Qatar Happening - November 2014

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Table of Contents

pg 20

The Girl Next Door

OUT CHECK ning.com

e arhapp mation! t a q . w or ww test inf a l e h t for

NOVEMBER MENT ENTERTAIN

EVERY ISSUE 9 Editor-In-Chief's Letter

QH's Editor-in-Chief tells you what's happening this month

10

QH Speaks

12

114

120

The best of our monthly social media

Events Calendar

Pullout calendar with the city’s do-not-miss monthly events

It Happened

QH’s photo gallery of the latest happening events in Doha

Phone Directory

Need-to-know phone numbers

Top Picks A Cinematic Experience 15 16

We bring you all the facts you need to know about this year’s Ajyal Youth Film Festival

20

The Girl Next Door

24

As The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1) gets ready to hit theatres, we talk with Jennifer Lawrence

The Hills Are Alive!

The world’s best-loved musical The Sound Of Music lands in Doha

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Virgin Recommends

The best monthly entertainment picks from the Megastore

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Spotlight On Movies

35

Entertainment Listings

TURE ARTS & CUL 39

The Artist’s Narrative 40

Shirin Neshat: Afterwards’s first solo exhibition makes its début at Mathaf this month

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Words In Motion

We talk to Qatari poet and writer, Maryam Al Subaiey, whose literary art has inspired many

Arts & Culture Listings 46

Find out everything that’s going on this month

Our top five must-see films of the month

Find out everything that’s going on this month

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @qatarhappening

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/qatarhappening

For customer service and subscription questions, such as renewals, billing and account status, email info@qatarhappening.com

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Top Picks

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Table of Contents COMMUNITY 47

Top Picks

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Huggable Hope

We introduce Salem and Sarah to the world, a special toy for children living with Type 1 diabetes

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A Man With A Mission

56

Community Listings

We meet General Manager – New Projects, Andrew Merris, to talk about his ambitious plans for AHB Group and Qatar Find out everything that’s going on this month

KIDS CLUB 57

Top Picks

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Young Bloomers

We take a look inside Daffodils Nursery, one school that’s going the extra creative mile!

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Kids Club Listings

pg 76

Thanksgiving Specials

Fun ideas to do with the kids

SPORTS

ING FOOD & DIN 67

Top Picks

89

Top Picks

68

Truly Italian

92

Top Of Their Game

72

We visit the recently re-opened Italian restaurant Di Capri at La Cigale

Snack Attack!

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Crunch Cantina opens at Novo Cinema

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Thanksgiving Specials We tell you where to celebrate the special day

100

Food & Dining Listings Find out everything that’s going on this month

Swimming’s top international competitors will arrive in Doha to participate in the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

Stay Active!

Evolution Sports is adding two amazing new programs to its roster – EVO Rugby and EVO Fit!

Sports Listings

Find out everything that’s going on this month

Feedback and comments are always welcom Please forward letters to the editor:

Call Details: Inquiries: Marketing:

Email: editor@qatarhappening.com

Fax:

info@qatarhappening.com jorge@qatarhappening.com

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QH Recommends

Our favourite monthly must-haves

L'Expérience Francaise 104

We spend an indulgent afternoon at the newly- renovated Coiffeur Française

106

QH Finds... Fabric Stalls

If you’re tempted to go get tailored, let us show you the top five best local locations to find fabrics for men

112 The Dish On Qatar

Have Your Say: e.

LIFESTYLE

We go postal to show you how the mail moves

+974 4427 8416 +974 5584 4905 +974 4427 8415

Postal Address: P.O. Box 7848 , Doha, Qatar

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From The Desk Of The Editor-In-Chief

On the Cover?

Dear friends, As we welcome you to our November issue we look ahead to a promising four weeks of events that matter to us as a community. World Diabetes Day marks the middle of the month on November 14 and we’re proud to dedicate our Community pages to awareness and education about the condition in Qatar. Last month The Art of Business, a subsidiary of our own AHB Group, celebrated the launch of the Salem and Sarah plush toy campaign as part of a partnership between the Qatar Diabetes Association and Sasol Qatar. These camel mascots, custom-designed by our team, offer a sense of security and comfort to young children coping with Type 1 juvenile diabetes. With zippered compartments to store their medical supplies and patches that mirror insulin injection sites, Salem and Sarah are accessible learning tools that encourage a diabetic child to be proactive about his or her health. We bring you the full story in this issue, plus information on how Type 2 diabetes in children and teens is once again in the spotlight – and how it can be prevented. Moving on to Entertainment, the Broadway production of The Sound of Music will grace the stage at the Qatar National Convention Centre this month, bringing the story of the beloved von Trapp family to national audiences – and we go behind the scenes with the cast and crew. If you were a fan of the 1965 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer then this theatrical performance will bring back memories – so take the whole family along and create some new ones! We’ve also got a host of other stories and events to keep you involved here in our pages – from an interview with AHB Group's very own General Manager – New Projects, Andrew Merris, and in Food & Dining we take a look at their newest restaurant endeavour, Crunch Cantina, to a feature that explores the underwater depths with Qatar Divers – it’s a full issue without a doubt. If you’re reading this, then we know you’ve already got your copy in hand! Thank you for making us a part of your lives,

d The hills are alive with The Soun Of Music at QNCC Photo Credit: State Media

About Us QH is your voice and your guide for all things fun, funky and happening in Qatar! Send us your feedback to editor@qatarhappening.com. Publisher: The Art of Business Chairman: Ahmed Hassan Bilal Editor-in-Chief: Nasser Ahmed Hassan Bilal Executive Editorial Director: Moona Masri-Whitice Editor: Ashlee Starratt Finalizer / Production Manager: Srimani Welagedara Lead Designer / Brand Manager: Zahi Srour Photographer: Jessie Palanca Web Coordinator: Imran Khan Sales and Marketing Manager: Deliah Furcoi Sales and Communications Manager: Jorge Granda Marketing Coordinator: Chet Tibayan Distribution & Accounts: Lanie Fillo-Pana Contributors: Mai Akkad, Ahmed Almal, Sarah Al Motairi,

Suad Ashimi, Jacqueline Bodnar, Roma Dominguez, Diana Farid, Harriet Gyamfuah, John Hunt, Alex Klim, Hazem Matwally, Jonny Parr, Lynsey Riach, Charlie Sands, Ujwala Thirumurthy

QATAR HAPPENING (QH) is published 12 times a year by The Art of Business, Doha, Qatar, an associate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group. The information contained in QATAR HAPPENING (QH) is correct at the time of printing. Details may change at any time without liability on the part of The Art of Business. Readers are advised to confirm details with the event organizers.

Nasser Ahmed Hassan Bilal

All rights reserved 2011, The Art of Business. Reproduction in part or in full is strictly prohibited. QATAR HAPPENING (QH) assumes no responsibility for content of advertisements. QATAR HAPPENING (QH) retails for QR 8. Bulk subscriptions are available for QR 5 each, for orders over 50.

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QH Speaks

Tweets Of The Month @qatarliving

Qatar – Over 500 in hospital for over-eating during Eid – #EidInQatar, #QatarLiving.

@a380fanclub

Third day of crew training of @qatarairways A380. So far only take-offs and landings in Doha.

@rachelannmorris

One of my most stressful journeys home from West Bay ever. Car rear-ended (just a scratch), widespread insane driving and gridlock. #doha.

@vanDmartinez

best of the best We ask, you answer. Here’s the this month, plus from our social media top picks you’re saying! our Editor’s Corner. Here’s what

Editor’s Corner As an expat, fall in the Middle East has a whole other vibe to it. Depending where you come from, it still remains the complete opposite of the brisk, airy days that we associate with autumn in the Northern Hemisphere – Technicolor foliage and all. Here, the days still get shorter this time of year and the climate undeniably cooler, though there’s still something we can’t quite put our fingers on… a gap we try desperately to fill as we frantically search the frozen food sections of Megamart, Spinneys or Lulu’s for Butterball turkeys. Yes – I’m talking about Thanksgiving. I’m Canadian, eh – in case you didn’t know – so we celebrate our Turkey Day in October…just to be different and say we did it first. But, friendly holiday rivalries aside, here in Doha the majority of the celebrations seem to align with the American Thanksgiving which falls on November 27 this year. That being said, if you’re celebrating, we bring you a taste of home with our Thanksgiving event round-up in Food and Dining – your go-to guide on the ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘how much’ for the bird and all its trimmings. Also in this issue we’ve got some great stories in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment and Sports that we hope will be QH exclusives! So join us as we go up close with Jennifer Lawrence as she gets set to star in the new Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1) due out this month, plus we take you to the theatre as The Sound of Music premieres in Qatar. We also speak with renowned Qatari poet Maryam Al Subaiey after her recent participation in the British Council’s Writers Return series, and we go in-studio with the new Doha Heat Podcast team, who are making a name for themselves on the airwaves. So tune in, settle in, and stay with us for a full-on four weeks ahead! See you in the fall,

Ashlee Starratt Editor

Thank you @DisneyOnIce #RockinEverAfter @qncc #Doha. The best musical show. #NeverBeTooOldForDisney.

@FactsGuide

MySpace is blue, Facebook is blue, Instagram is blue, Tumblr is blue, Twitter is blue. The colour blue relieves stress!

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @qatarhappening

In Your Face Diabetes Day on In recognition of World our Facebook ed ask November 14, we ught the most followers what they tho the fight against important factors are in ’re answers left You ar. Qat in e the diseas us impressed!

Lhiza Gaceta Espijo

“Sedentary lifestyle modifications!”

Jean Cassidy

“Exercise and diet are the main components for not getting, or living a better lifestyle with diabetes. Encouraging people to exercise more is difficult, but simple things like walking in the parks, along the Corniche, [or] around The Pearl can help. With the amount of ‘fast-food’ outlets virtually on every street, then the diet will be harder to achieve. It’s okay to have this type of food in moderation…like everything. Strong willpower, [a] supporting medical team and even a more supportive family can help along the way!”

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/qatarhappening

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NOVEMBER 2014

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Tickets On Sale Now! Ajyal Youth Film Festival Katara Cultural Village From the 26th

CHECK OUT

www.qatarhappening.com

for the latest information!

30

Mezze Day InterContinental Doha Mykonos Sun, Tues & Wed

Indian Classical Dance IAID Sat-Thurs

3 4

Laughter Factory Radisson Blu Shehrazad Also on the 11th

Hospitality Night Lava InterContinental Doha

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5

Smoking Beef Marriott Marquis City Center Doha New York Steakhouse Daily

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Ladies First InterContinental Doha The City Strata

11 Mind The View Doha Marriott Visit the new outlet

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Lounge & Mingle W Doha Wahm Lounge

Latino @ The City InterContinental Doha The City Strata Every Monday

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Shuttle Service Mathaf Ongoing

WEDNESDAY

Movember Campaign The Grand Hyatt All month

17

Quiz Night Radisson Blu Shehrazad

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Jazz In MIA Park The St. Regis Doha

18 19 Music Courses IAID Sat-Thurs

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Groove Office Concert The Grand Hyatt Dunes

The Sound of Music QNCC Till the 29th

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Sponsored by THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY Summary, Part 1 Mathaf Collection Mathaf Ongoing

1 BBQ Night The Four Seasons Pool Grill

Loi Krathong Celebration The Grand Hyatt Isaan

6

Qatar Foundation WISE Learning Festival

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Beach Party The Four Seasons Beachfront

8 Book Club Doha Mums Ongoing

World Diabetes Day Walkathon Aspire Park 3:00 p.m.

13 14 9 To 1 The Lounge Kempinski Residences & Suites

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Be Social Friday Brunch Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park Aramede

20 Happy Thanksgiving!

27

Kids Boot Camp La Cigale Ozone Gym & Spa

21 Bucket Day InterContinental Doha The City Hive

22 Power Yoga The Four Seasons All month

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Entertainment

s k c i P p o T ’s This Month

The St. Regis Doha Reggae Nights On The Beach

W Doha MAD Monday Mondays: Crystal. Crystal proudly presents every Monday, a new edition of MAD Monday’s with DJ Lilo mixing up the best deep and tech house hits with that Crystal special twist. Enjoy a 50% discount for airlines crew on beverages, and a 25% discount for Crystal members on beverages. From 10:00 p.m. For more information call 4453-5353.

Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

The Four Seasons Beach Party Thursdays: Beachfront. The highly-popular Thursday party is back in Doha. Set up on the beach of The Four Seasons, it’s rocking the best DJ in town with a great atmosphere and top-notch crowds from Doha’s social scene. No cover charge. From 8:00 p.m. till 1:30 a.m. For more information call 4494-8981.

OUT om .c CHECaK ppening

atarh tion! www.qthe latest informa for

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Thurs-Fri: Beachfront. Get into the rhythm of the Caribbean every Thursday and Friday. Kick off your shoes, chill out on the beach and enjoy DJ and live reggae music by resident artists Buggy Nakhente and the Fully Loaded Band, with singer Rhesa Garnes. Complimentary entry, tables with bottle service have a QR 200 minimum spend, non-bottle service tables also available – bookings required. ID scanning required and guests must be over the age of 21 to enter. For more information call 4446-0000 or email diningreservations@stregis.com.

Radisson Blu Laughter Factory Nov 10 & 11: Shehrazad. Three of the best comics present over two hours of club standup, direct from The Comedy Store in London. Both evenings are non-smoking events! Doors open from 5:00 p.m. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. Admission is QR 140 including one sponsored beverage. For more information call 4428-1555.

New Bar Menu Daily: Glo Cocktail Bar. Food made with fresh ingredients, thoughtful flavours and complemented with inventive, approachable beverages are an experience that you don’t want to miss. Glo’s brand-new bar menu reflects a broad spectrum of styles, traditions and flavours, featuring Glo’s signature dish ‘Chef Jeremy’s Dynamite Shrimp’. From 5:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information call 4419- 6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

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Entertainment

A Cinematic

Experience As told to Jorge Granda Images courtesy of the Doha Film Institute

The second edition of the Doha Film Institute’s muchanticipated Ajyal Youth Film Festival is just around the corner and QH brings you all the facts, from tickets, to timings, to how to get a seat on the jury panel – everything you need to know about this year’s event! About The Festival The Ajyal Youth Film Festival invites people of all ages to come together to discuss and enjoy cinema through events that inspire creative interaction and open up a fun, collaborative environment. With its inaugural edition held on November 26-30, 2013, Ajyal is designed to empower the region’s youth and inspire film enthusiasts of all ages in Qatar and the GCC. The second annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival will take place from December 1-6, 2014

at Katara Cultural Village. The program is comprised of daily public screenings of local and international films, family days, special events and exhibitions, the Sandbox interactive digital playground, school screenings, and the Doha Film Experience.

Doha Film Experience At the heart of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival is the Doha Film Experience (DFE), a program that brings together hundreds of young jurors from around the world to watch and analyze films, participate in discussions with the filmmakers and stars, and choose the award-winners of the festival. The Doha Film Experience provides selected jurors who are passionate about film, with an opportunity to watch, critique and discuss movies from all over the world, developing critical thinking, self-expression and cinematic appreciation. The program fosters a spirit of cultural exchange and cinematic discovery and promotes the potential of film as a medium for positive change. DFE is an initiative developed in partnership with the Italian-based Giffoni Film Festival, one of the world’s largest and longest running film festivals for young people and Ajyal’s official competition

sections are based on this model. The inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival juries were made up of more than 400 young people from 45 different nationalities. All films at Ajyal are selected and recommended according to age-appropriateness and are divided into four program named after the Arabic words for the four phases of the moon.

Bariq – Ajyal’s youngest audiences sparkle with energy, and the films in this section are selected to satisfy the excitement and curiosity of children from the age of four, and are appropriate for the whole family. This section is a program of short films open to the public. Mohaq (New Moon) – The new moon full of hidden secrets and endless possibilities. The critical minds of young people will be challenged and stimulated by the films in this section, which are appropriate for audiences from eight years of age and older.

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red carpet Katara was aglow as the r's event yea last at out ed roll s wa

é L-R:Actress Quvenzhan Wallis,AjyalYouth Film ihi Festival Fatma Al-Rema and actress/producer Salma Hayek-Pinault

Hilal (Crescent Moon) – Carried along by the crescent moon in their teenage years, soon-to-be adults will find films in this section that trigger new thoughts and ideas, and encourage their self-expression. Films are suitable for audiences 13 years of age and older. Bader (Full Moon) – Young adults have closed the circle of youth and are now taking their own steps on the path of life. Their opinions resonate more strongly and this appealing program exposes them to cinema as a contemporary art form. Bader films are suitable for adult audiences 18 years of age and older.

Awards Ajyal’s juries select a total of five Best Filmmaker awards – each jury chooses a best filmmaker in the short film category, and the Hilal and Bader juries also select awards in the feature film category. Best Filmmakers are awarded funding toward their next film, so jurors are empowered to support and promote future content that is relevant and important to them, in a proactive way.

Public Screenings A diverse line-up of films are presented as part of the public program with daily screenings across multiple venues in Katara. While films for and about youth are the core focus of Ajyal, the program also features new films for everyone. Highlights include the Made in Qatar section featuring work by filmmakers who call Qatar home; Opening and Closing night gala screenings; and the Sony Pop-Up Cinema on the Katara esplanade which will host free familyfriendly screenings. Directors and stars will be in attendance for Q&A sessions and special event appearances throughout the festival. Check the www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival website from November 13 for full program details.

rn about greenYoung festival-goers lea many workshops al's screen at one of Ajy

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Entertainment Family Days Ajyal Family Days provide great opportunities for families to play, learn and enjoy a variety of exciting activities together. There will be storytelling, video games, music, dance, shows and performances from talented local and international youth – and a whole bunch of other surprises. All events at Ajyal Family Days are free and offer activities for kids of all ages.

The Sandbox A highlight of the 2013 festival, The Sandbox is back with digital delights to entertain people of all ages. The festival’s interactive play-space is a collaborative environment that gives participants hands-on access to the latest digital technologies used in filmmaking – and the combination of imagination, creativity and high-tech equipment makes for a whole lot of fun. The family-friendly interactive playground includes installations, educational games, apps, digital creative tools and hands-on production activities from Doha and around the world.

e Go hands-on inside 'Th ival's Sandbox' – one of the fest ces spa e ativ cre r ula pop most

Box Office Info The program for the Ajyal Youth Film Festival was announced on November 12 and will be available online, as well as hard copy film guides available at selected locations throughout Doha. To check it out go to www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival. Tickets On Sale: Tuesday, November 18 at 1:00 p.m. (online and in person).Tickets are available for purchase 24 hours a day at www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival. A physical ticket is required to gain entry to all ticketed screenings. Prices Regular Screenings: QR 25 Premium Screenings: QR 40 Ticket Outlets & Timings Ajyal Festival Booth City Center Mall, West Bay Open Tues, Nov 18-Sun, Dec 6 • Nov 18: 1:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. • Nov 19-Dec 6: 2:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.> (Sat-Wed) 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (Thurs & Fri) Doha Film Institute, Katara Drama Theatre Ticket Outlet Katara, Building 16 • Open Tues, Nov 18-Thurs, Nov 27 1:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m., daily • From November 28, the Ajyal Katara Main Box Office is located in Katara Building 12. • During the Festival (Dec 1-6) the Doha Film Institute, Katara Drama Theatre Ticket Outlet at Building 16 opens approximately one hour prior to an event’s start time.

Screenshot from the Khalil animated adaptation of which , t phe Pro e Th 's ran Gib tern will make its Middle Eas premiere at the festival

Katara Main Box Office Katara, Building 12 Open Fri, Nov 28-Sat, Dec 6 • Nov 28-30: 1:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. • Dec 1-5: 1:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. • Dec 6: 10:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. Screening Venues All Ajyal Youth Film Festival screenings and events are held at Katara Cultural Village. n

re red-carpet There will be loads mo this year's event! at had be photo-ops to

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Entertainment

The Girl Next Door By Jan Janssen

A natural born actress, Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most refreshing and unpretentious celebrities you could ever want to meet. With one Oscar win (for Best Actress in Silver Linings Playbook) and two other nominations in the last four years, Lawrence is also the hottest female movie star on the planet. We catch up with her as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1) gets ready to hit theatres. 20 QH Nov 2014 - FINAL.indd 20

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From young ingénue to Hollywood leading lady, r Jennifer Lawrence's sta ht brig e shin to es continu

sehold Lawrence became a hou role name after accepting the en rde Eve niss of Kat

I

n person, the tall (5'9") and curvy Jennifer Lawrence is nervous, excitable, and a bundle of energy. "Too much coffee is dangerous for me," she laughs. She's become America's ‘It Girl’ ever since she tripped up the steps on the way to collecting her Oscar and then traded playful barbs with the press corps backstage, even flipping them the bird at one point. Lawrence is a delightfully irrepressible and unfiltered personality. She loves speaking her mind and doesn't really care what others think of her –although she might not have been pleased to see intimate selfies of herself circulating on the internet this summer. Otherwise, however, Jennifer embraces her ebullient nature and lust for life. Amazed by her own success, she just wants to be herself and we canonly hope she stays that way. "Acting has always been my destiny and that's kind of made it easy for me in life," Lawrence says. "You'll never hear me complaining about staying in great hotels or getting to wear beautiful designer dresses." Her new film – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1) - is the third installment in the billiondollar movie franchise and sees Lawrence's heroic teenage warrior Katniss become the reluctant leader of the rebel army. There are plenty of steep emotional peaks and valleys in this big screen adaptation of the third and final volume of the Suzanne Collins trilogy, and Lawrence herself was deeply affected by her character's journey in Mockingjay. "I cried when I read the third script, I really did. It's heart-breaking," said Lawrence while she was shooting the film in Atlanta last year. According to director Francis Lawrence (no relation to Jennifer), who also directed 2013's

Catching Fire, '"It's a very confusing, conflicted, complicated time for Katniss. She's distraught, confused, angry." Meanwhile, Lawrence's personal life has experienced some turbulence of late, too. Earlier this year she split with Nicholas Hoult only to wind up in the arms of Chris Martin, the Coldplay frontman who separated from his wife of 11 years, Gwyneth Paltrow. Lawrence was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and early on she developed a taste for performing in school plays and as a high-school cheerleader. As a 14-year-old natural beauty, she began finding local modeling jobs which soon landed her in New York after she "begged" her mother to take her there for auditions. The strategy paid off, though, as Jennifer was chosen for an H&M ad campaign. At 15, she landed a role in a TBS sitcom after which she and her family moved to Los Angeles to support her career. Her first big acting break came with her critically-acclaimed supporting role opposite Charlize Theron in The Burning Plain which earned her the Best New Young Actress prize at the Venice Film Festival. But nothing could have prepared anyone for the moving intensity and sweet gravitas of her work in Winter's Bone, a stark drama which first gained momentum by winning the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to Mockingjay, Lawrence will also be seen in Serena, a 1920s drama co-starring her American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook co-star, Bradley Cooper. Earlier this year she was seen reprising her role as the blue-bathed Mystique in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

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Entertainment JL: Being followed by the paparazzi is a nuisance, but I usually switch cars with friends and that usually makes it easier for me to get around without being followed. One thing that is kind of disappointing is the feeling that people are treating you differently because they know you're famous and you don't have that natural kind of contact when you first meet someone. I don't like feeling different or having people relate to you as a celebrity. It just gets in the way although I try to just be myself and not make anyone feel uncomfortable if they're meeting me for the first time. That's why it's good to be able to stay in touch with friends who've known you before you started becoming successful and getting a lot of attention. I want to stay clear of all the b.s. in the industry.

this month, Back on the big screen mises to pro 1) Mockingjay (Part film ker dar ch mu be a

QH: Jennifer, are you happy to be getting back into the role of Katniss in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay? JL: When I signed on to the franchise, I was so prepared. I said to myself, ‘Well, you'll have fun on the first one, and the next one you'll be miserable and it'll seem like it's forever and you'll get really bored...’ I was just prepared for that. But it hasn't happened. I get really excited when I'm shooting…I was so excited to get back to shoot three and four, because I know everybody and we're buddies, so it's like going back to school. Except it's more fun than school. Much more fun...I feel like it's going home. Other jobs make me feel strange – 'I don't know these people!’ – and then I go back to Hunger Games and I'm like, 'OK...' QH: Being part of a film franchise is a dream come true for many actors. How did you first react to getting the role of Katniss, knowing what that might mean for your career?

huge celebrity over the last few years. How do you handle the fame? JL: Fame doesn't mean much to me, but I love being in a position to help my family. That's been a real blessing and it's a wonderful feeling to know that after everything my parents sacrificed to get me to this place, I can now turn around and give them peace of mind and take care of whatever it is they want. My family is the reason I am where I am, and who I am, and my brothers are the most important people to me. One of my brothers has a baby, and to know I can help him pay for his school if he ever needs it. And I've got another brother who loves to travel around the world, and I love that I can surprise him with a flight to Australia or wherever he wants to go. Being able to do things for all of them is the best thing that's ever happened to me in my entire life. QH: Do you ever spoil yourself?

JL: I was thrilled, of course, but in the beginning I was worried about the kind of impact being part of a huge film franchise would have on my life. If those films are successful, your entire life changes and it also affects the way audiences perceive you and how they relate to you when you play in other films. But being part of Silver Linings Playbook obviously helps create a different kind of perception because Tiffany is such a unique character. So as long as I can keep mixing things up I'll be OK. QH: You've managed to win an Oscar, make some very important films, and become a

QH: You're emerging as a new kind of Hollywood symbol. Someone who has a very natural beauty...? JL: Thank you. I really try not to think too much about my weight except when I'm getting ready for a film or doing a photo-shoot or something like that. I don't think I need to starve to look attractive or be appreciated for my work. I like having a few curves. (Laughs). QH: Has it been difficult to handle success –so much, so fast? JL: It hasn't been for me. Everyone made it seem like, when it happens, everything is going to change... But nothing has actually changed for me except that all these incredible fashion designers are sending me such beautiful outfits to wear. QH: Do you enjoy dressing up for the red carpet?

JL: I don't have expensive tastes. I've been driving the same car for years now in L.A. and I'm not about to go buy a Porsche. My family always taught me to have good sense when it comes to money and so just because I have money now doesn't mean I have to spend it! I'm happiest doing simple things and hanging out with my friends and family.

JL: (Laughs). That's about the only time I like to get really dressed up. Usually if I'm on my own, I don't like to wear any makeup and I like to go around in regular clothes. I grew up with two brothers and I was never a ‘girly’ girl who liked to fuss about my hair or what I would wear to school. I'm still pretty nervous when it comes to going on the red carpet or figuring out which outfits I'm going to wear to big events and such.

QH: What's the most difficult aspect of being in the spotlight and having your private life scrutinized in the media on a regular basis?

QH: You've been hailed as a very naturallygifted actress and were only 14 when you got your start. Did you always know that you had acting in your blood?

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msworth and Josh With co-stars Liam He 4 Cannes Film Festival Hutcherson at the 201

allows me to release a lot of anger or anxiety in front of the camera! QH: You give the impression of being very direct and uninhibited yourself?

JL: It's all I wanted to do with my life. I knew it was something I could excel at – that's why I finished [high] school early. Nobody wants to hire someone who's still in school, so I'd lock myself into my room and work for eight hours to finish all my courses and graduate early because my mom insisted I finish school. I knew what I wanted. It was weird. I knew what I was made for, what I was meant to do with my life and I didn't want to let it go. Acting has always been my destiny and that's kind of made it easy for me in life. A lot of my friends have just graduated university and they still don't know what they want to do or whether they can even find a job. So my life is pretty easy and you'll never hear me complaining about staying in great hotels or getting to wear beautiful designer dresses. QH: Which kind of character are you more inclined to play –good girls or bad girls? JL: I'm always asking myself that question when I'm given a screenplay to read. If, for whatever reason, I have this spontaneous attraction to playing a bad or darker kind of character, I still want audiences to be able to identify with my character. That's why I thought that TIffany in Silver Linings Playbook was so perfect – because she was neither totally bad or totally good. But if I had to choose, I would probably rather play a bad girl because in some way that means I don't care so much whether the public loves me or not! (Laughs). It's more fun to play the bad girl. It

JL: I don't want to present a manufactured version of myself. I sometimes make my publicist cringe when I start talking about something and I'm liable to say something outrageous or a little strange. I don't have that much control over my mouth and I never prepare what I'm going to say before I do an interview. I need to feel that I'm being as truthful and natural as I can be because I know that works for me. That's why I do basically no research for a part because I like the idea of getting to the set and operating from instinct. I think I do my best work when I'm functioning instinctively and letting the emotions flow naturally into my character. I like not knowing how I do what I'm doing – it lets me be much freer and more uninhibited and fearless when I'm working. QH: Much to your credit, you've consistently refused to starve yourself for film roles, or conform to the Hollywood obsession with very thin actresses. JL: I know that there's this trend of actresses looking very thin but I don't think that that [thin] look suits me and I feel just fine the way I am and not worrying about my weight too much. I've never had guys complain about the way I look either! (Laughs). Even when I was getting ready to play Katniss [in Hunger Games] I didn't want to have this emaciated look. I wanted to look fit and athletic and let girls know that they don't have to starve to look healthy or attractive. I don't think women need to starve to look good. QH: You've confessed to being star-struck when you meet certain stars whom you've idolized. Are you still that way?

JL: Yes. I'm such a huge lover of films that I find it hard to be myself or feel relaxed and confident when I happen to meet great actors whose films I might have watched dozens and dozens of times and because I love their work. Over the last year or so, because I've become better known, I've started to become a little more at ease and courageous when I do meet a great actor whom I admire. But sometimes I still get flustered and nervous. For example, whenever I've met Bill Murray, who is one of my greatest idols, I just can't talk properly to him. I freeze up. Also, when I first met John Travolta, I thought I was going to throw up. QH: When you were growing up, did you have any celebrity crushes? JL: When I was young, I was completely under the spell of Jim Morrison and Paul Newman until one of my friends made me realize that I was listening to music and obsessing over films from another era. One of my idols was dead, of course, and Paul Newman at the time was in his 80s. As far as younger stars are concerned, I had a childhood crush on Justin Timberlake while he was with N'Sync. Today I'm still a big fan of Justin's but I also adore Bradley Cooper – who's becoming my regular co-star now, although of course it's a platonic love! (Laughs). QH: Do you worry about the effects of fame and fortune on you? JL: I don't take it that seriously and I don't feel self-important simply because my face is on magazine covers and all that. The attention is fun most of the time but I have this inner awareness that it's not real and so I hope that allows me to stay real. The most I ever feel like I'm living in another world is when I get to stay in fabulous hotel rooms and feel like I'm living like a princess. Room service is wonderful! n

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Entertainment

The Hills

Are Alive! As told to Jorge Granda Images courtesy of State Media

The world’s best-loved musical The Sound Of Music will grace the stage in Doha this November 26-29 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, to the delight of audiences. QH has the inside scoop on what’s set to be the theatrical experience of the year.

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ir rendition of The cast performs the orite Things' Fav 'My g the classic son

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he critically-acclaimed, award winning production of The Sound of Music is coming to Qatar for a six-show performance run. Considered by many to be the most successful production in musical film history, Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1965 screenplay of The Sound of Music was the recipient of five Oscars, including Best Picture. Its soundtrack stands in history as the best-selling musical of all time – going platinum more than 12 times, with a landmark score that includes some of the most beloved songs in the American songbook –‘My Favourite Things’, ‘Edelweiss’, ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’, ‘Do Re Mi’, ‘The Lonely Goatherd’, ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’, and the wonderful title track.

Governess Maria meets the von Trapp children in the musical's first act

A true and moving story, The Sound Of Music recalls the touching memories of Maria and the von Trapp family, and their struggles as their homeland of Austria faces up to Nazi conversion during the Anschluss, just prior to the Second World War. Featuring a host of lavish costumes and beautiful sets, a stunning live orchestra and starring a cast of 26 of the very best singers and actors from London’s West End, The Sound of Music will come alive at the Qatar National Convention Centre in the 2,300-seat stateof-the-art theatre. The cast will include Lucy

Hunter James who returns in the lead role of Maria. The theatrical extravaganza is directed and musically-staged by John Payton, with musical direction by Spencer James, set design by Cleo Pettit and John Payton, lighting by Paul Gould, costumes by Anna Saunders and sound by Bo Collier. n

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Dates: Wed, Nov 26 till Sat, Nov 29 Location: Qatar National Convention Centre Performances: • Nov 26 & 27, 7:00 p.m. • Nov 28 & 29, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. The show lasts approximately 2hrs 40 minutes, including intermission Ticket Info: • VVIP, QR 1,200 • VIP, QR 850 • Platinum, QR 650 • Gold, QR 400 • Silver, QR 250 Tickets can be purchased online from Virgin Megastore at tickets.virginmegastore.me. Contact Info: www.soundofmusicqatar.com, or follow ‘Statemediame’ on Facebook.

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Entertainment

That Golden

Voice As told to Jorge Granda Images courtesy of The W Doha

Lexter brings his hot and heavy sound to Spice ! Market this November

Making his Doha début at The W Hotel, get into the groove and unwind at Spice Market to the soulful beats of British pop-reggae star Lexter.

F

rom its chic and sleek vibe, to its fusion flavours of the Orient, it’s no secret that Spice Market is the place to be on any given night. Now, every Monday to Friday between up until November 14, party-goers can listen to new musical talent Lexter’s enchanting vocals. Mixing it up with three styles of music – reggae, pop and dance, Lexter will perform from 8:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m.

Spice Market's lush layout and Far East décor has made it a magnet for Doha's after-work crowd

An accent wall is adorned with lly woven platters traditiona d ppe wra rice ve ser used to in banana leaves

The UK-born singer grew up in New Marston, Oxford where he found a passion for music and dance. Later, Lexter moved to Barcelona where he formed the successful Blue 4 U group and achieved hits with ‘Livin’ In Jam’ which went to number three in the Spanish charts and ‘Happy World’ that went to the number one spot. The star’s single ‘Freedom to Love’ has also garnered international success in 20 countries from Japan to the U.S.A. and was additionally chosen as The Best Song of the Year 2008 in Romania by the prestigious Music Control. While enjoying this incredible musical backdrop, sip and savour the selection of flavours from Spice Market’s new menu. Under a stylish cluster of lanterns accentuating a warm and exotic ambiance, diners and party-goers alike can sample eight new Southeast Asian street food-inspired dishes prepared by Chef Mads Wolff and his culinary team. For more information call 4453-5343 or visit www.spicemarketdoha.com. n

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Entertainment

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Party Hoppin’

Happenings By Jorge Granda Images courtesy of the Marriot Marquis City Center Doha

For sports fans, there’s only one place that keeps the score. Located on the second level of the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, Champions Sports Bar is the ideal spot to have a pitcher while watching your favourite teams on the big-screens.

I

can dare to say that Doha has developed a pretty diverse nightlife scene in the last couple of years – which is terrific, don’t get me wrong. But when it comes to the country’s selection of sports bars I’m sorry to say the choices are extremely limited, and some of them

poorly carried out. But Champions Sports Bar at the Marriott Marquis compensates for the lack of choice and certainly fills the void for more than a few football fans. I remember visiting the bar when it was still under construction back in 2011, and recall telling the Marketing Manager at the time that Champions would be their most popular outlet – there was something about it that just felt right, and I wasn’t wrong. Champions is all about sports and having fun. It’s a relaxed and laid-back spot filled with lads in their jeans hooting and cheering at the screens and, most importantly, loads and loads of sudsy steins filled to the brim. Even if you’re not a card-carrying sports fan, Champions is still a great place to go for a drink, catch some live music, eat some deliciously fatty food, or take in one of their monthly packed-to-the-rafters quiz nights. And, if like the majority of folk who go, you’re there to catch the game, Champions

sharing, The perfect platter for the spot hit hos nac ded these loa

has the liveliest atmosphere to pull up a stool, pick your poison and root for your team. The bar is quite big and there are comfortable tables all over, plus a neglected dance-floor that could actually be a great way to heat up the party. Open for dinner and with a smart-casual dress code, this isn’t the place for a delicate meal or a fancy cocktail; but for a laid-back happy hour or night out with the gang, it’s definitely the right spot to enjoy yourselves. n UPCOMING EVENTS AT CHAMPIONS Let’s Get Quizzical Nov 10: Join Champions for the best quiz night in Doha with a maximum of six people per team to win the 1st prize of QR 3,000. Price: Free Entry Timing: 7:30 p.m. till 9:30 p.m. Contact Info: Call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com. Music Fridays Weekly: Champions presents evenings of international music and pizazz with all your favourite songs played by their live house band. Price: QR 60 entry fee (inclusive of 1 house beverage) Timing: From 8:00 p.m. onwards Contact Info: Call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

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Virgin Recommends U QH BRINGS YO F PICKS F A T S P O T E H T STORE A G E M E H T M FRO

NAME: JAY-R EVANGELISTA STORE SECTION: MULTIMEDIA

TIME AT VIRGIN: 4 YEARS

Best Part of My Job:“I wasn’t a multimedia fan before… but once I started working in the multimedia team I experienced a lot of new things – gadgets, high-technology – and that’s why I love it. I really, really enjoy it.”

BEATS PILL XL This latest Beats By Dre speaker is even bigger, with crystal-clear audio and an improved bass. So if you like your music loud, this is just the ticket to the party. It’s a little costlier than some of the other models but for the quality it’s actually worth it. Plus it’s portable and easy to prop up anywhere on the go, from your car to the pool-deck! Retail price: QR 1,269.

BELKIN NETCAM WI-FI CAMERA If you find yourself stuck doing work from home, but still want to keep an eye on the kids in the next room, set up one of these gadgets and you’re good to go! All you need to do is open the applications that come with the software, download them onto your computer and follow the set-up instructions. The picture is crisp, clear and the audio is high-definition, so you can stay connected at all times. Retail price: QR 499.

AMAZON EBOOK READER For those who love to read, this gadget isn’t like other tablets. Supporting Amazon E-Book downloads, the e-technology in the device gives the effect that you’re reading an actual book or newspaper. Screen-glare is reduced and so is any eye-strain that might go along with it. It’s also 30% more light-weight than a Kindle! Retail price: QR 779.

GOOGLE CHROMECAST This is similar to the Apple TV (and less expensive), where you can connect your mobile devices to the television. So if you want to use your iPhone or Android to watch movies on your big-screen TV, this is what you need – just plug it into your TV and connect to the internet. You will have to pay to download the Chromecast application to your mobile device, but once you do, you’re good to go! Retail price: QR 239.

ATARI FLASHBACK 4 GAME CONSOLE This is a blast from past for all the gamers out there! It comes with 75 built-in classics like Aquaventure, Space Invaders and Centipede – all you need to do is plug it into your TV and get ready for some old-school, eight-bit action! Retail price: QR 269.

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Spotlight On Movies

Interstellar Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi A group of explorers make use of a newly-discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Stars: Matthew MacConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain QH Fun Fact: Director Christopher Nolan says the film is “an ode to human space flight”, drawing inspiration from cinema sci-fi classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner.

Horrible Bosses 2 Comedy Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme. Stars: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis QH Fun Fact: This is movie is the first sequel that co-star Jennifer Aniston has done in her entire career! Shocker!

The Imitation Game Biography | Drama | Thriller English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing, helps crack the Enigma code during World War II. Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode QH Fun Fact: In 2011 the film’s screenplay topped the notorious annual Black List for best un-produced Hollywood scripts.

November isn’t skimping out on quality cinema. Here are our top five flicks to get you through the month – with a little something for everyone!

Penguins Of Madagascar Animation | Adventure | Comedy Super spy teams aren't born...they're hatched. Discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private as they join forces with the undercover organization The North Wind, to save the world. Stars: John Malkovich, Tom McGrath, Chris Miller QH Fun Fact: The three penguins became so popular throughout the Madagascar series, producers felt they finally deserved more than secondary-character status – and gave them their very own film!

The Theory Of Everything Biography | Drama A poignant look at the challenging relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife. Stars: Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Charlie Cox QH Fun Fact: It took writer Anthony McCarten ten years to bring his screenplay of this story to the big screen. Benedict Cumberbatch however, was the first actor to portray the scientist on-screen in the 2004 BBC production Hawking.

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Entertainment Listings RECOMMENDS

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Vinyl Records With DJ Santiago

Thursdays: Dunes. No need to bust out a Scrunchie or pull on leg-warmers for a musical trip back in time – they’ve got the vinyl records for that! This journey will happen every Thursday with DJ Santiago who will play the best nostalgic vinyl melodies. Book a future nightfrom-the-past by calling 7021-8094.

LA CIGALE Ladies Night With DJ Roger Choueiry

Sundays: Madison Piano Bar. Save your Sundays for the vibrant Ladies Night and dedicate your favourite songs to your special one. Ladies joining in will enjoy one welcome drink on the house. From 6:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. Membership required. For more information call 4428-8665 or 5518-8008.

Making it easier to navigate at your fingertips, we’ve categorized all our listings per outlet – brunches, business lunches and weekly/daily promotions.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA Let’s Get Quizzical

Nov 10: Champions. Join Champions for the best quiz night in Doha with a maximum of six people per team for a chance to win the first prize of QR 3,000. Entry is free and quiz runs from 7:30 p.m. till 9:30 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

New Champions Food Menu

Daily: Champions Sports Bar. Champions will launch its new award-winning bar-food menu with new additions like the ‘Currywurst’ and much more! From 5:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

THE GRAND HYATT Doha Hustle

Saturdays: Rocca. The Doha Hustle parties are back! Book your table every Saturday on Rocca’s terrace with DJ Kinky D and enjoy the best soul, funk, disco and deep house tunes while sipping the most refreshing drinks from a speciallycustomized beverage menu. Entry fee is QR 50 which includes a drink on the house. Don’t forget to leave your card for a chance to win prizes. For more information call 7021-8096.

Groove Office Concert

Nov 12: Dunes. Doha’s funkiest new eight-piece collective, made up of some of the city’s finest musicians, including former members of Supa Fat will entertain you at Dunes. The band will be sharing the stage with well-known American diva Avis Ellis. Expect tracks from The Jackson 5, Earth Wind & Fire, plus modern club anthems by Robyn S. and Rihanna — and expect their killer grooves to get the crowd dancing. For more information call 7021-8094.

Loi Krathong Celebration

Nov 7: Isaan. Guests are invited to celebrate the Thai festival of light at their favourite Thai restaurant, Isaan, at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy a delicious dinner buffet in the hotel’s magnificent garden as well as an outstanding Thai performance. Diners can savour a dinner buffet with soft drinks for QR 280, or a special beverage buffet for QR 395. Light a loi krathong for good luck and watch it float away into the night sky. For more information call 7021-8097.

THE FOUR SEASONS BBQ Night

Thursdays: Pool Grill. Kick-off your beach party with a selective feast of irresistible meat and seafood, grilled to perfection. Enjoy extraordinary BBQ such as 800gms of bonein rib-eye, complemented with refreshing beverages. From 7:00 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. For more information call 4494-8741.

Latino Night

Wednesdays: Pool Grill. Spice up your dining experience with Latino-inspired food, served a la carte in cosy outdoor ambiance. From 7:00 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. For more information call 4494-8741.

RADISSON BLU The Clash - Semi Final

Nov 14: Qube. Enjoy the 9th Clash of Bands inclusive of one regular drink for members only. QR 80. From 7:00 p.m. For more information call 4428-1428.

Quiz Night

Nov 24: Shehrazad. Take part with your team in their Pub Quiz conducted by Quizmaster Andrew. Dinner vouchers available for the winners. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., quiz starts at 8:00 p.m., and entrance is free. For more information call 4428-1555.

REGULAR PROMOTIONS CROWNE PLAZA DOHA – THE BUSINESS PARK Liquidity Nights

Thurs & Fri: Liquidity. Enjoy a drink or two with your favourite snack at Liquidity. Complimentary drinks for the ladies. From 8:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information call 4408-7777.

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Entertainment Listings DOHA MARRIOTT Pearl Lounge Theme Nights

Mondays: Ladies Just Wanna Have Fun. Gents QR 100, ladies get three free drinks between 9:00 p.m.and 12 midnight. Tuesdays: Bollywood vs. Hollywood. Ladies get one free drink between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. Wednesdays: Arabic Night. Ladies get one free drink between 9:00 p.m. and 12 midnight. Thursdays: Diva’s Night Out. Gents QR 75, ladies get three free drinks between 9:00 p.m. and12 midnight. Fridays: Khaliji Night. Saturdays: Bollywood. Gents pay QR 75 and get one free drink. Ladies get one free drink between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. Sundays: Closed. For more information call 4429-8444.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA Big Night Out

After-Work Evenings

Sun-Thurs: Hive. De-stress with an after-work visit to Hive and make the most of their buy-oneget-one free offer on selected house beverages between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. For more information call 4015-8888.

Live DJs

Wed-Fri: Strata. Enjoy three musical-themed nights with two extremely talented DJs on the decks from 9:30 p.m. till late. Every Wednesday and Friday enjoy the disco and deep, soulful house tunes from Steve Kz. Deep and funky house music enthusiasts will enjoy the beats played by Jared McCulloch & Friends every Thursday, with local DJs making guest appearances on selected dates. A mash-up of dance and urban tunes will keep you on the dance-floor the entire night every Friday with Sam World & Friends. For more information call 4015-8888.

Bucket Day

Wednesdays: Paloma & Lava. It’s Doha’s biggest ladies night with unlimited complimentary selected drinks for ladies. Dance to the tunes of Paloma’s new resident band, Sizzle, followed by two dance-floors with resident DJs from 10:00 p.m. till late. For more information call 4484-4444.

Fridays: Hive. Quench your thirst with a bucket of six brews for the price of four on selected beverages for QR 125, while listening to funky tunes from the ‘70s from 5:00 p.m. till midnight. Also perform your favourite song for the crowd from 8:00 p.m. till 12:00 midnight. For more information call 4015-8888.

Lava Theme Nights

Super Saturdays

Sundays: Hospitality Night. Enjoy a 50% discount on food and beverages for hotel staff and cabin crew with DJ Hossein. Mondays: Urban Diva Night with DJ Shadi. Enjoy two free drinks for ladies and no entrance fee from 10:00 p.m. till late. Tuesdays: Fly Night with Resident DJs! Enjoy 50% off on food and beverages for teachers and free drinks for female cabin crew all night. Thursdays: Vibe Nights with their resident DJ. Fridays: Sparkling Friday with their resident DJ. Saturdays: Themed parties every Saturday Night. Doors open from 8:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information call 4484-4919 or 4484-4444.

Happy Hour

Daily: Paloma. Enjoy an amazing Happy Hour from 5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. with selected beverage offerings seven days a week and exclusive food offerings on Saturday, Sunday and Monday with 50% off on the a la carte menu. For more information call 4484-4919 or 4484-4444.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA THE CITY Ladies First Nov: Strata. In November it’s all about the ladies every Friday night at Strata from 10:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. Come with your beau or your favourite gal pals for two free welcome drinks as they spoil you all night long with chances to win fantastic gifts. For more information call 4015-8888.

Saturdays: Hive. Gather the boys and get down to Hive on Saturday to enjoy the best the Premier League has to offer, while indulging in a 20% discount on food items and selected beverages for QR 25. For more information call 4015-8888.

Soulful Sundays

Sundays: The Lounge. Kéyali Mayaga returns, recharged, to The Lounge – ready to relax and chill you every Sunday evening with her magnificent voice. Start the new week in style at The Lounge and revel in blues and soul sounds from the much-loved repertoire of Kéyali. From 9:00 p.m. till 12:00 midnight. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Slow Motion Vogue

Wednesdays: The Lounge. The hippest night out in Doha returns in September with Longplayer and Kinky D at the decks of The Lounge. The weekend starts early with sophisticated Latin funk, disco-boogie and re-edited sounds. Sip the most creative cocktails in Doha and socialize with the trendiest crowd in the city. From 8:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

9 To 1 At The Lounge

Thursdays: The most chic Thursday night out in Doha arrives back at The Lounge after the summer vacation. Listen to the finest grooves and the slickest of soul, funk, jazz, Afro and soulful house music, sip cocktails of the future and be part of the fun and class. From 9:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

KEMPINSKI RESIDENCES & SUITES Sparkling Fridays

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA DJ Beats

Happy Hour MIX & FUSE

Music Fridays!

Fridays: The Lounge. Fridays at The Lounge are bright and sparkling! They welcome all ladies with two complimentary glasses of bubbly. From 8:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Daily: The Lounge. The Happy Hour at The Lounge is back, more Mixed and Fused than ever! From 5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m., socialize with the trendiest crowd in the city and sip your favourite beverages and cocktails or take a bite from the refreshed options on the menu and benefit from a 50% discount on selected items. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Airline Flight Crew Happy Hours

Daily: All airline flight crew can enjoy a complimentary 20% off their final bill of their dinner and/or drinks in Aroma or The Lounge when presenting their company ID card. From 7:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Thurs-Sat: Glo Bar. Glo Bar presents DJ Lady CC from Portugal on the decks bringing you the latest grooves on the dance-floor every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Entry is free. From 8:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

Fridays: Champions. The sports bar presents evenings of international music and pizzazz with all your favourite songs played by a live band. Entry fee is QR 60 inclusive of one house beverage. From 8:00 p.m. onwards. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

MÖVENPICK HOTEL DOHA Be Entertained At Jazz Up

Fridays: Jazz Up. This bar is a charming spot where sports and music-lovers can chill out in intimate and contemporary surroundings. Listen to soothing tunes and indulge in the beverage selections, creative cocktails and snacks. Catch all the major sporting events live on the big screen, plus sizzling performance by the Doha Jazz Club every Friday from 8:00 p.m. onwards. For more information call 4429-1111.

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THE ST. REGIS DOHA High Heels Night

Wednesdays: Vintage Lounge. Step into the glamourous and elegant Vintage Lounge for a great night out. Ladies enjoy a 50% discount off selected beverages from 6:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. For more information call 4446-0000.

Jam At JALC Doha

Wednesdays: Every Wednesday night JALC Doha gathers an eclectic group of local, regional and international musicians for an exciting and impromptu jam session. Led by JALC Global Ambassador Dominick Farinacci, musicians and vocalists of all styles are brought together in dynamic performances. QR 100 entry per person includes complimentary welcome beverage. From 9:00 p.m. till late. For more information call 4446-0000.

W DOHA ‘The VIBE’ Ladies Night

Mondays: Wahm. Enjoy a night of deep house and Afro-beats with resident DJ’s Bruno & Savino. Ladies sip two drinks on the house from 9:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. Strictly reservation and guest list-only. For more information call 4453-5323.

Lounge & Mingle

Nov 5 & 26: Wahm. DJ Adrien continually amazes the social set, both locally and internationally, with his eclectic style of cross-mixing electronic dance music best defined as nu-disco and house. With a growing number of followers and new projects in the pipeline, Adrien Callier is definitely the next big name to watch out for in the Middle East. Strictly reservation and guest list-only. For more information call 4453-5323.

Happy Hour At Crystal

Mon-Fri: Crystal. Enjoy Happy Hour at Crystal Lounge accompanied by their ‘Radiation Duo’ live band performing from 6:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. There’s a 50% happy hour discount on beverages, plus indulge yourselves with their renewed and recharged food menu. From 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. For more information call 4453-5353.

Arabesque Night

Saturdays: Crystal. Crystal proudly presents every Saturday, Arabesque Night featuring LAYALI 1001 NIGHT's with the stars Fadi & Mazen performing live all the latest Arabic songs, while DJ Imran mixes the best of R&B and commercial house. For more information call 4453-5353.

See us online! www.qatarhappening.com

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Entertainment Directory

DOHA MÖVENPICK HOTEL Jazz Up

THE RITZ-CARLTON Level 23

THE FOUR SEASONS Beach Bar Lounge

Let us help you make the most of your weekend with our comprehensive directory of bars, pubs , clubs and lounges throughout the city. So grab your friends and head out for a night on the town! Admiral’s Club The Ritz-Carlton

4448-4800

Jazz At Lincoln Center Doha The St. Regis Doha

Pearl Lounge Doha Marriott

Bar Rancho’s Grand Regal Hotel

4425-6666

The Jazz Club Oryx Rotana 4402-3333

Beach Bar Lounge The Four Seasons

4494-8888

Jazz Up Mövenpick Hotel Doha 4429-1111

Belgian Café InterContinental Doha

4484-4444

Krossroads Horizon Manor Hotel

Bubbles on Two Radisson Blu 4428-1428 Champions Marriott Marquis City Center Doha 4419-6100 Cigar Lounge Sharq Village & Spa Club 7 La Cigale Crystal Lounge W Doha D’Illusion Gokulam Park Dunes The Grand Hyatt Fahrenheit Horizon Manor Hotel

4425-6666

4428-8888

Lava Lounge InterContinental Doha Le Club Mercure Grand Hotel Level 23 The Ritz-Carlton

Qube Radisson Blu 4428-1428 Rocca The Grand Hyatt

4448-1234

Shehrazad Radisson Blu 4428-1428 4445-5444 Sky View La Cigale

4428-8888

4484-4444 Spike’s Lounge Doha Golf Club

4496-0777

4446-2222 Splash Oryx Rotana 4402-3333

Liquidity Crowne Plaza Doha The Business Park

4448-4800 Strata Lounge InterContinental Doha The City

Madison Piano Bar La Cigale

4015-8888

The Irish Harp Sheraton Doha

4485-4444

The Library Radisson Blu

4428-1428

4428-8888

4470-8888 Manhattan Radisson Blu 4428-1428 4448-1234 Misturado Crowne Plaza Doha The Business Park

4408-7777

4453-5135

4445-5444

4429-8888

4446-0000

The Library Bar & Cigar Lounge The Four Seasons

4494-8888

4405-3325

4408-7777

Glo Cocktail Bar Marriott Marquis City Center Doha 4419-6100

Orion Radisson Blu

4428-1428

The Lounge Kempinski Residences & Suites

Habanos The Ritz-Carlton

Oyster Bay & Bar The St. Regis Doha

4446-0105

Vintage Lounge The St. Regis Doha

4446-0105

Paloma InterContinental Doha

4484-4444

Wahm W Doha

4453-5353

4484-8000

Hive InterContinental Doha The City 4015-8888

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Arts & Culture

s k c i P p o T ’s This Month

Qatar Museums Brazil! Festival

Qatar Museums

Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

Yousef Ahmad: Story Of Ingenuity Nov 11: QM Gallery, Katara. Running until February 14, 2015, this exhibition highlights Qatari artist Yousef Ahmad’s body of work through a precise selection of the most striking artworks from his early works in the 1970s up until today. It showcases three phases of his artistic career, from the early oil paintings that include the historic depiction of Al Zubarah Fort, to his mixed media calligraphic pieces where he utilizes and creates local palm tree paper, to his new conceptual artworks presenting his ability of developing an innovative artistic style. For more information visit www.qm.org.qa.

Museum Of Islamic Ar t Chamber Music at MIA: Music Of The Gulf Nov 6: Atrium, First Floor, MIA. A free concert by members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, enjoy the beautiful setting, a spectacular nighttime view and let the enchanting chamber music captivate your imagination. Performance runs from 6:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. For more information email MIAevents@qm.org.qa.

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IAID Music Courses Sat-Thurs: Hilal St., Al-Tadamon Signal, D-Ring Road. Offering classes in classical piano, acoustic guitar, electronic keyboard and Western vocals. All music courses incorporate Western notations and follow the London College of Music (LCM) syllabus. Examinations are held every six months at IAID by LCM examiners. Non-IAID students are welcome to enroll. For more information call 4432-0974/4441-1234, email enquire@iaidonline.org or visit www.iaidonline.org.

Nov 6-8: Museum Of Islamic Art Park. A colourful slice of the energy and creativity of Brazil lands in Qatar for a weekend of events brought to you by the Qatar Brazil 2014 Year of Culture and presented by Qatar Museums. Brazil will be celebrated with music, story-telling, football and stands selling Brazilian streetfood. The content of the festival will reflect the diversity of Brazil, with the design evoking the colours and sights of the country, plus activities representing different Brazilian regions and states. Admission is free and festival timings are Thursday and Friday 2:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., and Saturday 12 noon till 10:30 p.m. For more information visit www.qatarbrazil2014.com.

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

School Concerts: Peter And The Wolf

Nov 12 & 13: Opera House, Building 16, Katara. Open to schools across Qatar who would like to bring their students to experience a concert by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. The perfect way to introduce an appreciation for classical music to younger audiences, students will enjoy the full repertoire of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Op 67, with Andreas Sebastian Weiser conducting and Christoph Schmitz narrating. Performances are at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. To buy tickets for your students call Khalid Al Naemi at 4454-8184 or email kalnaemi@qf.org.qa.

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Arts & Culture

The Artist’s Narrative

By Ashlee Starratt Images courtesy of Qatar Museums

Shirin Neshat is one of Iran’s most prolific female artists. After leaving her native land to study in the US at the time of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she has been based out of New York City ever since, where she continues to create works of art that reflect the historical, political and cultural experiences of Iran. Her first solo exhibition in the Middle East, Shirin Neshat:Afterwards makes its début at Mathaf this month. QH explores its themes with curator Abdellah Karroum. Artist Shirin Neshat

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QH: Afterwards will be Shirin Neshat’s first solo exhibition in the region. Tell us how Mathaf became the platform for this milestone. AK: Shirin Neshat: Afterward exhibition, [her] first solo show in region, has been in the program for the past few years already, and I enjoyed curating it at Mathaf. The show continues the series of similar exhibitions, focusing on strong artistic statements, such as for Mona Hatoum, Etel Adnan and Manal Al Dowayan for example. Mathaf hosts two major exhibitions every year, and has on view a permanent collection exhibition, as well as a number of experimental curatorial and artistic projects and performances. The museum is to us the place for major exhibitions by local, regional and international artists. Our relatively young institution is committed to encourage strong artistic positions in today’s world.

manifests itself in the visual vocabulary she uses, which is comprised of photography, calligraphy, poetry and filmmaking. With these elements, Neshat creates powerful narratives that require viewers to decrypt, interpret and position themselves within the work in order to fully grasp its meaning.

fall of ancient dynasties, Neshat’s photographic series The Book of Kings focuses on contemporary narratives of political upheavals, revolutions, and falls of tyrants.

QH: The ancient Book Of Kings features prominently in Neshat’s conceptualizations throughout the exhibit as a juxtaposition between history and the politics of today. Can you elaborate on this connection?

AK: The title Afterwards refers to the thinking process around which the exhibition is built. The exhibition is an act of formulating a narrative in order to offer an artistic experience to audiences. When looking at her body of work, the viewer will notice that the display refers directly to ancient history, mythology and sociology too. The body of work is somehow appearing ‘after’ the occurrence of these series of events and this is how the title made sense for Shirin. n

AK: The artist uses history and literature, as well as poetry and political events, to build her artistic vocabulary and speak about our society and lives. Neshat draws a parallel between current political and cultural changes and the Shahnameh [Book Of Kings], a mythological, historical account of pre-Islamic Persia, written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi in the 10th century. While the Shahnameh captures the rise and

QH: What significance does the name Afterwards have to the exhibition?

To learn more about Shirin Neshat: Afterwards and other upcoming exhibitions at Mathaf visit www.mathaf.org.qa.

QH: Neshat, who is Iranian but living in the US, has described herself in a 2010 TEDx talk as being an ‘artist-in-exile’. In hosting this ground-breaking exhibition of her work, how does Mathaf see itself contributing to the importance of the Iranian artistic experience? AK: Shirin Neshat is an artist who created a unique language, inspired by her personal life and the world surrounding her. The themes of ‘exile’ and ‘nomadism’ always played a pivotal role in art history, and in Shirin’s work this topic is approached from her personal experience and from the history of people from her country. Her position of ‘the artist as a citizen’ is informed and affected by today’s situation of all women in Iran and other countries. The artist, who is also a citizen, looks at society and uses her writing and interpretation of the real to reflect and dialogue with other parts of society. This is how artists participate [in] changing the world. Mathaf is interested in the Arab World and its connections, including the ones with Iran as well as Turkey and other continents. We want to build a centre for artistic production and dialogue with other fields. QH: What themes are explored throughout Afterwards and what mediums can gallery-goers expect to encounter? AK: The work of Shirin Neshat explores the connections between ancient history and the politics of the present narrated through a strong visual language referencing the primal concepts of violence, passion and love in universal history. Using a montage of poetry and images that address the paradox of beauty and violence, the artist proposes different perspectives on these collective histories. Her poetic expression

Women of Allah t Copyright Shirin Nesha ssels. llery, NewYork and Bru Courtesy Gladstone Ga Left: Offered Eyes,1993 taken by Plauto) Ink on RC print (photo t Shirin Neshat igh pyr Co , cm 1 92. x 133 ls. y, NewYork and Brusse ller Ga one dst Courtesy Gla

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Arts & Culture

Words In

Motion By Sarah Al Motairi Selected photography courtesy of Jessie Palanca and The British Council

QH is honoured to present Qatari poet and writer, Maryam Al Subaiey, whose literary art has inspired many within and outside of Qatar. “Many consider me a poet but I don’t see myself as one,” Maryam humbly states. Humble…this is the very word I would use to describe Maryam Al Subaiey. Beautiful, talented and charmingly outspoken, Maryam and I delve into her journey with The British Council’s ‘Walking Cities Project’, and how it led her to Londonderry as an ambassador for Qatar. Maryam’s love for writing began in the fifth grade. She admits it was writing in diaries that inspired her free-thinking and expression; she has been a writer ever since. “Poetry is not new to Qatar or the Arabian world,” she says. “It is a part of our daily lives. Arabian Gulf songs are poems before they are songs. My grandmothers often recite poetry in response to issues and discussions in our daily lives. We are surrounded by the beauty of poetic words.” Maryam was exposed to poetry in school at a young age. Her early years were filled with the likes of Arabian poet Imru’ Al-Qais. “I am not a fan of traditional Gulf poetry,” she tells us. “I prefer classical Arabic poetry by renowned Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish.” Maryam proudly explains that poetry is as old as the Arab culture itself and that it has developed over the centuries within the Arab world. Classical poetry has slowly developed over time to more modernized dialects through the likes of Mahmoud Darwish and Nizar Qabbani. Through the years, dialects and styles have changed; in turn, leading to a diverse range of poetry. “The region is now home to poetry competitions that rival American Idol with poets that are as well-known as Hollywood actors,” she states. “I had a pen friend from Jordan. We used to write to one another frequently. I feel my writing

m Author and poet Marya rds to wo her ds len y aie Sub Al tion era gen new a the voice of

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ect the artistic The murals in Derry refl and's troubles Irel ern rth No of expression

developed in those letters.” Frequent writing courses and workshops assisted in providing Maryam with a solid writing foundation. Maryam believes that her poetry is her voice, her inner feelings, and her dreams. “Poetry has always been a way for me to expand my dreams, let go of my frustrations and hear my thoughts,” she muses. “Many consider me a poet but I don’t see myself as one. I write a lot in regards to gender discrimination. We live in a vortex of change here in Qatar and that very change can lead to conflict between younger and older generations. My writings reflect our daily lives, decisions we are faced with, choices we have to make. I feel my poetry reflects Qatari and Arab women of a certain age.” She goes on to state, “Discussing your dreams and aspirations does not mean we are letting go of our values and roots. It does not mean that we shy away from being Qatari. On the contrary, we are proud to be Qatari and we understand that our culture and religion play a significant role in our daily lives and choices. Stay true to your identity (culture, tradition, religion) while embracing individuality and follow your dreams.” Social media has played a vital role in allowing Maryam to share her thoughts as well as develop her poems. “I tend to write my verses on Twitter. Social media allows one to express their feelings. You know people will read your thoughts and respond. It allows you a sense of communication and freedom. I save my Tweets as I write and then later come back to them to help develop a poem. A lot of my poems are written this way. I find it refreshing that social media and my followers help me to develop my thoughts and poetry.” Maryam strongly asserts that being a young Qatari woman gives her the responsibility to ensure Qatar is represented in a positive fashion.

Her journey with The British Council’s ‘Walking Cities Project’ provided her with an eye-opening experience. Critically acclaimed poet, Colette Bryce, from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, visited Qatar as part of the ‘Walking Cities Project’. Maryam states that Colette did not know what to expect upon arrival in Qatar because Western media often gives a very skewed perspective on the Middle East. Maryam was able to be Qatar’s voice and host Colette as well as learn a lot about the history of Londonderry and Northern Ireland’s conflicts. “The program with the British Council allowed me to be a voice for my country; a window into our culture, religion and way of life. I was able to use my poetry and experiences

ide renowned Maryam speaks alongs at the ce Bry e lett Co t Irish poe Culture Qatar UK 2013Year of

to show people in Londonderry our culture, our faith, and our values while they taught me about theirs. The program allowed me to be an ambassador for my country. People there didn’t know that there were 22 Arab countries all with different dialects, history, faiths and customs,” says Maryam. Waseem Kotoub, Head of Arts and Creativity at the British Council Qatar stated, “[The] Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture has been a year to unite Qataris and British citizens alike. The ‘Walking Cities Project’ started in Doha and ended with the Writer’s Return in Londonderry. We look forward to the poems and experiences written at the end of this project. Maryam Al Subaiey and Colette Bryce are ambassadors to their nations. We are so very proud of them”

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Arts & Culture She wants to create a space in Qatar where people can express and create through art with no boundaries. “A space where they can be free,” she says.

in Northern Al Subaiey's experience lking Cities Project Wa the Ireland as part of es to her poetry brought fresh perspectiv

From conversations of religious similarities to political and cultural struggles, perhaps, what captured Maryam’s admiration most were Londonderry’s arts and culture movements. “Londonderry is thriving with art. Despite years of conflict and political instability, Northern Ireland is thriving. We can learn a lot from them. The conflicts are expressed through art all over the city,” Maryam excitedly states. “I loved that art institutions were created by the people and not by the government. Citizens were able to create centres, museums and free spaces for artists to express their artistic talents. There was one building that housed a theatre, exhibition space, workshops, restaurants and reading rooms all on the donations of the public. I hope to recreate a similar concept here in Qatar.” Ireland is covered in murals capturing

Maryam’s future goals are precise. “I don’t have long-term goals as I get bored quickly. I am restless. I keep my goals short-term and practical. I want to complete my children’s book series. I have three series so far and I hope to complete at least 15. My stories were inspired by local folktales. They revolve around the lives of pre-oil era kids and their adventures with local Qatari animals. They are a fun way to teach children about our environment. The books are currently in Arabic as I felt we do not have enough Arabic children’s books that are engaging and fun. Our children are losing their language and I hope these books can find a way into the homes of our children, once published.” At a reading for Gathering The Tide Maryam also hopes to compile and publish her book of poems. She has compiled 25 poems thus far and hopes to total 35 before publishing in both Arabic and English. She also has a goal to complete her novel as well as promote the concept of a self-sustainable society where citizens learn to be self-sufficient and innovative. “I want to encourage my fellow citizens to go out there and make change. Create your own vegetable garden, create recycling stations – be innovative.” Maryam believes that by surrounding oneself with like-minded people and constantly being aware of growth and success, anything is possible.

time in art. Belfast, Londonderry, other cities, all boasted murals that depict significant events in history as reminders to the people of their struggles and triumphs. When asked how she was inspired by her visit to Londonderry, Maryam confidently gleamed and said, “My goal is to replicate similar institutions funded by the people in Qatar. I dream to see art institutions were Qatari artists can practice art freely. I founded a company in Qatar called Q TALENT. I hope to create exchange programs for young, aspiring Qatari artists where they can export Qatari culture through art and poetry. A way for young Qataris to exhibit their work while highlighting our history and culture.” Maryam goes on to explain that art is often directly associated with religious and cultural beliefs.

At 28, Maryam has accomplished a number of goals, from being a writer to representing her country in a positive and influential manner. “I think I can be a good representation of Qatar,” she concludes. “Living abroad has opened my eyes to the negative views some Westerners may have of us and that has inspired me to show ourselves in a better light. Everything we do revolves around our culture and faith.This is how we are brought up. It is our responsibility to allow people into our world and to help them learn about us so we can unite and inspire globally.” n Maryam Al Subaiey is a Qatari poet whose poems have been published in Gathering the Tide: An Anthology of Contemporary Arabian Gulf Poetry in 2012. She has also contributed to Dareesha, a photo essay compiled by Dr. Mohanna Lakshmi, as well as published articles and narratives in Qatari Voices. She is also founder of Q TALENT in Qatar – www.qtalent.com.

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Arts & Culture Listings RECOMMENDS

Museum Guide

For a complete list of timings visit www.qma.org.qa/en/exhibitions

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Education City 4402-8855 mathaf_info@qma.org.qa www.mathaf.org.qa Open: Tuesday to Sunday Closed: Mondays

Museum of Islamic Art & Park

IAID Indian Classical Dance

Sat-Thurs: Hilal St., Al Tadamon Signal, D-Ring Road. The IAID Indian Dance program is a 7-year certificate course affiliated to the Nalanda Dance Research Centre in Mumbai. The course tackles the dance styles Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam. Certificates are awarded to its graduates – ‘prarambhika’ after four years and ‘kovida’ after seven years. For more information call 4432-0974/4441-1234, visit www.iaidonline.org or email enquire@iaidonline.org.

ONE OF A KIND MATHAF Summary, Part 1 Mathaf Collection Nov 1: This exhibition positions the heritage of Arab modernities within an international context. A selection of works from the 20th century reconsiders traditional histories of art in the region, looking at the networks of connections between visual, historical and experimental influences. Identified in these are alternative relationships between artworks and important yet sometimes lesser known historical moments that influenced cultural transformations in society and politics in the global transition to modernity. By telling the story of the collection and documenting the art histories it contains, the exhibition offers new scholarly, educational and experiential routes of access to the collection. For more information visit www.mathaf.org.qa.

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART The Tiger’s Dream: Tipu Sultan

Ongoing: 1st Floor, Special Exhibitions Gallery. Drawn entirely from the MIA collection, this exhibition delves into the life and times of Tipu Sultan, the South Indian ruler, statesman and patron. Featuring a selection of objects that reflect Tipu’s image as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, the main highlight of the exhibition is a rare display of 24 paintings showing Tipu’s victory at the Battle of Pollilur in1780. The Tiger’s Dream is on display until January 24, 2015. For more information visit www.mia.org.qa.

Jazz Concert Series

Nov 26: MIA Park. The Museum of Islamic Art partners with Jazz at Lincoln Center and The St. Regis Doha for a series of world-class jazz performances in MIA Park. No bookings required and entry is free of charge. Concert runs from 7:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. For more information email MIAevents@qm.org.qa.

EVERY WEEK

The Corniche 4422-4444 infomia@qma.org.qa www.mia.org.qa Open: Wednesday to Monday Closed: Tuesdays

ALRIWAQ DOHA

Museum of Islamic Art Park 4452-5555 Open: Same days as Museum of Islamic Art

QMA Gallery

Building 10, Katara, Cultural VIllage 4408-1255 qmagallery@qma.org.qa Open: Monday--Saturday & Sunday Closed: Fridays

QF Radio 93.7FM

IAID Visual Arts

Bolded programs in English

SALSA N CANDELA Fall Schedule

Bright Morning: 7:00 a.m. International News: 9:30 a.m. Innovations: 10:00 a.m. The Movie Guide: 12:00 p.m. English News: 1:00 p.m. Market Economics: 3:00 p.m. Stars of Science: 3:00 p.m. Green Tea: 4:00 p.m. Therapeutic Fatwas: 4:00 p.m. Voice of the Youth: 5:00 p.m. Raising a Child: 5:00 p.m. Corners: 6:00 p.m. Fashion: 6:00 p.m. Straight Up: 7:00 p.m. Twitter: 7:00 p.m. Legendary Artists: 8:00 p.m. Sport Global: 9:00 p.m.

Sat-Thurs: Hilal St., Al-Tadamon Signal, D-Ring Road. The Visual Arts Program is a progressive course for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced that covers colour theory, art styles, drawing and painting techniques, shapes and figures, visual art perception, and portraits with the use of various art mediums. For more information call 4432-0974/4441-1234, email enquire@iaidonline.org, or visit www.iaidonline.org.

Ongoing: Eforea Spa, The Hilton Doha. Salsa and dancing are the core of Salsa n Candela’s activities, with their team of multi-talented professionals from the world of art and dance, teaching and assisting all class participants. Learn the high-energy, sultry art of Latin dance with traditional Salsa, Cuban-style, fitness, Bachata, hip-hop and Zumba classes. QR 60 per class or QR 420 for a package of eight salsa classes only. For more information on class timings call 5504-7010, visit www.salsancandela.com or email info@salsancandela.com.

Sun-Thurs Daily Monday Thursday Daily Tuesday Wed Saturday Friday Thursday Monday Sun--Thurs Saturday Sunday Tuesday Daily Daily

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Community

s k c i P p o T ’s This Month

The Grand Hyatt Movember Campaign

Qatar Diabetes Associati

on

Walk For World Diabetes Day Nov 14: Aspire Park. Come out and support people living with diabetes or those who are at risk. Free T-shirts, caps, healthy snacks and water will be provided at the event. Starts at 3:00 p.m. For more information visit www.qda.org.qa or visit their Facebook page.

Doha Mums Book Club Ongoing: This isn’t just another reading group – they look for interesting new stories to explore with each person sharing what they take back from every new story. Current members come from varied backgrounds with the one thing they have common being a love for reading. For more information on meetings and how to join email rsvp@dohamums.com or visit www.dohamums.com.

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Qatar Toastmasters Personal Growth Nov 2 & 16: Looking to develop communication and leadership skills? Want to build your self-confidence? Look no further than Qatar Toastmasters Club. Master the art of public speaking in a supportive, multicultural group. The club meets on the first and third Sunday of the month, all year round. Meetings are at the Radisson Blu Hotel from 7:00 p.m. till 9:30 p.m. For more information call 5505-5275 or 5572-5293 or visit www.qatartoastmasters.net.

All Month: November is the month where people collectively and globally join forces to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research. The idea behind ‘Movember’ is to grow a moustache to show support for the fight against the disease. This year The Grand Hyatt, in association with the Qatar Cancer Society is raising awareness for prostate health with many activities on the go throughout the month including a charity event. For more information call 4448-1234.

Museum Of Islamic Ar t MIA Park Bazaar Nov 1: With a vibrant mix of around 150 stalls, the MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of the old souq tradition. You can browse and buy homemade and handmade products such as jewelry, arts and crafts, clothing, books and souvenirs. So if you’re looking for interesting or unusual gifts, the bazaar offers a wealth of options for both young and old. Held every first Saturday of the month from 12 noon till 8:00 p.m., entry is free of charge. For more information email MIAevents@qm.org.qa.

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Community

cer; A Public Relations Offi L-R:Awatif El Sayed, QD the of or ect Dir ive cut Exe Dr.Abdulla Al-Hamaq, nt n; Marjo Louw, Preside Qatar Diabetes Associatio airs for Aff lic Pub of GM a, Sab of Sasol Qatar; Jack Sasol Qatar

Huggable Hope By Ashlee Starratt Photography by Jessie Palanca Additional images courtesy of Alex Klim

Children living with Type 1 diabetes in Qatar and the Gulf now have friends for life with Salem and Sarah. The plush camel toys were introduced to the world last month as part of an educational initiative in partnership with the Qatar Diabetes Association – Qatar Foundation and Sasol Qatar. In recognition of World Diabetes Day on November 14, QH has the story.

T

he eyes of the world never seem to stray far from Qatar for long, so it only stands to reason that the Gulf nation tries to lead by example – and in this case they’re forging ahead as an advocate for diabetes awareness

and management in young children. Combating one of the region’s highest incidences of Type 2 diabetes amongst its population, the country also witnessed a surge in cases of Type 1 childhood diabetes, as 385 children between the ages of 0-14 were newly-diagnosed between 2006-2011 according to the most recent five-year study released by Hamad Medical Center’s Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Department.

of AHB Group, under the guidance of Executive Director Moona Masri-Whitice, who is also a parent of a Type 1 diabetic daughter. The colourful toys are fashioned like a small backpack hiding a zippered compartment where a child can store his or her blood-glucose metre and testing strips. There are also marked insulin injection sites on each doll to guide boys and girls as they administer their daily dosage.

Forerunners of proactive education, the Qatar Diabetes Association recently spear-headed a new community initiative in partnership with Sasol Qatar which it hopes will have a far-reaching, positive impact towards diabetes management in young children and their families. The world met Salem and Sarah at a media launch held on September 28 at the Mövenpick Hotel Doha, but dozens of children living with diabetes in Qatar and in 17 other MENA countries have already had the opportunity to become fast friends with the camel mascots. Representing huggable hope and cuddly courage, Salem and Sarah were customdesigned by The Art of Business, a subsidiary Sponsor:

Production:

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“When we learned of this idea of Salem and Sarah we were immediately interested, as it fits with our desire to address challenges in new ways,” says Marjo Louw, President of Sasol Qatar, on his company’s involvement in this community outreach program. “Reducing anxiety and fear can be the difference between a patient who handles diabetes well and one who struggles. I hope these plush toys help children and their families in coping with the diagnosis, provide useful information, and improve their ability to enjoy life’s pleasures. Hope and joy are integral in helping children tackle health challenges.” Also making its début at the media launch was an accompanying educational video jointly sponsored by Sasol Qatar and the Qatar Diabetes Association targeting health practitioners, parents and care-givers of children who are living with Type 1 diabetes. Shot and produced by local filmmaker Alex Klim, the video is an accessible introduction to Salem and Sarah, told from a child’s perspective who is coping with the condition. There is also a separate, shorter video that speaks to children with Type 1 diabetes that was also screened. Both videos act as educational tools that bring Salem and Sarah to life and help dispel some of the fears and anxieties that can overwhelm a child who is still learning to adjust to life with diabetes.

A Public Relations L-R:Awatif El-Sayed, QD Klim; Moona Masrix Ale ker ma Officer; film ss; or of The Art of Busine ect Dir Whitice, Executive the of or ect Dir ive Execut Dr.Abdulla Al-Hamaq, n – Qatar Foundation Qatar Diabetes Associatio

In addition to the camel mascots initiative, the Qatar Diabetes Association also has a full roster of events planned for World Diabetes Day on November 14, including their annual walkathon which will be held again this year in Aspire Park. “World Diabetes Day is such an important date in the calendar,” says Dr. Abdulla Al-Hamaq, Executive Director of the Qatar Diabetes Association – Qatar Foundation. “It not only focuses on the escalating health threat, it also [fosters] a shared responsibility to help promote methods for prevention and treatment.” Salem and Sarah are prime examples of the kinds of tools that can help a young child to understand and cope with their diagnosis, but Dr. Abdulla also explains that, in the case of Type 2 diabetes, lifestyle modification is the key to prevention. “This year’s theme [for World Diabetes Day] will specifically address the topic of healthy eating and its importance both in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes and the effective management of diabetes to avoid complications. With a special focus on ‘Healthy Eating Begins With Breakfast’, all of us must raise awareness on how the healthy choice can be the easy choice for all people. Let us work together and protect our future.” n

educational A screenshot from the video filmed by Alex Klim

To learn more about the work of the Qatar Diabetes Association and how children with diabetes can get a mascot of their own, call 4454-7341 or visit www.qda.org.qa. t time em and Sarah for the firs Young children meet Sal n atio oci Ass Qatar Diabetes during a workshop at the

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Community

Understanding

Childhood Diabetes

By Jacqueline Bodnar

While once rare, this disease is growing worldwide by leaps and bounds. With World Diabetes Day just around the corner, we explore the factors that can contribute to childhood-onset Type 2 diabetes and the affect it can have on your family.

D

ecades ago, childhood diabetes was quite rare. Only Type 1 diabetes was a concern, and not many children had it. Type 2, often called ‘adult-onset diabetes’ was largely non-existent in children. Fast forward to today and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US report that cases of both types of diabetes are on the rise in children. This increase in children being seen with Type 2 diabetes is leading many to be concerned about what is going on and what we can do about it all.

Multi-Layered Problem Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by high glucose levels in the blood, which happens as a defect of insulin action and/or production of insulin. There are two common types of the disease, besides gestational diabetes, which affects seven percent of all pregnancies each year.

to control their blood-glucose level. Typically, it’s a disease that is triggered in people who are overweight and over 40 years-old. However, in the case of childhood obesity today, many children are overweight and are now at an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The problem with children developing any form of diabetes is that it can be life-altering, as well as life-threatening. Both forms of diabetes are associated with additional health risks and complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, among others. It also leads to lifestyle changes, as children and their families must be proactive about checking and administering insulin, as well as keeping tabs on making sure their child is eating a healthy diet.

Addressing & Preventing

Type 1, which onsets in childhood, is an autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-producing beta-cells that are responsible for regulating the body’s blood-glucose levels. Type 1 risk factors include genetics and environmental determinants.

Symptoms of the disease often go unnoticed by parents, at first. They may include an increase in thirst and urination, weight loss, constant hunger, vision that is blurred, and always feeling tired. They may also include having wounds that slowly heal, frequent infections, and having skin around the armpits and neck that is thick, dark and feels velvety.

Type 2 first involves insulin resistance, causing the person to need increasing amounts of insulin

To date, researchers have identified no definitive causes of Type 1, so at this point there is nothing

can A healthy lifestyle now r late es bet dia 2 e Typ et offs

that can be done to prevent it. But when it comes to prevention of Type 2 diabetes, one can help to prevent their child from developing it by keeping them active and helping them maintain a healthy weight. If you suspect that your child may have the symptoms of diabetes, it’s important to speak with your doctor immediately about the issue. For support and guidance here in Qatar contact the Qatar Diabetes Association at www.qda.org.qa or by calling 4454-7341. n NEED A CHILDREN’S BOOK ON DIABETES? CHECK THESE OUT! • Taking Diabetes to School by Kim Gosselin and Moss Freedman • The Bravest Girl in School by Kate Gaynor • Kids & Diabetes by Rae Simmons and Elise DeVore Berlan • Judy’s Journey with Diabetes by Michele Buntin • Diabetes – Feeling Sick? by Jillian Powell • I’m A Perfectly Normal Kid Who Happens To Have Diabetes! by Cathy Morris and Kimberly Grunden

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Community

A Man With A Mission By Harriet Gyamfuah Photography by Jessie Palanca

As Qatar continues to grow there’s one company that’s striving to further enrich its economy in its own unique way – AHB Group. QH meets General Manager – New Projects, Andrew Merris, to talk about his ambitious plans for AHB and Qatar, and preparing for his greatest personal challenge – the Antarctic Marathon.

AM: It has to be the opening of Harry Ramsden’s [World Famous Fish & Chips] in Qatar – an international first for the restaurant! I am British and so well-aware of the Harry’s brand and am very excited to be associated with its launch overseas. QH: How is AHB contributing to the expansion of Qatar’s economy? AM: I believe the development of any economy is based on the total elevation of every segment of society. At AHB, we strive to provide properties, food and events to

QH: How else do you see AHB making a difference to Qatar’s development? AM: As a family business, I believe that AHB is making a difference to Qatar’s development through acknowledging the traditional family values associated with the region. These are quite easily forgotten with multi-million dollar contracts taking the personalities out of business – we are certainly here to develop, however this cannot be forgotten at the behest of maintaining a prominent standing in the community. QH: How do you see your role developing? AM: It’s only early days for my new role, however I look forward to the challenge ahead to grow the business successfully across the four sectors of the AHB offering: Property, Restaurants, Food Service and Media – with growth in any one sector, the connectivity and potential cross-over to other sectors becomes increasingly apparent. For example, food service products being used in our restaurants which were designed in-house and are subsequently venues for our media articles. QH: What are a few of your career achievements thus far with AHB Group? AM: My 18 months with AHB have included several career firsts and, subsequently, highlights – particularly due to the pace at which Qatar is developing and how AHB has been taking advantage of this growth. The most memorable has to be securing the franchise of Harry Ramsden’s for Qatar – which is an international first for the restaurant’s current owners. Being British I am well aware of the Harry’s brand and am very excited to be associated with its launch overseas. Other highlights include the development of the well-known Chowking brand already established here in Qatar.

New Projects Andrew Merris – GM –

QH: What is your greatest career highlight so far?

region and in business, I’ve been able to get the right people together in order to crystallize company formation.

every segment of Qatar’s community. As those communities become increasingly diverse, we will undoubtedly refresh our ideas and address the expanding economy. QH: How does AHB attract companies and investors to Qatar? AM: Really the idea to open new businesses in Qatar comes from two sides – from internally, through discussion with the Directors of AHB who provided ideas for Harry Ramsden’s, or through referrals through German Bakery Company, given our presence in the market. Following on from this, the right approach needs to be taken and thankfully, given my time in the

QH: Can you tell us about your favourite places in Doha? AM: It’s hard to give one definite answer, as the Villaggio[Aspire] sports complex is certainly something to inspire any individual to get into exercise with the facilities being unrivaled in the rest of the GCC – certainly something I need to start using in order to complete the Antarctic marathon in March. n To learn more about AHB Group, its products and services, call 4442-8877 or visit www.ahbqatar.com.

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Community

Kings

Of

The

Airwaves

By Diana Farid Selected images courtesy of the Doha Heat Podcast

Listeners in Qatar first tuned in to the Doha Heat Podcast this spring when it made its inaugural broadcast in June 2014. Since then, the local program has been sharing insightful stories around Doha to an ever-growing audience. QH turns up the frequency.

I

n a fast-moving country like Doha, there are times when coping with the rapid pace of life here is anything but easy. That’s why, as expats, mingling with others and seeking inspiration in their stories and experiences is important for our own growth – which is why

initiatives like the Doha Heat Podcast become noteworthy. Doha Heat (as its nicknamed), allows people to share audio recordings on whatever topic they feel passionate about, with the goal of developing a community that shares those same passions. “The vision for [the] Doha Heat podcast is to provide a counter-narrative to what most people might think of Qatar, or its capital. We want to share about the people making Doha a global hub for business, social innovation, and entertainment,” says Andrew Clark, Doha Heat Podcast producer and interviewer. The podcast came to life early this year in June 2014 by British expat John Savage who, according to Clark, “Has been living in the city for a number of years with his family and felt that there was a lack of media attention directed at everyday individuals’ stories.”

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Having Andrew as the producer and interviewer, things started to move and they both kick-started the podcast. The show strives to promote local initiatives and individuals who are contributing positively to Qatar’s social and economic wellbeing. “With over 50 episodes already recorded and published on iTunes, we are rapidly growing and hoping to become a household name domestically and abroad,” adds Andrew. Despite having launched only few months ago, the team has so far been welcomed with positive feedback which has given them the push to continue their project. According to Andrew, Doha Heat was lucky “To interview some of the friendliest and most energetic people in Doha, as well as provide content that is relevant to people presently in Qatar and those who want to learn more about the nation.” It seems that people tuning in seem to appreciate others’ stories and experiences, which motivates the podcast team, while giving listeners insights into how things are going in Doha. “Thanks to social media, we have found that people are enjoying the content on most episodes because of its vulnerability and diversity, something that we hope to retain going forward,” he explains. Doha Heat has also recently partnered with ILoveQatar to do a weekly events preview episode on Sunday mornings. “[Also] each Thursday morning will bring to audiences episodes featuring Qatar’s premiere business journal The Edge to discuss Qatari business development domestically and globally,” divulges Andrew. But the main focus of the podcast remains its human dimension – a reason why the team is keen to interview passionate, engaging, and approachable guests. When they kick-started the project, they used to email and call different people or organizations to assess their interest in sharing their stories on air. But as the podcast kept growing, Andrew says, “We are finding that more people are approaching us after hearing about us through Doha News, social media and word-of-mouth referrals.” Despite the initial start-up challenges, the team remains hopeful and optimistic about its future. One of the main obstacles is that podcasting as a culture is not yet as familiar in the Gulf, as it is abroad –but by ensuring they cover a wide range of interesting, relevant topics they hope their audience-base will continue to expand. Andrew voices some of the more challenging aspects: “The format’s novelty and its accessibility may detract from its growth since listeners require either an internet connection or smart-phone to download episodes. A place like Qatar or its neighbouring nations are still very young in their cultural development compared with a place like the US, but Qatar is in the process of developing these things so we stay positive.”

Podcast producer and rk interviewer Andrew Cla has been providing a Since June, Doha Heat voice their opinions on to platform for listeners affect the community a variety of issues that

The Doha Heat team is interested to cover anything related to international relations, communitybuilding and independent creative arts. So if you have a story idea that could be relevant to the podcast or you yourself have a distinctive passion about a subject, you can reach them on their website (www.dohaheat.com) or via Facebook or Twitter. With a strong social media base and an interest in help expats and local communities understand more about their transplanted homes in the GCC, Doha Heat sees itself potentially expanding into markets like Dubai and Muscat. For Andrew, it’s about raising awareness and

helping newcomers feel at home: “I want to help dispel the misconceptions about my newfound home region and inspire others to join in doing this too.” n

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Community Listings RECOMMENDS

Community Guide Australian and New Zealand Business in Qatar Group 6651-1892 www.anzbiq.org

American Women’s Association 5511-8085 www.awaqatar.com

Doha Players

4447-4911 Search ‘Doha Players Lovers’ Group on Facebook

Egyptian Women’s Association

SALSA N CANDELA

5572-4171

Cuban Salsa

Mondays: Eforea Spa, Hilton Doha. For lovers of Cuban and Afro-Caribbean beats, Salsa N Candela holds Cuban Salsa lessons with their favourite pro Mubarak. You’re guaranteed to get fit, improve your technique and have tons of fun in this friendly class. For more information call 5504-7010, email info@salsancandela.com or visit www.salsancandela.com.

ONE OF A KIND QATAR FOUNDATION WISE Learning Festival

Until Nov 8: Katara Cultural Village. The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), in partnership with Katara will be hosting a Learning Festival under the theme of ‘Creative Takes On The Use Of Technology In Education’. Through a photo exhibition and a series of demos, workshops, performances and other pop-up events, the festival will showcase uses of technology in the classroom from the around the world and invite leaders from the Maker Movement to demonstrate how they use accessible technology to enhance creativity. For more information visit www.wise-qatar.org.

DOHA MUMS Birth & Breastfeeding Professionals Meeting

Wednesdays: Calling all doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, breastfeeding supports and any other women who have a passion for helping expectant Mums during pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Their goal is to create a professional network to support each other and increase the level of support to the community. This group meets every Wednesday, children are welcome. For more information email rsvp@dohamums.com or visit www.dohamums.com.

QATAR TOASTMASTERS Youth Public-Speaking Championship

Until Nov 7: Since 2000, the Qatar Toastmasters have been hosting this yearly English-language championship for youth between the ages of 13 and 18. Those participants who have advanced to the finals will have a chance to showcase their skills on November 7. With prize-money up to QR 5,000 for the top spot it’s a great way to practice your skills and build confidence. For more information call 5505-5275 or 5572-5293 or visit www.qatartoastmasters.net.

EVERY WEEK DOHA TWEETUPS Monthly Networking

Ongoing: If you’re new to Qatar, the Doha Tweetups is a great way to get involved and meet new people. This online community regularly hosts monthly ‘offline’ gatherings where people can network or enjoy themed presentations of local talent. Follow them on Twitter or Facebook to find out when and where the next event will be held, or email them at team@dohatweetups.com.

e! s onlig.cnom See urha ppenin

French-Speaking Ladies Group 5559-7467

Indian Women’s Association 4442-4052

Qatar National Cancer Society 4447-8128 www.qncs.org

Red Dotters Qatar

5520-9294 Follow @RedDottersQatar on Twitter

Silver Dhow Association 4435-2598

Turkish Women’s Association www.twaq.org

Tuesday Ladies Group Email: tlgindoha@gmail.com

SASCOM: South Africans In Qatar

www.southafricansinqatar.netfirms.com

Canadians In Qatar

Search ‘Canadians In Qatar’ Group on Facebook to join the community

www.qata

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Kids Club

s k c i P p o T ’s This Month

IAID Modern Jazz For Kids

Qatar Divers Teach Your Kids How To Scuba-Dive Ongoing: Doha Marriott Hotel Marina, near Old Airport Road in Ras Ab Aboud Area. When it comes to diving education or diving adventure activities, Qatar Divers serves the needs of all ages, with lessons for children as young as eight years-old. They are the leading PADI-accredited five-star IDC Dive Center in Doha, offering comprehensive lessons and excursions in a safe, monitored environment with a focus on fun, knowledge and pleasure. For more information call 4431-3331 or visit www.qatardivers.com.

Korea Taekwondo Center Qatar Lessons For Kids Ongoing: Build stamina, skill and strength while learning to master this formidable martial art form. A range of class timings are available to fit into your family’s busy schedule including weekends, after-school and evenings. For more information call 4465-9066.

OUT om .c CHECaK ppening

atarh tion! www.qthe latest informa for

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Museum Of Islamic Ar t Friday Night Live Nov 7 & 21: MIA Park. The Museum of Islamic Art, in partnership with local international schools, brings musical students to showcase their talents to a public audience in MIA Park. The event runs from 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. and is free of charge so please come out to show your support as these students perform outside their schools for the first time. For more information email MIAevents@qm.org.qa.

Sat, Sun, Mon & Wed: Hilal St. Al Tadamon Signal, D-Ring Road. This dynamic class covers the basic step vocabulary and variations of dances commonly used in the musical theatre and commercial entertainment industries. Designed to train students to professional-level standards with technical exercises and exciting routines, children will learn from only the most skilled instructors. For more information call 4432-0974/4441-1234, visit www.iaidonline.org, or email enquire@iaidonline.org.

Doha Mums Thanksgiving Cooking Class Nov 1: Mövenpick Hotel Doha. Parents and little ones can join in this tasty two-hour session where they will prepare one Thanksgiving main course and one dessert alongside the hotel’s chefs. The class runs from 10:00 a.m. till 12 noon with the possibility of an additional afternoon class added based upon demand. Fees are QR 65 per child, with parent accompanying for free and an additional QR 35 per extra adult. For more information visit www.dohamums.com.

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Kids Club sic, to arts From gardening, to mu rsery fosters Nu ils ffod and crafts, Da learning a creative approach to

Young Bloomers By Ujwala Thirumurthy Images courtesy of Daffodils Nursery

Nursery school is often one of the first places where children interact with fellow peer groups, begin developing their social skills and learn how to foster their imagination – that’s why selecting the right facility is crucial for parents. Here we take a look inside Daffodils Nursery, one school that’s going the extra creative mile!

O

kay let's face it – parenting is a tough ‘job’. It's a lifelong contract that comes with no added incentives or pre-set rules. But most importantly, you can never ‘stop’ being a parent. It can get stressful at times, particularly for working parents who are constantly trying to balance home/office/baby duties. But what parents most often fail to realize is that it's equally stressful for the toddler who is overwhelmed by the enormously attractive yet confusing world that stares him/her in the face

every single day. Helping out both the parent and the child are nurseries that play a wonderful role in moulding and laying a foundation for a healthy, socially amiable and academically sound childhood. Daffodils Nursery, located just a few metres behind Lulu Hypermarket on D-Ring Road near The Mall, is a home away from home for kids between two months and less than four years of age. Aptly named Daffodils for the budding group of children that walk through its doors, its focus has always been on creativity to entertain, as well as educate. From bringing in Disney's most-loved characters such as Mickey Mouse, plus Winnie the Pooh, and Barney, to conducting arts and crafts and kitchen fun classes including cupcake decoration, Daffodils surprises you (the parent) every time! There’s fun with colours, paints, and even theme days – Environment Day, where children are made to plant saplings and seeds to encourage them to protect the environment; Career Day, when children are asked to come dressed as a doctor, sailor, pilot, police officer etc.; Colour-Themed Days and a nursery rhyme to go along with it...the list is endless. Apart from teaching children valuable skills and imparting knowledge, the nursery does wonders

in helping them adapt to an environment sans parental control. "A child usually takes a month to settle down comfortably in the new surroundings, and very often we've noticed that they cry only when they see the parents who come to pick them up,” says Mrs. Antara Ghoshal, Daffodil’s Director. “It's all a matter of time. New entrants to the school are taken care of with extra attention, because the first few days are almost always accompanied by incessant crying owing to the sudden separation from the parents.” With its bright pink mural walls, the school’s inviting exterior only complements its’ well-laid-

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Little fire-fighters use role ty safe ut abo rn lea to g yin pla

ple Everyone's favourite pur a dinosaur, Barney, makes ytime surprise visit during pla

ir Youngsters show off the hour ft cra ing dur side artistic

out interiors. Dedicated classrooms for different age groups/activities, which includes a music room and different activity rooms, and a daycare and sleeping unit for infants and toddlers separated from the other classroom areas, have all been designed with special care to ensure hygiene and noise protection. An outdoor play area ensures that children get their share of fun in the sun (when the mercury is under control, of course), and includes a mini-pool for some water fun. "The child's health is of utmost importance to us. So, we decide on whether or not to have them outdoors depending on the weather conditions and the child's health on any given day,” Ghoshal reiterates. But if there’s one thing that Daffodils prides itself on, it’s the noticeable mix of nationalities including Sri Lankan, Indian, Filipino, Arabic and European. This creates a dynamic learning environment that’s essential for children in their formative years. The nursery trains toddlers

and prepares them for formal schooling with a special focus on writing skills, as some schools have written entrance tests for admissions. Flexible timings make for another winning feature. Starting from 6:30 a.m. right up to 5:00 p.m., the nursery makes it convenient for parents to drop their kids off on their way to work and pick them up on the way back. You can also benefit from the transport service offered by the nursery. "All our drivers are well-trained and efficient at taking care of children until they reach the nursery, and then back home again, safely," says Mrs. Antara. So, while as parents, you give your child the best of everything – especially your time, it's also important for the child to interact with others of their own age. That's how they grow, learn, and adapt to different situations independently. Children are like flowers. They each grow and bloom into their own unique personalities – all they need is time. n

DAFFODILS NURSERY Location: D-Ring Road, behind Lulu Hypermarket, near The Mall Timings: 6:30 a.m. till 5:00 p.m., Sun-Thurs Contact Info: Call 4466-4573/5508-4068, email daffodilsnursery.qa@gmail.com or visit www.daffodilsnurserydoha.com

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Kids Club

e Picky little eaters will lov warm, this no-fail recipe – it's us! comforting and delicio

• Add chicken bones to the cold water. • Remove the leftover skin from the chicken as much as you can to avoid extra fat.

Kitchen Creations Images courtesy of The St. Regis Doha

When it comes to the autumn cold and flu season, nothing says healing comfort more than a steaming bowl of homemade soup. Your kids will especially love the chicken meatballs in this special recipe from celebrity Chef Elias Gemayal from Opal by Gordon Ramsay in The St. Regis Doha! Vegetable Soup with Chicken and Oats, Roasted Tomatoes and Spinach Ingredients Chicken Stock • 3 cups of water • 1 cup of chicken breast bones • ¼ carrot • ¼ celery • ¼ leek

• ¼ of garlic • ¼ of onion • 5 whole black pepper • 1 rosemary leaf • 1 thyme leaf The Soup • 1 minced chicken breast • 6 Tbsps of oats • 2 carrots • 2 zucchini • 3 baby potatoes • Coriander to taste • 8 cherry tomatoes • Fennel • ¼ kilo of broccoli • Salt and pepper • 1 cup of baby spinach • 1 small spring onion • 1 lime

• Tie up all the aromatic vegetables and herbs together and add it to the water. • Use muslin cloth to put all the spices in; this makes it easy later on when taking them out of the stock during cooking. • Simmer the stock for 45 minutes on medium heat to avoid too strong of a flavour – instead you’ll get the perfect, light chicken stock. The Soup • Mince the chicken breast then add oats, salt and pepper and put into a small bowl. Heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and cook the chicken for 10 minutes maximum – you’ll add the chicken to the hot soup later on where it will finish cooking in the liquid. • Cut all the vegetables into small pieces so the soup will take less time to cook. • Start your soup by adding the chicken stock, carrot and potatoes at the same time in a cooking pot, as hard vegetables always take longer to cook. Add the diced fennel, carrot and broccoli to the half-cooked carrots and potatoes after 5 minutes for taste. • Grill the baby tomatoes for extra smoky flavour and add them to the soup. • Sauté your spinach and set it aside.

Instructions

• One minute before the soup is done add the chopped coriander before the herbs, so it won’t turn black in colour.

Chicken Stock • Start your chicken stock by always using cold water – which is very important, as it prevents the bad smell that comes out from the beef, fish or chicken stock.

• For presentation, put your soup in a serving bowl then add the baby spinach, baked chicken and oats. Sprinkle the spring onion on top, then add some lime zest and a thyme leaf to taste. n

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Kids Club

Family Fun Days

The author's two sons during their family outing to Barzan Tower

Words and images by Charlie Sands

This days’ out review was a rather unexpected and certainly unplanned affair where the Sands' family headed off to Barzan to find a monument and ended up getting soaked at a play park. Another perfect day for two little boys and their bedraggled parents?

A

ccording to www.explore-qatar.com, where you'll find the most comprehensive information about Barzan Towers, they were used as “look-out points for approaching ships and as an observatory to scrutinize the moon's phases.” Barzan means 'high place' in Arabic, and standing at 16 metres above the ground they were probably the tallest buildings around when built in 1910 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al-Thani.

How To Get There Barzan is about five minutes past IKEA on the Shamal Road. Exit the highway when you see

the sign for Umm Salal Mohammed, go over the highway and follow the brown signs for Barzan Tower. You'll also find it on Google Maps, search: Barzan Tower.

What You’ll Find At first glance Barzan Tower is actually a collection of buildings on an ancient site, which is now surrounded my modern villas. Three security guards at a small cabin by the gate welcomed us in with broad smiles, and we signed the register. Other than that warm welcome, there was no written material or anything which gave us more knowledge of the site. And sadly I hadn't done my homework before arrival. Although the good news is they are in the process of making the place more accessible with benches, recently-laid paths and lighting, so the plaques and tourist information boards will eventually get here. In the meantime visit the link mentioned above and again below. Once inside the grounds it was nice to walk around the buildings, which I later found out were actually the two lookout towers, a majlis for receiving guests and a mosque also used as a madrassa. We spent about half an hour exploring the site, climbing the various stairways

Ride the train at Barzan Olympic Park

and admiring the view from the tallest tower which gives a good vantage point over the surrounding area. Half an hour is easily enough to see everything here, and since like typical expats we had timed our visit with the middle of the day, it was too hot to stay for longer. On our way out the security guard proffered a cup of tea and all of us piled into their hut to drink tea and exchange pleasantries in very broken English. Next stop was Barzan Olympic Park, which is literally at the next junction off the highway heading out of Doha (signed Umm Salal Ali) and which I had thought was a sports facility until recently a friend invited us there for her son's

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birthday party. Definitely the most interesting part of the day, for the kids at least, the park is a winning combination of manicured and well-laid out design, great distractions for children, a great space to host parties and gatherings, and some optional additional-cost activities.

What You Get For Your Buck The entrance fee during the summer is QR 5 per person (with two-year-olds and under entering for free), but after October 1 this changes to QR 10 per head. For this you get access to the playground, all the general areas and the fantastically fun water fountain. Extras include the motorized Go-Karting, the pedal Go-Karts, the small train which circumnavigates the park, and the soft play-zone, each costing upwards of QR 5 per person. There's also a snack bar in case you didn't bring your own. The fountain was the firm favourite for our fiveyear-old who wouldn't be torn away. It stops, starts, shoots up water from random jets and is a pure fun-zone for kids (and adults) to get soaked while running, jumping or lying down in the fountain. For our nearly-three-year-old it was the train, which he practically pulled off my arm to go and see. What is it about trains and little boys, eh?

Didn't Bring Your Picnic? After all that activity and sans picnic unlike everyone else it seemed, we decided to head off to a well-known Swedish furniture store where all four of us enjoyed the staple of Swedish meatballs and mash. The kids were worn out, fully fed and asleep by the time we pulled up home. Mission accomplished!

inally constructed Barzan Tower was orig roaching ships app for nt poi t kou as a loo

the wet 'n wild The kids especially loved mpic Park Oly zan Bar at e tur fea water

The Score Is Out! Barzan Tower could have offered more and I would like to return if the site was a little better equipped for tourists, but I'm glad we visited if just for a change of scene. The park was superb although if you cave to the demands of your kids to do all the additional extras then it will cost you. On the flip side, I think this park makes an excellent party destination for kids. And the meatballs, well, they always score highly in my view. So all in all then I'd give our Barzan Park and Towers day out a fantastic 8 out of 10! Find out more about Barzan Tower at www.explore-qatar.com. n

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Kids Club Listings RECOMMENDS

FLO KITE SCHOOL

Kite-Boarding Lessons

Ongoing: Kite-surfing is an accessible sport for everyone and lessons for kids start at 12 years-old. Learn first to control the position and power/ pull of the kite before heading into the water. After mastering the technique, you’ll strap on the board and put the kite in the air! Once you have your own kite, there’s no admission fee, no booking and you can go wherever there is a breeze. Lessons take place all around Qatar from Fuwairit, to Zikreet, to Al Wakrah depending on wind conditions. For more information call 5504-1039 or visit www.flokiteschool.com.

ONE OF A KIND

EVERY WEEK

DOHA MUMS Food Allergies Support Group

IAID Zumba For Kids

Ongoing: Coping with a child who has food allergies can be an immense challenge for many families. To help offer assistance and guidance, several members of the Doha Mums have banded together to form a Food Allergies Support Group where participants can discuss food labeling, rare finds, recipes and techniques to navigate safely through the grocery store, in the home, or when dining out. For more information visit www.dohamums.com to join their mailing list and learn about upcoming meetings.

QATAR STARS LEAGUE QSL Kids Club

Ongoing: QSL recently announced the launch of its new Kids Club for young football fans between the ages of 5 and 13-years-old. Hoping to inspire the next generation of Qatari football fans, new Kids Club members will receive a range of exclusive benefits in return for supporting their favourite QSL team by attending matches. These include Kids Club merchandise, ticket offers, an e-birthday card, gifts and much more! Parents or guardians must be current members of QSL’s Football Rewards program and can register their children online at www.loyalty.qsl.com.qa. For more information visit www.qsl.com.qa.

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART Kids Calligraphy Workshops

Tues & Thurs: Hilal St., Al-Tadamon Signal, D-Ring Road. Zumba is the latest dance fitness craze spreading fast worldwide. This upbeat workout is fantastic fun for kids and adults alike, with an exhilarating atmosphere perfect for kids as they learn how to move and engage in activities while exercising and fostering an appreciation for fitness. For more information call 4432-0974/4441-1234, visit www.iaidonline.org or email enquire@iaidonline.org.

ENTALEK Eco-Adventure Trips

Ongoing: Al Thakira Nature Reserve, Fuwairit and Dhow Harbour. Entalek is Qatar’s only eco-adventure company based in Doha. They offer a range of water-based activities and other excursions, catering to the public as well as schools – including adventure holiday packages and school outdoor educational packages. For more information call 3023-3207 or email entalek.org@gmail.com.

Ongoing: Informative and entertaining for kids, the MIA offers a range of walk-in sessions, individual workshops and special courses in calligraphy and art education. During each session, students will explore the MIA’s collections and create beautiful artworks and calligraphy. Try out traditional and modern techniques, learn about the great artists of the past and engage with historic works of art. For more information visit www.mia.org.qa.

DOHA MUMS Bounce & Rhyme

Tuesdays: A fun activity for parents, care-givers and children (newborns to pre-school age), with action songs, rhymes and stories that help children’s literacy and numeracy and are a great way for parents and guardians to brush up on their nursery rhymes! Recurs every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. For more information visit www.dohamums.com.

online! See us ppe ning.com www.qatarha

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Food & Dining

s k c i P p o T ’s This Month

InterContinental Doha

Seafood BBQ & Mongolian Live Grill

Paper Moon Frutti Di Mare Night Saturdays: Jaidah Square. Every Saturday enjoy a selection of freshly-prepared seafood by Chef Fabrizio and his culinary team.From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4016-6000.

Fridays: Fish Market. Enjoy every seafood BBQ Mongolian live-grill dinner by the beachfront every Friday. Enjoy a variety of grilled meat, fish, seafood and vegetables freshly-prepared by the expert Chef including live cooking stations. QR 280 including one glass of house vino or one soft drink and QR 350 with unlimited house beverages. From 7:00 p.m. till midnight. For more information call 4484-4919 or 4484-4444.

Emirgan Sütis Now Open! Daily: Making its début in Qatar, Emirgan Sütis is famous for its traditional Turkish cuisine. From breakfast to milk desserts, enjoy a distinguished restaurant experience where traditional recipes of Istanbul are revived with an exceptional standard of service, in a modern and elegant setting. Emirgan Sütis is now open in Al Emadi Financial Square on C-Ring Road. For more information call 3040-6357.

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The Grand Hyatt Rock ‘n’ Roll Brunch by Harley-Davidson Nov 21: The Grill. Enjoy a taste of American cuisine, live music and fun activities at from 12:30 noon till 4:00 p.m. Try the Harley-Davidson Jumpstart™ rider experience, go all-out and look the part. Book a soft beverage brunch for QR 295 or QR 420 for special beverages. For more information call 7798-2400.

The Diplomatic Club Lavish Brunch Buffet Fridays: Le Grill. Enjoy an array of scrumptious brunch buffet items with your family and friends in Le Grill restaurant at the Diplomatic Club. Their fine chefs will prepare delicious international dishes that will fulfil your enjoyment and satisfaction, all for QR 195. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4484-7412/470.

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Food & Dining

Truly Italian

rior is an Di Capri's refreshed inte colour of um ctr spe avant-garde

By Jorge Granda Photography by Jessie Palanca

After a brief hiatus for renovations, La Cigale recently re-opened its Italian restaurant Di Capri in early October. QH headed over to the re-vamped bistro for dinner and a few helpings of that authentic Italian flavour.

I

’ve eaten at Di Capri many times in the past and I’ve always found the food was up to the highest standards, so I when I heard they re-opened I was more than eager to pass by and try their new, innovative menu. Located on the hotel’s ground floor, the updated ambiance remains glittering, chic and super-elegant as before, and I’m told they’re still serving contemporary Italian food with a twist. The space’s new concept has been elegantlydesigned to reflect different parts of the Italian tradition. The layout is still well-distributed, allowing diners to enjoy privacy during dinner,

while one particular touch is the addition of a live cooking station to give a more vibrant atmosphere to the restaurant. Chef Luca Dal Col is at the helm of the kitchen and he’s thrilled to be master-minding its array of dishes. “Guests will be surprised by our contemporary menu and by the wide variety of antipasti selection, soups, salads, pasta, risotto, pizza and tantalizing desserts,” he says. “We’re sure that they wouldn’t stop themselves from inquiring about the names of the sauces behind our unique flavours every time they taste a new dish.”

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ri provide a Thick ribbons of pacche rsels of shellfish toothy base for rich mo sauce tossed in a tangy tomato The fegato di vitello all in a veneziana is smothered ha wit ved ser and vy rich gra sh side of herbed potato ma

A maritime appetizer serves up seafood three ways

We begin our culinary trip around Italy with the antipasto misto di pescedella casa, an appetizer plate of Italian homemade fish. The catch is fresh and it melts in your mouth. We continue with a fabulous pasta – paccheriai frutti di mare – mixed with clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari in a tomatobased sauce. If you like your pasta with seafood, then this dish is a great selection. The combination of flavours and the sauce are just superb, making it one of the most satisfying seafood plates I’ve tried in a long time – there’s nothing in the dish that doesn’t taste amazingly good.

Our next course is a fegato di vitello alla veneziana, Venetian-style veal liver with spinach and Parmesan cheese. Honestly speaking, I’ve never been a fan of liver in any shape or form, so I’m not really taken by this one. However, my companion seems to be enjoying hers and tells me the meat is buttery and cooked to perfection, so I have to take her word on it. I should also admit that the dish is presented beautifully. After a plentiful selection of entrées, we’re very much looking forward to dessert and who better than an Italian chef to prepare an out-of-this-world tiramisu perla fragola. Lucky for us the tiramisu is terrific – so soft and moist, and is accompanied by Di Capri’s el Napolitaine, a vanilla and chocolate sponge cake with Nicolette chocolate and hazelnut praline, which

is just as delicious. The prices at Di Capri are reasonable, while the food selection is tasty and diverse, making it overall a worthwhile experience. Don’t be afraid to expand your palate and try something new – you’ll certainly find it on the menu here. n DI CAPRI Location: Ground Floor, La Cigale Hotel Timings: • Lunch, 12 noon till 3:00 p.m. • Dinner, 7:00 p.m. till 12 midnight Smoking: Yes Licensed: Yes Contact Info: Call 4428-8840 or visit www.lacigalehotel.com.

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Food & Dining et, we expect Creamy, velvety and swe left on your plate! s mb cru y onl be there to

Sweet Pastry Ingredients • 125 g butter • 65 g icing sugar • 1 egg • 3 g baking powder • 250 g flour Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes at 160°C.

Planning Ahead This pastry must be prepared in advance, wrapped in cling film and refrigerated for at least 2 hours before using.

Pumpkin Spice Images courtesy of Qatar Luxury Group

It doesn’t get more traditional this Thanksgiving than pumpkin pie. With its silky texture, redolent of nutmeg and cinnamon, we love this tasty treat in all its many forms. Here, the culinary team from The Anvil Rooms shares their own unique recipe that will have you truly giving thanks! Pumpkin Pie Serves: 8 people. Prep time: 40 minutes. Cooking time: 1 ½ hours

Ingredients • 750 g pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded and cut into chunks • 350 g sweet short-crust pastry • plain flour, for dusting • 140 g caster sugar • ½ tsp salt • ½ tsp fresh nutmeg, grated • 1 tsp cinnamon • 2 eggs, beaten • 25 g butter, melted • 175 g milk • 1 Tbsp icing sugar

Method

1. Place the pumpkin in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain pumpkin and let cool.

2. Heat oven to 180C/160C, fan/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly-floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 15 minutes. Line the pastry with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 minutes. Remove the beans and paper, and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the base is pale golden in colour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. 3. Increase oven temperature to 220C/200C, or fan/gas 7. Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk, then add to the pumpkin purée and stir to combine. Pour into the tart shell and cook for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 180C/160C, or fan/gas 4. Continue to bake for 35-40 minutes until the filling has just set. 4. Leave to cool, remove the pie from the tin. Mix the remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust over the pie. Serve chilled.

Method Mix together the butter and icing sugar, add the eggs little-by-little, then sift the flour and baking powder and add a little at first. Then pour the rest in all at once on first speed. When mixture becomes firm, remove from bowl, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using. Not that this pastry is more crumbly and is better for larger tarts. n THE ANVIL ROOMS Location: 28th Floor, Tornado Tower, West Bay Timings: • Sun-Thurs: 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. (lunch) 5:30 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. (dinner) • Fri & Sat: 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. (lunch) 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. (dinner) Contact Info: Call 4499-0685, email reservations@theanvilrooms.qa, or visit www.theanvilrooms.qa.

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Food & Dining

Snack Attack! By Jorge Granda Photography by Jessie Palanca

The Pearl’s newly-opened NOVO Cinema has fast become a hub for avid movie-goers, but apart from great films, visitors will soon be able to enjoy flavourful, healthy treats from AHB Group’s latest endeavour – Crunch Cantina. QH talks to Louise Mortlock, General Manager of AHB’s Restaurants Division to find out what sets this theatre snack-bar ahead of the pack. QH: As GM for AHB Group’s Restaurants Division what’s your average work-day like, overseeing half a dozen successful food and beverage brands? LM: My job is the overall responsibility for the restaurants, which currently includes the existing Chowking restaurants and the expansion plan of the brand. Our flagship Harry Ramsden’s World Famous Fish & Chips restaurant is due to open in early 2015 at Medina Centrale on The Pearl and our own in-house developed brand, Crunch Cantina, will be opening its first store in the cinema. We are fully involved [in this new concept]; I have developed the logo, image and design with our inhouse team and am currently developing the menu. QH: So what’s the Crunch Cantina concept all about, anyway? It’s a catchy name! LM: Crunch Cantina is a concept that we developed ourselves. Mr. Ahmed Hassan Bilal, Chairman of AHB Group, was really interested in a site at the new cinema – but they already had similar concepts, [such as] Asian and fish and chips, so we were tasked with developing our own. We decided on a fun, healthy store with unique takes on popular cinema snacks. In a meeting with Mr. Bilal we presented the concept – which he loved, and we decided on the name 'Crunch' to signify the health factors of crunchy fruit and vegetables and the 'snap' of fresh bread and pretzels. During this meeting, Mr. Bilal told us about a classic Western cowboy movie he had seen the previous night which had been called Cantina Royale. He loved the name, so we changed 'Crunch' to 'Crunch Cantina' – which has a nice ring to it.

NOVO Cinema at Medina Centrale

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QH: It certainly sounds like a promising venture! LM: This is very important as it's the very first restaurant that has been developed by AHB Group, as opposed to a joint venture or franchise. The pressure is on to build and operate a successful restaurant. The first site [for Crunch Cantina] is at the new NOVO Cinema on The Pearl, but we hope to roll out across Qatar – possibly in other malls and cinema locations. QH: What gives Crunch Cantina its unique edge in the market and what kinds of menu items will it offer? LM: There are a lot of juice bars around Qatar, but we aim to offer unique, healthy treats alongside our juices and smoothies. A lot of places say that they’re healthy, but in fact they use high sugar syrups, ice creams and sorbets...all of which add unnecessary sugars to your juice. Our menu will offer something for everyone, from juices, smoothies, German Bakery Company breads, breakfast items and healthy treats. At a time when 'farm-to-table' is becoming increasing popular, we live in a country where almost everything is imported. This is challenging for a fresh produce restaurant but we can implement some of the key ideas of this trend such as freshness, seasonality and simple

preparation. All our juices and smoothies will be made to order in front of the guest, and they can even choose the actual piece of fruit or vegetable they want from the fresh display behind the counter. This makes it a very interactive experience and ensures the guest that we are using the freshest ingredients possible. Healthy foods are becoming increasingly attractive in this part of the world and people are realizing that what we put in our body is essential to the quality of life we live – and that's made more difficult when we dine out. The cinema is an attraction and it can be difficult to stay on track when you're tempted with cakes, sweets and sugary drinks. Our aim is to offer a healthy but delicious alternative for the more health-conscious consumer. n To learn more about AHB Group, its products and services, call 4442-8877 or visit www.ahbqatar.com.

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Food & Dining rmingles Oriental ambiance inte a tasty for s our flav t Eas Far with e! Liv a night out at Asi

Word Of Mouth Photography by Jessie Palanca

This column is part of a monthly contest where we send one of our readers to experience a meal at a restaurant. It’s our way of giving the community a voice in our pages. This month Chris Charleson takes a trip to the Orient at Asia Live! in the Doha Marriott. Here is his review. QH: What did you order? CC: Starter: • Asia Live! Combo, QR 55

Mains: • Asia Live! Teppanyaki Special, QR 275 • Malaysian Spicy Lamb, QR 100 Dessert: • Fried banana with cinnamon and ice cream, QR 39 • Cheeseboard, QR 39 Total for two (including vino and brews): QR 873

QH: Were the prices reasonable? CC: Given the quality of the food, surroundings and service, the meal was very good value for money. QH: Describe the ambiance. CC: Immediately on entering the restaurant, we were struck by the very authentic Asian ambiance. The Chinese/ Japanese pagoda-style décor, muted lighting and colours, and Eastern music created the perfect atmosphere for our dinner. This was completed when we met the head Chef, recently arrived from China and our dynamic teppanyaki chef. One thing customers should be warned about is how hot it can become at times when your teppanyaki is being cooked right in front of you, especially when the chef does some of his stunning pyrotechnics! The best teppanyaki restaurants achieve the right temperature control with subtle extractor fans and strategically placed AC units. At one point during our dinner, it did become slightly too hot for us – and certainly for our energetic chef!

arleson Contest winner Chris Ch ef Zheng Ch h wit e and his wife pos

QH: Describe the quality of the food. CC: Our dinner proved to be an interesting mixture of some excellent flavours and top-quality ingredients but with also a few unfortunate, rather bland, and not perfectly cooked dishes. The Asia Live! combo starter consisted of four items: chicken wantons, snapper wantons, vegetable spring rolls, and prawn cakes. The prawn cakes were delicious and fresh; the spring rolls were tasty without being memorable; the

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b packs The Malaysian spicy lam te and pla the on our col of a pop ate pal the to fiery punch

We also had too many different waiters intent on re-filling our wine glass from the bottle that was kept out of our reach. I much prefer to re-fill my own glass when I am ready. QH: Would you go back? Why/why not? CC: We will definitely go back for the ambiance, the great service, and the quality of food, especially the teppanyaki. Next time we would like to try the duck that was recommended too late by the Head Chef. Overall this was a very enjoyable culinary experience, and importantly it was also good value for money. QH: Favourite thing about the restaurant?

i The signature teppanyak tables encourage familystyle sharing at dinner

wanton was found wanting – rather dry and slightly over-cooked – tasting of oil that was perhaps not at its freshest. The starters with the teppanyaki consisted of an uninspiring salad that need more zing to it, some very fresh and tasty sushi and sashimi, but inexplicably they forgot our miso soup. Our main courses reflected the best and worst of our meal. The signature Teppanyaki Special consisted of real top-quality ingredients – US beef; scallops; king prawns; lobster; chicken; fried vegetables with tofu; and fried rice. These were perfectly cooked in entertaining fashion by our dedicated chef. The onion volcano (sit well back for that one!),the flashing meat cleavers, and the musical pepper pot were the highlight – as was the way the spinning egg finally succumbed to the cleaver to be added to the fried rice. This flashy display was not put on to conceal a lack of culinary class, as the ingredients were highquality and skillfully prepared and presented. Not only did it require a well-balanced display of adept juggling but also a well-balanced and subtle mix of spices and seasoning, with both meat and seafood cooked to perfection. This was the highlight of our meal. On the other hand, the Malaysian Spicy Lamb did not live up to expectations. Although the lamb was lean and fresh, it lacked any real strong flavour of lamb. To mask that lack of flavour the chef obviously tried to overcompensate with the sauce which didn’t quite work. Although we like spicy food, this had the sharpness of spices that were not blended or cooked long enough to get the fine balance needed for this dish. [It] would have benefited greatly for strongerflavoured lamb, perhaps marinated longer in the accompanying spices. We wished we had chosen the duck!

Being from Scotland, I am an expert on deepfried desserts! The Fried Banana however tasted nothing like the heavyhanded Scottish equivalent. It had a crispy, light, almost lemony batter, with the banana cooked perfectly so it did not go mushy, with a subtle hint of cinnamon coming through. This had the mark of a skillful chef with the exquisite touch needed to get this dish just right. Cheeseboards can often be bland in Doha and usually served too cold. This was not the case here. The cheeses were very appetizing, served at room temperature allowing the cheese to breathe, become slightly soft, with the flavours and aromas bursting through. This made a fitting end to our meal and the ideal complement to the superb bottle of Chianti that was light, yet with enough body to cope with the strong flavours throughout our dinner. QH: Describe the quality of the service. CC: The service was verging on excellent, especially from our dedicated waitress Gigi who made the great suggestion that we finish our vino and cheese on the terrace by the pool. The only thing that marred the service was the overattentiveness of the waiters and the bad habit that only the best restaurants in Doha avoid, of clearing dishes before we were both finished.

CC: The energy and entertainment factor of the teppanyaki chef, the quality of ingredients in the teppanyaki, the subtlety of the deep-fried banana, the superb waitress and overall attention to detail. QH: Least favourite thing about the restaurant?

CC: The over-attentive waiters and the blandness of the lamb dish. QH: Was there a special touch or flair to the experience? CC: There were several special touches: the flair of the teppanyaki chef, the personal attention from the waitress Gigi, the quality of the teppanyaki ingredients, the exquisitely cooked deep-fried banana and finishing off with vino and cheese on the terrace. QH: Could the overall experience be improved? If so, how? CC: Less attention from waiters, some ingredients more subtly cooked – e.g. the lamb, and the Asia Live! combo starter. n EDITOR’S NOTE The views and opinions expressed in our reader reviews do not reflect in any way those of Qatar Happening Magazine’s staff, directors, management or Editor-in-Chief. All hotel PR food and beverage departments are aware of the content and receive a copy.

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Food & Dining

Thanksgiving Specials From turkeys with all the trimmings, pumpkin pie and extra dollops of cranberry sauce, there’s nothing quite like Thanksgiving dinner, and thankfully Doha does it right! Need proof? Check out our round-up of tasty treats that will have you giving thanks this November 27. CROWNE PLAZA DOHA – THE BUSINESS PARK Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov 27: Aramede. Enjoy a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner buffet with traditional favourites and live entertainment for QR 285 with selected house beverages and QR 185 with soft drinks. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4408-7777.

DOHA MARRIOTT Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov 27-28: Restaurant Gallery. Celebrate with the family this Thanksgiving with a lavish buffet at the Doha Marriott Restaurant Gallery, featuring traditional turkey dishes, seasonal favourites and a warm atmosphere. Join in and create long-lasting memories at their upgraded Gourmet Route and special Friday Brunch! For more information call 4429-8499.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA THE CITY Thanksgiving Dinner

From Nov 20: The hotel’s skilled chefs will be preparing turkeys roasted perfectly and served with all the trimmings to enjoy with your family for the perfect Thanksgiving celebration right in your home. Order a turkey today and arrange for pick-up starting November 20! For more information call 4429-8499.

Nov 27: The Square. Celebrate the Thanksgiving custom with an evening of traditional holiday dishes such as roast turkey with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, freshly-baked cornbread and, of course, pumpkin pie. They are offering three buffet and drink packages so there’s something for everyone! QR 250 per person includes buffet with soft beverages, QR 350 per person includes unlimited servings of house vinos and spirits and QR 380 per person includes unlimited servings of house beverages. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4015-8888.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA Thanksgiving Day

RADISSON BLU Turkey To Go

Don’t Be A Chicken – Order a Turkey To Go

Nov 27: Coral Restaurant. At Coral restaurant you will enjoy a lavish Thanksgiving dinner for QR 235 with one house beverage. For more information call 4484-4919.

Nov: Order a full turkey with trimmings for six people at QR 680, or enjoy the turkey only at QR 600. Please allow 24-hours notice to fulfil your order. For more information call 4428-1555.

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r and let one of the Avoid the oven this yea ve up the bird for you! car els city's five-star hot

THE FOUR SEASONS Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov 27: Il Teatro. Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. At Il Teatro, they will delight you with the traditional turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie, vegetables and much more.Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks for what they have.To make it better, let's celebrate together! Buffet with soft drinks for QR 270, or buffet with vino for QR 380 per person. From 7:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4494-8981.

THE ST. REGIS DOHA Thanksgiving BBQ Evening Brunch

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA Thanksgiving Lunch & Dinner

Nov 27: Crossroads Kitchen. Come and celebrate this American holiday as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year, all for QR 225. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100.

Thanksgiving Turkey Take-Away

Nov: Quick Bites. In case you want to host a Thanksgiving dinner party, but don’t want to cook the big bird yourself, Quick Bites will have the perfect solution for you. From QR 490 for 4-6 kg turkey. Order needs to be placed 48-hours prior to pick-up time. For more information call 4419-6100.

THE GRAND HYATT Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov 27: The Grill. It’s the time to be thankful and show our gratitude for all the blessings we have in our lives. And for this special occasion, Chef de Cuisine Shaun Dejeet will present a traditional Thanksgiving set menu at The Grill for a special dinner with family, friends and loved ones. For more information and reservations call 7021-8096.

Turkey-To-Go

Nov 14-29: Biscotti. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful and share a delicious meal with family and friends. Guests can celebrate Thanksgiving just like at home but without the hassle of getting all the required ingredients for the feast. Biscotti offers take-away turkeys with all the trimmings and gravy, allowing guests to choose their preferred size of turkey. For more information call 4448-1234.

Nov 27: Vine Terrace. Celebrate this Thanksgiving with a bountiful BBQ evening brunch. A wide selection of Thanksgiving specialty bubbles and the best ribs in town, served with great selection of salads, pasta, cheese and desserts. Bookings recommended. QR 320 with soft drinks and QR 420 with sommeliers selection. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4446-0000.

THE ANVIL ROOMS Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov 27: Enjoy a sumptuous five-course menu for QR 380 dinner only, with an a la carte option also available. For more information call 4499-0685.

W DOHA Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov 27: Market by Jean-Georges. Electrify your Thanksgiving night in style with a special set menu in Market by Jean-Georges. Reservations are required. QR 295 per person. For more information call 4453-5135. n

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Food & Dining Listings RECOMMENDS

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LA CIGALE Di Capri Re-Opening

Daily: Di Capri. The Italian bistro is back with a dazzling new decoration and contemporary menu that boasts the special gastronomic stamp of Italian Chef Luca Dal Col. Open from 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4428-8840.

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA Australian Food Promotion

GRAND HERITAGE DOHA Sushi & Steak

Saturdays: Blue. Enjoy a sharing sushi platter along with your choice of US tenderloin steak for QR 215 per person. An option of Wagyu beef is available for an additional QR 50. From 12:30 noon till midnight. For more information call 4445-5555.

Making it easier to navigate at your fingertips, we’ve categorized all our listings per outlet – brunches, business lunches and weekly/daily promotions.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS DOHA MARRIOTT German Garden

Nov 4-8: View Pool Bar & Grill. The Bavarian Terrace is back! Visit the View Pool Bar & Grill for an authentic Bavarian experience. Enjoy the mouth-watering traditional German buffet including amazing live performances by The Three Bavarians. QR 139 for food only. For more information call 4429-8499.

Late Brunch Is Back!

Fridays: Marriott Open-Air Dining. Experience the awesome, re-vamped, outdoor Late Brunch! Shaking up the Doha brunch scene, join in for Doha’s first and only Late Brunch! Chill out and watch the sunset from your outdoor table with spectacular views across the city. With funky tunes, full grill, buffet and seafood selections, dance the night away under the stars! Including ‘all-in’ bubbly and BBQ! QR 380. From 6:00 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. For more information call 4429-8499.

Salsa Wing Stings

Daily: Salsa. Watch out for the newly-renovated Salsa Restaurant at the Doha Marriott! The lively, authentic restaurant has been conceptualized to impress and amaze those who enjoy a dining experience with bursts of colour and design, menus and funky wall artwork. Visit Salsa and see how much heat you can handle in one go with their newest menu item – Wing Stings! Warnings are issued that these may be the hottest wings you’ve ever tried, so don’t miss out on all the fun! For more information call 4429-8499.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA THE CITY Assorted Mixed Grill All-Month: Prime. Choose the finest cuts from Australia, America and Argentina brought to your table sizzling hot on a miniature charcoal grill. Then get ready for a truly sensory dining experience as fresh herbs and spices from the charcoal gently infuse the meat for even more flavour. QR 300. For more information call 4015-8888.

Izakaya

Mondays: Strata. The restaurant transforms into a traditional Japanese after-work haunt known as an izakaya, serving a special menu including sashimi and sushi, as well as a variety of other hot and cold Japanese dishes. QR 200 per person for food only, QR 320 per person including unlimited vino service for two hours or QR 280 per person including three beers. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4015-8888.

Nov 7-21: New York Steakhouse. Tuck into a spread from the Land Down Under and get ready for some ‘fare dinkum’, mates! For more information call 4419-6100.

Polenta Promotion

Nov 14-27: Cucina. Prepare to be enchanted and delight your palate as Chef Massimiliano brings Italy’s polenta specialties right to your plate! From 6:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100.

PAPER MOON Pick A Pasta Night

Sundays: Jaidah Square. Come and delight in a night of special Italian homemade pastas at the ‘Pick A Pasta’ night. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4016-6000.

THE GRAND HYATT F1 Brunch

Nov 14: The Grill. The Grand Hyatt brings the thrill to Doha with the number-one car race in the world: Formula 1. Book a soft beverage brunch for QR 295 or QR 420 for special beverages. For more information call 7798-2400.

WYNDHAM GRAND REGENCY Moroccan Brunch

Fri & Sat: Tangia Restaurant. The restaurant presents a traditional Moroccan brunch with a variety of tagines, salads and Moroccan bread for only QR 149 per person. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4434-3203/3333 or email wgrf&b@wyndham.com.

See us online! www.qatarhappening.com

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REGULAR PROMOTIONS CHOWKING Indo-Chinese Menu & Value Meals Daily: Tuck in to the new flavours at Chowking with their delectable Indo-Chinese menu. Also, enjoy dinner for two for QR 70-80 including soft drinks. Available at all restaurant locations, serving the best taste at the best price. For more information call Delivery Hotline: 4431-1212, Mamoura: 4486-6077, Al Khor: 4411-8816/17, Salwa Road: 4437-1212, Al Sadd St.: 4431-4411, Holiday Villa Hotel: 4411-5225/335.

CROWNE PLAZA DOHA – THE BUSINESS PARK Phoenician Night

Mondays: Aramede. Enjoy a wide variety of Lebanese and Oriental specialties and Arabic desserts, all for QR 150. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4408-7777.

Seafood Night

Wednesdays: Aramede. Indulge yourself in their extensive selection of the freshest catch with live cooking stations for QR 195. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4408-7777.

Italian Night

Thursdays: Aramede. Have a taste of the unique flavours of Italian cuisine with entertainment from their resident violinist, all for QR 150. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4408-7777.

DOHA MARRIOTT JW’s Steakhouse

Daily: Marriott’s signature restaurant and still the best in the city, JW’s Steakhouse offers an exclusive, upscale dining experience reflected in the sophisticated atmosphere and classic décor. JW’s main courses feature only the finest cuts of US Certified Prime Angus Beef complemented by exquisite spices and sauces. Seafood and salad are also available. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4429-8499.

Weekend Brunch Al Fresco-Style

Fri & Sat: The View Pool Bar & Grill. The View is a beautifully-designed, terrace-style space located directly on the pool deck with excellent views over the Doha city skyline. Enjoy your weekend brunch under the sun at the only outdoor pool terrace in Doha! Stop by with a friend and join in for their daily Happy Hour from 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. and enjoy the fantastic views and atmosphere that The View has to offer! Also open daily from 11:00 a.m. till 12:00 midnight. Happy Hour is from 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. For more information call 4429-8499.

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Food & Dining Listings Weekend Brunch

Fri & Sat: Restaurant Gallery. Discover an array of live stations and specialties featuring favourite dishes from around the globe. Highlights from the weekend brunch include a wide selection of fresh sushi, Peking duck, fajitas, Oriental grills, pizza, curries, biryanis, fresh seafood, ice cream and more. Now offering a kids’ club zone witha special kids’ buffet and activities. QR 245 for regular brunch and QR 350 for bubbly brunch. From 12:30 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4429-8499.

GRAND HERITAGE DOHA Modern Turkish Cuisine

Mon-Sat: Agora. Offering modern Turkish and Ottoman dishes inspired by the Black Sea and the Balkan regions, with Mediterranean touches. From 1:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4445-5555.

Spanish Tapas

Daily: Blue. Channel the vivacious spirit of Spain with the restaurant’s delicious contemporary tapas lunchtime menu. From 12:30 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4445-5555.

Family Brunch

Fridays: Flavours. Enjoy a sophisticated brunch with special kids’ activities in the exclusivelydesigned area adjacent to the restaurant. QR 220 including one round of soft drinks. From 12:30 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4445-5555.

HOLIDAY VILLA BBQ-Themed Buffet Dinner

Thurs & Fri: Sample a variety of meat, seafood, lamb and a lot more, grilled to your liking by the chef and combined with a selection of international cuisine. From 7:00 pm till 11:00 pm. For more information call 4408-4220.

Dim Sum Brunch

Fridays: D’Chopstix. Delight in the bursting flavours of Dim Sum and choose from a vast selection of sumptuous options alongside free-flowing Chinese tea. From 11:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4408-4230.

Japanese Sushi & Maki Promo

Daily: D’Chopstix. Experience delectable, fresh Japanese sushi and maki in an authentic Oriental setting. From 12 noon till 6:30 p.m. For more information call 4408-4230.

Malaysian Breakfast

Fri & Sat: Kafe Ole. Enjoy a taste of Malaysian cuisine influenced by various cultures – Malay, Chinese and Indian, resulting in a symphony of flavours. Kafe Ole serves the most popular dishes for all to savour for QR 60 and upwards. From 6:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. For more information call 4408-4248.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA Seafood Brunch

Fridays: Fish Market. Indulge in a luxurious buffet and a market display featuring lobsters, oysters and tiger prawns. Choose from a wide range of beverage options to complement your meal while enjoying the stunning views of the Arabian Sea and Doha’s skyline.QR 375 including unlimited house beverages and QR 160 for kids with unlimited soft drinks. From 12:30 noon till 3:30 p.m. For more information call 4484-4919 or 4484-4444.

A Taste Of Greece

Daily: Mykonos. The only truly GreekMediterranean restaurant in the city offers an array of fresh, tempting and authentic flavours. Open daily for lunch and dinner from 12:00 noon till 11:30 p.m. Their Bouzouki Duo is back to enhance your experience with traditional live bouzouki music. Daily from 7:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., except Saturday with daily special dishes from the Chef. For more information call 4484-4919 or 4484-4444.

Theme Nights

Daily: The Square. Feast on an exciting array of international dishes every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Mondays offer the best of the Mediterranean and include authentic Italian, Spanish, Lebanese, Moroccan, French and Greek delicacies. Then, take a trip to Asia every Tuesday where Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian favourites take centre-stage. QR 180 excluding beverages or QR 250 including unlimited house beverages. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4015-8888 or email doharestaurants@ihg.com.

KEMPINSKI RESIDENCES & SUITES Signature Camel Burger Daily: Aroma, The Lounge and Gourmet House. The talk-of-the-town signature camel burger is one of Kempinski’s best-selling food items – known for its rich and distinctive combination of tastes that sets it apart from other burgers. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Grill & Share

Steak & Vino Menu

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA THE CITY Winter Seafood Promotion

Breakfast Eggsperience

Mondays: Mykonos. Enjoy a variety of mezze with a selection of salads, starters and dips, followed by a BBQ mix platter freshly-prepared on their grills and end up with a selection of Greek desserts, all for QR 160. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4484-4919 or 4484-4444.

All-Month: Hwang. Attention seafood lovers! In November, Hwang is serving up fresh seafood at the height of seasonality such as prawn, oysters, unagi and sea urchin prepared the way you like it. Choose from baked, poached, grilled, pan-fried, Asian wok and sweet and sour. For more information call 4015-8888.

Seafood Night

Wednesdays: The Square. Delectable, locally-sourced seafood is served every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. Cold seafood salads, fresh seafood cooked ‘a la minute’ at the live cooking stations and a delectable dessert station will make it a night to remember. QR 350 per person including selected house beverages or QR 250 per person inclusive of soft drinks and mocktails. For more information call 4015-8888.

Friday Brunch

Fridays: The Square. Featuring four interactive kitchens specializing in cuisines from Japan, China, India, Thailand, Europe and the Middle East, The Square is the place to be for an indulgent day out. Choose from four distinct seating areas before sampling an array of starters, main courses and sumptuous desserts. QR 330 including selected house beverages, or QR 230 including soft drinks and mocktails. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4015-8888.

Daily: Aroma. Enjoy the most succulent and tender steaks, perfectly combined with superb grilling, tasty accompaniments and a flawlessly matched glass of vino. From 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Daily: Gourmet House. Considered by many as one of the top breakfast spots in the city, Gourmet House serves the Breakfast Eggsperience. Coddled eggs with your choice of spinach, bresaola or salmon, your favourite bread roll from their famous selection, a cup of tea or coffee and a scone with cream and jam for a sweet ending – all for QR 50 per person every morning. From 7:00 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. For more information call 4405-3326, email gourmet.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha.

Business Lunch

Sat-Thurs: Aroma. Kempinski’s new Executive Chef VinonYergu, has revamped the popular business lunch menu with creative, healthy and fresh options. Savour culinary creations such as thechilled vanilla and orange soup, the vegetable moussaka, and finish off with the sweet indulgence of the lemongrass crème brûlée. QR 95 per person from 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4405-3325, email restaurants.doha@kempinski.com or visitwww.kempinski.com/doha.

LA CIGALE International Cuisine

Daily: LeCigalon. Indulge in an extravagant buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with a la carte option available. Buffet breakfast is QR 130 and buffet lunch or dinner with live-cooking stations is QR 220 inclusive of American coffee or tea. From 6:30 a.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4428-8698.

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Sushi Mania

Daily: Yen Sushi Bar. Partake in the best sushi and sashimi served on a special rotating belt and colour-coded, plated formula along with an a la carte menu option as well. From 11:30 a.m. till 12:00 midnight. For more information call 4428-8698.

LA VARENNE French Country Brunch

Fridays: Indulge in La Varenne’s interpretation of a table-top brunch. Enjoy a full-course, all-you-careto-eat menu with sharing-style dishes showcasing an array of the best La Varenne classics, along with their hors d'oeuvres and dessert trolleys. QR 179 for regular brunch and QR 379 per person with selected drinks. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4499-0680 or email reservations@lavarenne.qa.

Rotisserie Night

Saturdays: Delight your taste-buds with an unlimited offering of rotisserie chicken, meat and fish with a selection of side orders for QR 179 per person. From 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. For more information call 4499-0680 or email reservations@lavarenne.qa.

Business Lunch

Sat-Thurs: Enjoy the most exquisite French business lunch in Doha with two courses for QR 85 and three courses for QR 95. For more information call 4499-0680 or email reservations@lavarenne.qa.

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA Smoking Beef

Daily: New York Steakhouse. For the first time in Doha, treat yourself to their bourbon-barrel, woodchip-smoked beef tartare, prepared and smoked by their brilliant hosts right in front of you! QR 105, from 6:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

Three Countries, One Platter

Daily: New York Steakhouse. Taste three origins of beef tenderloin as the Chef presents cuts from the USA, Argentina and Australia all on one plate. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

Tomahawk – Can You Handle It?

Daily: New York Steakhouse. Can you handle the largest steak in town? This is definitely the talk of the town with 800 grams of flavourful Tomahawk Wagyu rib-eye, only at New York Steakhouse. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

Pizza & Pasta Express

Daily: Cucina. Order any one of Cucina’s pizza or pastas along with a side dish and one soft beverage for just QR 45! From 12:00 noon till 6:00 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

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Food & Dining Listings Business Express Lunch

Sun-Thurs: Cucina. Choose from three entrees, three mains and three desserts made from the freshest Italian ingredients and served in 45 minutes or it’s on us – all for QR 85. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

MÖVENPICK HOTEL DOHA Green Smoothies

Daily: L’Espresso Café. L’Espresso invites you to try one of their delicious green smoothies. Choose from five creative combinations made with the freshest ingredients. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4429-1111.

Friday Family Brunch

The Blacksmith’s Supper

Sun-Thurs: Choose a signature steak, a side, a sauce and a signature drink for QR 149. From 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. For more information call 4499-0685 or email reservations@theanvilrooms.qa.

THE DIPLOMATIC CLUB Qanun Player

Mon -Sat: Le Grill Restaurant. Enjoy an evening of alluring Oriental music that will entertain you and enhance your appetite. Sit back and enjoy the rich variety of seafood dishes and premium steaks while enjoying the music. For more information call 4484-7412 or email f&b@dclub.com.qa.

Fridays: Seasons Restaurant. Indulge in an elegant, yet casual experience with free-flowing bubbly and enchanting music to complement the tasty buffet delights including fresh seafood, live cooking and sushi not to forget the endless assortment of appetizers and desserts, all for QR 215. For more information call 4429-1111.

Lobster Your Way

PRINCE OF PERSIA Now Open!

BBQ Donut

Daily: Parcel 5, Unit 135 and 7 La Croisette, The Pearl-Qatar. Prince of Persia is a finedining, authentic Iranian cuisine restaurant that represents a mix of home-style, fresh and delicious Persian dishes focusing on a variety of stews and grills. Open from 12:00 noon till 12:00 midnight. For more information call 4015-0190 or email princeofpersia@nas-food.com.

QUISINE BY GUY SAVOY ‘Introduction To Gastronomy’ Menu

Mon-Sat: Quisine by Guy Savoy and Al Safwa Farm have partnered up to give you the best of Qatari agriculture. All the vegetables in this menu are organic and grown in Qatar. Three-course menu for QR 380. For more information call 4002-7245 or email reservations@guysavoy.qa.

RADISSON BLU Paella Night

Mondays: Picasso’s. Visit the restaurant and enjoy the most delicious paella in town. Dishes priced between QR 55 to QR 100. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4428-1555.

Weekend Brunch

Fridays: Hyde Park. Let the team of chefs tempt you with fresh seafood, sushi, Chinese, Indian and European specialties. QR 180 per person or QR 210 per person including a little sparkle! From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4428-1555.

THE ANVIL ROOMS Lunch Special

Daily: Choose a succulent and tender signature steak, a side dish, a sauce and a soft drink for QR 149. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4499-0685 or email reservations@theanvilrooms.qa.

Daily: Al Sayyad Restaurant. Pick up your lobster from the tank and have it prepared in your desired way. Poached, grilled, thermidor, or served over a simple salad. QR 220 per meal. For more information call 4484-7412 or email f&b@dclub.com.qa.

Daily: With room for eight people, the BBQ Donut will take you along the West Bay shores to enjoy unparalleled views of the city while savouring an exquisite dining experience. QR 180 per person including chilled juices, mineral water and soft drinks. Rental fees are QR 450 for one hour, and QR 800 for two hours with anadditional 30 minutes for QR 200. For bookings call 4484-7450 or email spa.recreation@dclub.com.qa.

THE FOUR SEASONS The Perfect Lunch

Sat-Thurs: Nusantao Restaurant. Longing for a sensational lunch from the Far East, but short on time? Personally design your perfect lunch to suit your taste and schedule by choosing from an extensive selection of dishes. From a one-course to a six-course lunch, Chef Kato’s exclusive Bento Box will delight your palate. From QR 55. From 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4494-8601.

Piatto Unico

Sat-Thurs: Il Teatro. ‘Piatto Unico’ in Italian literally means a ‘one-dish meal’ that is wellbalanced, healthy and bountiful. The chef is delighted to share this unique Italian lunch on a weekly changing basis to suit all tastes. Perfect for those who don’t have much time for lunch and offers great value for a true Italian experience. QR 88 per person. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4494-8631.

See us online! www.qatarhappening.com

Go Go Bento Box

Sat-Thurs: Nusantao: Sea Kitchens. The Go Go Bento Box is a take-away bento box that gives you four different menus for a delicious, easy meal. Boxes have to be ordered in advance over the phone and pick-up times will be advised (allow 45 minutes preparation time). The boxes are composed of four to six dishes, all cooked to order and packed with authentic flavours. From QR 79 for a four-course bento to QR 89 for a six-course bento. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m., and from 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. For more information call 4494-8601.

Friday Brunch

Fridays: Nusantao Restaurant. Start the weekend on a leisurely note with the Four Season's Friday Brunch, which offers an array of delicious dining choices to enjoy. The main buffet is a showcase of live Asian cooking stations, as well as hot and cold appetizers and a traditional carvery. Regular brunch at QR 330 and sparkling brunch at QR 415. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4494-8601.

THE GRAND HYATT Curry Nights

Mondays: Isaan. The Thai restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat curry night. Every Monday from 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., you can order a variety of unlimited curry to share, with your choice of fish, beef, chicken, mussels or vegetables. You can share up to five curries per round, for only QR 75 per person. For more information call 7021-8097.

Chatuchak Weekend Market Brunch Fridays: Isaan. Get an outstanding Thai Chatuchak Weekend Market experience, every Friday for brunch from 12:30 noon till 4:00 p.m. Walk around and explore the colourful array of live cooking stations and market-like stalls. A range of options is available. Enjoy a soft drink brunch for QR 280, a special beverage package for QR 395 and the Moët brunch for QR 680. For more information call 7021-8097.

Barbecue Nights

Thursdays: Majlis. Enjoy the outdoors this season on the Majlis poolside terrace with their barbecue and shisha nights. Don’t miss a night of delicious food, grilled to perfection alongside your favourite exotic shisha flavours for QR 250 per person. For more information call 3039-5396.

Friday Brunch

Fridays: The Lagoon. Bring all the family for a relaxing weekend brunch. Live music complements the delicious buffet of Middle Eastern specialties and international live cooking stations. Children have their own junior buffet and entertainment. QR 260 per person including soft drinks, QR 340 per person including bubbly, or QR 395 for full brunch. Kids under the age of four can dine for free, QR 120 for kids ages 4-12 years-old. From 12:30 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4484-8512, or email rc.dohrz.leads@ritzcarlton.com.

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THE ST. REGIS DOHA Burger & Pint Night

Mondays: Opal by Gordon Ramsay. Enjoy the tastiest and juiciest burger in Doha! Choose from lamb, Wagyu beef, or Opal’s vegetarian burger served with fluffy fat fries and homemade tomato sauce all for QR 100. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4446-0000, or email opalbygordonramsay@stregis.com.

Gourmet Chilli-Dog Nights

Tuesdays: Opal by Gordon Ramsay. Tuesday night is officially Gourmet Chilli-Dog Night. Enjoy the tastiest chilli-dogs in town served with bubbles or brews and includes ice-cream for dessert, all for QR 125. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4446-0000 or email opalbygordonramsay@stregis.com.

Seafood Extravaganza

Mon-Sat: Al Sultan Brahim. Famous for its fresh and varied seafood Al Sultan Brahim is also the place to enjoy traditional Lebanese mezze favourites all cooked from secret traditional recipes by chefs from Lebanon. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4446-0000 or email diningreservations@stregis.com.

Family Brunch

Fridays: Gather with family and friends and experience a lavish buffet with treats for everyone. Parents can relax as children are taken care of with special entertainment and buffet. Live music and breath-taking views from the terrace make this a brunch to remember! Entertainment for children is provided by The St. Regis Doha recreation team and includes fun games, face-painting and lots of creative activities. QR 320 inclusive of soft drinks, QR 420 inclusive of grapes, grain and sparkling beverages. From 12:30 p.m. till 4:00 p.m.; then enjoy the After-Brunch Happy Hour with 50% off on selected beverages from 4:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. For more information call 4446-0000, or email diningreservations@stregis.com.

THE TORCH DOHA Theme Nights At Flying Carpet

Escape To India: Each Monday night try out Indian food platters for only QR 180 per person including selected beverages. Tex- Mex Night: Every Wednesday try Latino specialties with a wide selection of steaks, burgers and hot dogs for only QR 190 per person. Seafood Extravaganza: Every Thursday night find a selection of seafood for grilling, frying, wok and many more for only QR 250 per person including selected beverages. Arabian Nights: Every Friday live the charm of the Orient and indulge in a variety of plates from different Arabic cuisines for QR 200 per person. From 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For more information call 4446-5600, or email restaurant.reservations@thetorchdoha.com.

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Food & Dining Listings Prime Cuts

Tuesdays: Three Sixty. The restaurant is introducing a new selection of Prime Cuts including T Bone, Rib Eye, Wagyu, Veal Chops and Short Ribs. Served at Doha’s revolving restaurant located on the 47th. For more information call 4446-5600 or email restaurant.reservations@thetorchdoha.com)

Business Lunch

Sun-Thurs: Tangia Restaurant. Enjoy an authentic Moroccan business lunch in Tangia Restaurant with a three-course set menu for only QR 87 including beverages. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4434-3203/3333 or email wgrf&b@wyndham.com.

SPECIAL LISTINGS ASPIRE KATARA HOSPITALITY Red Velvet Cupcakery

Traditional Belgian Waffles

Brunch

Fridays: Grand Gourmet Restaurant. Enjoy a special Friday brunch with the family at Grand Gourmet Restaurant for only QR 185 per person featuring an international buffet with a live cooking-station. From 12:00 noon till 3:00 p.m. For more information call 4434-3203/3333 or email wgrf&b@wyndham.com.

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Get two free drinks tomorrow by spending QR 100 today. For more information call 4408-0700 for more details. Nov: A party celebration at Red Velvet is fun! Celebrate your children’s birthday party at QR 60 per child with their great birthday party package. Advance reservation is required. For more information call 4408-0700. Nov: Ice Cream Sandwich. Enjoy a mouth-watering ice cream sandwich and get a free small bottle of regular water with every purchase. For more information call 4408-0700.

W DOHA Burger Night

Sushi Fiesta

Aspire Grand Café

Daily: Torch Tea Garden. A special twist of classic waffle recipes including fresh berries and cream, ice-cream cones and chocolate ganache. High-end tea lounge located on the 21st floor of the hotel, overlooking the pool and Aspire Park. For more information call 4446-5600 or email restaurant.reservations@thetorchdoha.com)

Sundays: Market by Jean-Georges. Start your week with your favourite burger, side dish and one amazing sundae from the selection – all for QR 125 per person. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4453-5135 or email bnfreservations.wdoha@whotels.com.

Sip & Savour

Sat-Thurs: Spice Market. Try Spice Market’s signature cocktails and drinks alongside a combination of mouth-watering snacks with a 50% discount on selected beverages. For more information call 4453-5135 or email bnfreservations.wdoha@whotels.com.

Business Lunch

Sat-Thurs: Market by Jean-Georges.Choose your favourite starter, main course and dessert in just half an hour at QR 95 for a threecourse meal. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4453-5135, or email bnfreservations.wdoha@whotels.com.

Mondays: Caminito. Caminito brings you a fantastic promotion where you can enjoy endless bruschettas, empanadas and a free-flow of their signature drinks for just QR 80 per person. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4447-0000 or email Caminito@zubaraha.com.

Nov: Aspire Park. New Grab-To-Go items. Due to business demand, the Aspire Grand chefs have prepared special ready-to-go Middle Eastern flavours up for grabs. Available daily. For more information call 4449-3963. Nov: Try their chicken biryani – a speciallyprepared fresh chicken, well-marinated with traditional Indian spices, cooked with fragrant basmati rice and finely-chopped fresh herbs. For more information call 4449-3963. Nov: Delight your taste-buds with a speciallyprepared dhal curry cooked with Indian spices, tempered with cumin and served with paratha bread. For more information call 4449-3963. Nov: Choose from ready-to-heat soups and a wide selection of hot and cold beverages for dine-in or take-away. For more information call 4449-3963. Nov: Enjoy healthy choices of breakfast while visiting the park, including fresh croissants, sunny-side up or omelette egg dishes, to crêpes. For more information call 4449-3963.

Two For One

Burgeri

Saturdays: Chopsticks Restaurant. Chopsticks, the award-winning restaurant, presents a delightful miso soup followed by Sushi Fiesta. Eat as much you can for only QR 169 per person. Immerse yourself in an eclectic range of original and sensational sushi platters and try their sushi made of chicken, beef and duck exclusively at Chopsticks. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4434-3203/3333 or email wgrf&b@wyndham.com.

ZUBARAH BOUTIQUE HOTEL All You Can Eat

Fridays: Market by Jean-Georges. Enjoy a delicious brunch with live entertainment by Doha Jazz. QR 395 per person including house beverages, or QR 290 including soft drinks. For more information call 4453-5135 or email bnfreservations.wdoha@whotels.com.

Wednesdays: Caminito. Because they love Wednesday, Caminito offers one complimentary main course for your guest when a main course of equal or greater value is purchased. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4447-0000 or email Caminito@zubaraha.com.

Friday Broonch

Express Lunch

Jazz Brunch

La Spiga. Amplify your flavours with a chic, Italian a la carte brunch. QR 220 per person with selected soft drinks, QR 220 per person with a 25% discount on house beverages, or QR 380 per person with selected house beverages. From 12:00 noon till 4:00 p.m. For more information call 4453-5135 or email bnfreservations.wdoha@whotels.com.

WYNDHAM GRAND REGENCY Marrakesh Night

Thursdays: Tangia Restaurant. Enjoy an authentic Marrakesh buffet in Tangia Restaurant. Gentlemen pay QR 240 and ladies QR 200. Every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4434-3203/3333 or email wgrf&b@wyndham.com.

Sun-Thurs: Baraha. Stop by Baraha restaurant to try their new Express Business Lunch, specially-crafted by their Executive Chef for busy professionals at only QR 75 per person! For more information call 4447-0000 or email baraha@zubarah.com.

All-Day Dining

Daily: Baraha. Indulge in Oriental and international flavours of cuisine at Baraha. Tantalizing dishes served round-theclock, from buffet breakfast a la carte, to an express lunch and a la carte dinner with an option of al fresco seating. For more information call 4447-0000 or email baraha@zubarah.com.

Nov: Aspire Park. ‘B.4.’ Enjoy four new flavourful burgers, B. Hawaiian, B. Fish, B. Ultimate Veggie, and B. Cajun are now available daily. For more information call 4449-3958. Nov: B.Mushroom Melt. A choice of Black Angus, Wagyu beef, or chicken topped with fresh tomatoes, grilled onions and mushrooms, garlic aioli and melted Swiss cheese. Beef burgers are available in single and double sizes for dine-in and take-away. Available daily. For more information call 4449-3958.

Sukar Pasha Ottoman Lounge

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Experience the comfort of their designer VIP beach tents with personalized butler service. Also, their outdoor garden seating is your ideal option to unwind. For more information call 4408-2000. Nov: Enjoy a whole lamb seasoned to perfection, charcoal spit-roasted and served with aromatic traditional Machbous rice for QR 115 per serving. From 3:00 p.m. till 12:00 midnight. For more information call 4408-2000.

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Chac’Late

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Oreo Milkshake. Enjoy a blend of homemade vanilla ice cream, milk and crushed Oreo cookies. For more information call 4408-0733. Nov: Their newly-designed breakfast menu now includes an organic egg breakfast, served fresh and healthy at QR 48. For more information call 4408-0733. Nov: Enjoy a signature Parisian or Chac’Late breakfast with indoor or outdoor seating. Prices start from QR 30. From 8:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. For more information call 4408-0733.

L’wzaar Seafood Market

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Sushi Night. Platters of specially-prepared assortments of sushi to share are now available during dinner-time, from Sunday to Wednesday. For more information call 4408-0710. Nov: A fresh selection of cold mezze including Classic, Mixed or Deluxe are now available daily from the a la carte menu. For more information call 4408-0710. Nov: A tantalizing special dish of the day is available during lunch and dinner. For more information call 4408-0710. Nov: Experience their Tandoori grill and Thai curry cooking styles for your fresh seafood. Other cooking styles are also available. For more information call 4408-0710.

le Vesuvio

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Three-Course Lunch. A special table lunch menu consisting of a starter, a main course and a dessert. Available from Sunday to Thursday. For more information call 4408-1500. Nov: Pizza Home Delivery. They deliver for a minimum order of 20 pizzas. Advance reservation is highly required. For more information call 4408-1500. Nov: Business Lunch. Catering to growing demand, le Vesuvio is now offering a special lunch-table menu consisting of a starter, main course and a dessert. Available Sunday to Thursday. For more information call 4408-1500. Nov: A special a la carte menu for children is available daily. For more information call 4408-1500. Nov: Enjoy home delivery for a minimum order of 20 pizzas. Advance reservation is highly required. For more information call 4408-1500.

Shawarma Albisana

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Enjoy your favourite chicken or beef shawarma with a cold soft drink for only QR 15. For more information call 4408-1400.

Kunafa Albisana

Nov: Katara Cultural Village. Kunafa Keshda. Enjoy a unique homemade kunafa roll filled with keshda. Available for dine-in and take-away. For more information call 4408-1200. Nov: Savour a unique homemade soft kunafa with Nabulsi cheese imported from Jordan for either dine-in or take-away. For more information call 4408-1200. Nov: Try their new aesh el saraya – a bread pudding recipe with deep flavours of caramelized sugar and hints of rosewater, topped with homemade fresh cream, pistachios, cashew nuts and a dash of cinnamon. For more information call 4408-1200.

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Food & Dining Directory American & Tex-Mex American Grill

International

Chinese

4411-0188

Chopsticks 4434-3333

Al Hubara

4485-4444

Caminito 4447-0000

D’Chopstix 4408-4888

Al Liwan Restaurant

4424-2888

Chili’s 4466-0663

Royal Bafilyon

4411-4458

Al Matbakh Rooftop Grill

4433-6777

Ipanema 4419-6100

Ruby Wu’s

4428-1428

Al Shaheen Restaurant

4485-4444

Johnny Rockets

Wok of Fame

4413-4772

Animato 4496-6600

4455-2792

Just Burger 4015-0180 4437-2679

Contemporary European

Latino 4485-4444 Oyster Bay

4446-0105

Paloma 4484-4444 Pampano 4495-3876 Ric’s Kountry Kitchen

4443-7846

Rodizio Brazilian Churrascaria

4408-7777

Salsa 4429-8888 TGI Friday’s

4488-7008

Aroma 4405-3325 Astor Grill

4446-0105

Belgian Café

4484-4444

Gordon Ramsay

4446-0105

La Mer

4484-8000

Market by Jean-Georges

4453-5135

Nando’s

Delivery Hotline 4436-0606

Opal by Gordon Ramsay

Arabic & Lebanese

4446-0105

French

Agora 4445-5555 Al Balad

4491-8692

La Sahtaine

4423-3333

Al Bandar

4431-1818

La Varenne

4499-0680

Al Batross

4432-8888

Al Canteen

4433-6666

Le Relais de L’Entrecote 4495-3876 ext. 1411

Al Mourjan

4483-4423

Al Sayyad

4484-7420

Al Sultan Brahim

4446-0105

Al Tawash

4498-2002

Maxim 4428-1428 Quisine by Guy Savoy

Indian

Argan 4433-6666 Burj Al Hamam

4495-3876

Istanbul Sultan Dining Restaurant 4468-5089 Khan Rafouk Tarab Café

4408-0840

Layali 4431-0005 Lebanese Shawarma

4466-2616

Liza 4495-3876 Majlis 4448-1234 Marmara Istanbul

4436-2947

Tajine 4435-5554 Tangia 4434-3333 The Tent

4432-8888

Turkey Central

4443-2927

4002-7245

Sormani 4495-3876 Ext. 3222

Biryani Hut

4464-1401

Bombay Balti

4428-1428

Chingari 4428-1428 Idyl Factory

6674-1143

Royal Indian

4466-6876

Baraha

4447-0000

Blue Brasserie Restaurant

4472-2666

Choices 4402-3333 Corniche 4429-8888 Cosmo Restaurant

4424-7777

Crossroads Kitchen

4419-6100

De Dine Zone Restaurant

4470-8822

East 4433-6666 Flying Carpet

4446-5600

Grand Gourmet

4434-3333

La Brasserie

4446-2222

La Cigalon Restaurant

4428-8888

Lifestyle Restaurant

4463-2154

Mawasem 4423-3333 Mehfil Restaurant Nando’s

4409-4444

Delivery Hotline 4436-0606

The Dining Room (Al Najada Boutique Hotel)

4433-6666

The Dining Room (Fraser Suites Hotel)

4424-3444

The Grill

4448-1234

The Lagoon

4484-8000

Three Sixty 4446-5600 Torch Tea Garden

4446-5600

Vine 4446-0105

Italian Bice Ristorante

4495-3876

Royal Tandoor Al Souq St., Jasra 4444-6151 Souq Waqif 4432-3244

Carluccio’s 4495-3876

Saffron Lounge

3325-8919

Di Capri

4428-8698

Sukh Sagar

4431-9172

Fabio’s Pizza

4416-5641

4429-8888

II Teatro

4494-8888

La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant

4436-7991

La Spiga by Paper Moon

4453-5135

Taj Rasoi

ne! i l n o s u e e S w.qatarhappening.com ww

Cucina 4419-6100

Paper Moon 4016-6000 Picasso’s 4428-1428 Porcini 4484-8000 Rocca 4448-1270 The Italian Job

4428-1428

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Japanese

Bar Food

Cafés

Neo 4432-2508

Belgian Café

4484-4444

Oishi Sushi

4442-8989

De Ozone

4470-8822

Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar

4495-3878 Ext. 1311

Sakura 4428-1428

Madison Piano Bar

4428-8888

Al Jalsa

4425-6666

Strata Restaurant & Lounge

4015-8888

Pool Bar

4484-4444

Al Kut Lounge

4434-3203

Sushi Minto

4467-5577

Shehrazad 4428-1428

Al Mandarine

4463-3748

Yen Sushi Bar

4428-8888

The Irish Harp

4485-4444

Atrium Lounge

4485-4444

The Lounge

4405-3325

Bab Al Baher

4423-3333

Mediterranean

Wahm 4453-5353

Aramede 4408-7777

Burgers

Biscotti 4448-1282

Bistro Bistro

4428-1428

La Villa

4446-2222

American Grill

Le Central Restaurant

4428-8888

Chili’s 4466-0663

Medi @ The Village

4444-4700

Fuddruckers

Mykonos 4484-4444 The Cellar

4402-3333

4411-0188 4483-3983 4455-2792

4434-2753

TGI Friday’s

4488-7008

Dean and Deluca

4451-9780

Dell @ The Village

4444-4700

Gourmet House

4405-3333

Jones the Grocer

4407-7175

La Margarita

4409-4444

Le Gourmet

4436-1789

Lime Café

4496-6600

Maya La Chocolatiere Landmark Mall Villaggio Mall MBCo (The Gate Mall) Al Emaadi Financial Square

4486-2264 4417-8132 4407-7130 4411-7224

Moka and Co

4458-3232

Orangery Café Troittor

4428-8888

Quick Bites

4419-6134 4446-0105

4472-2666

Prince Of Persia

Al Sayyad

4484-7420

Al Sultan Brahim

4446-0105

Fish Market

4484-4444

L’wzaar 4408-0710 Asia Live!

4429-8888

Chowking Delivery Hotline 4431-1212 Mamoura 4486-6077 Al Khor 4411-8816/17 Salwa Road 4437-1212 Al Sadd St. 4431-4411 Holiday Villa 4411-5225/335

Café Vergnano 4495-3876 Ext. 2611

Johnny Rockets

Al Dente Seafood Restaurant

Southeast Asian

4444-7017

4466-7551

Parisa 4425-6666 4015-0190.

Café Tasse

Colombiano

4425-6666

4444-4700

4470-8822

Coffee Time

Al Dana

Grill @ The Village

Café De Biznez

Hardee’s 4467-8750

Seafood

Persian

Bert’s Café 4495-3876 Ext 1381

Pampano 4495-3876 Pier 12

4428-1428

Steakhouses

Isaan 4448-1250

Bentley’s Grill

4428-1428

Sarab Lounge

Mango Tree

4495-3876

JW’s Steakhouse

4429-8888

Savor 4408-7777

Nusantao: Sea Kitchens

4494-8888

Le Grill

4484-7412

Shisha Garden

4428-8888

Spice Market

4453-5353

New York Steakhouse

4419-6100

Sky Lounge

4402-3333

Sri Kebaya

4434-0838

Prime 4015-8888

Sugar and Spice

4411-4456

The Noodle House City Center Mall

4411-5063

The Anvil Rooms

4499-0685

The Courtyard

4433-6444

The Butcher Shop and Grill

4413-5508

The Drawing Room

4433-6666

The Pearl Wok Mee Noodle House

4495-3876 4496-6600

The Old Manor Steakhouse

4446-2222

The Lobby Lounge

4484-8000

The Terrace Lounge

4433-6555

Torch Café

4446-5600

W Café

4453-5353

Ya Hala

4423-3333

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Sports

s k c i P p o T ’s This Month

InterContinental Doha TRX Fitness Classes

The Four Seasons Power Yoga All month: The Spa. Enjoy 75 minutes of dynamic yoga practice including Vinyasa strengthening positions aimed at energizing and detoxifying, improving balance, strength and flexibility. QR 80 per person. For more information call 4494-8601.

Tues & Sat: The Bay Club. Another name for this challenging class is suspension training. Participants will be working against gravity using their own body-weight and TRX equipment to complete a series of exercises. It helps to develop strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously. Tuesdays from 8:00 p.m. till 8:45 p.m., and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. till 11:15 a.m. Members QR 30/ non-members QR 50. For more information call 4484-4852.

La Cigale The Grand Hyatt

Kids Boot Camp Saturdays: Ozone Gym & Spa. Enjoy 60-minutes of customized, fun fitness games for kids between the ages of six and 12. Classes start at 10:00 a.m. and are complimentary for members, while non-members pay QR 60 per class. For more information call 4428-8101.

OUT om .c CHECaK ppening

atarh tion! www.qthe latest informa for

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Qatar Football Association Football Friendly Match Nov 6: Fans will fill the stadium as the Qatar national team wraps up its third friendly match in preparation for the Gulf Cup and the AFC Cup of Nations 2015 as it takes on the opponents from South Korea. For more information visit www.qfa.com.qa.

Relax And Tone All Month: Jaula Club. Are you ready for the holidays? Have you gained some extra weight during the summer? Allow their experts to assist you in re-shaping your body to get you the best results in no time. Feel different and look different by booking six personal training sessions and get beach and pool access valid for two people for a month. For more information call 4448-1060.

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Special Promotion

Divine Luxury Crowds clog the boardwalk at last year's inaugural event

The Middle East’s premier yachting lifestyle event is ready to set sail from November 11-15, in Lusail. QH gets aboard the 2nd Qatar International Boat Show!

A

fter the success of last year’s inaugural event, the second edition of the Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) will be held this November under the auspices of H.E. Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani at Mourjan Marinas in Lusail City.

Sixty boats will be on display at QIBS 2014, including world-acclaimed brands such as Azimut, Sea Ray, Princess, Ferreti, Riva, Gulf Craft, Sunseeker, Prestige, Itama, As Marine, San Lorenzo, Benetti, Sunreef, Esen Yachts, Ares, Lagoon, Amer Yachts, Cranchi, Everglades and more.

The Qatar International Boat Show has attracted high-profile names such as Lusail City, Qatari Diar – the venue for QIBS, and Katara Hospitality. QIBS 2014 will be open daily from 3:00 p.m. till 9:30 p.m. and will be double in size of the first show, offering an improved layout, a high percentage of international exhibitors representing many of the top names in the maritime industry and a huge number of repeat exhibitors.

Nakilat Damen Shipyard Qatar (NDSQ), will also have a presence; NDSQ is the only super-yacht builder in Qatar – a joint venture of two bluechip companies: Nakilat and Damen. Prestige Yachts will also launch its dealership in Qatar with Gulf Yachts who also represent Everglades boats. Additionally Lagoon Catamarans represented by Tan Services, Hydrasports Custom represented by Plantation Boats and Ventus Lounge Boats will also be exhibiting in Qatar for the first time.

Now a firm fixture within the International Boat Industry (IBI) calendar, consolidating the show’s importance on the international yachting industry circuit, QIBS provides the premier platform to preview new products, evaluate market trends and establish long-lasting and commercially-profitable partnerships.

Four shipyards will also be making their début at QIBS 2014 – Palmer Johnson from the US, Blohm and Voss from Germany, Esen Yacht from Turkey, Grupo per Mare, and Amer Yachts from Italy who will be showcasing

one of the largest yachts in the show at 92-ft in length. Also featured in Qatar for the first time will be a 36m house-boat from the UAE. n 2nd QATAR INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW Dates: November 11-15 Venue: Mourjan Marinas in Lusail City Timings: From 3:00 p.m. till 9:30 p.m. Contact Info: For more information visit www.qibs2014.com.

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Sports

Top Of Their Game

As told to Jorge Granda Images courtesy of FINA

Swimming’s top international competitors will arrive in Doha on December 3 to participate in the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). QH takes you inside the year’s most ambitious global swimming competition in the Middle East.

S

wimming is the sport of the season right now as all eyes will turn to Doha this December for the ultimate showdown at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). The showpiece event is set to run from December 3-7 at the state-of-the-art Hamad Aquatic Centre in Aspire Zone. A thousand of the world’s best swimmers from more than 120 nationalities worldwide will compete over five days of intense competition covering 46 medal events for a coveted World Champion title. Previous victors at the FINA World Swimming Championships include US Olympic Gold Medallist Ryan Lochte, who took home six gold medals at the last Championships in 2012; Olympic champion Chad Le Clos (RSA), who rose to fame after beating Michael Phelps at the

London 2012 Olympic Games, and multiple world record-holder, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) are also among the top athletes expected to return to Doha after competing here in August at the FINA Swimming World Cup. In addition, four-time Olympian Roland Schoeman (RSA), world record-holder Daniel Gyurta (HUN), double Olympic medallist Mireia Belmonte (ESP), and other key athletes from Germany, Italy, Russia, China, Japan and the Netherlands are also expected to bring their best to the competition.n

a Hungary's Daniel Gyurt

American Cody Miller an (second row) and Germ d) oun egr (for h Koc rco Ma

FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (25M) Dates: December 3-7 Venue: Hamad Aquatic Centre, Aspire Zone Official Website: www.wscdoha2014.com

PRIZE MONEY PER EVENT: 1st place: USD 7,000 2nd place: USD 5,000 3rd place: USD 3,000 4th place: USD 2,000 5th place: USD 1,500 6th place: USD 1,000

South African Olympian Chad Le Clos

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y Qatar Divers is the onl ntry cou the in ool sch ing div n ear can ers inn where beg their PADI certification

Exploring The Deep By Mai Akkad Selected photography by Hazem Metwally

Qatar Divers is a place for all underwater enthusiasts. QH talks to owner and founder Abdullatif Al-Naemi, who is also Qatar’s first PADI course director, about the possibilities that keen and avid divers can pursue in his institute. Courses Beginners, advanced and professional divers have a whole community awaiting them at Qatar’s most thriving diving institute. All levels can choose from the plethora of courses that Qatar Divers offer, including PADI Scuba Divers, PADI Adventure Diver and Dive Master – to name just a few. Those who have no clue about diving and are interested to get a taste of the sport are also welcome to find out “if diving is for them,” through the PADI Scuba Diver Experience program. The three-hour program takes place in a swimming pool where participants are introduced to the diving equipment and learn how to breathe underwater. “A lot of people didn’t know actually if diving is for them or not,” says Al-Naemi. “So we always recommend for them the Discover Scuba Divers.” The program is open to children up to the age of 10 years-old.

Certifications With the wide array of courses available, there are also different certifications that go along with them. One of the most practical and easiest certificates to obtain is the PADI Open Water course certificate, which is recognized in 128 countries. An owner of this certificate can check

ale sharks, From ship wrecks to wh explores the Qatar Divers' team up-close life rine ma e ers div Qatar's

out diving equipment and enjoy dives in all the popular spots in the world. “It’s very nice,” says Al-Naemi. “It helps you book most of your holidays to be diving-related.” Other prestigious certificates can be earned through their advanced and professional courses, which qualify holders of such certificates to conduct adventure dives, rescue other divers and even train prospective divers.

Ship Wrecks, Sea Life and Excursions There are several shipwrecks to explore in Qatar including the M.O. wreck andthe Pericles wreck. Qatar Divers hold excursions every week to visit these sites. Throughout these exciting excursions, divers also get to appreciate Qatar’s sea life. “We cannot compare the marine life of Qatar to the Maldives, [or] the Red Sea,” explains Al-Naemi. “But we have some places which are amazing.” Among the fascinating creatures that you can spot in Qatar’s waters are whale sharks, grouper fish, barracudas, snappers, crocodile fish, crabs and shrimps. “The more you go away from the shore you will see more colours,” Al-Naemi tells us.

Get Involved Qatar Divers are very accessible and always happy to welcome newcomers. Their main office is currently located on Al Waab Street near Al Waab Petrol Station. You can reach them by phone at 4431-3331 or 3391-1331, or by email at info@qatardivers.com. They also have a Qatar Divers Facebook page and their website is www.qatardivers.com. n

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Special Promotion

Stay Active!

tor Evolution Sports instruc tcamp class Greg Evans leads a boo

In the spirit of healthy living and keeping fit, Evolution Sports is adding two amazing new programs to its roster – EVO Rugby and EVO Fit! We’ve got the scoop on both. EVO Rugby Evolution Sports is introducing another program for the delight of rugby fans – Evolution Rugby, led by ex-professional rugby player Greg Evans. The rugby program is open to ages 5-16 and will provide sessions twice a week for each age grade at the Doha Rugby Club. Open to all levels of skill from beginner to advanced, the course will provide young players with the basic skills needed to play, from passing, running, kicking and tackling.Their aim is to develop these skills in a fun but safe environment to bring the best out in each child.

Areas Of Focus:

The coaching roster has some real pedigree and includes Greg Evans (Welsh International, English Premiership), Aimie Gardner (Welsh International) and Aaron McLelland (Doha Rugby 1st Team) who are fully-qualified and fully-licensed.

• Attack play • Running with the ball • Foot-work/Side-step • Beating defenders • Speed • Agility • Passing • Kicking • Defence • Tackling • Rucking • Team-work • Communication

Age Groups • Little Ruggers (5 & 6 year-olds) • U8’s (7 & 8 year-olds) • U10’s (9 & 10 year-olds) • U12’s (11 & 12 year-olds) • U14’s (13 & 14 year-olds) • U16’s Development (15 & 16 year-olds)

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Images courtesy of Evolution Sports

Age

Coach

Age

Coach

Age

Coach

Sunday

U10's

Greg

Little Ruggers

Aaron

U8's

Aimie

Monday

16's

Greg

U12's

Aaron

U14's

Aimie

Tuesday

U10's

Greg

Little Ruggers

Aaron

U8's

Aimie

Wednesday

16's

Greg

U12's

Aaron

U14's

Aimie

For more information contact Greg at Rugby@evosportsqatar.

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Introduce your little ones to team sports with EVO Rugby

EVO Fit

From the moment you step into one of their sessions you’ll become a valued friend. They don’t just stop there though, as they understand that those who experience success are those with support in everyday life, and so they ensure you keep up the good work and take the lessons you’ve learned at EVO Fit home with you while leaving the weight behind. They’ve developed their boot camps to fit in around your lifestyle – not the other way around. n

up Tone, tighten and trim m gra pro Fit O EV the with

Al Waab

Class Timetable

West Bay

EVO Fit are fitness classes you simply can’t live without. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, tone up or simply get in shape, they can help you achieve your goals. The instructors, led by Director of Fitness Greg Evans, pride themselves on providing workouts that deliver on enjoyment, experience and results. They not only concentrate on your fitness, physique and figure, Evolution Sports also make sure you have everything you need to enjoy well-deserved rewards and make you feel great!

Sunday

Tuesday

Thursday

6:00 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.

Evo Blast

MetaFit

Boot Camp

6:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.

Evo Blast

MetaFit

Boxercise

Boot Camp

Boot Camp

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Boxercise

6:00 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.

MetaFit

Evo Blast

Boot Camp

6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.

MetaFit

Evo Blast

Boxercise

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Boxercise

Boot Camp

Boot Camp

For more information contact Greg at Fitness@evosportsqatar.com.

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Sports

Ten To

Zen

Words and selected images by Lynsey Riach

tor Author and yoga instruc you de gui ps hel ch Lynsey Ria peace one step closer to inner

Yoga can help to unlock our inner and outer strength, but to maximize its benefits outside of the studio, trying your best to live a centred, balanced life is key. Here are ten tips to help you along the path to serenity.

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A

s a yoga instructor people often expect me to be in a constant state of calm, where nothing could possibly bother me. But I feel that unless you’re genetically predisposed to be a cool and collected character then how can we change who we intrinsically are? And that question carries even more weight when placed in 2014 where each one of us is guilty of being ‘oh-so-busy’ all of the time. Effectively, busy lives mean busy minds. The ability to switch off has become even trickier than ever before (sometimes feel like you just can’t escape?), so what can we do to slow it all down and be grateful for what we actually have? Well the answer lies in re-programming. That means your actions, your routine, your day and, eventually, your overall mindset. Introducing, Ten to Zen which is a set group of mantras originally created by Buddhist monks who, along with much meditation adopted their chosen mantras into each part of their day over and over until it became their day. The idea behind this is to be mindful and fully aware of what you’re doing at times that matter most to you. Think about the last item of food you ate – did you stop and chew it properly? Savour the flavour? Enjoy it? Did you even need it? Or what about the last conversation you had with a loved one – did you even listen properly to what they had to say or were you too busy multi-tasking and checking on your Facebook notifications? If we stop and act more mindfully on matters that are important to us, we become more aware of how we spend our time. Everything from how and what we eat, to how we behave provides an insight into each of our days and lives so we can turn things around if we feel something is no longer serving us or we could be a better version of ourselves. So, you can start each day mindfully by thinking about these mantras and how you can incorporate them into your life whether it be at home, at work or even in the car!

go Don't be afraid of letting

3

Let go of Judgments To judge is to criticize, to act as if you know best boosts only the ego – so just don’t.

4

Let go of Anger An emotion we all have that can be controlled through proper management and is often triggered by a re-occurring obstacle. Tackle what that problem is and understand that an angry person is not rational or helpful.

5

Let go of Regrets As we age we accumulate experience, so it’s easy to look back and wish we had acted in a different manner or chosen a different path. It’s best to accept that at that time you made the best decision you could for whatever reason you did. You cannot change it now so let it go.

6

Let go of Worrying The past has happened, the future is an imagination and the present is all we have. Stay in today, the present moment. Worrying about the past uses energy, worrying about the future that has not happened yet is day-dreaming. Unless you can be productive in your worrying then don’t even entertain it.

1

7

2

8

Let go of Comparing Once you start pitting yourself against others you create rivalry, hostility and negative energy within your body and thought processes. Accept that you are you and as for others, you most probably don’t know their full story so to compare is a waste of time. Enjoy being you. Let go of Competing Healthy competition never hurt anyone but if you have a competitive nature you may find this can become a burden to you and create negativity and unrealistic ideals in your life. Be mindful of how and what you are competing for – make sure it’s worth it to you.

Let go of Blame As an adult, we learn to accept responsibility. If there is blame to be had, instead of pushing this onto another, accept the role you have played. Be in control of how you operate and conduct yourself. Being more mindful of this will help to cut down on arguments and upset with those you love. Let go of Guilt Sometimes we feel guilty for things we can’t control in the lives of others. Accept that we all play our own role and we act in a way we feel acceptable at that time due to the circumstance. If you ate a piece of chocolate when you were trying not to, you may feel slight guilt but it soon

passes and you may learn from your ‘mistake’. Learn and keep on learning to rid yourself of the heavy burden guilt carries.

9

Let go of Fear Conquer your fears by facing them. If you couldn’t sleep for worrying about bills to pay and are now fearful you cannot pay them, be productive – face the problem head-on and resolve it. There is always a solution, always.

10

Laugh Every single day. Happy hormones flood your system and stay with you, so make sure and get a proper belly laugh – it’s good for your soul!

You can break these Ten to Zen down onto a piece of paper to carry with you, or stick onto the fridge as a reminder. Of if you prefer, create your very own mantra – pick a quick and easy phrase that means something to you and that you can memorize, then use it when needed. By making mantras part of your day, you should be able to mindfully bring your attention back to the present moment – what is a priority and a reality. In turn it should leave you a more grateful person. Now, don’t forget to breathe…Namaste! n Lynsey Riach is a qualified yoga instructor living and working in Doha. To learn more about her services visit www.andstretchyoga.com.

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Sports Jonny demonstrates barbell deadlifts

es The Tabata method mix exertion bursts of high-intensity t with short periods of res

The Four-Minute

Workout By Jonny Parr Photography by Jessie Palanca

We know that fitting time into our busy schedules to hit the gym can be more of an effort than we care to admit. That’s why we consulted the experts at Absolute Fitness to show us how to get results in less time with the Tabata fitness method.

G

et in and get out is a common motto for gym-goers. We all love the notion of being fit and healthy, but ideally we would like to do this by spending as little time as possible – if any – in the gym. The main reason for this appears to be lack of time, whether due to long working hours or other commitments such as spending time with our families. The good news is that you need not spend hours on end in the gym or exercising. In existence lies a simple yet highly-effective training arrangement that can get you excellent results in terms of conditioning, fat loss, muscular endurance, lean muscle, GPP (General Physical Preparedness) and work capacity. Introducing theTabata training method. Founded by Dr. Izumi Tabata, the basis of this protocol is 20 seconds of intense activity followed by 10 seconds rest. This is repeated for a total of eight rounds equaling a total of four minutes training time.

Tabata training can be used with a number of different exercises, whether bodyweight or equipment-based. The options are limitless but, above all else, simple and accessible…making it easy for you to introduce the method regardless of your individual circumstances. What I would encourage you to consider however is selecting exercises that utilize fullbody movements and engage the major muscle groups of the body (i.e. glutes, lats, hamstrings, quads etc). This will elicit a higher metabolic response leading to better results such as fat loss.

The Key Is Intensity It’s worth re-iterating that intensity is key to getting the results you want. Depending on your fitness and level of experience, you should aim to perform the exercises during the 20-second period at around 85-100% effort. Make no mistake, the routine is difficult and may humble you in the first few attempts. The results however make this all worthwhile!

Routines I’ve included four routines below, all of which use bodyweight or particular pieces of equipment. Bodyweight-Based (Beginner/Intermediate) 1. Bodyweight Squats 2. Push-Ups 3. Reverse Lunges 4. Burpees

TRX Squats

TRX-Based (Beginner/Intermediate) 1. TRX Squats 2. TRX Rows 3. TRX Hamstring Curls 4. TRX Push-Ups Dumbbell-Based (Intermediate) 1. Dumbbell Goblet Squats 2. Dumbbell Chest Press 3. Dumbbell Stiff-Legged Deadlifts (RDLs) 4. Dumbbell Rows Barbell-Based (Advanced) 1. Barbell Deadlifts 2. Barbell Bent-Over Rows 3. Barbell Back Squats 4. Barbell Overhead Press Twenty seconds work per exercise, before resting 10 seconds and repeating with the subsequent exercises. You need not spend hours on end exercising to get results. Using the simple Tabata protocol can play an important role in fat loss, work capacity etc, whether it’s your only means of training or as part of your current program. Give it a shot, train with intensity, and reap the benefits! For more information on personal training and fitness options visit www.absolutefitness.me. n

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Sports Listings RECOMMENDS zed are categori All listings ed it usion is lim per hotel. Incl h it w y of space, to availabilit s. er is rt n to adve priority give

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA THE CITY Fitness Classes

CROWNE PLAZA DOHA – THE BUSINESS PARK Personal Trainer

Upon request: The hotel’s fitness instructors are fully-qualified to provide expert guidance and motivation for your workout, ensuring the correct technique to help you get the best results. One session is QR 150 and ten sessions are QR 1,350. From 8:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. For more information call 4408-7621 or email recreation.cpdoha@ihg.com.

ONE OF A KIND DOHA MARRIOTT Swimming Lessons

Upon request: Join their fun-filled swimming lessons in a temperature-controlled Olympic-sized swimming pool. Learn the front-stroke, back-stroke, breast-stroke and butterfly by a certified swimming instructor with CPR and first-aid training. Adults and children are welcome by appointment. Lessons are 45 minutes. For more information call 4429-8520.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA Body Balance

Sun & Wed: The Bay Club. This holistic workout combines elements of yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi, leaving you stronger and well-balanced. Body Balance takes you through a series of stretches, moves and poses, utilizing controlled breathing. Classes are Sundays from 8:30 a.m. till 9:30 p.m., and Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. till 5:45 p.m. Members QR 30/non-members QR 50. For more information call 4484-4852.

EVERY WEEK DOHA MARRIOTT LPG Slimming Machine

Upon request: Adored by stars all over the world and well-known to the general public, the Cellu M6 Keymodule (the Lipomassage machine), is the new alternative to invasive methods. Enjoy a special introductory offer of one LPG treatment plus a 20% discount on a personal training consultation with trainer Adamou. For more information call 4429-8520.

Boxing

Daily: Join boxing classes and enjoy learning the art of self-defence in a safe, fun environment. This course is great for body-conditioning and weight-loss, core strengthening and toning. Improve your stamina, strength and agility, plus discover balance and enhanced hand-eye coordination. De-stress and build self-confidence! Members pay QR 35/non-members QR 45. For more information call 4429-8520.

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA Pilates Sculpt

Tuesdays: The Bay Club. This special class focuses on a series of non-impact exercises designed to develop abdominal strength, flexibility, balance and improve postural alignment. Slow and controlled movements strengthen and lengthen muscles to help re-balance the body. From 9:15 a.m. till 10:15 a.m. Members pay QR 30/non-members QR 50. For more information call 4484-4852.

Boxing Fitness

Mon & Fri: The Bay Club. This class combines the principles of boxing – such as basic punching, defending and foot-work, with cardio exercises specific for boxing training. Participants will develop coordination, balance and control. From 8:30 p.m. till 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, and from 4:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. Members pay QR 30/non-members QR 50. For more information call 4484-4852.

Sundays • 7:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. Yoga, QR 60 • 8:30 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. Salsa Classes (advanced), QR 60 Mondays • 6:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Zumba Toning (with Jamil), QR 60 • 7:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. Boxing (with Big T), QR 50 • 8:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. Zumba Toning (with Jamil), QR 60 Tuesdays • 9:00 a.m. till 10:00 a.m. Pilates, QR 50 • 7:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. Yoga, QR 60 • 8:30 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. Tango Classes, QR 60 Wednesdays • 9:00 a.m. till 10:00 a.m.Pilates,QR 50 • 6:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Kids Salsa & Cha Cha, QR 250 per child, per month • 7:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. Zumba (with Jamil), QR 50 • 8:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. Thai boxing (with Inigo), QR 50 Thursdays • 6:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. Salsa Classes (intermediate), QR 60 Saturdays • 6:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. Salsa Classes (beginners), QR 60 • 7:30 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. Salsa Classes (intermediate), QR 60

Classes are subject to change on a month-tomonth basis depending on instructor’s availability. Updated class schedules are available from the Health and Fitness Club. For more information email DohaRecreation@ihg.com.

LA CIGALE Tone & Shape

Saturdays: Ozone Gym & Spa. This 60-minute total body workout combines low to mediumintensity cardio and weight-training exercises. Complimentary for members, non-members pay QR 60 per class. For more information call 4428-8101.

Power Toning

Sun-Thurs: Ozone Gym & Spa. Undergo a variety of strength-training, combined with cardio exercises to tone and shape the body in this 60-minute class. Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 12:30 noon, Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Complimentary for members, non-members pay QR 60 per class. For more information call 4428-8101.

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Activities & Clubs The Ultimate Core

Sun & Tue: Ozone Gym & Spa. An amazing 30-minute workout that focuses on core muscles to stabilize and strengthen the entire body. Sunday and Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Complimentary for members, non-members pay QR 60 per class. For more information call 4428-8101.

Explosive Cardio

Sun & Tue: Ozone Gym & Spa. This 60-minute endurance cardiovascular training session will burn fat, tone muscles and improve fitness capabilities. Sundays and Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. Complimentary for members, non-members pay QR 60 per class. For more information call 4428-8101.

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA Yoga Classes

Daily (upon request): Balance your mind and body at your choice of time and day. QR 65 for a 60-minute session, available seven days a week. For more information call 4419-6090 or visit www.westenddoha.com.

THE DIPLOMATIC CLUB Pilates

Sun & Wed: Pilates is the system of strengthening and stretching exercises designed to develop the body’s core, mobilize the spine and build flexibility. It teaches you how to train your mind and build symmetry and coordination in the body. From 5:00 p.m. till 5:45 p.m. For more information call 4484-7450 or email spa.recreation@dclub.com.qa.

Zumba

Sun, Mon, Thurs & Sat: A global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-party workout! It’s a combination of different types of dance styles from hip-hop and Latin, to house and even contemporary! This 50-minute cardio workout will have something for everybody! Sundays from 11:00 a.m. till 11:45 a.m., Mondays from 5:00 p.m. till 5:45 p.m., Thursdays from 11:00 p.m. till 11:45 p.m., and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. till 5:45 p.m. For more information call 4484-7450 or email spa.recreation@dclub.com.qa.

Aqua Dance Fitness

Tuesdays: This class captivates the joy of movement and the expression of life through integrating world rhythms and music. The fusion of aquatic fitness with dance-based choreography will give you a movement base free from boundaries. From 10:00 a.m. till 10:45 a.m. For more information call 4484-7450 or email spa.recreation@dclub.com.qa.

See us online! www.qatarhappening.com

Bike Riding The Corniche Aspire Park

Bowling

The Qatar Bowling Center 4432-9178 or www.qatarbowlingcenter.net Gondolania Bowling Center (Villaggio) 4403-9807 or www.gondolania.com Strike Bowling Alley (City Center) 4483-9162

Golf

The Doha Golf Club 4496-0777 or www.dohagolfclub.com

Horse Riding

Al Khor Riding Center 4421-8857 Al Samariya Stables 5525-7203 or qatarracing@gmail.com Al Shaqab Riding Academy 4454-6236 or www.alshaqab.com

Ice-Skating

Winter Wonderland (City Center) 4483-9162 Gondolania Ice Arena (Villaggio) 4403-9807 or www.gondolania.com

Sailing

Doha Sailing Club 4443-9840 or www.qmsf.com Regatta Sailing Academy 4442-4577 or www.regattasailingacademy.com Royal Yachting Association Courses www.ryacourses-qatar.com

Swimming

Aspire Academy for Sporting Excellence 4413-6219 or www.aspire.qa Aqua Park 4490-5872 or aquaparkqa@gmail.com

Tennis & Squash

Khalifa Tennis & Squash Complex 4440-9666

Walking

Park at Museum of Islamic Art The Corniche The Pearl-Qatar (2.5 km) Aspire Park

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Lifestyle

RECOMMENDS

your Tell us what you think! Send ing.com reviews to info@qatarhappen

ick! P ’s r o t i d E

Jessie Harman Kardon Aura

Ashlee Scandal I’ve been watching this American ABC television series on repeat since discovering it last month – though it’s been on the air for more than two years now. One of the best political dramas on television, the show centres around fictional former White House Communications Director and attorney Olivia Pope (played by an indomitable Kerry Washington), and her team of misfit ‘fixers’ whose task it is to bury and spin the many scandals on Capitol Hill in order to protect their clients in the top echelons of power. From black-ops security plots, to presidential affairs and everything in between – Olivia Pope and Associates soon find themselves mired in turmoil when their own buried secrets come back to haunt to them. This show is so fast-paced, well-written and edge-of-your-seat nail-biting, you will literally find yourself binge-watching it.

Lanie PUPART Palette Shakespeare once quoted that the eyes are the windows of the soul – so why not make them more beautiful and full of life? A handy, sleek and packed eye-shadow palette is a blessing for every woman, and right now I’m loving this palette from PUPA Milano. It comes with nine compact eye-shadow colours that can be perfectly combined to achieve your desired look. It also has a huge mirror and long-handled applicator brush and, with virtually zero clutter, takes up less space in your makeup kit! Starting at QR 91 grab one of your own from Merch stores by calling 4465-8651.

This nifty device looks more like a work of art than a speaker, but it can do the job of both. A striking design with a clear, curved dome and subtle lighting, it's also a functional and powerful wireless speaker that supports Bluetooth, AirPlay, and DLNA playback, and puts out an impressive amount of power. You can connect your mobile device to the Aura in a variety of ways. It works as an AirPlay speaker for iOS users and as a Bluetooth speaker for all users. It also supports DLNA if you store your media on your Wi-Fi network, and can accept 3.5mm and optical wired connections from your mobile device, computer, or television. Available at Virgin Megastore for QR 2,000.

Zahi GOAL LIVE App Last month I recommended the GOAL App. This month it's the turn of its’ baby sister, GOAL LIVE, which delivers instant football match alerts right to your phone – from goals scored and red cards, to final match results, line-ups, kick-offs and a 30-minute reminder before your game. Covering almost every football competition, club and national team in the world from which, of course, you can pick your favourites. Your ultimate football live-score app, GOAL LIVE also provides you with competitions and league tables, fixtures, a detailed match cast, team forms, head-to-head results and predictions. Download it for free from your smart-phone’s App Store.

Chet Bio Oil It’s said that when you become a mother everything changes – especially the lasting effects pregnancy has on your body. Nine months of carrying that special bundle can result in those scary stretch marks that most women, including me, suffer from. I’m lucky that for the past six months I’ve discovered and have been using the wonders of Bio Oil. It’s non-greasy and easy to apply, evening out my skin tone and, slowly but surely, is changing the appearance of my stretch marks. It’s now a staple in my beauty kit! You can find bottles at most pharmacies or beauty stores starting at QR 43.

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Lifestyle The Salwa Road salon has undergone a sleek, chic transformation

L'Expérience Francaise By Ashlee Starratt Photography by Jessie Palanca

and Ivana will make sure you’re taken care of from head to toe.

We spend an indulgent afternoon at the newly-renovated Coiffeur Française. One of the only salons in Qatar to carry the line of Avène skin-care products, we get the full effect with their Hydrothérapie Facial.

Now under new ownership, the ladies-only salon has gone through a re-branding and renovation that was completed after Ramadan, transforming the space from dated and dainty, to sleek, chic and modern. Long-term customers will remember its open-concept layout, with free-standing washing station and mirrored island where the stylists would perform snips and blow-drys in almost a carousel rotation.

T

o start – a bit of history. I’ve been going to Coiffeur Française since moving to Qatar nearly three years ago, back when it was still Marie Claire Salon. The Salwa Road stalwart has built its reputation and customer base on word of mouth and sheer longevity of service, and even now there’s still nowhere else I choose to go when it comes to my hair – or any number of other beauty and body treatments for that matter. A big reason for this is the staff; over the years the women who have worked at the salon – even those who have come and gone – have become like family. From the moment you set foot in the door, Sonia, Renu, Julie, Lazarina

All that is gone. Now, upon entering, you’re greeted with warm lilac tones and splashes of welcome colour from the floral arrangements by Sidra Agriculture Company. There are vibrant display cases housing the latest Avène and Ducray products direct from Paris, floor-to-ceiling mirrored work-stations and a separate room that houses the washing station, complete with reclining ‘bed-like’ seats at the sinks so you can finish off your pedicure while having a scalp massage. Upstairs, the second level has also been

The newly-revamped space is bright and airy

completely re-vamped, with new esthetician rooms for waxing, massage, facials and other body treatments lining the hallway next to the small, comfy waiting area. Today I’ll be trying their popular Avène Hydrothérapie Facial, with new therapist Alem. Hailing from Canada, Alem is a product specialist who has honed her skills at the worldclass Hummingbird

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xation The luxurious new rela f necks beds mean no more stif d! she wa s get r hai r while you

nch product There are an array of Fre in-store se cha pur for le ilab ava lines

Hydrothérapie mask so my pores can soak up all the moisture they need – which is especially important in this climate. As the mask sets, she moisturizes and massages my arms and hands, followed by a scalp massage – which is always my favourite part of the treatment. After the mask is removed Alem finishes up by applying Avène’s Hydrance Optimale cream with SPF 20 to my face, along with their Eluage Eye Contour Care around my lids and tops it off with a refreshing spritz of their Thermal Spring Water. Medi-Spa in Toronto. Her extensive experience with Avène and Guinot lines makes her equipped to personally customize my facial treatment based upon my skin’s texture and sensitivity. As its name suggests the Hydrothérapie Facial is all about moisturizing; feeding the cells with the hydrating nutrients they need to stay plump and healthy. Alem begins by daubing my face with a gentle cleanser to remove makeup and oil, followed by an exfoliation with Avène’s Eau Thermale Gentle Purifying Scrub. The ambiance in the room is tranquil and muted, and when Alem wraps a warm towel around my face, I can already feel myself drifting off. After the scrub, the lights come on as she examines my pores under the mirror. I have what’s known as ‘combination’ skin – isolated dry patches, coupled with a more oily T-zone area. My skin is also prone to scarring so she tells me not to pick at any blemishes I may have and to reduce the amount of coffee I drink, which can have an effect on how many pimples crop up. Next is the steam and extraction process which is usually the least enjoyable part of any facial – being pinched and prodded. What I find even

more discomforting is having hot steam blasting in my face for what seems like an unreasonable length of time; I always feel choked like I can’t breathe. I’ve had experiences at many different salons and spas over time in Doha and this is the first encounter where I haven’t felt like I’m being scalded during a steam session. Without being asked, Alem keeps the intensity of the heat low and the nozzle far enough away from my face so it’s more like a gentle mist instead of a burning cloud – for which I’m grateful. As someone who is prone to bouts of eczema, having sensitive skin means being selective as to which products I put on my face. What I like about Avène is that the majority of theirs are either completely scent-free or minimally fragranced – and all are available for purchase at the salon. Alem applies their refreshing Gentle Toner infused with green tea and citrus extracts to my face and décolleté to balance the skin and reduce puffiness. It also contains five per cent glycolic acid which helps remove dead cells to leave my skin tone looking polished. While the toner does its job, Alem treats me to relaxing neck and shoulder massage before cleansing my face and applying their signature

Afterwards, my skin remains glowing and fresh throughout the day, with reduced redness and patchiness. I’m happy that Coiffeur Française has upgraded their spa menu to include a variety of new treatments that showcase their range of skincare products. Coupled with the exemplary service and staff who go the extra mile, I know I’ll keep coming back to the place where I feel like family. n COIFFEUR FRANÇAISE Location: Salwa Road, near Decoration Roundabout intersection Timings: • Sun-Wed: 9:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. • Thurs & Sat: 8:30 a.m. till 7:30 p.m. • Fridays: closed Prices: • QR 300, 45-minute Hydrothérapie Facial • QR 600-700, 90-minute Hydrothérapie Facial with threading and anti-aging treatment • QR 360, 45-minute Anti-Acne Care Facial • QR 170, 45-minute Gentle Care For Teens Facial Contact Info: Call 4468-9211

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Lifestyle

3

Souq Waqif with its bustling alleyways, you can find mostly anything and is a sure bet when you’re looking for that traditional subtlety in a fabric. Add to your sharp, edgy look by accessorizing with a traditional cotton fabric used as a scarf and leave a stand-out impression!

QH Finds... Fabric Stalls Concept by Ahmed Almal Compiled by Suad Ashimi Styled by Harriet Gyamfuah

4

Souq Al Deira is another hidden gem in Doha; but unlike other souqs, the shopping plaza offers more luxurious fabrics and tailoring. Go for a dose of Persian heritage with an eye-catching paisley pattern and create the perfect match to that striped button-down with a pop-out necktie to complement the ensemble.

In the ever-changing world of men’s fashion, Qatar has most definitely been catching up on the latest trends and infusing this with traits from within its own tradition, visible through the fabric choices, for that fashionable look. If you’re tempted to go get tailored, let us show you the top five best local locations to find fabrics that go the distance!

1

Souq Al Asiery might be well-known as the best place to buy hand-bags, perfume, and even shoes – but it’s also your go-to one-stop to find fabrics with traditional designs and even some ready-made options. Step out in style with a trendy Pakistani sherwani , or pair with your favourite well-worn jeans for a casual yet traditional interpretation.

5 2

The Filipino Souq as implied by its name, is a common place for Filipinos to get their trade on! Selling a variety of items of which not the least among them are some killer fabrics! Silk is a tried-andtrue stalwart that turns heads no matter what you create out of it. If you want to add more of a ‘cool’ factor in your casual attire, why not try out a lush silk pullover ora button-down that will go with almost anything!

Souq Al Jabor is another source for fabrics that are less traditional and more contemporary in style. The current emphasis on floral prints in men’s fashion might be daring, but it’s definitely a risk worth taking to get that casual, yet stand to attention look!

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Lifestyle Listings Reflexology Treatment

RECOMMENDS

Daily: The Spa. Rebalance harmony in your body by cleaning congested reflexes and help boost the immune system. The practice of reflexology can assist with recovery from illness, boost circulation, increase energy levels and improve mental and emotional processes. It’s very relaxing and creates a feeling of well-being. For more information call 4484-7450.

THE FOUR SEASONS Cocolicious

Daily: The Spa. Coconut as the main ingredient of this luxurious treatment that helps slow down the signs of aging by maintaining flexibility and elasticity of the skin and blood vessels. Beginning with a foot-wash using coconut milk, the treatment continues with a gentle coconut body-scrub followed by a full-body and scalp massage with pure coconut oil. Delicious coconut amenities are served after the treatment. This treatment nourishes, moisturizes and creates a healthy glow for the skin and hair. QR 1,195 per person for two hours. For more information call 4494-8802.

THE RITZ-CARLTON A Gentleman’s World

GRAND HERITAGE DOHA Rejuvenating Package

Daily: The Spa. Indulge with a facial massage followed by a relaxing scalp, neck and shoulder massage. Sixty-minute treatment for QR 400, includes free use of indoor pool, steam, sauna and Jacuzzi. For more information call 4445-5555.

DOHA MARRIOTT Ladies Days

Tues & Wed: Ladies can now enjoy the beautiful outdoor pool and beach facilities every Tuesday and Wednesday for only QR 75. For more information call 4429-8520.

Special Discounts

LPG Facial Treatment Receive a 20% discount off your first LPG Facial Treatment and experience remarkable firming and rejuvenating results quickly. LPG Body Treatment Buy five LPG Body treatments and get the sixth free, for an exceptional reduction of cellulite and smoothing of the body’s skin. Sorisa Facial Enjoy a 20% discount off every Sorisa Facial Treatment to exfoliate, cleanse, hydrate and whiten skin. Seaweed Body Wrap Indulge with a free 20-minute back massage with every Seaweed Body Wrap. For more information on all promotions call 4429-8520.

THE GRAND HYATT

Nov: Jaula Club. This November, Jaula Spa invites you to a real body treat. A reviving ritual for renewed radiance, their Refining Natural Lemongrass Body Scrub will gently sweep away dull cells while nourishing your body. Followed by a cream that melts into the skin to deeply hydrate with a choice of Nourishing Soft Hands or a Refresh Foot Treatment for just QR 550 instead of QR 650. For more information call 4448-1064.

THE DIPLOMATIC CLUB Hot Stone Treatment

Daily: The Spa. Heated black stones are used to massage the whole body, releasing deep-seated tension, working to relieve stress at the deepest level, and balance the body’s energy channels. This is a holistic and energizing therapy for body, mind and spirit. For more information call 4484-7450.

Swedish Treatment

Daily: The Spa. Effective in ensuring a fast recovery from muscular strain, this massage increases circulation, stimulates skin, soothes the nerves and is an excellent treatment for both mental and physical stress. For more information call 4484-7450.

All month: The Spa. Your retreat commences with a purifying back exfoliation to cleanse and replenish. This is followed by the Signature Ritz-Carlton Massage, plus facial specifically-designed for male skin types. 150 minutes at QR 1,000 and 120 minutes at QR 800 (excluding body polish). For more information call 4484-8183 or email rc.dohrz.leads@ritzcarlton.com.

Cellulite Buster Treatment

Daily: The Spa. Specially-designed to target stubborn areas of cellulite with visible results after the first three treatments. The pampering starts with a body exfoliation and body contour mask to detoxify the skin. Then, you’ll be wrapped in a thermal blanket and treated to a special vibratory massage that concentrates on cellulite zones, leaving the skin smoother and with increased circulation. QR 600 for 90-minutes. Offers best results over a series of visits, along with home-care products. For more information call 4484-8183, or email rc.dohrz.leads@ritzcarlton.com.

ZUBARAH BOUTIQUE HOTEL Now Open!

Daily: Rayhaan Spa. Elevate your senses at Rayhaan Spa, a tranquil oasis of luxury and calm. Pamper your every fibre with their range of 60-minute treatments and enjoy a 20% discount, plus complimentary one-hour Jacuzzi and sauna access. Manicures and pedicures available for QR 135. Advance booking is a must. For more information call 4447-0000.

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Bilal Pearl Suites The Pearl Qatar

Real Estate Ahmed Hassan Bilal Trading & Contracting Co. W.L.L. Bilal Tower, Al Ashmeck Area, 10th Floor. Tel.4442 8877

Interior Design Forum Design, Bilal Tower, Al Asmakh Area, 11th Floor. Tel.4456 8716 (An Associate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group)

Restaurant Chowking (An Associate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group) Road 4437 1212 hAl Khor 4411 8816 / 4411 8817 hAl Saad St. 4431 4411 hMamoura 4486 6077 hHoliday Villa 4411 5225 / 4411 5335 hSalwa

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Lifestyle tions ening destina some p p a h c ti s ta n re Escaping to fa rld does wonders. Here a around the wo

Baltic Circle

Nov 6-11: Finland

This three-day festival of the performing arts completely takes over the Finnish capital of Helsinki with excerpts of the avant-garde. With a mission to bridge the artistic communities of the Baltic and Nordic countries, the element of cultural exchange makes for some interesting themes! From stage productions and performance art pieces, to the theatre of the absurd – it’s where contemporary Europe comes to make a stand on-stage. Don’t miss a minute of the program – head to www.balticcircle.fi for this year’s schedule.

Vertical Marathon Nov 23: Singapore

One of the more bizarre contributions to the world of sport, this is one marathon that takes it to the next level – literally—as participants race to climb all 73 storeys of Southeast Asia’s tallest hotel – the Swissotel The Stamford. With the structure clocking in at a daunting 226-metres tall, more than 2,200 people each year tackle the 1,776 steps it takes to reach the top! Will you be one of them? To register, head over to www.swissotelverticalmarathon.com.

Bonfire Night Nov 5: UK

Even before it went mainstream in V For Vendetta, the phrase ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November’ was one uttered across all corners of the UK in commemoration of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Also known as ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ hundreds of bonfire blazes burn and fireworks erupt across the country, as the nation re-lives the day in its history when Guy Fawkes plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament 600 years ago. To this day it’s become tradition for the Yeoman of the Guard to search the cellars of the Parliament before it resumes its session. Learn more about these time-honoured traditions and more at www.visitlondon.com.

Bon Om Touk Water Festival

35th Prague International Jazz Festival

Until Nov 7: Czech Republic

Sway to the rhythm and blues at one of Europe’s most-lauded jazz fests! This year’s line-up is a who’s-who of industry greats, with artists on the docket that represent the best the genre has to offer. There’s two-time Grammy Award-winners Boris Kozlov and Alex Sipiagin, hot-ticket newcomer Jeremy Pelt, and Italy’s Alessandro Di Liberto Trio – all set against the historic backdrop of Prague! Grab your tickets at www.jazzfestivalpraha.cz.

Nov 5-7: Cambodia

You’ll find water festivals across much of Southeast Asia, from Songkran in Thailand to Thingyan in Burma, and all points in between. But the three-day Bon Om Touk Festival in Cambodia is a true celebration of the tides. Held annually to mark the end of the rainy season and the reversal of the Tonle Sap River’s flow, it also features one of the country’s largest long-boat races. The biggest gatherings with parades, fireworks and street festivities take place in the capital of Phnom Penh with illuminated long-boats racing out of Sisowath Quay. Head to www.tourismcambodia.com and get ready to make a splash!

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Lifestyle

Autumn In Malta Words and selected images by John Hunt

Geographically, the Maltese land-mass may be small in size, but its history is impressive and its culture vast. Join us as we explore the byways and backstreets of Valetta, the temples and citadels of Mdina, and island-hop the nation’s northern reaches.

W

here to begin? I’ll keep it simple: Malta is stunning. There’s not much of it – it’s 1/36th the size of Qatar – but what there is is incredible to look at, culturally and historically rich, and enjoys a superb southern Mediterranean climate. We flew direct from Edinburgh, arriving late, but opened the curtains on our first full day in Malta to a cloudless sky and a midday October temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. The Maltese Tourism Authority provided us with a guide, car and driver for two days of

our stay. This – as well as being particularly accommodating of them – was both hugely informative (our guide, Maria, had 20 years experience in her field) and hugely convenient, as we were whisked to the front of every queue. Leaving our hotel in the coastal capital of Valletta, we drove inland to the walled city of Mdina. The former capital sits on a hill and thus affords fantastic views. The interior, with its narrow streets and remarkable architecture bathed alternately in shadow and sunlight, were breathtaking to behold. There were a few gift shops and restaurants within but, thankfully, nothing loud and gaudy – oh, and like the rest of Malta, it was absolutely spotless.

Returning to Valletta – a World Heritage Site dotted with cafés and restaurants – we explored its grid-like streets, the famous St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Upper Barrakka Gardens which overlook the grand harbour. Indeed, many of the best sights in Malta involve the water, but when that water is the clear, azure blue of the Mediterranean, one cannot complain. Down at the waterfront we crossed the harbour by motorboat. On such a fantastic day, this was a real treat. Maria then walked us through

Gozo's 'Azure Window' rock formation

some of the areas surrounding Valletta before we arrived at the Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni, an underground, prehistoric burial site on three levels, carved out of stone. You need to book and pay online in advance (and no photos are allowed) as the hour-long tour is only conducted 10 people at a time. This was certainly decent, but we were at another Neolithic site the previous week, Stonehenge, which was vastly superior. The following day we discovered the delights of the two islands to Malta’s north: Gozo and Comino. We took the ferry to Gozo where we were picked up by a car and driver once more.

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The coastal hamlet of Anchor Bay

The narrow alleyways of the former capital of Mdina

We visited the Ggantija Temples: two massive Neolithic constructions which are the oldest freestanding structures in the world, and from there to the walled town of Citadella which sits atop a hill and, again, provided superb views of the island, which is impossibly pretty, green and serene. Citadella itself was like a miniature Mdina. We were driven to Gozo’s capital, Victoria, and shown around, and from there to the harbour, where we were picked up by speedboat and taken to the shore of Comino, and the Blue Lagoon, a popular bathing spot where the shallow water and white sands turn the water turquoise. We enjoyed a swim in the Mediterranean, and ashore to Comino itself. The speedboat trip back to Malta took us past Comino’s caves and tunnels once used for smuggling in times past. Malta is beautiful to look at, has a great climate, is friendly, cheap (especially for eating out) and packed with sites of historic interest – as well as a lively nightlife scene in the town of St Julian’s. The only significant drawback of note was the lack of decent shopping – something, I’m told, that’s being addressed.

Where To Stay We split our stay between a boutique hotel, and a sprawling five-star waterside hotel, close to Valletta. The different property styles provided a good contrast of what’s on offer. The boutique hotel was the family-owned Casa Ellul in Valletta’s centre. The traditional four-storey property houses just eight individuallydecorated suites around a central courtyard and is packed with original features alongside modern refurbishments. The hotel was beautiful, outside and in, and had some quirky features: in our suite, the bathroom was on a separate floor beneath our bedroom. We also had cable television, free WiFi, and a terrace with breathtaking views.

Casa Ellul's quirky, a boutique charm in Vallett

The 400+ room, five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior was situated on the doorstep of Valletta. Spread over 10 floors, it had its own private marina, outdoor pool, indoor pool, spa pool and 24-hour multi-gym. Our room was bright and wellequipped with cable TV, free WiFi and work desk, and the bathroom also boasted a rain shower. Our balcony overlooked the harbour and the breakfast buffet was superb fuel for the day ahead.

r The Excelsior's outdoo bour pool overlooks the har

So... boutique charm with individual attention at Casa Ellul, or the extensive facilities and bustle of the Excelsior..? Or a bit of both? n Qatar Airways flies direct to Malta starting from QR 5,280, round-trip economy class. To plan your trip go to www.visitmalta.com.

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Lifestyle

The Dish On Qatar By Ashlee Starratt

When you’re an expat, receiving letters from home or Mom’s famous care-package are the little things that keep us going over here. For newcomers however, navigating Qatar’s postal system requires a bit of knowledge and know-how. This month QH goes postal to show you how the mail moves.

t Office's The Q-Post Central Pos rniche iconic building off The Co

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pick-up and delivery of mail items from their P.O. Box directly to their offices.

.O. Box now Investing in your own P down the hes dac hea you can save iveries del to es road when it com

T

here was a time, when I was four months fresh to Doha, that I waited six weeks for a care package from Canada to arrive. In it my Mom had packed the essentials that I had yet to find here in Qatar – my favourite toiletries, some well-worn novels, and other flotsam and jetsam of Canadiana. I live on a compound where we each have our own mailbox with a P.O. Box number, and management would (supposedly) check each week for tenants’ new mail or parcels at the Q-Post Central Post Office and deliver them directly to that shoe-box-sized slot in our lobby. Bigger parcels would be held at the rental office for collection and a notification for pick-up would be slipped under our door. Imagine my surprise and frustration when I received a message from my disgruntled mother saying that the care package tshe’d spent nearly $100 dollars to send by UPS courier had been returned to sender, unclaimed. When I complained to the management they said that no such package had been received to my address – or if it had, they weren’t notified. It was from that point on that I set up an Aramex account. The moral of this story is not to let one bad experience put you out – instead, dust off and go back more informed. Had I done a little digging instead of relying on my compound’s management, I would have had a better grasp on how the system works. For starters Qatar has one national postal service provider – Q-Post – and their central offices are located just off the Corniche near West Bay in the building that looks like it’s made of pigeon-holes…you know the one. They also have over 40 other branches across the country – many inside WOQOD Petrol Stations, where you can post letters and pay your bills. If you don’t want to pay exorbitant courier fees for Aramex, UPS or FedEx, then you can go

online to www.qpost.com.qa and find out how to rent your own P.O. Box at the Central Post Office (they have 25,000 of them!) or any other Q-Post outlet offering the service and just go and get your key. You’ll need to fill out an application at the branch and must have a valid Qatar I.D. This can be worthwhile as it will save you a good chunk of change on collection fees when you come to pick up a parcel, and as soon as you have a P.O. Box and are registered online with Q-Post, they’ll send you a notification when you have a delivery. The central branch can be a bit hectic on a first visit, but it also offers a lot of extra services that make it a convenient one-stop-shop – you can access a range of e-Government services at their machines so you can renew Residence Permits electronically (for companies), or arrange for the secure collection and delivery of passports and documents to the Immigration Department. They also have a Kahrama counter where you can fill out an application to create an account and pay your utility bills either in person or online, plus there’s photo-copying and paid translation services available for official paperwork in English and Arabic. Companies and businesses can also avail themselves of Q-Post’s Khazaz service which arranges daily

Certainly there are also advantages to using some of the private courier and postal services in Qatar – as long as you’re prepared to pay, that is. For one thing, using a courier service is, (obviously), faster – especially if you do a lot of online shopping. Aramex, which has its central depot in Mesaimeer near the Wholesale Market, has a great Shop And Ship service where you sign-up online and pay roughly $35 US dollars to use. One you register, you’re assigned P.O. Box mailing addresses to Aramex outlets in half a dozen countries worldwide, so when you shop online you can select the closest address to your location and once your order’s received it will automatically be forwarded to the Doha branch for pick-up. They charge a package fee by weight so depending on what you order it can quickly add up – and the same goes for sending mail internationally. Their standard regional charges for shipping documents to North America or the UK is roughly QR 270 per package – which I found out the hard way when trying to mail an insurance claim to Ireland. Something important to note when shipping to Doha – they can and do open any and all packages for inspection upon arrival in the country. tPart of living the expat life over here is understanding that the same rights to privacy to not always apply and it’s not a crime for customs officers to go through the contents of your mail. Items deemed illicit will be seized (alcohol, sexually explicit materials, politically or morally subversive literature etc.) and penalties imposed. Sometimes if you try to import over-the-counter medications or naturopathic products that are not easily found in Qatar, you may receive a notification that your package is being held at Hamad Hospital’s administrative facility where you must go and declare the goods before they will be released. We know that our smart-phones, Facebook and Skype keep us connected across the continents, but when you’re craving the comforts of home, we sometimes underestimate just how much of a life-line can still come through the mail. We hope to have helped make it easier for you to grab. n

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It Happened!

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Phone Directory Hotels / Restaurants Al Gassar Resort 4424-4881 Al Mourjan Restaurants 4483-4423 Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara 4040-5050 Bert’s Cafe` 4495-3876 Biella 4467-7731 Crowne Plaza The Business Park 4408-7582 Doha Marriott Hotel 4429-8888 Four Seasons 4494-8888 Grand Heritage Doha Hotel and Spa 4445 5555 The Grand Hyatt 4448-1234 Holiday Villa 4408-4888 Hilton Doha 4423-3333 InterContinental 4484-4444 InterContinental Doha The City 4015-8888 Johnny Rockets 4455 2792 Al Emadi Complex 4460 4210 Hyatt Plaza Kempinski Residences & Suites 4405-3333 La Cigale 4428 8888 Marriott Marquis City Center Doha 4419-5000 Mövenpick Hotel 4429-1111 Mövenpick Tower & Suites 4496-6115 Nando’s Delivery Hotline 4436-0606 Oryx Rotana 4402-3333 Radisson Blu 4428-1555 Red Velvet 4408 0700 Sharq Village & Spa 4425-6666 Sealine Beach Resort 4476-5299 Sheraton Doha 4485-4444 St. Regis Doha 4446-0000 The Diplomatic Club 4484-7444 The Ritz-Carlton 4484-8000 The Torch Doha 4446-5600 W Doha Hotel & Residences 4453-5021 Wyndham Grand Regency 4434-3333 Zubarah Boutique Hotel 4447-0000

Airlines Air Arabia Air India Egypt Air Emirates Etihad Airways Gulf Air Qatar Airways

Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group

Health / Beauty

4432-2111 4441-8423 4435-2901 4438-4477 4436-6657 4499-8000 4449-6666

Hospitals/Emergency

Amaoras RelaxationSpa Angsana Spa Bay View 26, Wellness Centre Bio-Bil Health, Beauty & Spa Ladies Men’s

4493-4433 4483-0989

Bliss 4453-5555 Bottega Verde 4483-4535 Coiffeur Française 4468-9211 Dados Beauty Salon 4498-0033 Diva Lounge 4431-8488 Diplomatic Spa 4484-7412 Doha Dental 4431-7766 Doha Marriott Spa 4429-8520 Ebn Sina Medical 800-2288 Foot Care Centre Lulu Gharafa 4478-0510 The Center 4436-6275 City Center 4493-0394 Four Seasons Spa 4494-8801 Frank Provost 4494-8844 Glow American Salon, Salwa Rd. 4468-9945 West Bay 4411-7652 GoodLife Chemist City Center 4483-9100 The Pearl 4495-3876 Guerlain Alfardan Spa 4420-8660 Habibs Hair and Beauty Salon 4413-0672 La Cigale - Ozone Spa 4428-8888 Medical Spa Villaggio 4451-7590 Patrice Salon 4485-4012 Ritz-Carlton Spa 4484-8173 Saray Spa 4419-5517 Six Senses Spa 4425-6999 Snips Salonon 4408-4083

Tourism / Travel Alpha Tours Arabian Adventures World Wide Destination Fox Transport Gulf Adventures Qatar Airways Holidays Qatar International Adventures Qatar International Tours Qatar Tourism & Exhibitions Authority Regency Travel & Tour Victoria Car Rental Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

AMBULANCE, POLICE & FIRE DEPARTMENT DOHA CLINIC HOSPITAL

4408-4085 4434-3152 4496-6410

4434-4496 4436-1461 4467-1200 4462-2777 4422-1888 4449-6969 4455-3954 4455-1141 4499-7499 4434-4444 4466-6635 4440 9666 999

4438-4333

EMERGENCY HOTLINE 4435-5999

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY

4439-2948

AL AHLI HOSPITAL

4489-8000

QATAR FOUNDATION FOR CHILD &

HAMAD GENERAL HOSPITAL

4439-2222

WOMAN PROTECTION HOTLINE 4466-6671 / 72

RUMAILAH HOSPITAL

4439-3333

REAL ESTATE Ahmed Hassan Bilal 4442-8877 Trad. & Cont. Co. www.ahbqatar.com INTERIOR Forum Design 4456-8716 RESTAURANTS Chowking Salwa Road 4437-1212 4431-4411 Chowking Al Saad St. Chowking Al Khor 4411-8816/ 4411-8817 Chowking Mamoura 4486-6077 Chowking Holiday Villa 4411-5225/335 PUBLICATIONS ABODE/QH Magazines

4427-8416

Shopping Alfardan Jewellery 4440-8408 City Center Doha 4483-0582 Hyatt Plaza 4469-4848 Landmark Mall 4487-5222 Lagoona Mall 4433-5555 Maya Paris 4495-3876 4495-3207 Salam 4448-5555 Villaggio 4413-5222 Virgin Megastore Villaggio 4413-5823 Landmark 4418-2245

Clubs Bridge Club Doha Garden Club Dana Club Doha Golf Club Doha Sailing Club

5554-0873 5523-1650 4496-0600 4496-0777 4443-9840

Embassies American Embassy Brazilian Embassy British Embassy Chinese Embassy French Embassy German Embassy Japanese Embassy Nepalese Embassy Philippine Embassy South African Embassy U.A.E. Embassy

4496-6000 4483-8812 4496-2000 4493-4205 4402-1702 4408-2334 4484-0888 4467-5681 4483-1585 6622-1552 4483-8880

Websites www.qatarhappening.com www.iloveqatar.net www.justlanded.com/english/Qatar www.qatarliving.com www.qatartourism.gov.qa

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