Wednesday 31 January 2018

Manolo Valdes’s Solo Exhibition will run from March 15th – April 14th




Opera Gallery Dubai is proud to present the upcoming solo exhibition by world-renowned Spanish artist, Manolo Valdes

The exhibition will run from March 15th to April 14thThe opening reception will be held in the presence of the artist, theAmbassador of Spain, the owner of Opera Gallery, and representatives of Dubai Culture and the DIFC on March 14th.

The upcoming exhibition is the perfect opportunity to both commemorate the progression of culture and art in Dubai as well as celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Opera Gallery Dubai. The gallery has been a driving force behind the evolution of art in the region and the calibre of this artist is only one example of that. Opera Gallery Dubai is part of the well-established international network known for showcasing contemporary artists from around the world and is honoured to host Manolo Valdes’s first exhibition in the Middle East where more than 25 of his works will be on display.




Manolo Valdes is a rare breed of artists who has mastered multiple artistic disciplines in this career. Born in Valencia, Spain, Valdes works in paint, sculpture and mixed media and describes his works as having a life beyond the themes and boundaries of an exhibition. Much like the old saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, each of his works can be read differently, interacted with differently and each have something different to tell the observer. 

In addition to brand new sculptures and works on canvas, Opera Gallery Dubai will display 5 monumental sculptures throughout the DIFC for a period of one year, as part of the neighbourhood’s public art integration program. Additionally, for the very first time in his career, Valdes has produced four sculptures mixing brass and 24 carat gold, which have been created exclusively for Dubai and will be revealed at the exhibition.

Wednesday 24 January 2018

Hero Addicted by Luca Valentini at COYA Dubai



COYA Dubai is delighted to present “Hero Addicted” by Luca Valentini from January 22 - March 26, 2018.


The Italian born artist has an engineering background that he applied to delve into art. In “Hero Addicted”, Valentini has taken iconic covers of newspapers and magazines and reworked them weaving in a mix contemporary art, street art, and solid German expressionism. This body of work was inspired by hero and antihero; the juxtaposition of good and evil in Valentini’s three dimensional pieces is an indication that people no longer differentiate the values between the two in today’s day and age. In this exhibition the artist artfully addresses the impact that mass media and social media platforms have on society.

“I’m very happy to have had this opportunity to show at the amazing location at COYA. Everything inside is artistic, from the food to the cocktails. So I thought COYA’s style would be the perfect frame for my new works,” said Luca Valentini.



“We are thrilled to show Luca Valentini‘s Hero Addicted at COYA Dubai as our first exhibition of the year. The timing of the exhibition is especially poignant given that we are all spending more and more time on our smart phones and constantly connected to digital portals and social media. Valentini’s work is a realization that so much information is being filtered online, desensitizing us in the process. Sharing art is an important part of COYA’s culture and we’ve partnered up with Sconci’s Art Gallery out of d3 to bring the exhibition to our member’s room” said Cedric Toussaint, Director of Operations, COYA Dubai.

Valentini has exhibited in Dubai, Los Angeles and Miami.

“Hero Addicted” opens on January 22, 2018 from 7-9pm at the member’s room at COYA Dubai. It is shown in collaboration with Sconci Art Gallery and will be on display until March 26, 2018.

Thursday 18 January 2018

At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa’s new lounge menu blends haute cuisine with delicious street food


Set on the 122nd level of the stunning Burj Khalifa, At.mosphere lounge is offering guests a newly orchestrated menu of seasonal surprises, complementing its exclusive selection of fine beverages.

The highlight of the new menu is not only its innovative use of premium ingredients from the garden, orchard, and sea, but also on offering the best of each season and the popular At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa favourites.

Dishes burst with refreshing flavours and include delicacies such as King Crab Tartine, Sea Trout Pastrami, Wagyu Carpaccio, Tuna Tataki with Ponzu, Burrata with smoked Tomato Gazpacho, and Foie Gras au torchon served with pear, vanilla and brioche.



Many signature dishes are on offer including Lobster & Smoked Veal Banh Mi, Pulled Brisket Tacos, Spicy Korean Chicken Bao,Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Caviar and Waffle, Truffle Mac’n’Cheese Croquettes, Popcorn Tempura Prawns, and popular Billionaire Burger. The new menu also features a decadent choice of caviars and oysters, sourced from around the world.


There's always room for dessert! End your meal with an outstanding selection featuring Mochi Ice Cream with salted caramel and Matcha Green Tea, Chocolate Fondant with Banana Ice Cream, old-time favourite Peanut Butter Jelly Ice Cream Sundae and ATM Hot Chocolate Macchiato if you‘re craving something warm.

With its unique metropolitan, sophisticated ambiance, At.mosphere Lounge offers guests a perfect place to spend their evenings in style, overlooking panoramic views of the city.

For reservations, please call +9714 888 3828 or email reservations@atmosphereburjkhalifa.com



TOMMY HILFIGER ANNOUNCES FALL 2017 WATCHES COLLECTION





Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2017 watch collection celebrates a touch of rebellious rock-and-roll style, and plays with contrasting materials, new proportions and athletic influences. It’s edgy, relaxed and effortlessly cool.

The Fall 2017 men’s collection boasts Classic dials, glossy embossed leather and gold-plated cases making it a discreet yet luxurious statement.

The Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2017 collection ranges from AED 895 - AED 1,045 and is available at Hour Choice stores across UAE.

INTRODUCING THE LAMBORGHINI URUS



Automobili Lamborghini has launched its third model the Lamborghini Urus, the first Super Sport Utility Vehicle, creating a new niche in the luxury segment with benchmarking power, performance and driving dynamics, unparalleled design, luxury and daily usability.

“The Lamborghini Urus is a visionary approach based on the infusion of Lamborghini DNA into the most versatile vehicle, the SUV. The Urus elevates the SUV to a level not previously possible, the Super SUV. It is a true Lamborghini in terms of design, performance, driving dynamics and emotion as well as drivable every day in a range of environments,” says Stefano Domenicali, Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The Urus fits perfectly within the Lamborghini family as a high performance car. It is the culmination of

intensive development and passionate skill to create a new breed of bull: a Super SUV that transcends the boundaries of expectations and opens the door to new possibilities, for both our brand and our customers.”

The Urus features a 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbo engine delivering 650 hp (478 kW) at 6,000 rpm, maximum 6,800 rpm, and 850 Nm of maximum torque already at 2,250 rpm. With 162.7 hp/l the Urus claims one of the highest specific power outputs in its class and the best weight-to-power ratio at 3,38 kg/hp.

The Urus accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 12,8 seconds and with a top speed of 305 km/h it is the fastest SUV available.

Having made its world premier on Monday 4 December, the Urus is coming to the UAE soon enough and will be available for purchase in Q3 of 2018.

  • Design, performance, driving dynamics and driving emotion – pure Lamborghini DNA
  • Suitable for everyday driving in a range of environments
  • 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbo engine with 650 hp and 850 Nm of torque for maximum performance
  • Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and top speed 305 km/h
  • 4WD system with active torque vectoring and four-wheel steering for perfect handling
  • Carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension and active roll stabilization for maximum safety and comfort
  • Up to six different driving modes + EGO mode available via ‘Tamburo’ driving dynamics selector

Wednesday 17 January 2018

Epson’s mobile trucks bring wide screen HD entertainment across Dubai



For two weeks, starting on January 17, 2018, Epson mobile trucks will stop at various locations in Dubai, giving residents an amazing opportunity to experience high-definition wide screen entertainment with Epson’s EH-TW5600 home cinema projector in three different scenarios- gaming, sports and movies- all within a typical home environment.

In a recent study by Epson on the home entertainment habits of UAE residents, it was highlighted that the experience of using a projector is rated better than with a TV, with 59% of all respondents stating that projectors are more enjoyable to watch than TV. Movies are the main form of entertainment for which projectors are used; and in the future, watching sports may be the main reason. The key reasons respondents gave for choosing a projector over a TV included the projector’s screen size and cost per inch, it’s ease of use, portability and high screen resolution.Current projector owners in the UAE plan to continue with projectors, while current TV owners are open to buying a projector, with two thirds (67%) of all respondents stating they are likely or very likely to consider a home cinema projector in the future.

Speaking about the mobile truck event, Jason Whiley, Director of Sales, Epson Middle East, says: “We want people to experience what home cinema projectors offer you when watching a movie, your favourite sport or your preferred video, all in high definition, up to 300 inches on your wall, and in the comfort of your own home. Our trucks will stop at popular locations in Dubai and customers are invited to step in and enjoy the immersive experience that our home cinema projectors offer. It’s going to be fun, engaging and everyone will have a great time.”

Locations where you can spot the Epson mobile truck are Al Diyafah street, Al Wasl road, Jumeirah beach, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Road, FGB and Noor metro station areas on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Internet City, Barsha Pond park, Sports City, Burjuman Metro area, Mirdiff, Deira City Centre location and Rigga road.

He adds: “Customers will find that our home cinema projectors not only work well in the dark, but also in low-light situations. They are easy to set up and you can even remodel your spare room into your own theatre, complete with seats, popcorn and a projector to get the ultimate home entertainment experience.”

The Epson projector that will be displayed in the mobile trucks is Epson’s latest EH-TW 5600 full HD home cinema projector, which makes creating the big screen experience easier and more affordable than ever before. Set up is effortless with lens shift, keystone correction and 1.6x manual zoom. Images are bright with 2,500 lumens, 3LCD technology delivers vivid colours, and the dynamic contrast ratio of 35,000:1 reveals detailed shadows.

Sunday 14 January 2018

INSIDE MASSIMO BOTTURA'S NEW FLORENCE RESTAURANT


Chef Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant in Florence, a collaboration with Italian fashion house Gucci, opened to the public 3 days ago.

The 50-seat Gucci Osteria, which is housed inside the newly renovated Gucci Garden Galleria, formerly the Gucci Museo, in the 14th century Palazzo della Mercanzia, will offer an entirely new menu of Italian classics with an interational twist, including “Parmigiano Reggiano tortellini, Peruvian-inspired tostadas, pork belly buns and mushroom risotto,” priced at around €20-30 per dish, according to Reuters. Chef Ana Karime Lopez Kondo will head up the kitchen and the restaurant will be open throughout the day.




The theme is most definitely green, with lines from a 15th-century Medici carnival song written in gold script on the restaurant’s stone tablet-lined walls, according to The Spaces. "The restaurant is a reminder that Florence has always been a centre of cultural exchange, particularly during the Renaissance," says Bottura.