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B lounge returns

This Saturday evening (today evening) the Open Mic nights are back at Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort. After a long summer break, Sheraton is inviting on its outdoors stage the best of Abu Dhabi talent.

Residents of the capital from different walks of life and nationalities have signed up to share some good times with the audience. All in all, there will be six bands and individuals performing anything and everything from soul and funk to rock and pop.

The venue will open at 6pm with the first gig starting at 7pm. Confirmed so far are old friends of the Open Mic, but also new bands, including Julie Gordon (vocal and acoustic guitar), George Christiansen (guitar), Session Zone (sound system), Nicola Warwick (vocal, guitar and Cajun drum) and The Gardeners. The sixth band is yet to be confirmed.

This first Open Mic concert also marks the reopening of Sheraton’s B Lounge, the open-air, palm-fringed lounge around the hotel’s amphitheatre. By day a cafe for the beach and pool goers, by night a relaxing lounge done up in pretty blue lights and Arabic sitting, B Lounge will host several other theme nights apart from the bi-monthly Open Mic.

From October 10 there will be Monday’s “Ritmo Habana” with outdoors salsa classes for advanced (7-8 pm) and for beginners (8-9 pm), followed by a salsa party. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays will feature the “ChillOut @ B-Lounge” with chilled tunes and great cocktails. Tuesdays’ “B-Bubbly” will be dedicated to the ladies, offering complimentary bubbly all night long. Thursdays will feature the “Reboot” with the latest tunes by a live DJ, while Fridays will be the groovy nights with “ Jazz’n’Soul” tunes playing late in the nights. B-Lounge is open daily from 6pm to 11pm during the week and from 6pm to 1am on Thursdays and Fridays.

From Thailand, with love

Well-known for its balance of five basic flavours — spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter — Thai food is becoming increasingly popular in Abu Dhabi and for good reasons. Apart from the several Thai restaurants around the city, there will now be an authentic Thai festival, hosted by Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Thai Embassy here.

During September 30 - October 7, Flavours of Thailand will bring to the capital different Thai cuisines, spices and techniques, all under careful preparation of Thai Master Chef Khun Anuwat who is flying specially for this event from Grand Millennium Sukhumvit in Bangkok. The 39-year-old chef has lots of experience gathered in top kitchens in Canada, Korea and Singapore, being most famous for his Tom Yam Kung Soup, Phad Thai and Thai Spring Rolls.

Along with great food, there will also be a cultural programme of authentic Thai music and dances. Expect plenty of colours from traditional costumes and fruit carving stations. Millennium will even throw in some Thai massage options. —silvia@khaleejtimes.com

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