Dates for the diary

Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) urges animal lovers and their pets to step out for its annual Strut Your Mutt dog walk. The event will be held on January 29 at Askar. Added attractions include a raffle, stalls and refreshments as well as giveaway goodies. You can bring your own pooch or pre-book one of the shelter’s dogs for a walk.

For details, contact Michelle on 33121769.

The American Women’s Association is hosting a ‘Night at the Oscars’ event at the ART Rotana Hotel, Amwaj Islands, on January 29.

The event begins at 7pm with a welcome beverage and a red carpet. At 8pm a gourmet dinner will be served. Attire is white tails, black tie or national dress.

To purchase tickets, call Charmaine Williams at AWABall@AWABahrain.org or call 33803688.

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain will be celebrating Chinese New Year at China Garden from February 1-12 from noon-3pm and 7pm-11pm every day except for Sunday. The restaurant will feature traditional and creative signature dishes and each diner will get a chance to win special prizes at the Fortune Box at the end of the meal.

For details, contact 17713000 or email fbm@gulfhotelbahrain.com or info@gulfhotelbahrain.com

Re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck will ring in Chinese New Year at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay with a one-night-only special event that will include a festive prix-fixe menu honouring the Year of the Monkey curated by executive chef, Brian Becher, on February 17.

Becher created a three-course menu that begins with a Whole Jumbo Head-on Prawn, which represents family togetherness. The second course, which represents the five blessings of the New Year including longevity, riches, peace, wisdom, and virtue, includes Cumin-Soy Marinated Lamb Chops with a five vegetable stir-fry. The final course includes Monkey Bread Sticky Cake with tangerine ice cream and was chosen because the pronunciation for the word ‘tangerine’ sounds much like the pronunciation of the word ‘monkey’ in Mandarin.

Prior to dinner, guests will also have the opportunity to indulge in five live-action stations that include delicacies such as Roasted Whole Duckling; Xio Long Bao; Chinese New Year Dumplings; Crispy Lamb Belly; and Longevity Noodles.

The entire evening is priced at BD29 per person with an additional BD15 per guest for an optional grape pairing.

From February 8-23, the restaurant will offer a special five- or seven-course Chinese New Year tasting menu in lieu of regular tasting menus that include Xiao Long Bao; Hunan BBQ Style Lamb Chops; Longevity Noodles and more. The menus are priced at BD35 and BD50. Regular a la carte items will also be available.

For more information visit www.fourseasons.com/bahrain or call 17115044.

The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will also be featuring a Valentine’s Market from February 10-14 from 10am-9pm in the lobby with homemade pink macaroons, chocolate pralines, heart-shaped chocolate cakes decorated with fresh roses, and many more sweet treats straight from kitchens.

For details, contact 17115000.

Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will stage a Master Class programme to ‘develop innovation and lateral thinking for leaders’.

The two-day workshop on February 10 and 11 will be conducted by business guru Adi Breuer, who has 25 years of experience and has consulted more than 200 companies globally, and will encourage current or future business leaders and industrialists to acknowledge and recognise their potential in innovating their businesses.

During the workshop, Breuer will be guiding attendees through a programme covering leadership development, executive impact and innovative approaches to leadership drawn from the potential of each delegate and their collective knowledge and experiences.

To register or for more information on workshop fees, contact 17299123 or info@hilalce.com

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa will host an evening with football manager and personality Harry Redknapp on February 26, where he will share stories from his distinguished career.

Tickets are BD30 each, which includes entry, a gourmet dinner, a prize giveaway and a sports memorabilia auction.

For more information and tickets, visit www.ssmena.com or call 34552161.

The Crowne Plaza Bahrain Bfit Health Club is staging a Biggest Loser Challenge until May 10. The person who loses the most weight at the end of the four months will win three months free health club membership, a T-shirt and a one night stay-for-two inclusive of breakfast.

For details, contact 17531122.

Ghazialgosaibi.com, a memorial website dedicated to the late and admired literary and political figure Dr Ghazi Algosaibi, announces the addition of new and insightful academic research to the site highlighting the statesman’s life’s work in the literary, political and cultural fields.

The website, which sheds light on the life, the professional career and social involvement of one of the region’s most celebrated and well-respected politicians, has recently added new academic research detailing Dr Algosaibi’s diverse range of experiences, in addition to his insights during the first Gulf War period.

Due to popular public demand for access to his works, the latest uploads to the site include the publication of one of Dr. Algosaibi’s most famous works, Hatta La Takoon Fitna, a self-published series of letters written during the Gulf War and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

The book details his replies to clerics and religious fundamentalists he faced during the time of the invasion, whom he engaged with in liberal-minded historical and Islamic discourse. Through this discourse, Dr Algosaibi established a form of mediation which can still be readily utilised in the event of conflicting perspectives.

The invasion of Kuwait had a major impact on the work of Dr Algosaibi as it influenced his political, religious and social examinations and discussions. The book remains relevant more than two decades later as the Arab region continues to face similar challenges. The site has also included his PhD thesis on the Yemeni revolution, which continues to resonate today in light of current affairs.

One of the most prominent additions to the website includes a brief detailing the influence of Dr Algosaibi’s work. His son, Suhail, wrote the foreword to the digital version of Hatta La Takoon Fitna, detailing the context of the publication against the political backdrop of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He said: “The website provides an extensive amount of specialised knowledge for individuals interested in the historical examinations of the region. This comes through the experiences and knowledge of my father and how these lessons are still applicable to reflect in current times. This allows interested parties of Dr Algosaibi’s decades-long academic and political work with the opportunity to use proven examples in the face of any religious extremism seen currently in the region.”

For more information visit www.ghazialgosaibi.com

The Fourth Al Basta Market will be held every Friday and Saturday for free from 3pm-9pm at the Bahrain International Circuit until February 6. The market, organised by the Southern Governorate, features stalls, live Bahraini bands, farmers and productive family stalls and other activities.

Artist Thajba Najeeb’s collection of canvases and murals, entitled My Love Affair Continues is open to the public at the Bahrain Financial Harbour West Tower Reception and will run until February 6.

The 2016 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is off to a cool start as Ska sensation Jimmy Cliff is set to entertain fans with a full set of his reggae classics for visitors to the festival of motorsport.

The Jamaican Grammy-winning musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and actor has recently announced that he will be performing on April 1 to kick-start the three-day celebration at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Cliff is best known for songs such as Wonderful World, Beautiful People, Many Rivers to Cross, You Can Get It If You Really Want, The Harder They Come, Reggae Night, Hakuna Matata, and I Can See Clearly Now from the film Cool Runnings.

He starred in the film The Harder They Come, which helped popularise reggae across the world and Club Paradise. Cliff was one of five performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 and is the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.

After 50 years in the spotlight, the soulful music man is still going strong with his new album REBIRTH and lead track One More. The new Universal Music Enterprises album is produced by punk icon Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Operation Ivy fame.

According to Cliff, the album is about his rebirth as an artist and as a man, but also about the rebirth of the world. Throughout his career he has worked with rock stars including the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello and Annie Lennox and his songs were covered by the likes of Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Cher, New Order and Fiona Apple.

Formula 1 ticket holders will be able to watch the legend in action. Although the schedule has yet to be confirmed, it is likely that he will take to centre stage at BIC’s Formula One Village Vending Area after the second F1 practice session.

Three-day ticket holders will also be able to enjoy exclusive activities with their passes, such as the coveted Pit Lane Walk on Thursday afternoon and witness other world class off-the-track entertainment.

Bahrain will host the second race of the season, after Australia, before the Formula One roadshow heads to China and Russia.

For ticket details visit the BIC website on www.bahraingp.com

Parents looking to send their children abroad for schooling will be able to tap into a huge pool of information offered by boarding school specialists from the UK as they visit the kingdom once again this week.

The Anderson Education team will be setting up at the British Club of Bahrain to offer free advice to families living on the island about the choices available having visited more than 350 UK boarding schools.

“This first-hand knowledge enables us to identify what is special and unique about each school and match this with the needs of each child. We aim to make the search for the best school a stress-free experience,” explained Sara Sparling, education consultant.

To board or not to board? This is a difficult decision for most parents. Many Harry Potter-inspired children, having read the books and watched the movies, are keen to experience the fun and excitement of boarding school.

Preparation and planning are key components to ensuring a successful placement and although families have access to the internet, research can, of course, prove to be confusing as there is so much choice.

“They all look wonderful and families often do not know where to start, that’s where we come in,” added Sara. “Come and talk to us!”

The team has met some families who have moved to Bahrain and have been unable to secure a place in a British-curriculum school of their choice as the most popular have waiting lists.

Sixth form is also an option as many parents and students feel it offers good preparation for the impending independence of university life. Enquiries also come from families whose children require specialist support as children with learning difficulties are not always given the breadth or depth of support required locally.

Parents of new boarders will often comment on how independent their children have become, they are encouraged to think for themselves and take responsibility – good life skills in preparing for the workplace.

* Anderson Education will be in the kingdom on Friday between 3pm and 7pm at The British Club of Bahrain. Check the website for more information www.andersoneducation.co.uk

Prior to the season opening, the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Waterpark is inviting fun-lovers to bring their family and friends to enjoy its coming Outdoor Fun Fest event on Friday, January 29, from 9am-5pm, staged in its enormous car park area.

It will feature a special bazaar featuring clothes, accessories, shoes and household items.

There will also be an array of dishes to enjoy for a perfect picnic set on the surrounding landscaped grounds or on the benches.

Additional entertainment for children includes bouncy castles, face painting, henna, caricatures and, of course, an appearance by LPOD’s mascots DELMO & DELMA.

Youngsters are also invited for the first hover-board/Segway open field day. The field will be divided into a beginner’s lane with another area dedicated for more experienced riders.

A competition will be staged with prizes for stunt displays, best designed hover-boards as well as races.

Special safety skills and training will also be held to ensure children get to grips with the popular devices. Participants are urged to bring along protective and safety gear to wear.

“All this along with the hippest DJ music that will surely make a great day out for everyone!” a LPOD spokesman said.

Entry is BD1. For more information on bazaar table bookings and hover-board contest registration, call 36048641/36048648.