Dates for the diary

The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will be featuring a Valentine’s Market from February 10 to 14 from 10am to 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 the kitchens.

For details, contact 17115000.

Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will host 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 Capital Club Bahrain will host its monthly ‘Capital Heels’ event on February 15, featuring a talk on how to manage personal finances delivered by consultant James Doig. For more information, call 17592008.

Re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck will ring in Chinese New Year 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 Monday to February 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 Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) will be holding a murder mystery dinner tiled ‘Murder in the Thirties’ at the British Club of Bahrain’s Ascot Restaurant on February 18.

Tickets are BD12 per person including a three-course dinner and refreshments for tables of eight players (four male, four female). Tickets are available at the club in Um Al Hassam and the Thrift Shop on Budaiya Highway. Character info and costume suggestions will be provided.

There are prizes for the winner of the ‘Whodunit’ draw to guess the murderer and for the best costume.

For more information, call 39609714.

Awali Ladies Hospitality Group is hosting a ‘mega yard sale’ at the Bapco Club in Awali on February 20 from 11am-2pm. All proceeds will go towards a local charity and entry is 500 fils. Tables can be rented for BD10.

For more information, call 39321436 or 39459217.

The Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain is hosting a Belgian Week from February 22-29. Belgian specialities such as mussels, fries, steak tartar, selected beverages and more will be available from the a la carte menu.

For more information, call 17460017.

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa will host an evening with former football manager 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 Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival will be coming to Bahrain for the first time in March. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will join Donald and Goofy, along with 25 of the world’s favourite characters, in what promises to be a fun-filled live theatre experience.

Ticket and timing information will be available soon.

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Waterpark has announced its Season Pass 2016 offer. This special membership card enhances the park’s offerings, allowing guests to access discounts and special deals. It is available in Silver, Premium and Ladies Night exclusive versions.

Guests with a Season Pass have access to unlimited rides, attractions, entertainment and in-park activities for the entire 2016 season, plus discounts on entry, food and selected merchandise items.

In addition, the Premium pass also offers welcome LPOD souvenir tumblers, priority parking, 50 per cent discount on VIP cabanas and fast-track entry. In addition, they can make use of a ‘bring a friend day’ where each member can choose any day to bring a friend for free.

Pierre Vasseur, general manager of LPOD, said: “The new season passes are something that our guests have asked for and we are pleased to make it happen for them. We believe that our guests, especially those who love to enjoy the waterpark again and again, deserve something more special.

“Due to the high volume of guests that also arrive during our popular Ladies’ Night, for the first time we have also introduced a premium pass that will cater to them. It easily gives them access to the waterpark with all its perks and privileges.”

Available in both single and family versions, the season pass is currently available at an early bird discount offer until February 15 – to register and for more information, call 17845100.

The Fourth Al Basta Market will host its final two days on Friday and Saturday. Entry is free from 3pm-9pm at the Bahrain International Circuit. 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 Saturday.

Euro Motors is marking the first anniversary of the Land Rover Experience Bahrain, located at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, on February 19. The dealership will host free sessions for current and prospective clients, who will get a chance to sample the 3.5km of varying terrains such as sand, rock, hill and water landscapes.

There are 32 natural and man-made obstacles on the course, such as slide slopes, humps, rocks, gravel roads and watercourses, all the while getting a chance to assess the driving environment, maximise the capability and technology of the vehicle and develop driving skills in the range of Land Rover models.

For more informational, call 17450000.

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain’s China Garden restaurant is hosting a special Chinese New Year promotion until February 12.

The outlet will feature special lucky traditional dishes and creative signature dishes from its own Chinese chefs. Also, each diner will get a chance to win special prizes from the special ‘Fortune Box’.

The restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday from noon-3pm and from 7pm-11pm. For more information, call 17713000 or email fbm@gulfhotelbahrain.com

The 2016 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is off to a cool start as Ska sensation 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 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.

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 enjoy other 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.

* An ‘early bird’ ticket promotion has been extended for a week, offering up to 20 per cent discounts. Check out bahraingp.com or call 17450000 for more details.

Excitement is growing as organisers revealed details to concert lovers this week of the first acts of the 2016 Spring of Culture.

‘Kan Ya Ma Kan’, by the Caracalla Dance Theatre, will bring a star cast of 75 artists that will blend dance and music from the Orient. They will perform at the Bahrain National Theatre on February 25 at 8pm.

Halit Ergenç, an opera singer from Turkey, will perform at the same venue and time on March 3.

Gregory Porter, pictured right, an American award-winning jazz, soul and blues singer and songwriter who recently claimed his second International Jazz Artist of the Year gong, will perform at 8.30pm at Arad Fort on March 5.

Finally, ‘Kaash - Akram Khan’ brings the five-strong cast of international performers to Arad Fort as they build bridges between the worlds of contemporary dance and the Indian classical dance form ‘Kathak’ on March 11, also at 8.30pm.

Ticket prices are to be announced shortly for all four events and will go on sale at noon on February 17 at the Spring of Culture stand at City Centre Bahrain Entrance. They will also be available online at www.springofculture.org

The Indian Club is hosting an Open Softball Cricket Tournament, which will start on February 12. The seven-a-side tournament is open to all teams, with trophies and prizes on offer to the winners, runners-up and star performers.

Entries are now being taken for the competition with an entry fee of BD50 per team and the closing date is today, with a ‘Captains’ meeting’ due to be held on Friday to discuss the tournament’s rules and regulations and do the draw for the initial group stage.

For further information and details on how to enter, call the club on 17253157.

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 at the hotel, inclusive of breakfast.

For details, contact 17531122.