Shop around this Christmas

Seasonal
6
shopping
SUNDAY DECEMBER 20, 2009
SHOP AROUND
THIS CHRISTMAS
Festivity
galore at
Hilton
t was a night to remember as halls were
decked with boughs of holly, metaphorically
actually, as Christmas celebrations started
with a bang at the Hilton Colombo on December
4. Full of fun and frolic the Hilton team
unveiled their Christmas tree; the trademark
triangular iron structure holding over 60
miniature Santa Clauses in attires inspired
by numerous outfits of various countries.
Each of these adorable sized Santas are
still available for sale at the prices of Rs.3,000
and above and as always all proceedings
are to go for charity; to the Ceylon School
for the Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana.
For the rest of this glorious and festive month
Colombo Hilton invites all of you to bring along
family and friends; treat yourselves into all
the yummiest goodies available at the real
gingerbread house that was a hit even during
the previous year, and try out the Chocolate
Praline Yule Log, Marzipan Christmas Trees,
Christmas cookies and more whereas mouthwatering roast turkey with stuffing, Virginia
Sugar Ham with Pineapple and other savory
food items could be ordered in advance.
In terms of food & beverage, every outlet
will have something “Christmassy” to offer
all diners on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
lunch and Christmas Day dinner. The Spices
restaurant coffee shop will offer the biggest
Christmas buffet in town with all the traditional
favorites whilst a very extravagant set menu
will be compiled at Spoons this Christmas
and will surely leave those taste-buds asking
for more. For something more Italian head
over to Il Ponte or to Emperor’s Wok for
something Cantonese whereas Curry Leaf and
Ginza Hohsen also will have Sri Lankan and
Japanese set menus on offer respectively.
Experience a taste of quality and authenticity
as the Thorana Lounge brews a new kind of
tea; Ceylon Gourmet Black Tea that includes
a natural spicy cinnamon, pungent cloves and
aromatic mint leaves that will combine the
natural goodness of tea with the benefits of
spices. The Christmas “Blend” too will be on
every Wednesdays and Sundays from 3:00p.
m. to 6:00p.m. with different themes on each
day. The Lounge will be hosting “The Voice
of Praise” choir who will be singing carols for
the festive season from December 21 to 24.
The famous Karl Katz Ensemble will also play
jazz tunes from December 17 to January 9
on Sundays at the Thorana Lounge and from
Tuesday to Saturday at the Il Ponte Ristorante.
Kids will be delighted to know that they are
not left out this Christmas as Hilton Colombo;
apart from enjoying the real Gingerbread
house and all the treats it has to offer, Santa
Clause will be strolling through the lobby from
December 20-25 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
7
I
NOLIMIT geared for
this Festive Season
S
As Sri Lanka enjoys its new found peace while Christmas cheer is in the air, and the dawn
of a whole new year brings hope of peace and prosperity, enjoy the moment and be ready to
cherish some wonderful memories. Be merry, be bright and happy as Colombo brings the
festive season of Christmas alive this year like never before, for the entire family. Whether it is
to live in the moment whilst listening to carols being sung, or dining with loved ones at some
of the best five-star hotels in town, and make it all an unforgettable event along with them, as
we celebrate Christmas and the New Year in grand style
BY SHABNA CADER & NABIHA ARIFF
Re-live traditions
at Galadari
C
hristmas carols
are among
the oldest
of holiday
traditions, stretching
back centuries, and will
be sung on the 23 and 24
after 8:00 pm, with an
additional and exclusive
performance by
Silhouette, throughout
December.
Giving into a novel
idea for children to
drop off their wishes
in Santa’s Mail Box,
and they will receive
a Christmas gift from
the old man himself on
the 25 between 12 noon
and 3:00 pm. Make it
a family occasion, sit
down to lunch as well
and be entertained by a
magic show and carols
sung live.
Santa’s Mail Box
– Watch out for Santa
Claus from December 20
to 24, from 6-8 pm, and
then once again on the
25 from 12 noon to 2:00
pm, and have lunch with
Santa on Christmas day.
For those who dropped
a letter in the mail box,
here’s a special treat
– enjoy lunch with none
other than the Father of
Christmas, and receive a
gift on the 25.
Enjoy a range of
traditional and other
favourite Christmas
goodies from cakes,
puddings to Yule logs,
cookies and Marzipan
fruits from the 10 to the
31 at the Cookie Hut that
will be situated at the
Hotel’s Lobby area.
The California
Grill will be hosting a
Christmas Eve Dinner
as well as a Christmas
and New Year’s Eve
dinner with music
by Paul Pereira and
Klaviola. If you’re
looking to celebrate
this festive season with
a difference, then Stix
will provide you just
that, the Chinese way
on New Year’s Eve.
If that does not do it
either, then head over to
Sheherezade, Galadari’s
Arabic restaurant, and
enjoy a true Middle
Eastern styled buffet
on December 24 and 31
night.
For those looking for
a more energetic way
to spend new year’s eve,
the Margarita Blue is
right up your alley, as
music by Effex DJ’s
will keep you dancing
till the wee hours of
the morning. If the
scrumptious spread at
the Coffee Stop temps
you, then head over
there as well, and take
pleasure in dining
on the 24 and 25 to a
candlelight dinner
buffet.
Dine at any of the
restaurants at the Hotel
and, if your bill exceeds
Rs 3,500, Galadari offers
your accompanying
child a special
Christmas gift!
Instead of listening
to other’s belting out
the latest tunes in
music, why take a shot
at it yourself ? With
a minimum charge
of only Rs 1,000, sing
away into 2010 at the
Galadari Hotel, and
celebrate in style with a
complimentary cocktail
Make the coming of
a new year an event
you and your family
will never forget
at the Family Gala
Dinner Dance hosted
by the Galadari Hotel,
and enjoy a truly
International Dinner
Buffet with live music
by Heart‘N’Soul!
Endless joy
at Mount
Lavinia Hotel
Uplift your spirits at Zden
BY THARINDU PREMATILLAKE
alking towards
Zden, located
down Melbourne
Avenue, Bambalapitiya,
it is difficult not to let your
spirits take a jump, when
you see the vividly colourful
products peeking out
at you through the
display walls. I walked
in to Zden because I
had to get information
to write this article,
but several times,
during the 45 minutes
I browsed through
the wide array of eye
catching products, I
actually forgot why I
was in the shop in the
first place, because I
couldn’t help trying to
decide what I was going
to buy for myself!
To say that Zden
has everything a
household needs is not
an exaggeration. This
store has everything
from glassware, wooden
or stainless-steel pots
and pans, pillows, hand
woven bed sheets, table
cloths, utensils, eye
catching plants, beautifully
decorated mirrors, toys,
natural paper products,
clothes and accessories.
The high quality, huge
variety and eclectic
selection are some of the
reasons that Zden has a
client base that ranges
from excited children, old
ladies, busy housewives
and young couples to high
end hotels and restaurants.
Finding the right hamper
to give your loved ones
W
Cinnamon Grand’s
seasonal line-up
C
elebrate
the season
of goodwill
and cheer in
Grand style
at the Cinnamon Grand!
Our unique Cinnamon
Grand experience
will be prevalent in
all events, making the
Cinnamon Grand the
place to be this yuletide
season! Whether you’re
looking for a magical
workshop for your kids,
the Cinnamon Grand’s
first ever Christmas
Carnival or a family
dinner with loved ones,
we have everything
you need to make this
holiday season an
unforgettable one.
To kick off the
season, the Cinnamon
Grand, in association
with Soul Sounds,
presents the many
‘Moods of Christmas’
on December 20, in an
enchanting musical
evening for the whole
family. Moods of
Christmas will be held
in the Atrium Lobby
from 7:30 pm onwards,
with refreshments.
The Cinnamon
Grand’s first ever
Christmas Carnival
will be held poolside
on December 21. From
6:00 pm onwards, enjoy
a special Xmas BBQ,
Game Stalls, plenty of
seasonal carols and lots
more!
The successful
Santa’s Workshop
returns this year on
December 22, with two
sessions from 9:30 am
to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm
to 5.30 pm. Children
between 6 and 10 years
are promised a morning
rife with exciting
activities!
Taprobane offers
a Christmas Eve
buffet in two sessions
with the first sitting
at 7:00 pm and the
second from 9:30 pm
onwards. Cheers Pub
holds a traditional
Christmas Carvery.
Tao’s Christmas
Epicurean brings you
22 dishes in a fusion
of flavours served to
your table. Indulge in
a six course gourmet
Christmas Eve dinner
at London Grill. Breeze
Bar hosts a Christmas
Eve BBQ from 7:00 pm
to midnight with Dillon
from USB. Christmas
Infinity at Echo is back.
A South Indian buffet
showcases Chutneys.
Taprobane offers a
Christmas lunch buffet
in two sessions with
the first sitting at 11:30
am and the second from
1:30 pm onwards.
For Christmas
dinner, enjoy an
international
Christmas buffet
at Taprobane with
the first sitting at
7:00 pm and the
second sitting
from 9:30 pm
onwards.
Cheers Pub
offers a
traditional
Christmas Carvery
lunch and a Christmas
Carvery dinner. Enjoy
a traditional Italian
Christmas feast for
lunch at Echo. Tao
offers a Christmas
dinner set menu and
a six course gourmet
dinner at London Grill.
A gala New Year’s
Eve dinner at
Taprobane will be held
in two sittings with
the first at 7:00 pm and
the second from 9:30
pm onwards. Cheers
Pub offers a British
Carvery dinner buffet
with Dillon from USB.
Tao’s fusion set menu
makes a grand return.
Lagoon’s delicious
seafood fare highlights
31st night dinner with
two sittings. The 1st
sitting starts at 7.00 pm
and the second sitting
starts at 9.30 pm. A
seven course fine dining
option highlights
London Grill, and
at Echo’s an Italian
buffet. Indulge in a
South Indian buffet at
Chutneys.
Highlighting the
occasion is the New
Year’s Eve gala dinner
dance at the Oak
Room. Featuring Misty
and Sohan & the Xperiments on stage, the
party kicks into high
gear at 9 pm and doesn’t
stop until the wee hours
of the morning! A pool
party with DJ music is
also on offer for New
Year’s Eve diners at
Taprobane, London
Grill, Tao, The Lagoon,
Chutneys and Echo
from 9 pm onwards.
All prices are
inclusive of service
charge and government
taxes. For reservations
please call 2 497 470 or
0773 136 778.
ri Lanka’s biggest fashion chain
– NOLIMIT – is geared to cater to
the upcoming festive season, and
to usher in the New Year in grand
style. All of NOLIMIT’s 16 fashion stores
including Glitz and Pallu are ready with
ample stocks of fashion items and
new 2010 fashion this season, to
cater to the requirements of
their discerning customers.
Furthermore, NOLIMIT
customers can enjoy a
12.5% discount when
paying with Sampath
Bank credit and
debit cards, or a 10%
discount on Commercial
Bank credit, debit cards and
shopping cards during the
festive season, which will be
valid till December 31, 2009.
The new ladies party-wear and
evening-wear range at NOLIMIT comprises
classy western style dresses, frocks in
flowing silks and satins, skirts and blouses,
all in vivid 2010 colours of green, sparkling
jewel tones, tobacco brown, oxidized copper
hues, plastic pink and pearl lavender, and in
the traditional festive colours such as red and
black, and are available in a wider choice of
sizes and shades. The stylish gent’s casualwear and party-wear collection at NOLIMIT
will be a star attraction this season with
attractive party shirts, trousers and matching
accessories, while the children’s section is
amply stocked with trendy kids wear, shoes
and other accessories such as bags, belts
and hair bands, clips etc. The much talked
about denim collection for ladies, gents and
teenagers at
NOLIMIT are
available
in
various
cuts,
styles,
colours
and
during the Christmas
season can be a very
important matter. However,
it might not always be
easy to come up with the
hamper that fits perfectly
with your wishes. Zden has
come up with the answer
to that problem by allowing
you to create personalised
hampers, so that you don’t
end up giving the same
gift to your uncle, niece
and boss! To make things
even more exciting for the
holiday season, Zden has
special discounts on almost
all their products, and you
will get a free gift when
you purchase products
worth over Rs. 2000.
A defining feature of
Zden is that it boasts
of high quality products
produced mainly by local
rural communities. The
attractive beeralu and lace
products are produced in
fishing villages from Galle,
the popular handlooms
come from families affected
by the tsunami, the shirts,
sarongs and sarees are
produced by poor families
in the East, and from fishing
villages in Negombo come
toys and paintings. Zden is
also working with ‘Sisters
of Charity’ to better the
lives of 300 children in an
IDP camp in Chettikulam,
by coordinating a project
to give these children
gifts and items that will
make their everyday
life a little brighter.
One thing that I will
guarantee is that, once
you walk into Zden, you
will not walk out empty
handed. When I walked
into Ziden, I was planning
on walking out with just a
few pages of my notepad
filled with information to
write a simple article. I
did fill out the pages in
my notepad, but I also
carried out a bag filled
with some Ziden goodies
that I just had to have!
As the year draws to an end and the
Christmas bells chime with endless joy, so
do the waves at Mount Lavinia.
Mount Lavinia Hotel, as always, brings
to you a Christmas that is bound to be
memorable and cherished for years to
come, with Sri Lanka enjoying its new
found peace this year, Christmas and
the new years is going to be a little extra
special for us all. The blue and white
Christmas décor at the Mount Lavinia
Hotel leaves you enthralled at the
harmonious beauty of the hotel and the
blue sea to compliment it further. This is
the only Hotel that has managed to get a
natural Christmas tree, and as this old
tree stands tall and welcomes you proudly
as you drive in, you know Christmas is
here!
You will be completely spoilt for choice
this year, for the Hotel brings to you
delicacies, events, music and much more
like never before.
Enjoy a delicious and peaceful
Christmas lunch or end your Christmas
day by indulging yourself in a festive
dinner at the Governor’s Restaurant
and Terrace. All this while the talented
Jerome Speldewinde will keep you
entertained. Have a Christmas that will
be cherished for years to come, have
Christmas with Mount Lavinia Hotel.
The management has planned an
array of events and unique dishes from
around the world for the entire month
of December. Mount Lavinia Hotel has
begun celebrating Christmas right from
the beginning of December.
A divine selection of seasonal goodies
leaves you wanting for more at the
Hotel’s very own ‘Gingerbread House’.
Indulge yourself in the variety of sweet
delicacies, from cakes to cookies and
marzipans.
Be among the few to taste their
renowned whole Roast Turkey with the
traditional Bread Stuffing and Giblet
Gravy, roast potatoes and country styled
baked vegetables.
New Year
This will be your night to feel like a
complete celebrity. Make your dreams
come true and dress like a star for the
‘Glamour Night’ at Mount Lavinia
Hotel for this New Year’s Eve. Enjoy an
enchanting evening at the Terrace, all
the way through to breakfast at sunrise.
Music by Sharmen and the Reggae
Colours, C&C, DJ Pierre and Jerome
Speldewinde will keep you on your toes
and help make your glamour night more
enchanting. End your year with the best
of cuisines and exciting delicacies. Treat
yourself at the Seafood and Oyster Bar,
Homemade Pasta station, Traditional Sri
Lankan Breakfast, grand dessert buffet,
Japanese Sushi Bar, a chocolate display
and many other enticing dishes. All this
and more is bound to make your New
Year’s Eve night as memorable as any
star would want.
Mount Lavinia Hotel affords you these
amazing offers, all to make sure you have
the best December and wishing you have
a joyous and wonderful Christmas and
New Year.
shapes – is unique and unmatchable.
“Now that peace has dawned on Sri
Lanka, our customers can enjoy this festive
season with their friends and loved ones
like never before. And to match this festive
mood of the people, we are catering to
their requirements with a carefully chosen
range of fashion items and accessories
which are available islandwide, through
NOLIMIT’s fashion stores” said Marketing
Manager- NOLIMIT, A.L.M. Akeel.
The accessories section at the NOLIMIT
fashion stores have been amply stocked with
clutch purses, handbags, shoes and jewellery
handpicked to match the new styles and
trends by NOLIMIT’s in-store fashion experts.
Attractively designed NOLIMIT gift
vouchers are available in various
denominations ranging from Rs 250 to
Rs 5,000, are ideal as gifts for loved
ones during this gift-giving season.
In addition, the courteous and helpful
staff, ample parking facilities and the
spacious and well designed, laid out
stores creating an ambience of
seasonal festivities will no doubt make
the NOLIMIT shopping experience an
enjoyable one for the whole family.
All 16 NOLIMIT and Glitz fashion
stores spread islandwide are
now ready to welcome their
customers with the latest and
exclusive collection of fashionwear and fashion items.