Taste of Dubai in pictures

March 15, 2014Leave a comment

Little diva and I were special guests of British Airways as it took center stage at Taste of Dubai yesterday. Former Pussycat Dolls lead singer and multi-platinum selling solo artist Nicole Scherzinger flew into Dubai as British Airways very special guest, to join us in the airline’s exclusive VIP Lounge.

The festival gave us a taste of the many types of cool cuisine available in Dubai….from the tastiest dishes courtesy P F Changs to the tasteless ones from Gaucho. It was a fun afternoon out for people in Dubai and worth going to if you are free this afternoon.

Nicole Scherzinger at Taste of Dubai

Tash with British Airways Team

Food Fight

Natasha with Kris Fade

Tash tries a scary Bull ride

Tash with one of my favourite food bloggers – the gorgeous Ishita

Food samples at Taste of Dubai

Tash gets excited about her personalised Time Out City card

Walk for a cause with Al Ain Rotana

March 13, 2014Leave a comment

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab Bin Than Al Nahyan, Al Ain Rotana will be walking for the 4^th time to support children with cancer. Help them raise funds to fight cancer and support their noble cause. They are lovely people and both the Rotana Hotels in Al Ain are great places to stay at – I’ve enjoyed my weekends in Al Ain immensely with my family at their hotels and love to support them in all the great work they do.

The walk is this Friday, 14th March 2014, 9:00 – 11:00am. Registration fee: AED 10 for adults and kids

Tickets are available at the hotel receptions, restaurants and outlets. For more information call +971 (0)3 754 5111, ext. 1132

Dubai in Top Gear for Luxury Motor Show

March 13, 2014Leave a comment

Just received the floor plan and invite to the upcoming MotorVillage. Stay tuned as the world’s top automakers will descend on Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) for its first every luxury car show, MotorVillage from March 30^th until April 3^rd.

The motor show is a new concept in retail and a first for Dubai, combining multi-brand luxury cars in several locations across DIFC.

With a glittering assortment of exotic cars including; Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren, Porsche and SRT, MotorVillage visitors can expect nothing but the finest from the leaders in the luxury motor industry. Visitors will get the opportunity to test-drive, gain insight into the most exclusive and sought after cars around the world…. see you there!

Pepa Ndue Art at Miramar Fujairah until 7th April

March 12, 2014Leave a comment

Last weekend the Artissima Art Gallery team ventured into Fujairah for yet another successful installation of art pieces by leading Albanian artist, Ndue Pepa. Pepa who is showcasing his art collection ‘DIMENTION’ at the Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah. This true luxury resort, stunningly designed as a sophisticated sanctuary, offers a warm and friendly atmosphere and provides an unforgettable backdrop to this one of a kind artistic showcase.

The exhibition continues until the 7^th of April 2014….if you do go there, try the Italian restaurant near the pool. You will love it! Below are some images of the opening:

ROBERTO COIN’S GARDEN COLLECTION

March 12, 2014Leave a comment

I love creative people and one of my favourite moments was being able to sit and chat with Roberto Coin during one of his visits to Dubai. Hot off the press is that we can now welcome spring stylishly this season with Roberto Coin’s elegant Garden Collection brought to us by Damas. Timeless design and innovative craftsmanship comes together seamlessly in this collection.

Flawless precious stones like rubies, topaz, emerald, sapphire compliment dazzling diamonds in gorgeous cocktail rings, earrings and necklaces. With each piece handcrafted and elegantly refined in white, yellow or rose gold this collection will instantly add lots of glamour to your style this season.

We can certainly, with the newly launched Garden Collection, add more panache to this season’s style….Enjoy

The Row NYC Debuts with Ron Galella and Lizzy Jagger!

March 11, 2014Leave a comment

This is what I missed in New York this week (I do wish sometimes I had all the time in the world to go and see all that I am so lucky to come across) – The Row NYC hotel debuts with paparazzo extraordinary, Ron Galella, and launches a revolutionary new hotel brand in the heart of Times Square.

The Row NYC is at the forefront of all things contemporary in art, culture, design and cuisine. Kicking off with a fashion forward advertising campaign starring Lizzy Jagger, the Row NYC is truly, More New York Than New York.

See the video below for more insights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrcUu0Z5xRo

Alexander Borodin’s epic Prince Igor comes to Meydan

March 10, 2014Leave a comment

My heart is torn between being in two cities on the 16th of March evening – I am meant to be in Abu Dhabi for one of my biggest assignments and the same night I have an art opening at the Artissima Art Gallery (another awesome client I work with) plus my regular opera date night with my daughter at the Meydan IMAX.

Tash is one of the biggest opera fans I know and she will, with or without me be at the Meydan Theatre as it presents the Met Opera’s sixth installment, Alexander Borodin’s epic Prince Igor which has its first Met performances since 1917 in a new production staged by noted Russian opera director Dmitri Tcherniakovin his Met debut.

Gianandrea Noseda conducts the lush score, famous for its celebrated “Polovtsian Dances,” and Ildar Abdrazakovsings the title role of a 12^th-century Russian hero. The cast also includes Oksana Dykain her MET debut as Yaroslavna, Igor’s emotionally fragile second wife; Anita Rachvelishvilias the fiery Polovtsian princess Konchakovna; Sergey Semishkurin his MET debut as Vladimir Igorevich, Igor’s son and Konchakovna’s lover; Mikhail Petrenko as Prince Galitsky; and ŠtefanKocán as the warlord Khan Konchak.

For the lucky people who will be in Dubai that night, do go and see it and have an amazing experience – one that I now treasure each month at the Meydan IMAX with my little diva. As it’s a school night, she will once again be the only young cool chick you will see on opera nights at Meydan IMAX.

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Personality of the Year Award

March 8, 2014Leave a comment

Hot off the press – it’s buzzing at the Emirates Festival of Literature and Poet Ousha bint Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Suwaidi, pioneering Emirati women’s poet, dubbed “Girl of the Arabs” by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today received the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2014 Personality of the Year award.

Dr. Rafia Ghubash, founder of the Women’s Museum, UAE, and Al Suwaidi’s biographer, accepted the award on her behalf from Festival Director Isobel Abulhoul at a ceremony held this afternoon.

Ousha bint Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Suwaidi began reciting poetry when she was 15 and soon started writing poems herself on a variety of subjects including wisdom, patriotism and love. Most of her poems are written in classical Arabic and draw on her surroundings and the local environment.

Al Suwaidi gained recognition from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who commended her for her work in highlighting the Emirates and the local language through her poems. Later in her career, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum conducted a series of poetry recitals with her and Dr. Rafia Ghubash’s Women’s Museum has an entire floor dedicated to her work. Her most famous national poem and the very last poem written by her are also stored in the museum.

The Personality of the Year Award is given annually ‘in recognition of a major contribution toward fostering literacy, education and love of literature in all its forms.’ Last year it was awarded to Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat publishing house. The award was previously given to HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, Chairman of Emirates Airline and leading businessman and humanitarian, Juma Al Majid.

Francesca Simon at Emirates Festival of Literature

March 7, 2014Leave a comment

Tash with Francesca Simon

One of Little Diva’s favourite obsession over a long period was a series of books done by Francesca Simon, in particular her excitement over the character Horrid Henry. She is currently at the Emirates Festival of Literature and we both got to interview her about her books, her writing methods and her future plans.

She is best known as the author of the internationally bestselling Horrid Henry books, which have sold millions of copies worldwide, have been translated into 27 languages, and have been adapted for television by CITV. She attributes the success of Horrid Henry to his “outlaw” character and children enjoying reading about “a child who always acts on impulse and never worries about the consequences.”

Francesca told us her inspirations came from reading comic books as a child. She was born in the United States and attended both Yale and Oxford universities, studying medieval history and literature. For ten years she worked as a freelance journalist. She now writes full-time and has written more than 50 books for children of different ages. Tash asked her about her day as a writer and she tells us that she writes about 500 words a day and gets inspiration from everywhere and in particular from funny stories and Roald Dahl.

Her latest books for older readers, The Sleeping Army and The Lost Gods, depict a world in which the Norse gods are still very much active, pursuing celebrity in modern Britain while still finding time to battle frost giants. This new series has been praised by Eoin Colfer as ‘breathtaking, magical storytelling’.

Francesca is loving the Emirates Festival of Literature and enjoying meeting people from all over the world. She is thrilled that people have come from Bahrain or driven all the way from Abu Dhabi. She is looking forward to her books for older children and Tash is naturally excited about it. If you are at the festival now, Francesca will be in a session at 10am on 21st century vikings.

Strong presence of local exhibitors to boost Paperworld Middle East

March 5, 2014Leave a comment

Just checked out Paperworld Middle East and what is evident is the strong participation from UAE brands. Reputed as the premier business show window into the ever-growing Middle East market for paper and office products, Paperworld Middle East is viewed as an ideal launch pad into wider markets in the region and beyond by UAE-based companies.

Prominent among UAE-based exhibitors looking to spread their wings is Paperworld Middle East launch partner, Farook International Stationery. Leading suppliers of stationery, office and school supplies, as well as diaries, envelopes and hobby items, Farook International will be looking at strengthening their presence across the region, with a strong emphasis on their “Made in UAE” products. Farook International has been in operation for 34 years and is a strong advocate for the development of UAE born enterprises

Also launch partners, April Fine will be at Paperworld Middle East 2014 with an even larger stand than previously. April’s core business is in the production, marketing and sale of pulp and premium wood- free paper and they will be showcasing their latest product ranges at the exhibition.

This was my 3rd visit to the show over the last 3 years. Other local companies for the 2014 edition include Al Dana, Al Fahidi, Al Gurg Stationery, Al Najmah Stationery, April Fine Paper Trading Middle East, Capital Envelopes, Clips Trading, Dubai Library Distributors, Najmath Al Amana Stationery and Papyrus Stationery LLC.

The Paperworld brand has been exported from Frankfurt to regions of importance to the sector around the world. The result is a global network of regional events that brings together demand and supply to the benefit of both exhibitors and visitors.

Globalista Extraordinaire

TEEN lifestyle in the UAE, SPAIN, UK and FIJI ISLANDS

Month: March 2014