dire straits experience

Get set to have a live The Dire Straits Experience in India, as 100 Pipers ‘Play for a Cause’ perfrom for the very first time in the country. The iconic British band will be making their stage debut here and support the 100 Pipers ‘Play for a Cause’ initiative and ‘Be remembered for good’. Through this initiative, the band will support the cause to provide sustainable drinking water to villagers in Rajasthan. A part of the proceeds from ticket sales from the concerts will go for the construction of water conservations structures in the target area which will help 6-7 villages in Rajasthan and directly impact beneficiaries in these villages to provide better quality of water for drinking, sanitation, irrigation and livestock. Keeping up with its tradition of bringing together fêted performers in the field of music under one roof, this year with The Dire Straits Experience, rock music admirers are in for an entertaining blast down memory lane.  With worldwide record album sales of over 100 million, three Britt awards and a team of world class musicians, Dire Straits became the veteran rock & rollers in the ’80s. This formidable event in India will feature original Dire Straits band mates Chris White (sax, flute, percussion, vocals) and Chris Whitten (drums) supported in the lead by Terence Reis (Lead Vocals and Guitar), with whom they will revive the Dire Straits repertoire in an unforgettable manner. For the fans it’s an absolute must-see as they will play some of their greatest hits including Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Brothers in Arms, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love and more. Catch the live performance of the band in Gurgaon and Bengaluru on 17th & 19thMarch respectively. Tickets will be available from 10th February.

platinum chanel monsieur

Chanel has revealed latest limited edition, 40 mm platinum case version of the Monsieur de Chanel watch, with a black alligator strap and sapphire crystal caseback that flaunts the movement inside. Geared for Baselworld 2017, this watch is a dark and poised beauty boasting an attractive grand feu enamel dial. The Calibre 1 movement is manually wound running at 3Hz with 72 hours of power reserve. The movement offers just the time with two interesting complications. First is an instant-jumping hours indicator (located at 6 o’clock) and second is a retrograde minute indicator that follows a 240-degree arc around the dial. The most traditional element on the watch is the subsidiary seconds dial. The platinum timepiece comes with a price tag of $63,000 and just 100 of these will be created.

audi a3 cabriolet

Audi has expanded its range in India with the launch of new A3 Cabriolet, with an eye at the burgeoning youthful population most tempted by a luxe convertible. Priced at Rs 47.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the new soft top version boasts of lightweight construction, top-notch safety, comfort and performance. Powered by 1.4-litre TFSI cylinder-on-demand (COD) engine that temporarily shuts-off the cylinder when the engine is operating at partial load, it boasts of 148bhp of power and 250Nm of torque.  Inside, the four seater sports three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and tweaked centre console. Along with Milano leather upholstery the sizzling beauty gets electrically retractable  MMI screen with a 7-inch colour display which is 11mm thick. And what’s more, Audi also claims that the A3 Cabriolet returns a fuel economy of 19.20 km/l. Pretty impressive package indeed.

lady emblem elixir montblan

Montblanc’s Lady Emblem Elixir is the perfect scent of the intense lady with a rebellious streak, captured in a flower-shaped, pink gold bottle with a 43 faceted cut cap, quite like the Montblacn diamond. The lady in question is defined as having a calm composed exterior with a passionate interior. Much like her, the fragrance is a combination of notes that contrast yet complement each other.. The scent opens with zesty mandarin; followed by dewy lychee to create a bubbly finish. Helmed by the Damask rose, the heart carefully reveals a harmonious mix of orange blossom, jasmine and iris. The infused sparks of vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood come together to round up the fragrance trail with a woody aroma and a a hint of black pepper. The Montblanc Lady Emblem Elixir collection comes in 3 sizes: 30ml ($80), 50ml ($122) and 75ml ($155) and will be available mid February 2017.

umaid bhawan palace jodhpur

India’s Leela Palace in Udaipur and Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur have scored a place among the top 25 in the Top Hotels Overall Travellers’ Choice list by TripAdvisor. The Leela Palace, Udaipur is ranked 19 among Top Hotels Overall, while Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur is at the 21st spot in the same category. TripAdvisor has highlighted the world’s top 7,612 properties in 109 countries and eight regions worldwide, in categories that include top hotels overall, luxury, bargain, small, service, B&Bs and inns, romance and family.

Estimated at $800,000-900,000 this painting was created in 1980 over 6 months of relentless daily work
Estimated at $800,000-900,000 this painting was created in 1980 over 6 months of relentless daily work

Leading Christie’s Spring Auction Season in Dubai this time will be ‘Odyssey of a People’, an impressive 6 meter long painting by Ismail Shammout depicting the history of Palestine as well as the important life experiences of this master of Arab modern art. Estimated at $800,000-900,000, this painting was created in 1980 over 6 months of relentless days spent working upon it. Driven by emotion and passion it is the most important seminal work of the artist’s career. Initially exhibited in 1981 in Beirut, the painting was later loaned to Damascus, Malaysia, Kuwait, The Jordan National Museum, Abu Dhabi and finally Ramallah.

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The 6-meter long painting will be on preview in Dubai from March 15 to 17 at Christie’s and will be offered for sale on March 18

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It was at this location in 2002 that during an Israeli incursion this painting was hidden away in a pillow case by the director of the museum and not displayed publicly since. It was not until the artist’s death in 2006 and the director’s death in 2008 that Shammout’s wife Tamam al Akhal established contact with the driector’s wife and reclaimed the work, which was then kept safely at the Shammout home in Amman, Jordan.  This painting will be on preview in Dubai from March 15 to 17 at Christie’s and will be offered for sale on March 18 in the spring auction of Modern and Contemporary Art taking place at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel.

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In 2002 during an Israeli incursion this painting was hidden away in a pillow case by the director of the Ramallah museum and not displayed publicly since

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The canvas reads from right to left on the pattern of the Arabic language, and retraces historic events of Palestinian history from the Nakba, the subsequent wars of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s to the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. This is juxtaposed against a sense of hope and unity against the symbol of the Palestinian flag and Kuffiyeh, all the way to a dreamlike expression of liberation and hope in peace and freedom. It was Shammout’s intention to map out the odyssey of his own people and represent his dream of returning home which was never to be realised in his lifetime.

Born under the British Mandate of Palestine, Shammout and his family were among the 25,000 residents of Lydda who feld their homes in 1948 and were relocated the the Gaza refugee camp of Khan Younis. Shammout then later moved to neighbouring Egypt and then Rome to study art. Upon his return to Gaza three years later, he established himself as a distinguished painter and activist.

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Shammout joined PLO as Director of Arts and National Culture while also holding the positions of Secretary General of Union of Palestinian Arts and Secretary General of the Union of Arab Artists

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After completing his studies in Rome, he settled in Beirut where he joined the Palestinian Liberation Organisation as the Director of Arts and National Culture in 1965 while also holding the positions of Secretary General of theUnion of Palestinian Arts and Secretary General of the Union of Arab Artists. Additionally he established Art in Palestine, one of the first English language publications on Palestinian Art. After the Isralei invasion of Beirut in 1982, Shammout relocated to Kuwait where he was once again forced to leave in the wake of the Gulf War. He finally settled in Amman until his untimely death.

atlantis the palm

Named one of the Top Ten Places in the world to propose by leading travel experts, Destinology, Atlantis, The Palm has a variety of options, away from the regular romantic fare this Valentine’s Day. Along with all those intimate dinners and spa treatments, Atlantis has some really cool adventurous experiences for couples that like their adrenaline rush served up hot. So, courageous duos can book a date night with the predators of the ocean with Atlantis DIVE, navigating the largest aquarium in the Middle East coming face to face with sharks, sting rays and 18000 different kinds of fish. A less daring date but still adventurous would be the one with a hungry Sting Ray, allowing an exquisite bonding exercise with an adventurous loved one. Or a more relaxed, luxurious option would be the Royal Swim at Dolphin Bay, where couples can enjoy a private session in the depths of the lagoon. Activities in the lagoon include the foot push where dolphins glide guests magically across the waters using all of their strength and a dorsal tow, where guests are taken for a ride while they hold the dolphin’s dorsal fins. And of course, there’s always the most ultimate experience of booking one of the Atlantis Seven Signature Suites that give you a floor to ceiling window looking directly into a Lagoon with 65,000 marine animals.

fall winter fashion week

Fashion Week returns to New York City this month, showcasing fashions for the upcoming fall season. Hundreds of thousands of industry insiders will descend upon the City for eight days of shows and presentations by some of the world’s most sought-after designers. Score an invite, and you’ll be able to see the latest from the likes of Rebecca Minkoff, Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Ralph Lauren and more. Meanwhile, downtown, emerging designers show at the attendant festival, MADE Fashion Week.

chocolate shoes

The Rihga Royal Hotel in Osaka, Japan has come up with a completely novel idea for Valentine’s Day: “Shinshi no Kagayaki”, a pair of shoes made entirely from chocolate, priced at 29,160 yen a pair, about $260. Such is the attention to detail that even a trained eye can mistake them for leather shoes, despite the fact that from the polished toes to the soles and laces and even the seams are all made of chocolate. Only nine pairs of the chocolate shoes have been made and yes, all of them have already been sold out.

5 series touring

BMW recently unveiled the G31 Touring, the second body style addition to the new-gen 5 Series, all set to make its global debut at the upcoming 2017 Geneva Motor show. As with all the BMW Touring, the new-gen 5 Series appears elegant, modern and accentuates the practical air to the premium sedan. The 5 Series touring is 36mm longer, 8mm wider and 10mm taller than the sedan. The wheelbase is increased to 2,975mm translating into a boot capacity of 570litres, extendable up to 1,700litres by folding the split rear seats. The electric tailgate gets the automatic open/close function. To give it more load carrying capacity, BMW has given the Touring a special air suspension for the rear axle as standard along with Dynamic Damper Control, roll stabilisation, Integral Active Steering and optional M Sports suspension. The cabin contains a 10.25-inch centre-mounted screen, an adaptive iDrive controller with gesture control, a larger heads-up display, telephone connectivity and massage seats, with a panoramic sunroof tht is longer and wider than the one on the sedan. The car will go on sale in June right after the Geneva debut, but it is probability of an Indian debut appears quite slim.