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Wednesday (May 6) Al Riwaq Gallery in collaboration with Istanbul's Garanti Galeri is hosting a multimedia exhibition Becoming Istanbul at the A'ali Shopping Complex, second floor.

Pelin Dervi_, architect and director of the Garanti Gallery, will host a talk at 7pm at the gallery introducing the concept behind Becoming Istanbul, how the project developed and the changes that the city has undergone in the last decade.

An interactive presentation and a 16-minute film titled mapping Istanbul will also be shown.

The exhibition is the outcome of works produced in the last 10 years by photographers, artists, architects, writers, illustrators and researches aiming to look at Istanbul from a level free of stereotypes.

Becoming Istanbul will run until June 21 at Al Riwaq Gallery, in Al Aali Shopping Complex.

For more details contact Al Riwaq Gallery on 17581176 or email info@alriwaqgallery.org

Australian vocalist, pianist and entertainer Colin Salter will perform at the Upstairs Downstairs restaurant, Adliya, throughout May.

His career of over 30 years has included performed in hotels, resorts, clubs, scout and concert halls, opera houses, bathhouses and outlets in Sydney, Melbourne, London, New York and Paris.

During the 1980s, he was the resident singer-pianist at a number of five-star hotels in Sydney, including the Hilton on The Park where Frank Sinatra asked him to play I've Got You Under My Skin.

Thursday (May 7)

Its Mirchi Lounge at the Ramee International hotel, Juffair is hosting Desi Grooves featuring Indian DJ Lil'B aka DJ Bhavini Shah. Rates are BD10 for men inclusive of two drinks and free entry for ladies.

For details contact Sunil on 39827539 or Sachin on 39282071.

Friday (May 8)

The Bahrain Lovers Musical Band will perform at the Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE), Juffair to raise money for Gaza from 8pm to 10pm.

The event is free to the public, but charity tokens will be on sale at the show.

The 16-member band consists of 12 musicians, using instruments including saxophone, trumpet and guitar and two male and two female vocalists.

Organisers hope to welcome more than 600 people including guest of honour Majeed Marhoon, a partially deaf musician, composer and poet who spent 21 years in a Bahraini prison for terrorism.

The event will also feature poetry, theatre and stalls selling Palestinian souvenirs, flags and posters as well as food.

For details contact band-leader Zuhair Abdulghani Ali on 39920161.

The Bahrain Irish Society is hosting a Jazz brunch at the Upstairs Downstairs Restaurant in Adliya on Friday from 12pm to 3pm. Rates are BD12 net per adult member, BD15 net per adult guest inclusive of selected beverages and BD2 for children. For details email membership@bahrainirishsociety.com or log on to www.bahrainirishsociety.com

Quiz competition Quest 2009 organised by the Indian Academy, in association with Synergy Middle East Bahrain, will be held at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Diamond Jubilee Hall, Segaiya.

Teams of three children aged from 12 to 18 from schools, educational institutions, clubs and associations will first take part in a written qualifying round and semifinals. The grand final will be hosted by Keralite quizmaster Rekha Menon at the hall on May 14.

Entry for the audience for all rounds is free, but teams must pay a registration fee of BD5 each.

For details contact organising committee members on 39662281 or 36358257 or e-mail tmas@batelco.com.bh.

KJ Production presents desi night with DJ Akbar Sami at Club Twister, Ramada Palace Hotel, Hoora. Doors open at 9pm. All beverages will be priced at BD1.7 and guests have a chance to win a return ticket to India and Pakistan on pre-sold tickets. For details contact Kitab on 39348098 or 36344099.

Saturday (May 9)

New Dawn Ladies Society will organise a traditional event 'Old is Gold' at Al Ghous Corniche in Muharraq from 11am to 6pm.

This festival is aimed at demonstrating and emphasising the importance of Bahrain's traditions and showcasing its culture and rituals. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the geriatrics hospital.

The event will feature authentic Bahraini food, clothing, perfumes, books and handicrafts. There will also be children's games and activities inspired by old Bahrain including potteries, painting, make your own jasmine bracelets, pony rides, henna art and other fun activities.

For details contact Abeer Abdullatif on 39602662 or Sara Hamad Abul on 36787116.

The Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research opens an exhibition 'When the Word turns into a Fragrant Ray of Light' by artist Firyal Al Adhamy at 7pm at the Bin Matar House, Muharraq. The exhibition, which will be held until May 30, is her seventh solo exhibition and features ceramic and wood on canvas, acrylic and mixed media. Firyal Al Adhamy has participated in many joint exhibitions in London and the Middle East. Her last solo exhibition 'Postcards from Mesopotamia' was held at the Green Art Gallery in Dubai. She has also participated in the 'Iraq's Past Speaks to the Present' exhibition held at the British Museum London as a complement to the Museum exhibition 'Babylon: Myth and Reality' from November 2008 to March 2009. Firyal's works are held in many prestigious private and public collections such as the National Gallery of Jordan and the British Museum in London. For details email melissa_enders@yahoo.com

Sunday (May 10)

The Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain is lining up a series of summertime events.

Until July 31, children can look forward to a range of summer activities including private and group swimming lessons seven days a week, sports fitness, gymnastics and other games. The Palms Bar and CafŽ are offering a variety of natural ice cream flavours and the 576sq/m infinity edge pool has also been renovated and is now open. For details contact 17460000.

For the month of May, the Sheraton Hotel in Manama is holding daily international buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Al Safir outlet. Soie will host the Lobster promotion and An Nada Bar will host a Hot Dog promotion . The Hotel's Golestan outlet will host a special monthly business lunch. For details contact 17533533.

Monday (May 11)

The American Women's Association (AWA) is hosting an (American) Mother's Day Fashion Show and luncheon at the Regency Intercontinental Hotel. Doors open at 9am. For ticket information contact 39723817 or 39407053.

Tuesday (May 12)

Al Hamra Palace Lebanese Restaurant at the Delmon International Hotel, Manama is offering a feast of Lebanon. Authentic Lebanese cuisine is on offer prepared by Chef Ahmed Sheaito and his team who have extensively researched old recipe books to create a contemporary and palatable menu. The evening will also feature live entertainment. Lunch is served from 12 noon to 3pm and dinner is from 7pm to midnight. For details contact 39776756.