Today in Bahrain

SO FRENCH 

On going till January 23 

Venue: Manama 

The fourth edition of French week will be held from 18th to 23rd January 2017 under the patronage of His Majesty’s Personal Representative HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa. 

The weeklong celebration will be titled “So French” and will embrace the familiar as well as the less familiar aspects of French culture. “So French” week will be organised in collaboration with key institutional partners Alliance Française, Atout France, The French Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Bahrain and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, as well as specialist professionals from the French business community in Bahrain. “So French” will highlight four main areas; technology, lifestyle, tourism and infrastructure through a range of events and activities”. Celebrated musician Yasmine Hamadan will be performing at the Cultural Hall on the 20th January, while a mesmerising photographic exhibition titled “Imagine France” will take place at the Bahrain Financial Harbour. A full events calendar will be announced in the coming weeks, with a growing number of events and promotions taking place. Emphasizing the retail side of So French week, food, fashion and cosmetics retailers along with the hospitality sector are encouraged to take part by contacting the organizing team through their website www. sofrench.me 

ICRF MEDICAL CAMP 

Time :  6pm-8.30pm 

Venue: MCSC workers accommodation, Alba ( Near AMA ) 

Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) Medical camp will be held on Thursday. ICRF once again requests all the volunteers to come and participate in this noble activity and make the event a great success. For more information contact V.Ajayakrishnan on 3962 7219. 

PRENATAL YOGA WITH AMAL 

Time : 9 am – 10 am 

Venue : Serenity Meditation, Yoga and Reiki Centre- Janabiya 

About the Class: This restorative-based class gives mothers-to-be an opportunity to practice poses that help alleviate common pregnancy discomforts, as well as prepare for a more aware childbirth. It is a gentle class suitable for all 3 trimesters, and you don’t need to have prior yoga experience to attend. 

ITALIAN FESTIVAL 

Date: January 19-26 

Venue: The Gulf Hotel 

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention &Spa will be launching Italian Festival in La Pergola from January 19 till 26 where visiting Chef Michele Zambanini from Italy will be showcasing his delightful exclusive menu. During the festival, we will also be hosting an exclusive Italian cooking class on the 21st from 12:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m for BD 20 per person. Chef Michele and his biography. Michele Zambanini has been the Executive Chef of Villa d’Este since 2011. Michele attentively oversees the hotel’s three restaurants: the fine dining “La Veranda”, the “Grill” where Italian traditional cuisine is served and the cozy and casual “Il Platano”. His cuisine is Italian of a classic-contemporary style. His love of Italian culinary tradition is evident in the use of Italian high quality products which he combines with curiosity and refinement with other styles and savors. Michele with his professionalism and passion leads a young and motivated team of 47 people and well represents an iconic place such as Villa d’Este. Conscious of his talent, he never exceeds into over-modern sophistication, keeping a balance between creativity and tradition. 

BAHRAIN ANNUAL FINE ARTS EXHIBITION 43 

Date: On-going till 17 March 2017 , 8:00 am 8:00 pm 

Venue: Bahrain National Theatre 

The Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, in its 43rd edition, celebrates the creativity and ingenuity of the local artists. Every year, the art community gathers to present their finest work, uninhibited by a subject or theme. The result is a colorful display of styles, techniques, through different mediums of expression. 

" SHOP BAHRAIN” FESTIVAL 

Date: Jan 19 - Feb 18 

Venue: Different Locations 

The third-edition of the Bahrain Shopping Festival – ‘Shop Bahrain’ - is set to be the biggest nationwide Festival with a unique line-up of events and entertainment, a fantastic shopping experience and numerous prizes. The 30-day event, aimed at celebrating the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism offering, will kick off on January 19th 2017 and will run until the 18th February 2017. The Festival, co-organized by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Tamkeen, is held in cooperation with the partners from the public and private sector such as Gulf Air, Batelco and YK Al Moayyed. Last year, over 20 shopping malls took part in the Festival resulting in a BD11 million worth of shopping along with a growth in the number of tourists from the GCC. The second edition also witnessed an increase in the daily sales revenues by 30% when compared to the results posted by the first edition. The Festival also offered employment opportunities by directly and indirectly hiring 175 Bahrainis. The calendar of events includes a ‘Festival City’ located at the Bahrain Bay which will host a variety of activities for all age groups. Other highlights include the return of the ‘Taste Tour’ which aims to showcase the mouth-watering restaurants in addition to raffle draws offering visitors and residents the opportunity to win big and amazing prizes. Shoppers and visitors can learn more about “Shop Bahrain” through the website: www.shopbahrain.com or through the account @shopbahrain on the social networking channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The Festival organizers have also launched a dedicated Whatsapp channel on 38999111. 

 YASMINE HAMDAN’S CONCERT 

Time :  8 pm – 11 pm 

Venue : The Cultural Hall- Manama 

Sponsored by BNP Paribas, the ground-breaking artist Yasmine Hamdan will be performing in Bahrain for So French week. Yasmine Hamdan is a Paris-based, Lebanese singer-s o n g w r i t e r , considered to be one of the most groundbreaking musicians in the region. Yasmine’s vocals are connected to the traditions of Arabic music and complemented by electro folk pop tunes. The UK’s Metro has called her “an intoxicating blend of Middle Eastern soul, electronic production…and rebel spirit”. 

HALI BUSINESS LUNCH

Date: Till Jan 31

Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

Welcome to the Land of Sensory delights - Dine like a Maharajah in Nirvana, where a world of sensory delights and authentic Indian cuisine will transport your palate to new heavens. Timings: Sundays to Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

EXPLORATIONS, ENCOUNTERS AND REMEMBERED STORIES: 200 YEARS OF BRITISH -BAHRAINI RELATIONS 

Date: Ongoing till April 30

Venue: Bahrain National Museum 

The rise of piracy in the Arabian Sea in the 18th and 19th centuries resulted in a time of unrest that challenged prosperity and regional trade enterprise. In 1816, a friendly agreement between the British representatives in the Gulf and the Shaikhs of Bahrain secured the protection of shared interests.

The agreement was formalised in 1820 with the signing of a General Treaty of Peace, that ushered a new episode in the political and cultural history of both nations. Over the past 200 years, the nature of the British-Bahraini relationship has evolved and the ties between the two nations were strengthened. Above all, this relationship was shaped by varied explorations, encounters and personal stories. This exhibition draws on the first explorations of Bahrain and its archaeological landscape. It celebrates a few of those who have played a major role in bringing global attention to Bahrain.

By shifting the focus from artefacts to people and their documented encounters with local Bahrainis, we attempt to shed light on different perspectives of the bicentenary long British-Bahraini relationship.The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the British Council in Bahrain.