bazaar magazine March 2013

March 2013 - issue # 169 b a z a a r - m a g a z i n e. c om

HARVEY N

NICHOLS

H&

&M

TED B

BAKER

THE ULTIMATE RUSH IN TECHNOLOGY & PERFORMANCE THE ALL NEW 2013

MALIBU

Wherever you're heading in life, the right care makes all the difference. This year's all new Malibu features a bold, Camaro-inspired design to help you make the right impression.

CHEVR 2.4L & V6

AVAILABLE IN 2.4L & V6

WHISPER QUIET CABIN

ICE BLUE AMBIENT LIGHTING

MYLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM & BLUETOOTH WITH 7” COLOR TOUCHSCREEN & SMART PHONE CONNECTIVITY

REARVIEW CAMERA

REMOTE START, PUSH START & SMART KEY

5 STAR SAFETY RATING

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ROLET Starting from

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@AlghanimAuto

IHO

OP

SOOQ S

www.souqsharqmall.com

@souq_sharq

@souq_sharq

‫‪HAPPY MOTHERS DAY‬‬

‫‪SHARQ‬‬

‫ﻟﻤﺰﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ اﻟـﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت ﻳﺮﺟﻰ ا ﺗﺼﺎل ﻋﻠﻰ‪:‬‬ ‫ﺗﻠﻔـــﻮن‪ 22410975 - 22415645 :‬داﺧﻠﻲ‪208/207 :‬‬

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‫صار ألغراضك‬ ‫بيت جديد‬ ‫‪ PAX‬نظام التخزين المبتكر الستثمار كل‬ ‫المساحات‪ ،‬تشكيلة واسعة‪ ،‬أسعار مناسبة‬

‫وضمان المنتج لمدة ‪ 10‬سنوات‪.‬‬

‫ م�سا ًء‬10 - ‫ �سباح ًا‬10 ‫ اخلمي�س‬- ‫الأحــــد‬ ‫ م�سا ًء‬11 - ‫ �سباح ًا‬10 ‫ ال�ســــبت‬- ‫اجلمعة‬

www.IKEA.com.kw - 18 4040 8

facebook.com/ikeakuwait @ikeakuwait

ikeakuwait

Inter IKEA Systems B. V. 2013

EA

ALO

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AU NOM D

DE LA ROSE

Intr

The bazaar team...

Boss Ahmed El-Adly

R ebecca Sweetman

Business Development I hab M ok alled

For this issue of bazaar, as usual, our writers have had a blast visiting some of the recently opened restaurants including the reputable Olive Garden, the decadent Chocolate Café, checking out the best street food at Junk Yard, and putting together the perfect burger at The Counter. We get personal with Mike from EEK, talk fashion with May Al-Essa, try on the latest trends in sunglasses with Chilli Beans, and found a couple of websites which will change your life including deals.com.kw and homerepairkuwait.com. The latest issue also reaches you in time for Mother’s Day, with gift ideas galore, and even a special tribute to Yo Mama!

A. Al-Duaij

On a final note, we are looking for the best ‘made in Kuwait ‘ Harlem Shake, so if you and your friends have put something together, and want to enter our draw to maybe win a billion dinars, or at the very least a bazaar t-shirt, please send us the video or a link to it as soon as possible.

Design Sumaiya AL-Shar han

Staff Writer/Social Media Yasmine El Char if

Staff Writer Brook M cClurg

Communications Consultant Hala Y. Sharara

Editor Contributing Writers Abdulaziz Alhashash Ayman Nassar Bibi Al-Falah Craig Loomis Danah Jbara Deepa Pant Fatmah Al-Qadfan Jaye Sonia Strawberry Girl Yara Al-Wazir

Happy Springing!

Ahmed El-Adly

Photographers Djinane Alsuwayah Jalil Marvin Sumaiya AL-Sharhan

Printing

British Industries for Printing and Packaging

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

bazaar can be found at the following locations:

Operations

March always symbolizes Spring in my mind, what with the gorgeous weather, flowers everywhere, and that intangible sense of change in the air. I was about to try to link it to our Arab Spring, but decided not to, since we all know how that turned out, making it quite a sore subject for quite a lot of people. Instead, let’s focus on the positive. National Day and Liberation Day passed by relatively painlessly this year, and people seem to have finally understood that foam does not equal happiness. Kuwait has been on a roll for a while now, and there were so many events in Feb that one barely had time to simply sit back and enjoy the weather. The Red Bull X Fighters were in town showing off their insane stunts; the Kuwait Riders bike show took place meaning a weekend of literally thousands of beautiful motor bikes cruising around Gulf Road, and Pecha Kucha took place once again stimulating the brain cells. Oh, and let’s not forget the amazing outdoor concert that took place at Bayt Lothan where many talented peeps got to show off their musical talents under the stars.

Syndicates and Sources

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

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

No one likes to be dumped;

recycle me, please.

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tel. 24610017 - fax 24610018 info@bazaar-magazine.com www.bazaar-magazine.com

members of: www.bpaww.com

Welcome to the adrenaline academy.

The AMG Driving Academy at Yas Marina Circuit is now open.

Book your AMG Driving Academy day today. Master speed with control during guided high-speed laps at the Yas Marina Circuit. Feel the power that is AMG. Discover more at www.mb-me.com / ADA or call 800 AMG (800 264) or + 971-2 659 9264.

MERCEDES

Tel.: 2495-0000

INDEX MARCH ' 1 3

54

42

72

30

26

FINE FOODIES

GRINNING

HAUTE SHADES

WHAT’S TRENDING?

POSH FAIRY

Local brother and sister entrepreneurs Rawan and Abdullah AlMousherji are bringing a historic brand to Kuwait via their new partnership with The East India Company. We check in with them about their love for food and the new store.

The small operation that prides itself on making jewelry that serves as a powerful statement for the fearless woman is back with a new collection. We sit down for an interview with Anne Gedeon of GRIN to hear what’s new.

There is a new sunglass sheriff in town coming to you with panache and affordable prices. The result is Brazilian Kiosk shopping at its finest. The folks at Chilli Beans are bringing attitude and spice back to your eyewear.

Too many social media accounts and not enough time?

Check out our brand new page to show you what’s on, online: we’re liking, tweeting, pinning and sharing, so don’t waste an instant and start sharing with us, you might get a mention next month!

In this month’s up close and personal we interview Joumana Soufi, and learn how a daydream of an idea turned into fashion gold. As the company looks to expand in the coming months we learn of the many things that drive the person behind the brand.

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60

CYCLING GEAR

TOUR D’ITALIA

In a perfect example of companies synergizing efforts for a better user experience, the folks at H&M have teamed up with Brick Lane Bikes to bring you crossover cycling gear that is as fashionable as it is functional.

With the opening of the Olive Garden at The Grand Avenue-The Avenues, we welcome authentic Italian indulgence and impeccable hospitality. We sit down for a tour of the wonderful Italy, one plate at a time.

The Chocolate Cafe p. 70

82

34

96

GAME ON!

STREET CLASSICS

INDIA ART FAIR

TRAVEL EAT REPEAT

The VIVA 512 Knockout Tournament looks to put competition gaming on the local map. With their first, one-of-a-kind, event coming up at the end of March, it may be time to start upping your game skills for a chance at a cash prize.

Where do you go when you want a good menu of street classics served in their simplest delicious form?

The arrival of the Junkyard restaurant shows how the basics can shine when you keep it simple, yet packed with flavor.

A recent trip to the India Art Fair suggests that it may be time for a closer look at the artists coming out of this South Asian nation. In its most successful event to date, we get highlights of the three-day event by art guru Deepa Pant.

A new take on travel dining that sends you outside the norm of the everyday. Join us in a culinary adventure in Jordan that has you fully engaged with mind, body, and soul. The result is both a meal and a trip that are bettered in the process.

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84

36 HOME REPAIR

2.0

One local entrepreneur looks to ratify the game of home repair with services more often seen abroad.

With ambition in mind and a mission station to operate from, this company aims to bring you a difference in service that is quantifiable.

RAW

G-Star Raw Store Kuwait City - The Avenues Mall Groundfloor Unit 201, 5th Ring Road, Al Rai Area operated by G-Star Store Kuwait

bazaar connect Freedom to touch us

40,000 readers

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

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

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

members of: www.bpaww.com

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

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

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

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

bazaar magazine has been a member of BPA Wordwide since June 2010, ensuring complete transparency, verifying bazaar as an audited publication which distributes 10,000 copies on a monthly basis. To access our BPA report, please visit www.bpaww.com or log onto our website www.bazaar-magazine.com for a downloadable pdf version.

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Packed with our articles covering entertainment, art, local happenings, music, movies, fashion, interiors, health, and interviews with the people responsible for said genres, bazaar‘s website will not disappoint.

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We get even closer to our readers by taking advantage of both our Facebook and twitter channels on a daily basis. With more than 5,000 fans and followers, we love starting different conversations with our readers, sharing music, jokes, competitions, and much more. Twitter gives us the ability to tweet live from the many fun and exciting events that we cover, giving our readers minute by minute coverage and commentary, and allowing us to follow the people and brands that we like too, of which there are so many.

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Too lazy to go pick up bazaar from your local café, now you can browse through the complete physical magazine online via issuu.com. Featuring our in-depth interviews, reviews, stellar photography, and the latest ads showcasing what hot in the market right now; you can browse through bazaar freely and securely, whether you're on your PC, laptop, Smartphone, or tablet.

24

PORSCHE

up close and personal THE POSH FAIRY: JOUMANA SOUFI By bazaar staff

Joumana Soufi knows what it means to take a leap of faith in the pursuit of self-contentment. From a high-powered career in marketing, to a full time fashion blog that’s evolved into one of the most coveted online spaces for fashion news and updates, and now a fashion and image consultancy, she considers her journey as one of life’s simple decisions.

Joumana decided to let inspiration take over. Upon dedicating her time to blog about her many passions, especially fashion, art and photography, The Side Talk, grew into one of the most prominent fashion blogs in Kuwait and the region. She may attribute her success to the consecutive effort of taking baby steps, yet Joumana’s personable nature, open spirit and constant search for creativity further defined her style, giving thesidetalk. com an unprecedented edge. We finally got to see the person behind those addictively stylish posts, as she consults with her favorite brands rather than simply post about them. This drove her towards creating The Posh Fairy, a styling and image consultancy that transforms your look from head to toe.

She comments, “The Posh Fairy started as a fantasy, a day dream while walking in the mall and observing outfits. I started reading and researching the idea, taking a course only to fall in love further and enroll in another one. It’s a non-stop, fast-paced industry that never sleeps!” One might jump to the conclusion that this lady has the easiest job in the world, yet it’s actually very challenging. She adds, “It needs deep observation of the person’s physical and personal character aspects to achieve an outcome that satisfies the stylist and the shopper at the same time. The most exciting part for me is the first meeting with the client; moving from not knowing what to expect into actually forming a vision!”

As a blogger-turned-top stylist/personal shopper, Joumana wishes to expand The Posh Fairy as a fullyfledged company that serves as a complete makeover destination for women and men who need to supercharge their style attitude.

bazaar questionnaire: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Happiness is a state of mind. You could have everything you want and be miserable, and on the contrary, you could be happy even if things aren’t going their best for you. To me, the perfect idea of happiness is family, success, and love; put together, this is one hell of combination! The secret to having it all is knowing that you already do.

What is your greatest fear?

I have one too many fears: heights, darkness, small 26

spaces, and aging!

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I’ve got too much brain in my head! I think too much.

Overthinking makes a big deal of everything; I spend too much time over-analyzing. I know worrying will never change the outcome; still it’s kind of hard to practice what I preach.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Believe it or not, it’s not easy for me to deal with all types of people; I don’t do well with people who are cold, too laid back, or those who think they know everything.

Which living person do you most admire?

My parents! They are two opposites that attract and complete one another.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Shopping is my guilty pleasure! I cannot resist snatching something I like the second I lay my eyes on it.

When I gotta have it, I gotta have it!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? ‘cute’, ‘gorgeous’, ‘doll’, and ‘super’! Definitely over used!

When were you happiest?

Life is a rollercoaster of ups and downs. With every passing day I get more of an understanding of my being and my surroundings, which makes me more content. In the process, I face some obstacles and that’s when sadness, anger, or disappointment may come in.

However, I’m at my happiest when I’m around my family, my baby, and my husband. That’s my comfort zone and my positive energy.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Illustrator or a graphic designer! I wish I could transform my thoughts into art!

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

Achievements aren’t measurable, they are completely personal, and there’s no customary standard or limit. I reached the peak of my success in my career and therefore decided to move on towards a new path.

I chose to pursue consulting in marketing and social media, focused more on my fashion blog, started a styling business, and also had a baby! Those are my achievements—they will keep growing and changing every day.

Where would you most like to live?

Paris: since as long as I remember I was fascinated with France and the French; their elegance, sophistication, and even the language, I’m definitely a French soul!

Follow Joumana’s posts by visiting: www.thesidetalk.wordpress.com and be sure to check out The Posh Fairy on Instagram, @posh_fairy and Facebook.com/poshfairy. Photography by Djinane Alsuwayah for Khaleejesque Magazine.

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what's on?

DAR AL FUNOON

Title of Exhibition: Form and colour revealed Exhibition Dates & Timing: Opening: 6:00pm

Monday 11th March - Thursday 29th March, 2013 Exhibition Hours

Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 1pm & 4 - 8pm

Friday and Saturday: by appointment Under the Patronage of The Embassy of the Republic of Armenia Dar Al-Funoon presents a collective exhibition that brings together five distinguished Contemporary Armenian artists. These artists represent generations of artists whose path towards maturation took place in an atmosphere of natural disasters, wars, and total change of political system. Together, their work reveals a fantasy world where forms and colors merge to create diverse expressions in Armenian contemporary art today.

Exhibition Dates & Timing: From 3rd to 14th March 2013 Opening: March 3, 2013 at 6.00pm Following Days: 10:00am – 2:00pm

5:30pm – 9:00pm Saturday: By appointment Fridays closed.

Kiss & Cut Kiss & Cut is a journal-based bipolar collection of works created over a period of eight weeks, spanning early December 2012 to mid-February 2013. As is with many of her works, this series is highly inspired by spells of emotional turmoil. It is an attempt to examine what goes on in our internal organs, which allow us to hurt so much, yet function normally on a daily basis. When we feel emotional pain, how do we not succumb to it and die?

Gallery Tilal is located in Shuwaikh, Jahra Road, Tilal Complex, M3-M4, Gallery Tilal. For more information please call 2225 6101 or log onto www.gallerytilal.com.

PRETTY LITTLE THINGS

Featuring works by: • Arkady Pertrossian • Gabriel Manoukian • Gagik Ghazanchian • Lilit Soghomonian • Vahan Roumelian Dar Al Funoon is located in Kuwait City, Behbehani Compound, House No. 28. For more information please call 2243 3138 or visit onto daralfunoon-kw.com.

GALLERY TILAL

The first big Pretty Little Things show of 2013 will be outdoor in Salhiya Plaza March 9-12. With a new mix of brands from the region and exciting new collaborations with visual artists, the show promises to dazzle the senses. The plan is to have you walking on light, literally. Intrigued? Come to the show to find out! While you’re there, enjoy some goodies from the first Magnolia Bakery popup shop.

Follow @PLTQ8 on Instagram and Twitter for more information.

THE GREEN CARAVAN FILM FESTIVAL

Artist Name: Ghada Alkandari 28

The Green Caravan Film Festival will be screening a lineup of award winning films in the open courtyard of

Bayt Lothan in Kuwait, 9-12 March 2013 Come celebrate the art of filmmaking while enjoying the wonder of our world and maybe we can all help save the planet one screening at a time FILM: CHASING ICE - SCREENING: Sat 9/3, 7 PM. FILM: IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT - SCREENING: Sun 10/3, 8 PM. FILM: THE TSUNAMI AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM SCREENING: Mon 11/3, 7 PM. FILM: THE CITY DARK - SCREENING: Mon 11/3, 8 PM. FILM: THE ISLAND PRESIDENT SCREENING: Tues 12/3, 7 PM, Bayt Lothan, Kuwait

MANGO

what's trending As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it!

Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more.

facebook.com/bazaarmagazine

twitter.com/bazaartweets

pinterest.com/bazaarmagazine

START READING!

issuu.com/bazaarmagazine

what: Thouq online mag type: lifestyle, account editor’s note: new store now open in Mubarakiya!

who: Annada scarves type: website, shopping editor’s note: art+fashion by regional artists

what: Dia-style.com type: website, shopping editor’s note: shop, play, and talk fashion!

what: The Culturist type: Tweep: Online magazine editor’s note: Inspired stories, worldwide culture

what: Gelo type: iPhone App editor’s note: funky tints and filters for your images

what: RGB Wallpaper type: website editor’s note: Milan based artist+designer duo

what: B&D Bloggers type: Account editor’s note: our favorite online foodie+her recipes!

30

GAP

The Avenues | 360 Mall gap.com.kw

truth or dare

THE EXPAT’S FRIEND

By bazaar staff

What is your dream retirement location?

Mountains behind, sea in front, all wrapped in cotton-cloud skies and lush-green lawns.

What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?

“Come oooon..” [Kurt Russell in Big Trouble In Little China].

What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in?

Hungry.

What do you miss about your childhood?

Knowing so little: I thought I knew it all and reveled in that knowledge.

When Michael from EEK! (Expats Express Kuwait) first arrived in Kuwait 13 years ago, it was with his wife and three suitcases in tow. This was not for want of material goods, mind you—but simply because they were not planning on staying long! However, as with so many of our stories here: the opportunity evolves, the plans adapt accordingly. For Michael though, who studied both Psychology and holds an MBA, what stood out most about his early time here was the lack of resources available to aid the expat in their acclimation process. With that in mind, and true to his entrepreneurial spirit, he opted to do something about it by creating a newsletter in which newbies can be given access to the resources they need.

Originally launched as an expats advisory help desk about eight years ago, the EEK! story continues to evolve. Now in its sixth year of circulation, EEK!’s subscription base has grown from less than 50 at its launch, to well over 10,000 (Michael stresses here that EEK! is NOT an online magazine, but an e-magazine- so if you’re not subscribed you don’t get it—get it?). He says, “It seemed that many folks out there really had a terrible time adjusting, and it hurt at times listening to their stories of anguish.

Friends used to refer people to my wife and I for advice, or at least our opinion on matters. It seems as soon as you’re here for more than a year, many see you as some kind of an authority on all things local. Of course you aren’t, but yes we could lend a willing ear and a reflection on reality.” EEK! is a result of that initiative.

“The interaction we have with our subscribers is 32

absolutely phenomenal. We regularly receive 50-60 emails per day from subscribers who just want to say hello. We live for those messages and additionally find that a lot of EEK!’s content comes from these interactions. We feel so good about being part of Kuwait’s social scene, I can’t explain it to you. If your heart is in the right place (and your job is steady of course!) Kuwait is probably one of the coolest places to hang out. I know it sounds weird, but it is true.”

How would your mother describe you in one word?

Sun (pun!).

How would you describe your mother in one word?

Spectacular.

What is the most insane question you’ve ever been asked?

Is there anything to do in Kuwait? (From a newbie).

What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

Married my stunning wife.

What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?

YANI. Where would you like to live?

Where my family is.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

Probably another one that’s worn by half of mankind’s men folk.

How would you describe your handshake in one word?

Definitive.

What is the toughest part of your character?

Spectacu...my what?

Who is your favourite historical figure?

Michelangelo’s “David”. That’s what you meant, right?! (LOOOL) What in the world do you least desire?

Questionnaires and texts starting with “do you think we could...”.

What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of, would make the world a better place?

Fresh air and books (watch these two in future).

Why do you think most girls/guys like you?

They do?!

Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…”

Beedybob.

More information on the Expat Newsletter can be found at www.expatserviceskuwait.com or email Michael from EEK! directly at info@expatserviceskuwait.com.

‫لمزيد من المعلومات تفضل بزيارة ‪ www.audi-kuwait.com/Q7‬او اتصل على شركة فؤاد الغانم واوالده للسيارات ‪1811118‬‬

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‫أداء‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫يفرض احترامه‪.‬‬

‫‪AUDI‬‬

KEEPING IT SIMPLE Junkyard: a fresh take on street classics By bazaar staff

Were you to ask the creators behind The Junkyard, the newest restaurant concept to hit The Village Complex, they would tell you that their goal is all about “keeping it simple.” It is literally written on the wall in the dining room, amongst other fun and thought-provoking illustrations and ironic sayings.

However, do not let such humble statements of intent and origin mislead you into thinking there is anything lacking in the effort that is going into your dining experience. By focusing on excellent execution of a pared down menu, and using superior ingredients of predominantly inhouse preparation, the Junkyard successfully accomplishes their goal of tasty “Street Classics.”

The general esthetic of the dining room and corresponding outside patio can best be described as urban-grit meets shabby-chic with a home-ish undertone: mason 34

jar drinks atop stainless steel and home-made distressed wood tables prove both comforting and casual. A blackboard behind the bar illustrates perfectly both the newness of the brand and adaptability of the concept. Only two months old, they prove this out both in the fact that they are looking to introduce seasonal items and also in that they pride themselves on being open to customer’s personal requests. Far from being just lip service, their love for the customer is evident in such simple courtesies as a phone charging station, wherein customers can charge (and lock up for protection, incidentally) their phones while they dine. While this may seem like a small thing, I submit that the proactive planning of such courtesies speak volumes about the brand.

In serving a menu that consists of all the classic foods that you likely already know and love, it can

be tough for one burger joint to differentiate itself from the next.

However, here on the menu, are 5 such options that, even if you have tried before, should again be revisited, if only for proof of the difference that in-house preparation makes. Thus, while a Bacon or Mushroom and Swiss burger might seem common enough at first glance, they do prove their difference via hidden attributes that reveal themselves at first bite: all beginning with the freshness of a home made bun. Additional deviations from the norm are found through homemade and innovative sauces, a dual-patty answer to the typical behemoth (whereby they maintain weight while still being remarkably easy to eat), and liberally melted cheese throughout. Their namesake Junkie burger with top-secret sauce was both good and inventive, despite my own partiality to the Bacon Burger.

The “Chubby Cheese” is also a strong standout here. If any of these already

sound familiar to you, it may be that you have already seen a couple of these burgers cross the Talabat.com 100 recently—a sure sign that their simplified and fresh take on the classics is already resonating with Kuwaitis and ex-pats alike.

If you are less inclined towards burgers, there are also a combination of chicken options, most notable for the fact that all breading is done on premises, a welcomed departure from the frozen and prebreaded varietal used by so many other places. First, there is a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, which they pride themselves on. Additionally, Buffalo wings are available that are both succulent and moist (note: I have it on good authority that you can get these specially made extra, extra hot, upon request). However, the fresh breading option perhaps shines its best in the chicken fingers that likely stand apart from any others you have had lately; the breading is light and flavorful.

When it comes to side orders, we again see the benefits of fresh preparation. The french fries comes in several different styles, my favorite of which is the steakcut fries. One point of note here, should you find yourself ordering your meal off Talabat.com, as so many of us often do, you will have to request the steak-cut fries in the items comments section, or the ones that will show up will be their more ubiquitous thin-cut brethren. One other must-try here are the onion rings, which manage to be down right delicate, with their understated and minimalistic breading that allows the onion

flavor to pronounce itself more than expected.

Should you find yourself still hungry enough to tackle dessert, there is more here to be tasted.

Continuing with their urban theme, the aptly named “Street Munchies” are a welcomed delightful cake-like ball of delight, vaguely reminiscent of a coffee cake (while still being different than, I might add) that is of course served with delicious, if obligatory, ice cream. The shakes as well, homemade as they are upon order and served in a metal tin for those shake purists out there; none of that premixed or pre-candied ice cream you see so often, just vanilla

ice cream and your choice of delicious accoutrement. The Oreo cookie shake, although a personal favorite, must be set aside, at least once to try the inventive and delicious Ferrero Rocher shake—truly.

For those of you who enjoy a good, if random, challenge, there is one other fun-fact about this place that is not to be overlooked.

Mounted on one wall in the dining room is an otherwise easy-tomiss game, placed solely for your amusement. Many of you may know this game as shock-wave, Zap’d, or some other like variant that is often seen at carnivals and fairs state-side. Should you be able

to win the game successfully, you will win a free meal for your entire table-seriously! More to the point, however, is that this seemingly random and arbitrary game is one more charming way in which this understated establishment proves itself as a superior burger joint; they care about your experience and are working to make it fun, comfortable, and delicious.

The Junkyard is located at The Village Complex, Abu Hassaniah. Reach them by phone at: 2390 1022/33 or follow them via Instagram: @junkyardkw or order from Talabat.com.

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HOME REPAIR 2.0

Consistent, clean, honest, humble…home repair By bazaar staff

The above words are definitely not ones that you would immediately associate with a home repairman. It seems that, most of the time, having to call up someone to come into our homes and fix whatever current problem may be going on, is a nightmare of an inconvenience waiting to happen. One Kuwaiti entrepreneur is looking to change that via a local business model influenced by his time abroad.

First, a question: What do you do when you have a Masters in Finance, are working at a major bank, and have come home to Kuwait to find a hole in the market that you have a passion to fill? If you are Hashem Al Baghli, you quit your day job and start from scratch, with all the ingenuity and tenacity you can muster, a service-based business that is built around the principles of business you believe in. With a company motto based on honesty, integrity, and consistency, to name a few, he is looking to turn the local home repair industry on its head with “a new layer of service in the industry.”

For many of us, a home repair fix includes walking downstairs and checking with the hariss (basically the watcher of the door for those unacquainted with local vernacular) to see whom he might know. While many times this may be a quick and painless fix, many run into a problem when it comes to any sort of accountability for the work done. Additionally hope 36

for proof of any qualifications as is unrealistic at best.

Having heard enough stories where the person who would show up would be so ill-qualified as to border on dangerous, he decided to take action.

In August 2012, www.homerepairkuwait.com, hit the ground running as a one-man operation.

The services they offer currently are for Electricity, Plumbing, Painting, AC, and handy man, but their longterm plan is to be a one-stop shop for all things home repair related. Their typical customer varies from the “call and fix,” type of last minute and panicked caller, to the more proactive contract customer, wherein the latter gets a quarterly maintenance review visit in addition to a certain number of free emergency calls.

While Hashem readily admits that they will not likely be as cheap as the sort you would find by shouting out the window and taking the first person who comes in response, he does believe that there point of differences make them well worth any difference in cost, and maintains that they are still affordable.

The first differentiating factor is that they run off price lists. Meaning, if you call them today and someone else calls them tomorrow, you will both get the same price and level of service. While not exactly a ground-breaker perhaps for business as a whole, it is safe to say that this is one more area in which they are striving to be a fair and transparent company. For

the less savvy or inclined negotiator, this can be very attractive indeed.

Also, all of the workers that he hired are at least certified in their home country (he uses this as the starting barometer of qualification since there currently exists no national standards or certifications here), must pass in-house tests put fourth by their team leader, and then are additionally trained via their in-house trainings sessions, in both the technical aspects of the work, as well as the customer service component. In so doing, he believes they can “bring the European know-how in terms of service and safety standards into Kuwait.” His long-term hope is to become the “reference by which other home repair services are measured.”

Wanting as well to be respectful of your time, they actually schedule appointments AND are committed to making sure that they hit the time stated, a welcomed departure from the multi-hour gap some see to aim for and still manage to miss.

Additionally, and perhaps most telling of all, they offer a 30-day guarantee on all of the work that they do. Just illustrating further that they stand behind their services completely, and, while it would have been easier to just start a franchise with name recognition in the ex-pat community, he is confident that his commitment to do it the hard, slow way— from scratch, will pay off.

For your next home repair service (or even before its an emergency!) call the Home Repair team at: 2473 0963 or reach them online at www.homerepairkuwait.com.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

VELIBREQUIN

KUWAIT 360 MALL - Tel. (965) 2530 9890 The Mall, THE AVENUES - Tel. (965) 2220 0548 WWW.VILEBREQUIN.COM

IBYALA Expect more for less By bazaar staff

Recently we were able to sit down with the owners of the new furniture house, Ibyala. As owners, also, of The Iris House, a Kuwaiti brand with 20 years in the market, we wanted to check in and see what sparked the expansion into the new brand. In providing a lower cost alternative to the long established brand that many of you already love, they are looking to provide more high-end style for those budget savvy shoppers out there.

Can you give our readers some history about The Iris House?

Established in 1992, The Iris House has since dedicated itself to bringing collectible and unique home accessories and furniture pieces to Kuwait.

The collection, curated from different parts of the world, always seeks to break the visual dictionary 38

of design by keeping up with the latest trends and sensible tastes of its clientele.

What does the name, Ibyala mean to you, and in relation to the stores branding?

Ibyala is an old Farsi word that found its way into the Gulf region that means Teacup. It is a word that is almost lost in today’s vernacular and utilized more within our grandparent’s generation. When looking for the name we were searching for old words that have a relation to the individual’s home and surroundings, yet would still maintain an international appeal to it.

Ibyala’s branding establishes a bridge between the generations, curating a sophisticated line between offpriced items and a revamped modern visual ambience. Application of clean, minimalistic fonts in an editorial way, that is relatable to its clientele. This

relationship between text and image is the main touch point of the brand, the unique quality that makes it truly approachable and recognizable by creating a culture -contained in its vivid colors, clean elegant typographic hierarchies accentuated with playful and elegant photography.

Tell us about your vision with Ibyala?

The vision we strive to achieve with the brand is to accommodate to the different tastes found in the market whilst catering to those seeking mid to low-end prices on exceptionally unique and beautiful home accessories and furniture. We want Ibyala’s customers to always expect more for less.

Stylistically, the options seem to be eclectic? Can you tell us how that relates to your typical customer?

Taste is a very personal matter.

We understand that when searching for the products we bring, as we try to accommodate to all the different tastes that are relevant. When entering the store, you will see a dynamic clash of cultures in the products that surprisingly create a nice composition that is understandably known as

our store culture. This translates well towards our customers as they expect to have a large variety that will certainly gratify their tastes.

How is the new store similar and/or differentiate itself from The Iris House?

We look at the two stores as being two separate entities run with different business models. The Iris House is catering to a select clientele base, while Ibyala is targeting the mass with the exceptionally priced pieces on offer.

Are there any current plans to add to your portfolio of brands in the future?

You’ll just have to wait and see!

So there you have it: an innovative company with a bold ambition to merge old and new world charm in a variety of textures and design elements, and to do so at a reasonable price.

Ibyala can be found in the Shuwaikh Industrial Area at Al-Osaimi Complex (behind Tilal Center) Block 1, ST. 6, Gallery 3. To reach them by phone call 2491 8454. You can also follow them on Facebook: Ibyala.

THE COUNTER

closet Bibi

MASTERING THE MOTHER’S DAY GIFT

By Bibi Al-Falah

March is the month with arguably the most gorgeous weather of the year in Kuwait, but another important fact about this month is the celebration of Mother’s Day. We have all been through that panic two days before when we couldn’t find any flowers because they sold out, we could not order a cake because all the bakeries 40

are booked up, and all there is left to do is dash to the Avenues in a panic to at least buy a material gift that gives you a last chance to be thoughtful.

Let us first remember the date - Mother’s Day in the Middle East is celebrated on March 21st. If you are following an American calendar, they celebrate this occasion on the second Sunday in May which in this year’s case will be May 12th. In the UK, it will be celebrated on March 10th this year. For most of us, we are keeping our eye on the 21st of March to honor our mothers. Luckily we have most of the month to plan this, so here is where you need to plan ahead and where you can afford to take your time: Planning ahead: flowers and baked goods must be planned ahead of time if you want to get something decent for your mother. Do NOT expect to stroll in to Au Nom de la Rose on Mother’s Day at 6pm and find a magical bouquet of roses waiting for you and wrapped in a bow (my mistake last year). Chances are that somebody got the last pretty bouquet of flowers hours ago. I recommend calling in or visiting your favorite flower shop and pre-ordering your bouquet by the 15th of March max. If you can do this before the 15th that would be ideal as a lot of people have the exact same plan of action. You can even do this on 965flowers.com if you prefer ordering online, and choose the date of your delivery. If you are going to make the effort to pre-order, make sure you pick your mother’s favorite flower and color palette (not everyone wants roses)! Now for the fun part - baked goodies! Since this holiday is particularly emotional and a bit cheesy, take that theme and run with it. Find the funniest or cutest picture of your mother with you and your siblings as kids and have your bakery of choice scan it onto her favorite cake. Nowadays you can just e-mail the picture to most bakeries or take it with you on a USB and they will do it for you. Alternatively, a bunch of delicious cupcakes that spell out “Happy Mother’s Day” will also do the trick.

Take your time: you can afford to do this with the material portion of the gift. Unless your mother has had her eye on something that needs to be ordered from outside the country, I doubt there isn’t a single thing in the Kuwaiti market that she wouldn’t like. I love shopping for women because the range of gifts is endless. Some easy gifts that all moms love are printed scarves (think Hermes or Kenzo), fine jewelry (think Cartier or Bulgari) and SPA packages (Spa Time is lovely). Of course, these are all subject to your mother’s specific likes and interests. If she is an interior design enthusiast, then she might appreciate something from Pottery Barn or West Elm. Take it one step further and get something truly unique like a furniture piece from Maze Creative Concepts (designed by Bibi Al Ghanim) now available at 52 Degrees. If she is passionate about cooking then a new pan set from Williams Sonoma would be extremely thoughtful (throw in a recipe book just for fun)! If she is a sporty mom then grab the newest pair of Nike’s in her size accompanied by workout wear. The simple rule for the gift is to think about what your mother loves and innovate from there.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommies, and don’t forget to order the perfect cake and flowers as early as possible!

LE SUSHI

GRIN SPRING SUMMER 2013 Trend setting, confident, and effortless chic By bazaar staff

Since launching GRIN only a couple of years ago, talented artist and jewelry designer Anne Gedeon continues to deliver on her promise of statement pieces for the fearless woman. Her inspirations are not trend-dominated, making GRIN a definitive trend-setting brand for the confident fashionista. Anne might not devoutly follow fashion trends, yet she surely has an eye for bespoke pieces dubbed as art for the ear, finger, neck and hands. She adds, “I get my voluntary updates from my fashion conscious sis, Amanda, who created BOW designs. However, having said that, I respect Karen Erickson and Vicki Beamon’s thought-provoking style. The duo really works well together, and I absolutely love Tom Binns’ maximalism and Alexis Bittar’s and Bounkits craftsmanship.”

Showcasing her fierce SS13 collection, we observe an eclectic mix of inspirations in the form of edgy supersized rings in the FingerArt range.

As for NekArt, the fringed and tassled CHINCHIN necklace can be worn in a myriad of ways, and the iconic I LOVE ROMA piece reflects an affair with Italian extravagance. Expect to see elements of Rome’s street-style chic, feminine and bold experimentations with chains, a tantalizing palette of gold, rose and grey and an ode to the iconic Madonna, circuit 1990.We speak to Anne about her experience and, and her thoughts about the SS13.

Can you tell us about your experience with GRIN since you launched?

It’s all consuming to build a brand from scratch.

It has been challenging at times but always exciting!

How does Rome’s street style play into your 42

Spring Summer collection?

It resonates ‘rugged romanticism’, one of the inspirations behind this collection..

Tell us about the materials you chose to work with for this collection.

I experimented a lot with different types of chains like box chain, fringe and tassels, barbed wire and net - sometimes in austere representations but other times in lighter more playful mimics. For the GRINlite line, I mixed it up with fun combinations of semiprecious stones and Swarovski elements on materials like silicone and felt. For this collection’s GRINchic line, texture and the trio-plating palette of yellow, pink and black rhodium (grey) played a big role.

How would you style your Spring-Summer collection?

The beauty of this collection is that every piece can be worn on a white tank, jeans and a pair of Converse shoes, and can also be worn on a chic dress and a pair of Louboutins!

Any favorite pieces? If so, which ones and why.

Each piece reflects a different part of my personality…so it really depends on my mood!

Where and how can we get our hands on these items!?

ETOILE in Kuwait is about to open soon in and will stock my line. You can also purchase my items online in Kuwait at www.gojiboutique.com.

For more information about GRIN, log on to www.grin-design.com. Like her work on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/G-R-I-Nby-Anne-Gedeon/170573059664051, Twitter and Instagram @GRINbyAGEDEON. 43

APPLE

EBEES

COMPETE FOR CHANGE INJAZ-Kuwait youth competition with HP By bazaar staff

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If you could change one thing for the better in Kuwait, what would it be? This year, INJAZ-Kuwait allows you to answer this question. You may be quick to quip with a huge list of things you’d like changed. But, when offered the tools to make this change happen, what would actually be your next step? All you need to do to get started is to relay your voice and idea using 300 words.

The Social Innovation Relay (SIR) is an online global competition sponsored by Hewlett-Packard (HP) that challenges secondary school students to come up with an innovative business concept that has positive social impact. So, maybe we could find a technical, hands-on solution to end needless traffic, or maybe we can devise a viable, Good Samaritan program that motivates people to better involve themselves when they see a violation being committed. Perhaps software that aids charities where fundraising is concerned…the ideas can be truly endless! Aimed at 15-18 year olds, the competition will harness these ideas into fully-fledged realities.

An organization geared towards empowering the youth, INJAZ-Kuwait delivers educational programs on entrepreneurial and leadership skills aimed at inspiring and educating future generations. Since 2005, INJAZ-Kuwait has reached over 25,000 students from more than 30 schools and universities, thanks to over 800 volunteers—and growing. INJAZ-Kuwait connects corporate volunteers to mentor youth through JA, or Junior Achievement, programs.

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Volunteers undergo orientation and training before they embark on their mentoring experience to enhance their readiness as well as performance during mentoring sessions to inspire the youth.

For more than 100 years, JA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

With 19 participating countries, including Brazil, China, Bulgaria, South Africa, Kenya and the USA, the competition is truly global. Students from Kuwait, also the only Arab country chosen to participate this year, are invited to showcase their progressive ideas on a national and global scale. It will also give students a unique chance to learn from experienced HP volunteers by utilizing HP’s groundbreaking online meeting room.

This year, INJAZ-Kuwait is challenging 1000 students to share their ideas and the first stage is the National Competition.

To enter the National Competition, each team (3-5 members) needs to submit a 300-word description of a solution they have found to a local societal challenge. Areas in which they can choose from are: education, health, environment, technology, poverty, economic development, human rights and energy. This can easily be done via the website www.sir.ja-ye.org.

Utilizing the online Social Innovation platform, the HP Virtual Meeting Room, the volunteers and

students will develop their idea into a full-fledged business plan. Throughout this time, HP mentors will be dedicated to increasing the students’ knowledge of social entrepreneurship and helping them refine their ideas in order to get them ready for the National Competition.

The National Competition will determine Kuwait’s representative in the Global Online Competition.

Awards: National Stage •Each member of the national winning team will receive an HP Mini Laptop •The teacher of the national winning team also receives an HP Mini Laptop Global Stages •Top 3 teams are awarded with HP Products (to be confirmed) •The Winning team also receives a special award, which is the participation to the JA-YE Alumni Europe Annual Conference, with all costs covered.

Registering as individual students and as teams is open until the end of March. Log on to: www.sir.ja-ye.org and register now!

For more information, please visit the INJAZKuwait website, www.injaz-kuwait.org, find them on Facbook.com/injazkuwait, or follow them on Twitter and Instagram, @injaz_kuwait.

CMY

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MISSONI

bazaar music

LES MISÉRABLES: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MOTION PICTURE Soundtrack

Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe and is still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. In December 2012, the world’s longest-running musical brought its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper’s sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale. This album contains beloved songs including “I Dreamed a Dream”, “Bring Him Home”, “One Day More” and “On My Own”.

TWO LANES OF FREEDOM ACCELERATED DELUXE EDITION

by Tim McGraw

What you want to do as an artist is let someone discover how they feel from your music, in a really visceral way, from the inside out. For twenty years, McGraw has been providing that kind of powerful connection with his audience. With Two Lanes of Freedom, his new album and first release for Big Machine Records the singer is covering his broadest emotional range yet, with a set of songs that looks forward and back, gets deep and gets loose, and reveals that even the biggest stars can continue to grow with consistency and maturity.

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ALL THAT ECHOES

by Josh Groban

TEXAS FLOOD - 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION

by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble.

Internationally renowned, multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban has announced that he will release his eagerly anticipated sixth studio album, entitled All That Echoes, on February 5th, 2013, on Reprise Records.

Groban co-wrote seven of the 12 tracks that appear on All That Echoes, which also includes five covers, including Stevie Wonder’s “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever”), Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová’s “Falling Slowly” (the Oscar-winning song from the film Once), and Jimmy Webb’s “The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress.”

The album appeared in midsummer 1983, when most saw blues-rock as a quaint remnant of rock’s past, introducing the power trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble to an unexpecting world. For all, the album unveiled a new guitar genius who would come to show that much remained to be written in the book on electric guitar. The original ten tracks of Texas Flood plus a never released concert performance by Stevie Ray and Double Trouble from Philadelphia that same summer comprise this special 2-CD, 30th anniversary collection.

NIGHT VISIONS - DELUXE EDITION

PASSIONE - DELUXE EDITION

Imagine Dragons harnessed the restless energy of the city that never sleeps with two EP’s in 2009, earning a string of local accolades including Best Local Indie Band 2010 by Las Vegas Weekly and Best CD of 2011

by Vegas Seven magazine for their third independent EP It’s Time. “This record has been three years in the making,” Reynolds explains of his excitement in finally getting to share the album with the world. “We feel that we have finally created something we are all truly proud of and that can hopefully inspire others and help them feel a little less alone.”

Passione is a lush collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with global pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and the late Edith Piaf. The album reunites Bocelli with 16-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster, who produced Bocelli’s 2006 release “Amore,” which sold more than 4.2 million copies. On the album, Bocelli sings in six languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Neapolitan) with his unmistakable voice. The sensual sound is rounded out

by Cuban, Brazilian, and Portuguese rhythms and a 63-piece orchestra recorded in London.

by Imagine Dragons

by Andrea Bocelli

source: www.amazon.com

AL FORNO

GOJI BOUTIQUE PRESENTS VIVID VIVID is an exclusive collaboration between YOUSEF AL TAHER and artist BRUHA EVE.

Exquisitely hand painted tops by Bruha reflect Yousef’s instinctive flair for fashion, each one a vivid display for all things fabulous, raw, androgynous and above all, vogue.

That’s the Goji obsession, uncovering rare talent. Be sure to shop the collection exclusively at www.gojiboutique.com.

Feda Al Awadhi 50

Photographer: Jalil Marvin

Editorial Credits: Artist: Bruha Eve

Art direction: Yousef Al Taher

Yalda Golsharifi 51

Sune Van Tonder 52

Azza 53

FINE FOODIES The East India Company arrives to Kuwait By bazaar staff

Rawan and Abdullah AlMousherji are looking to redefine your typical experience at the grocers, bringing to Kuwait the crème de la crème of fine food stores, The East India Company. From the swanky streets of London’s Mayfair, to Phase III of The Avenues, the unique gourmet store invites us to explore Great Britain’s remarkable heritage.

If you dozed off during history class, let’s refresh your memory. The East India Company was the first importer of tea to Britain, evidently becoming highly instrumental in popularizing the tea movement on a global scale! Memory refreshed? If not, then let’s take it back to 1600, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when merchant adventurers were drawn to the lure and promise of the East. Traveling to India, Burma, Malaya, Java, Indo-China and onwards, the company brought home treasures of every kind and, most especially, wonderful new foods and drinks – herbs, spices, teas, coffees, chocolates and succulent fruits made into chutneys and preserves of every kind.

Continuing this heritage in our modern day and age, the company’s range includes the most exotic coffees, thirty-one blends to be specific, such as the Red Dragon Mocha Java, St.Helena Green Tipped Bourbon and Jamaican Blue Mountain, the oldest known coffee in the world. The range also includes fine tea, chocolate, biscuits, jams and marmalades, mustards, luxury hampers and accessories. Rawan and Abdullah talk to us more about the store: Why would you call yourself foodies?

Abdullah: Why not? Personally I have an appetite and taste that can’t be easily satisfied.

Rawan: It’s simple: I enjoy delicious food. I love 54

trying new and exotic dishes and I truly appreciate it when I’m treated to taste high quality foods.

When did you realize you wanted to enter the food industry?

Abdullah: It wasn’t something expected at the beginning, but as a business-oriented person monitoring the food sector’s high performance, I always considered being a part of this business.

Rawan: The food industry has always been an industry of interest to us as a family; we’ve had our experience and connections, so it’s rather an easy step, thankfully.

Why did you choose the East India Company?

Abdullah: It’s a reputable name that has roots all the way back to the 17th century, a unique brand approach with a variety of product selections, and last, but not least, due to the quality of products.

Rawan: We chose the East India Company because we knew there was a strategic gap in the market.

Initially, we wanted to start from scratch with a similar idea, but after research we found a better brand with historical significance and a prominent brand.

What are some of your favorite products from the range?

Abdullah: Silver cloud white tea, Bombay tea, 12 spices biscuits, and strawberry enrobed white chocolate.

Rawan: Assam and Ceylon, being the strongest two teas of the tea range, as well as the mixture of Black Peppercorn Biscuit with the Orange Marmalade.

Is this your first endeavor in business?

Abdullah: I would say it’s my first big endeavor!

I’ve been a part of smaller business projects but not as exciting and big as this one. A franchise always has

a different experience in all ways.

Rawan: For me, it’s my first job, so yes it is my first endeavor.

What are some of the challenges you are facing as young entrepreneurs?

Abdullah: Building the right team, whereby it is difficult to attract talent into a new franchise that does not have the global support that the big brands do.

Another major challenge is governmental procedures from customs to almost all ministries in processing all business operations.

Rawan: That would be working in accordance to the planned schedule. There are always external forces that cause delays, including government and customs.

Any advice to fellow youngsters wishing to start their own business?

Abdullah: Be patient and keep doing what you believe is right.

Rawan: If you have the will always remember that it’s a single step and once you take it, everything else will come easily and smoothly.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Abdullah: A serial entrepreneur who contributes to his country and society.

Rawan: I see myself as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the region.

Give that special afternoon teatime the glitz it truly deserves, and head to The East India Company boutique at The Avenues, Phase III, North Mall High Street. Please call 2220 0741 for more information, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram, @EICFineFoodsKW, & Facebook: EIC Fine Foods KW.

HILTON

bazaar snap

Title: Staring at the world through my rearview.

Photographed by: Sumaiya AL-Sharhan Location: Freezone - Kuwait Description: Looking through a rear-view mirror is sometimes more beautiful than looking ahead.

For your snap submissions, please send an email including the photo with its title, location, and description to snap@bazaar-magazine.com

freedom to express 56

BHS

PRINTED SKIRTS FROM

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• 2nd Avenue - The Avenues - 24954701 • Opposite Al Fanar Mall - 25712559 • Salem Al Mubarak Street - 25717187 • Mishref Co-op - 25389169 • Shamiyah Co-op - 24821311 • Al Plaza - 22632160 • Qurtuba Co-op - 25350389 • M.H.Alshaya Bldg., Fahaheel - 23917056 • Qadsiya Co-op - 22549131• Rawda Co-op - 22573780

YOGA WORKSHOP Promoting wholesome living in Kuwait

A six-day world-class yoga workshop through Vinyasa and Hatha practices is set to take place at the C Club Kuwait on March 24th-29th.

In an effort to promote healthier wellbeing and improve balance in one’s life, the weeklong training course will focus on specific areas of yoga under the supervision of renowned yoga instructors Lori McAlister and Dana Slamp.

“Realizing the need for change in the overall lifestyle of the people here and in light of the rising diseases such as obesity, diabetes and arthritis, we knew yoga would be the answer to most of these problems.

Empowerment through heightened relaxation techniques will prove as an efficient stress relief and promote endless health benefits,” said Lori McAlister.

Integrating yoga into a person’s daily routine has said to increase flexibility, strengthen and improve posture, lower blood pressure, increase cardiovascular endurance, relief from pains, gastrointestinal function and weight normalization, sleep improvement and so on. Its growing popularity is due to its rapid effectiveness at most ages and adaptability to all fitness levels.

Dana Slamp added, “Perceived as a popular fitness regime in most countries around the world, yoga transcends the physical being and connects with the mind to create a balance that will promote wholesome stability. Yoga is a science that has been practiced for centuries and consists of ancient theories, observations and principles about the connection between the mind and body, which is now being proven by modern medicine. “

Those interested, can register now online at www.yogaforkuwait.com or email info@yogaforkuwait.com for more information on prices and details on the workshop or alternatively call the C Club Kuwait on 2225 3190 for further details.

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RED LOBSTER

bazaar goes dining GET YOUR ITALIAN ON Olive Garden comes to Kuwait By bazaar staff

The newly opened Olive Garden restaurant at The Grand Avenue, is a welcomed addition of Italian cuisine into the Kuwaiti dining landscape. A virtual omnipresence in the American restaurant scene since the opening of their first store in 1982, this long established brand is a welcomed newcomer to our local options. The menu, both versatile and extensive, is a culinary walk through the many regions of Italy.

So, when you are looking for Italian and want the combination of both abundant portions and versatility of options, The Olive Garden should stay fresh in your mind.

Although they have just celebrated 60

their 30th birthday as a restaurant brand, the Grand Avenues location represents their first foray into Kuwait.

So, while some of the signature dishes may be foreign to you personally, there are several features by which they have built their reputation.

Beginning seemingly before you have even settled in, you are welcomed with their “bottomless bread sticks,” long a staple of this chain that guests look forward to. Upon request, they will even serve them with an Alfredo or marinara dipping sauce that will give you that perfect amount to munch on while you peruse the menu. And, while their buttery deliciousness may cause you to want to over-indulge before you have even placed your order, you must

maintain enough will power to save room for what’s still to come—you’ve been warned!

Friends of mine, for years now, would swear by the Endless Soup and Salad combo, to the point that they would never even make it to the following pages of the menu.

If you are health or budget conscious, this option alone can leave you filled up and feeling good about yourself. One interesting appetizer though that many are unaware of is the Lasagna Fritta, an innovative take on the classic cheese stick that is actually a deep fried mini portion of lasagna; two layers of noodle with Parmesan cheese in the middle and deep fried to a golden hue.

Generally, when we are talking Italian, we are of course talking about a plethora of pasta options. Surely they do not let us down in this regard: ravioli, ziti, spaghetti, linguini and we have barely scratched the surface of their offering. The Chicken Scampi with Angel hair pasta that we tried, for example, came with an ample amount of grilled chicken breast tenderloins, sautéed with bell peppers and roasted garlic, and came served on a bed of Angel hair that was both delicate and delectable. Also, for the indecisive, plates like the “Tour of Italy,” may be better suited for you: a regionally diverse trifecta of Italian options, it comes with Lasagna, Chicken Parmigiana, and a Creamy Fettuccine in Alfredo Sauce.

When it comes to types of meats we are given just as many options.

The mixed grill, with its skewers of grilled marinated steak and chicken covered with a rosemary demi-glaze, is a huge portion that can satiate even the heartiest of appetites. The steak Gorgonzola-Alfredo is a rich and delicious meld of cheeses replete with spinach and a balsamic glaze. The Parmesan Crusted Bisteca, meanwhile is delicious and tender and comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

Even when it comes to chicken dishes there are more than 6 options.

Including stuffed, grilled, and served with variations of seafood and other accompaniment. Clearly the meatlovers are covered. From a few more

adventurous plates, to the tried and true, there is definitely something on this menu for everybody.

If pizza is more your thing, they also have some good options for you here. Though, while a cursory glance might initially cause you to think they are limited in options here, consisting of both a lovely Chicken Alfredo Pizza and a “make your own option,” the latter’s choice to pick toppings from 7 options provides enough separate variations to have you running through statistical problems of a factorial nature (which of course got a vigorous inter-office debate going.

Feel free to submit what you think the answer is to this on our website for a free coke and an online nod).

Of the desserts we tried, both the traditional Tirimasu, as well as Triple Chocolate Strata were amazing. For more of a variation on the traditional, I would suggest the frozen Tiramisu, which is basically the old Italian favorite in the form of a shake.

You may be wondering how such a well known brand can maintain such consistency and service across so many locations. One way they work to do this and stay true to their roots of fine Italian cooking is evidenced by their creation of and commitment to their Tuscan Culinary Institute. This learning center for their chefs is meant to keep them on track. Basically an annual food pilgrimage whereby some of their luckiest chefs get sent to “The Old

Country” to learn traditional variations and inspirations to the dishes they craft locally, they have, to date, sent more than 1200 of their top chefs there.

By the time you throw in the pleasant and outdoor feeling of the seating that overlooks the downstairs part of the mall, should you be so lucky, you have all the feeling of looking out from the mezzanine onto some European plaza. This all comes together to form a pleasurable dining experience.

Olive Garden is located at The Grand Avenues—The Avenues,1st Floor. For more information please call 2220 0530 or follow them on Twitter: @Olive_Garden_Q8.

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By Jaye Sonia

WHAT ARE YOUR VICTORY CONDITIONS?

It’s easy to think about what we want out of a game.

Some of us want in-depth role-playing and others of us want first-person shooters; some of us want sports games with team-building challenges and others want post-apocalyptic zombie-infused islands.

Some of us crave the thrill of rolling dice. Some of us aren’t happy unless we’re running fractals, our fingers ripping across our Razor Naga at lightning speed. It’s probably safe to say the games we play say a lot about who we are, what thrills us, and what commands our attention – at least when it comes to our games.

However, once we move beyond the achievements we’ve unlocked (see Achievement Unlocked, bazaar Magazine, February 2012) and we’ve clearly established what we want in our games, where do we go from there? More to the point, if we learn to use our powers of discernment to pick the best possible games (and make better choices), does that mean we could argue that some (no, not all, just some) games might be good models for how we plan our lives? While I would never dream of suggesting we use World of Warcraft or Battlefield 3 as models (that’s just asking for trouble, 62

after all), I think there is some merit in the whole process of developing a character. Clearly, there are correlations we can make between leveling and real life. I would argue that any character that is capable of leveling (sorry Mario) represents an expansion of potential and, by extension, an increase in ability. By this metric, you could level upon graduating from high school, level at your college graduation, and even level with the birth of your first child (hear that moms? Yup, you’re all at least level 3 humans).

That model, however, is only as good as we allow it to be. Every gamer knows, too, that leveling is pointless unless there’s some really good end-game content to be enjoyed. There’s no point in grinding to level 90 if you’re not going to enjoy that level when you get there.

Think about your parents, their parents, and your eventual retirement. Think about your victory conditions. Think about your end-game content.

Unlike a lot of the games we play, human programmers do not define the parameters of our lives – we do.

We determine what we seek out, what gifts we allow ourselves, what fetters we forgive ourselves, and what goals we ultimately seek out. Some of us will

seek out treasure, some of us knowledge, some of us love, and some of us security. Some of us will throw our heads back, laugh, and launch ourselves fully into adventure – as soon as we’re able, but it’s up to us to decide. Sure, most of us will seek the council of our elders (parents, grandparents, and so on), but a lot of us will just venture out into the mass of random mobs until we find our individual quests. For some of us, this might take years. Others of us will get lucky, roll a 20, and determine where they need to be pretty early on. It’s never concrete, though, and we must be the ones to decide our ultimate path. Anything else is just swimming up river.

All of that said, determining those victory conditions isn’t always the easiest thing to do for us.

In fact, it’s been a phrase that’s been stuck in my head – that little voice gnawing at my sense of stagnation – for several months now. (I blame my friend Mikal for asking good, tough questions of me during her recent visit to Kuwait).

What are my victory conditions? I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.

What are your victory conditions?

Gaming sort of puts everything in perspective (well, at least for me). You venture out of the proverbial castle, kill some random mobs (no, you shouldn’t do this in real life – duh), find your quest-giver, level, then grind for gear (a perfect allegory for working, it seems). Once you are suitably prepared (degree, job, marriage, whathave-you), you start to plan the end game. That end game, however, is pretty standard for everyone playing a particular game. It involves raids, more gear, and an end-boss.

It’s not so clear (or easy) in real life. Maybe you’re after your doctoral degree or seeking your true love.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to travel. Maybe you’ve wanted to visit the pyramids in Egypt. Maybe you’ve always wanted to win a Pulitzer Prize. Maybe you want a life of solitude with a simple garden outside of your Swiss cabin, somewhere outside of Winterthur. Maybe, like me, you’re not quite sure precisely what that one thing is.

I think it’s a little intellectually dishonest to say we all know what we’re supposed to be doing. The fact that some of us change careers (or spouses) several times in our lifetimes is testament enough.

I guess it’s safe to say we learn as we level.

Until next time, happy gaming.

TONI & GUY

bazaar books Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures. ~ Jessamyn West

DRINKING AND TWEETING: AND OTHER BRANDI BLUNDERS

INFERNO: A NOVEL (ROBERT LANGDON)

AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED

A HISTORY OF FUTURE CITIES

THE DINNER

Brandi Glanville & Leslie Bruce

by Dan Brown

by Khaled Hosseini

by Daniel Brook

by Herman Koch

She’s the brutally honest breath of fresh air on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, known for her dramatic divorce, her barely-there clothing, and her inability to keep her mouth shut. So why should she change now?

Brandi Glanville tells all in this hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir. Fans have been waiting for Brandi’s scoop on one of the biggest divorces of the decade, since her husband of eight years abandoned her and their two sons to marry country singer LeAnn Rimes.

Not only does Brandi spill the beans about her side of the split, the lovable housewife shares the incredible wild ride that took her from a life in the ghetto to Hollywood’s most elite circles. Before she knew it, Brandi was the perfect Hollywood trophy wife— at least until her marriage exploded. Clear your schedule for an afternoon and grab your favorite cocktail, a comfy seat . . . and maybe a Xanax.

But that’s for later.

In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller released on May 14th, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his higheststakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel, releasing May 21st about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.

A pioneering exploration of four cities where East meets West and past becomes future: St. Petersburg, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Dubai. On May 27, 1703, Tsar Peter the Great founded a new capital on a barren Baltic marsh. In the nineteenth-century Age of Imperialism, the British rebuilt Bombay as a tropical London, while three Western powers made Shanghai look just like home. And in our own time, the sheikh of Dubai has endeavored to transform his desert city into a Vegasesque skyscraper-studded global hub. The cultural and historical threads that connect these cities and their conflicted embrace of modernity are brought into relief in Daniel Brook’s captivating mix of history and reportage—a story of architects and authoritarians, artists and revolutionaries who take these facsimiles of the West and turn them into crucibles of non-Western modernity.

The darkly suspenseful, highly controversial tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives -- all over the course of one meal. It’s a summer’s evening in Amsterdam, and two couples meet at a fashionable restaurant for dinner. Each couple has a fifteen-year-old son. The two boys are united by their accountability for a single horrific act; an act that has triggered a police investigation and shattered the comfortable, insulated worlds of their families. As the dinner reaches its culinary climax, the conversation finally touches on their children. As civility and friendship disintegrate, each couple show just how far they are prepared to go to protect those they love. Skewering everything from parenting values to pretentious menus to political convictions, this novel reveals the dark side of genteel society and asks what each of us would do in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

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source: www.amazon.com

CROCS kuwait kuwait kuwait

2530-9670/1 Discovery Mall: 2291-3631 Al-Kout Mall: 2393-0108 Marina Mall: 2224-4814 Sama Sulaibikhat: 2221-6086 Mubarkiya: 2246-1823 Liwan Mall: 2221-0127 Airport Mall: 2431-6334 Now in The Mall - The Avenues: 22200507

YO MAMA… Deciphering the allure of the maternal insult By bazaar staff

Yo mama’s teeth are so yellow… she could spit butter!

The modern day “Yo mama” joke, once no doubt unheard of in proper social circles seemed to spread overnight from the urban throng of American society, out towards the suburbs where it seeped into Western culture at large.

By the time MTV’s 2006 television show of the same name began to air, for what would prove to be 18 episodes across two seasons, it was already a bit passé, at least among youth culture.

However, to be fair, it is still a polarizing topic: for some, it proves to be an un-crossable line, whereas to others, it remains a fun and casual jab-type game of one-upmanship, wherein the players must work tirelessly at wordplay and 66

exaggeration to the embarrassment of their foe.

It should be noted, however, that the act of the maternal insult is nothing new, with recent and strong evidence to suggest that the oldest “Yo mama” joke is approximately 3500 years old. As discussed in recent articles regarding archeologist J.J. Van Dijk’s 1976 discovery of ancient Babylonian tablets, it would seem their sense of humor is not much unlike our own.

These tablets, which comprised of what they are referring to as “Dialogue and Riddles,” also contain roughly 4 jokes of a decisively pedestrian nature, ranging on subjects from beer, to farts, to you guessed it—Yo Mama! It should be noted for contextual reasons that these tablets were believed to be written by students, only further

proving that little has changed from students today! Sadly, the nature of the latter joke itself shall not be repeated here due both to the specificity of the subject matter, and the fact that, by modern standards, it is decidedly unfunny.

First off though, in honor of Mothers Day, and for those of you already sharpening sword and pen alike in response to such a dreadful topic, lets talk about what it is and what it isn’t: It is not about your poor, sweet, actual, factual, mother who sits at home late at night concerned with your happiness and well-being! It is about an abstract concept of the mother as the one line in the sand that one does not cross without serious physical repercussions. You see, the same people who would tell a Yo mama joke, are generally the same who would actually put themselves in harms way to protect their own mother (and likely yours), and gladly.

However, when it comes to friendship, we often live on that line. We learn, with those whom we hold dear, to play a delicate game of razzing and antagonizing that one can only do with those they feel most comfortable with. I would argue that it, as a function of joke telling in general, actually helps us to function better in society as it provides an outlet for us to bounce off of those closest to us in a way that is not, in fact threatening at all, thereby bettering us for the rest of the world in the process. All it requires is a little sense of humor….and Yo mama!

At this point, the “Yo mama” joke is ubiquitous enough that you could spend all day long finding new and innovative takes on this classic, but in the pre-internet olden-days, we used to have to come up with them using our brains and such!

Today, even a cursory search in the Itunes app store returns more hits than yours truly has time to delve into. Rest assured: they are aplenty. For my money though, it gets no better than The Pharcydes 1992 largely slept on song “Ya mama,” whose lyrics should be required reading for a Masters level course on this age-old game. With that, I leave you with these last words: Yo mama is so stupid she spent twenty minutes lookin’ at an orange juice box because it said “concentrate”.

For more information on the ancient Babylonian tiles or for more “Yo mama” jokes visit us online at www.bazaar-magazine.com.

‫‪TAIBAH‬‬ ‫‪HOSPITAL‬‬

‫ﻣﻊ ﻗﺴﻢ أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ و اﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺼﻤﺎء ﻧﻠﺘﺰم ‪...‬‬

‫ﺑﺘﻘﺪﻳﻢ أﻓﻀﻞ اﻟﺨﺪﻣﺎت اﻟﻄﺒﻴﺔ ﺗﺤﺖ إﺷﺮاف ﻛﺎدر ﻃﺒﻲ ﻣﺘﻤﻴﺰ ﻣﻦ إﺳﺘﺸﺎرﻳﻴﻦ واﺧﺘﺼﺎﺻﻴﻴﻦ‪.‬‬

‫أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ وﺗﺒﻌﺎﺗﻪ‪ ،‬و إﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت اﻟﻐﺪة اﻟﻨﺨﺎﻣﻴﺔ‪ ،‬واﻟﻜﻈﺮﻳﺔ‪ ،‬و ﻗﺼﻮر اﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ ﺑﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ ﻧﻘﺺ ﻫﺮﻣﻮن‬ ‫اﻟﺘﺴﺘﻮﺳﺘﻴﺮون‪ ،‬إﻟﻰ ﺟﺎﻧﺐ اﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت وأﻣﺮاض اﻟﻐﺪة اﻟﺪرﻗﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺗﺄﺧﺮ اﻟﺒﻠﻮغ‪ ،‬اﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت اﻟﻨﻤﻮ‪ ،‬وارﺗﻔﺎع ﺿﻐﻂ اﻟﺪم‪.‬‬

‫د‪ .‬روﺑــﺮت ﺳﻜﻴﻠــﻲ‬ ‫اﺳﺘﺸﺎري أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ واﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺼﻤﺎء‬ ‫ﻋﻀﻮﻳﺔ اﻟﻜﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﻟ�ﻃﺒﺎء ‪ -‬أﻳﺮﻟﻨﺪا‬ ‫ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﻟﻮﻧﺞ وود اﻟﻄﺒﻲ ﺑﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﻫﺎرﻓﺮد‬ ‫اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺎت اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة ا�ﻣﺮﻳﻜﻴﺔ‬

‫ﺧﺪﻣﺎت أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ و اﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺼﻤﺎء ﻧﻘﺪﻣﻬﺎ ﻟﻜﻢ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺘﺸﻔﻰ ﻃﻴﺒﺔ ‪ -‬ﻧﺘﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻊ ﺷﺮﻛﺎت اﻟﺘﺄﻣﻴﻦ‬

‫ﻃﻴﺒﺔ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﺘﺄﻫﻴﻞ واﻟﻌﻼج اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ‬

‫ﻃﻴﺒﺔ‬

‫ﻃﻴﺒﺔ‬

H&M FOR BRICK LANE BIKES Cycling never looked this stylish By bazaar staff

Bringing us yet another fabulous collaboration, H&M for Brick Lane Bikes is an ode to East London’s urban cycling scene. As the UK’s first fixed-gear bike store specializing in building custom made bikes, Brick Lane Bikes is one of the world’s leading custom bike specialists. The 11-piece collection has been designed by H&M and was tested and approved by fixies at Brick 68

Lane Bikes. It is inspired by both vintage pieces and today’s sports performance and the collection is made from more sustainable materials as part of H&M’s Conscious work.

Combining the function of great cycling gear, along with the style of the city, this capsule collection includes materials like organic cotton, recycled cotton and polyester, evidently marking itself as a collection that is sustainable

as the activity of cycling itself. Each item is to be worn on and off the bike, with functional details providing both performance and style.

Speaking to us exclusively about the collection is founder Feya Buchwald and Petter Klusell, the H&M designer in charge of this exciting project.

When it comes to getting dressed for a typical bike ride, what is the most important element to think about?

Comfort is the most important element, both in terms of how you feel when wearing them on the bike, and also if they will work in whatever the weather conditions that day. That means the garments themselves need to be designed with a riders needs in mind, with flexibility for movement, and the right padding or protection too. Then the pieces need to be able to work with the elements, with breathable fabrics and ventilation, and the ability to layer the pieces should the weather worsen, and take off the layers should it improve.

What is a must-have clothing item for every cycler?

The racing jersey is an iconic piece of cycling gear, and is a true example of how function dictates design. The back of the jersey is longer than the front, because when you are crouched forward on your bike, you want your back to remain covered. It’s a simple detail, and one that is so important for cyclists. Apparently Jan who co-owns Brick Lane Bikes refuses to wear any top that is not longer in the back!

How did the idea of the collaboration come about?

When we decided to make a cycling collection, we wanted it to be authentic.

Brick Lane Bikes are the perfect collaborators, because they are at the heart of the urban cycling scene. They now sell their components around the world, yet they have stayed true to their community, and work from the same

shop in East London. We were so happy when they agreed to collaborate, and to share their knowledge and passion for bikes with us.

Can you tell us more about the capsule collection? What’s the inspiration behind it?

Urban cycling is now an international phenomenon, yet most men on their bikes either wear their normal clothes, or hi-tech performance garments that they can’t wear off their bike. We wanted to merge the two, and create a collection which is fully functional when riding your bike, and which also looks good when you’re off it. There’s also so much cycling heritage, it’s great to be able to make a collection which is influenced by the look of the past, but which works for cyclists today.

What goes into ensuring that the garments are cycler-friendly?

The most important factor is movement and flexibility. All of the pieces are cut so that the body can move when you are riding your bike, with details like a box-pleat in the back shoulder of the blazer or shirts, and sleeves cut for greater mobility. The back of pieces like the Henleys, riders crewnecks and T-shirts are all longer to cover the back when you’re crouched forward, while there are reinforced areas on the lower sleeves of the shirts and in the crotch of the chinos and shorts for comfort and protection. Fabrics are crucial too, like the elasticated cotton used for the blazer that looks like a tweed, or the water-repellent finish used

on the shell jacket.

Is the clothing collection solely targeted at cyclers?

What’s great about functional details is that they don’t just have a purpose, they also look good too. Cycling style is an influence in fashion, and the collection is designed so that the pieces work in everyday life, not just on the bike. It’d be great to see someone wear the pieces that don’t actually ride a bike. Maybe it’ll help persuade them to start cycling in the city too!

What are the key items to look out for in this special collaboration with H&M? Because each of the garments have been tested and approved by Brick Lane Bikes, they are all key pieces in the collaboration. The collection is a full wardrobe, from the shell jacket and blazer to a rider’s shirt that can act like outerwear on its own, to Henley’s and T-shirts that are the perfect base layer. The chinos and shorts will hopefully become staples that men will rely on, and there’s a rider’s cap and backpack too. Not only are they all key pieces, each one is made from more sustainable materials. We hope men enjoy wearing the collection as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it.

The collection will be launched March 7, 2013 in approximately 180 stores worldwide, as well as online. For more information, please visit www.hm.com/kw.

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CHOCOLATE YOUR LIFE 100+ ways to indulge By bazaar staff

Everybody knows that when the sweet tooth strikes, it is an urge that must be satisfied— immediately! With the recent opening of The Chocolate Café at The Food Circle in Mishref, there is a new place that your internal GPS should be steering you towards when this happens.

With more than 100+ menu options of chocolaty inspired and other sweet decadences, the menu is overflowing with options. From the tried and true nature of such dishes as a lava cake, to the more adventurous and inventive Sizzlers menu, The Chocolate Café aims to please via a menu that is international in approach and an ambiance that is hip whilst remaining family-friendly in appeal.

Make no mistake, chocolate is their specialty!

It makes sense then that they would look to serve a variety of palettes with options sourced from the various regions of the chocolate producing world. This means more options for the increasingly fickle taste buds of a better-travelled local populace. For example, if you are more predisposed to drink your chocolate fix, they offer both an American and French option.

The French one, which is slightly sweeter, is traditional, and served with both whipped cream and cookie accompaniment. The American version, or “Rosy Cosey Hot Chocolate,” by contrast, is an inventive and modern take on the classic: it is a little less sweet, and comes served infused with rose water and with rose petals sprinkled on top. 4 other additional coffee variants of both styles (French and American) are additionally available for your tasting pleasure.

The 5 “Sizzler” platters on offer are interesting variations of some of the non-chocolate desserts you 70

are likely used to. Imagine though, if you will, all of the pomp and sizzle that normally accompanies a tables arrival of a plate of fajitas, but in dessert form- with all the billowing smoke and hiss when the chocolate sauce is poured atop the hot skillet tableside. The experience will have you salivating impatiently, no doubt. I tried the Apple Pie option, which came with a butterscotch sauce, and was a slightly different take on the American classic, and served á la mode. There is also a sticky date cake, as well as a walnut and/or hazelnut version of same, all served with your choice of a variety of sauces to top it off and tweak your dessert until your hearts content.

There are 3 different options in their “Dark Hot Cakes” lineup, of which I had the soufflé. For me a very good soufflé should practically deflate as your utensil touches it, allowing the wonderful aroma to waft upwards to your nose and draw you in: this one, most certainly, did not let me down. It’s a little victory, but a delicious one. There is also a Nutella option here, which though I did not get to try, must be amazing if it has Nutella in it, right?

There are two different sections of the menu that deserve mention at least for their presentation alone.

Varieties of both “Pudding Delights” and “Chocolate Lava pots,” come served in small Le Creuset style crockery with a swirl of chocolate spread beneath like a painters first stroke in chocolate: a foreshadowing of the mouthwatering masterpiece to be set atop. These are also served with a scoop of ice cream in a side bowl, as well as with a petite gravy boat of chocolate sauce—awesome. The Fondues section, additionally, offer versions both for the solo diner as well as an

option for friends to share, and comes with a choice of 10 different dipping sides. All this is to say nothing of the crepes, prepared true to their Parisian roots, as ordered and before your eyes. Lastly the Pavlova, a dessert of (perpetually disputed) New Zealand origin and named in honor of the Russian Ballerina Ana Pavlova, is another treat that must be tried, if only for its regional rarity.

In the matter of a few short weeks, the folks behind The Chocolate Café are already building a loyal fan base of returning customers, and it is easy to see why.

Between the ever churning chocolate on the bar, the hip and funky décor, and the never-ending assortment of dessert indulgence, you are sure to find your “happy place” at the Chocolate café; though, it is likely at the bottom of your next dessert-so keep going!

The Chocolate Café is located in The Food Circle in Mishref. Follow them online at: http:// instagram.com/thechocolatecafe or reach them by phone at 2226 1061.

From the glorious monument to Roman imperial power Acqua eva, a pure passion to live

EVA

HAUTE SHADES Chilli Beans

By bazaar staff

With its modern and irreverent state of spirit, Chilli Beans injects that urgent jolt of spice to your regular eyewear, and everyday accessories.

Wearing your Chilli Beans shades, along with an exclusively designed model from their line of modern, high-tech watches, epitomizes style with an edge. All the way from the streets of Brazil to the classy malls of Kuwait, we guarantee that you’ll immediately smile when you come across the Chilli Beans kiosks at 360 Mall and Marina Mall.

Worn by the famous likes of Will.i.am, and Kourteny Kardashian, the Brazilian chain is all about democratizing fashion, making glamorous eyewear available to all.

Regularly present at the main Fashion Weeks and the best events in Brazil, they recently sponsored the live transmission of ex-Beatle’s Sir Paul McCartney’s concert and were one of the official sponsors of the Rock in Rio Festival, featuring a store in the premises and installing its own rollercoaster ride during the event!

With over 400 stores throughout Brazil, sales points in Portugal, the 72

US, and our very own Kuwait as the first Gulf country to launch the brand, Chilli Beans is accessable worldwide.

Founded by Caito Maia, he originally headed to Hollywood to pursue stardom, and instead, fell in love with a small sunglasses hut down by the local beach. Noticing that the Brazilian market lacked in providing affordable shades in funky styles, Maia found his stardom in producing innovative shades in styles suited for the likes of Hollywood stars right in the heart of Brazil.

Chilli Beans expects YOU to have fun, both when buying a new pair of shades, and after—it’s all about the attitude of spice at Chilli Beans: provocative, involving, fun! That’s exactly what we experienced at their kiosk at Marina Mall. We couldn’t get enough of the different styles and colors, messing about, trying on 2 or 3 pairs all at once. From aviator styles, prescription, supersized, wayfarers, Chilli Beans steps up to the challenge of ever-changing trends by launching new eyewear styles and watches on a WEEKLY basis! Launching their latest collections, Chilli Beans showcases the works of artists Isabela Capeto,

Ronaldo Fraga and Carlinhos Brown.

The partnerships were presented during the 31st edition of São Paulo Fashion Week.

You shouldn’t miss out on the interactive photo booth at the Chilli Beans kiosk. With funky filters to choose from, logging into to your FB account and sharing the image with your friends, a visit to Chilli Beans is simply fun!

In September 2010, Chilli Beans went further to develop its own line of prescription eyeglasses: the Vista line.

With innovative products delivered in a fun, fashion concept, with a myriad of colors and materials, special attention is given to your eyes. Whether you choose them for a fashionable kick, or wish to update your current pair

of prescription specs, Chilli Beans has you covered. Chilli Beans’ product mix meets the expectations of all audiences from children to adults; with ranges including Kids, Pop and Specials, that all have UV protection maintaining one of the industry’s highest standards of quality hand-crafted originality in the lens department. To complement the sunglasses line, Chilli Beans also offers cleaning sprays for lenses, cases, cloths, sicurezza (strings) and sunglasses holders for cars.

Check out the Chilli Beans kiosks at 360 Mall and Marina Mall. Like Chill Beans at Facebook.com/ChillibeansArabia and Instagram: @Chillibeanskw, log on to www.chillibeans.com or call 9993 6046 for more information.

ELEVATION BURGER

IHOP ARRIVES! Get your culinary passport ready By bazaar staff

With the opening of IHOP at The Grand Avenue-The Avenues, there is now a full-scale, all-day breakfast place serving up a bevy of international favorites. Originally known as the International House of Pancakes, it seems fitting then, to be sitting at the first of its kind in Kuwait, where even the name rings of a bold self-fulfilling prophecy.

A US institution that has been churning out variations of buttermilk flapjacks since 1958, IHOP has grown into a pancake powerhouse, by bringing a local, family diner type appeal to the broader US, one neighborhood at a time (that’s roughly 1500 neighborhoods at present, mind you). Having long since added additional menu items for both lunch and dinner options, they now represent all-day dining at its finest, with myriad options, across several specialties. At this new location, they offer 311 seats of dining divided seemingly evenly, between the indoor part of the restaurant itself, and the outdoor-like seating found behind it, in a relaxing courtyard area.

For my money, the courtyard area is more relaxing, with its calming quiet atmosphere, and slowed down pace; it simply does not feel like you are in the mall.

The thing that I personally found most pleasing about the food is how much they were able to keep 74

the same flavor and consistency as their restaurants in the States. With so many menu items serving variations of meats it would be easy to get this part wrong.

However, via their use of beef bacon, turkey ham, and veal sausage-the latter of which was an exceptional standout- they definitely got it right. So, best sellers like the Big Steak Omelet, or the Beef Bacon Temptation Omelet, taste almost exactly as they do back home and not like a replacement type item.

When asked how they were able to achieve this, they noted “we used the flavor profile as the barometer by which to measure the success of the food” as opposed to cost or other metrics typically associated with brands abroad, “so when there was a chance to, we would source local, but not if it were to sacrifice the flavor or experience.” In context, for those of you familiar with the brand, it is this writer’s humble opinion that this will be evident at first bite.

It also pops up again via fresh squeezed juices, and other add-ons geared for the local market.

The international component to the brand pops up time and again though menu items as diverse as Fajita omelet and crepes for breakfast, or quesadillas and Mediterranean Chicken at dinner that can satisfy different culinary cravings at the same table. The kids’ menu also makes IHOP a pleasant family destination;

It’s nice to know then that while your child is having a “Funny Face Pancake” (a chocolate chip pancake dusted with powdered sugar and a whipped topping smile), the parents can still have a steak.

The only way to fully cover the breadth of the menu is to break it down by time of day, which admittedly, seems a bit superfluous given that they make all of these items available all the time. But alas…with more than 7 distinctly different variations on pancakes alone (some of which include classics like buttermilk or blueberry, to the more adventurous CINN-A-STACK or Chocolate options) as well as

virtually endless opportunities to add them as a side in both regular and short-stack variations, this part of the menu could keep you busy for months.

Of all the ones I personally tried, the CINN-A-STACK was simply—gorgeous. Also rich in flavor, I think I would love nothing more than having one of these as a dessert, with any variation of an Espresso drink or Bottomless Coffee, whilst bouncing between stores at the mall. They also have Waffles, French toast (go stuffed with cream cheese on these for a real treat), and 7 different types of crepes- both savory and sweet. Beyond that, all the normal omelet options

and classics like eggs benedict, and steak and eggs, will have you dizzy with delight, by the time you get through the menu.

For lunch they have soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers all accompanied by delicious sides to make for a light yet filling lunch. Their combo options here as well give the less ambitious diner a chance for a lighter meal via smaller portions, paired together, of soup, salad, sandwich, and fruit combinations. As for the burger, the beef bacon and egg cheeseburger is a strong, albeit biased, way to go. Something about an egg, subtly cooked, which oozes yolk down the sides of a savory burger, that has an extra melted cheeselike quality of moist deliciousness to it. Again though, yolks aren’t for everyone. For those who are looking for leaner options, they have “Simple and Fit” versions of almost all plates that are available at your request.

Whether it is the burger sans bun, less cheese overall, or lite dressing, they are working to provide you options that you can feel good about as well.

For your dinner options, or Hearty Meals- as they are listed at on the menu, you again have your pick of some unexpected items. In addition to several appetizer options, and several salads, they also have fish and shrimp plates. The aforementioned steak comes in the form of both T-bone, as well as a sirloin

steak tip dish that was both tender and flavorful.

Personally, after years of eating the country-fried steak they offer I would be happy enough to just have that. While they additionally offer more than 7 different types of desserts, of which the Cappuccino cake seems a special standout, as a personal fan of anything that smacks of “breakfast for dinner,” you really could not go wrong with just getting any of their pancake plates to cap the meal off with a bit of sweetness. One other point of note is that they offer a children’s menu in all three of these day-parts as well, giving them just as much versatility of choice.

As they currently have plans of continued growth in the GCC region (and in Kuwait specifically), don’t be surprised to find their international take on all-day breakfast in a neighborhood near you soon. But more importantly, the all-day breakfast also means that they offer all-day lunch, and all-day dinner-basically not bound by the traditional menu requirements as dictated by the ever-ticking clock. Which makes them a viable solution to whatever you are craving for, when you are craving it, and especially when your group’s collective cravings don’t match. Bon appetit!

IHOP is located at The Mall -The Avenues, first floor. For more information, please call 2228 3112.

75

MAHA

ARANI

bazaar health

NUTRITION AWARENESS MONTH

By Soor Center

March is Nutrition Awareness Month, and Dr. Rumia Justine of the Soor Center for Professional Therapy and Assessment has agreed to sit down to talk with us about dieting and nutrition. Dr. Rumia has a degree in clinical nutrition, and has recently completed her doctorate in social work.

Her professional area of interest and expertise is lifestyle wellness and health education.

Q: Dr. Rumia, what would you say is the most common issue that you deal with in your practice?

A: Without a doubt, a lack of knowledge regarding proper nutrition. I work mostly with adolescents and college-age patients, but also see children referred by others or brought to the Center by their parents. The majority of these clients are not of healthy body weight; they are either underweight or overweight, and when I do a complete lifestyle assessment and nutritional analysis, I find that their eating habits are very poor. Fewer and fewer families are having a daily meal together, and this opportunity for modeling 78

good eating choices and good eating behavior is lost for children. What replaces this is television and peers. The media is out to make money and their peers are more interested in fitting in than in being healthy. Consequently, all kinds of misinformation and myths are passed around and perpetrated in this age group. For instance, I was told “in Kuwait, Coke is better for you than water.” If you don’t know that soft drinks contain more sugar than you need for a whole day, or an artificial chemical sweetener, and that carbonated drinks leech potassium from the bones, then drinking a lot of Coke is okay, right? I spend a lot of time talking with my clients about nutrition, about good choices, and about healthy lifestyles.

Q: How does lack of knowledge impact your clients’ wellness?

A: Very negatively. The prevalence of juvenile diabetes in Kuwait, of obesity, and of eating disorders of all types indicates problems with lifestyle habits. There are all sorts of studies that

provide proof that dieting doesn’t work - the weight comes off temporarily, but the eating habits of the past return, and the weight comes back. For those who are underweight, the health risks are significant as well. Being too thin is the flip side of the same issue - poor lifestyle choices cause serious health problems. Without a complete “renovation” of lifestyle, the client returns to old (bad) habits and the unhealthy body weight returns.

Q: Is there a particular thing that clients are looking for when they come to see you?

A: Definitely! Many of my clients are looking for a quick fix. They come to see me, underweight or overweight, and tell me they are going to attend a wedding in a month and need to “look perfect.” They are very disappointed when I tell them that helping with a problem like this isn’t my profession. I would not be professional if I contributed to unhealthy expectations and poor eating habits. Managing weight and wellness requires a commitment to a lifestyle of making conscious, wise choices. It means educating yourself about good nutrition, finding out what your healthy body weight is for your height and age. It means accepting that exercise must always be a part of life. And lastly, it often means asking for help and support from someone like me so that you have all the tools you need to make those changes permanent. There is no quick fix for optimum health.

Q: Is there one tip you can give our readers to put into practice today that will begin a change toward a healthier lifestyle?

A: Certainly - for parents of younger children, be sure to eat at least one family meal daily.

Model good eating behavior and lifestyle choices.

For adolescents, I would say eat 5-6 small meals per day, avoid anything fried. Limit junk food - it would be good to eliminate it altogether, but that might not be sustainable for some adolescents.

Poor nutrition as you’re growing can have a major negative impact on your later life. And to everyone in general, I would say that lifestyle wellness is a worthwhile investment. If you’re not healthy now, decide that you’re going to begin to make the changes necessary to be healthy, and then ask for all the help you need. From family, from friends, from professionals - to make that happen. No one has ever been sorry they chose to get healthier, but many, many people have regretted that they didn’t.

For more information, please call

2290 1677, visit www.soorcenter.com or follow their Tweets @SoorCenterQ8.

BOSSINI

Hawally : Al Othman Centre 22630813

Fahaheel: Ajial Mall 23918034

Farwaniya: Mugathir Complex, Opp Farwaniya Coop 24739844

Qurtoba: Qurtoba Coop 25359401

Khaldiya: Khaldiya Coop 24926377

cplmg l a n d m a r k q 8

PURA VIDA!

7 Reasons why Costa Ricans are so happy

By Shilo Urban

The Happy Planet Index recently ranked the Central American country of Costa Rica as #1 on its list. Move over, Disneyland, because Costa Rica is officially the happiest place on earth. Based on a score compiled from the life expectancy, ecological footprint and wellbeing of individuals, the Happy Planet Index aims to show that what modern humans think brings happiness often does not – and perhaps we should pursue it differently.

Most measures of national progress truly just measure the economy, accounting for production and consumption. Although money can help alleviate sadness, it cannot buy happiness. Sales of self-help “find happiness” books are soaring in the United States, a country that ranks towards the bottom of the list on the Happy Planet Index.

Perhaps it is time to see what a country like Costa Rica, a developing country that is far poorer than the United States, can teach us about the pursuit of happiness.

Why are Costa Ricans so happy? The reasons might surprise you.

1. Costa Rica has no army. Central America as a whole is known for civil unrest, but Costa Rica has a stable democracy and abolished its army altogether in 1949. Instead of spending a huge portion of its income on defense like the United States does, the Costa Rican government pours the money into 80

education and health care. Educated, healthy people are more likely to be happy!

2. Costa Ricans love and protect their environment. Environmental protection is at the bottom of the docket for most governments, but Costa Rica is a leader in ecological sustainability. The first developing country to aim to be carbon neutral (by 2021), Costa Rica has a massive tree-planting program and is converting land into forests, not the other way around. Costa Rica is a world leader when it comes to being green, and this sense of pride and protectiveness towards your home breeds warm and fuzzy feelings of joy.

3. Costa Ricans don’t dwell. A popular philosophy in this country is the idea that no argument or quarrel should last more than three days. Holding grudges, refusing to forgive and staying angry can corrupt a person’s happiness greatly. Learn to let go.

4. Costa Ricans have high life expectancy, 78.5 years. This high life expectancy is thanks, no doubt in part, to the country’s excellent health care system, which offers high quality care at an affordable rate – about 1/3 to 1/5 of the price of the same care in the United States. The country invests in upgrading hospitals and training staff, and medical care is easy to find. The lesson….taking care of yourself is paramount to your overall happiness!

5. Costa Ricans eat healthy and fresh foods with very few preservatives. A usual meal consists

of fiber-rich beans and rice, served with an ample portion of fresh tropical fruits, vegetables or both.

Costa Ricans eat a fraction of the amount of dairy, red meat, refined sugar and processed foods that Americans do, and they avoid the sour mood swings associated with these products.

6. Costa Ricans enjoy a slower pace of life in a tropical paradise. If you’re in a hurry, don’t go to Costa Rica. Rushing is rude, and anyway why would you want to rush through your experience of gorgeous beaches, lush mountains and amazing wildlife? A slower pace of life offers less stress than what you will find in many places in the U.S., and the warm and welcoming weather in Costa Rica causes smiles to break out for no reason at all.

Climate has a bigger effect on your mood than many people want to admit.

7. Costa Ricans like to please. Happiness surveys are self-reported, as there is no intrinsic measure for this emotion. Some Costa Ricans can be agreeable to a fault; for example if you ask a local for directions that they don’t know, they might give you the wrong directions because they don’t want to cause a disagreeable situation by saying they can’t help you. Perhaps they are just reporting that they are happy because of the same underlying psychological reasons.

Source: www.organicauthority.com.

NSTYLE

GAME ON! 512 Players, 9 Rounds, 3 Days, 1 Champion By bazaar staff

Recently we were able to sit down with the energetic and passionate team at 512 Kuwait to find out about their upcoming Viva 512 Knockout Gaming Tournament being held at the 360 Mall. Taking place over a 3 day period beginning March 21st, in which 512 players will be reduced to just one champion, the event promises 9 rounds of battle for all local gamers.

With both bragging rights and a cash prize on the line, we dig-in with the organizers for more details…

Tell us about the upcoming event being held at 360: Viva 512 will be the largest Football PlayStation event ever hosted in Kuwait. It will involve 512 contestants competing in EA Sports FIFA 13 over a period of three days, filtering down to one winner. The lucky winner will receive a significant cash prize that will be the largest of any single gaming event hosted in the GCC over a similar period of time.

How did this event get started?

This is the first year and first event that 512 are organizing. We all know that there is a huge interest in console gaming in Kuwait. In our minds a lot of Kuwaiti-based gamers can easily compete on an international level given the impressive aptitude for gaming that we have witnessed in the past. 512’s partners realized that creating an event where all the combined talent could be showcased in one place- over 3 days - would be a significant accomplishment and recognition to console gamers in Kuwait.

What is the goal of the event?

Our main goal is for our contestants to have fun competing in the event and for spectators including families and individuals to enjoy themselves. But we also believe that by involving high caliber sponsors and partners and gamers of all ages, nationalities, sexes and skill levels we will take console gaming to a whole new level in Kuwait. Additionally, we feel strongly that it’s our social responsibility to give back to the Kuwaiti community, and hence, a donation has been made to a wonderful organization: Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice.

Who are the parties involved in putting on this event?

512 Kuwait is the organizer of the event with VIVA Telecom as the headline sponsor, hence the VIVA 512 branding. We are privileged to have the following additional sponsors and partners also involved in the event: NBK, Nike Store, Qualitynet, Mini Cooper, Bayt Abdullah, Ali Abdulwahab, Goal!, 52 Degrees, and Mr. Babu.com. Also, X-Cite, by Alghanim Electronics, had kindly committed to power the event to a whole new level not seen in any of Kuwait’s past gaming 82

events. We are truly excited and blessed to combine such a high caliber list of partners for the event – it’s a true testament that console gaming should be more mainstream – and we thank them dearly for their involvement.

Tell us a bit about yourselves and your roles in this event?

512 Kuwait is an entity exclusively dedicated to video gaming events and comprising of three main partners: Faisal Al-Omani, Abdullah Al-Sayer, and Faisal Al-Awadi. We’re all quite involved in every aspect of the business and don’t really like to separate roles specifically. You could say that Faisal A and Abdullah have been more behind the scenes in terms of organization and planning, and Faisal O is more involved from a public perspective in this initiative.

Give us the logistics: Event Location: 360 Mall Exhibition Hall Event Dates: March 21st to March 23rd, 2013.

Competition Game: PS3 FIFA 13 Online Registration: www.512kuwait.com - registration opened February 21st and will be closed one week before the event or when all 512 contestants have been filled. All rules and regulations are posted on our website. This is how the cuts for each round will work: Each round, the field of players will be cut in half for a total of 9 rounds estimated to take place over approximately 20 hours of gaming, all culminating in a head to head knockout tournament.

There will be 14 gaming stations set up by X-Cite that will be active at most times over the duration of the three days. The final will be played at 6:30pm on March 23rd. The skilled winner at that point would have won 9 consecutive matches!

Anything else you think we should know about this event?

Although the focus of the event is gaming, there will be other types of fun non-gaming entertainment taking place with prizes handed out by different sponsors and partners to encourage participation by the audience. 512 plans on making this PlayStation Football Gaming Event an annual one, with the potential of organizing other events along the way both in Kuwait and in different cities across the GCC.

For any questions, to register, or for additional information, please email: info@512kuwait.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram @512Kuwait.

Experience true Italian generosity.

OLIVE GARDEN up o s s s Endlelad and or sa dsticks brea every with rée. ent

It’s our secret ingredient in every dish.

Experience genuine Italian dining with traditional meals coupled with age-old values of hospitality and generosity when you dine at Olive Garden. Our entrées are accompanied with endless servings of your choice of homemade soup or garden-fresh salad, and baked garlic breadsticks. Fill your heart and appetite with us.

Grand Avenues – Avenues Mall – First Floor Tel.: 222 00 530 – 222 00 531 – 222 00 532

WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO EAT

By Fatmah Al-Qadfan

We are a nation of selfproclaimed foodies, of savvy eaters, of fledgling chefs and newborn restaurants. We love to eat. Better yet, we love to travel to eat. But are we adventurous eaters or are we simply flocking to the same cities to find the same restaurants to order the same dishes?

I am becoming more aware of our travel habits as a society (thanks to social media platforms for shedding a bright light here!).

When someone is about to travel to a new city, they make a beeline for the last person they know who was there and they demand a list. If you kindly suggest a few restaurants to someone then rest assured that the favor will be returned when it’s 84

your turn to take a trip – whether you’ve asked for help or not!

This of course happened when I told my family and friends that I was taking a trip to Amman, Jordan. A long list of food recommendations to satisfy my every craving was bestowed upon me. It was carefully prepared and clearly had been passed on to others before me. The details included restaurant names, addresses and even phone numbers. It was like a mini gastronomic travel guide!

Although I appreciated the advice, I decided to use the list as a back up plan because I take pride in discovering my own little gems while traveling.

As far as cities go, Amman is not gourmet capital. There is no

doubt that food is fresh in Jordan with plenty of local produce and meat at hand, as well as an array of herbs and spices. There are some amazing dishes in Jordan but the country as a whole lacks that je ne sais quoi when it comes to food. Yet I was determined to have at least one memorable dining experience and for me that meant venturing away from upscale restaurants and into the heart of the old city. After extensive research, I found what I was looking for: Beit Sitti.

On a narrow street in the oldest part of Amman, sits another old house weighed down by its large white cut stones. On the outside it looks just like its neighbors but this house is in fact very different. Beit Sitti is a small culinary school run

by the friendly and professional Maria Haddad. Maria and her sisters founded Beit Sitti in honor of their grandmother who taught them how to cook and they run the place with love and dedication, gaining unparalleled popularity in the process. Beit Sitti is a novel concept in Amman in that it seems to be popular with the Western tourists but also attracts a small but steady Jordanian crowd.

By signing up for a meal, you’re actually enrolling in a one-time cooking class where you learn how to make Jordanian dishes from scratch. For brunch you learn how to make manaeesh (cheese and zataar), hummus, foul and falafel.

Lunch and dinner at Beit Sitti will have you preparing staples such as fattoush and tabbouleh and a well known Jordanian dish like mujadara, musakhan and maaloubeh. No meal is complete without dessert. At Beit Sitti you could master kunafeh or one of the other Arabic desserts they specialize in. The cooking courses take place in a greenhouse-like structure where you almost feel like you’re outdoors, cooking under the sky and looking over Amman.

Haddad has devised ways to further enrich her visitors’ experience. When available, a local storyteller would come in to tell you all about Jabal AlWeibdeh, giving you a glimpse of the area’s history. You could request to go on a neighborhood tour or visit the vegetable market with Um Reem (who makes incredible falafel) and help her buy the ingredients. Now that’s my kind of dining experience!

I signed up for brunch at Beit Sitti where I learnt how to make five different dishes. I was exposed to a different dining experience; I met new people and enjoyed conversation over food that I helped prepare. Although I had the urge to just head to the Four Seasons for a meal, I am glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and away from all the recommendations.

The next time you’re traveling?

Try not to ask for a list. Go on, explore.

LABEL M

bazaar fiction

OLD MEN BY THE SEA

By Craig Loomis

Sitting, thinking about what to eat for lunch, four white-haired old men who have lost some of their important front teeth, who are busy telling stories of their sons and daughters, not to mention their grandchildren, who, when they turn to their shisha and grow quiet, will look off into the middle distance, or maybe stare down at their sandals, wondering how in the world their toenails got that way, or, watching others at the café, how everybody these days thinks talking into machines is the same as conversation when of course it’s not, are angled in chairs, around a table, near the water’s edge.

But never mind their teeth and the rest of it because there is not much to smile about these days, not like there used to be, before the likes of Saddam Hussein and all that’s come after him: iPhones and Internet and fast European cars, and how about the never-ending flurry of wars and tiny half-wars, except, they would never use the words ‘flurry’, and that’s not to mention the daily headlines that tell of murdered women and children just because they were out shopping at the wrong time, playing football on the wrong street when the missiles landed; missiles that can travel hundreds of kilometers with nothing better to do than to annihilate homes and shops. And every now and again a hospital that is minding its own business, and all the while the missile shooters don’t even know who they are aiming at, not really, just the them over 86

there, over that mountain, across the sea, and “Oh, by the way,” one of them says, speaking to nobody in particular, “what’s for lunch?”

These old men with their iqals cocked funny, their cold-weather dishdashas crisp and grey/brown, because everybody knows those are the colors for December and January, and maybe even February. Never mind because there is more, as they busily finger their favorite mishabs and now back to sucking on their shisha. But there they are, sitting at the seaside café, undecided on what to eat, when suddenly they hear music, and even though they try to pay it no mind, when it doesn’t stop-only getting bigger and louder-- they have no choice but to turn old-man slowly in their chairs to see what is what; and sure enough they spy what looks to be a group of colors moving their way, but that can’t be right, and the closer it comes--the music slowly beginning to make better music sense-- they can see the colors are really men dressed like clowns, carrying balloons, beating on drums made for children because there is a new restaurant in town, and if you pay close attention to what the banners say, there is free soup for the first 500 customers; and by the way, the redand-blue-and-yellow clown-men are wearing masks, too, which is always a good idea if you are a grown man dressed like a clown, carrying a sign, beating a drum made for children.

The old men, and I count three

now, the fourth having just left, saying, ‘I’ve got things to do,’ taking his cane, saying he has grandchildren to visit, ‘a birthday for the youngest’--but never mind, because the remaining three haven’t stopped watching the clowns with drums stroll by; the three of them looking long and hard as if watching has suddenly become some sort of contest and whomever watches the hardest, the longest wins. Once the men with clown colors have done their advertising duty for the new restaurant, somebody, somewhere blows a whistle and they take a welldeserved break, putting down their drums, resting at the water’s edge, smoking cigarettes, daring to push their masks up on their foreheads so anybody who cares can get a good look at what a grown man wearing a clown costume with balloons looks like. In the end, the three old men turn to look at one another and after a small quiet, burst out laughing.

They are thinking the same thing I am—Why would grown men do such a thing? Of course we all know the answer. In fact, the answer is always the same with everybody, and everything, and there’s nothing to be done about it. When nobody is looking, one of the old men wipes his nose with the sleeve of his dishdasha, shuffling his feet sand-papery over the grainy seaside bricks, and when he does, like a kind of magic, tiny brown birds swoop down out of a treeless sky, walking around under the tables and chairs, thinking that with all this laughter and feet shifting there has to be something like bread crumbs somewhere.

It isn’t long before the three of them turn to other things, with one of them turning to the other, asking, “Where did Khalid say he had to go?”

“Birthday.”

“What?”

“Something about a birthday. One of his kids has a birthday.”

“Yes, I see.” Nodding down at his hands that have a firm grip on the table’s edge. “By the way, Mohammed, you birthday is soon, Sah? If I recall, very soon, maybe next month, is it?”

“Yes, yes, next month is right,” answers Mohammed almost too quickly, as if he were thinking the same thing.

“And how old will you be?”

“Too old, I am afraid. Too old.”

“Yes, you’re right about that,” says the third one. “For the likes of us, birthdays are nothing to celebrate. Not really. Just a reminder that it won’t be long now.”

And the three of them, as if practiced, laugh as one. No one knows how the talk moved from clowns to birthdays, just that it did; and although they are laughing, mishabis clicking, even I can tell from where I’m sitting-three tables over--that their laughter is nothing that has to do with funny.

“Yes. . .,” followed by a sandpapering of sandals, “yes, we’re all too old, Sah? Too old to worry or care, or almost anything.”

Meanwhile, the men with clown costumes and masks and drums and all the rest are all done smoking and getting ready to begin again. That whistles comes again from someone, somewhere and the clown men start where they left off. The three old men watch them regroup and file away with their colors and drums, until finally they can no longer hear or see them.

The one called Mohammed sighs a sigh that even I can hear from my table.

And one of others asks, “What?”

“It’s nothing,” he shrugs.

“Of course it is. What?”

“Nothing I tell you.”

Gently reaching up to slip off his ghutra, to feel the new, cool sea breeze.

“Just thinking of birthdays, that’s all.

Our birthdays all used up, I am afraid.”

For the longest time they say nothing, just watching people walk by, families, young couples pushing a baby buggy, teenagers tripping over one another, laughing at nothing, children with brightly-colored bicycles, not caring if they run into somebody or not. Three people from China or maybe Japan, stop to take photographs of the sea. Finally, as I get up to leave, the smallest wisp of cloud floating under the sun, the tiny brown birds still searching for bread crumbs that are not there, I hear one of them say, “Me, too.”

JESSICA

THE BRAZILIAN WAY Dumond By bazaar staff

When it comes to my shopping habits, I proudly admit that I fall under the popular category of relentless shopaholics, notorious for believing that a woman can never have too many bags and shoes. That’s a commitment I adamantly adhere to, hence my constant hunt for new brands and styles to try out. Lucky for me, when I found out about the recent opening of Dumond, the hottest brand for impeccably made contemporary shoes and bags just in from Brazil, I paid the boutique what I knew would be a long, leisurely visit.

Opening up just in time for my annual pilgrimage to The Avenues, where I’d dress up in casual trainers and scour the mall from end to end, Dumond will surely please every fashionista looking for a different take on the season’s must have- trends.

Brazilian fashion elements combined with a sophisticated and audacious design, that’s the way Dumond offers women the best in accessories and shoes. The collections in store reflect the brand’s 88

heritage of the Brazilian way—premium quality, beauty, and style. From shoes in various styles like sandals, wedges, peep toe heels, platforms, pumps, loafers and slippers to clutches, totes, wallets and other accessories, I was absolutely stunned by the fabulous collections.

The Spring-Summer collection is nothing short of a palette of temptations, with colors that reflect the exotic spirits of tropical Rio. Gorgeous bright colors dominate the collection, with a medley of tangerine, astounding neon greens, deeper blues, coral, and teal. Color blocking details are seen on platform heels and wedges alike, especially with lighter, neutral shades that will remind you of succulent fruits such as guava, lime, raspberry and blueberry.

Another dominant trend includes enticing leopard and python prints in a plethora of bright colors in the form of stiletto heels, platform pumps, and wedges, paired with modern materials like satins, pearly varnish finishes, and patent leathers.

An ethnic homage is also made with Bohi-chic

styles that combine linen, cut out leathers, cork heels and shades of camel and earthy greens.

When it comes to morning to nighttime glamour, the Spring-Summer collection will leave you smiling with shimmering sequins, patent leather styles and my personal favorite, a demure take on the studded trend. This materializes in the form of a classy peep toe heel that is available in both pastel shades and bright colors with elegantly studded details. Along with metallic leathers, chromed heels, mod-ish acryclic and vinyl accessories, the Spring-Summer collection also includes cool and casual sneakers in gold and silver metallic—a necessity in every fashionista’s summer wardrobe. Don’t forget to check out the clutches, totes, and cross body bags, these will elegantly compliment the shoes you’ll be rocking from spring till the end of summer!

Dumond is located at The Mall area at the Grand Avenue—The Avenues. For more information, please visit www.dumond.com.br or call 2220 0541.

CONCRETE COPPER

fashionality SHOP N’DROP May Al-Essa By bazaar staff

Since first opening Shop n’Drop boutique four years ago, May AlEssa went on to represent more than a hundred different brands at her boutique, including Tucker, Rachel Pally, Made Her Think, and Wildfox. Crafting a stylish haven for local fashionistas in Kuwait, it’s no wonder that the brainchild behind this space is an absolute style maker.

With WildFox being a local favorite brand, May takes pride in being able to exclusively represent this hip brand since she first opened. When asked about her favorite part of her job, she quickly replied, “I love doing the buying, that’s definitely my favorite part!” Still, May also handles all aspects 90

of her business, from operations to marketing, ensuring that her boutique always remains looked after.

“I started my boutique as a result of my shopaholic tendencies. I had to shop everyday, especially online, and I always suffered with finding the right size. From there, I picked up the habit of buying the right items. My love for certain brands, after years of shopping, led me here.” The next she knew, she was off to LA to meet with brand managers, boutique owners, and fashion houses to get her favorite brands to Kuwait. “It went smoothly, so I had to do it!”

Originally, May’s concept revolved around catering to women at home.

Upon visiting the boutique today, you’ll still see the kitschy, portable wardrobe on display. Once upon a time, the same portable wardrobe would visit your home, bringing with it the trendiest styles and accessories. After a while, however, her customers wanted to visit the store more often to see more selections, hence dropping by to visit this style-savvy space. In the future, May plans to include online shopping as a service alongside bringing us the latest styles from hip and cool designers.

So, what should you expect to see at Shop n’Drop? An eclectic mix of casual-chic and contemporary designs, hand-selected by yours truly, along with funky jewelry selections like pinky rings in rose gold, yellow and white gold, long and flowy rosary necklaces, and don’t be surprised if you see your mom’s friend shopping there! Hip local fashionistas aged 16-40 shop here, May even carries a stylish children’s line, Jetsetter, with couture inspired slogans and designs that every fashionable mother would want to splurge on for her little one.

When asked about the hardest part about managing so many brands in one place, she commented, “ Well, the traveling is the best part, by far! The hardest part is managing everything at once, but thanks to social media, I’m

finding it much easier to connect with my customer base via Instagram.”

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

I truly believe that the person ‘makes’ the fashion. Not everything fashionable and ‘in’ suits everyone; hence, it’s that sense of style that a person has and creates from head to toe which later on evolves into fashion!

Therefore, it’s the process of making.

How would you describe your style?

Classic with a touch of edginess.

How do you get inspiration for your style?

As cheesy as it may sound, my true inspiration would be my mum!

What does it take to become a style innovator?

You have to be creative, imaginative and foremost fearless!

Also, you always have to be on top of the latest fashion trends.

What’s exciting right now in fashion?

The fashion trend that’s really exciting me right now would have to be the cape trend. No one has to worry about his or her weight this season!

Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?

I would have to say Carrie

Bradshaw, A.K.A Sarah Jessica Parker, is one of my greatest influences at the moment. However, the 60’s fashion icons are my favorites!

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

Most of the designers that I carry at my store are emerging and I would consider them my favorites. Speaking of other emerging designers, Jason Wu and Alexander Wang are the best due

to their simplicity in their designs.

What is the highlight of your ‘style’ career?

Seeing my baby, boutique, growing with the help of the most amazing fashionistas locally and regionally.

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

Handbags, without a single doubt!

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

Internationally, Whowhatwear. com and locally would be confashionsfromkuwait.com.

Both are strongly recommended!

What item of clothing (if any) do you wish that people wore more often?

Hats—unfortunately hats are an accessory that we’re not really crazy about in Kuwait. Having said that, a hat is one of the most beautiful accessories, if worn correctly!

To be stylish is to be fashionable.

True or False and why?

False, because as Coco Chanel recalled once “fashion fades, only style remains the same”

Shop n’Drop is located in Salhiya, Mohammad Thunayan Alghanim St. Follow them on Instagram, @Shopndrop or call 2249 0906 for more information.

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DEALS.COM.KW Daily deals to your doorstep By bazaar staff

There is a new player in the world of online bargain hunting that you should know about.

Using innovative tactics, creative marketing, and a streamlined ordering process to get the word out about new deals, a small and passionate firm is using the agility of their size as a distinctive advantage against the big boys. It appears they are poised to do great things in the coming years.

The basic premise of their layout is this: one new deal, every day at midnight, with limited supply, delivered directly to your door within 24 hours of the close of the deal. For any operation that is both efficient and a smart business model; for a small, 3-person operation that has everyone but the driver still working day jobs, it is downright ostentatious.

But that is who they are: passionate about the various benefits that the current world of tech can provide, and equally passionate about bringing those deals to their customer. The small size of the company not only gives you direct access to the top of their organization, thereby getting your voice heard, but it also allows them to respond quickly to any concerns or for any changes.

The shear breadth of the range of products they offer are as affordable as they are varied. In fact, they guarantee the lowest price in Kuwait on the items they sell. In 3 days time their products ranged from a Cuisinart mixer, to electronics, to beanbag chairs. With such a diverse offering it is clear that have something for everyone.

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As for the future, they are currently focusing on bringing more options to their loyal customer base.

For example, a recent deal with a local restaurateur that allowed them to offer substantial discounts for a 1KD buy-in, left them brimming with ideas as to the potential future expansion of this business model. Other coming innovations are going to allow faster turn-around times via SMS and text based correspondence between the customer and their office. Additionally, their newish feature, wherein you may still have the opportunity to buy something even after the 24 hour deadline has expired, shows one more way in which they are keeping their business model fluid and adaptable to the customers needs. With such bold business moves in hand and a continued commitment towards getting good deals for their customers, their future looks bright indeed.

Here is a brief run-down of who they are: About Deals Deals.com.kw is a Kuwait based website that offers one product per day at a discounted price. Quantities are limited, so first buy first delivered. Deals.com.kw promises to deliver the lowest price available in the Kuwaiti Market. Customers are promised to pay less, no matter what they buy from Deals.com.kw.

How it works A new product is released every morning at 12am Kuwait time, seven days a week. If a product sells out during its run, a new item will not appear until the next release time. You will know if a product is sold

out, because the main page says “SOLD OUT” instead of “Buy It Now”.

If 24 Hours passes, a new product will be released and the old one or current one will automatically shift to the store page. Customers can always check the past deals from the store page and inquire about their availability to purchase them through the check availability feature. If they are still available, the company will source them for you.

History Deals.com.kw was established in June 2011 by two local entrepreneurs’, Ali Maghnie and Adan Khalifa. Having started as a small project with limited capital and support, it has truly been their passion and love for the online business model, that was the first motive to establish the website. Until this day, the website holds 3 employees including a driver. Most of the website operations and customer support is being run from their houses.

So, if you are looking for a deal, set your alarms for midnight so that you don’t miss out on the next one!

Track down your deals by following online at facebook.com/deals.com.kw or Twitter, @dealscomkw or by visiting www.deals.com.kw.

VIDAL SASSON

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

Q

There are so many agencies. How can I distinguish good marketers from bad ones?

LA: In many countries, one can’t be a licensed lawyer without passing the bar exam. In six countries (Kuwait included), to be a certified accountant that’s taken seriously you need pass the CPA exam. However, when it comes to Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Media the doors are wide open for anyone to join the market. No regulations, no associations, and no accreditation either. There’s no mandatory entry exam that one must pass to qualify working in the field. The only rule/qualification in this industry is based on Nike’s tag line: ‘Just Do It’. So, as long as it is still harder to become a bus driver than to become an employee in the Marketing field, approach this species with great caution. Evaluate what you hear and don’t assume that anyone working in this field is automatically an expert in it.

The strange part is that the above paragraph applies to employees working on both sides of the fence, clients and agencies. When looking for a new agency, avoid starting with requesting quotations and presentations, you’re not buying a projector for your meeting room. Have a discussion with their Marketing Planners about marketing. Understand their analysis of the current challenges and opportunities. Visit their agency and give them a pop ‘fake’ brief to witness how they think as a team. Ask about how they helped their clients achieve their goals and look for numbers rather than campaign posters. Why? Because quite often the quality of the creative team is not a reflection of the knowledge level of the Marketing team...and that’s just my two cents.

Q

Considering the poor performance of our organization, we expected our CEO to resign by now. We complained about everything that’s lacking, but nothing happened. Should we go on a strike demanding his resignation?

LA: Employees who strike are usually backed by unions or they know that their sheer volume would give them leverage in negotiation with the board. They’re also employees who might find it difficult to find another job easily, like some semi-skilled workers in factories, for example. So, consult a lawyer first to understand your legal rights and what you can and can’t do with your company. Most employees don’t strike, they just give up and stay as zombie staff (soulless) or they just land a new job and switch. Besides, pushing the CEO to resign is not necessarily the best option. Resigning doesn’t always mean solving the problem. CEOs have the ability to fall standing on their feet. Forcing them to resign is not going to threaten their livelihood and, therefore, it won’t be much of a punishment as such.

Ask yourself first: did the CEO cause the problems? If s/he didn’t, then is it that the CEO is capable but wouldn’t solve your demands, or is it that

s/he tried and couldn’t? CEOs, especially those who took the job without much qualification might be open to guidance but only if you approach them the right way (meaning avoid clashing with their egos). Place the idea in their head (watch Inception for inspiration) in such a way that it seems like their idea and always show them how what you want is good for the company and for their own image in front of the Board, the source of their sleepless nights. CEOs that are clearly guilty of bringing the company down or profiting the business at the cost of treating employees unfairly or unethically should be asked to fix the problem or face legal actions...and that’s just my two cents.

Q

Our Division Manager is unfair. She allows some employees to have flexible time at work while others can’t. When I asked to have the same advantage, I was told that every employee has different needs. How is that fair?

LA: When employees join any company they’re looking for a better future. The question is better than what exactly? It could be better money, better working environment, more flexibility from management or more respect, a better career, a higher job title, more support or coaching, or a combination of some. Since people have different circumstances, aspirations and characters, their motivations and needs are diverse too.

Many managers fall in the trap of treating everyone the same in the name of being fair. Actually, to achieve fairness they need to do the opposite.

Equality needs to be in the manager’s mind as a principle and in the scale of the treat they reward their employees with, but equality doesn’t have to be in the type of these rewards as well.

Lets say you have three employees that you’d like to reward for their outstanding performance in a recent major project: A dynamic new graduate who cares about making extra cash; a parent with a newborn who appreciates having extra time off; and a career-driven employee who likes any opportunity to advance his or her knowledge. If you reward the graduate with a one-time bonus, the parent with shorter working hours for a set period, and a coaching session with a leader in the organization for the third employee, you were fair and more importantly observant.

Giving everyone a day off won’t have the same impact. Good managers build a motivating scheme for their employees. Great managers tailor their motivational offers to suit each employee’s needs separately...and that’s just my two cents.

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

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

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MBPS INTERNET

INDIA ART FAIR 2013: Blissful romance with global hues

By Deepa Pant

Even amidst times of financial austerity, India’s vibrant art scene has been thriving. Last month’s art fair, held in New Delhi, only confirmed this. bazaar brings you a complete lowdown on the many flavors of the India Art Fair, the largest art extravaganza in South Asia.

Propelling the art scene in New Delhi, India Art Fair, India’s premier modern and contemporary art fair, took place February 1-3. The three- day fair featured an international roster of over 103 exhibitors from 23 countries and confirmed the arrival of India as an international art hub.

From blue-chip artists Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Jamini Roy, and MF Husain to the art stars of today such as Damien Hirst, Paresh Maity, Subodh Gupta, and Youssef Nabil, the fair was a complete art experience with it’s diverse array of artworks, sculpture, photography and installations.

The fair has grown over the last four editions attracting some of the best galleries in the world, along 96

with curators, collectors and critics from far and wide.

The mood was upbeat and the visitors to the fair were delighted to find prime examples of works by both legendary and newly discovered artists. A number of countries like Brazil, Israel, Korea, Turkey and Russia made their debut. The fair attracted big names from the international art scene, as well as buyers from around the world. A number of galleries brought high value works. Other museums like The Tate and The Guggenheim were also represented at the fair. However, major western galleries like White Cube, Lisson and Hauser, and Wirth were absent.

Most galleries participating in the fair reported strong sales and an overall positive experience.

Among the early sales were works by Sri Lankan contemporary female artist, Anoli Perera represented

by Shrine Gallery. Aicon Gallery New York City, sold a piece by Modernist S. H. Raza, for $200,000 to a private collector based in the U.S. on the preview day of the fair itself.

Works by Bharti Kher and her husband, Subodh Gupta, created quite a buzz. Subodh Gupta, represented by Nature Morte, New Delhi, as usual delighted the visitors with his signature stainless steel pots and pans installation titled Family Portrait. His works put him at the forefront of a new generation of artists in India.

Jaipur based Artchill gallery reported a good response, and sold more than 10 Contemporary 3D Art Books by artist Akash Choyal, which were critically and commercially well received.

Works of Indian artists, Jitish Kallat, and Atul Dodiya received a lot of appreciation from the visitors.

Kallat’s installation of Covering Letter, a historic letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to Adolf Hitler in 1939, truly enlightened and entertained the fair goers.

Riding a popularity wave was Scream Gallery from London. Participating in the fair for the first time, it kicked off to a good start with Thai artist Pakpoom Silaphan, who creates intriguing pop art that uses many of its devices (consumerism, logos, etc.) but also adds elements of history.

Silaphan gleefully juxtaposes iconic figures like Gandhi to Frida Kahlo to Dali and Obama on old metal signs and wooden Pepsi and Coca-Cola crates.

His work Triple Gandhi on Pepsi, mixed media on vintage metal signs was a one of the big hits at the fair. Scream Gallery is owned by Jamie Wood, an avid art collector and son of Ronnie Wood (of the Rolling Stones fame).

However, stealing the limelight was Frankfurtbased Die Galerie, which had on view the sublime works of modern masters like Pablo Picasso, Andre Masson, Sam Francis and Salvador Dali.

Meanwhile, gallery representative from New Yorkbased Jack Shainman gallery said that they were very proud of the off beat works they were presenting, including African-American artist Radcliffe Bailey’s paintings on the history of migration, and works by Delhi-based artist Vibha Galhotra.

Some other highlights at the fair were work by Marina Abramovic, Extasy II, Diptych, fine art pigment (Galerie Krinzinger, Austria) and by Chinese artist Ye Hongxing (Scream Gallery, London). Beijing based Ye Hongxing, incorporates the religious symbols-Mandala or ‘circles’ in her work, with application of colorful stickers.

A central point of attraction was The Paul Stopper Gallery of London that brought the crowd pleasers Damien Hirst and fashion photographer David Bailey. Hirst’s familiar Magnificent Cold Gold Sunset Head, 2011, Household on gloss on plastic skull and The Souls Limited Edition Book, 2011– signed and numbered by Hirst were also on view.

The Middle East region was also quite well represented. Dubai’s 1x1 Art Gallery showcased Christiana De March, whose sculpture titled

Inshallah, embroidery on fly swatters, drew a lot of curious visitors.

Pakistani artist Cyra Ali expanded the definition of art with her fabric, polyester filling and wire Sculptures- Specimen (Ed of 6) of shapely legs entwined together and stitched to cloth pieces.

According to the artist, her work engages the patriarchal notions of trying to tame a woman and the act of repressing her sexuality.

Some unconventional works by Pakistani artists Adeela Suleman and Rubi Chishti were well received at the fair. Adeela Suleiman’s Falling Down Under, 2012, steel and iron sculpture, where autobiographical elements are interwoven with symbols in her bas-relief.

Chishti, in her evocative piece titled Whole (Reinforced readymade coat, mixed-media on paper, 2012, Vadhera Gallery), debates the notions of permanence and change in society. She says in her artist statement, “I have my own history with this substance ‘fabric’, my work is rooted in common feminine craft and it is the fusion of instinct, ability and profound life experiences.”

Galerie Daniel Besseiche exhibited the works of up and coming Paris based Indian artist Shhiv Singh.

His artwork and installations enthralled a number of visitors to the booth.

In a striking departure that seemed to both challenge and renew the definition of art, The Samdani Art Foundation from Bangladesh exhibited works by artists Tayeba Begum Lipi, Ayesha Sultana, Mohammad Wahiduzzaman. In addition to one of the commissioned art projects at the fair

by Mahbubur Rahman entitled Replacement, which incorporated leather used from army boots, cow hide, wood, iron and car accessories.

My Daughter’s Cot, a baby crib made of stainless steel razor blades, by Tayeba Begum Lipi, drew in a lot of curious onlookers.

The Speakers Forum this year had a very strong line-up of art experts from around the world. Some top speakers included: Chus Martinez (Chief Curator, El Museo del Barrio, New York City), Akiko Miki (Senior curator, Palais de Tokyo, Paris), Amin Jaffer (International Director of Asian Art, Christie’s), Barbara London (Curator, Video and Performance Art, MoMA, New York), and Robert Storr (Dean, Yale School of Art).

“The focus of the art fair, given the present

business environment particularly in the art sector, is on developing new audiences, and initiating new energy in the Indian art market,” said Neha Kirpal, Founding Director of India Art Fair.

Christie’s was the auction house partner for India Art Fair 2013. India Art Fair 2013 was indeed a testimony to India’s growing clout in the international arts arena.

Missed this fair? Don’t worry, book your tickets to

New Delhi for next year. The India Art Fair is back with a bang in 2014. In the meantime, check out Art Basel to be held in Hong Kong from May 23 to 26.

For more information, please visit: www.indiaartfair.in.

Images courtesy participating galleries.

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‫�إن�ستهدام ؟؟‬ ‫بقلم‪ :‬عبدالعزيز الحشاش‬

‫أين أنت ؟ ماذا تفعل ؟ ماذا ترتدي اآلن ؟ ماذا تأكل ؟ مع‬ ‫من ؟ ‪ ..‬لحظه ‪ ..‬ال أريد التفاصيل‪ ،‬أريد صورة من فضلك ‪..‬‬ ‫نعم ‪ ..‬أصبح األمر بهذه السهولة حيث بضغطة من‬ ‫أصبعك تستطيع أن ترى أهلك و أصدقاءك و أحبابك في‬ ‫كل مكان في العالم ‪ ..‬بكل تفاصيلهم و ألوانهم ‪ ..‬نعم‬ ‫‪ ..‬بالصورة التي تلتقط في حينها ‪ ..‬و في لحظة الحدث و‬ ‫موقعه ‪..‬‬ ‫إنه باختصار ‪ ..‬اإلنستغرام ‪..‬‬ ‫تحدثنا من قبل عن الفيسبوك و التويتر و ربما‬ ‫الواتساب و البالك بيري ‪ ..‬جميعها وسائل نقلتنا من حالة‬ ‫التباعد اإلجتماعي إلى التقارب اإلجتماعي ‪..‬‬ ‫رغم أن بعضها جعلنا في حالة تباعد نوعا ما ‪ ..‬و لكن‬ ‫لنكن منصفين كانت وسيلة جميلة للتقارب‪ ،‬وال تغنينا عن‬ ‫اللقاء في بعضنا البعض و تواصلنا المباشر بين الحين و‬ ‫اآلخر‪.‬‬ ‫أما بظهور ( اإلنستغرام ) فنستطيع أن نقول بأن‬ ‫الشكوك أصبحت أكيدة و أن التهمة أصبحت أكيدة على‬ ‫وسائل التواصل االجتماعي الحديثة ‪.‬‬ ‫فمن وجهة نظري أرى أن اإلنستغرام رغم أنه وسيلة‬ ‫مسلية و فعالة لمتابعتنا ألخبار بعضنا لحظة بلحظة عن‬

‫طريق الصورة إال أننا يجب أال ننكر بأنه أغنانا عن التواصل‬ ‫االجتماعي المباشر ‪ ..‬و أنا أقصد هنا الحضور الفعلي‬ ‫الفيزيائي البشري ‪ ..‬كجسد و كيان ‪ ..‬و ليس كصورة ‪.‬‬ ‫ال يختلف اثنان على أن اإلنستغرام بات ( الهبه ) الجديدة‬ ‫للمجتمع الكويتي‪ ،‬و أصبح المفضل عند الكبير و الصغير‪،‬‬ ‫و لقد أهمل الكثير ممن أعرفهم حساباتهم في تويتر ‪..‬‬ ‫أو ربطوها مع حساباتهم في اإلنستغرام ‪ .‬أما حسابات‬ ‫الفيسبوك فأصبحت مقابر مهجورة ال يرتادها إال األغلبية‬ ‫التي ال يزال لديها والء للماضي ‪.‬‬ ‫تعالوا معا نتعرف على تاريخ اإلنستغرام العزيز الذي‬ ‫هو محور مقالنا اليوم‪:‬‬ ‫انطلق برنامج اإلنستغرام في تاريخ ‪ 6‬أكتوبر ‪ 2010‬و‬ ‫بعد مرور أقل من شهرين استطاع من تحقيق رقم قياسي‬ ‫وهو تسجيل مليون مستخدم في البرنامج ‪ .‬و بعد مرور‬ ‫سنة على البرنامج أيضا أصبح عدد المستخدمين ‪ 12‬مليون‬ ‫‪ .‬و خالل الساعة الواحدة ترفع أكثر من ‪ 20‬ألف صورة على‬ ‫سيرفر اإلنستغرام ‪.‬‬ ‫من خالل األرقام السابقة و مع حسبة بسيطة تجاوز‬ ‫عدد مستخدمي اإلنستغرام إلى ‪ 15‬مليون مستخدم‪.‬‬

‫عمل على هذا البرنامج شخصان‪ ،‬األول كيفن سيتروم‬ ‫و يعتبر هو صاحب الفكرة و الرئيس‪ ،‬و الثاني مايك كريغر‪.‬‬ ‫و يعتبر اإلنستغرام أفضل برنامج على اآليفون لعام‬ ‫‪ ، 2011‬و حجم الصورة فيه يبدأ من ‪ 612‬بكسل و يصل‬ ‫حتى ‪ 1936‬بكسل في حجم الصورة اإلعتيادي في اآليفون‬ ‫ثري جي إس و اآليفون ‪. 4‬‬ ‫الصور التي تم تنزيلها على اإلنستغرام من بدايته‬ ‫حتى يومنا هذا تخزن على سيرفرات األمازون ‪.‬‬ ‫شخصيا أجده ممتع‪ ،‬و مفيد نوعا ما‪ ،‬و لكن ما يزعجني‬ ‫أنه يقتل الخصوصية أحيانا و يجعلنا نتمادى في تصوير‬ ‫كل ما حولنا ‪.‬‬ ‫كما أنه يذكرني ببرامج تلفزيون الواقع ‪ ..‬التي رغم‬ ‫حبي لها إال أنني ال زلت مصرا على أنها سخيفة وال فائدة‬ ‫منها ‪.‬‬ ‫أما ما يشفع لإلنستغرام فهو ألبوم متنقل يكشف لنا‬ ‫شخصيات كثير ممن نعرفهم ‪ ..‬و من ال نعرفهم ‪.‬‬ ‫فهل يتحول اإلنستغرام في يوم من األيام إلى هادم‬ ‫للعالقات والخصوصية ؟‪..‬‬ ‫و السؤال متروك للسيد ‪ :‬إنستهدام ‪!..‬‬

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burger king

bazaar movie night The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in March

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Adventure Cast: Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy Cast: Ewan McGregor, Nicholas Hoult

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy Cast: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz

Synopsis: In this sequel, the G.I. Joe team is

Synopsis: A modern day fairy tale fantasy adventure

framed for crimes against the country and so is terminated by the President’s order. Badly beaten, outnumbered and outgunned, the Joes make a desperate plan to overthrow Cobra Commander and take back the world, with their secret black operation called the “Second American Revolution”, which involves the return of the original G.I. Joe General Joseph Colton.

following a naïve farm boy who attempts to rescue a beautiful princess from a race of vengeful giants.

When Jack (Nicholas Hoult) inadvertently opens a passageway that allows giants to cross into our reality, the towering titans stake their claim on the land of the humans. Should they succeed, Jack’s kingdom will be but the first of many to fall. Now, Jack must summon every ounce of bravery to drive out the invading giants.

Synopsis: Circus magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, thinks he’s hit the jackpot as he’s transported to the Land of Oz. However, he encounters three witches and has problems facing Oz’s other inhabitants. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

HITCHCOCK

GET LUCKY

Genre: Biography, Drama Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren

Genre: Action Cast: James Cosmo, Craig Fairbrass, Terry Stone

Genre: Comedy Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Tina Fey

Synopsis: In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, are at the top of their creative game as filmmakers amid disquieting insinuations about it being time to retire. To recapture his youth’s artistic daring, Alfred decides his next film will adapt the lurid horror novel, Psycho, over everyone’s misgivings.

Unfortunately, as Alfred self-finances and labors on this film, Alma finally loses patience with his actresses.

The resulting marital tension colors Alfred’s work.

Synopsis: Lucky is a small time criminal and he’s happy just getting by until he agrees to look after some counterfeit money for a friend who is in a bit of trouble with the law. Two months go by without a word from him so Lucky burns the ‘funny money’ to avoid problems for himself. It all goes well until when two hoods catch up with him. It appears that they had bought the ‘funny money’ from Lucky’s friend and they want it back - all £150,000 or Lucky will end up like his friend.

Synopsis: John Pressman (Rudd) has surmised that Jeremiah, his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia (Tina Fey), an uptight admissions officer, secretly gave up for adoption many years ago. Soon, Portia finds herself bending the rules, putting at risk the life she thought she always wanted—but in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having.

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ADMISSION

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

TAAL

THE COUNTER Custom built burgers By bazaar staff

With the opening of Grand Avenue at The Avenues and the myriad of new restaurants on offer, it’s easy to forget that there is more to The Avenues than this magnificent shopping street.

In fact, all the way down in Phase I, the original part of the mall, you’ll find there’s still plenty going on and even new places opening up too.

The Counter is one of these new places. Handily located on the first floor right outside the cinema, this new burger concept is offering something very different in the already burger-abundant landscape that is Kuwait. Anti-Established, as they put it, in 2003, The Counter knows that each customer is unique and so wants their burgers to be too. It’s a modern take on the classic burger joint that takes into account people’s varying preferences and 102

needs in our modern day diets.

When you step into The Counter you’ll be greeted not only with a friendly hello and a smile, but also with a clipboard. On the clipboard you’ll find an extensive list of fresh mouth-watering ingredients and you’ll also find a pencil. The rest can be simple or complicated, weird or conventional, gourmet or basic, healthy or indulgent; with over 312,120 different burger combinations, your burger can be whatever you want it to be, making every burger as unique as each customer. This is a 21st Century place to dine with an industrial décor and funky music to match.

Once you’re seated with your clipboard in hand it’s time to start putting your burger together. This is a five-step process.

STEP 1 Choose a burger Here you can choose between fresh 100% natural, hormone and antibiotic free, Angus beef, Chicken breast or Vegan Veggie - something for everyone. Then decide how much of it you want.

You can opt for 1/3 pound, ½ pound, or, if you are feeling extra hungry, the whopping 1 pound option! All these weights refer to how much the patty weighs after cooking. So the burgers at The Counter are real meaty affairs. After selecting your protein and its weight you need to next decide if you want said burger served traditionally, on a bun, or in a bowl. Selecting it in a bowl turns the burger into more of a conventional meal, or a salad. Choose from lettuce blend, mixed greens, or spinach salad. Remember this is only the base, the

foundation upon which you will build your dream burger, there’s more to come.

STEP 2 Choose a cheese Not as easy as it sounds. Where most places don’t give you an option, and if they do it’s between American or cheddar, at The Counter you’ll be spoilt for choice. From Danish Blue or Tillamook Cheddar to sharp Provolone or the obligatory yellow American, there’s a cheese to suit every taste bud.

STEP 3 Choose up to 4 toppings

This one is as easy as it sounds. Baby spinach, Scallions, grilled pineapple, carrot strings, hardboiled eggs, dried cranberries, sprouts… It’s a long list and it goes on! You can also employ step 3.5 if you like and choose from premium toppings like beef bacon, chili, or fried eggs for an extra cost.

STEP 4 Choose a sauce If you’re used to the selection being only ketchup or mustard you’ll delight at the array of sauces on offer at The Counter. Apricot sauce,

horseradish mayo, roasted garlic aioli, spicy sour cream, are only a few of the delicious and gourmet sauce options to dress your burger.

STEP 5 Choose a bun Unless you chose your burger in a bowl, in which case you’re done, here is where you make your final choice. Hamburger bun, wheat bun, or the not so often seen here in Kuwait, English muffin.

Then you’re done!

Well you’re done with the burger at least. And if all the above sounded a little too taxing for your hungry mind, fear not, The Counter offers signature burgers and burgers in bowls where the building has been done for you.

Either way you choose your burger, you’ll now be on the hunt for some sides. While not quite custom built, there’s something for everyone here.

Traditional fries or sweet potato fries, or go fiftyfifty and get half of each. Crispy onion strings can also be substituted in the fifty-fifty too. Or why not try some fried dill pickle chips for something a little different. If you’re feeling indulgent you can go for the Chili Cheese Fries which come topped with chili, Tillamook Cheddar, red onion and sour cream or the Parmesan French Fries, which are mixed with parsley, rosemary and garlic aioli. These are to die for! If you’re limiting carbs you can choose the Side Salad or Grilled Vegetables.

But when you hit the drinks you’ll come back to that custom built theme. Choose from the signature drinks or create your own smoothie, shake or malt by putting together differing flavors to create your very own signature drink.

Dessert is a simple affair, so don’t worry that you might have to bake your own! The biggest choice you’ll be faced with, once you’ve decided between delicious Apple Crumble with a twist or Chocolate Brownie or an Oversized Cookie, will be whether to go a la mode or not. If you’re a sucker for ice cream with your warm desserts then we’d heartily recommend it.

Whether you are looking to get creative and be a burger Picasso, you just want to drop in and grab a signature burger, or like me, keep going back for those tasty Parmesan fries, The Counter will have you coming back for more each time and with hundreds of thousands of possible combinations, it’s a place you can never tire of.

The Counter is located in The Avenues, right next to the cinema on the first floor For more information visit www.thecounterburger.com or call 2259 7244. Follow The Counter Kuwait on Twitter @The_Counter_Q8, or Facebook, www.facebook.com/TheCounterME. 103

MATTHEW PERRY LEADS GO ON INTO 2013

By Andrea Mandell

Matthew Perry knows a good line when he hears one. “Someone said to me, ‘Oh, do you mix that with anything?’” Perry says, gesturing at the sweating glass of Red Bull on ice before him. “And I said, ‘If I mixed that with something, this hotel would burn down.’” “That’s a pretty good line,” he nods, chuckling. Thanks to Go On’s successful fall, Perry’s days, which often run 14 hours, are full of good lines. Perry’s half-hour comedy on NBC follows a quick-witted, emotionally challenged sportscaster, Ryan King, forced to embrace the zany grief-therapy group he’s prescribed after unexpectedly losing his wife.

Airing after The Voice, Go On continued to beat out 104

competing shows like New Girl and Happy Endings, which means the sitcom is marching into 2013 with a full season order. It’s gratifying for Perry, 43, who emits a Zen-like attitude describing the mechanics of building a successful comedy in the post-Friends television landscape. For starters, Go On has the benefit of a network that believes in it. Bob Costas introduced Go On’s pilot to 16 million viewers during the Summer Olympics, and he was so enamored with it the NBC sportscaster agreed to appear on Tuesday night’s episode titled Win at all Costas. The secret sauce of Go On’s success?

Lovable losers, its star says. “I think if you look back at all those great comedies on television in the past,

it’s all lovable losers that gathered together - Taxi and Cheers, Seinfeld and Friends,” Perry says. “They’re all sort of this group of bent losers who find a family together. And (Go On) would be sort of the pinnacle example of that.”

Perry’s close involvement with the creative process has made the show better, says creator and executive producer Scott Silveri, who wrote the ghost of Ryan’s dead wife into the fourth episode after Perry suggested the concept. “He gets the show and he’s a really smart guy,” Silveri says. “If he likes it, it usually means it’s pretty good.”

The sometimes-absurdist comedy, rooted in the common bonds of life-altering tragedy, found Perry last year as he was searching for a drama. “But of all the drama scripts that I had looked at or had been offered to me (the Go On script) also had the most dramatic scene of all of that in it,” Perry says, detailing the scene in which Ryan is forced to reveal the sudden and wrenching loss of his wife to a group of colorful strangers. The character even vaguely reminds Perry of Chandler Bing “if something really bad happened to him.” “At this stage in Matthew’s career, he’s such a good dramatic actor, it would be unfortunate if he was in a show where he didn’t get to use those skills,” says executive producer Jon Pollack. “He’s been very courageous with wanting to push the drama of the show.”

With Go On gaining traction, Perry reflects on some of the lessons gleaned from projects left behind post-Friends. After taking his final bow as Chandler in 2004, Perry signed onto Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in 2006, a short-lived, big-budget Aaron Sorkin project in which he played the brilliant, if temperamental, creator behind an SNL-like show.

“Studio 60 taught me that even if a show has this insane amount of power behind it, you never know what’s going to happen. I was really proud of being part of that, because that pilot was just as good as anything I’ve seen on television. I can’t believe I was in it.” Brought to air at the same time as fellow show-within-a-show NBC comedy 30 Rock, Studio 60 bowed out after its first season.

In 2011, Perry developed his own sitcom on ABC, Mr. Sunshine, “which taught me the lesson that I never want to create and star in a TV show simultaneously,” says Perry, who spent most nights on that show eating dinner on a moving golf cart. “My hat’s off to Tina Fey. I don’t know how she did it. It’s so much work.” He also has been expanding his profile. Thanks to a heralded turn as slippery politico Mike Kresteva on The Good Wife, one of Perry’s own favorite shows, the actor has shown audiences that he can turn on the gristle as easily as the imp. “I think the most different character I’ve played other than Chandler is probably what I’m doing on The Good Wife,’” Perry says. “I’ve never played a bad guy like that before. The guy who will just lie to your face and not have any sense of guilt about it.”

th

NIKE STORE

OPENING

NIKE

at

SOKU 3rd AVENUE

THE AVENUES

w w w. a a w. c o m

For more information

1804449 www.aaw.com

Artist of the month

STARNES&SHAH New single, “ 2 4 Million” By bazaar staff

Back in November 2011 bazaar introduced our readers to Starnes&Shah, a vocal duo comprised of Zilpha Starnes (keyboards and vocals) and Dania Abu-Shaheen (guitar and vocals). The group was formed in Astoria NY in 2005. Shah (Dania) writes the music and Starnes (Zilpha) sings the harmony. The music ranges from paired down acoustic ditties to rock anthems, complete with choral arrangements and layered guitar effects.

The indie folk-rock duo recently released a new single from their upcoming album Shilling for Dreamtown. The new song, titled “24 Million” is a clear demonstration of the band’s ability to keep vocal harmony at the forefront of their sound as they continue to evolve from an acoustic duo to a full group rocking out with brightly layered guitars, quirky and infectious synths, and a 106

groovy rhythm section. The song is full of positivity and looking ahead and you can’t help but share the sentiment as the ladies of Starnes&Shah sing this soaring anthem of forgiveness, new found possibility, and the triumph of overcoming pain. By the end of the tune you’ll be singing along gleefully and remembering that struggle and triumph are constants in our lives, and the rhythm of the two - our ups and downs - makes it all so exciting. So wherever you are, here’s hoping 2013 brings you personal victories whatever your struggles may be. Crank up this tune, sing along, and remember: it will all be OK! To learn more about Starnes&Shah visit www.starnesandshah.com and their Facebook page www.facebook.com/starnesandshah.

© 2013 Curves International, Inc.

®

ì / 2013/33 / ∑ ‐ ´

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On the first day of Spring, mothers are honored and remembered on Mother’s Day. The most sincere gift can be offered for her dedication, sacrifice, and unconditional love is a bouquet of heartfelt and healthy token of appreciation.

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Over 10,000 Locations in Over 80 Countries

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To: 30 / 4 / 2013 ®

15 KD

© 2013 Curves International, Inc.

To: My Lovely Mother Amount: Fifteen Kuwaiti Dinars.

Valid only at the following Curves locations: www.CurvesME.com Curves Hotline: (+965) 22261739

Bairaq: El-Egaila, Bairaq mall, 4th floor Tel. +965 2226 1734 bairaq@curvesme.com

Jabriya: Block 1B, Street 1, Building 6 Tel. +965 2226 1731 Jabriya@curvesme.com

Salwa: Block 2, Street 1, Building 315 Tel. +965 2226 1735 salwa@curvesme.com

Discovery: Sharq, Al-Soor st., Discovery Mall, Basement Tel. +965 2226 1733 discovery@curvesme.com

Salmiya: Qatar Street, Block 5, Bldg 17, Basement Tel. +965 2226 1730 salmiyah@curvesme.com

The amount is subtracted from price of joining fee.

Cannot be exchanged for cash.

Valid for one person only per voucher.

ì / 2013/33 / ∑ ‐ ´

Valid from: 1 / 3 / 2013

bazaar checks it out HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT OFFERS COMPLIMENTARY PERSONAL SHOPPING SERVICE Harvey Nichols Kuwait is offering a complimentary personal shopping service to enhance the luxury atmosphere and service standards of the store. The team is advising shoppers on style and the latest trends in the world of international fashion, and on how to choose outfits which perfectly fit their individual style. The store promises to make sure that shoppers get the advice of an experienced fashion expert who understands exactly what they want. Middle Eastern customers, especially Kuwaitis, are well aware of the latest fashion trends, very fashion conscious and their brand awareness is very high, which makes the job of a personal shopper all the more difficult. Whether you are short of time and ideas, looking for that perfect outfit, or would just like to refresh your wardrobe or revamp your style, Harvey Nichols Kuwait has a creative personal shopper team ready to assist you.

For your appointment with a personal shopper, please call 2228 3008 or ask for one in person at Harvey Nichols Kuwait, Grand Avenue – The Avenues.

STING: LIVE IN CONCERT FLASH Entertainment is pleased to announce that on Thursday, 14 March, the iconic musician Sting will perform at the du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

For his performance in Abu Dhabi, Sting will play many well-known hits from his solo career, plus classics from his time as the front man of one of the world’s most popular bands, The Police.

Sting will be joined by a 5-piece band including his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), David Sancious (keyboards) Peter Tickell (electric fiddle), and Jo Lawry (vocals).

Don’t miss your chance to see Sting live in Abu Dhabi. Tickets on sale at www.thinkflash.ae or 800FLASH (35274).

Tickets start at AED295 for General Admission, AED695 for Golden Circle category and AED495 for the Grandstand seated category.

WORLD-FAMED SUPPERCLUB TO OPEN FIRST MIDDLE EAST OUTLET IN DUBAI supperclub, the world-famed address for exquisite fine dining, artistic entertainment and sensational hospitality, originally from Amsterdam, Holland, is soon to open its first destination in the region.

The creative and unparalleled restaurant and lounge concept, set in the luxurious Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, follows in the footsteps of famed venues in Amsterdam, Istanbul, San Francisco, Los Angeles and London, each rooted in the respective city’s artistic expression with cutting edge art, fine dining and spectacular entertainment. The dramatic two floored design offers six dining and entertainment options where guests can indulge in experimental dishes from famed Head Chef Dom Robinson.

The choreographed entertainment, set amidst the fine dining ambience, will range from aerial and acrobatic artists, inspiring musicians and showcases by international and local creative talent, all designed to stimulate the senses. supperclub Dubai pays homage to the secret restaurant phenomenon and will serve as a prestigious nightlife haunt for the region’s society set.

AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE BODY SHOP IS FINALLY CELEBRATING THE END OF ANIMAL TESTING FOR COSMETICS IN EUROPE! A significant milestone in The Body Shop’s campaigning history has been reached.

Following a meeting with Tonio Borg, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, Cruelty Free International have confirmed that, from March 11, 2013, the import and sale of animal tested cosmetic products and ingredients is to be completely banned in the EU. This means that any products or ingredients that are tested on animals cannot be imported, and sold in the EU. The ban sends a strong message worldwide in support of cruelty free beauty and in particular to countries who still demand animal testing for cosmetics, to also respond and ban testing on animals. This is an historic achievement for The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International! Congratulations to everyone in The Body Shop community who has supported their long standing campaigns Against Animal Testing and been so instrumental in making this happen.

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NEXT LAUNCHES SPRING SUMMER 2013 AT THE AVENUES The unveiled forward thinking women’s collection for SS13 mixes delicate blooms, graphic prints and structured lines. Texture is also key with lace, brocade and applique. The big trends are reflected in chic monochromes, electric blue and the softest of greys all in a no nonsense simple silhouette. Structured suiting, slick pencil skirts and dresses that will wow time and time again are either on trend striped, polka dot or decorated with a graphic floral print.

Next celebrates men’s SS13 with an abundance of colour, print and pattern. Heritage and tradition are ever present and run throughout the collection which also has a serious modern edge allowing men of today to appear dapper and of the moment. Colour is key with tops in bright, bold yellow, orange and cobalt blue and denim jeans in all washes from raw sun washed vintage to bleached effects - and everything in between - available in straight, slim and skinny fit.

WATANIYA TELECOM LAUNCHES “WASIL” PACK Wataniya has always been a pioneer in understanding and fulfilling the expectation of its customers. By introducing the new Wasil pack Wataniya has empowered each and every prepaid customer to customize their usage as per their needs and expectations. Prepaid customers are now able to subscribe to a choice of pack which will include local minutes, SMS and for the first time in Kuwait they will also include mobile internet. These bundles will create a rich portfolio for Wataniya with a number of flexible offers that will fit the diverse needs of its wide customer base. The varieties of Wasil pack include: Wasil Full pack, Wasil Basic pack, Wasil Small pack, Wasil Favorites pack and Wasil International pack. Wataniya Prepaid Customers can browse and choose their Wasil pack by simply dialing *141# and following the easy confirmation steps. All this makes the process of joining any pack and enjoying a variety of services extremely convenient without the need to visit any branch or dealer.

MILANO LAUNCHES NEW SPRING SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION Unveiling an inspirational women’s footwear range, Milano introduces key trends of the spring summer catwalk to your wardrobe. Embellished wedges, brightly coloured peep toes and glitzy courts and moccasins are all key themes in Milano’s new collection. The Tribal story sees many different silhouettes with embellished wedges, rainbow heels and stacked heels providing a geometric edge in rustic colours. Glitz and Glamour incorporates the traditional court shoe with a dazzling modern twist, providing a sprinkling of studs layered onto bright colours. The studded moccasin also makes a comeback this season in a variety of bright summer colours which are sure to get you noticed. For men, colour has been introduced in the boat shoe story, with dark blue and red adding colour to any outfit and the traditional leather sandal comes in varying styles to keep feet looking and feeling cool during the summer. Milano’s Spring Summer Collection will add style to your look. So why not treat your feet this season at Milano.

VILEBREQUIN SPRING SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION This season, Zaza de Brito, artistic director of the Vilebrequin fashion house, brings us all the way to the heart of the Pacific Ocean, inviting us to follow in the footsteps of Captain Cook, who discovered the Society Islands Archipelago in 1769: the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands, including Tahiti, Bora Bora, Maupiti, and Moorea.

The printed beachwear of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection pays homage to the culture and traditions of the islands through the emblems of French Polynesia. Printed beachwear designs reflect the gecko, the little lizard often seen in Polynesian tattoos, as well as the lagoon-inhabiting stingray, the Ma’oMauri and black tip shark,and topical white tiaré flowers.

Vilebrequin 2013 collection of inspired shades of blue, naturally, includes emerald, sapphire, sky, and lagoon, among others. But it is also characterized by rich, hibiscus-inspired orange tones alongside black and white, used to produce the effect of photographic souvenirs.

Now Available in Stores, 360 Mall and The Avenues Mall.

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THE OPEN MIC

By Ayman Nassar

It is said that mankind’s number one fear is death. The second greatest fear is public speaking.

Therefore it is logical to assume if one can overcome the second fear, they become one step closer to leading a life without fear.

On February 1st an open mic night was held in Kuwait. Normal everyday people who believe in themselves enough to brave the stage before a crowd of strangers were each given 5 minute spots to showcase their talents. There were rappers, musicians, guitarists, poets and comedians, I being the latter. Upon my arrival, looking up towards the venue where I would be “performing”, my palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy, like a scene out of 8 Mile. I had never done this before, EVER. My public entertainment career can be summed up in two events; an impromptu Toastmasters appearance and my now infamous terrible rendition of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” dance after the Kuwait Charity Run’s Half Marathon 110

last November. The runner’s world recognizes me. Just the other day as I was approaching two strangers to ask them to join my running initiative, one of them asked if I was the Gangnam runner, and I told her she was correct!

So, there I was, walking into the venue, my first conundrum came when I could not find my name on “the list”. Later I found out I was checking the wrong one and I was not there as a guest, but as a performer.

I greeted the host who put this amazing ensemble evening together, the Master of Ceremonies, and by far the funniest woman I ever did meet.

By day she is a teacher, by night an organizer of unparalleled events.

She was extremely sweet and very supportive; she even gave me the green light to make fun of her in my act. I was given the 7th spot (lucky number 7), just before intermission.

As I took a seat I realized I was surrounded by guitars, amps and strangers. I was a nervous wreck but everyone around me was cool as a

cucumber. I sat at a table with a poet who later would wow everyone with his deep poetic insight.

I was furiously writing and rewriting my bit, adding new ideas, removing ones that I believed would not get a laugh out of the crowd. I must have seemed quite the nerd sitting there with a paper and pen, with everyone tapping away on their iPads and smart phones.

People started arriving in throngs, packing the venue to capacity. I surveyed the room to get a feel of the crowd and realized that some of my material would not be understood, so again I took pen to paper and amended the ideas. Fortunately for me I had a mentor in the crowd.

George Tarabay, an established and professional comedian gave me valuable pointers, the best being to put down the pen and paper 5 minutes before my bit. I obliged.

Due to late arrivals, the show was delayed by half an hour. By then everyone had taken a seat and there was quite a crowd standing at the entrance. The MC took to the floor and the show was on.

It was only at the end of the first bit that I was hit with the stark realization that the majority of Kuwait’s talent happen to be in their teenage years!

I took a second look around the crowd, and sure enough, quite a few were probably dropped off by their parents. That represented an untapped resource of talent that only gets a chance to shine during school talent shows or band battles.

The countdown had begun with the cessation of the first act. I was one performance closer to my own.

Fortunately, I had friends in the crowd that soothed my nerves, and promised to laugh out loud no matter what (cheating I know).

When I heard the MC mention that many of the performers were making their very first try before a live audience, a breath of fresh air swept over me. She never failed to admire the courage that the performers displayed by standing before a crowd. When someone dares to step up before a group of strangers, to step out of their comfort zone, they discover the amazing ability they have within. One woman shined above all

others, with a heart provoking poem written addressed to her unborn daughter. The musicians took center stage and thrilled the crowd with both renditions as well as original pieces. The euphoria of witnessing their bravery was contagious, and pretty soon I was loose as a goose and ready to unleash my supposed comedic relief.

After what seemed an eternity, my bit had finally come up. The MC set the mood by informing everyone that I was a first timer, and that should I fail to make them laugh that they would not heckle me, and instead just stare at me judgmentally. No pressure. No pressure.

My first two jokes were greeted by icy silence. People did not see the humor in the moniker of Stand Up Comedy Kuwait (S.U.C.K.). Nor did they take kindly to me asking the laughers amongst them to tickle the silent ones.

Fortunately for me, George took notice of my plight and applauded, which got everyone else applauding, which gave me my second wind.

The most amazing feeling afterward was having strangers come up to me and say “that was good, you really made me laugh”. It was invigorating. I had the material and needed to work on my delivery. The best thing about the whole event was that it can only go uphill from here. Once you break that first barrier of fear, everything will fall into place. The rest of the evening was equally incredible. It is truly breathtaking to be made aware of all the musical talent available in Kuwait, young Romeo’s and Semi-Pro Rockers.

The singers stole the show with an amazing set of pipes, and I made sure to let them know that. Finally, with the last performance of the evening redefining people’s understanding of musical talent, the show drew to a close. Everyone was forever changed by their experience, both performers and audience alike.

These performers were not amateurs, they were enthusiasts.

They were not practicing a hobby, they were following a passion. And that is the first step on the road to perfection. May they all remain steadfast in their journey towards self-discovery, and continue to enlighten those around them.

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CONFLUENCE OF COLORS

By Deepa Pant

Al M Gallery recently showcased a stimulating new exhibition of Iraqi artist, Ghassan Muhsen whose works for Every Day Is A New Tale are distinctly powerful and moving. The metaphors of his expression are drawn from his multi-cultural experiences and travels. bazaar takes a look at his recent works that blur the line between past and present, facts and fantasies.

From New Delhi to New York, Ghassan Muhsen has created waves with his works of art. A career diplomat and a professional artist, Muhsen is widely known for his distinct and poetic sensibility towards identity and cross-cultural influences.

Discussing the title of his latest show, Every Day Is A New Tale, Muhsen says it was suggested by the curator and resonated with a remark made by a friend who said he saw a new birth in every piece.

A mixed-media artist, much of Muhsen’s oeuvre demonstrates his fascination with a utopian world. Each piece is suffused with floral motifs and calligraphy that provide an interesting dimension to his work, and draws the onlooker into its depths.

Through his extensive world travels, Muhsen absorbed many cultural and artistic influences that were to influence his works. “ I am always looking for inspiration and I find it everywhere, from exploring the streets of Bahrain or visiting the museums in New York,” notes the artist.

Having lived in Pakistan for nearly six years, this self-taught artist says he has been influenced by the traditional art of the Indian Sub-Continent. The countries and the people he has interacted with have left an indelible mark on his art, and that mirrors in Muhsen’s sensitive narrative. Muhsen’s use of warm colors and gold leaf conjure up something of Gustav Klimt’s abstractions in the visual dynamics of his works. “I admire Klimt a lot, but haven’t studied him or have followed his approach.”

Born in Nassiriyah, Iraq in 1945, Muhsen joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While on a diplomatic posting in New York in the 1970’s, Muhsen was influenced by New York’s vibrant cultural scene, and started painting.

Muhsen has been exhibiting regularly since 1989. His work can be found in public collections world-wide. Muhsen has to his credit over 21 solo exhibitions and 40 joint shows.

Muhsen moved to Bahrain on a diplomatic posting, and continues to live there after his retirement in 2010 as an ambassador, and now wants to be known as a painter only. This internationally acclaimed artist is a lover of music, he plays the flute and is an avid gardener.

Look out for other exhibitions at Al M Gallery.

This new artspace is located in Salhia Complex, Kuwait City. For more information, please visit www.al-m-gallery.com.

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KABABJI

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PER·FECT /’P RFIKT/ Adjective; Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be By bazaar staff

When Aisha Alloughani first approached bazaar with her story, I thought, this is unusual.

Seldom do people want to bare all about their personal struggles, and she was a girl, an Arab girl at that. I jumped on the idea and said to myself; let’s see how deep she’s willing to dig.

I asked Aisha to send me a little something about herself, just so I had some background information to be able to put together an introduction for this piece. What she wrote requires no ‘fluffing up’ on my part. This is Aisha’s story, in her words: When I first read your question, “Who is Aisha?” I thought answering it was going to be effortless, but I realized that it’s hard for me to

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know that. I’m on the journey of discovering who I am and where I stand. My eating disorder took control of me at a very young age. I kind of lost my identity to it. But I’m never giving up. I’m a fighter and will always be one no matter what.

I guess, from the very beginning, I was very mature for my age and always wanted to be the ‘tough’ one - the one who never cried when she fell down. I’m a perfectionist. I remember being such a peoplepleaser and wanting to leave the best impression even when I was as little as 5. I was the one who would be in charge of the kids at family gatherings even though they were my age. It’s funny… looking back now as I’m understanding myself more, and healing. I was definitely one of the people who were

at risk of having an eating disorder. My personality was the right fit.

I did everything perfectly. I was an A student, an artist, an athlete, you name it! I did it all! I participated in every school activity even if I didn’t enjoy it just because I wanted to be known as ‘perfect Aisha’ and it worked! But it was never enough for ME; I always wanted to do more. I always got that ‘high’ after achieving something. I never wanted to stop. It felt great!

I’m very friendly and social. I love being around people. I make people laugh easily. My eating disorder took that away, but I’m seeing myself blossom now that I’m in recovery.

I’m in love with babies. I believe that the world would be such a dark place without the existence of babies, haha. I have a little niece, she means the world to me; I remember being in treatment and having her picture in my name tag as my motivation. I never want her to grow up and wonder, “What’s wrong with Aunty Aisha?” She’s 2.

I’ve always been creative and very into art. I currently use it as a way of healing. I used to want my art to be so perfect and precise. After doing so much art therapy I learned that it doesn’t have to be perfect.

I just let myself go and let my emotions reflect on my canvas boards, and the results look awesome.

It was devastating to learn that there was something wrong with me. That idea of being perfect had taken over me. I wanted to control everything around me and turn it into the so-called ‘perfect,’ and my weight was my perfect escape. I didn’t know what an eating disorder was until my family intervened and got me medical help. I was so underweight and sick that I couldn’t go to school or even get out of bed. It was terrible. I wouldn’t want even my worst enemy to go through this. Eating disorders are so sneaky… it’s so hard to catch yourself before you fall into a dark hole. I never expected myself to go through this, whatsoever. I went to treatment when I was only 13. It was the first time I was away from my family. I stayed there for 3 months. I remember my first phone call with mom, I had a breakdown. It was the first time I really believed something was very wrong. The thought of gaining weight freaked me out. I literally had nightmares.

I’m so thankful for everything I’ve ever been through; the good and bad. I wouldn’t appreciate the little things in life if I didn’t gain this insight from the process of recovery. I learned a lot about myself and people around me. I’ve been taught coping skills to deal with daily life stressors. I’ve learned that it’s ok to fall as long as you eventually get up.

I’m so passionate about helping people. I actually LOVE helping people. When I graduate from high

school, I want to specialize in treating people with eating disorders. It would be amazing! I’m going to do what makes me happy.

I don’t mind not being that perfect ‘A student’ again. I’m healthy now. I’m perfectly imperfect.

What kind of eating disorder do you suffer from?

I suffer from Anorexia and I suffered from Bulimia at some point.

When did it start, and how long have you been aware of it?

I remember always being self-conscious when it came to food and the way I looked, especially when I was 10, but it became a full-blown eating disorder when I was 12.

Do you know what triggered it?

I can’t name one thing that triggered it.

There were so many things that provoked it. I’ve always been a perfectionist and that put a lot of pressure on me as a child. Also, one big thing that contributed to my eating disorder was the fact that I was emotional but never allowed myself to show it, so the way I reacted to certain situations made it hard for me to cope. I guess being a people-pleaser never works.

Can you please describe the mental process you go through when justifying your actions?

I call the disordered thoughts, demons. Those demons that keep telling me that I don’t deserve health and happiness - that I shouldn’t take that bite, and if I did, that I’d be the biggest ‘failure’ and that people shouldn’t see me taking that bite because that was ‘weak’. Now, as I recognize those demons, I fight back. I’d be lying if I said I’m always winning the fight, but that’s how recovery goes. It’s a rocky road. It’s not easy at all, but it’s worth it.

Are you seeking help?

Yes, I first got help when I was 13, in 2008, in Rhodes Farm in the UK and then I went to the Renfrew Center in the US in 2009, 2010 and this summer. Currently, I’m doing outpatient treatment here in Kuwait.

Does your family know?

Yes they do. They’re actually the ones who realized the fact that I have an eating disorder before I did.

How important for your healing do you think it is for your family to know and acknowledge your problem?

My family is the reason why I got help in the first place. They’re extremely validating and supportive and it’s so important for me to have that, and I believe that having that is one of the main elements to a successful recovery.

Do you think this is something that you will have to deal with for the rest of your life? As in, will the mental struggle be something you will constantly need to manage?

Yes, I think that the mental struggle will always be there but I believe that as I move forward in the journey of recovery it will be less loud.

Do you feel that talking about it is important for the healing process?

Definitely! We live in a community where eating disorders and mental illness, in general, are very taboo to talk about, so it’s extremely important for me to raise awareness which, in return, will help with the healing process.

Without naming names, how many people do you personally know with eating disorders?

I know a lot of people with eating disorders seeing that I’ve been to treatment multiple times. I also know a lot of girls here in Kuwait who struggle with eating disorders.

Do you think this is only a ‘girl problem’?

Not at all. I’ve seen an insane amount of boys dealing with eating disorders of all ages. Yes, girls are more likely to have eating disorders but that doesn’t mean that boys don’t struggle with eating disorders.

What can we do to help those already suffering with eating disorders?

I guess, be understanding and supportive. Also being aware of the struggles a person with an eating disorder goes through so that there is no judgment or stigma attached.

How do you think we can prevent people from developing eating disorders?

In a society where food and weight is constantly talked about, and beauty ideals are distorted and unachievable, raising awareness is crucial to preventing people from developing eating disorders. Awareness will help people stay away from unpleasant attitudes related to food, weight and body shapes.

Some see it as a ‘trend’ or a ‘diet’ while it’s not at all. No one ever chooses to battle this vicious demon.

The consequences and the complications of this deadly illness are not to be underestimated. I’ve lost friends to this illness. We have to raise awareness.

For more information and support, please visit the Kuwait Eating Disorder Awareness and Prevention. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/kuwaitedap/.

For anonymous support, please note that there is an EDA (eating disorder anonymous) group at Soor Center every Sunday from 6-7 pm led

by Riham AlReshaid.

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An Arab abroad

THE DRINKS DILEMMA

By Yara Al-Wazir

They say the British are famous for their love of tea; I say we sure give them a run for their money in the Gulf.

During my first year, I shared a kitchen with five British people; throughout the year, we realised that regardless of how international the schools we went to are, or how ‘openminded’ we claimed we were, our cultures still shocked us. One of the biggest disagreements we’d have was when I’d try to explain to them that Chai Haleeb is not the same as tea with milk.

1- The Perfect Cup of Tea George Orwell wrote the “Eleven Golden Rules” of making the perfect 116

cup of tea, and throughout the years, the rules have been investigated, tested, and tried by many. The British are so adamant about perfecting their tea, that a Dr Andy Stapley at Loughborough University even performed full-scale academic research on how to make the perfect cup of tea, from a chemical engineering vantage point.

The truth is we all have our preferences when it comes to tea.

Personally, I like a strong tea (or builders tea, as it’s known in the UK), one sugar, with a few tablespoons of cardamom and cinnamon infused milk.

I went grocery shopping a few

hours after moving into my dorm in my first semester; the static in the air that surrounded me when I didn’t find the brand of tea that I’m used to, could resuscitate anyone. The second I got home, I planned my next trip to London so as to visit the infamous Edgware Road, as I was sure one of the grocery stores there would have my tea.

Although I did end up finding my favourite brand of tea in London, adjusting is all part of the process of moving away from home. I mixed and matched and tried different brands of tea, sometimes even multiple brands in a single teapot, till I found one that was acceptable. At that point, I settled.

Regardless, I still bring back a box of my favourite tea every time I go home, but only drink it on special occasions or when I’m homesick. It’s a warm reminder of home.

Cardamom was also an issue – cardamom flavoured condensed milk is a nightmare to find anywhere but your local co-op; instead, I bring freshly ground cardamom seeds and warm them up with my milk. Be sure to store them in a glass container rather than plastic so that they preserve their smell – speaking from experience here.

2- Turkish, Arabic, and American Coffee Although Tea is my go-to beverage in the morning, I prefer coffee all other times in the day. Turkish, Arabic, American, espresso – there’s a time and place for each one of them. Sadly, in the chaos that entailed packing my life into a single 23 Kg suitcase, I forgot the ibrik, my Turkish coffee potboiler. Alas, I was left with a bag of freshly ground Turkish coffee (with extra cardamom of course) but no pot to boil it in.

Desperate times call for desperate measures – I ended up using a saucepan to make my coffee in, which I drank out of a chocolate mousse cup. Although thinking back now, that coffee does not compare to the one I make back home in any shape or form, at that point in time, it was the warmest, most beautifully smelling reminder of home.

I definitely brought a lot of drinks from Kuwait to the UK, but during my time here, I’ve also discovered some drinks that are worth taking back to Kuwait. My love for coffee exploration is reignited during finals week, and this year I discovered caramel and hazelnut freeze-dried coffee. Not only does it smell like hot chocolate on Christmas morning, a single cup is strong enough to get me through an all-nighter. I’ll definitely be bringing a jar back to Kuwait.

3– Your Local Juice Shop Nothing quite beats waiting in the car for some fresh juice mixed with some form of energy drink. I’ll be honest; I haven’t found the Western equivalent. The closest I’ve gotten is the milk-shake shop around the corner from my house, but that store puts Oreo’s in every one of their drinks, and when it’s early in the morning and I’m just looking for a pick-me-upsmoothie, Oreo’s don’t cut it.

4- The Western Drinks Living with five British people my first year, as I’ve written before, was definitely an eye-opening experience.

Not just into their lives and habits, but into the culture of drinking that exists in the West. As curious as I am about different flavoured coffees, when it comes to mixing different juices, I’m not so keen. For my taste buds, juice has to be sweet. If it’s not, I’m not interested. As such, the creativity in apple and cranberry pomegranate juice drinks doesn’t excite me, and I tend to skip the juice aisle when doing my weekly shop. After all, nothing compares to KDD, and nothing beats an authentic homemade Chai Haleeb served on a silver tray.

Yara Al Wazir is an activist and student currently based in the UK her monthly column reflects on her experience of moving away from the familiarity and comfort of Kuwait, to the UK in pursuit of a university degree. She can be reached via Twitter on @YaraWazir.

KITCHENAID

WORK FROM A COFFEE SHOP Why you should work from a coffee shop, even when you have an office

By Wesley Verhoeve

While team Family Records was in between offices in early 2012, we had 6 weeks to bridge until our new space was ready. During that time we were fortunate enough to be taken in 118

as guests by awesome companies for stretches of time, and for the remainder we took over corners of coffee shops all over Brooklyn and Manhattan. The experience of working out of

coffee shops was so positive that even after we moved into our new home, I made sure to get in a few “coffee shop days” each month.

For carpal tunnel related reasons alone, I would not recommend working out of coffee shops every day, but here are some reasons why it might be great to try it for one or two days every month.

A change of environment stimulates creativity.

Even in the most awesome of offices we can fall into a routine, and a routine is the enemy of creativity. Changing your environment, even just for a day, brings new types of input and stimulation, which in turn stimulates creativity and inspiration.

Fewer distractions It sounds counter-intuitive, but working from a bustling coffee shop can be less distracting than working from a quiet office. Being surrounded by awesome team and office-mates means being interrupted for water cooler chats and work questions. Being interrupted kills productivity. The coffee shop environment combines the benefit of anonymity with the dull buzz of exciting activity.

Unlike working at home, with the ever-present black hole of solitude and procrastination, a coffee shop provides the opportunity of human interaction, on your terms.

Community and meeting new people.

Meeting new people always provides me with new ideas, a different perspective at existing problems, or an interesting connection to a new person doing something awesome that inspires me. Today alone I met a top Skillshare teacher whose class I will now take, a sleep consultant and a publicist who offered to help with a project, To make the best out of your coffee shop days, keep a few things in mind: Rotate coffee shops. Rather than going to the same coffee shop every time, switch it up, and avoid the stifling feeling of routine you were trying to avoid in the first place.

Buy something. Don’t be a cheapskate nursing that one coffee throughout the day. Buy some stuff throughout the day, and tip well. Coffee shop workers are awesome, and they’ll be awesome to you if you are a good customer. That hidden power plug will be revealed, an extra free refill will be given, an introduction will be made.

Placement. Don’t sit near the door or the register, if you can avoid it. Temperature differences and high traffic don’t help you to focus.

Power up. Come with a full charge. I like to not bring a power cord, unlike most folks, because I get 6 hours out of my laptop battery, and it forces me to take a break and work with focus because I will run out eventually.

MAX

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www.maxfashionretail.com

bazaar investigates NIKE MERCURIAL VAPOR IX DELIVERS PERFORMANCE INNOVATION AND EXPLOSIVE SPEED Speed Control textured upper gives boot added control and touch to capitalize on gamechanging moments.

In today’s highly technical and fast game, straight line speed and ability to simply pass a player is only part of the player’s skill set. Combining performance innovation and a heritage of lightweight boots for fast players, the Nike Mercurial Vapor IX takes this legacy to the next level for players who rely on tight cuts and turns combined with bursts of explosive speed to beat the opposition.

The Mercurial Vapor IX is engineered with a completely new upper to deliver a level of support and touch for players to deliver a deadly combination of speed and skill when it matters most. Nike’s new Speed Control texture on the upper gives players the confidence to perform at speed with enhanced friction that combines with a snug and responsive fit -- a hallmark of Mercurial boots.

G-STAR SUMMER COLLECTION 2013 MEN G-Star – New 3D denim for men G-Star continues the evolution of 3D denim and introduces new fits for men, the Charlie pant and A-Crotch. The Charlie features a 3D bowleg silhouette and an extremely loose top block with a low crotch construction, inspired by vintage workwear pants. G-Star also introduces a new A-Crotch.

The panel inserted on the inside of the leg creates a 3D silhouette, which is further articulated by the horizontal seam (a dart) on the inside leg panel. The A-Crotch also features distinct details including the exaggerated pockets, and the A-shaped artwork on the back pockets.

G-Star – 3D denim jackets Originator of 3D denim with the G-Star Elwood and Arc pant, G-Star now applies the same techniques to denim jackets. The 3D sleeves - designed using innovative paper patterns - allow for greater freedom of movement, due to the intelligent sleeve construction.

HACKETT LONDON DRESSES SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES AT THE 2013 EE BAFTA AWARDS Luxury menswear brand, Hackett London, was delighted to attend The EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House, London. The Film Awards are the Academy’s highest film honours, rewarding the best work of any nationality seen on British cinema screens during the preceding year.

To celebrate Hackett’s partnership, Hackett’s dressed some of the biggest names at the 2013 award ceremony which included: Stephen Fry, host for The BAFTA’s in 2013 wore a Hackett bespoke dinner suit, shawl collar waistcoat, pleat front formal shirt and a Hackett Mayfair pocket square. Samuel L Jackson, presenting the award for Best Film wore a Hackett Mayfair peak lapel velvet dinner jacket in navy, Hackett dress shirt and formal trousers.

Mark Strong, presenting the award for Cinematography wore a Hackett Mayfair three piece suit in navy, white Hackett Chelsea shirt and Hackett Mayfair tie.

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS LAUNCHES LIGHT & BRIGHT SPRING COLLECTION American Eagle Outfitters Inc., a leading lifestyle apparel brand catering for women and men,15 to 25 years old, has announced the launch of its latest spring collection in all AEO stores in Kuwait. The collection continues to build on the idea of individual style and the spirit of the individual. The assortment is light and bright with pops of neon, airy fabrics, and new prints. As always, denim remains the foundation of the brand and is seen in pants, shorts, jackets and even dresses this spring. For the AEO girl, light & bright is seen through neon colors and faded sorbet bottoms. Light & bright carries through the collection for the AEO guy this season too.

Colored bottoms are a key idea in both shorts and pants, especially washed neons and other brights for a worn in, casual look.

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MIDDLE EAST TRAVELERS CHOOSE SUPER STAYS WITH THE STARS Travelers from the Gulf and Levant region are increasingly opting for ultimate luxury stays, according to the Middle East’s popular entertainment destination, Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.

Dubai’s ultimate luxury suite A Super Suite stay at the resort is one of the premium experiences on offer in Dubai. The Royal Bridge Suite is the most lavish at Atlantis, costing AED129,000++ per night in the 924 square metre three-bedroom suite.

Grand and intimate luxury At AED45,000++ and 429 square metres, the two Grand Atlantis Suites form the dramatic crowning glory of Atlantis. Each has a commanding view over Palm Island and the Arabian Gulf, and a grand sun terrace that spans three sides of the suite.

Luxury choices for families The resort’s two Presidential Suites are a popular choice for large families choosing to stay in Dubai in ultimate luxury. At AED 20,000++, each 220 square metre suite features interconnecting rooms and a dining table for 10, as well as an endless elegant couch that wraps around the room.

Underwater honeymoons The renowned Underwater Suites at Atlantis (AED29,500++) are a popular option for honeymooners wanting a unique luxury experience. The floor-to-ceiling views from the master bedroom directly into The Ambassador Lagoon aquarium create an illusion of being beneath the sea. Three stories high and 165 square metres, the suite is intimate and elegant.

Guests are treated to complete opulence during their stay at Atlantis, starting with a complimentary luxury car transfer and VIP check in. Each suite offers the utmost in bespoke service including private chefs and a personal butler available for guest’s every need. Guests also enjoy full access to the resort’s attractions, such as Aquaventure, the region’s largest waterpark and The Lost Chambers, the streets of the lost city teeming with exotic sea life. In addition, guests receive two complimentary shallow water dolphin interactions at Dolphin Bay, daily complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea and evening cocktails, as well as access to Imperial Club.

Bookings can be made online: www.atlantisthepalm.com; phone: +971 4 426 2000; or Email: reservations@atlantisthepalm.com.

CURVES KUWAIT Have you ever visited health clubs and did not find the most suitable club? Can you spend 30 minutes 3 times a week for the sake of healthy lifestyle and strengthen your body? Do you prefer working out in all women environment?

If you answer all the questions yes, then Curves Club is the right fit for you.

Curves clubs all around the world are known for “NO MEN, NO MAKEUP AND NO MIRRORS” to provide comfort for all women to reach their goals. Curves works every major muscle group with a complete 30-minute workout that combines strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance.

Curves also works to help women lose weight, gain muscle strength and aerobic capacity, and raise metabolism with its groundbreaking, scientifically proven method that ends the need for perpetual dieting.

Curves in Kuwait is located in 6 convenient locations, Jabriya, Salmiya, Al-Sha’ab Albahri, Discovery Mall, Al-Bairaq Mall and Salwa. For more information call 2226 1739 or visit www.CurvesME.com.

HILL+KNOWLTON STRATEGIES LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CRISIS SIMULATOR Helps Companies and Government Agencies test their crisis management skills Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K), a leading international communications consultancy, today announced the Kuwait launch of their newest offering, ‘Flight School’, a proprietary technology which simulates online crisis scenarios, allowing companies to practice their response to possible crisis situations. The simulator was developed to help organizations prepare in advance for crisis by allowing them to select a customized scenario, and then undergoing an interactive training session led by experienced professionals specializing in crisis management and emergency response. Using a unique dashboard, the program shows participants a realistic mock-up of how the crisis would unfold through various online channels, and allows them to practice and test their response. Through this new simulation tool, organizations can also interact with traditional and social media without the risk of posting anything publicly.

Information about how your organization can participate can be found at www.hkstrategies.com/flightschool, or by contacting Rami El Adly at 2233 1770 or ramiyousef.eladly@hkstrategies.

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big boys toys Because grown men still need to play

LAMBORGHINI SESTO CONCEPT

CST-01 WATCH

HP’S FIRST CHROMEBOOK

It’s only a concept, but my, what a concept it is!

The Lamborghini Sesto Concept is setting a new bar for lightweight supercars, thanks to advanced carbon fiber technology construction that gives it a curb weight of just over 2,200 lbs. — and that’s including its V10 engine and permanent all-wheel drive. While the V10 outputs “only” 570 hp, that’s still good enough for a 1.75 kg per hp power-toweight ratio and an insane 0-62 mph time of just 2.5 seconds. If you’re wanting to get your hands on one, you’d best wish for: A.) Lamborghini to make it and; B.) some sort of financial windfall, because this thing isn’t going to come cheap.

“The World’s Thinnest Watch” is a bold claim to make — but at just 0.8mm thick, we’re inclined to believe it. The CST-01 Watch (KD 35) achieves this by packing its guts — a battery, E Ink display, and controller chip — into a 0.5mm pocket etched into the single-piece stainless steel band. That doesn’t leave much room for controls, of course, which is why they’re mounted on the recharging base — although with a 10 minute charge time and monthlong battery life, you’re not going to be visiting the base very often. Available in white or black.

Hewlett-Packard has launched its first ever Chrome OS-based laptop: the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook (KD 90). The 14-inch device, whose existence was first confirmed in a leak recently, comes with a 1.1GHz Intel Celeron 847 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage memory, and a 1,366x768 pixel screen. The device is quite heavy for a Chromebook: according to HP, it weighs “just under 4 pounds.” On the connectivity front, it sports three USB 2.0 sockets, Ethernet, HDMI and an SD memory card reader. Buyers also get 100GB of Google Drive space for two years. Available in the U.S. right now over at HPDirect.com.

www.uncrate.com

www.mashable.com

www.uncrate.com

SQUBA

LEHMANN GOPRO AERIAL VEHICLE

More than 30 years since Roger Moore’s 007 put the idea into every guy’s head, someone has finally replicated the underwater auto experience. Swiss design company Rinspeed has created the sQuba (KD 400,000), the world’s first submersible car.

Based on the Lotus Elise, the all-electric convertible can drive you to the lake in style and then dive underwater to a depth of over 30 feet. The car’s engine was removed and replaced by three motors — one for land driving, good for up to 75 mph, and two others for the underwater propellers.

Sure, you can get some cool footage from remotecontrolled planes and helicopters — but you have to know how to fly the damn things first.

The Lehmann LA100 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (KD 375) removes that piece of the equation by autonomously flying around at heights of up to 300 feet for 5 minutes before returning back to you.

Designed specifically for use with the GoPro Hero 2 or 3, you simply strap a camera to the top, bottom, or both, launch it, and wait for its return to view your footage. It’s really that simple.

Tired of needing a lift to get you back up the hill each time you want to ride down, or worse yet, having to start only where the lift will take you? Take a look at Splitsticks (KD 500). This splitboarding system lets you snowboard down the hill and then split the board in half to hike back up it. In addition to the multiple hike modes, the ‘sticks also offers a ski mode that lets you skate on flat sections, and a traditionally cambered tail, floaty nose, and good flex pattern when you’re ready to ride.

www.uncrate.com

www.uncrate.com

www.splitsticks.com

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UNMANNED

SPLITSTICKS

TRIM N STYLE

IS FACEBOOK FINALLY USEFUL?

By Farhad Manjoo

I don’t generally like stuff. I don’t check in either, and the one or two times I’ve tagged someone, I’ve usually regretted it (they have too). Part of the problem is that I’m an introvert.

I’ve amassed loads of friends and followers on Facebook, but I’m not a naturally social person, and I don’t like bothering everyone with the news that I watch Girls. (For that, follow me on Twitter.)

The deeper issue, though, is that Facebook has never explained why we’re supposed to be liking and checking in and tagging. Some people do this stuff as a means of self-expression — your profile is your face on the Web, so you like Arcade Fire and you check in to that new vegan place because you want to make a statement about who you are.

But for most of us liking is just a lot of trouble. We use Facebook to keep in touch with friends. Unlike Google or Amazon, Facebook is a place to have fun, not a utility where you make decisions about what to buy or where to go. And for some critics, Facebook’s inherent purposelessness seems like a huge shortcoming — if it’s just for fun, then however big it gets, it’s vulnerable to the next fun thing to come along (Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest or something else).

This week, Facebook finally made itself useful. It gave us a reason to care about likes, check-ins and tags. That reason is a search engine, which Facebook is calling Graph Search. It’s a feature that many users have long demanded. Now, you can type in simple queries to find the most interesting photos, businesses, or media among your connections or across Facebook’s hordes. For instance, if you want 124

to know which TV shows your friends enjoy, just type “TV shows liked by my friends” into the new search box at the top of your screen. Also, you can go even further, slicing up your network — or even all of Facebook’s users — into tinier and tinier niches. If you’re a New Yorker who’s planning a Girls party, try “friends who like Girls who live in NYC.” If you’re a guy looking for a deeper connection, add a few more parameters: “photos of friends of friends who like Girls who live in NYC who are single women between 20 and 34 and like Arcade Fire.”

I actually tried that query, and it worked — meaning, Facebook did understand what I was looking for. But it didn’t produce any results — that is, my dream woman doesn’t exist, or, if she does, she hasn’t liked Girls and Arcade Fire on Facebook.

When you get access to the new search engine — it’s being rolled out to Facebook’s users “very slowly,” Mark Zuckerberg said at this week’s launch event — I suspect that you, like me, will spend a half hour typing in many such odd juxtapositions of people, places and things.

You’ll immediately notice Facebook search’s amazing user interface and flexibility. You’ll also spot one glaring problem: The search results aren’t that good. While many of the answers I got back were on the money, a lot of them were strange. For example, when I searched for “Restaurants liked by people who live in San Francisco, California” and “Restaurants liked by people who live in Palo Alto, California” I got the same top result: Facebook’s corporate cafeteria, the Facebook Culinary Team. Now, I’ve had a couple good sandwiches at Facebook’s café, but I don’t remember ever being knocked off my feet.

Something with the search engine seemed screwy.

These sometimes strange results aren’t fatal.

Zuckerberg and others who worked on the new engine stressed that they’re rolling it out so slowly in part because they need a lot more users to improve its results. Search algorithms improve as more people use them, which I’d bank on happening here.

If that does happen, Facebook search could become an important part of your daily Web scrounging — I can imagine using it as my first stop to find hotels, restaurants, doctors and maybe even the consumer products I now go to Amazon for.

Facebook’s search engine brings its rivalry with Google into stark relief, especially when you consider that Facebook is using Bing as a fallback — when it can’t find you good social results, it shows you Web results from Bing. As it is today, Facebook’s new search shouldn’t send anyone at Google into a panic. No one is going to use this as a substitute for good old Web search. If anyone should be worried about Facebook’s search right now, it’s Yelp, Trip Advisor, LinkedIn and other specialty social and review sites.

However, today’s Facebook search is only the first version, and as long as users cooperate, it’s bound to improve dramatically. It’s wise to remember, too, that Facebook doesn’t have to beat Google’s search engine to hurt Google as a business. If Facebook search becomes only the second most useful site on the Web, it would add to the social network’s existing role as the Web’s biggest time-waster. In other words, if Facebook perfects its vision of search, the social network would be fun and useful, all in one. That would be a worth a lot of billions.

EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS

THE HABBA

By Danah Jbara

Growing up in the Kuwaiti culture there’s plenty that we’ve grown accustomed to, mainly wanting what everybody else has. It’s not just your usual global trends such as Apple products or Starbucks Coffee. Whether it’s 126

the way we dress, the businesses we start, the places we eat down to the perfume we wear, it has to be like the rest of our fellows or else… we just won’t fit.

Being unique just doesn’t cut it. Men: you

have to own a pair of Tod’s or Toms, you absolutely have to have a stock of A&F or Hackett at home, with a few colored poufy vests and you definitely can’t leave the house without your toiletry bag that you’ve vainly abused as a murse (men’s

purse). Yes, I can tell by your wrists, keys and wallet, that Bottega is your favorite brand too.

Thankfully the craze of Fierce and Black Orchid colognes is now fading but of course we can’t get enough of that Creed.

Ladies: Who said it has to rain for you to pull out your Hunters and your UGGS to bear the Siberian colds of Kuwait? Make sure to grab that Trapeze or Birkin the second you step out of the country, along with a pair of Hi-Tops, preferably Marants, since we all know they’ll wonder where you got it from, and then get it the week after.

I’m sure by now, you know that leggings have officially replaced pants and whatever it is, if it’s not studded or spiked it’s just not cool enough.

Amongst the saturation of cupcake bakeries and burger joints, fashion designers/stylists and turban heads, come the race of the glamorous automobiles. Factually, the Gulf has the highest amount of sports cars per person in the world; I mean we make Porsches look like yellow cabs, while Ferraris and Lamborghinis decorate our streets around every corner. Cars have always represented social status, so it’s only normal of humans to want a bigger, faster, hotter and a newer one to show off.

There was a time where every girl’s coveted car was a Carrera, with or without the added S, even its sister Targa would do. After a while, her desire evolved to the bigger yet still sporty Cayenne as well as the Range Rover Sport. We can understand these choices, as they are luxurious cars that offer speed and so many other options among transportation, not forgetting their hefty price tag that despite the bulk numbers we see them in, most cannot afford. Believe it or not the Range Rover Sport has openly become the most anticipated car among men, in hopes of most probably catching a woman driving it. Of course the car trend marathon does not end here. To take it up a notch, girls started asking daddy, or sugar daddy, for the famed Mercedes Benz G-Class, and not forgetting, tinting it to avoid “unwanted” attention, like men in this country aren’t hawks who’ll spot a female miles away, especially with her window “half down”. Obviously, luxury is the keyword amongst the trending car choices, along with safety, speed and sleek design. However something new seems to be stealing the spotlight from what we’re used to seeing roaming the streets of Kuwait. It defies the norm with its reasonable price, its bulky, far from safe design, and lack of speed. Ladies and gentlemen we present to you the new Habba: The Jeep Wrangler.

In all its different models, sizes and colors the Wrangler has made a comeback on the streets of Kuwait. The word Jeep is synonymous with rugged, all-conquering vehicles and although the Wrangler’s design and engineering has been rarely evolving for as long as it has existed, more and more Kuwaiti buyers keep coming to the brand. Who would have thought that the anticipated car is now a non-luxurious one that doesn’t have an account draining price tag? Who

of the fathers ever imagined taking his daughter to the Jeep dealership to make her dream come true with a Wrangler Sport? Well the world as we know it is changing; glaciers are melting, dictators are falling and Kuwaitis are embracing self-expression and freedom in the wilderness of Gulf Street. Not that the Wrangler’s purpose of use wont be traversing dirt roads and mountain terrains of Kuwait’s ring roads, but it might also be used for minimal weekend trips to the chalets, a few off roads here and there.

Thanks to Kuwait’s “Habba”, in November 2012, the Jeep Wrangler has topped the sales of the Porsche Cayenne in 10 places, landing only 2 places below the beloved Range Rover Sport according to a sales chart by bestsellingcarblog.com. In fact, Jeep hit the list of Kuwait’s Top 20 Selling cars in November of 2012, when it was nowhere near it in May, just a few months earlier of the same year. Talk about the power of a trend.

This 4WD has its perks though; with the heavenly weather of Kuwait you get to use and abuse its drop top, doors or everything that drops in that matter. You also get all the traction and control you need to navigate through rain, snow, mud, ice and unexpected obstacles as advertised, and of course, you get to create your own parking spot on any sidewalk of your choice. Okay, you definitely need a 4x4 for your desert trips and off road adventures boys, but girls; driving to the chalet to spend the weekend tanning and bingeing on goodies doesn’t count as a trip that requires the wrangler as your main car let alone as a second car just for fun. The Wrangler was built as an off-road vehicle originally used in World War II, it’s not meant to be driven on paved roads and is actually hard to steer, not an easy and swift drive around town at all. Even Jeep admits that it isn’t the best vehicle in its stable when it comes to on-road driving. However this four-wheeled box makes sense once it hits natural terrain and can definitely be enjoyed like any toy, but not in an everyday, to and from work, kind of way.

The Habba is what it is and we should take a moment to appreciate the habba-setters out there for boosting sales in Kuwait, regardless of the medium be it a restaurant, a vehicle, a brand, down to a specific coffee drink (it’s only called Vanilla Ice Shaken in Kuwait by the way). It’s a mystery as to how certain things become trends. Yes - the American media is a factor, but who smelled Black Orchid on which celebrity? Or started their cupcake bakery after which artist? Better yet, name me one person in Hollywood with thick straight lines tattooed as eyebrows. I guess some things cannot be understood, and if you’re not going to strap on your red bottoms and hop on board you just have to sit back and enjoy the show.

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‫بو را�شد‬ ‫بقلم‪Strawberry Girl :‬‬

‫إنه عمل جبار أن يقوم شخص واحد بعمل وكالة أخبار كاملة‪،‬‬ ‫و هذا ما قام به ثامر الدخيل أو كما يسمونه بو راشد‪ ،‬و هو ناقل‬ ‫و ناقد‪ ،‬و ناشر لألخبار‪ .‬لقد بدأ نشاطه اإلخباري قبل سبع سنوات‬ ‫تقريبا مع شركات االتصاالت المحلية الثالث‪ .‬و يقول بو راشد أنه‬ ‫في اليوم األول إلطالق خدمته اإلخبارية حصل على أكثر من‬ ‫‪ 500‬مشترك للخدمة‪ .‬و بالرغم من أنه ال يجني أرباحا من هذا‬ ‫النشاط‪ ،‬إال أنه يعتبره هواية بالنسبة له‪ ،‬و التي تأخذ كل وقته‪.‬‬ ‫في البداية كان يبعث األخبار إلى مجموعة من أصدقائه و‬ ‫أقربائه من خالل الرسائل النصية القصيرة من هاتفه النقال‪.‬‬ ‫و يقول‪“ :‬اليوم أنا سعيد و مستمتع بممارسة هذه الهواية في‬ ‫نشر األخبار‪ .‬أيضا في البداية كانت خدماتي مقصورة على‬ ‫‪ 150‬شخصا فقط‪ ،‬حيث أن نظام الهاتف لم يتح لي االرسال‬ ‫إلى المزيد”‪.‬‬ ‫و قد كان األصدقاء و األقرباء ال ‪ 150‬الذين يتلقون‬ ‫الرسائل القصيرة أول المشتركين في خدمة بو راشد‬ ‫اإلخبارية‪ .‬و يشرح كيف أنه عندما بدأ نشاطه كان األول في‬ ‫بث الخبر‪ ،‬بينما اليوم هو يؤكد الخبر‪“ .‬الناس يقصدونني‬ ‫اليوم كي يؤكدوا الخبر الذي سمعوه و بذلك يصدقون”‪.‬‬ ‫لدى بو راشد مصادره الخاصة التي ال يمكن أن يكشف‬ ‫عنها‪ .‬و هو يتأكد من المعلومة قبل بثها أو اإلفصاح عنها‪.‬‬ ‫و يوضح قائال‪“ :‬األمر يعتمد أوال على المصدر الذي نقل إلي‬ ‫الخبر‪ ،‬و ثانيا على المعلومة أو الخبر نفسه‪ .‬فمثال إن كان‬

‫الخبر سياسيا مهما فيجب أن أكون حذرا جدا قبل نشر مثل‬ ‫هذا الخبر‪ .‬لكن إن كان الخبر عن حادث سيارة‪ ،‬فإن األمر‬ ‫ليس خطيرا‪ ،‬و حتى لو لم يكن الخبر صحيحا‪ ،‬فإن أحدا لن‬ ‫يصب بأذى”‪.‬‬ ‫لقد تم اختيار بوراشد كثاني أكثر رجل تأثيرا في برنامج‬ ‫التواصل االجتماعي (تويتر) في الوطن العربي من قبل‬ ‫مجلة (فوربس)‪ ،‬حيث أتى أوال القاسمي من اإلمارات العربية‬ ‫المتحدة‪ .‬و علل بو راشد تفوق القاسمي كونه يغرد بلغات‬ ‫مختلفة و خاصة اإلنجليزية‪ .‬و يعلق قائال‪“ :‬أنا أكتب بعض‬ ‫التغريدات باللغة اإلنجليزية في بعض األحيان‪ ،‬لكن هذا‬ ‫يعتمد على نوع الخبر أو الشخص الذي أرسل الخبر”‪ .‬و كذلك‬ ‫تم استخدام شخصيته في بعض حلقات المسلسل الكرتوني‬ ‫الشهير (بو قتادة و بو نبيل)‪.‬‬ ‫لقد عمل بو راشد مع تلفزيون الوطن في أحد البرامج‪،‬‬ ‫حيث كان يقرأ األخبار و بعض المعلومات من جريدة الوطن و‬ ‫يعلق عليها‪ .‬و هو يعمل اآلن رئيس تحرير مجلة أسرار‪.‬‬ ‫إنه حيادي في نقل الخبر للتحلي بالمهنية‪ .‬لكنه كأي‬ ‫شخص آخر لديه رأيه الخاص بالمواضيع السياسية و غيرها‪،‬‬ ‫لكنه غالب ًا ال ينقل رأيه الشخصي مع الخبر ولكن أحيانا يعلق‬ ‫على بعض األخبار كرأي شخصي‪ ،‬حيث يرى أن هذا حق مثل‬ ‫أي فرد آخر‪ .‬و أحيانا يتوجب عليه إختصار الخبر قليال عند‬ ‫نشره في تويتر لكي يلتزم بالمساحة المحدودة على ‪140‬‬

‫حرف بالتغريدة لكن بدون تغيير معنى الخبر‪.‬‬ ‫و يقوم بو راشد بفلترة بعض األخبار كنوع من الرقابة‬ ‫الذاتية على ما ينشر‪ ،‬حيث يعتبر نشاطه هذا مسؤولية كبيرة‬ ‫حتى لو كان عن طريق وسائل التواصل اإلجتماعي‪ .‬و يقول “ال‬ ‫يمكن نشر جميع األخبار‪ ،‬و أنا أعرف أنه اآلن يتم تطبيق قانون‬ ‫الصحافة و النشر حتى على وسائل التواصل االجتماعي‪.‬‬ ‫يرى بو راشد أن األخبار تنتشر أسرع عبر وسائل‬ ‫التواصل اإلجتماعي و الرسائل النصية القصيرة مقارنة‬ ‫بالصحف‪ ،‬حيث أنه يمكن للناس أن يقرؤا الخبر فور وقوعه‪.‬‬ ‫و يقوم بو راشد أحيانا بنشر أخباره الشخصية على تويتر و‬ ‫التي تظهر لقطات من حياته اليومية و لذلك يمكن لمتابعيه‬ ‫معرفة نشاطاته اليومية‪.‬‬ ‫الطريف في األمر أن بو راشد لديه أكثر من ‪ 150‬ألف‬ ‫متابع على تويتر من داخل و خارج الكويت‪ ،‬إال أنه هو نفسه‬ ‫ال يتابع إال ‪ 4‬مغردين‪ :‬و هم أبناؤه و نشاطهما التجاري‪ .‬و‬ ‫قدتلقى العديد من العروض لبيع حسابه على تويتر إال أنه‬ ‫يرفض بيعه حتى لو مقابل مليون دينار كويتي‪.‬‬

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LA MOLE

A ‘LAND’ OF PLENTY FOR MATT DAMON

By Donna Freydkin

If you want to collaborate with Matt Damon, you’ll need to be of a certain stature. “I only write with tall people,” says Damon. He’s only sort-of kidding. Damon’s first foray into celluloid partnership was with his lanky buddy Ben Affleck, and the product was the 1997 breakthrough hit Good Will Hunting, which garnered the thennewcomers a screenwriting Oscar and global acclaim. Now, Damon again is teaming up with a lofty scribe, John Krasinski, in the drama Promised Land.

The two actors co-wrote the film and play the leads. Damon’s Steve is a myopic energy executive who travels to small towns to buy fracking drilling rights from the local residents, and Krasinski’s Dustin is a slick environmentalist who tries to block him.

In Damon’s everyman hands, Steve is an earnest politician and fervent believer that he’s selling financial freedom to destitute people hungry for it, pollution be damned. “I hadn’t been able to play that part before. So we wrote it,” says Damon, 42.

The project came together thanks to the actors’ wives, Lucy and Emily Blunt, who became close when Blunt and Damon were filming together. “Matt was working on The Adjustment Bureau with Emily. We got to know each other and quickly became good friends.

We did a whole lot of double-dating with Matt and (his wife) Lucy and we got along really well. Matt had 130

mentioned that he wanted to direct and asked me if I was working on anything. I told him about this, and we started writing pretty much right away,” says Krasinski. “I’m sure there was a camaraderie built in with both of us being from Boston.”

Initially, Damon was hoping to go behind the camera. However, once he and Krasinski sat down together and fleshed out the idea of using the larger issue of fracking as the foundation of the film, the lure of script-writing was fairly irresistible.

“John and I took it and we started on it. It was a really seamless thing. It was easy to write with John and really fun. I’d forgotten that. I’d written - there’s writing on every movie, even if it’s not a screenwriter sending me their Word document and I start tinkering. It’s writing in the manner of problemsolving. The process with John reminded me how much I love writing and how much I love sitting down and building something from nothing,” says Damon.

His wife noticed, as well. “Lucy said to me in the middle of the whole thing, ‘No matter what happens with this movie, I haven’t seen you this happy.’ And I realized that she was right,” says Damon.

Like Affleck, who’s this year’s awards season darling for the Iran hostage drama Argo, Damon says he understands the visceral power and lure of crafting and telling your own story. “With ‘Good Will Hunting,’ the feeling of real connection was so deep.

Every movie feels like a birth. You put a whole year of your life into it. You care about it and love it. To work on something at this level, it’s an even deeper feeling of connection,” says Damon. “I know it’s what Ben is going through with directing. The feeling of authorship and ownership is more intense.”

To be more active off-screen, Damon and Affleck operate a production company, Pearl Street, based in Los Angeles. It’s the main reason Damon is decamping from his long-time Manhattan home base later this year and relocating west with his brood: daughters Alexia, 14, from Lucy’s first marriage, Isabella, 6, Gia, 4, and Stella, 2.

“It’s going to be better for our company, for me and Ben, and we looked for a place here for four years.

People have an over-inflated idea of what their place is worth,” says Damon. “We were just looking for a place to raise the kids. That precipitated the move to L.A. We went there to look for schools. We love our school here.”

Here, he loves his almost singular ability to live as normal a life as possible. Damon has lunch with his family. He goes to playgrounds and drops his kids off at school, and no one looks twice, enabling him to pretend that he’s not actually famous. “It doesn’t feel like that. It was worse downtown. That was a beehive.

Where we are now, I live under the illusion that no one has ever seen a movie,” he says. “It’s really nice.”

AIA

bazaar around town HERE COMES HANNAYOME 2013 Alhamra hosts the ultimate 2-day bridal show on 13.03.13 Following the success of the first and second editions, the Hannayome team is launching the third issue of Hannayome, a comprehensive guide, the first of its kind in Kuwait, featuring high-end service providers, and products suppliers related to brides and weddings. What’s new this year is Hannayome.com, which will be unveiled in the event, where brides can browse their way to the perfect Big Day. The two-day show, sponsored by Yara Jewelry, Bayan Dental Clinic, Alghanim Travel, DJ Alrandi, and Fasttelco will be held at the prestigious Alhamra Mall on 13-14 March 2013.

Timings: Morning 10 am – 1pm; Evening 5pm – 10pm.

Follow them on Instagram and stay tuned @hannayome.

HORIZON DRAFTFCB WINS BIG AT CRISTAL FESTIVALS 3 gold awards, 4 silver, 3 bronze and 12 shortlists Horizon Draftfcb has cause to celebrate in the wake of an astonishing haul of awards from the 2013 MENA Cristal Festival held in Lebanon last week. NIVEA, NIVEA for Men, OREO, Just Falafel and charity Tamanna were amongst the clients who won or were shortlisted across 11 of the 15 categories available picking up a total of 22 honours.

The touching “September Christmas” for Tamanna by Horizon Draftfcb Beirut and Dubai was praised in categories across the board. The campaign won gold and silver in Promo & Direct; a gold and bronze in Corporate & PR; silver in Integrated; and finally, a bronze in Media to add to the gold in Brand Entertainment & Content from the global Cristal Festival. Horizon Draftfcb Dubai’s campaigns for Beiersdorf brands NIVEA and NIVEA For Men were also amongst the winners.

MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL REVIVED TO BECOME KUWAIT’S IDYLLIC RESORT Almost 40 years ago, the Messilah Beach Hotel opened in Kuwait and quickly became the favorite destination for both locals and visitors alike. The hotel served its clients for decades and created many unforgettable memories. Situated in the same idyllic location, the spirit of the old Messilah Beach Hotel is about to be revived and memories awakened with the opening of the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa this Spring.

Jumeirah Group’s first property in the Gulf Region outside the UAE features many aspects of Arabic architecture in a contemporary setting. Messilah is inspired by its location and its name derived from the old Kuwaiti word, Massiyalah, where rain water gathers and flows into the sea. The Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is part of Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company. Regarded as one of the most luxurious and innovative hotel chains in the world, Jumeirah Group will offer Kuwait a one-of-a-kind experience that combines its professionalism with Messilah’s existing extensive history to help create memories.

REEBOK CONTINUES GLOBAL FITNESS AMBITION By opening two new Fit Hub Concept stores in Kuwait International sports brand Reebok have continued to take their fitness ambition across the GCC by opening two new ‘Fit Hub’ concept stores in Kuwait located at the Al Kout Mall in Fahaheel and Avenues Mall in Al Rai. The new stores are the first Reebok Fit Hubs to open in the country and are in continuation of the retail concept launched by Reebok in 2012 as part of their global ambition to change the way people perceive fitness.

Based on the principles of togetherness, the Fit Hub stores guide customers on a fitness journey, from getting started, keeping training and staying fit for life by providing a flexible and appealing retail space that helps people discover the right exercise apparel, footwear and equipment to meet their needs.

Al Kout Mall, opened October 2012, on the ground floor.

Avenues Mall Phase III, opened December 2012, on the first floor. For more information, visit Reebok www.reebok.com.

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‫أودي الكويت تكرّم موظفي المبيعات‬ ‫ عن نجاح‬،‫ وتمثلها شركة فؤاد الغانم وأوالده للسيارات‬،‫‏أعلنت أودي الكويت‬ ‫ حيث تسّلم عباس رحيّم وأزهار‬،‫الدفعة الثانية من تنفيذيي المبيعات‬ ‫ بعد مشاركتهما‬،‫المؤمن شهادتيهما كتنفيذيي مبيعات مؤهلين من قبل أودي‬ .‫ببرنامج شهادة أودي للمبيعات‬ ‫ مدير مبيعات‬،‫ احتفلت أودي الكويت بإجتياز روبير جزيني‬،‫وفي الوقت نفسه‬ ‫ المرحلة الثانية واألخيرة من برنامج مدير المبيعات وحصوله‬،‫أودي الكويت‬ ‫ وهي أكاديمية‬،‫على شهادة “مدير مبيعات أول” من قبل أكاديمية أودي لإلدارة‬ .‫تعنى بتدريب وتأهيل الفريق اإلداري لدى وكالء أودي في المنطقة‬ ‫ مدير عام شركة فؤاد الغانم وأوالده‬،‫وبهذه المناسبة صرح لي بويـل‬ ‫ “تستمر شركة فؤاد الغانم وأوالده للسيارات في مسيرتها‬:‫ قائال‬،‫للسيارات‬ ‫نحو تعزيز قدرات طاقم مبيعات أودي بأكمله سواء كان في قسم مبيعات‬ ‫السيارات الجديدة أو المستعملة وهو ما يتوافق أيضًا مع إستراتيجية أودي‬ .‫التي تهدف إلى تحقيق أعلى مستويات الجودة وضمان سعادة العمالء‬ ‫ويعكس تفوق موظفي أودي الكويت مستوى الجهد والتفاني في عملهم‬ ‫ “نحن فخورون بموظفينا وأيضًا‬:‫” وأضاف‬.‫ومدى شغفهم بعالمة أودي‬ ‫بإجتياز روبير جزيني المرحلة األخيرة من برنامج التدريب وحصوله على‬ .”‫أعلى مستوى في برنامج إدارة المبيعات‬ ،‫ محمد راغب‬،‫وقد حرصت أودي الكويت على تكريم كل من أحمد فتح اهلل‬ ‫وعباس رحيّم لتسجيلهم أعلى مستوى مبيعات بمرتبة األول والثاني والثالث‬ ‫ وتم أيضًا تكريم داني مينيز لما قدمه من‬.2012 ‫على التوالي خالل عام‬ .‫مساندة إدارية لفريق المبيعات‬

A CHILI’S FAVORITE EVERYDAY AT KD 4.900 Chili’s Kuwait, the world’s largest American casual dining restaurant chain launches special value daily meals at prices lower than the set menu. All the attractive daily special meals are priced at 4.900 Kuwait Dinars. The new offering is available from February 14th till April 14th 2013. A specially-priced meal will be available on different days. On Mondays and Tuesdays guests can taste respectively Churassco steak and Ribs. Classic Fajitas and Cilantro Pesto Pasta will be the special daily meals reserved for Wednesdays and Thursdays. The weekend specials will be Country Fried Steak and Margarita Grilled Chicken. The Monterey Chicken will be the Sunday special. Join Chili’s Kuwait to treat your taste buds to a palette of gourmet dishes as part of their special daily deal meals.

PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY AT AL-MUBARAKIYA DENTAL CENTER The term dental prosthesis refers to artificial teeth replacements. These are simple caps that help repair a single tooth or full dental prosthesis that are intended to replace every tooth, commonly known as dentures. Dental prosthesis is used by dentists for cosmetic as well as medical reasons. Patients with biting difficulties as well as dealing with issues of shame due to tooth loss and physical appearances need these.

Dental Implants: These are a new type of dental prosthesis. A titanium rod is fitted into the patient’s jaw and a new “tooth” is created out of enamel and placed onto this rod. Patients who are missing only a few or who have missing teeth in the front of their bite may elect for this procedure.

Bridging the gap with a dental bridge: Dental bridges, like implants and partial dentures, are used to replace missing teeth.

Dental crowns, also known as “caps”, or partial tooth prosthesis: This is recommended by a dentist when a tooth is broken or damaged but the root is still intact.

Dentures: Are removable replacements for missing teeth.

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THE HUNT FOR A KING Old-fashioned maps and the latest DNA tests proved the bones were Richard III’s.

By Dan Jones

How do you go about identifying a long-lost medieval king? Forget CSI: Middle Ages for a second. The first thing you do is look at a bunch of old maps.

The announcement on February 4 that a skeleton lifted last year from beneath a parking lot in Leicester, England, could be identified “beyond reasonable doubt” as that of King Richard III is the most exciting historical discovery of the year–maybe the century– so far. Yet the project ultimately stemmed from a humble 31-page desk report completed in April 2011 by Leon Hunt, a member of the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services. On the cover of the report is a sepia photo of a brick wall. This was the treasure map that led researchers to the controversial king’s remains. X marks the spot.

Hunt’s report was the starting point of the much broader interdisciplinary work by the University of Leicester, which combined archeology, bone analysis, genealogy, and DNA sampling. All of the high 134

technology that went into the recovery of Richard would have been useless if the team had not known, in the first place, where to look.

A quick recap. As you know from learning the colors of the rainbow: Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. Or to put it another way, he was killed at the battle of Bosworth on August 22, 1485. Once dead, Richard was stripped naked, tied to a horse, and taken to Leicester, where he was displayed, abused, and eventually buried in a shallow grave at the Church of the Grey Friars. The Greyfriars was destroyed during Henry VIII’s Reformation in the 1530s. It used to be said that Richard’s bones had been thrown in the nearby River Soar. Now we know they were not. But they were certainly forgotten and mislaid as, over the years, the former church land was used as private gardens, a bus depot, a school playground, and a parking lot.

To work out where the Greyfriars once stood, Hunt’s report compared maps of the area dating from 1741 to today. By overlaying them, he came up with

a speculative plan of the old church that suggested that the choir, where Richard would likely have been buried, would be located somewhere on what is now two parking lots. Based on that research, and with help from the Leicester City Council and Philippa Langley, the enthusiastic if occasionally swiveleyed member of the Richard III Society who has coordinated the project behind the scenes, the team secured permission to dig three trenches during the late summer of 2012.

On the first day of the dig, August 24, a skeleton was uncovered about two feet below the earth. It was covered up for more than a week while other parts of the trench were excavated. Then, between September 4 and 5, the bones were exhumed and taken to a university laboratory for tests.

Then there were several strands to the investigation. The bones were examined for evidence of how the person had lived and died. They revealed striking features.

First, from about the age of 10 the individual had suffered scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, a condition that causes back pain and deformity. In this case, the person would have stood with the right shoulder higher than the left—which Tudor writers suggested Richard had suffered. Second, it seemed to have had rather puny limbs. Again—this matched descriptions of the king. Third, it had been hacked about. A chunk was missing from the back of the skull, an arrowhead was lodged in the spine, and there were several other wounds, including one to the pelvis that suggested a strike to the buttocks with a blade. This helped lead to the conclusion that the person had suffered “humiliation wounds” after death. So far, so circumstantial. Radio-carbon dating suggested the body had been buried between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and that in life the individual had eaten a lot of seafood—a nod to an aristocratic lifestyle. But a bloke who liked fish, had one lopsided shoulder, and died fighting? This could still have been any warrior nobleman of the Wars of the Roses era, hardly in short supply in the 15th-century Midlands.

The clincher was the DNA tests. A genealogical team found two people descended through the female line from Richard III’s sister Anne of York. One was a Canadian carpenter called Michael Ibsen, now living in London. The other remains anonymous. But both delivered DNA swabs—and they matched that of samples taken from the skeleton.

Put it all together, and what have you got? The man behind the history, the legend, and the black propaganda. The Richard III Society commissioned a professor of craniofacial reconstruction to revive Richard III’s face. The waxy image looks uncannily like the famous portrait of Richard now owned by the Society of Antiquaries, and also like Quentin Tarantino.

Some of us are wondering: whom do we dig up next?

EEK

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

KINGSTON REVEALS 1TB THUMBDRIVE

BLACKBERRY Z10

NINJA BLOCKS

If you’re a fanatical thumb drive enthusiast you’re probably going to need to sit down for this info: At the CES show Kingston revealed its DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 unit with one terrabyte of capacity. The tiny 2.8-inch by 1-inch thumb drive runs at USB 3.0 speeds and comes in 512 GB and 1 TB sizes--capacities you’d more normally associate with a large mains-powered desktop external hard drive. The innovation does prove one thing, though: The end of the spinning storage disk really is approaching.

Is it an iPhone- or Galaxy-killer? No, probably not — but if you’re still clinging to your 9900 like a shipwreck survivor to a piece of snapped-off wood, the Blackberry Z10 (KD 55) is surely a sight for sore eyes. Powered by the all-new, gesture-filled BlackBerry 10 OS, the Z10 features 2-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras, a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a microSD slot, fast LTE networking, NFC support, and a 1,280 x 768, 4.2-inch display. Assuming you’re still in, you’ll finally be able to use that upgrade in April.

Fully connect your home to your smartphone with Ninja Blocks (KD 55). This completely customizable/hackable device allows you to connect with a variety of sensors to monitor and control things around your home, all directly from your cell phone. The starter kit includes a temperature and humidity sensor, a wireless motion sensor, and a wireless doorbell. As hardware is just part of the solution, the app lets you set rules for controlling different items and appliances, and can alert you when someone’s at your door, when a door or window is open, or even if it’s getting too hot in your room.

www.fastcompany.com

www.uncrate.com

www.uncrate.com

THE SOUL PARTY IN A BOX

HIPKEY

JUICECAN - POWERING ALMOST ANYTHING

The Soul Party In A Box (KD 280) is the ultimate wireless, high performance entertainment system.

Unmatched in its class, this innovative system generates the dynamic sound of a full home theater system in the form of a portable and stylish box. A powerful 8-speaker omnidirectional hybrid system fills the room with unparalleled deep bass, and crystal clear mids and highs, while wireless technology allows streaming of music through Bluetooth. The PIAB is the perfect entertainment system for the home, school, outdoors, or anywhere an instant party-maker is desired.

Keep track of your phone, your belongings, or even your kids with the HipKey ( KD 25). This aluminum and plastic disc pairs with your iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth Smart, alerting you at your chosen distance when the two drift too far apart. Keep it in your pocket to make sure you don’t forget your phone, keep it in a bag to make sure no one tries to take it, or clip it to your kid’s belt loop to ensure they don’t wander off. There’s even a motion mode that will trigger the alarm if anyone so much as moves the key — but in any case, it’ll typically give you one less thing to worry about.

It seems like you can’t be too rich, too thin, or have too much battery power. That’s where AmpTec’s JuiceCAN can help, bringing you enough power to charge an iPhone 5 three times over. One of these cans can even charge up a power-hungry iPad a couple of times. It works with anything that gathers power via a USB port, and this colorful device is scalable. That means you can stack these JuiceCANs into what the company calls a JuiceCane, giving you additional power when you need it. The prototype is complete and awaiting production.

www.soulelectronics.com

www.uncrate.com

www.mashable.com

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14TH OF MARCH 2013 At: Gulf University for Science and technology

IAA #ThatComedyShow @GASEVENTS

MOHAMMAD AQUA - AHMED ALSHEMMERI - BASHAR ALJAZZAF WITH YOUR HOST

FIRAS ALOLA ORGANIZED BY

FEATUREING SHAIKHA ALKHALDI

FOR BOOKING PLEASE CALL: 22461445 OR 94913803 OR EMAIL US ON INFO@GASEVENTS.COM CO-ORGANIZER

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

bazaar a la mode GELERATION FROM JESSICA COSMETICS beau-tique cosmetics international, the leading cosmetics company in Kuwait, is pleased to announce the launching of the American Soak off Gel Polish GELeration from Jessica Cosmetics.

GELeration is a unique gel in a bottle that is applied like a normal polish with the durable strength of a gel. GELeration from Jessica lasts for more than three weeks with no peeling, no chipping, no smudging and no colour fading, which makes it like no other.

GELeration can be applied easily and also can be removed easily within minutes by a nail technician. With GELeration, you can have strong and healthy nails without any damage while they stay beautiful and strong with its long lasting colours.

GELeration and Jessica products are exclusively distributed in Kuwait by beau-tique cosmetics.

Visit www.beau-tiqueonline.com or call 2225 1285.

BE FUNKY IN NEW CROCS™ RETRO COLLECTION For old-school style that is as comfy as ever The iconic Crocs™ clog has been recreated as a 70s-inspired track shoe that will let you walk in comfort and wear in style, whatever the occasion. These new designs will take you back to carefree days of college: perfect for fans of the original clog as well as a more fashion-conscious audience drawn to the funky vintage feel. Featuring a long-lasting rubber herringbone outsole for improved grip, Crocs™ Retro doesn’t skip on the signature comfort of Croslite™ material. The lightweight cushioning in all the Retro styles gives the shoes a sporty, performance driven feel. Perfect for those with a trendy, individual fashion sense, the Crocs™ Retro Clog is a new, funky version of the iconic clog which is exceptionally comfortable and a lot of fun. Alternatively, the Crocs™ summer Retro Flip Flop is a good-looking, sunny design that can be enjoyed by him and her throughout the.

BHS SPRING SUMMER 2013 FASHION LAUNCH BHS showcased their Spring Summer 2013 collection in an in-store preview at their store in Salmiya, opposite Al Fanar Mall, highlighting key fashion items for women, men, teens and kids. The launch signals a real change taking place at BHS and creating an appetite for reappraisal with customers.

Contemporary silhouettes, modern colour palettes and prints define the BHS SS13 womenswear collection. Look for candy tropical prints and minimalist influences in the shape of peplum shirts, print on print outfits and optical pencil skirts. Teamed with easy classic pieces such as a simple classic tee, outfits are made easy and wearable.

Burton Menswear takes retro influences from the 1950s with short sleeve conversational prints on shirts and polos, roll sleeve T-shirts and denim, all key to creating the look for the season with a fresher, more saturated approach to colour in transitional spring, moving into more washed out brights as we approach summer.

SPRING AHEAD WITH BOSSINI’S SS ’13 COLLECTION With winter behind us, herald the season with Bossini’s SS’13 collection that sports a collection truly inspired by Nature. Allowing men, women and kids to flaunt the key trends for this season, the range varies from madras shirts and rayon blouses for women to plaid shirts and photo print tee’s for men and polo’s to check shorts for kids. An interesting addition is the color palette of shadowy shades of blues, greys and blacks to more playful colors of coral, pastels and neon’s. Women will enrich their wardrobes with pretty pastel inspired looks. Think about cute florals and romantic lace intertwined to create a charming yet sophisticated combination. Men will wear the rugged, hitchhiker look that oozes the perfect bad boy impression with a printed tee over cropped denims and a biker jacket.

Visit Bossini at Hawally (Al Othman Centre), Fahaheel (Ajial Mall), Farwaniya (Mugathir Complex), Khaldiya Co-op, Qortuba Co-op and all Centrepoint Stores to experience a whole lot of Summer Fun!

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TED BAKER OPENS NEW STORE IN PRESTIGIOUS AL HAMRA LUXURY CENTER Ted Baker is proud to announce the opening of another beautiful store on the 6thFebruary 2013 within Al Hamra, the prestigious mall in Kuwait City.

Boasting a retail space of 1260sqft, the store interior has been specifically designed to celebrate the glorious days of the British film industry in the early 1950s. Ted is unveiling the store in a grand and luxurious manner with a dash of quirkiness - all in Ted’s true style.

Eminent for his distinctive and individual design in each store all over the world, once again this new store is no exception. On this occasion Ted is paying tribute to the history of the mall location where it was once the site for the first cinema in Kuwait. Hanging film reels accentuate the whole store and are finished off by a light box panel with artwork of film strips. Opulent details including a cream marble floor and extravagant bronze mirror panels have been created to signify the Golden Age when British films flourished.

It was an era of creative explosion and Ted embodies that spirit through features installed in the store. Chevron carpet marks the decadent era, whilst theatre-like seating in the fitting rooms has nostalgic elements of the glamorous golden days. Vintage wall lights highlight the black and white pictures of British actors and actresses; a testament to the inspiring iconic individuals who helped shape thesuccess of the film industry.

Finally…nothing is ever complete without paying attention to the smallest details. A cash desk filled with vintage cameras and theatre spot lights decorate the store perfectly and provide a unique backdrop to showcase Ted’s SS13 collections. The smartest collection of menswear, womenswear and accessories crafted to pass with flying colours.

RALPH LAUREN “For the Spring 2013 collection I was inspired by the vibrant bohemian spirit, the artistry of things handmade and personal style that is as rich as it is romantic.” - Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren’s spring 2013 collection brings to life palettes of jewel tones and stark black, white and gold untied in worldly themes and modern silhouettes.

The collection follows the path of a free-spirited beauty whose eclectic style reflects a life of glamour, adventure and modern elegance. Accessories include silk fringe, ornate beadwork and laser-cut leather demonstrating the artisan craftsmanship that defines this seasons luxurious accessories.

DESIGUAL ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF ITS SHOE COLLECTION UAE & Kuwaiti customers can now complete their look with Desigual shoes After years of gaining popularity among a loyal following of customers in the Gulf region, Spanish Fashion Retailer Desigual is all set to launch its first ever collection of shoes for women this Spring/Summer 2013. The collection reflects everything that is Desigual and features a limited yet bold variety of shoes in true Desigual style. The collection will be available across all Desigual stores in the UAE & Kuwait, and will be followed up with a larger selection in the seasons to follow.

Footwear needs a burst of freshness and vitality and that’s exactly what Desigual has given to its Shoes collection. In the SPORT range you can find rounded ballet pumps; and trainers with raised or vulcanised soles. The BEACH range features flip-flops with print soles and some wedge styles. In the ZAPATOS range, mid-heels stand out above the rest.

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SQUEAMISH? TOO BAD, THIS IS IMPORTANT! Rethinking the blood donation experience amidst growing need

By Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan

Though scientific knowledge of blood and hematology has increased exponentially since the first blood banks opened at the turn of the century, the donor experience of giving blood hasn’t changed all that much since the 1950s.

Sit down, feel a pinch, grab your reward cookie, and bounce.

Yet as the Boomer population ages and blood demand rises, many in the medical community are wondering whether blood donation needs a serious rebrand. For example, only 4% of eligible donors in the U.K. donate, says Ama Darko Williams, a student at the Royal College of Art. “With a growing and aging population, it’s crucial to attract more donors,” she adds. As part of an Innovation Design Engineering course, Williams and her teammates, James Wright, 140

Dan McLaughlin, and Zhanling Feng, set out to reimagine the blood donation earlier this year.

The foursome culled insight from nurses, firsttime and regular donors, blood specialists, public health experts, and transfusion recipients, all in the hopes of gleaning a small insight into how to improve the experience for everyone involved.

What they found was that there wasn’t one specific aspect of the blood donor program that needed to change. Rather, each individual component needed to be looked at to repair the overall system--not unlike a circulatory system. As a result, their final project, Haemobility, comes in the form of three interventions at different scales, a holistic kit of products aimed at helping the major stakeholders.

The first dealt with the turn-of-the-century

discovery that transformed blood transfusions from a risky last-ditch option to a ubiquitous treatment: blood-type testing. “Less than 40% of the U.K. population know their blood type,”Williams says. Finding out is expensive and complicated, and tends to slow down the U.K. donor process.

The design team imagined a disposable tester not unlike a pregnancy test, which can be purchased and stored (perhaps in the bandage box, so there’s no need to gratuitously prick yourself ). Once you dip it in a drop of your blood, you can send the tab away with your donor application to find out your type and register at the same time.

Another crucial problem with getting firsttimers to donate blood is fear of needles--and fear of the horror stories of repeated jabbings. More important, nurses get hurt in needle accidents pretty often, costing the U.K.’s National Health Service about $1,000 per injury. The redesigned needle is retractable, almost like an X-Acto knife, and the ridge-covered tip is shaped to fit in the thumb and forefinger. “The needle is hidden to avoid injury and looks less threatening for the donor,” Williams says.

Finally, the team rethought the space of the donation center, coming up with a mobile center that comes in a kit of parts organized around a mesh screen, designed to allow donation drives in diverse locations like malls and train stations.

The idea is to increase visibility with the general public, and to calm latent anxieties. Each center is equipped with a friendly looking white-andorange blood trolley with a vibrating arm, meant to calm and distract donors.

It’s unclear whether any of these designs will make it to market. But that’s not really the point here. What’s important is that the scope of what constitutes “design” is broadening. As schools like the Royal College of Art shift their focus away from a couple of myopic subjects and toward the world at large, they’re opening up students to problems in health care, science, and policy. Whether or not the projects make it to the mainstream, these kids will be better designers for it. It’s an exciting time to be a student, to say the least.

For more information on blood donation in kuwait visit www.kcbb.org.

HYPOXI

bazaar scopes

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

TAU R U S

April 20 - May 20

GEMINI

May 21 - June 21

CANCER

Jan 20 - Feb 18

PISCES

Slow down this month, because it will feel as if your entire world is closing in on you. A few days off of work will help you relax and time with loved ones will show you that you’re still in control of your life.

Virgo and Sagittarius play important roles.

June 22 - July 22

Dec 22 - Jan 19

A Q UA R I U S

Let your practical side lead you in your decision making as the month begins. It may seem like a good idea to make an impulsive purchase, but don’t do it. Finances will be tight. A relationship moves into high gear when you realize how much you have in common with that special someone.

LEO

Nov 22 - Dec 21

C A P R I CO R N

Now’s your chance to shine at work. You’ll be given the opportunity to lead a new project; your intelligence and efficiency will shine through. Don’t be shy when it comes to meeting new people this month. Your sweet, sensitive side will endear you to someone with a lot of connections.

July 23 - Aug 22

S A G I T TA R I U S

Be frank when a close friend asks for your opinion. While the truth may not be what he or she wants to hear, it’s what he or she needs to hear. Your romantic life slows down this month, but don’t get discouraged. This break will give you time to relax and focus on yourself.

VIRGO

S CO R P I O

Oct 23 - Nov 21

Follow your instincts in the business world this month. It’s your nature to tell the truth, so stick to it. Don’t be tempted to embellish; it will backfire. Love takes center stage as the month draws to a close. An old friend will resurface and want to begin a relationship. Follow your heart.

Aug 23 - Sept 22

LIBRA

Sept 23 - Oct 22

Seek harmony in the workplace this month. Don’t become involved in an office disagreement. Family matters become hectic this month. Loved ones will look to you for advice and support. Take a deep breath. You’ll be able to help everyone out and still have time for yourself.

Feb 19 - March 20

what’s your sign?

A co-worker tried to help you with a problem, but creates confusion instead. Don’t get frustrated; it won’t help. Just work together to resolve the problem. Love is in the air at the end of the month. A friend of a friend reveals his or her true feelings for you. Scorpio plays an important role.

Your tendency to keep quiet pays off in the beginning of the month. A close friend needs to talk and reveals personal information. Your confidence will be appreciated. When it comes to romance, you’ll have to make a decision. Think about where you stand in that special relationship.

Be patient at work this month. While your boss may seem too conservative for you, he or she really has your best interests at heart. You need to look out for yourself when it comes to your personal life. It will feel like everyone is against you. Be cautious when making decisions.

Don’t be the first to volunteer for a new project at work. Wait to see everything that’s involved, because it may be more than you’ve bargained for. However, you should take a chance when it comes to romance. Don’t wait for that intriguing person to ask you out. Make the first move.

Your sympathetic side will be called on early in the month. A loved one needs you to listen and give moral support. Be honest, but caring. Give in to your desires and shower yourself in luxury this month. It’s going to be a hectic one at work, so you deserve to pamper yourself.

While you usually like to be alone, working as a team at work this month will make things so much easier. You’ll share a lot of good ideas and actually make some close friends. Loved ones will rely on you to take care of a family matter. Aquarius is involved.

source: www.bluffton.com 142

STARBUCKS

‫اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮرة روﻣﻴﺎ ﺟﺎﺳﺘﻴﻦ‬ Dr. Rumia Justine á`«`FGò¨dG á«`Yƒ`à`dG ô`¡`°T ƒg ¢SQÉ`e ô`¡`°T

March is Nutrition Awareness Month

SOOR C

.‫ ﻓﺈن اﻟﺘﻐﺬﻳﺔ) اﻟﻨﻈﺎم اﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻲ( ﻫﻮ ا ﻛﺜﺮ ﺗﺄﺛﻴﺮا‬،‫”رﻏﻢ ان ﻫﻨﺎك اﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻮاﻣﻞ اﻟﻤﺆﺛﺮة ﻓﻲ اﻟﺼﺤﺔ واﻟﻌﺎﻓﻴﺔ‬

‫ ﻟﻌﺎﺋﻼﺗﻨﺎ‬،‫ وذﻟﻚ ﺑﺈﺧﺘﻴﺎر ﻣﻮاﺻﻠﺔ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ اﻟﺼﺤﺔ اﻟﻤﺜﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻟﻨﺎ‬،‫ﻫﺬا ﻫﻮ أﺣﺪ اﻟﻤﺠﺎﻻت اﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﻤﻜﻨﻨﺎ ﺟﻤﻴﻌﺎ ا ﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎر ﻓﻴﻬﺎ‬ ‫ اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮرة روﻣﻴﺎ ﺟﺎﺳﺘﻴﻦ‬- “.‫وﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﻨﺎ‬ . ‫ ﺳﻨﻮات ﻣﻦ اﻟﺨﺒﺮة اﻟﺴﺮﻳﺮﻳﺔ وﺗﺨﺼﺼﻬﺎ ﻫﻮ ﻣﻬﺎرات اﻟﺤﻴﺎة واﻟﺼﺤﺔ اﻟﻨﻔﺴﻴﺔ‬10 ‫ﺗﻤﺘﻠﻚ اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮرة روﻣﻴﺎ أﻛﺜﺮ ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ إﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت‬، ‫ اﻟﺴﻤﻨﺔ‬:‫إن ﺧﺒﺮﺗﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﺎل اﻟﺘﻐﺬﻳﺔ واﻟﺮﻋﺎﻳﺔ اﻟﺴﺮﻳﺮﻳﺔ ﺗﺴﻤﺢ ﻟﻬﺎ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻊ ا ﻃﻔﺎل واﻟﻤﺮاﻫﻘﻴﻦ اﻟﺬﻳﻦ ﻳﻌﺎﻧﻮن ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ ﺗﺠﻤﻊ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺘﻬﺎ اﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ واﻟﻌﻼﺟﻴﺔ اﻟﻨﻔﺴﻴﺔ ﻟﻤﺼﻠﺤﺔ‬. ‫ وإﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت ﻧﻤﻂ اﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﻋﻠﻰ ﻧﺤﻮ ﻓﻌﺎل‬، ‫ ﻣﺘﻼزﻣﺔ اﻟﻘﻮﻟﻮن اﻟﻌﺼﺒﻲ‬،‫ا ﻛﻞ‬ . ‫زﺑﺎﺋﻨﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة ﻓﻲ ﺗﺤﺴﻴﻦ ﻧﻮﻋﻴﺔ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻬﻢ‬

“Though there are many components to wellness, nutrition (diet) is the most relevant. This is an area in which we can all invest, choosing to pursue optimum health for ourselves, our families, and our community.” - Dr. Rumia Justine Dr. Rumia Justine has more than 10 years of clinical experience and her specialty is Life Skills and Mental Health.

Her education in clinical nutrition and wellness allows her to deal with childhood and adolescent obesity, eating disorders, IBS, and lifestyle disorders effectively. She combines her nutritional and psycho-therapeutical knowledge for the wellness of her clients by helping them enhance their quality of life.

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Kuwait’s Leading Psychologists ‫ﻳـﻤـﻜـﻦ ﺧـﺼـﺎﺋﻴـﻴـﻨـﺎ ﺗـﻮﻓـﻴـﺮ ﻛـﻞ ﻣـﻦ اﻟـﺪﻋــﻢ وا دوات اﻟـﻼزﻣــﺔ ﺟــﺮاء‬ .‫ﺗـﻐـﻴـﻴـﺮات داﺋـﻤـﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻧـﻤـﻂ اﻟﺤـﻴـﺎة اﻟﺼﺤـﻲ ﻋـﻨـﺪﻛـﻢ‬

Our professionals can support you and provide the tools to make healthy lifestyle changes permanent.

CENTER Under the supervision of USA Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa Clinical Director Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg Clinical Coordinator

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