’t.”
The Darkness are back and ready to blow up your speakers again. The band has titled their fifth full-length album Pinewood Smile and they’ve provided fans with some new music to check out in the form or a track called “All the Pretty Girls.” With a high pitched distortion followed by Justin Hawkins‘ wail and the addition of drums and guitars, the track sets off through an upbeat and catchy journey. There’s a few muscular licks in there, with Hawkins occasionally showing off his falsetto and throwing in a few barks for good measure.
BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA
CARRY FIRE
By The Darkness
RULE 62
By P!nk
By Robert Plant
By Whitney Rose
It's been five years since P!nk's blockbuster LP The Truth About Love topped the Billboard 200 and spawned three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including her fourth No. 1 ("Just Give Me a Reason" ft. Nate Ruess). Not that she hasn't been busy: Her folk foray, You+Me with Dallas Green, released its debut album in 2014, and 2016 saw her duet with Kenny Chesney, notch a top 10 hit with "Just Like Fire," and welcome her second child with husband Corey Hart. Even so, this has been the longest wait between P!nk solo efforts.
Robert Plant has unveiled the latest details for his forthcoming LP, Carry Fire. The release marks his 11th studio album and first full-length release following 2014's Lullaby and… the Ceaseless Roar. Produced by Plant, the 11-song LP featuresa special accompaniment from his Lullaby backers, the Sensational Space Shifters, which includes John Baggott, Justin Adams, Dave Smith and Liam "Skin" Tyson. The renwoned Albanian cellist Redi Hasa and violist/violinist Seth Lakeman (who recently joined the group) also perform on three tracks.
"Can't Stop Shakin" is the first release from Rule 62, Rose's upcoming album. The record arrives nearly 10 months after Rose left her adopted hometown of Austin and, with a four-month tour looming on the horizon, jetted to Nashville for recording sessions. Joining her were a pair of A-list producers: Raul Malo, the golden-piped frontman of the Mavericks, and Niko Bolas, who helped rejuvenate Neil Young's career with "Rockin' in the Free World" — and some of Nashville's top-shelf sidemen: Guitarist Kenny Vaughan, steel player Chris Scruggs and organist Jen Gunderman.
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Source: www.amazon.co.uk
20 seven
bazaar techno
TEMI PERSONAL ROBOT
Part Echo, part iPad, part butler, the Temi Personal Robot is a rethinking of how we interact with technology. It has an array of sensors and cameras that let it autonomously navigate your home, coming to you when called. It can handle standard AI assistant stuff like making calls, summoning a ride, and playing music. It handles tasks stationary and handheld devices can't, like letting you video chat hands-free while naturally moving through your space, taking videos and photos for you, thanks to face tracking technology, and even carrying and charging items you've placed on its tray.
LOGITECH CRAFT WIRELESS KEYBOARD
The keyboard has been a part of computing since the beginning. The Logitech Craft Wireless Keyboard gives this essential input device a substantial upgrade with a single round nub. Called the Crown, it's a touch-sensitive control that lets you adjust specific attributes such as the exposure in Photoshop, or the width of a column in Word directly, without needing to visit a menu. It works in a variety of Adobe apps as well as with Office on the PC and is sure to gain more compatibility in the future.
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STREET FIGHTER II 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
BEATS STUDIO3 WIRELESS HEADPHONES
It was a legend in its day, and now that legend is back. Street Fighter II brought the two-player fighting game to the masses when it released on the SNES in 1992. Games would never be the same, and a host of copycats would follow in its wake — most notably Mortal Kombat. To honor the 30th anniversary of the Street Fighter II: World Warrior arcade game, Capcom commissioned this release of the original SNES cartridge, complete with Ryured or Blanka-green cartridge and lots of exclusive box candy.
Beats' Solo line might be more common, but it was the over-ear Studios that got the company started. Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones bring the model in-line with the rest of the family while adding some new tricks exclusive to the flagship. Most notably, the Studio3s are powered Apple's W1 chip, giving them the same seamless pairing as the AirPods. It also enables their new Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling technology, which auto-calibrates up to 50,000 times per second to block out any unwanted noise and adjust for head movement, fit, and even the shape of your ear.
INSTAGIF DIY CAMERA
SPHERO R2-D2 APP-ENABLED DROID
Part camera, part handheld factory, the Instagif DIY Camera is an interesting photographic concept, especially in a time where Instagram & Boomerang are at the height of popularity. Designed by Abhishek and inspired by the classic Polaroid OneStep, this one-off project is powered by a pair of Raspberry Pis, batteries, and a lot of ingenuity. The result is a camera that can snap a GIF, transfer it to a "cartridge" consisting of a screen and battery, and eject it just like an old Polaroid.
The Sphero R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid follows in the footsteps of the Sphero-based BB-8, letting you control the OG Astromech Droid from your phone. This highly-detailed toy transitions smoothly from tripod to bipod stance, has working front and rear lights, and an integrated speaker that emits all the beeps and boops the beloved character is known for. It can also interact with other Star Wars Sphero droids, and will even react to the films as you watch them.
Source: blessthisstuff.com Source: uncrate.com
Dawrat
bazaar movie night
The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in October
OPEN WATER 3: CAGE DIVE
PERSONAL SHOPPER
THE SON OF BIGFOOT
AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER
BLADE RUNNER 2049
GEOSTORM
Release Date: October 1st Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller Cast: Joel Hogan, Josh Potthoff, Megan Peta Hill Synopsis: Taking cues from the recent shark movie 47 Meters, in this intense thriller three friends from California head to the rugged Australian coast for an incredible cage-dive encounter with deadly Great Whites. But after attracting a swarm of vicious sharks, their tour boat is destroyed by a massive rogue wave. As clouds gather and darkness descends, the three friends find themselves alone and defenseless, afloat in the chilly ocean as hungry man-eaters begin to circle. With little hope of rescue, they must fight to survive using only their courage.
Release Date: October 5th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Documentary Cast: Al Gore, George W. Bush, John Kerry Synopsis: A decade after An Inconvenient Truth brought climate change into the heart of popular culture comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution. Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight, traveling around the world training an army of climate champions and influencing international climate policy. Cameras follow him behind the scenes-in moments private and public, funny and poignant-as he pursues the empowering notion that while the stakes have never been higher.
Release Date: October 1st Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery Cast: Kristen Stewart, Lars Eidinger,Sigrid Bouaziz Synopsis: It's been already three months since the sudden death of Maureen's 27-year-old twin brother Lewis from a congenital malformation of the heart, and Maureen, a young fashionista, assistant to a celebrity woman and a capable medium, still hasn't made any contact with him. Spending her time between high profile fashion establishments and the abandoned Lewis' house in Paris, Maureen is silently battling with the gut-wrenching grief and sorrow, while at the same time, looking for a sign from her deceased brother after an oath taken between the twins.
Release Date: October 5th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas Synopsis: Development of a sequel to Blade Runner began in 1999. Now, we finally have the follow up to one of the best Sci-Fi movies of all time. Ridley Scott, director of the original film, considered developing a sequel, tentatively titled Metropolis. With his new release, officer K (Ryan Gosling), a new blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who's been missing for 30 years.
Release Date: October 1st Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Comedy Cast: Cinda Adams, Bob Barlen, Cal Brunker Synopsis: Teenage outsider Adam sets out on an epic and daring quest to uncover the mystery behind his long-lost dad, only to find out that he is none other than the legendary Bigfoot! Discovering that he has been hiding deep in the forest for years to protect himself and his family from HairCo., a giant corporation eager to run scientific experiments using his special DNA. As father and son start making up for lost time by spending time together after the boy's initial disbelief, Adam soon discovers that he too is gifted with superpowers beyond his imagination.
Release Date: October 19th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast: Jeremy Ray Taylor, Gerard Butler, Abbie Cornish Synopsis: No cinema year calander is complete without an epic disaster movie. Enter Geostorm. When catastrophic climate change endangers Earth's very survival, world governments unite and create the Dutch Boy Program: a world wide net of satellites, surrounding the planet, that are armed with geoengineering technologies designed to stave off the natural disasters. After successfully protecting the planet for two years, something is starting to go wrong. Two estranged brothers are tasked with solving the program's malfunction before a world wide Geostorm can engulf the planet.
For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, visit: Sky Cinema: www.skycinemaskw.com or Facebook: Sky Cinemas Kuwait *Above programs are subject to change without prior notice. 134
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bazaar around town
EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY STORIES Cole Haan, the iconic American lifestyle footwear and accessories brand and retailer, is delighted to announce its Fall 2017 Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Stories campaign featuring fashion icons Christy Turlington Burns and Karlie Kloss, lensed by acclaimed photographer Cass Bird. The campaign is a culmination of an all-women cast and crew. Showcasing these extraordinary women and laced with the narrative of the unique relationship between Burns and Kloss, the campaign features strikingly intimate candid video vignettes and editorial photographs, as well as classically cool styling by Karla Welch. Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Stories explores the meaningful relationship between Christy and Karlie, bound by a shared desire for purposeful change. Each has been inspired to channel the success of their modeling careers to work toward positively impacting women’s lives through their respective initiatives. To find out more about Cole Haan, you can visit them at The Avenues and their flagship store at 360 Mall, or call 2224 9300. For further updates, please follow Cole Haan on Instagram @Colehaan.kw and Facebook at Cole Haan Kuwait. JIMMY CHOO UNVEILS AUTUMN WINTER 2017 ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN Jimmy Choo unveils the Autumn Winter 2017 Women’s campaign starring model Kati Nescher. Exploring the identity at the heart of the brand, the campaign brings to life the daring and confident nature of Jimmy Choo. Photographer Theo Wenner realized a series of images that capture the Jimmy Choo Woman engaging in a playful game of cat and mouse across London. Tailored styling and an architectural backdrop center on a refined, modern glamour that re-imagines proportion and dimensions. The contrasting essence of rebel and romance play against each other as structural designs offset feminine silhouettes and studded boots blend effortlessly with sharp suiting. Jimmy Choo is located at The Avenues and 360 Mall. For more information, visit www.alyasra.com. MARINA RINALDI AND ASHLEY GRAHAM - F/W 2017 CAMPAIGN The Korean photographer Hong Jan Hyun has used gritty black and white images to define the mood of the Marina Rinaldi FW 2017-18 campaign, featuring for the second consecutive year, Ashley Graham. The American supermodel and influencer thus strengthens her bond with the brand, acting both as its face and international ambassador. Strongly reflecting the values of Marina Rinaldi, Ashley powerfully represents the universe of all those self-confident women who want to show off and play with their own physicality. The styling of the photographs speaks of an elegant sensuality, proposing a series of Marina Rinaldi looks that best express the grit and vitality of the model, mixing apparel selected from the brand's different lines. The black is absolute, available in tweed, wool, georgette silk and leather, often playing with transparencies to reveal Marina Rinaldi's rock soul without sacrificing a sophisticated and glamorous image. For more information on Marina Rinaldi, visit www.alyasra.com. MAX&Co. FALL/WINTER 2017 COLLECTION LAUNCHES IN KUWAIT The Fall/Winter 2017 MAX&Co. collection is all about the elevated every day, with modern opulence given a pragmatic, utilitarian spin. Pieces are surprisingly versatile – easily dressed up and down – in a collection that draws subtle reference from both the '40s and '70s, while feeling thoroughly right for now. The overarching mood is eclectic, effortless elegance. Fluid silhouettes are enlivened by acidic florals, graphic stripes and rich jewel tones of coral, purple, orange and ochre. Painterly blooms create a mood of artistic bohemia. Midi-dresses are a collection stand-out, and transition seamlessly from day to evening; find their modest cuts enlivened with bold florals, a feminine take on camouflage and in graphic, color block panels. Monochrome stripes are loosened up on separates and dresses, running in different directions. Materials are ultra-luxe – think shimmering metallics, slinky satins and sumptuous velvets – bringing a new decadence to day dressing. Max&Co. is located at The Avenues. For more information, visit www.alyasra.com. NEW BALANCE AND STANCE DEBUT THE “ALL DAY ALL NIGHT” 247 PACK Building upon a year-long brand collaboration, New Balance and Stance are excited to announce the debut of the “ALL DAY ALL NIGHT” 247, which is paired with coordinating Stance athletic tab socks. Inspired by the modern consumer and their around-the-clock lifestyle, the Stance x New Balance 247 pack offers two styles - one for day and one for night - designed with versatility of wear and time appropriate activities in mind. The white Stance x New Balance “ALL DAY ALL NIGHT” 247 utilizes an engineered knit for a sporty, more breathable, daytime design. Reflecting the pack’s inspiration, the white “ALL DAY ALL NIGHT” 247 includes a sunrise gradient print on the bootie collar, translucent outsole, sock liner and coordinating cobranded Stance athletic tab socks. Reflective details on the laces, collar strap, heel webbing and midsole are paired with a reflective speckle on the socks as well. To find out more about the new collection and to keep up to date with Comfort Zone, follow their Instagram account @cz_kw, Facebook at /Comfort Zone Kuwait, or call them on 2224 9300. 136
MEC AND MAXUS WILL BECOME WAVEMAKER The new billion-dollar revenue, media, content and technology agency to be created from the merger of MEC and Maxus will be named ‘WAVEMAKER’. Making waves happens when media, content and technology come together - activating against our unrivalled purchase journey understanding for the clients we represent. The brand mark WAVEMAKER reflects the agency’s heritage, born from WPP and GroupM. Tim Castree, global CEO of MEC and Wavemaker, said: “Our purpose is to provide advertisers with the power to transform and grow their business through our Purchase Journey obsession; and importantly to do this through the integration of Purchase Journey insights and data with [m]PLATFORM, GroupM’s proprietary global audience technology. Our Wavemaker brand and positioning is a compelling manifestation of that purpose.” The brand, along with a new visual identity, will go live locally as the merger completes in each country, to be finalised by January 2018. Wavemaker will have offices in 90 countries and over 8,500 employees. Major global clients include L’Oréal, Vodafone, Marriott, Colgate-Palmolive and Paramount. For more information visit www.mecglobal.com/mecwavemaker.
360 MALL WELCOMES HUGO BOSS’ FIFTH STORE IN KUWAIT 360 MALL, Kuwait’s iconic shopping center owned by Tamdeen Shopping Centers, has signed an agreement with HUGO BOSS to bring its fifth Kuwait store to the mall, offering its shoppers the latest trends from the fashion world. HUGO BOSS is one of the market leaders in the upper premium segment of the global apparel market, and is a lifestyle brand impeccably designed with the highest quality and sophistication reflecting the contemporary and confident character of a successful man. The collection to be showcased at 360 MALL will include BOSS menswear designed to offer sophisticated business wear and exclusive sportswear, BOSS Athleisure offering a collection of modern sportswear and active performance wear, and BOSS Casual offering an urban casualwear collection. 360 MALL is keen to provide its shoppers with a unique shopping experience through this latest addition to its diverse retail mix. The new store will underscore the mall’s image as a prime go-to destination in Kuwait, where the accent is on exclusivity, ambience and outstanding customer service. For more information please visit 360 MALL’s social media channels, Facebook @360Mall, and Twitter and Instagram @Mall360.
TAG HEUER WELCOMES MOUNTAINEER RAHA MOHARRAK TAG Heuer is proud to welcome Raha Moharrak as part of the TAG Heuer family as a Friend of the brand. Raha’s life changed the day she summited Kilimanjaro as it was this accomplishment that opened her eyes to the endless possibilities the world had to offer and the lofty heights that still remained to be scaled. The seed for the dream to conquer Everest was born then and on May 18, 2013, Raha made history by being the first Saudi woman to conquer Everest and the seven highest mountains in each continent. Her accomplishment has been remarkable in several ways and Raha is living testimony to the fact that if children are raised to be confident and curious, anything can be accomplished. A movie feature of Raha that was filmed in Zermatt, Switzerland was also screened on the night, perfectly tying in Raha’s daring spirit with TAG Heuer’s Swiss roots and craftsmanship. "A story is only as powerful as the hearts and minds it reaches and being the first Arab female ambassador for TAG Heuer is a powerful way of breaking the stereotype and an absolute honour" says Raha Moharrak. For more information, visit tagheuer.com or Instagram @tagheuer, Twitter @TAGHeuer and Facebook/TAGHeuer.
PUMA PARTNERS WITH SELENA GOMEZ Today, global sports brand PUMA announced a long-term partnership with singer, actress, and producer Selena Gomez who will work with the brand to design product and create marketing campaigns. Selena will start working with PUMA immediately and will first appear in the brand’s newest campaign for the Phenom, an upcoming women’s footwear drop. “Being part of the PUMA family is very exciting for me,” said Selena Gomez. “PUMA has changed the game when it comes to the mash-up of athletic wear and fashion. It’s amazing to see this influence on style and culture and I’m excited to be a part of it. I am hoping that we can create something special together. We already have some really cool projects in the works.” Selena and PUMA are a great match, not only because she fits with PUMA’s brand values, but also because of her powerful influence over young women, her integrity, hustle, and drive to succeed. Her work with the brand will be more than simply appearing in a campaign, she will be an active voice for the brand’s consumers. In addition, this partnership includes PUMA and Selena working with and supporting causes close to her heart. Please follow @PUMA Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat for more product stories.
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bazaar around town
INTRODUCING NEW TANGLE TEEZER BACK-COMBING HAIRBRUSH Tangle Teezer’s latest innovation is the incredible Back-Combing Hairbrush in bright pink and black, and it's the big teeze! A volumizing hairbrush designed to add some serious oomph to your hair, it's created for everyday styling for all hair types and lengths, offering height, texture and long-lasting volume. The unique two-tiered teeth, with a greater density of teeth at the base, compacts hair towards the roots resulting in great body. Making back-combing quicker and easier, it's also gentle on the hair because the teeth reach deeply into each section, without matting or ratting, which also makes it easy to brush out afterwards. Stylists have always relied on their trusted back-combing hairbrush for achieving real volume, and thanks to our latest innovation, now you can too. Whether you use it every day to tease a little volume into the crown of your hair or for occasions when big va-va-voom hair is on the agenda, this is the hairbrush you need. Exclusively distributed by beautique cosmetics international. Call 2225 1285 for more info or visit beautiquecosmeticsintl.com.
STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A DODGE CHARGER SE WITH ABK! The ongoing A+ Student account for youth from Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) is back with its October draw. The campaign offers a variety of benefits and privileges throughout the year including several cash draws and a grand car draw in December. One of the many features A+ Student account holders can enjoy are the cash draws for new and existing students that allow them to win back their KD 200 student allowance during the month of October and a grand draw in December for a 2017 Dodge Charger SE. Both new and existing customers will get the chance to enter the October draw with an increased chance of winning with every KD 10 deposited into the A+ Student account. To benefit from the A+ Student account, customers must be between 18-25 years of age with a minimum requirement of KD 10 to open an account. To be eligible for the grand car draw, customers should transfer their student allowance to ABK by 20 December 2017. For more information, please visit eahli.com or contact an ABK customer service agent via ‘Ahlan Ahli’ by calling 1899 899.
COZMO ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES ITS 10TH BRANCH IN KHAIRAN JALBOOT VILLAGE Cozmo Entertainment celebrated the opening of it’s second Branch in Khairan on 27th July 2017 at the Khairan Jalboot Village. After the success of Cozmo Branch at The Grey Mall Khairan, Cozmo Jalboot Village will positively earn the adoration of its customers with its unique facilities. Located at the marina, Cozmo Jalboot Village is exceptionally beautiful with its mesmerizing White Lanes, huge sedations Glow Graffiti Wall, enchanting LED lighting, 8D Cinema, Trampoline, Billiards, VR games, Arcades and much more, meeting the entertainment needs of all ages. Cozmo Entertainment was established in 2003 and since then it has been Kuwait's premiere family Entertainment Company. With 10 branches in the finest locations Salmiyah, Khairan The Grey Mall & Jalboot Village, Mahboulah, Kuwait City, Kaifan, Sulaibikhat, Sabah Al Salem, and Jahra Cozmo is easily accessible and is the ultimate one stop family destination for all activities. For more information visit www.cozmogroup.com online, call 1885 888 or follow @cozmo_group on Instagram. POTTERY BARN INTRODUCES ITS “SMALL SPACE” FALL 2017 COLLECTION Pottery Barn, a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands, announced the expansion of its product assortment by launching a new Fall 2017. The collection will debut furnishing pieces that are designed to be size-conscious, offering the perfect solution for smaller living spaces, while maintaining the high quality classic designs Pottery Barn is known for to appeal to an array of lifestyles at an accessible price. Standout designs include the SoMa Sofa Collection designed for compact spaces and flexible use, the mango wood Alice Gateleg Table with extendable leafs and built-in shelving that creates an at-home bistro vibe, and the iron and acacia wood Dublin Stacking Simple Storage Unit; the perfect furniture to stack all your favorite home decor pieces in a cozy setting. The collection is available exclusively at the Pottery Barn stores across the Middle East. To learn more about the Small Space Collection at Pottery Barn, follow @PotteryBarnMENA on Instagram or Facebook and visit the website at www.PotteryBarn.me.
FACES OPENS NEW STORE AT 89 MALL Faces, a leading name in a world of beauty has opened a new store at 89 Mall. The new location opened its doors on September 16th, and will be Faces’ fifth store in Kuwait, following locations in Avenues, 360, Awtad (Jahra) and Ajial. The new store will include more 15,000 products from more than 50 brands. Pass by your closest Faces store and get a quick consultation by our makeup artists and learn the ins and outs of cosmetics from leaders in the world of beauty. For more information, follow @faceskw on Instagram.
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Quintessence Mask & Eclat Naturel “Best Conditioning Mask” and Best Hair Care”
Leonor Greyl integrates vitamins into the formulas of its shampoo and essential treatments, combined with unsurpassed innovations of beauty. The result is a series of successes and creations that have emerged as cult products over the years. The Quintessence Mask and Eclat Naturel were voted by InStyle magazine as ”2017 Best of Beauty Buys”, as the two unique products bring life to the most damaged hair.
beautique 2
October Promotions
Buy 1 get 1 FREE on Leonor Greyl Treatments Receive LG Treatment when purchasing 25KD of Leonor Greyl Products at
Villa 2572 3381 Al Corniche 2566 3286
Available at TONI&GUY Cliffs, TONI&GUY Al Corniche and other specially appointed salons. Exclusively distributed by beautique cosmetics int’l. Call for more info 2225 1285 beautiquecosmeticsintl.com beautiquecosmetics beautiquekuwait beautiquecosmetics
bazaar around town
GULF BANK AND AL SADU SOCIETY RESUME ‘FUN WITH TEXTILES’ WORKSHOPS Building on the great success the program witnessed in its first phase of programs, Gulf Bank and Al Sadu Society are ready to kick off new season of their year-long series of educational workshops entitled ‘Fun with Textiles’ aiming at developing children’s skills in crafts and textile art techniques and preserving Kuwaiti traditions and heritage. Activities will run until midDecember 2017. The workshops are free and open to children aged 6-12 years which required advanced registration. Each session is open to 12 attendees who will learn and develop creative skills in a relaxed and stimulating environment, with the assistance of professional bilingual instructors. The workshops are structured to ensure that it is fun, flexible and practical. Children will learn how create modern, fun accessories for themselves. Additionally, the children will be able to explore the exhibits at the Sadu House Museum. During these workshops, children are given a guided choice of colors, designs and techniques, through which they will be able to develop their creative skills while having fun. Instructors will be present in each session to encourage children and teach them that crafts are a form of art. For more information about Gulf Bank’s initiatives visit www.e-gulfbank.com. You can also follow Sadu house on Social Media @SaduHouse to learn more about the schedule of the workshops.
FANTASY WORLD INTRODUCES CREATIVE SPEAKERS AND HEADPHONES FOR CHILDREN… AND ADULTS Fantasy World returns once again with new and unique tech items that enhance everyday experiences for both children and their parents as well. A brand new section added to Fantasy World, Kids tech featuring creatively designed speakers and headphones that not only add an amazing aesthetic value to children’s room, but are also technologically advanced to enable children and their families to enjoy listening to music or watch their favorite show together, anytime and anywhere. Available in Al Rai, The Avenues and Boulevard Mall showrooms, the creatively designed speakers work with Bluetooth technology and are inspired from famed pop culture ranging from the princess carriage in Disney’s classic, Cinderella, the renown Millennium Falcon in Star Wars, and the Death Star, also from the classic film, Star Wars. As for headphones, children can enjoy designs inspired from their favorite characters and series, while parents can rest assured that they were designed to care for their children’s delicate ears. Fantasy World is the exclusive retailer of many other toys and gadgets that have received international recognition for quality, educational features and inspirational fun moments. To discover more about Fantasy World’s on-going activities, you can visit any of Fantasy World’s social media platforms, Facebook: fantasyworldtoyskuwait, Instagram @fantasyworldtoys and YouTube: fantasyworld Kuwait.
911 GT3 WITH TOURING PACKAGE CELEBRATES ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE IAA The 911 GT3 with Touring Package was unveiled at the 67th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, which took place last September. It is available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, and instead of the fixed rear wing it has a variable rear spoiler like the 911 Carrera. The name “Touring Package” harks back to a model variant of the classic 911 Carrera RS from 1973. Even then, the puristic 911 design language and classic interior features were a key element. The new 911 GT3 with Touring Package adopts and modernizes this concept. This variant is aimed at enthusiasts of high-quality sports cars who value an understated appearance and pure driving dynamics. Beneath its understated exterior is pure motorsport technology: The four-litre naturally aspirated engine, taken from motorsport, reaches 500 hp (368 kW) and generates 460 Nm of torque. In combination with optimal gear changes, the 911 GT3 with Touring Package sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds reaching a top speed of 316 km/h. With the exception of the rear, the body of the GT3 remains unchanged in this variant. Although front and rear lights are identical, they are not dark-tinted as is the case in the 911 GT3. The subtle structural features are first visible at the rear end. The wing of the extending rear spoiler from the series-production 911 is equipped with an aerodynamic downforce edge (Gurney flap) in the vehicle body color. The exclusively designed rear lid bears the “GT3 touring” logo. The interior embodies the feel of a classic sports car. In line with the character of a puristic GT, premium leather is used throughout the cabin, including the steering wheel trim with twelve o'clock marker, shift lever, door panel armrests, center console storage compartment lid and door handles complimented by black stitching detail. The seat center panels are made of luxury black fabric, with the Porsche crest embossed on the headrests. The finishing trim details in the interior are done in brushed aluminium in black. The new 911 GT3 with Touring Package is available to order now with a basic retail price of KWD 44,500, identical to the standard 911 GT3. For more information, visit Porsche Centre Kuwait in Al Rai, on the 4th ring road or call 1870 870.
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bazaar books
IT: A NOVEL
A LEGACY OF SPIES
GLASS HOUSES
BLOOD, SWEAT, AND PIXELS
Stephen King’s terrifying, classic about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers…an evil without a name: It. Welcome to Derry, Maine. It’s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real. They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But the promise they made twentyeight years ago calls them to reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in Derry’s sewers. Readers of Stephen King know that Derry, Maine, is a place with a deep, dark hold on the author. It reappears in many of his books, including Bag of Bones, Hearts in Atlantis, and 11/22/63. But it all starts with It.
Peter Guillam, staunch colleague and disciple of George Smiley of the British Secret Service, otherwise known as the Circus, is living out his old age on the family farmstead on the south coast of Brittany when a letter from his old Service summons him to London. The reason? His Cold War past has come back to claim him. Intelligence operations that were once the toast of secret London, and involved such characters as Alec Leamas, Jim Prideaux, George Smiley and Peter Guillam himself, are to be scrutinized by a generation with no memory of the Cold War and no patience with its justifications. Interweaving past with present so that each may tell its own intense story, John le Carré has spun a single plot as ingenious and thrilling as the two predecessors on which it looks back: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In a story resonating with tension, humor and moral ambivalence, Le Carré and his narrator Peter Guillam present the reader with a legacy of unforgettable characters old and new.
When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines one cold November day, Armand Gamache and the rest of the villagers are at first curious. Then wary. Through rain and sleet, the figure stands unmoving, staring ahead. From the moment its shadow falls over the village, Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. Yet he does nothing. What can he do? Only watch and wait. And hope his mounting fears are not realized. But when the figure vanishes overnight and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied. Months later, as the trial for the accused begins in Montréal, Chief Superintendent Gamache continues to struggle with actions he set in motion that bitter November, from which there is no going back. More than the accused is on trial. Gamache’s own conscience is standing in judgment. In Glass Houses, Louise Penny shatters the conventions of the crime novel to explore what Gandhi called the court of conscience.
The creative and technical logistics that go into building today's hottest games can be more complex than the games themselves, often seeming like a bottomless abyss. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, Jason Schreier takes readers behind the scenes of video game development, where the creator may be a team of 600 overworked underdogs or a solitary geek genius. Exploring the artistic challenges, technical impossibilities, marketplace demands, and monkey wrenches thrown into the works by corporate, Blood, Sweat, and Pixels reveals how bringing any game to completion is nothing short of miraculous. Taking some of the most popular, bestselling recent games, Schreier immerses readers in the hellfire of the development process, documenting the round-the-clock crunches, buggy-eyed burnout, and lastminute saves. Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is a journey through development hell— and ultimately a tribute to the dedicated diehards and unsung heroes who scale mountains of obstacles in their quests to create the best games imaginable.
By Stephen King
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By John le Carré
By Louise Penny
By Jason Schreier
THE GIRL WHO TAKES AN EYE FOR AN EYE By David Lagercrantz
Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo, the brilliant hacker, the obstinate outsider, the volatile seeker of justice for herself and others—even she has never been able to uncover the most telling facts of her traumatic childhood, the secrets that might finally, fully explain her to herself. Now, when she sees a chance to uncover them once and for all, she enlists the help of Mikael Blomkvist, the editor of the muckraking, investigative journal Millennium. And she will let nothing stop her—not the kidnappers she enrages by rescuing a young woman from their brutality; not the prison gang leader who passes a death sentence on her; not the deadly reach of her long-lost twin sister, Camilla; and not the people who will do anything to keep buried knowledge of a sinister pseudoscientific experiment known only as The Registry. Once again, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, together, are the fierce heart of a thrilling full-tilt novel that takes on some of the most insidious problems facing the world at this very moment.
Source: www.amazon.co.uk
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bazaar scopes
CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22 Be disciplined. Maintain your boundaries in order to keep from getting swept into other people's soap operas. It may be fun to escape your problems by jumping into someone else's life, but soon you'll find the extra weight is not only taxing but also won't solve your problems. You may need to say no to others, but that's fine. It's vital that you consider your needs.
VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22 Feed your mind. While you enjoy being active and social, you do get bored quickly. You'll need to give yourself a constant supply of intriguing, fresh material in order to feel your best. Explore an interesting subject or learn a new hobby. Stimulate your mind and your body will become more energetic. Go online if you can't get away.
SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Consider putting your problem-solving skills to the test. You have a real flair for investigating situations and figuring out what happened. If something comes your way that seems mysterious, deal with the problem directly and wrestle out the truth. If you're baffled, use the process of elimination. Stick with it and you'll learn what's what in no time.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 – DEC 21
Your adaptive powers are useful in that they give you a high tolerance for uncomfortable situations. At times, however, this trait may not serve you very effectively. You may end up staying in a difficult relationship or unsatisfying job because you fear something new. Life is short. If you want to improve your situation, take responsibility for it. Be proactive.
CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 It can be very easy to get carried away. You might get caught up in some excitement. You need to use your head on a day like this. Double-check everything and moderate your activities. Keep your limitations in mind. There's nothing saying you can't do whatever it is that catches your eye. Just use caution and keep yourself safe.
with your own feelings? The issue may have more to do with your inner turmoil than with others.
ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19 Learning about things that interest you most is something you may want to do. At work and home, there's a schedule to tend to. On your own time, you're free to learn about anything your heart desires. Intellectual growth is something you enjoy. Whether you delve into cooking, astrophysics, or genealogy, you'll find something new.
TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20 Relationships may be a bit difficult, so don't force pleasantry if it doesn't come naturally. Your motto should be, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Perhaps this leaves you tongue-tied, but that's fine. If you need to spend the day alone, so be it. Don't be social if you don't feel like it.
LIBRA
GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21
SEP 23 – OCT 22
You may put other people's needs before yours, but there's an important balance between being selfish and being selfless. Don't sacrifice yourself to be a servant to others. It's important that you not think only of yourself without considering how your actions will affect others. You may swing toward the former these days. This will only lead to resentment and deplete your emotional and physical resources.
You may feel like you aren't getting the attention you need or deserve. Because of this, you may resent the people you feel you should be getting it from. This attitude is likely to make people less likely to come to your rescue. Who wants to be around someone so needy and unhappy? Focus on yourself and your own healing before you take your issues to others.
LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22 Don't go overboard. You may get so carried away in the early part of the month that by later you notice you've gone beyond your own boundaries. Regret may sink in, and you may feel guilty about things you said or did. Prevent this by thinking things through before speaking or acting. You have the power to impact people on a deep emotional level. Use this power wisely.
AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 The energy you feel may have you so jittery that others don't know what to do. The day's aspects can really bring a boost and you'd be wise to plan to do things so you have an avenue to spend it all. Get busy with physical chores. Pull things out, organize, move furniture around - whatever it takes. It's better to be productive than drive everyone crazy.
PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19 You're at an emotionally climactic time. You may feel like someone is putting a damper on your feelings. Perhaps you're scared or shy. Perhaps you don't feel you can express yourself the way you want to. If so, consider why. Do other people make you feel this way or are you uncomfortable 144
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