Dubai to make New Years Eve go Bang!

Once again, Dubai will ring in the New Year with a bang - by having their domino effect firework display play out across the city

The Burj Khalifa at NY, from Therese's Paradise

Already known for its breath-taking firework displays and for being a go-to destination for New Years Eve, Dubai is set to raise the bar this New Year with a stunning 24 minute showpiece that will seamlessly flow from the iconic Burj Khalifa Downtown at midnight on a 23km journey along the city’s coastline to culminate in an awe-inspiring finale at THE BEACH by Meraas, opposite Jumeriah Beach Residence (JBR).

Six months in the planning and having taken two months to set up, the combined multimedia and fireworks extravaganza will see close to 9 tonnes of fireworks fired from over 685 positions by more than 100 specialist technicians as it continuously weaves its way from Downtown through the Business Bay Canal, along the Jumeirah coastline leading to the signature Burj Al Arab before climaxing in a six minute and 20 second crescendo at THE BEACH.

The domino effect show means Dubai residents and visitors will be able to watch the show from multiple vantage points on the night, helping in reducing traffic flows around Downtown and opening up the spectacle to people across the city. Specialist screens will also broadcast the event live at Kite Beach, Al Sufouh Beach and JBR.

Timings for the show:

12:00-12:07 Burj Khalifa and Downtown

12:07-12:09 Fireworks cascade along Jumeriah to reach Burj Al Arab

12:09-12:15 Burj Al Arab display

12:15-12:16 fireworks cascade down to The BEACH, opposite JBR

12:16-12:23 finale at The BEACH, opposite JBR

The full route with timings can be found at the Visit Dubai YouTube Channel here.

BURJ KHALIFA, DOWNTOWN DUBAI

Commencing from Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa will kick off the New Year countdown before lighting up the sky to welcome 2016 with an extraordinary symphony of fireworks, light beams and LED displays, including the largest LED screen in the world. The world’s highest fireworks on the 828m Burj Khalifa will feature a magical eight-act display that presents the futuristic vision of Dubai. Spectators can also watch the UAE flag unfurl from the pinnacle of Burj Khalifa followed by digital screens that celebrate the nation and the GCC countries to honour the spirit of solidarity and brotherhood.    

Other notable Downtown Dubai events include colourful musical performances of The Dubai Fountain and towards midnight, a gentle ballet of light beams that will sweep through Downtown Dubai creating intricately designed patterns on the façade of The Dubai Mall.

BURJ AL ARAB

Fireworks at the Burj al Arab

From the cityscape to the marina, fireworks will illuminate the Jumeirah coastline which covers the popular Kite Beach, public beaches alongside Jumeirah Beach Road and finally, the Burj Al Arab just nine minutes after the stroke of midnight, captivating audiences across the city. The signature 5-star hotel guarantees guests the event of a lifetime set against a legendary backdrop, with a mesmerising display of epic proportions.

In addition to the fireworks, guests can also experience an evening of Moulin Rouge performances, filled with surprise acts throughout the evening as well as a reception in the world’s tallest atrium at Sahn Eddar. For those looking for the ultimate night out, guests can also attend the Gala Dinner set with entertainment, food and breath-taking views to help ring in the New Year.

THE BEACH

At 12:16m, catch the grand finale at THE BEACH. Guests can take part in the destination’s first ever music party, ‘Free Spirit’, headlined by internationally acclaimed DJ and producer, Pierre Ravan. In addition, THE BEACH has also organised exhilarating entertainment acts - LED performers, laser shows, fire breathers, aerial acts and more – to keep visitors to the urban destination completely riveted this New Year.

New Year’s Eve in Dubai has become one of the most sought after activities backed by a series of events and entertainment for all. From critically acclaimed musical guests to retailers providing exclusive access and views of the fireworks across the city – Dubai will not disappoint. 

The event will be broadcasted on Dubai TV, international TV and online platform www.mydubainewyear.com, where viewers can choose from three different viewing cameras for a total perspective of the event.  For more information about New Years Eve 2016 including visitor parking and transportation information, visit @VisitDubai, @MyDubai, @BurjKhalifa, @BurjAlArab and @TheBeachDubai or follow the hashtags #BeThere #WatchLive #MyDubaiNewYear".

Dubai's Pantry Café Goes #homegrown for Kids

Inspired by the importance of healthy eating, Dubai’s homegrown café concept encourages kids of all ages to plant their own mini garden

  

Flying in the face of over-exposure to processed and unhealthy foods, Pantry Café has launched a campaign to encourage youngsters in Dubai to take more of an interest in fresh, natural food.  The homegrown café concept, which has outlets in Business Bay and Al Wasl Square, places an emphasis on fresh and natural ingredients and has asked children to start planting seedlings as part of a wider initiative to encourage them to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. 

 

Gardening engages kids by providing them with a dynamic environment in which they can observe, discover, experiment, nurture and learn. Gardens are living laboratories where interdisciplinary lessons are drawn from real life experiences, encouraging kids to become active participants in the process of homegrown food. By involving kids in the process of growing vegetables from seedlings to plate, the #homegrown campaign will encourage them to eat more vegetables and to take more of an interest in healthy eating.

 

Children who dine in Pantry Café during the month of January 2016 will be given a Pantry Café #homegrown kit with everything they need to start their own small garden pot. Kids are also encouraged to come and share their successes with Party Café.  

 

“As a mother of two, I want my children to take an interest in the food that they’re eating. This campaign was borne from the desire to promote the use of real ingredients to create real food for children. At Pantry Café we welcome families and want to encourage them to eat healthily,” says Yana Kalwani, Vice-Chairperson, Retail & Beyond.

 

Pantry Café is a Dubai-based gourmet café and delicatessen. Established in 2012 in Al Wasl Square, Pantry Café has recently expanded and opened its second Dubai brand in Bay Square in Business Bay. The Al Wasl Square branch is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The new Bay Square outlet will be open for breakfast and lunch, seven days a week. Serving its range of tapas, starters, gourmet burgers, steaks, grills, sandwiches and pizzas from its open kitchen, Pantry Café prides itself on supporting local farms by using locally produced organic fruits and vegetables wherever possible.

 

Pantry Café, Wasl Square

Hadeeqa Street, Jumeirah

04 388 3868.

Pantry Café, Bay Square

Bay Square, Business Bay

0 4 558 7161

 

Russell Peters - Almost Famous World Tour

January 19th and 20th - Live at Dubai World Trade Centre

Christmas has come early for all Russell Peters fans as tickets for his new ‘Almost Famous World Tour’ on January 19^th and 20^th at the Dubai World Trade Center are available now and selling out fast! 

His previous shows in the UAE in 2012 and 2013 sold out shortly after going on sale, and this edition is no exception, with Bronze and Diamond tickets already sold out.  Limited tickets are still available in remaining categories.

The Russell Peters Almost Famous World Tour” (#RussellPetersDXB), brought to you by du Live! and produced by FLASH Entertainment and Live Nation Middle East, features brand new, hilarious material. 

The ‘Almost Famous World Tour’ will also feature Russell's Official Tour DJ; New York City's DJ Spinbad, as well as video cameras and screens for an up-close and intimate show setting.

Russell Peters’ ‘Almost Famous World Tour’ (#RussellPetersDXB) went on sale Tuesday, December 15^th at 12pm through www.ticketmaster.ae and 800 TM UAE (86 823). 

Ticket Pricing and Categories

VIP Booths inclusive of Beverage Package (max of 6 people)	AED 9,000
Diamond	SOLD OUT
Platinum	AED 695
Gold	AED 495
Silver	AED 395
Bronze	SOLD OUT

Listed on the Forbes List as one of the top ten Highest Earning Comics in the U.S. since 2009, Russell Peters has spent the past 25 years building a career to become one of the biggest comics in the world. Thanks to YouTube and a global following, Peters has sold-out arenas from Madison Square Garden to the Sydney Opera House. Peters has also performed for the troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and on the USS Eisenhower and HMCS Winnipeg, and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Lopez Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and on HBO, CNN, MTV, BBC and Al Jazeera. Peters 2010 memoir, Call Me Russell was a Globe and Mail number one bestseller in Canada.

“The audience left the venue with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes, as Peters managed to nail them with his witty observatory comedic style and jokes about ethnic and cultural stereotypes.” - The Nation

“Peters is constantly thinking up new material. He says his newest bits for the Almost Famous tour are less about lampooning cultural differences and more about "the culture of being Russell." -

“...an exceptional comedian. He’s obviously a natural performer…” The Guardian

DIAMOND & BRONZE TICKETS SOLD OUT. LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE

Tickets available at ticketmaster.ae and 800 TM UAE (86 823)

My Burberry Eau de Toilette

Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne

Great news - My Burberry Eau de Toilette, the latest chapter in the brand’s My Burberry fragrance story has finally hit our stores.  Created by Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bailey, working in collaboration with perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, My Burberry Eau de Toilette for women is a fresh interpretation of the iconic Eau de Parfum.

The bright and uplifting, fragrance is as individual and elegant as its inspiration, the Burberry trench coat.

A bright grand floral, My Burberry Eau de Toilette captures the essence of a spring blossom garden, with its blend of blooming rain-tipped flowers, with sweet pea and lemon flower top notes, heart notes of peonies, peach flower and freesia followed by the rich scents of damask rose, white moss and musk.

The campaign for the fragrance was shot in London by photographer Mario Testino, under the creative direction of Christopher Bailey, British models Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, front the new My Burberry campaign wearing only the signature Burberry trench  - the epitome of Brit-Girl chic.

As a great present idea, with Eid and other holiday seasons upon us, just as with My Burberry Eau de Parfum, customers will be able to personalise their My Burberry Eau de Toilette bottle with up to three initials through a monogramming service available on Burberry.com and selected Burberry and wholesale stores.

THE COLLECTION

     My Burberry Eau de Toilette 90ml, 50ml –   AED 580, AED 410

     My Burberry Eau de Parfum 90ml, 50ml, 30ml

     My Burberry Collectors Edition Eau de Parfum 900ml

      My Burberry Shower Oil 240ml


      My Burberry Moisturising Body Mist 100ml


      My Burberry Fresh Deodorant 100ml


      My Burberry Bathing Soap

My Burberry Eau de Toilette is now available on Burberry.com, at Areej stores and selected Burberry stores and retailers.           

Jason Derulo headlines Dubai Music Week 2015

DMW 2015 confirms that Jason Derulo will kick off the first night of festival.

Dubai Music Week (DMW) 2015 has announced that award-winning singer, songwriter and dancer Jason Derulo will take to the stage of its opening night on Wednesday, September 23^rd. Ellie Goulding has also been recently confirmed to perform on Thursday, September 24^th and Thirty Seconds to Mars on Friday, September 25^th.

With over 50 million singles sold worldwide, two billion views on YouTube and one billion plays on Spotify, fans could be forgiven for thinking that Derulo has been a long-time fixture of the music industry. Yet after only six years since the hit debut single “Whatcha Say”, Jason Derulo has taken the worldwide music industry by storm.

Early in his career, Derulo sealed a reputation as a talented wordsmith; showcased by his extensive songwriting for artists like P. Diddy, Sean Kingston and Lil Wayne. This skill was later cemented in 2011, when Derulo was honoured as 'Songwriter of the Year' at the BMI Pop Awards. Derulo's status as a true industry powerhouse can also be found in his commanding on-stage presence, which often sees the star engaging in incredible feats of dance. This has culminated in extensive world tours and sold out shows.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Derulo's fourth and latest studio album “Everything is 4” merges the pop, dance and urban sensibilities which have seen him recognised as a truly genre defying artist. The album includes the global hit “Want To Want Me”, which quickly became the most added track in the history of Top 40 Radio, shattering the previous record held by Justin Timberlake. Dubai audiences can look forward to an exciting and energetic live performance, punctuated by hit singles like “Whatcha Say”, “In My Head” and “Ridin’ Solo”. Follow Jason Derulo on @jasonderulo, #jasonderulo for all his latest updates.

DMW 2015, launched in partnership with Live Nation Middle East and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and supported by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), is the premier international music festival in the Middle East and is an official event under this year’s Eid in Dubai. It features four main segments including concerts with an award-winning line-up of A-list performers, celebrity speaker sessions, master classes and an interactive entertainment village. The event at DWTC is expected to attract local and international music fans on its four nights from Wednesday, September 23^rd through Saturday, September 26^th.

The festival, which provides a platform for music fans to interact with local and international celebrities and musicians, will announce its final act for the Arabic night, celebrity speaker sessions and master classes soon. Tickets for all concerts are priced at 295 AED for general admission, fan pit access at 395 AED, and 550 AED for VIP admission. Please visit Dubai Music Week or ticketmaster to buy tickets now.

My First Office Meltdown…

So today I had my first hormonal meltdown in the office.  I am mortified.  It was my entire fault and my (male) colleague didn’t have a clue what to do… 

All he had done was asked some questions that I was willingly answering.  I am an open book and maybe some things I shouldn’t share as they are painful, but I just wanted him to understand my prospective – And sadly instead, I was unable to answer and just ended up more frustrated.

The thing is, I am very open.  Especially when it is about adoption as I am passionate for people to understand that my baby girl is MY baby girl.  My colleague, who I will call S, hit a nerve that is a constant worry to me.  He said that I would feel differently towards my DD then I would towards my biological daughter because it is a  “scientifically proven fact” that biology accounts for more than nurture.  This I vehemently disagree with.  I mean, if that were the case, why are there so many babies and children placed for adoption?  Why are children around the world being abused?  Why are mothers happy to go on vacation, leaving their children to fend for themselves?  This I could answer, but then when he asked, “Aren’t you worried that you will love your biological child more?”

I just broke down.   It is sad really as the easy answer is, “No.  Not at all!” But it is this type of questioning that I fear my DD will have.  It petrifies me to think that one day she will think this too – even if it is for a hormone filled millisecond - at some point she will feel that pain, and I just have absolutely no idea what I can possibly do about it.

It frustrates me even more that I was so emotionally upset and beside myself with trying to speak these fears out loud that I just broke down sobbing.  In a room full of men.  In a room full of men, who don’t have children and could never possibly understand the fears that a mother has and the all encompassing urge to constantly protect her children. 

It frustrates me that people don’t have the empathy to understand this.  that they don’t expect the response that I give; especially as I am 7.5 months pregnant (to be fair, S was expecting it to a degree and felt horrific afterwards). 

I was kind of blindsided by the line of questioning really.  I knew people would think that as most people I meet have no idea of the emotional turmoil you go through in your dream to adopt.  That you experience the exact same emotions at various stages of the adoption that you do with your own personal pregnancy.  The only difference is that the stress of adoption is far far greater than having your own pregnancy; in our case, we were at the mercy of three governments, yet we had the bond with our DD the second we were sent her photo.  She was thousands of miles away.  We could see her only at weekends and had no idea what was happening the rest of the time.  When we were told she had pneumonia at four months old, panic set in.  Could she get the right treatment?  Would the treatment be as good there as in Dubai?  Would the orphanage administer the treatment correctly in our absence?  What will be the long-term implications of it?  Is there anything we can do from thousands of miles away apart from keep in constant contact with them?  What happens when she is crying and just needs a cuddle?  We weren’t there to be with her through all this and that thought is so painful you just couldn’t understand…

When you are pregnant, you know that your actions are directly affecting your own baby.  You know that if jump out of building you will hurt your baby.  Ultimately though, the decision to jump is yours and yours alone.  When you have a baby in another country, being looked after by amazing people (but they are ultimately strangers), that decision could be taken away from you.  OK.  This is a tad extreme, but you get the drift.  Everything is out of your control and the stress that this brings is huge.

It scares me to no end that someone with no brains will think that it is OK to ask these questions when my DD is around.  As I said to S today, I would not have been responsible for my actions had he have asked these questions in front of my daughter.  The poor man… how does he know that this is something that has kept me awake at night more often than anything else – that at least twice a week I lie in bed worrying about this from 2am and give up at 5am trying to get back to sleep?

Realistically, I should have stopped the questions before they began but I don’t really have that stop button.  I need to grow one though I have now realized.  What good will I do for my daughter if I can’t field these questions in the future?  How on earth is that going to remotely protect her?

What is ironic, is that literally 10 minutes before this all happened, I had posted a viral thread on Facebook from Sandra Bullock who is also frustrated at people saying she isn’t a real mum to her son.  She is an “Adoptive Mum”.

Take it from me, love from a real mum isn’t the love from someone that produces a child biologically - As amazing as the human body is, most women can do this in one form or another.  Love from a real mum is someone who sits watching her child sleep at night and feels the most overwhelming sense of love.  Love from a real mum is someone who holds her child tight when they fall, and worries about them when she sees them testing the boundaries.  Love from a real mum is someone who petrified, jumps in the car at 2am racing to their child to hospital only to be told by a Dr that it is only a temperature and there is no need to worry.  Love from a real mum is an overwhelming unconditional love. 

You do not have to give birth to love like a “real” mum.