Happy BirtHday! - Feel Your Tempo
Transcription
Happy BirtHday! - Feel Your Tempo
ENTERTAINMENT the rhythm of your city NMENT ENTERTAI L THE INTERNATIONA UM SCULPTURE SYMPOSI I ROYAL DRIVE 2010 AZ AND LOTS SUPERCARS, THE GORILL UAE! MORE HEADING TO IS I PG Emirati 4-!0 4%-0/05,,/5 behind WITH ABU DHABI Jalal Luqman joins Tempo ZU FILM FESTIVAL TRIATHLON ROUTES FOR THE LOVE OF MOVIES pg 8 ARTS I LIFESTYLE USPACE your page where UREVIEW, UASK and UVOTE pg 11 FREE ABU DHABI PULLOUT GUIDE 1 -15 FREE S E P T ISSU E M B E R 2 E 1, 2 0 AUGUST 1 0 010 y your cit ’S th m o f y h r NEW YORKEIM GIRLS e th GUGGENHAMAL & AFRA ESBI JOABN U DHA ENTE RTAI N TELLING THE MEN T I FOO D I FASH ION E TAGS ONS TEN REAS the Spain Won p World Cu tempo turns ONE year UT WORLD ABO THE UAEp.10 H MOBIL ALL ABOUT SHAF RAISI ZINE IN TH % ,/#!,!24)3433(). LifaeBoonatbi a The Talented in Abu Dh FASHION O MIC 0F EMB LA01 , R2OIDER Y J U LY 16 - 31 ty of your ci th e rh ythm I ARTS M AY 16 - 31, 2 010 TALE S FOOD I HIP | FASHION | F ITNESS p.24 p.8 IN C MY T JUM AA BD PRES ULLAH ENT S: S RTS HE A ABI CEL 2010 LIFESTYLE Happy Birthday! FUN | FAMILY | FOOD | FRIENDS TAG FREE ISSUE F I ARTS I LIFESTYLE I FASHION I BILE ") FOOD I MO ENT ENTERTAINM ITH 7)4( WW SPLASH 7!+%34/# !"5$(! + E NO -!+%! E UA M A R C H 2 010 TING EBRA T U DH AB TIVAL ES FASHION | FITN ESS N TH P | FAS HION I E TAGS FREE ISSUE | FRIE NDSHI WITH MOBIL your city the rhy thm of ILY | FOOD E UAE NOW FUN | FAM FOOD T MAGA THE COOLES FREE ISSUE I IT NOW W THE UAE SSUE October 1-15, 2010 Free ISSUE I LIFES TYLE I ARTS CONTENTS VOLUME18 | October 01-15 | 2010 FROM THE EDITOR Hello Abu Dhabi, I remember when each of my kids turned one… the warm stories and the quirky anecdotes. Each child had his or her own growth challenges to overcome, but one year was definitely a turning point for all of them. It was the time the child confidently walked, ate alone, and started uttering bitty sentences. Over this past year, Tempo went through its own experiences; the first baby steps, the teething of a different sort, and dealing with little challenges that continue to pop up to this day. Tempo has developed its own personality, its own look and style, and an identity that it hopes will set it apart from others. Right from the start, Tempo wanted to be a true reflection of the wonderful mosaic of people and cultures that live here. The little magazine wanted to be one that you could roll up and take with you, the kind that uses up less paper and is kinder to the environment. It wanted to be dynamic and different; in content, design and philosophy. ENTERTAINMENT 4 USPACE 6 WHAT’s HOT 8 Beat with ELLE 10 Tamakkan 11 Tech Talk FASHION 12 TRENDSETTER Tempo must have captured the community’s soul because we are overwhelmed every single day by people who genuinely care for it. Tempo arrived one year ago with its own blessings, and now continues to grow by leaps and bounds because of your support. FOOD Thank you, Abu Dhabi, for making our journey so meaningful. LIFESTYLE [email protected] 13 CITY BITES 14 Social Net 15 MOVIE WATCH Editor Magazine Design Praveen prabhakaran Sana Bagersh features editor alma kadragic EDITORIAL coordinator ElLAINE FATIMA Web Design Rizwan pERvaiz Editorial Contributors Kulsoom Zakir 20 TIME CAPSULE Neena Rai 22 My Abu Dhabi Sithara sethumadhavan Marketing Coordinator Manjul Abhishek Production Coordinator Rizwana Shahid 19 PEOPLE METER Randy parker Simon morgan Distribution coordinator melaku muluneh 23 Around the neighbourhood 24 Raising the bar 25 yank in sand land Address To reach editorial at Abu Dhabi Tempo email: [email protected] If you need to find out where you can pick up your copy call: 02 6673349 or check out the list of Tempo distribution points on our website. Note to Advertisers: Advertisers can request brand tagging with all advertisements. To reach advertising call 02 6673349 or email: [email protected] ARTS 26 RSTW Exhibition 28 Abu dhabi film festival Disclaimer: 29 ARTICULATE authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher. 30 CLASSIFIEDS Tempo is a publication of BrandMoxie. Although Tempo Magazine does its best to ensure the 31 FUN PAGE Published by: Media Licence No. 1/105866/24295 3 easy steps to use mobile tags Download www.gettag.mobi to your smart phone Run Application Click on tag beside each article to have fun with online content, videos and cool tags! Visit abudhabitempo.com on your mobile phone. Download www.gettag.mobi to scan this tag on your mobile. 3 SPACE Dear Editor, Dear Abu Dhabi Tempo, Here is a good suggestion - why don’t you run an exciting competition here on your facebook fan page to celebrate the magazine’s ANNIVERSARY ? You can reward us your loyal fans with great prizes and share your anniversary with all. Hope you implement my suggestion, as we fans would be very happy to get some goodies. Looking forward to your reply. Cheers, Elsa Tempo: We are working on introducing more competitions. Check out the one on David Guetta. Dear Abu Dhabi Tempo, A little birdie told me that your anniversary is coming up? What are your plans? Am I invited? Express your thoughts. Email us: [email protected] saY I like the new revamped Mugg and Bean. But the big problem there, as with many shops like Caribou in Marina mall is that it is difficult to separate smoking from non-smoking areas. We all know that it is impossible to control smoke fumes because they waft all over the place. I don’t want to criticize smokers, but I think coffee shops should be more gutsy about their smoking/ non-smoking policies. Yasser Abubaker Dear Editor, I read about your Mosquito repellent story, and I want to thank you for writing about it because I am in 11th grade and sometimes a kid brings it into the classroom and lets out a high pitched sound that drives all of us crazy. All of us students cover our ears, but our teachers are confused because they can’t hear it. I can tell you, that as a teenager, it is extremely annoying, and it should definitely be banned! Mimi Omar My Life According to Darren Hayes Sent in by Aicha Diop Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, Aicha Diop cleverly answers each questions without repeating the song title. If you could go anywhere, where would you go: To the moon and back (live version) Your favorite form of transportation: Random Blinking Light What is life to you: Pick your Artist: Darren Hayes (Duh=)) Your best friend is: So beautiful Darkness or to be unlovable Are you a male or female: Hero You and your best friends are: Popular (couldn’t think of anything else :s) Describe yourself: Sense of humor How do you feel: Void Describe where you currently live: California Mystery Your last relationship: Strange relationship ;) Your fear: (2 different songs =)) What is the best advice you have to give: Do what you like What's the weather like: Dublin sky Thought for the Day: Favorite time of day: When I step into the light wonderful If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: 100 Challenging Things On the verge of something How you would like to die: Like a fallen angel Your soul's present condition: Insatiable (I know it’s dirty but couldn’t think of anything else) Your motto: Me myself and I TWITTER QUOTES Sithara Sethumadhavan I super like the new issue of Tempo 4 Kabab Rolls Abu Dhabi Kabab Rolls Like it ....Thank you Tempo< for keeping up our tempo..;)))- Cheers Kulsoom Zakir Can’t wait for the Tamakkan innovation and entrepreneurship seminar coming up on the 29th September at 6.45pm to 9pm. At Al Mamoura Building (aka Mubadala Building) at 15th Street. Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 review Omar Al Raisi I like Tempo because it covers certain things which generally get ignored by other magazines. It gives coverage to local acts and supports them. I would like to see more on entertainment news, local events, nightlife in Abu Dhabi, would make it more interesting. It’s our Anniversary, and Tempo asks our readers: What do you like about Tempo? And what would they like to see more in Tempo? Rachel Ragas The Time Capsule is a brilliant idea. It’s a fun way to know the in-depth view of the person’s personality. I’d like to see more stories, that wouldn’t be similar to what’s in other magazines. I’d also like to see more events. “What’s Hot” column is very informative. I wish to see more. Competitions perhaps? Savitha Rameshkumar Love your magazine. I’ve kinda read most of your issues. Awesome stuff. It has a bit of everything. The best thing I like about the magazine is the “food section”!!! I like the reviews on all the restaurants. I also love the arts section. I would like to see more competitions. I think thats the only thing missing. Nassim Abed I like the size. It’s handy, and distinguishes itself from good old Abu Dhabi Week by sheer size. It’s easy to lay down by the side of a plate / coffee cup or just hold it in one hand while holding the coffee mug in the other. That’s a very welcome change from your biggest rival. I like the writing. You have high quality writing and engaging content. I like the “Abu Dhabi resident” feel. You’re not a tourist guide and you’re not all about the “new to Abu Dhabi” you speak to us who have been living here for a few years and already know a bit more than what’s in TDIC’s ads. Editor: Thanks for all the feedback guys! Interesting observations, Nassim. Regarding Abu Dhabi Week, we actually like the weekly because it fills a very specific purpose. However, we also don’t think they are ‘competition’ at all because their focus is very different from Tempo’s. Omar, we’ll work on more entertainment and local stuff. Rachel and Savitha: you’ll hopefully be seeing lots more competitions coming up. Winner!!! Of the Tiësto Competition First of all, I must say that this being the first time I’ve entered such a competition, I’m totally overwhelmed that I won. For the Tiesto concert, I’d probably try to cover every angle possible; right from tiesto to his music to his fans. I’d probably put in the excitement in the air considering this is his first performance in the capital. More importantly, since this is his Kaleidoscope tour, I’d probably talk about his work on the new album and the music he played, so fans who missed out on this “once of a lifetime” concert can probably feel like they were actually there listening to his music. Thanking you, EDITOR: Catch Kym’s coverage of Tiesto on our website, www.abudhabitempo.com --that’s after the concert, of course :) Vote Or vote through your phone B. Art Exhibition D. Fashion Show Got to www.abudhabitempo.com to vote Vote D The alternatives once/ if the BlackBerry ban is imposed: If given a free VIP pass to an event, which one would you gladly attend? A. Concert C. Film Festival E. Club Party Kym V. Visit Abu Dhabi Tempo’s website on your mobile phone. Download www.gettag.mobi to scan this tag on your mobile. Get I-Phone 44% Opt for a new data plan 15% Who cares for BB 40% 5 What’sHOT Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010 Lights, Camera, Action! 14- 23 October, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010 will launch it’s opening ceremony and the red carpet screening at the Emirates Palace Auditorium on 14 October and will close with the Black Pearl Awards ceremony and a screening on 22 October. For the first time, the festival will feature a family day, with animation short films as well as a restored version of Charlie Chaplin’s “THE CIRCUS”. The main attraction of the festival are the films competing for the award and for recognition in the Oscars. Categories are: Narrative Feature Competition with the best of the current international film program, Documentary Feature Competition, Short Film Competition and Emirates Competition. This year, the festival launches a new category, called “New Horizons”, dedicated to first and second feature-length narrative and documentary films from all over the world; and“What in the World are we doing to our world” which focuses on environmental issues. Other venues for the festival are Cinestar Cinemas at Marina Mall and the Abu Dhabi Theatre. Online ticket sales are available via the Festival’s website: www.abudhabifilmfestival.ae Charley’s Grilled Sub Food court, Wahda Visit abudhabifilmfestival.ae on your mobile phone. Download www.gettag.mobi to scan this tag on your mobile. Chic Lady Show 14 - 18 October, ADNEC With it’s growing popularity in Dubai, Charley’s Grilled Sub is now in the capital with its first outlet, offering wide-variety of hot steak sandwiches. Charley’s has set up its restaurant at the food court of Al Wahda Mall, with a watch-it-cook atmosphere. Be sure to grab a bite of the famous Philly cheese steak sandwich the next time you’re at the foodcourt. The Chic Lady show is an exclusive event offering products and services solely related to women, beauty and elegance. The show has an interesting blend of glamour, latest trends, fashion shows, jewellery, evening wear and much more! The show runs from 10am- 6pm, located at Halls 10-11. The Art of Sumayyah Al Suwaidi 3-13 October, Ghaf Gallery Sumayyah Al Suwaidi (the first Emirati Female Digital Artist) exhibits the different angles of her personality and perspective of things through her art. After her first successful solo held in Ghaf Art Gallery 2007, she is back yet again with a brand new show at Ghaf Gallery to give the UAE audience a piece of her imaginary world. 6 8 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 David Guetta to headline Creamfields 9 December, Yas Island DJ Guetta one the world’s top DJs and house music mixologists, will hit the Yas Arena on Yas Island and headline Creamfields Abu Dhabi 2010 for an unforgettable night with 20 other international and regional DJs, and a number of global super stars. Now in its second year, Creamfields Abu Dhabi will once again give music fans the best dance night of their lives. Flash plans to introduce a more eccentric programme of the weird and the wonderful so it’s not just the talent that keeps fans entertained throughout the night. Talking about his forthcoming appearance in Abu Dhabi, David Guetta said: “I’m really looking forward to headlining Creamfields Abu Dhabi 2010. Although it will be the first time I have played in the city, I have been to the UAE before and I know just how passionate people are for dance music” playing so I could enjoy the music and just party with everyone,” he added. Over the coming weeks, Flash will announce a number of other global super stars to join David Guetta on the bill. Flash has also announced a special promotion: Fans purchasing tickets before midnight on October 1st will receive a 20% discount on 250AED tickets (200AED) Tickets can be purchased at www.boxofficeme.com, www.ticketingboxoffice.com and www.timeouttickets.com TEMPO COMPETITION ALERT: Want to be Tempo’s community reporter for Creamfields? Send us a couple of paragraphs on what you like about David Guetta and how you would cover the event. Send it to: [email protected] “I have seen the other names that are due to play this year and it’s a fantastic line-up; I almost wish that I wasn’t Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival 16 October, Corniche Men and Women Categories Event Prize Waha Capital Mile (1.6 km) Dh 5,000 Etihad Holidays Splash Dash (700m) Business Class ticket to any European destination From 7- 10 am, swimmers of all ages and ability are invited to take part in the festival, showcasing a mixture of thirteen open water individual and relay race. The inaugural of Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival, under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Beaches is due to take place along the capital’s Corniche on 16 October. It is organized by The Professional Sports Group, and supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and UAE Swimming Association. Olympic swimmer Fran Halsall will attend the event as VIP guest and honorary starter. “The Mueller” clan, the first family to sign up, will be taking the plunge together. Entry fees will go to the Abu Dhabi Special Care Centre to help the charity towards its 5 million target. Visit swimabudhabi.com on your mobile phone. Download www.gettag.mobi to scan this tag on your mobile. 7 Beat withEllE By Ellaine Fatima There are too many records in the world to stick to one style and DJ Stylus (all the way from Manchester, UK) embraces that idea in his party-rocking philosophy. Decadent Entertainment presented the “Swagger Party” at the One-to-One Hotel last month and Tempo talked to Antony “Stylus” Haymes, before he blessed the decks of the newly revamped Cubes! TEMPO: Tell us, how did you get your name? Well, I’m a multi genre Urban Club DJ / Radio Personality based in Manchester UK. I have my own station, “The Urban Mixshow with Stylus” Mondays-Fridays 5-7pm. I started DJ-ing in school and figured I needed a name. Antony Haymes is my real name, and it was one of those moments where you think “it’s probably underneath your nose” and there it was.. a sharp pointed device attached to the cartridge of a record player...the stylus. TEMPO: When did you start DJ-ing? It started out as a hobby, DJ-ing when I was still in school. I was 14 at that time. I started DJ-ing for Christmas, school parties and it escaladed to clubs by the time I turned 19. I turn 25 this 23 October. TEMPO: Is this your first time DJ-ing in Abu Dhabi? What’s the verdict on Cubes? Yes, and not my last you see...I’ve been offered bookings galore. May be spinning at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix! Cubes? It’s like a futuristic circle club! Pure neon lights... Nice DJ set up! Crispy booths; Obviously it’s not open yet (laughs), that would be a dry turnout. But I’m getting wicked vibes in this place already... .Cubes is the spot! TEMPO: Who inspired you to start DJ-ing? Basically my folks. My mom (R.I.P) always loved music, and I grew up listening to Micheal Jackson. There was a point I used to think I was the great MJ. TEMPO: Who all have you worked with? I have played major roles on campaigns for Baby Cham, Craig David, Estelle, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, P.Diddy, Wiley, Mims, Sean Paul, Pretty Ricki, Cassie, Professor Green, Plan B, Keisha Cole, Lupe Fiasco, The Mitchell Bros and Missy Elliot. I’ve DJ-ed alongside the likes of Keri Hilson, Iyaz, Tim Westwood, and many other established UK artists. TEMPO: What is your debut act for tonight? What song are you gonna start with? That’s a tough question. I just have to sense the vibe. But I think I’ll start off with classics. Old School Hip Hop and R&B anthems like Usher, Beyonce. TEMPO: How do you want your crowd to feel when you play? Feel good about themselves as long as the crowd is happy and everyone is having a dance. A little nod would be satisfactory too. (Laughs) TEMPO: What was your recent achievement? Being added to the LIVE BASE ENTERTAINMENT and Sintillate rosters as an official DJ representative for the northwest. Oh, and an Interview with Jason Derulo, 6 weeks ago. TEMPO: Where have you performed and what’s the one place you love to perform? France, Cyprus, Egypt, Scotland, Greece, Brazil. Basically I travel all over the UK & Europe smashing clubs and playing the hottest tracks on radio!! I’m willing to play almost anywhere. TEMPO: Who would like to meet? Scott Storch, Bob Marley, Timberland, Pharell Williams, Jennifer Aniston, Vybz Cartel, Joe, 2pac, and of course my dear beloved mummy R.I.P!! “CUBES - ABU DHABI OFFERED ME A MONTHLY SPOT!! LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE OUT HERE ON A REGULAR NOW.... WICKED MAN NIGHT!!!!” Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 TamakkanEntrepreneur by Sithara Sethumadhavan Grooming a man is serious business. In this Tamakkan we introduce Mohammed Alhammadi, an Emirati entrepreneur and the owner of MyLife Men’s Spa which has just opened in the capital. understanding the market and your target audience. I understand the rationale of the men here- they would not want to admit that they visit spas and saloons and would never want to be spotted in a spa. Knowing this, I offer private rooms for all the services at my spa, right from a hair cut to massage. My guest can opt for a private room, can watch his favourite action movie, or listen to a song on his i-Pod while he gets his service done. You need to have a great product, but it is important to package it right. Tempo: Are entrepreneurs in the UAE encouraged? Tempo: Why did you decide to start MyLife Men’s Spa? I have a business background and have been looking to do something innovative. My previous job was stressful, and I used to go with my cousin every week to Dubai for a massage. One day it struck me, why do I have to travel so much for a massage, and why can’t I have something similar here. I found an opportunity and was convinced that there is scope to start something similar in Abu Dhabi. There are plenty of saloons in Abu Dhabi, mainly for women, and some niche ones for the men but they are either exhorbitantly priced or not the type that an Arab man is looking for. Sensing this as my chance, I set up this venture. Tempo: A spa exclusively for men in Abu Dhabi- wasn’t it too much of a business risk? Not at all. Men are more conscious of their looks and personality. This is not just in the foreign countries but also here in Abu Dhabi. And moreover it is about I don’t want to lie, it is not easy, but not impossible too. Abu Dhabi has tremendous scope for growth, and people need to come forward to harness it. From my experience I could tell you; I had problems getting a good interior designer and a contractor. There were people who were just not ready to work with me because I was beginning things at a small scale. Out of experience I would say that if potential entrepreneurs need to be encouraged, there should be organizations which help in setup and direct them in the right direction in terms of research, legal, risk management etc. Tempo: Is there anything more about MyLife Men’s Spa that you would like to share with us? It’s quick, private and affordable luxury. It will be an experience that you will want to cherish. I invite Tempo readers to come and experience MyLife Men’s Spa. TAMAKKAN ANNOUNCEMENT: The next Tamakkan, at the end of October (date to be announced) will be on “How You Can Harness the Power of Social Media Marketing for Your Business “. Admission is free but by registration. If you’re interested contact [email protected] who will send you details of the programme and register you. Present this coupon for a 15% discount on your services at MyLife Men’s Spa. Offer valid up to 31st December 2010 Address: mylife men’s health club and spa is located at Al Muroor street, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank building. Mezzanine (2) Tel no: 024471661 10 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 TechTalk By Sithara Sethumadhavan The New Samsung Phone! The new Samsung SGH-T219 is more of a business phone with multimedia messaging and a good amount of internal memory. The mobile phone has been a disappointment to many, especially as it has no camera (supposedly to comply with the new work place mantra of prohibiting mobile cameras! ), but it also has supporters of its style and presentation. The call quality is fair but expect some distortions when using the earpiece and speakerphone. So the phone is aesthetically designed but the basic feature set and mediocre call quality are not impressive. Computing gets cheaper The buzz on Apple’s I-Pad is still there, but what caught our attention was laptops for $ 35. Officials from the Indian Human Resource Development announced earlier that a team has come up with an i-Pad like device. It is powered by a solar panel and requires no electricity - at least in daylight and is supported by Linux, an open source software. The device handles all the essentials required including word processing and web browsing. Can you ask for more in a $ 35 tablet??? Wonder what Steve Jobs has to say about that... The Dutch boycotts PSJailbreak! A Dutch reader has reported that retailers are there, boycotting PSJailbreak despite being listed as ‘official sellers’. According to what we have heard, the retailers find the pricing too high and outlay of cash too risky. In one brave move of defiance, one retailer posted a video of PSJailbreak but put in text that people should wait until it becomes free like on other hacked consoles (hmmmm). We have also been told that retailers might decide to refuse selling PSJailbreak! 11 TrendSetter Checkout the latest men’s collection at Bossini...trendy and affordable! Blue y v Na d Trip a o R e for th sports wear Dh 45 Jacket Dh 99 ng joggi Get green zen with cap Dh 35 Pants Dh 59 Plaid shirt Dh 89 white T-shirt Dh 55 irt? h s iend r f y l bo a e r The Ladies blue Dh 119 then Leng r legs you jeans straight cut Dh 89 ladies pink Dh 89 12 r ed fo r l cora ers Grab er summ cool Pair it u p with coloure d leggin gs Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 City Bites by Ellaine Fatima LA FONTANA Great value buffet The Scene: If you like dramatic modern environments, you may like this café: comfortable sofas against brushed stone walls with a few majlis for private rendezvous, a very Italian feel with an Arabic touch .“Fontana” translates in Italian to mean “fountain” and a place like this wouldn’t be called that if it wasn’t for the sound of water splashing from an ornate fountain in the corner. The space is broken up by a bay tree and vine topiary as well as accent lighting—all designed to enhance well-being. While the air-conditioned interior space is striking, the atmosphere can be boisterous, so it’s definitely not the place for a romantic meal, but it’s certainly worth an hour of your time. Best for: The popularity it has gained with locals and visitors alike (youths and adults), who come down just to have endless rounds of shisha. Just choose your flavour of shisha and sit back – this is what life is all about! Prices are typically around Dh 15 to Dh 25 and flavours include strawberry. mint, cappuccino, rose, apple, mixed fruit… the list is endless. You’ll find tasty light fare here, including salads, massive sandwiches, and pastries—but there’s more to the café than meets the eye. Fontana stretches itself from a pool/ snooker area to a line of computers for gaming or internet usage. If you have your own laptop, you get free WIFI with a purchase. Happy surfing! Why we like it: Although it’s a café, La Fontana is a nice stopover for a small bite to recharge your energy or have a three course meal. A meal for two costs Dh 70 -100. Most recommended meal is the “La Fontana Special” which is grilled chicken breast topped with mushroom sauce and “Home Made Lasagna” which is filling and only costs a mere Dh17 (for two). Top it off with the La Fontana Shisha. Find it at: Hamdan Street, Emirates General Market Building, on 02 floor 13 SocialNet By Sithara Sethumadhavan Music, film and photography, all in one place! Well that’s triplew.me and Tempo tracked down the team behind this exciting venture and talked to Paul Simonon, the self-proclaimed ‘chief cat-herder’. Tempo: Who are ‘you’ (triplew.me)? We are a group of people that got together over a common interest in music, film and photography. I’ve lived in the UAE for 7 years now and have always been actively involved in the original music scene here. The team is a diverse bunch of individuals scattered around the region and globe, with contributors based in the UAE, Riyadh, Cairo, Beirut, Sydney, London, and New York, and I am the chief cat-herder. Tempo: What is triplew.me all about? We are essentially an original online content producer for the Middle East, delivering alternative music, film, and photography, news, reviews, interviews, and user generated content, which is the most important part of the site. Tempo: Tell us three things that make triplew.me different from similar websites. 1. We believe our platform for regional musicians to have their music heard, promoted and developed inside the region, is unique as a business-oriented website being professionally run professionally and marketed. 2. We don’t care who you know or who your family is! If you are talented and can use a computer we want to hear of, from, and with you. 3. We are utterly committed to making this a platform which Arabic speakers feel comfortable navigating. We don’t speak Arabic ourselves and have spent a long time working out the subtle differences between different dialects. Tempo: What is Makshoof Music? Makshoof (equivalent of discovered or uncovered in Arabic) Music is a regional talent platform, where musicians of any kind can upload their music and we publish it. In addition to giving bands an online presence and an outlet to get their music heard, we are rewarding bands for their input. Makshoof Music is essentially a competition for regional bands. For our first batch of entries there is a chance to win some very valuable recording time in a studio, and that’s just the start. At the end of the day, there is so much talent laying relatively idle because the platforms aren’t there, and the incentives to create better music aren’t there. Just because you play to 100 people in one city every week doesn’t mean people in another city in the region care. You have to earn the respect. Visit triplew.me on your mobile phone. Download www.gettag.mobi to scan this tag on your mobile. 14 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 PU LLO Your one-stop shop for corporate gifts UT www.brandsouq.com OCTOBER 1 - 15, 2010 A division of BrandMoxie Guide Your shortcut to what's going on in Abu Dhabi Upclose and Personal (25 September - 4 October 2010) at National Theatre Abu Dhabi Classics Run (29 September- 1 October 2010) at Abu Dhabi Corniche Tiësto Concert (1 October 2010) at ADNEC Oktoberfest ( 7, 9 October 2010) at One-to-One Hotel Chic Lady Show (14- 18 October 2010) at ADNEC Abu Dhabi Film Festival (14- 23 October 2010) at Emirates Palace If you are a hospitality or entertainment business and want your event listed, email: [email protected] MovieWatch Upcoming Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole Soren is a young Barn Owl who lives in the peaceful forest of Tyto. Kidnapped and brought to the foreboding St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, Soren must face certain challenges -- including taking his first-ever flight -- on a dangerous adventure that leads to the mythical Great Ga’Hoole Tree, where he and his friends Gylfie, Twilight, and Digge look to fight a great evil in their world. Legend of the Guardians Going the Distance Going the Distance Garrett (Justin Long) has always had a problem with commitment and understanding what women want. He seems to be doing everything right until he learns the hard way that he cannot speak the female language when his girlfriend drops him. That night, his friends want to brighten up his spirits by taking him to a bar. He meets Erin (Drew Barrymore) playing a game and ends up buying her a beer, then winning at bar trivia, and having breakfast with her the next morning. Erin is only in New York City for the summer, and will be returning to grad school in San Francisco in six weeks. They start a no-strings-attached summer fling relationship that turns into a seriously meaningful love affair. They realized that they were meant for each other, but when Erin returns home, will their love survive the distance, between New York City and San Francisco? It’s a romantic comedy about meeting each other halfway. You Again A comedy starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell and Oddette Yustman. When a young woman (Kristen Bell) realizes her brother is about to marry the girl who bullied her in high school, she sets out to expose the fiancée’s true colors. What doesn’t kill you... is going to marry your brother. You Again 15 the TEAM tha Editor Editorial Coordinators Alm a Kadragic SanaBagersh How to describe Tempo in one line? ”Of the community, by the community and for the community”. The stories I’m writing for Tempo are the kind that aren’t being published much in Abu Dhabi stories about people who are who are doing interesting things and help make up the melting pot we live in here. Kulsoom Zakir Samrah Salman Every new copy of the magazine brings back the splendid memories of being a part of “Team Tempo”. A very happy birthday dear Tempo! May you flourish by leaps and bounds! Abu Dhabi Tempo is one of those rare magazines which tap into the pulse of our city. We don’t just report events; we capture th life stories of people who have travelled across oceans and have found a place they can call home That’s Tempo to me! E Designers Mark De Castro If you are living in Abu Dhabi, Tempo is your voice. Randy Parker What’s the local magazine for you? Tempo.... Tempo! Who tells you what’s cool to do? Tempo...Tempo! Concerts, races and fashion too! Tempo....Tempo Find out what is fresh and new!! Tempo....Tempo Tempo all the way! Saira Asal am A man is known by who he sits with. Praveen Prabharan It’s the coooolest funkiest magazine on the planet! Simon Morgan Life is what you make of it, we are all in charge of own destiny Rizwan Pervaiz When your destination is sky high you never look at the milestones on roadside..... Karam Bukair Slickest magazine, no doubt! Love being the youngest reporter on the team. Hinawy Rula Sadi q Al ily. I’ve y fam Tempo is like m the creative become part of new things staff, learning and loving it. Neena Rai I like the fact that it’s a young hip magazine. Mobile tagging is just a great idea. I like contributing to Tempo, the fact that it voices out a lot of people’s opinions especially for expats. Jalal Luqm an We are living at an exciting time, people from all over the world are looking at Abu Dhabi with amazement, we have the best beaches, the best hotels, the best restaurants, a very welcoming attitude towards visitors from every country and religion. C Far I’ve gro proud t ano Abu Dh te Photograp v at made it happen Administrator Venita Subram anian e he ve e. Ellaine Fatima Some people come into our lives and go quickly. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints in our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. Fly high Tempo! Sithara Sethumadhavan My fondest memories would be the birthday parties and get togethers that I have had in Tempo. I have learnt my bit on Time Management. s E ditorial Contributor Ayman Bukair Catch the beat! Get the vibe! Grab the Tempo! Tempo is a warmpot brewing with crazy talent, and freebies to match. ♥♥ Marketing Aicha Diop Genevieve Colaco Abu Dhabi Tempo, the beat to your heart I have lived in Abu Dhabi a long time, this magazine is just what the city needed! I am proud to have been part of Tempo’s triumph. Rizwana Shahid Any activity can become creative when you care about what you are doing.... not only about how it can be done, but well done. Ahmed Al Dajani I love Abu Dhabi Tempo, I was there from the very beginning, when Abu Dhabi Tempo was only a concept, and we grew together. It’s an amazing experience, like raising a baby and taking care of it. Distribution Manjul Abhishek rrukh Naeem own up in Abu Dhabi and am to be a part of the growth of other Abu Dhabi name habi Tempo. One of the best eams I’ve worked with! pher Vibhu Raj Photography is my passion, Tempo is the place to nurture it! Melaku Mulenah (“Box Man” ) Abu Dhabi, unplugged and unadulterated Tempo is fun both inside and outside the BOX. Imran Nawaz I was new to Tempo, and I explored Abu Dhabi through Tempo. It has given me a chance to go out and meet new people and different cultures. It’s such a lovely experience. Ziad Sam Best thing I like about Tem po is that it’s really engrossing. I love working in Tempo because it’s fun in a high energy environ ment. Business Development Manager Robert J. Corley The mind is everything what you think you become. T U LLO CoolTags PU DOWNLOAD www.gettag.mobi to scan the tags below and experience dynamic content on your mobile phone. http://mp3.zing.vn/ http://djearworm.com/ Why we think it’s cool: DJ EARWORM is known for his great mashups and his popularized “United State of Pop” mashup, short mixes featuring the top 25 songs of the year according to Billboard magazine. His latest song, “Like OMG, Baby,” featuring 15 artists is our top favorite. Why we think it’s cool: Although it’s a Vietnamese site, Google can translate it for you. It’s got all the songs you may be searching for--name it, they’ve got it. you name it. You can download albums, podcasts, videos, lyrics, karaoke...even concerts. Just type in the name on the search bar and you’re just a click away from free music. What’sAPP? Cool applications for your I-Phone http://iphoneapplicationlist.com/apps/ Why we think it’s cool: This site features the top paid and free games. Most recommended games: •Angry birds- a castle destruction physics game where you fire birds through a slingshot in order to kill green piggies. A strategy game to rack your brains on “angle”. • Robot Unicorn Attack- Famous on Facebook, a free online flash game from Adult Swim, is now available for I-Phone. It’s the game where your robot unicorn runs through a dreamscape jumping and smashing things, with a song that plays over and over again “Always- Erasure” that leaves you stuck with a last song syndrome. (LSS) 18 http://www.gangstar-game.com/ Why we think it’s cool: Gameloft develops a lot of free games, one which we recommend is Gangstar. This game flaunts a lot of bling slick visuals, functional controls, challenging missions as you hit the West Coast and plunge into the world of L.A. gangs - and it far surpasses any previous effort at open world gameplay on iPhone. Send us URLs of your favourite sites and apps along with a liner explaining why they’re cool. Send to [email protected] PeopleMeter People Meter is an offbeat way to learn more about our community and our people, all of whom come from different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life. Name: Bearose Velarde Nationality: Philippines Time in Abu Dhabi: One year and two months Other places lived: Philippines Quick hits Shawarma or falafel? Shawarma Beaches or sand dunes? Beach Dates or chocolates? Chocolate dates Do you speak Arabic? No, but I would love to learn it. What brought you here? Family volunteer activities and meet new people through it. What were your first impressions of this city? Wow, there are trees! And the air is very humid. If Abu Dhabi were a coffee, what kind would it be? Latte. A mix of milk and coffee. Where can we find you hanging out? Some malls, parks, or just with my family at home. How has living here changed you? Abu Dhabi helped me overcome a bit of my shyness. I get to join Any advice to a new arrival? Explore every place in Abu Dhabi! Experience everything—from souks, foods, and, of course, the friendly people. It’s a great place to be! Afzaan Jilla Nationality: India Time in Abu Dhabi: 6 months Other places lived: Sharjah, Dubai, Bombay, Poona etc What brought you here? Nature of work What were your first impressions of this city? Quiet and nice to stay Quick hits Shawarma or falafel? Falafel Beaches or sand dunes? Definitely the beach Dates or chocolates? Chocolates Do you speak Arabic? When I have to Where can we find you hanging out? Most malls, Club Arcadia, the Corniche, Starbucks at Marina Mall. If Abu Dhabi were a coffee, what kind would it be? Frappé served with caramel and cream Any advice to a new arrival? Do whatever you like, go where ever you like. How has living here changed you? The fact that I became independant 19 MyTIME C A P S U L Eavan S eth um adh a r a h it S : e Nam A ge : 24 : I n dian Nation al ity ep tember 2 7 Cap sul ed: S Your most valued possessions My certificates, laptop and passport Where can we find you hanging out most? Khalidiyah mall One thing you cannot live without… Mom , mobile, water, lip balm The person who inspires you the most Dad (I don’t understand how someone can be so positive) Five things you need for survival Mobile, Water, Paper and Pen , Book, Lip balm Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Writing a book and maybe teaching in a college If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? Rice and Avial (South Indian mix vegetable curry) 20 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 ee d your self with a frwould ), If su ddenly you foun se ur (and back of co tick et to th e m oon t ar e th e reasons for your to take th e trip? Whayou take with you? answer? Who would Yeah I will do the moon trip. It’s a free ticket (I wouldn’t let go of freebies). I will take Maliha (my school time buddy) with me If your life was a book, what would it be called? Bird of the Paradise What is your idea of a perfect weekend? The day should begin with a hot cup of rich milk masala tea followed by lazying around the home . Lunch with Maliha (my best friend) and the evening with family. Where in the world have you travelled? Your wishlist of countries to visit. I have already visited India, Singapore, Hungary and Austria . My wishlist for travel would be Maldives, Sri Lanka, Spain and Greece . If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Budapest Who in your life deserves a big old thank you? Vaishali she is the person who keeps motivating me in anything and everything I do. She has al ways been there for me (all ups and downs in life). She deserves a big thank you for the fact that we live two miles apart and are still so connected and our friendship rocks! Tempo readers: put on your creative caps and send us your own ‘Time Capsule” to: [email protected] 21 MyABU Picture Perfect By Kulsoom Zakir DHABI Ali Al Tamimi is a resident photographer with an eye for the extraordinary. He has a passion for extracting a stunning image out of the mundane, simple rituals of everyday life. Tempo sat down for a cuppa with him and here’s what he had to say… Tempo: Tell us a little about your early days in this profession. How did your parents react to your chosen line of work? Actually, photography started as a hobby which I continued to practice for a long period of time before becoming a professional photographer. I was fortunate to have a supporting family who discovered that I have a talent in storytelling through photographs. Tempo: What do you wish to achieve in life? I’m currently working as a photographer in one of the companies here in Abu Dhabi called Next Vision Production House. The first goal is to create a photo-documentary which captures images of every culture around the world as I’m a person who is always fascinated and curious about the history and diversity of cultures around the world. The second goal is owning my own photography business where I’ll be able to shoot snaps of world renowned personalities. I believe Abu Dhabi is a strategic place for any amateur or pro, since it is a city which embraces modernity and foresight while adhering to Arabic culture and customs. Tempo: How long have you been in the business and what is it about photography that excites you? Tempo: What according to Ali Tamimi are the key ingredients to clicking a perfect picture? I have been in business for almost 13 years, and I’m still counting. I can describe photography as the freezing of place and time that is filled with a series of emotions. Capturing such moments is what excites me, for I am able to tell a story, explain an event, and even emote feelings and emotions out of inanimate objects. It’s all about thinking outside the box, as they say! The key ingredient is loving what you do, this is very important because once there is passion; I believe this will inspire and motivate you to capture a unique moment in pictures. Tempo: Ali, how did you come to UAE? I was born in Baghdad, and was raised in a number of different countries from Greece to England, to Canada as well! At some point my parents moved to UAE to make a better living, and this is how I ended up being here. A photo manipulation of Abu Dhabi 22 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 Around the Neighbourhood A TRIP TO THE MALDIVES Text and Photos by Simone Morgan too impressed with this, but coming from 45C heat, we loved the refreshing change. The snorkeling was too beautiful to resist, and on the second day we headed out into the crystal blue waters. We literally walked right out our front door and dived into the underwater world. An underwater film could not have been more beautiful as we saw the most vibrant colors and an abundance of sea life. In the space of an hour, we had seen more than 20 different types of fish, an eagle ray, a baby reef shark, and then a medium-sized reef shark. I decided it was time for my afternoon siesta at that point. Although reef sharks are known to be harmless and honestly really weren’t bigger than one meter, I didn’t want to stick around to meet mamma reef shark so early in the holiday. We got used to our afternoon siestas on the trip. What with all the snorkeling, spa treatments, and walking to and from meals – I was exhausted! Although our hotel was 75 percent capacity, these stunning resorts are made so well that you really do feel you are the only ones in residence. At this time of year when the temperature is getting too hot to even mention, a quick getaway to a cooler climate is a must. With so many fabulous close destinations to choose from around the Middle East, it was almost too hard, until I stumbled across a fabulous deal for Coco Palm Bodu Hithi in the Maldives. A four-hour direct flight very early from Dubai in July had my husband Mike and I landing on a runway in the middle of the ocean first thing in the morning. This makes for a spectacular introduction as you fly over the hundreds of dotted islands rising from the sea, some no bigger than our living room! The Maldives covers less than 300 square kilometers and has over 1200 coral islands. Only 200 are inhabited and word is half of these are private islands - my dream - my own private island. After being greeted at the airport, we were whisked off in a luxury speedboat to Coco Palm’s private island 40 minutes away, paradise found! The Maldivians are such gracious kind people and from the minute our feet hit the sand, nothing was ever too much trouble. You quickly become accustomed to the island way of life; long meals, walking around barefoot, never looking at your watch, and avoiding any sort of modern communication tools. Even though there was high-speed internet and mobile reception in our island hideaway, we fell into such an instant state of relaxation when we arrived that we literally switched everything off. It is amazing how we filled five days so quickly. Between the boat trips, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and other land and water sports that the hotel offers, we really didn’t have a minute to spare. After a week of luxurious solitude, it was time to return, the reality of work schedules, morning traffic, and sizzling temperatures awaiting us. I plotted many a reason to extend our stay, but in the end our smiling hosts waved us off at the island’s jetty, and we were heading back to where it all began, the runway in the sea. Our first day was spent getting to know our luxurious new home for the week. Our villa had its own private beach out the front door, a private plunge pool out the back, and a bathtub bigger than my kitchen in the living room. It didn’t take us long to get used to the Maldivian Life. As it is monsoon season in July, we expected an afternoon rain shower or two. I don’t think the British visitors were 23 Raising the by Sithara Sethumadhavan Bar Faris Al Sultan, the founder of Abu Dhabi Triathlon lives in Al Ain and is training for the Iron Man Championship 2010, on 9 October, in Kona; Hawaii. Tempo spoke to him during a break from training. Tempo : Faris, tell us about your background. My father is from Iraq and mom is German. I have done my schooling in Munich and have undergone a 10 month mandatory service in the German Luftwaffe. My academics came to a halt when I secured myself a place at the Challenge Roth. I was the member of a pro triathlon team in 2001 and 2002 and always wanted something like the Abu Dhabi Triathlon to come up. But it was somewhere in 2008 that my friend Swen Sundberg and I finally decided to give it a shape. Dr. Werner, my very good friend who at that point on the verge of retiring had to be convinced and got on board. This is the core team. Tempo: How did you get into athletics? At the age of 14, I had taken up competitive swimming coupled with a crash diet. In six weeks I lost 15 kgs and it was obvious that I am not a gifted swimmer. So I tried something else. I began to run right with the swim training, and by the age of 16, I had my first marathon. It was during that time when I saw Iron Man Hawaii and Thomas Hellriegel on television and I knew it right then... triathlon was what I had to be doing. My first triathlon (Olympic distance) was in 1996 and second in 1997. I improved with time and took part in the Pro division race in 2001. Tempo: How is your preparation for Iron Man Championship 2010 going? I had a successful victory in Regensburg early this year and after a short break of six days, I was back on training. I think that time was enough to recover from one Iron Man race and to concentrate on the next. Tempo: When you are not training, what is a typical day for you? I read “Der Spiegel” magazine, stretch, sleep, watch TV Tempo: If Iron Man didn’t happen as a career, what else would you be doing? I’d be an army or police officer, actually I wanted to become a “Kampfschwimmer” or navy seal in Germany. Tempo: If today is the last daywhere would you go? The Mosque Tempo: Five things you need for survival. Sunshine, Knife, Sunglasses, Water (to drink and to swim in) Tempo: If you could associate yourself to a drink/ snack what would it be? Coca Cola 24 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 Yank insandland by Randy Parker I am a Hypocrite! I grew up in the U.S. state of Florida which has a large population of Hispanic immigrants that only spoke and understood Spanish. I remember getting mildly annoyed when I found it difficult trying to understand or make myself understood in certain areas such as Miami. I thought that anyone who lived in my country should at least have a rudimentary command of English, the official language of the U.S. Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. In Abu Dhabi where English is definitely not the official language and after over two years of residence here, I am embarrassed to admit that I can count the number of Arabic words I know on one hand. My intentions were good, I wanted to learn how to read and speak the language of my new home, but there were complications. Arabic is widely known as one of the most difficult languages to master. It takes years of study for one to become fluent. Not only are the characters different to the western eye- they are read from right to left, and the individual letters change shape depending on their position in the word. Then there are all those dots. If this is not daunting enough, each region of the Middle East has its own dialect, many which are mutually unintelligible. That means if you learn your local Arabic style, you may not be understood in another part of the Middle East. There are Gulf, Levant, and Egyptian dialects among others, each one so different they might as well be a different language. Then there is the written word. The Qur’an is printed in Classical Arabic and most other print, video and educational media is in Modern Standard Arabic. They are quite different. So it does not seem simple to learn a single type of Arabic that would be “one size fits all”. In the U.A.E., I would guess that Arabic speakers are in the minority. Eighty percent of the residents are expats and most of them are from the Philippines and the Subcontinent countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Twenty percent of expats are of western origin, and since English is almost a second language, here we do just fine. I apologize for being an inconsiderate resident by not learning my host country is official language but I don’t see the effort/ benefit ratio in my favor. I wouldn’t even know where to start! I get by because English is everywhere, and that has made me lazy. I don’t need to learn Arabic to get by on a day-to-day basis. Hindi, Urdu or Filipino might prove to be more useful to master given the demographics of the U.A.E. So yes, I am guilty of not making the effort but I will never be annoyed with the Hispanics in Miami ever again, I understand. I am a hypocrite! 25 Abu Dhabi Film Festival Showcasing Works by UAE Filmmakers by Alma Kadragic Film frames from Abu Dhabi Film Festival The complete listing of films in the fourth annual Abu Dhabi Film Festival is being released as we go to press, so we can’t bring that to you here. However, the 2010 edition of ADFF features more films from the UAE than ever before in various categories in the Emirates Competition. We thought you might like this guide to films about the life around us. All films have English or Arabic subtitles. The Emirates Competition is for films from the Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE in five categories with prizes of AED 10,000 - 35,000. Films are al so considered for the main competition. The fifth category is the Script Competition. Short Narratives: 20 films, 6 from UAE Boad Al Dhan by Naser Al Yaqabi Clothesline by Essa Al Janahi Gheamt Shroog by Ahmed Zain Mirage by Yaser Al Neyadi, Hana Alshatari Night Guard by Fadel AlMuhairi Sehaily by Mohamed Al Saadi From Gheamt Shroog Short Documentaries: 8 films, 6 from UAE American Arab by Ahmed Al Mutawa Father Grant by Ahmed Zain Leap of Faith by Amna Ehtesham Of Fish & Men by Rola Shamas The Queen by Hadi Shuaib Sketch of Life by Shoko Okurano From Sketch of Life Student Short Narratives: 9 films, 6 from UAE Aloo by Yasser Alkhayat New Cinderella by Eva Daoud Panic Burst by Alejandro Montero Quiet Desperation by Akbar Farooq Reduced by Rashid Al-Marri Shhh by Hafsa Al Mutawa, Shamma Abu Nawas From New Cinderella Student Short Documentaries: 10 films, 5 from UAE Am Arab by Ahlam AlBannai, Jumana AlGhanem Constructing Dreams by Moath Bin Hafez Idea Moment Message by Sameer Al-Jaberi Mahar Al Mahera by Maitha Hamdan Second Wife by Moaza Al Sharif From Constructing Dreams 26 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 Art-ICULATE By Neena Rai Talking of Compliments A reporter asked me the other day, “What is the best compliment you have ever received?” Over the last few years, I have received many compliments about my art, ranging from subtle, cool, great, fancy, to out of this world. I had never quite thought about the best amongst them; therefore, I sat there thinking and questioning. What constitutes ‘the best ever compliment’ that an artist can receive? When someone buys your art, it’s considered a compliment. Fancy awards are a great compliment too. I wish they had a Nobel Prize for Artists, but the question asked was not in the genre of popular awards as compliments, it was more on the lines of personal compliments. So, I asked Linda Stephanian, an accomplished sculptor residing in Abu Dhabi the same question. She replied, “Personally speaking, the best compliment I received was by the Romanian freelance journalist and photographer Silvia Radan. Silvia had remarked that my earlier works reminded her of the renowned Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi. I was so honoured to hear that!” I agreed, even the compliments I received in the past were primarily regarding how lovely my artwork is, how people love my painting, and that my paintings are so unique. Compliments like these are usually received when you are at the opening reception of an exhibition. 90% of the time these compliments are genuine, and 10% of the time they happen to be polite. Don’t get me wrong, I am pretty sure about the work I create, but a lot of folks don’t truly understand Abstract Art. Most of my own family does not understand my art, how do I blame others? Gallery, came up for a chat. The gentleman said, “Ah it’s very pleasant to meet you. I have been following your art, and it’s finally good to put a face to the name”. This gentleman did not say that my works were extraordinary, or that he loved them, or that he was going to buy them. To be honest, there was no compliment. Ironically in my opinion, though, this was the best compliment anyone could give me as an artist because he was genuinely interested in my art, enough to keep track of my previous and latest works at exhibitions. Visit ‘Up Close’ exhibition at the National theatre to see more of Neena’s and Linda’s works Visit neenarai.com on your mobile phone. Download www.gettag.mobi to scan this tag on your mobile. I once came across a lady looking at my painting, nodding and saying, “Ooh how lovely, but what does this painting actually show?” with a puzzled look on her face. Of course, I was extremely happy to explain and talk all about it, being the chirpy and chatty person that I am. Somehow, this is not what I’d consider as a compliment even though the viewer was curious about my work and said it was lovely. In my opinion, the viewer was being polite. I didn’t have to rake my memory too much, and remembered an incident that happened recently when a gentleman at my last exhibition opening at Ghaf Linda Stephanian, Motherland, 2010 27 RSTW Art Exhibition Manarat AlSaadiyat By Simone Morgan Photos from TDIC Thanks to a friend, I had the pleasure of being invited to the launch of RSTW at Manarat Al Saadiyat; it was a VIP event for the unveiling of contemporary masterpieces from the private collection of renowned art collector and gallery owner Larry Gagosian. Larry Gagosian owns a collection of art that rivals some of the world’s top galleries combined. He has been linked to record breaking private art purchases and has been labeled by art insiders as “The world’s greatest art businessman.” I overheard one guest at the launch say, “Not bad for a guy who started selling framed posters as a teenager!” I have to be honest. Art isn’t a lifestyle for me; however, it is a rare treat in my life - a visit to a famous gallery while on holiday in a romantic city like Paris, London, or New York. So stepping into the gallery at Manarat Al Saadiyat was a fabulous surprise. It looks and feels like one of the top galleries anywhere in the world. The location and the facilities are world class, and the exhibition was beautifully presented so that visitors can immerse themselves in the art, appreciating, learning, and admiring these amazing works by “a few of the major figures in American Contemporary Art.” From left to right, Curator Anne Baldassari with back to camera and Larry Gagosian show RSTW collection to Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 28 Tempo October 1 - 15, 2010 Cy Twombly The Rose (IV) 2008 Acrylic on wood panel 252 x 740 cm © Cy Twombly Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Richard Serra, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, and Christopher Wool are six post war contemporary artists who have all “shaped the history of contemporary art” and make up the RSTW collection. The large gallery designed in an “X” type configuration; in fact, the inspiration for the architecture of the layout as described by Curator Anne Baldassari is “the great X of its scenic scheme.” Framing the entrance to each room is a small biography of the artist, which gives an insight to the inspiration behind the pieces. RSTW really does “give us a public view of a private collection – and a window into the world of the art collector.” You can’t help but be amazed by this stunning private “never before seen” by the general public collection of art. From Warhol’s black and white “Marilyn” to the graffiti inspired pieces of Christopher Wool, this exhibition is an education and indulgence of the senses for art lovers and art novices alike. Reading the biographies and getting a small insight into the artists’ individual influence on the art world really does bring into context and let me appreciate what a vast, spectacular collection Larry Gagosian has amassed during his career. The exhibition runs five months until January 24, 2011 and includes a full schedule of related events. From workshops for adults and teenagers to “Artful Afternoon Teas” and film screenings, there is something for everybody at RSTW. Andy Warhol Flowers 1964 Fluorescent paint and silkscreen ink on linen 61 x 61 cm © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York The exhibition really brings Abu Dhabi a step closer to its vision as a beacon for the arts and a place of international cultural exchange. You really feel while visiting an exhibition of this caliber that Abu Dhabi is becoming the cultural center of Middle East. With the Guggenheim and Louvre openings three years away in 2013, we have been given another teaser of what to expect when these two legendary institutions become part of our daily lives. For more information on RSTW or other TDIC initiatives, visit www.artsabudhabi.ae or call 02 6435781. 29 tempoCLASSIFIEDS CGWC-3 Dhs130 Lundbeck Metrolpolis Clock CGBC-1 Dhs 47 Brunel Business Cardholder KECH-5 Dhs 64 Key Chain With Light - Octagonal Vertical, Octagonal Horizontal, Round & Heart Shape Get Brand Tagged! MOBILE TAGGING TO MOBILIZE YOUR CAMPAIGNS Reach your Target Market in real time on their Mobile Phones www.brandtagged.com tempofunpage SUDOKU Strange Facts Bigfoot Just look at the picture, what is that? A Gorilla? A Stone age man? or a Bear? If the answer is any one of these, you are mistaken. This is called Bigfoot. On September 16, 2007, hunter Rick Jacobs captured an image of this beast. But it was not very clear. It’s ranging between 8–10 feet (2–3 m) tall. And covered in dark brown or dark reddish hair. Peoples from different part of the world also have the same experince. So still scientists are researching about this species. FUNNYQUOTES I feel sorry for confetti. Its useful life lasts about two seconds. And it can never be used again. George Carlin SUDOKU ANSWER Me, fail English? That’s unpossible!!!!!! Matt Groening My whole family is lactose intolerant and when we take pictures we can’t say cheese. Jay London REACH FOR THE STARS Aries Cancer Libra (March 21- April 19) (June 21- July 22) (September 23- October 22) Relationships make headlines for you.Take your time and don’t push matters when dealing with debts from the past. Go over your finances carefully, avoid disputes over money. New energy for home improvements, but it’s not the best month for major changes. Focus on fixing problems rather than redesigning. Taurus (July 23- August 22) (April 20- May 20) Physical health improves this month and work matters become busier and clearer. Relationships are tricky, however. Give it time, major decision making is best put on hold. Gemini Leo Emphasize on communications, learning, and family interactions this month. Tensions are possible around the home, however, especially if you are coming across as too bossy in your attempts to take charge. (May 21- June 20) Virgo Complications on the work front are very possible. Try your best to work independently and to set your own pace on the job because team work can be challenging now. You are especially concerned with your finances this month. It’s an excellent period for reviewing expenses and making budgets. (August 23- September 22) You have the gift of gab in October, and your improved communications skills will serve you well. When it comes to your dealings, think twice about making big purchases, particularly of comfort or luxury items. professionally this month. Others are especially aware of what you have, and what you haven’t, done. Aquarius (Jaunuary 20- February 18) Work is demanding, and you could be facing many deadlines. Stay on top of things. There is no easy road right now. Increased visibility and accountability are likely in October. What you do and say has more impact than usual, so be on your best behavior. Don’t take on more work than you can handle, as enthusiastic as you are feeling. Sagittarius Pisces (November 22- December 21) (February 19- March 20) Team work, group activities, and networking are big themes. Matters from the past, particularly regarding love and relationships, are cropping up now for review. Your energy levels run high and can easily be channeled into productive activity rather than experienced as stress. Others are attracted to your vitality and enthusiasm. Money might be earned, and support is available when you need it most. Scorpio (October 23- November 21) Capricorn (December 22- January 19) A take-charge, getnoticed energy is with you Please recycle this magazine: locations include Spinneys, Al Mamoura Building and behind Riyada Clinic. 31