Shopping

Mall of the Emirates has announced that spaces for another 750 cars will be added to existing parking by May this year as a part of the mall’s new 40-store expansion.

“We’re expecting a lot more visitors and to make sure we can give them the most convenient trip, it was essential to increase the number of spaces too. We have placed them around the three car park levels of the mall including ground,” said Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates.

While the expansion work has been carried out, the traffic flow within the mall has been redesigned for easier access, with more signs and customer service personnel. Customers are urged to take note of the new exits from the mall which will be effective until April. All exits from the mall to Sheikh Zayed Road will be from the ground floor and to Al Barsha from Level 1 of the Carrefour side.

“By the end of April, we expect work on the parking to be near completion, with full access to Al Barsha and Sheikh Zayed Road from all levels. In June, we will also have a brand new taxi drop-off and pick-up area at the north east corner of the mall with a refurbished entrance and lobby,” added Sharaf.

Scheduled to open at the end of the third quarter of 2010, an additional 10,500 square metres of retail space is being added to one of the most popular malls in the UAE.

Culture and Co, the French bookstore of the Emirates, opened its new showroom in Oud Metha, yesterday, with a thought to the Haitian people.

‘The initiative has come from the AILF – the International French Bookstore Association. They have requested the backing of all their members to support the French Bookstores in Haiti, which have been destroyed by the recent earthquake’ Renata Sader, Culture and Co owner declared.

‘The French speaking community worldwide has decided to help support the reconstruction of the French bookstores in Port-au-Prince, thus putting forward one of the basic principles of the French speaking cultural lifestyle: solidarity’ she added.

‘With the support of all the French speaking communities in the UAE, we have raised funds on this opening day of our new showroom that will help aid the rebuilding of the French Bookstores in Haiti.’

The opening ceremony was attended by the French Council General in the UAE, Mrs. Nada Yafi as well as representatives from French speaking diplomatic and cultural representations in the country.

With its new location in Oud Metha, in the vicinity of the French schools and French Alliances, Culture & Co aims to encourage book lovers and its supporters to visit regularly, with ease of access.

Within its 200 square meters, the bookstore offers a wide variety of educational, curriculum, historical and entertaining French books. This broad selection provides all levels of reading whether for learning purposes, leisure or lifestyle.

Parents will also be able to order specific books for their school children as well as educational material for people wanting to learn French. Orders may also be placed for any specific requirements that are not found in store.

‘We sent out special invitations to all our friends, partners and clients to celebrate the opening of our new bookstore and contribute to the support we are offering to the Haitian French bookstores’ Sader concluded.

Culture & Co – is the first French bookstore in the UAE, and the only French bookstore in the GCC. Opened in Dubai in April 2006, it caters for the cultural and educational needs of all the French speaking communities in the UAE, with 2 bookstores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It’s aim is to promote the French culture in the region and offers an array of various books and novels for all tastes and ages – including educational multimedia material – , as well as educational material for schools and cultural centres in the GCC.

Culture & Co, Al Nasr Plaza, Oud Metha, PO Box 502104, Dubai
Email: info@culturecodubai.com

Dates: March 2, 2010 – April 28, 2010

Venue: Art Couture gallery. Blue Al Fattan Marine Tower II, JBR, (Between Ritz Carlton & Hilton) The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence.

This exhibition is an insight into three very different approaches to contemporary art by three international artists, who are expressing themselves in their own individualism. The art works include – Abstraction, Abstract Representational Art and Abstract Realism. A scintillating plethora of mixed media, colours and techniques make this exhibition a must see’.

The exhibiting artists are the well known Corine Pagny, Natasha Barnes one of South Africa’s most published abstract artists and Art Couture’s innovative Canadian artist Cynthia ‘Reta’ Richards.

Horses and the Living Model

French artist Pagny revisits Dubai with her new collection of ‘horses’ combining minimalist strokes with dynamic effects. She will also display pieces from her signature collection ‘calligraphies of the body’ where she paints ‘the living model’ The artist uses brushes and bamboo on canvas or paper with inks or acrylics. In the artist’s words “I study human beings with no complexes…The emotions are translated in black or white, the colour is nothing but a pretext, the drawing and the gesture is a need”.

Every Day is a Painting

The natural talent and pure passion for painting of this South African self taught artist is evident in her profound style, exhibiting expressionism, colour and movement. Every painting reflects the artist’s mind, the nuance of her mood, the exhilarating trip into her aesthetic world. Barnes finds inspiration from her travels, transferring her myriad feelings onto canvas. Each piece different, following the mood of the day…….

From Weaving to Woven

Art Couture’s resident Canadian artist exhibits new additions and existing art works from one of her favourite collections ‘From Weaving To Woven’ which is a continuous work of art. The title symbolises the axiom ‘as you sow, so shall you reap’. Strikingly decorative designs captured on paper and canvas jostle alongside woven designs in subtle hues. A depth of meaning unfolds in the woven lines.

Art and Coffee – March 3, 2010 at 10.30am
Horses and the Living Model by Corine Pagny

An amazing live demonstration by French artist Pagny as she paints in her signature style ’the living model’ This well known artist was the invited speaker for a morning and by popular demand an evening coffee morning last year at Art Couture. All those who missed it don’t miss out this time. Register at art@artcoutureuae.com as limited spots available.

Art and Coffee is a monthly event Art Couture organizes as part of its vision and mission of promoting contemporary art in Dubai. Artists, art professors, curators and other guests talk about their expertise areas, once a month. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty of art, learn something new, and share your cultural interests over a nice cup of coffee.

For more information visit artcoutureuae.com

Macy’s have confirmed that Bloomingdale’s at the Dubai Mall will open on February 1 2010.

There will be 2 stores at the Dubai Mall; a 146,000 square feet fashion and accessories store and a 54,000 square feet home store.

They will be the first Bloomingdale’s stores to open outside the US.

The Mirdif City Centre shopping mall, opening on March 16, has announced that it will offer two large food courts with over 75 restaurants and food outlets.

Many of the outlets will be making their debut in the region, including PF Chang’s – offering American Chinese cuisine, Tiffinbites – London-based Indian restaurant group, and Abu Sid – Egyptian.

Yousif Al Ali, Vice-President of Mirdif City Centre, said ‘When we planned the leasing for the food and beverage retail outlets, we wanted to put together something for everyone. Not just the variety of tastes, but the different types of visitors we would see. From those that would like to make the most of their time, to the more leisurely customers who want to savour their food and drink with friends. We look forward to welcoming our shoppers to enjoy the amazing F&B selection we have to offer.’

Mirdif City Centre is a development by Majid Al Futtaim Properties with a gross leasable area of 196,000 square metres. It will feature around 430 shops (including Carrefour and Debenhams), parking for 7,000 cars, and an entertainment centre with 10-screen cinema, bowling alley, and indoor ‘iFLY’ sky diving experience.

Delwood in association with Orbit Showtime presents “Maz Jobrani; Brown and Friendly” stand up comedy show. If you are not going to see Maz perform in Amman then this is your chance to catch up him for a limited time in Dubai. Maz is back in Dubai by popular demand with a new show and joined on stage with two new rising comedy stars K-von and Eman.

Maz said ‘After one year of being away, I am excited to return to Dubai with my new show, ‘Brown and Friendly.’ I think the crowds are going to love the 2 new comics that are coming out with me – K-von and Eman. It’s going to be a great night of comedy!’

Performances are taking place at the Centrepoint Theatre at the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre, Mall of the Emirates at 8pm and 10.30pm on Thursday 10th December. Tickets on the balcony are AED 195 and stalls are AED 275. Tickets are now available online from www.timeouttickets.com and from the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre. Tickets are restricted to those 13 years and above.

The final 12 screens at the Reel Cinemas, Dubai Mall opened today.

The opening was marked with the first digital screening in the UAE of the film 2012. It was shown in Screen 22, the region’s first and only THX-certified cinema hall.

Reel Cinemas also includes The Picturehouse, the first cinema in the UAE dedicated to art house and independent films.

The first 10 screens at 22-screen multiplex opened in August 2009.

The House of Cakes Bakery is opening new branch in Jumeirah Lake Towers.

The House of Cakes Bakery is to open a new shop in Jumeirah Lakes Tower, Al Seef Tower 2, in October 2009.

The first outlet opened 3 years ago in International City.

Unlike the first outlet, the new bakery will offer seating for around 40 people and will serve freshly made cakes, cupcakes, cookies, sandwiches and salads.

Owner Irena Dimitrova said ‘It is just something that I have always wanted to do. We have baked and decorated our special cakes in smaller bakery till now where we didn’t have the chance to seat and serve visitors. This will now change and we welcome all our clients to come and try our delicious cakes, cupcakes and cookies in our new shop.’

The bakery will also offer party packages for those who need a venue to celebrate special occasions.

Irena said what will make her shop special is that everything is made from scratch. Nothing is frozen or made from mixes.

She added ‘There are few places in Dubai where you can get that. I think it makes a huge difference in the way it tastes.’

For more information please contact:

Irena Dimitrova
Mob: 050-3752434
sales@houseofcakesdubai.com
www.houseofcakesdubai.com

Burj Al Arab Cake

UK discount retailer Matalan opened its first store in United Arab Emirates today.

The department store is situated at the Arabian Centre Mall in the Mirdif area of Dubai and offers fashion and household items at extremely cheap prices.

Alistair McGeorge, CEO of Matalan, said, ‘Matalan has come a long way since the first store that was set up in Preston in UK. The UAE is at the frontier of global reach today and poses an extremely fashion conscious populace. The Arabian Center offers Matalan a great opening into the UAE market. As one of UK’s fastest growing retail brands, we are very positive about the brand’s reception here.’

The Arabian Centre Mall opened at the beginning of 2009. It is owned and operated by the Lals Group.

The Dubai Metro will begin operations on September 9 2009 with 10 stations on the Red Line.

However services on the opening day will be restricted to VIPs invited by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The system will open to the public the following day.

Stations opening on the first day are Rashidiya, Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3), Deira City Centre, Al Rigga, Union Square, Khalid bin Waleed, Al Jafiliya, Dubai International Financial Centre, Mall of the Emirates, and Nakheel Harbour & Tower.

The remaining stations will open over the coming months.

Throughout Ramadan the Dubai Metro service will operate from Saturday to Thursday 6 am until midnight. On Friday services will run from 2 pm to midnight.

After Ramadan the Metro service will run from Saturday to Thursday, 6.am to 11 pm, and on Fridays 2 pm to midnight.