bazaar June 2021 issue

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June 2021 | Issue #257

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NOW OPEN AT GRAND AVENUE

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1820012 ALYASRA


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COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES The College of Arts and Sciences is accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE).

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The American University of Kuwait received its Institutional Accreditation from the Private Universities Council (PUC), Ministry of Higher Education in the State of Kuwait, and has a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with Dartmouth College (Hanover, N Hampshire - USA).


COLLEGE OF Engineering & Applied Sciences The BE degree program in Electrical Engineering, and the BE degree program in Computer Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (ABET). The BSc degree program in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET ).

admissions@auk.edu.kw Tel: 1802040/(+965) 2224-8399 Ext: 3148 www.auk.edu.kw 21


Int

I can’t even begin to list the number of nationalities of amazing people who have worked at bazaar magazine and Bazaar Studios over the years. But off the top of my head, we’ve had Kuwaitis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Tunisians, Trinidadians, Brits, Americans, Austrians, Syrians, New Zealanders, and many others, but one constant that has never changed over the years is that every single one of us is Palestinian at heart. We will always be passionate about Palestine and the Palestinian cause and fight for justice, and that is something that will never change. This month’s cover is the work of bazaar-favorite Nada Dalloul. Kuwaiti born and raised; Nada’s Palestinian roots and family ties keep her connected to her ancestral homeland. The visual motifs like the key, the olive branch, the map and the playing card theme all embody the plight of Palestinians as well as echoes how they are constantly being used and abused by the big players. Art has always been a tool for subverting the status quo, it is accessible by the masses unlike intellectual discourse that is often out of reach for many of us. In the last few weeks, we witnessed an explosion of amazing art that supports the Palestinian cause that has been able to raise awareness and reach unprecedented amounts of non-Arabs for the first time and shifting global mainstream views. We spoke to several local and regional artists who told us what inspired them and how they hope their art will help. Finding hope and motivation is our forte, which is why we spoke to multi-faceted Meshary AlNassar, an interior designer who is seamlessly blending soft Scandinavian design with a minimal, oriental twist for Truth or Dare. Our Up Close and Personal this month is a woman who doesn’t seem to even see the glass ceiling as she is speeding to get to it. Seasoned entrepreneur Tarfa Al Farhan has also found exhilaration in competitive horse riding and is training to become a certified scuba diving instructor.

June 2021 | Issue #257

www.bazaar.town

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About the Cover: We’re already longtime fans and friends of Nada Dalloul. The Kuwait based illustrator and doodler is constantly inspired by the absurdities of humanity. She describes her cover art, ”A Palestinian woman and man are presented in a playing card layout, holding and protecting the map of Palestine. Their traditional attire is an ode to the beautiful culture of Palestine, which can never be taken away from us. The man is wearing a Kuffiyeh, a symbol of resistance, while holding an olive branch which represents our olive trees and love for our land. The woman is wearing a traditional embroidered thobe, with various motifs each holding a significant meaning, and holding the key to her house, a popular Palestinian symbol for our right to return to our homeland.” Nada is inspired by Palestinian resistance art, particularly the works of Abdul Rahman Al-Muzayen.

The bazaar team... Boss

Ahmed El-Adly

Editor

Alia Al Duaij

Operations Manager Ihab Youssef

Content Manager Yasmine El Charif

Mixed Media Solutions Jennifer Cádiz

Design

Shadi Mofeed

Staff Writer/Online Media Mariam Raslan Yasmin Gamal

If you are going to take on the world, you are going to need the right set of wheels. This month we took the new Toyota Prado Midnight Edition out for a spin and it is perfect for people who want it all. From chalet escapades to city cruising, we loved every bit of our experience in this beautiful 4-wheel drive.

Communications

And we are so glad that we can dine in restaurants again to feel a sense of normalcy. Our dear friends at The Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait Burj Alshaya uncover a world of tantalizing dining experiences waiting for you at Dai Forni and Sintoho restaurants, and we’ve got the all the details. We are also so excited to show you our behind-thescenes sneak peek into the P.F. Chang’s kitchens. Chef Ed Abdallah showed us how they manage to make all the dishes we love quickly and perfectly, every single time, no matter which location you are visiting.

Nada Dalloul

Hala Y. Sharara

Cover by

Contributing Photographers Eslam Khalifa

Syndicates & Sources

Our summer plans are still uncertain, but we are sure that we’re going to make the most of it. We have rounded up some smart gadgets from X-Cite by Alghanim that will help you stay cool, entertained, and active all summer long.

Fast Company LA Times MCT International Newsweek

members of:

That’s only scratching the surface of all the fabulous content to come. Flip the page, sit back and relax!

Printing

w w w. b p aw w. c o m

Happy reading! Ahmed El-Adly

British Industries for Printing and Packaging

The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).

tel.2571 6122 info@bazaar-magazine.com www.bazaar.town | Zahra Complex, Salmiya. 8th floor, office 35 @bazaargram bazaarmagazine @bazaartweets

No one likes to be dumped;

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recycle me, please.


THE AVENUES | AL FANAR MALL | MARINA MALL

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INDEX JUNE 2021 32

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TARFA AL FARHAN

STUDIO MESHARY ALNASSAR

MEET THE MIDNIGHT PRADO

We love seeing Tarfa Al Farhan smash barriers and glass ceilings without even batting an eyelash. She decided that she wanted to ride horses, so she did. She wanted to scuba dive, so she did and is currently becoming certified as an instructor. Read about her exciting journey in this month’s edition of Up Close and Personal

What do you get if you add Scandi chic with our traditional designs but make it modern and contemporary? The work of interior designer Meshary Alnassar. Find our how he creates narrative out of functional and beautiful spaces in this month’s edition of Truth or Dare.

Get ready to make the most of this summer. Whether you are driving to the chalet for a weekend of sun and fun or trying to get to your 9 AM meeting during the week, the Toyota Prado has it all.

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H&M X BROCK COLLECTION

MUJI SUMMER FASHION

WILLIAMS SONOMA

We are super excited about H&M’s collaboration with the LA-based women’s brand Brock Collection. The collection is all about approachable opulence mixed with streetwise ease and a hint of past decades. Just what we need for summer dressing. Flip over to read all about it!

MUJI’s fashion collection this summer is full of pieces that are easy to wear and care for. The neutral colors make mixing and matching for coordinated looks and outfits super easy. While the natural fabrics like cotton and linen will keep us cool, calm and collected all season long.

The right design transforms a house into a home. There’s no need to second guess yourself or fret over the details anymore with the Williams Sonoma “Made to order service”, the trained staff will help you turn your space into a haven and sanctuary of style. From customized designs to the most perfectly crafted corners for your home, reimagine your living space today!

114 #XCITEDFORSUMMER Are you excited for summer, but not so much for the sweltering heat? We have got you covered with some of the smartest gadgets at XCite that will help you stay cool, entertained and active all summer long.

118 PERFECTLY P.F. CHANG’S We rarely consider how much work goes into creating a delicious dish. Chef Ed Abdallah showed us how the magic is made in the P.F. Chang’s kitchens where everything is made from scratch and consistent over all locations. From a dim sum challenges to making the yummiest Dynamite Shrimp, we had a blast on our behind-scenes-tour of P.F. Chang’s.

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PRADO P. 66


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bazaar connect Freedom to find us

30,000 readers

With a bilingual audience of both English and Arabic, we cover everything from what’s on, to the bizarre. We print and distribute 10,000 copies of bazaar every month; each copy is read by an average of 3 people, giving us a total readership of over 30,000. bazaar is published every month (with a double issue for July/ August), delivered free of charge to a large subscriber database, and distributed free of charge in all of the following locations: Cafés & Eateries

Baker & Spice Café November Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar, Al Bida’a, Marina Crescent, Spoons

Costa Coffee Outlets: Argan Square Marina Crescent Miral Mall, Mangaf Kuwait Airport Saqran Mall Ghawalli Mall Sahara Shaab

Starbucks Outlets: Abdullah Mubarak Adeliya Airport Mall Al Mowasat Hospital Al Shaya Head Office Aliya & Ghalia Complex Andalouse Coop AUK Bairaq Mall Baitak Tower Behbehani Complex Bida’a Complex BMW Showroom Daiya Co-op Dar Al Awadi Divonne, Abu Hassaniya Four Points by Sheraton Hilton Resort Jabriya Kaifan Khalifa Resort

Kout Mall Marina Crescent Marina Mall Mishref NBK Nuzha Co-op Plaza Hawalli Rosa Castle Salhiya Salmiya, Salem Al-Mubarak Salmiya Co-op Salwa Co-op Scientific Center Seif Hospital Shaab Shamiya Co-op Sharq Co-op Sheikha Complex Sheikh Saed Al Abdullah Terminal Shuwaikh Zain Headquarters Souk Sharq The Avenues The Palms Hotel Zahra Co-op

Other Outlets:

Crumbs, Shaab Dunkin Donuts, Mall 360 Elevation Burger, Abu Halifa, Al Bida’a, Al-Hamra, Avenues, Mishref, Alseif Haagen Daz- Souk Sharq, Arraya Johnny Rockets- opp. Salhiya Complex, Marina, Salmiya, The Avenues, Alia & Ghalia Complex Made Caffe Al Salam Mall November Bakery P.Q. - The Palms, Marina Mall Paul - The Avenues, Marina Mall Prime & Toast - Al Bida’a, Seif Strip

members of: www.bpaww.com

Scoop-A-Cone - Egaila, Fahaheel The Early Bird - Fahaheel, Jabriya Upper Crust Pizzeria

Clinics & Hospitals

Al Mubarakiya Dental Clinic - Egaila, Salmiya Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center Gulf Clinic International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Noor Clinic Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

Hotels & Health Clubs

Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya Hilton Kuwait Resort & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya Inspire Pure Fitness Jumeirah Messilah Beach Resort Hotel & Spa JW Marriott – Residence Inn, Sharq Millenium Hotel & Conference Center Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula Spaloon The Palms Beach Hotel The Yoga Center

Malls

Galleria Al Hamra Elevation Burger Boulevard Starbucks Costa Coffee The Promenade Caribou Mall 360 Dunkin Donuts Marina Mall Marina Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Symphony Mall Juan Valdez The Avenues Elevation Burger Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi Starbucks Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks

4 Boutique Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel beau-tique cosmetics British Embassy US Embassy Brush Salon CAP Gallery Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra TONI & GUY- Al Corniche TONI & GUY- Cliffs Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges Finesse Nail Lounge Media Elephant Shuwaikh Market Sultan Gallery THE One The Chairman's Club

Schools & Universities American International School American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Bayan School (Hawalli) Boxhill College BSK - British School of Kuwait Universal American School

Kuwait University Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks

Stand Alones

Al Salam Mall Arraya Haagen Dazs

Virgin Megastore Artspace Kuwait

Khaldiya Adeliya Jabriya Shuwaikh

bazaar magazine became a member of BPA Worldwide in June 2010, a renouned agency which ensures complete transparency, and verifies bazaar as an audited publication which distributes 10,000 copies on a monthly basis. To access our BPA report, please visit www.bpaww.com or log onto our website www.bazaar.town for a downloadable pdf version.

Freedom to surf us

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200,000 unique monthly visitors

In addition to delivering our readers with our monthly print installment of bazaar, we’re here to pick your brain daily with www.bazaar.town–The ultimate guide to Kuwait! Packed with a little bit of everything for everybody, with daily updates on events in Kuwait, tips for life, inspiring interviews, competitions, reviews, a classifieds section, and of course a comprehensive dining directory including addresses, telephone numbers, and links to each restaurant’s location on Google Maps, it will not disappoint!

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We get closer to our readers through our vibrant social media channels on a daily basis. With more than 50,000 collective fans and followers, we love starting different conversations, sharing music, jokes, photos, competitions, and much more. From live Insta-stories to live tweeting at events to give you minute-by-minute coverage and commentary so you'll never miss a beat!

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what's trending June 2021

#1

#4

What: @fridgesofkuwait Info: An account that helps stock fridges all around Kuwait for people in need Editor’s Note: Lots of useful tips to help you find and fill a fridge near you

What: @british_bakes_q8 Info: Freshly baked scones FTW! Editor’s Note: We can argue about the order of cream and jam, but never about scones

#2 What: @neonistco Info:Unique handcrafted neon signs Editor’s Note: Perfect gifts for people who have everything

#5

#3

What: @centracool_kwt Info: Get a smart table Editor’s Note: Netflix and chilled drinks!

What: @artndinekw Info: One of a kind art adventures Editor’s Note: They’re not open yet, but we can’t wait

facebook.com/bazaarmagazine

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twitter.com/bazaartweets

instagram.com/bazaargram

bazaarTube


Lighten up your layers for a warm summer ahead.

1st Avenue - The Avenues WhatsApp: +965 1821212

Scan QR code or visit:

www.potterybarn.com.kw

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RED BULL SOLO Q 2021 KUWAIT FINALS BREAKDOWN! The LoL esports event finale was fire, where the reigning champ and the underdog competed for the Kuwait title. By bazaar staff

The Red Bull Solo Q Finals came to a roaring finish in Kuwait, and they delivered exactly what the fans were waiting for. The two Grand Finals competitors, Omran “Alpha Kuronii” Fouad, and Hussam “LEBANON Flamer” Merachli, battled it out in an exhilarating end to the event which started with an original pool of 224 players. The host with the most was Muhammed Salahelden Mohammed, or NewFolder for the IGN. He is a big league Egyptian gamer and managed the matches from top to bottom. He was joined by LoL heavyweights from across the region with Soliman “Snow” Taha, the most famous LoL player in the region, and Omar “Thorned” Ibn Omar, another well-known Saudi gamer joining him in as casters. The Finals analysts consisted of more gamers who know the game of Red Bull Solo Q (and everything related to LoL, period) insideout. In the Finals NewFolder was joined by Hamza “Glyph” and Basel “Cut” Barakeh. Safe to say they didn’t miss a beat. Fun fact, this was the first time that NewFolder and Glyph were on screen together. The Last Players Standing Tall If you’re thinking the Final lineup in 2021 sounds very similar to the Final from last year, you’d be absolutely correct! In the previous Solo Q Final we saw the same gamers competing to be the best, and Alpha Kuronii was crowned champion. The 2021 rematch had gamers buzzing, and ultimately saw LEBANON Flamer exact his revenge against Alpha Kuronii this time around. Both players came in swinging, and the match was so worthy of a Red Bull Solo Q National Final.

LEBANON Flamer took the win with Caitlyn. He found his advantage state by destroying the ward early, and finished it by zoning out Alpha Kuronii with the swath of his level 2 minion wave. Post-win Chat with the Solo Q 2021 Kuwait Champ

Skip the Ban, Go for the Win

LEBANON Flamer was excited to breakdown his match reaction with us, and here’s the inside scoop of what was happening in his head over the course of the finals.

The gutsy move that LEBANON Flamer put his trust behind was on skipping the ban on champion Kalista, knowing full well that Alpha Kuronii would prefer her. But here’s the catch: he knew the matchup well and wanted to go up against Alpha Kuronii’s Kalista. It worked out in his favor, and he was able to etch out a win this time.

He felt like he messed up against Alpha Kuronii the last time and really wanted to score first place this time. LEBANON Flamer realized his big mistake last year was not properly learning the matchup, because he went into it not realizing that Alpha Kuronii played Irelia. He was determined not to go into this Finals the same way!

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Besides knowing the matchup this time, and skipping the ban, he had his own plans on what to do had his own champions get removed from play. Should the banhammer have come down on Caitlyn, he would have played Varus, and barring that he would have chosen Master Yi. As we can now see after his reveal, even his backup had a backup. LEBANON Flamer moves on to the Solo Q World Finals, and he couldn’t be more excited for the matchups to come. We’re looking forward to what he does next!

Tune in on December 3, 2021 for the start of the Red Bull Solo Q World Finals being held in Frankfurt, Germany. To find out more, visit @RedBullKuwait on Instagram and Twitter, and @RedBull on Facebook, or visit redbull.com.


SUMMER BOOK YOUR STAY WITH RADISSON BLU

STAYCATION —

Treat yourself and your family to a perfect getaway at Radisson Blu Hotel. Chill by the pool while your kids embark on a journey full of fun at our Kids Club. Book your next stay with Radisson Blu Hotel now! Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait Al Bida’a Road, Al Ta’awn Street, Salwa, P.O. Box 26199, Safat 13122, Kuwait T: +965 2567 3000 sales.kuwait@radissonblu.com

radissonhotels.com/blu [Continued...]

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up close & personal

BECAUSE SHE CAN Tarfa Al Farhan and the case for smashing glass ceilings, one sport at a time By bazaar staff

Those who know 30-year-old Tarfa Al Farhan well know that her competitive spirit is uncompromising. And for those of us who don’t know her too well, get ready for a proper introduction. Not only is this beauty maven the proprietor and founder of locally loved natural skin care line Soufflé Beauty, she is out to dispel every myth there is about women in sports. She has strong opinions on what women can achieve, and she proves time and time again that it’s never too late to start chasing your passions. Never confuse her poised demeanor with meekness, because Tarfa is everything but shy about her opinions. She begins, “People usually first wonder about my looks, as I’m constantly asked about where I am from. Being half Filipino, half Kuwaiti, I’ve had to contend with a lot of questions, but at the end of the day, I like to keep the conversations going, until I am asked about my hobbies. As soon as I’ve mentioned scuba diving and competitive horseback riding, I see people’s eyes widen in surprise.” In Kuwait, both fields are usually dominated by men, and Tarfa is constantly having to contend with statements like “But, you’re a woman! Isn’t it dangerous? Are you sure this is suitable for your age?” She’d been an avid fan of sports ever since she was a child, and credits her father for this shared passion. Tarfa tells us, “I’ve always liked taking risks, and I know I get it from my dad. My parents always played sports. I was exposed to everything, from volleyball to tennis, but nothing too extreme. They wouldn’t allow me to push for more challenging activities like horseback riding or scuba diving because they worried too much.” But as Tarfa grew up, established a strong footing in entrepreneurship, an industry she is equally passionate about, she was seeking more. She smilingly says to me, “You make your own decisions when you get older, and then I just pursued them and my parents have been 100% supportive. They even come to my show jumping competitions or training practices. So, that’s amazing.”

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Tarfa’s journey with scuba diving began in 2014 while on holiday in Thailand. She’d been dreaming of exploring life under the sea ever since she was a kid, so she simply went for her first certification and progressed from there. After a few years of PADI training, Tarfa realized that she wanted to impart her knowledge on to others, especially women in Kuwait, who might feel intimidated or uncomfortable to pursue underwater adventures with a male guide. She is currently well on her way to complete her teaching certification, and she dreams of retiring and opening up her own dive shack somewhere by the beach. Tarfa also hopes to shed light on Kuwait’s marine life and to utilize her teaching skills to create a greater sense of awareness about our relationship with the sea and how we must work harder to preserve it. “What is most ironic is how living from, and by the sea, was a way of life for us in Kuwait for a very long time, yet with every dive I take, I see marine life dwindling. It is very sad when you see the corals dying, and fewer fish with every trip we take.” Being underwater surely could present several precarious situations, but Tarfa loves to conquer every challenge. “It’s when your fight or flight instinct kicks in, and all of the knowledge that you’ve accumulated with experience as well. It’s magical,” she says. She credits her scuba diving teachers Juan Page, Franky Lotta and Derron Tume for their invaluable lessons. From the world of scuba diving, to the competitive arena of show jumping and horseback riding, we wonder how she does it all! “Scuba diving is for the weekends, horse riding is for the weekdays, that’s how I split it up!” she laughingly tells me, citing the same sense of exhilaration

which she experiences when she’s at the stables ready for her training session, “I cannot describe it, but you feel like you are flying, as if you’re Superwoman!” While Tarfa pursued riding just for fun three years ago, her competitive edge kicked in when she noticed how she kept improving her skills with every ride under the professional guidance of her trainers Zoran Dodev and Zeinab Almousawi. “I gained more confidence with more practice, and from there, began to enter competitions. Once I got a taste for it, I couldn’t stop. Slowly but surely, my jumps got higher and higher, and with every competition we performed well in, I felt my passion for riding grow even more.”

Balance is very important for Tarfa, as it helps her stay focused on all of her interests and passions. While it is important for her to reach milestones with her professional career, she believes that pursuing hobbies seriously allows her to stimulate a different part of her brain. “It’s what makes life interesting.” Tarfa says. I ask Tarfa if she had to choose between her dream dive shack on an exotic island, or taking her riding skills to the Olympics and winning a title, what would she do? She thinks very deeply, and with a calculated look says, “The title, because I’ll still get the dive shack in the end!”

[Continued...]

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up close & personal

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE What do you most value about your friends? They all have different personalities which makes them really valuable. But the traits I value the most are honesty, love, and loyalty. Which living person do you most admire? Venus and Serena Williams. What is your idea of perfect happiness? When there is no drama around you over silly things. What is your greatest extravagance? Travel and Sports. What is your most treasured possession? My phone. What is your greatest fear? Losing the people and pets I love. What is your most marked characteristic? Resilience. Which talent would you most like to have? Automatic computation when it comes to numbers, I am really horrible at it. What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for? Adaptability. What is the human trait you most dislike about others? Egotistical humans. What is it that you most dislike? When people say you can’t do it. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? OH MY GAWD and Like. What are your favorite words to live by? Life is too short so make sure you live it. Where would you most like to live? South East Asia or the Caribbean. If you could have any job, what would it be? I am at my dream job right with my own skincare brand Souffle Beauty. What would you consider your greatest achievement? Building a skincare brand with my best friend and pursuing the sports I love at the same time. What do you hope for the future? Human decency. Follow Tarfa’s latest adventures on Instagram @nomadia.princessa.

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[...Continued]

Mona Al Baker and Salem Marafi



bazaar weekends

REINVENT YOURSELF

Become a totally new you over the weekend By bazaar staff

Have you ever given any thought to who you are as a person? The identity or persona that you use to present yourself to the world? Is it intentional or is it the product of life, experience and just general randomness? Have you ever felt that maybe your inner personality is different from how everyone else sees you, and you would like them both to match? Or maybe you have outgrown things and moved on, but other people’s view of you still hasn’t caught up.

In the fictional world (movies or books) when a character reinvents themselves it is almost always because they’re up to no good. But in real life, people reinvent themselves after a big life change. You might have gotten a brand-new haircut and started listening to different music right before you started university. Or started dressing differently when you entered the workforce or switched careers. Relationship changes like marriage or divorce sometimes trigger a reinvention too. A weekend might seem like too little time for any big change, but it is enough for you to think about it and get started. A lot of people talk about being authentic and part of that is being 36

honest about your truth visually for other people. It is a great way to change the way you feel about yourself and to show people around you that you have grown a little. We usually get caught up in life and only make these changes to our appearance or behavior when we get an external reminder, but I think it should be something we do more thoughtfully. If you care about a cause or stand for a certain value, you should feel comfortable sharing that. It helps the people around you see the change too and respond to it without having to explain yourself too much. But it is also an invitation for discourse about different topics. And it doesn’t even have to be a huge change. Maybe you are trying to be more frugal and slow

down ordering lunch at work. You can become the “pack a lunch to work” person in the office. Or maybe you are now interested in art by supporting local artists and hanging their art on your walls at home. Share that with people, even if they might be weirded out by your new fervor. Celebrate the changes. Share your reasons with others. Every time we normalize a change in identity, even a simple one, we give ourselves and others the permission to embrace their own interests and share them with the world.

Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash.


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SURF’S UP!

H&M HEADS TO THE BEACH WITH A MORE SUSTAINABLE KIDS COLLECTION! By bazaar staff

As adults, most of us are dreaming of lazy summer days at the beach or chilling by the pool, but kids usually have other plans. They want to splash around, catch waves and build sandcastles. A day at the beach for them is active, exciting and exhilarating. So they will be needing the perfect swimwear, made from materials that won’t affect the environment so they and the next generation will enjoy our beaches and oceans. This summer, H&M is making waves with a surf-inspired, more sustainable collection featuring sandals made with innovative technology derived from algae, alongside a range of beach-ready clothing and accessories made from recycled cotton, organic cotton and recycled polyester. The BLOOM material used in the soles of the sandals utilizes algae biomass that helps clean our air and waterways of harmful pollution. With popping colors and graphics reminiscent of the 1980s and 90s, the collection ultimately expresses beach life freedom and the spirit of creating change for the future. Vibrant and comfy t-shirts, tanks, shorts, dresses and swimwear, along with sandals, hats, jewelry, sunglasses and other small accessories, include fashionforward details such as tie-dye, ombre palm prints, and surf wear touches. With black, peach, lilac, turquoise, lime green and white, the color palette has a retro influence but updated for today. The entire collection is made from more sustainable materials, with BLOOM foam as the highlight alongside recycled cotton, organic cotton and recycled polyester. “This summer is all about that surf vibecolorful, spirited and spontaneous with the eyecatching tie-dye or palm prints. We’re also really excited that we have included BLOOM™ foam, which uses an innovative technology to not only create a more sustainable material, but also contribute to minimizing pollution for a better future,” says Sofia Löfstedt, Head of Kids wear Design at H&M. The collection is available now in select H&M stores, online at kw.hm.com and the H&M MENA App with prices starting from KD 1.990.

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truth or dare

TIMELESS, CONTEMPORARY DESIGN WITH MESHARY ALNASSAR Meet the mind behind the studio that is crafting masterfully designed spaces By bazaar staff

For Meshary AlNassar, the concepts of function and flow drive every aspect of design at his eponymous design studio. Armed with a BFA in Interior Design from the American University in Dubai, the CIDA-Accredited designer is making waves with his imaginative vision that seamlessly blends soft Scandinavian design with a minimal, oriental twist. 40


He is powered by his passion for storytelling, and strives to constantly ensure that Studio Meshary AlNassar delivers designs that speak to their client’s desires and aspirations. He believes that the finished space should always complement and encapsulate the client’s lifestyle and day-to-day needs, right from the very start to the end of the day. Every aspect of the design process from concept to execution is very relatable, customized and carefully curated. And Meshary does all of this with so much ease, making the entire process look as effortless as possible. Meshary’s penchant for design stems from his childhood, he fondly recounts how he used to watch so many design makeover shows as a kid, “I noticed the heavy impact design has on people’s day to day life, and since then I was inspired to do the same.” Pursuing the field career wise was only a natural progression. He continues, “My passion and drive was always wanting to create a setting or experience within a space for people. It began by rearranging my parents living room over and over, and I knew I wanted more to do with spatial layouts and design from a young age.” A look at the Studio Meshary AlNassar’s website, you will find that each and every project executed by his team is portrayed with the same storytelling narrative in mind. You feel his personality shine in each designated project description, where he fondly describes working with clients as an inspiring, collaborative process. Whether he is reinventing once forgotten basements in a residential home into soothing abodes, to abstracting the design of traditional Lebanese Homes for a full-scale family home, Meshary seeks distinction in every project that he and his team take on. In recent years, we’ve been seeing a lot of über-modern design trends sweeping the local

residential and commercial design scene, yet Meshary believes in finding inspiration in the elements of our region. He strongly considers that preserving our region’s design and cultural history is more relevant today than ever before, utilizing methods and techniques that are centuries old. The end result? A timeless space, honoring tradition yet boldly telling today’s story. Meshary describes his process to the bazaar team, “I look towards altering the traditional approach of spatial design; a rigidity that has been ingrained over decades, and to improving the way that people live. Deriving inspiration from the culture and the tradition of the region, and adding a contemporary flavor and twist to the space, is what I aim to achieve with my work.” And while we know that no business exists without its challenges, Meshary acknowledges the importance of having the right team in place to make any business a success. “When the studio started, I had no management experience, all I had was design knowledge and passion. Moving forward I understood that I also needed to understand how to manage and run a business.

With the help of business developers and professionals, I managed to understand how to create a system that allows me to design and create, yet still manage to run the business.” He fondly credits the success of the studio to his team. A tight-knit unit, the Studio today is home to a team of qualified and certified architects, and creative minds with substantial knowledge of traditions, culture, and the region’s history and values. All of this ensures that Meshary is able to lead these invaluable talents into the creation of truly personalized and masterfully designed spaces. Today, Meshary is artfully leading projects in Kuwait and the region. And this designer doesn’t take a moment to relax. “As designers, we are constantly on the roll working on things and I think it’s also a ‘business owner’ thing. When you own a business, there are no dedicated times for work, it’s around the clock and I truly don’t mind, as it’s my passion" We can’t wait to see what he does next! Until then, let’s play a game of Truth or Dare with the mind behind the design.

[Continued...]

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truth or dare

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE How would your mother describe you in one word? Rebellious. How would you describe your mother in one word? Tough What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? “What is your design aesthetic?” What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? Get on a flight from Bangalore, India to Doha, Qatar on the 31st of December. What is your theme song? Oh, so many! One of them would be ‫ اغدآ القاك‬by Oum Kolthoum. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? The Arabic word of ‫ معتق‬which translates to ‘aged’ or ‘worn out’. Where would you like to live? In a farmhouse in Puglia. Surrounded by olive trees and a beautiful masonry cladded building. What is your dream retirement location? Puglia, Italy if I’m being realistic, and anywhere on the coast of Mexico if I’m being ambitious. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? “Your home should be able to tell your story”- Nate Berkus. Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life? Not only because I love dogs, but definitely because of their deep loyalty, hard work to get that reward, and playfulness. And slightly aggressive when needed. Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it? The curiosity towards places, and surroundings. As a child, I had all the time in my day to explore what’s in the garden, and behind the fences of that garden. I always wanted to explore my surroundings and connect with places and create a spatial layout in my mind of what my surroundings are. I miss that. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Although my parents almost named me ‘Jarrah’, yet I actually love my name so much. I wouldn’t change it for anything else!

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[...Continued]

How would you describe your handshake, in one word? Curious. What is the toughest part of your character? As strict as I could be, I get a bit too emotionally involved in situations where I shouldn’t and just like any other human being, I try to find that balance between heart and mind. Who is your favorite historical figure? The ancient roman statue of ‘Laocoön and His Sons’. What in the world do you least desire? Pollution. I desire less pollution, less littering and contamination of the environment.

What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place? The world could use more acceptance. Of the new, the different, and the unknown. Cultures and religions accept each other and coexist in harmony. Humans accepting their differences and embracing one another in peace. Why do you think most people who do, like you? Spontaneity. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…” Happiness is a calm state of mind, watching the sunset. Visit mesharyalnassar.com and follow @StudioMesharyAlNassar on Instagram.


+965 66307956

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PURPOSE SELLS

People are more likely to trust—and buy—purpose-driven brands By Adele Peters

When someone sees a logo of a brand they know is purpose-driven, they automatically associate it with words like “responsible,” “compassionate,” and “ethical.” And when someone considers a brand purpose-driven, they’re also more likely to remember it, buy it, and want to work for the company that makes it.

Those findings are part of a new analysis from the communication firm Porter Novelli that used implicit association—a type of testing often used to uncover unconscious bias—to evaluate how 1,200 consumers reacted to different brands. The process involved showing participants logos and then asked them to instantly associate the brand with particular words. “It helps tell us subconscious associations that consumers have with brands and their attributes,” says Andrea List, vice president of analytics and research at Porter Novelli. “Because this methodology only allows you 800 milliseconds to make a decision about whether you associate a brand with that attribute, you don’t have time to think it through— it’s automatic.” People judged brands based on what’s known as “system one” thinking—automatic, intuitive, and unconscious—rather than “system two”

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thinking that’s more controlled and analytical. (These are the modes of thinking that Dan Kahneman explains in the classic book Thinking Fast and Slow.) The test compared how people reacted to competing brands, one conventional and one considered purpose-driven, in a handful of categories. There was a clear association with the purpose-driven brands and purposeful words like “trustworthy” or “transparent.” That association matters when people make decisions about what to buy. In another part of the study, the researchers gave participants a series of purpose-driven attributes and then asked what actions they’d take if a company had those qualities. More than three-quarters said they were more likely to trust the company. Seventyeight percent were more likely to remember a company with strong purpose; 78% were also more likely to want to work for the company.

Seventy-two percent were more likely to be loyal to the company, and 72% also said that they’d be more likely to forgive the company if it made a mistake. Two-thirds said they’d consider the company’s purpose when deciding what to buy, and 71% said they’d buy from a purpose-driven company over the alternative if cost and quality were equal. Sixty-two percent said that they thought it was important to consider purpose even when making an impulse buy. “Based on what we know about ‘system one’ versus ‘system two’ thinking, system one thinking is actually much more powerful in terms of driving actions that consumers are taking,” says Whitney Dailey, senior vice president for marketing and research at the firm. “So while we have to think through function rationally, purpose is just kind of deeply embedded into our psyche and the decisions that we’re making.”


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MAKING TIME 3 keys to get out of feeling like there’s never enough time and get creative projects done By Herbert Lui

“I don’t have enough time!” The words I spoke revealed the truth. Once again, my mind sprung the trap. I’m not sure who set it, but it’s been there for years. It draws to mind the second chapter of Portia Nelson’s poem, “Autobiography in 5 Chapters,” in her book, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery. I fell into the time scarcity trap, but my eyes are open. It takes me a few hours—sometimes a couple of days—but I get out.

There’s always enough time in an age of time starvation and scarcity, that’s what I choose to believe—there is always a way to make something difficult happen. Scarcity is the driver of creativity. I imagine Zak Klauck’s project, in which he designed 100 posters in 100 days, all of which were done in less than one minute. When I was writing my book about creative work, I knew I wanted to interview artist Michael Saviello, also known as Big Mike who worked as a manager at Astor Place Hairstylists for decades. I learned that one random day, in April 2017, Big Mike was talking to his friend author Rafael Hines, who had just self-published his book Bishop’s War (writing from midnight to 3 a.m., sleeping until 6 a.m., and going to his full-time job) to great success. That day in April, Big Mike decided he was going to paint. He kept his job, and life didn’t stop happening. For example, he painted to support his wife, who was diagnosed with cancer and has since recovered. Big Mike went on to do gallery shows, but it all happened because of the same practice. Every day, for years now, Big Mike goes to work and paints for 45 minutes during his lunch hour. Here are a few things I learned from him on getting out of the time scarcity trap. Set a time limit for your work Proposition: Reclaim time from your schedule for your creative work. 46

One key to finding time for your creative work is to reclaim it from Instagram, Netflix, Spotify, or any other form of comfort. We spend cumulative weeks of our lives on these platforms. Each day, take just five or ten minutes back from them. You can use a technique called timeboxing, which involves giving yourself a set amount of time to do your creative work. I use a kitchen timer, or sometimes my iPhone on airplane mode. You can make this a regular habit, like Lorne Michaels has said about Saturday Night Live, “the show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.” You might also choose to make something small whenever you have idle time, like when you’re waiting for an elevator or bus. You may also find your mind thinking about the piece when you’re not actually working on it. Big Mike says, “I do a painting in a short amount of time, but I think about it 24 hours.” Big Mike’s friend, Rafael Hines has said he turns the lights off at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., he lies in the dark for 30 to 45 minutes and visualizes the story. Sometimes, the protagonist of his novels taps him on the shoulder. Use happiness and excitement to keep it going Proposition: Make doing your creative work a highlight of your day. Discipline will get your routine started, but happiness and excitement keep it going. It’s not difficult for Big Mike to paint

during the lunch hour at his day job. “This is my favorite part of the day,” he says. You can cultivate the attitude not of “I need to do this,” but of “I get to do this.” Many people pick up two or three different crafts throughout their lives. Maybe you’ve found the first one, and the second one awaits you somewhere down the line. Nonetheless, once you’ve found it and committed to your chosen creative work, the next move is to figure out how to fit it into your day. Select a simple tool Proposition: Choose a tool for your creative work and stick with it for 10 days. Big Mike’s method is simple, which he describes, “put the paint on the canvas!” Choosing a tool provides you with a clear idea of what you will be doing. You paint with a paintbrush. You draw or write with a pencil. Commit to this tool for 10 days—just enough time to see what you can do with it but not so much that you get bored. You likely already have some of the equipment you need. So just start with that, and figure out whatever you need along the way. You don’t need to pay for the best thing, just for the version of whatever your budget is. As Wired cofounder Kevin Kelly writes, “start by buying the absolute cheapest tools you can find. Upgrade the ones you use a lot. If you wind up using some tool for a job, buy the very best you can afford.”


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DR. MOUSA KHOURSHEED MEET THE HEAD OF THE SURGERY DEPARTMENT AND CONSULTANT SURGEON AT TAIBA HOSPITAL By bazaar staff

Dr. Mousa Khoursheed presence in the room is calming as he begins telling me more about how he became a surgeon. Not only is his calm demeanor an essential trait to firstly soothe a patient’s nerves, it is equally imperative to also handle the pressures of performing surgical procedures. He began, “I liked biology. We were in high school and had to dissect a rabbit. I enjoyed doing the ‘surgery’ for rabbits,” he explained. As a student he was good at math, physics and chemistry and thought he was going to become an engineer but discovered his love for life sciences through a different route. His hobbies included carpentry, building radios and fixing things, he felt that the field of medicine was very similar. As a surgeon, this logical, no nonsense approach coupled with quiet determination make him perfectly suited for the job. After graduating as a surgeon he went on to become a Professor of Surgery, and he also became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Glasgow (FRCS) and the American College of Surgeons (FACS) as well as a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS). Today, he is the Surgery Department Head at Taiba Hospital and leads the department toward constant improvements and growth. The surgical field has shifted greatly since the invention of laparoscopy in the late 80s. Conventional surgery usually meant that the surgeon needed to create a large incision and cut through tissue and muscle before being able to reach the organ that needed operating on. The patient would also need lots of stitches and there was a high risk of infection, hernias, and long post-operative downtime. Today, surgeons are able to do something called keyhole surgery, where they create a tiny hole for the laparoscope, a fibre-optic instrument that allows doctors to view the organs inside the body or permit small-scale surgery. You can resume your normal life in under a week and can go back to working out after a month, instead of the six-months that were needed for traditional abdominal wall surgery. Surgeons might still need to perform conventional surgery, but almost 90% of surgeries, especially abdominal ones, are now done using laparoscopy. The field of bariatrics, the medical treatment of those seriously overweight—that is, obesity, has been one that has greatly benefitted and improved from the introduction of laparoscopy. While bariatric surgery is only employed when other methods of weight loss have been tried and failed, it is an important tool in helping people who have exhausted other methods and need stronger intervention for a healthier lifestyle and improved quality of life. Dr. Mousa Khoursheed specializes in this type of surgery and has helped countless patients manage their weight. 48


Dr. Khoursheed explained that there are several options for patients. “We perform sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery and several other kinds of interventions. In fact we [Taiba Hospital] are the only hospital in Kuwait, certified to do endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. And this is a technique where we can go from the inside the stomach, then suture the stomach without cutting it, which makes it reversible,” Dr Khoursheed told us. “We say that an operation is successful if the patient loses more than 50% of excess weight and maintains it for five years. Alternatively, there is another definition called the Reynold criteria. And success means that you maintain your BMI below 35,” Dr Khoursheed told us. Bariatric surgery doesn’t just help patients lose weight and keep it off, it helps them manage and reduce the effects of heart disease, high blood pressure, Obstructive sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease and osteoarthritis (joint pain). The overall longterm gains are immeasurable in terms of quality of life and health improvements.

Treating obesity is a multidisciplinary effort. In addition to the surgeon you also need a nutritionist, psychologist, an intensivist, an anesthetist, an internist and gastroenterologist. All of these specialities are available and ready at Taiba Hospital, except for psychologists, but patients are referred to specialists who can help them prepare for surgery as well as create new lifelong habits that will help them navigate the world after surgery. Dr. Khoursheed is very proud of how far the Taiba Hospital surgery department has gone in the field of bariatric surgery. They have been developing and improving the processes they use for treatment as well as training all members of staff and outfitting the operating theaters with the latest and newest equipment. If you are considering bariatric surgery, Dr. Khoursheed suggests that you do your research. “Abroad, patients can Google surgeons in terms of the scientific merit and scientific qualification of people, how active they are, what they are doing. Are they scientifically sound? Are they publishing? How have they contributed to the

literature in the world, have they lectured?” he explains. Unfortunately, many patients just choose the surgeon with the largest social media following instead of the one who has more experience, knowledge and skill. Which is why you need to find a surgeon and a hospital like Dr. Khoursheed and Taiba Hospital who have the knowledge and teams that will support you and provide you with the best medical care available.

Taiba Hospital is located in Sabah Al Salem, off of route 30 on Road 3. Call them 24 hours at 180 80 88. For updates and information, visit the website taibahospital.com, and follow them on Instagram @taibahospital. 49


E-COMMERCE BOOMS IN CHINA

China is about to achieve a historic e-commerce milestone—and no other country comes close By Michael Grothaus

China is set to become the first country in history that will see a majority of its retail sales conducted online instead of via traditional brick-and-mortar stores. That’s according to a new report from digital marketing research firm eMarketer. “China will take a step in its digital transformation this year that once would have seemed almost unthinkable,” the firm’s research note explains. “For the first time anywhere, a majority of retail sales for an entire country will transact online.”

This isn’t surprising, the rise of e-commerce has been a long time coming with faster internet speed and better platforms for online sales with easier and simpler returns consumers have been choosing to skip the shops and choosing a screen. Specifically, China is set to see 52.1% of all its retail sales conducted online at the end of 2021. That’s up a staggering 7.3% from 2020, where China saw 44.8% of its total retail sales conducted online. According to eMarketer the historic switch to a majority-online retail sales country is driven by two main factors: Social commerce: this refers to e-commerce transactions driven and conducted through

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social media channels. Tencent’s WeChat’s Mini Programs was a big driver of this, allowing thirdparty businesses to access always-connected shoppers. Another big driver on the social commerce side is livestreaming “Live Commerce” via video-centric social media apps like Douyin (what TikTok is called in China). The COVID-19 pandemic: The second major factor should surprise no one. As the coronavirus pandemic raged, people turned to the internet for everything from work to entertainment. As a result, consumer shopping behavior changed accordingly, too. And this change is expected to stick. eMarketer notes that online grocery shopping, particularly, surged.

But while China will see a shift to a predominantly e-commerce-driven retail sector, other countries are nowhere close to crossing the 50% threshold. South Korea is in second place, though e-commerce retail sales will only account for 28.9% of all retail sales in the country in 2021. America is even farther behind. Its e-commerce retail sales will only account for 15% of all retail sales in 2021. And online sales are only set to grow in China. eMarketer says in 2022 online sales will surge another 11%, reaching 55.6% of total retail. That year the country is also expected to hit another e-commerce milestone: over $3 trillion USD in e-commerce retail sales alone.


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Adra Kandil

ART FOR PALESTINE

CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE ART PIECE AT A TIME By bazaar staff

We are heartbroken and we feel powerless watching events unfold in Palestine. Israel attacks innocent civilian Palestinians or tries to displace them, and we can not stop it. If you are old enough to remember though you might have noticed a shift in the narrative. Globally, people are no longer reliant only on mainstream media and we’re seeing so many diverse voices that are informing, supporting and educating. Almost instantly we also saw artists use their medium and craft to help reach even more people. While art might seem inconsequential, it is subversive, revolutionary and can help change the story. It is a visual form of resistance that we can share on social media or wear on T-shirts to show solidarity. It can be sold to raise funds. But most importantly, it is a tool, and we intend to use anything and everything we have to change the situation. 52


This is why the bazaar team reached out to a wide network of local and regional artists to deliver you this curated selection as our last form of revolt. They can remove Instagram posts, delete our stories, but art will always stay. #FreePalestine Sheikha Al Habshi @coffeeandcastoffs - Artist and illustrator from Kuwait Sheikha’s art is mainly centered around identity and self-care as a form of coping in a highly technological age. She uses her art as her own way of taking up space, raising questions of gender roles and tradition in a culture where privacy plays an important role. What the art represents: The illustration I had created was made out of the complete shock I had felt with the lack of people talking about what was happening in Palestine and Sheikh Jarrah. I wanted to illustrate the fact that sometimes being “neutral” is a political stand and that can result in standing with the oppressor. Adra Kandil @dear.nostalgia - Visual artist from Lebanon Adra Kandil, is a female visual artist and designer known as Dear Nostalgia. Born in the autumn of 1993, and raised in Beirut, her artistic inclination began on a trip to Barcelona where she received her undergraduate degree in creative advertising and branding and a Master's degree in innovation for design. She combines nostalgic, dreamy images with culturally relevant cues, showcasing a visual commentary on modern-day issues. Her work contrasts a retro aesthetic, with bright pop colors, and modern typography, aiming to provide a visual representation of the struggles and aspirations of her generation. “I would describe my work as a recollection of memories in the Middle East. A juxtaposition of vintage and present-day photographs that express and explore my relationship with home, my childhood, and my constant search for identity as a woman in a region of constant turmoil and conflict. My artwork addresses issues related to culture, gender equality, female empowerment, and social and political change in the Middle East, with emphasis on Lebanon,” Adra explained. What the art represents: A pain entrenched in the past and present. A pain I could not stay silent about. A struggle of generations, of land, of our history in the Middle East, that I had to channel. Palestine is our land, our home, it will not be erased. Art is my voice, my revolution, to evoke conversations about the things that matter, and this is a pillar of the importance we must discuss to catalyze change. Norah AlJassar @notnorrah - Illustrator from Kuwait Norah Al Jassar is a self-taught illustrator. Most of her work revolves around the world and events around her. She specializes in modern lettering

Nada Dalloul

Farah Bastaki

[Continued...]

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in both Arabic and English and incorporates them with fun digital art. She loves to do art for the purpose of art. Norah employed this talent in this campaign as she strongly believes in the Palestinian cause. What the art represents: Arriving as a collaboration between Norah, Dr. Abdullah AlAbduljaleel and Teeplus, this project came about when Dr. Abdullah AlAbduljaleel approached Norah with the idea of creating something that they could both work on and sell for charity as they both wanted to help Palestine in the way that they could. They collaborated with a printing company called TeePlus and they helped with printing and shipping the t-shirts to the customers making the collaboration much much easier. Earnings from the campaign went to the Palestine fund at KRCS. Each shirt purchased was a contribution that to help sponsor an impoverished family and put food on their table, or it might buy life- saving medical supplies for a Palestinian kid, or even alleviate the suffering of an elder Palestinian with special needs. Fatemah Dashti @fatemahsthoughts - Illustrator from Kuwait Fatemah Dashti describes her art as an extension of who she is as a person. She works both digitally and uses different mediums such as acrylic paint and oil pastels. Fatemah creates art based on her day-to-day emotions and personal experiences. And she likes to touch on relevant and relatable subjects like mental health, feminism, self-love and self-confidence. Eyes are a constant motif in her art and Fatemah explained that they are a representation of society. Her use of Arabic helps her make sense of her feelings especially in the society she lives in. Her artwork is based between Kuwait and Liverpool, UK. What the art represents: Standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine. ‎..‫تبقى في ضمري العالم‬..‫فلسطني الحبيبة‬ ‫يأبى الشرفاء في العالم إال أن ينتصروا للقضية‬ ‫الفلسطينية والقدس الشريف‬ Shalala @Wadaniart - Cartoonist based in Kuwait Shalala is a cartoonist based in Kuwait. She likes drawing webcomic strips titled "Shalala thoughts" and animated videos about Shalala, her girlfriends and her cat Tuna. What the art represents: Shalala was not inspired, but rather enraged, after she had seen a video taken by Israeli snipers who were targeting two kids that were just standing in the distance. The two soldiers were laughing and adjusting their aim while deciding which kid to target for fun. One says "Just hit that one who's been ducking for an hour" and proceeded to shoot him in the head while laughing. She states, “That clip just hurt my heart so much that I had to draw something about it.” 54

Shalala

Sheikha Al Habshi


MSPA URBAN AURORA MSPA URBAN AURORA ROUND BUBBLE SPA

ROUND BUBBLE SPA

55 [...Continued] AlRai, The Avenues, Souq Sharq, Al-Kout, Boulevard, Promenade


Norah AlJassar

Farah Bastaki @TheBiscuitStudio - Kuwaiti artist and illustrator Farah Bastaki is a Kuwaiti designer & illustrator with a current focus on typography and handlettering. She also makes things and sells them on her online art shop thebiscuitsstudio.com. What the art represents: Simple yet powerful, Farah echoes a statement that is constantly being washed out and ignored by mainstream media, using interesting typography in both English and Arabic to state, “It’s called Palestine.” Nada Dalloul @nadameow - Kuwait based artist and Illustrator Nada is an illustrator and doodler, inspired by the absurdities of humanity. She is currently based in Kuwait. What the art represents: An ode to the rich culture of Palestine, a man and woman are adorned in traditional attire and the Kuffiyeh; a symbol of resistance. The key they are carrying is the key to their house- a popular Palestinian symbol for their right to return to their homeland. Inspired by Palestinian resistance art, particularly the works of Abdul Rahman Al-Muzayen, Nada chose to draw them as older- an homage to the generations before us who set the example of resilience and to commemorate 73 years of the ongoing Nakba.

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Fatemah Dashti


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ELEVATING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY Driving real community change takes grit, with a side of Elevation Burger By bazaar staff

We can all agree that a memorable meal leaves an imprint on one’s mind. For instance, you could close your eyes, and immediately be transported to the very moment you’ve bitten into your first Elevation Burger. It’s sensational. But what happens when this great meal also invokes a sense of endless pride for one’s country and community? Magic. The good people at Elevation Burger strive to deliver a message of hope and togetherness in every step of their operation, considering the local community as the ingredient which matters the most. Commenting on Elevation Burger’s CSR efforts, TABCo CEO Abdulaziz AlTuraiji said, “Our passion for community is a part of who we are as we have always taken steps to enhance, engage and empower society. Youth empowerment, education and creativity are some of our main priorities and the challenging times we are facing have only made us more involved in the betterment of our community.” Let’s take a look at some of Elevation Burger’s community efforts, and how they inspire us to constantly strive to do better ourselves.

Paying tribute to our frontliners with Elevation Burger meals.

Supporting those who matter the most: Our Frontliners Since the start of the pandemic, Elevation Burger did not hesitate to extend a helping hand, wherever they may be needed and without being asked to do so. During last year’s election season, for instance, they distributed meals to healthcare professionals. Elevation Burger also supports frontliners including police officers, firefighters, and Co-Op Volunteers, distributing an estimated 7,000 meals to 20 COOPS and 15 other institutions including hospitals, and vaccination centers. Fueling their efforts, literally and morally, is what keeps frontliners going, as they know no rest, no break and many of them don’t even have the opportunity to go home and be with their families after a long shift of serving and protecting. Driving Civic Engagement to make a difference, one burger at a time Perhaps now, more than ever before, the local community needs to turn up to make a change. With the pressures of the pandemic, feeling a sense of defeat is expected yet counterproductive, but exercising your civic duty is not, as it will make a difference. This is why Elevation Burger decided to proactively get involved when it mattered most, Election Day. AlTuraiji added, “We encourage political

Proud Kuwaiti voters getting their free Elevation Burger Meals. 58


The Elevation Burger team at the opening of the renovated Al Seif Staircase. participation as we believe that it creates a better society for all.” On the day of the last election campaign, Elevation Burger turned up to make a change by offering residents a free meal after they’ve casted their parliamentary vote. This campaign was exceptionally clever, as our favorite burger joint reminded us all about how a shared local responsibility, such as the importance of voting, could be a rewarding act. An astounding 8,000 voters turned up, presented their voting documents, and proceeded to enjoy a well-earned free Elevation Burger meal. We’re pretty sure that this campaign has formed an everlasting imprint in their hearts and the burger they enjoyed on the day tasted infinitely better in their minds. Putting our children first Elevation Burger believes that children should have the best start to live fulfilling lives, and must receive their basic rights of a normal education. They have been avid supporters of the safe re-opening of schools, as they believe it is essential for their mental, social and emotional advancement. Moreover, Elevation Burger believes in the creation of a safe space for children, and they’ve renovated the playground near Qurtuba Coop, and have undertaken the complete renovation of the kids playground at The Hope School for Special Needs by redoing the flooring, repainting toys and so much more. They are also keen on empowering Kuwait’s youth, as their LOYAC Internship Program is going strong. Currently, there are 12 university interns currently working in Elevation Burger’s stores. Breathing new life into our public spaces There’s something so unique about the entire

Al-Seif Strip, and the Elevation Burger in the area is one of our favorite locations to frequent. The steps at Al-Seif have been the scene of many bazaar photoshoots, and we are sure that other creatives have shared the same experiences there. At the same time, we would be remiss not to mention how so many parts of the city have been neglected. This is why we were amazed when Elevation Burger sponsored the efforts of Kuwaiti Architect Mai Al Busairi and the Kuwaiti artist Sultan Al Samhan in the renovation of the Al Seif Staircase. The project’s aims were to create a communal space for people to gather, commemorate the past and build a better future together. The end result is beyond beautiful, a mere footsteps away from Elevation Burger’s Al Seif location for everyone to admire and to enjoy. ‫تاخذ نصي‬ If you’re feeling a sense of isolation in the midst of this draining pandemic, know that you are not alone. “‫ ”تاخذ نصي‬is Elevation Burger’s first ad campaign, and it was launched at the right time to remind people that they were never alone. The cinematic ad took social media by storm, driving so many comments where people shared their experiences of curfews and lockdown. It successfully highlighted the importance of human connection, showcasing relatable scenarios, like tuning in to the daily press conference from the Ministry of Health, the challenges of distance learning, to drawing a bittersweet smile on peoples’ faces when one scene showed a man filling his shopping cart with onions. With “‫” تاخذ نصي‬, Elevation Burger reminded us that our experiences of last year and this year were never solitary, as the entire community has had to burden an

Hope School Playground Renovation.

unprecedented situation, and that we can only move forward together. For Elevation Burger, giving back to the community isn’t simply a matter of stating the importance of having several initiatives, but it is also about acting on beliefs that will make a difference, big and small. For more information, visit TABCo. Food’s website tabcofood.com and stay tuned to Elevation Burger’s updates on Twitter and Instagram @ElevationKW. 59


H&M LAUNCHES NEW MENS SWIM LINE AND IT’S MADE USING WASTE! By bazaar staff

Here’s to days well spent at the beach! With many beach chalet days ahead, it’s time to stock up on summer essentials, and for the first time, you can do this with a sustainable twist! For summer 2021, H&M is releasing swimwear for men made from 100% recycled shell materials.

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Proving that sustainable doesn’t have to be boring, the colorful swimshorts are made of recycled polyester and recycled polyamide. This season’s swimshort styles will be a mix of solid colors in black, pale pastels and bright neon colors – hinting to the fun and vibrant looks of the 80’s.

This swimwear is a really important step forward in H&M’s ongoing sustainability work, as it is made from recycled polyamide and recycled polyester (or recycled materials). By using these materials, H&M is optimizing the use of waste materials that otherwise would risk ending up in landfills and our oceans.

H&M’s swimwear collection is out now and available in stores and online at kw.hm.com and the H&M MENA APP with prices starting from KD 6.000. 60


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STAYING ON TOP OF THINGS

How to avoid falling behind on massive projects By Art Markman

When you’re working on a big project, it’s easy to get behind. With the best of intentions, you set a deadline for completing your work, only to find that you can’t keep to the schedule. Either you end up having to push back the completion date or finishing it in a mad rush of caffeine-fueled late nights.

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There are three primary reasons why you have trouble getting these projects finished on time, and each one has some specific solutions. Who knew this report could be so complicated? One of the biggest sources of delay in projects is that you start out a project by thinking primarily about the big picture. When writing a report, you focus on the document that must be written. When preparing a presentation for a client, you might think about the slide deck. What you often miss is the amount of additional work that goes into each step of that process. Writing a report might involve gathering data from several sources, putting it into a spreadsheet, and doing an analysis, all to write a single paragraph. You may also need to ensure that the report is formatted and that you obtain any images you need for it. These additional steps only become obvious when you start digging into the details of the project. As you develop your timeline for a project, it’s important to turn the general statement of what you’re trying to accomplish into a detailed list of the specific tasks that need to be completed before it is done. Once you have that list, you can do a better job of estimating the amount of 62

time each step will require so that your overall timeline will reflect a reasonable estimate of what is required for the final product. Even after you have that schedule, you should still leave a little extra time in it to account for things you may have missed or estimates of completion times that are too rosy. The journey of a thousand miles A second problem is that it can be daunting to get started on a significant project. Many people I know want to write books. The difficulty they have is that a book is a large document. Not only that, but before you start writing, that book has infinite possibility. The entire project can seem impossible both because of the scope and because it will invariably fail to meet your expectations in some way. To overcome these obstacles, you must first focus not on the magnitude of what you’re trying to accomplish, but just on the first task in front of you. Make that task manageable. Don’t sit down to write a book. Sit down to write a paragraph (or a sentence). Often, when I am at the front end of a new book project, I start by writing several short articles on the topic that the book will eventually be about. Each of those articles can serve as a

starting point for a section of that book project. But, there’s still plenty of time Even if you do everything suggested so far, you may still have trouble engaging with a big project. The final deadline is likely to be a long way off, and so working on the project may not have the level of urgency needed for the project to take precedence over other things you could be doing. If you’re the kind of person who needs a push, then you need to find a way to get energized to work on early parts of the project, even when you know that there is a lot of time until the final product has to be completed. One thing you should do is set specific deadlines for components of the project and focus on those interim deadlines rather than on the final deadline. That way, you are focused on deadlines in the nearer term rather than on something far off. That strategy works for many people, though some will feel like they are just playing a trick on themselves and won’t be motivated by what they consider to be a “fake” deadline. The ultimate aim is to make slow and steady progress on significant projects, rather than feeling like you have to do a rushed job late in the game.


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VOCABULARY MATTERS

10 words and phrases to stop saying By Stephanie Vozza

It’s probably safe to say that few people were sad to leave the “unprecedented” 2020 behind. While it provided a new perspective on life in general, it also left a lasting impact on many of the words we chose in our communications. The year minimized and diminished our choices, and it’s important not to go into the future with a vocabulary that perpetuates the experience, says Terre Short, leadership coach and author of The Words We Choose: Your Guide to How and Why Words Matter. “Choosing the right words has never been more important,” she says. “With racial injustice, and a struggle with truth and reality and a lack thereof, we’re more in tune with each other than before. By leaving diminishing words behind and choosing words that are more impactful and inspirational, we can change outcomes, creating a much more hopeful, proactive path forward.” To provide guidance, Short created a list of 10 words and phrases to leave behind: If “If” casts doubt and is vague; it can easily be replaced with “when” in most circumstances. “We spent 2020 wondering if we would ever do certain things again, like be in a crowd, shake hands, or hug,” says Short. “We will do those things, and we must start speaking in terms of when. ‘If’ comes from a place of burden and apprehensiveness. ‘When’ is hopeful. We had enough uncertainty in 2020 to last many years. It’s time for us to be certain.” I Think Using a justifier like “I think” introduces uncertainty. For example, a leader may tell their team, “I think we’ll be doing better in the next quarter.” “Leaders are getting paid to know,” says Short. “When we say ‘I think,’ we insert doubt and suggest a lack of confidence, knowledge, and ownership. Remove ‘I think’ and proceed with whatever comes next. You project more confidence when you own the message.”

Should or Have To When you choose words such as “should,” you suggest an obligation or burden, says Short. “We usually say this to ourselves,” she says. “For example, ‘I should do this.’ ‘Have to’ is similar. Instead, use the phrase ‘I get to.’ It comes from a place of gratitude for the effort and moves away from the burden.” Might People want clarity and accountability, and adding the word “might” in your messaging does not provide either, says Short. “It reminds me of Yoda saying, ‘Do or do not. There is no try,’” she says. “‘Might’ comes from a place of apprehension. Consider why that is. If your apprehension serves no purpose, step into a more assertive word choice, such as ‘I will’ or “We will.’”

Just “Just” is the great minimizer when used as an adverb, says Short. It means “barely” or “only,” especially when you’re referring to yourself or your position. “‘Just’ brings no value to a description,” she says. “Saying ‘I’m just the administrative assistant’ nicks away at your sense of self and minimizes your contribution in the eyes of another person.”

Pretty “Pretty” is another adverb that diminishes your message and is unnecessary. For example, you might say, “I’m pretty sure we will hit that goal.” “We need to get beyond hedging,” says Short. “If you are unsure, you are better off clarifying the degree of uncertainty instead. Say, ‘I’m 75% certain we will hit our goal.’”

Enough While there are times when enough is okay, we don’t need to settle for sufficiency. We need experiences where we’re busting out beyond enough. “‘Enough’ offers a sense of mediocrity, meeting in the middle,” says Short. “It limits you, and now can’t be about that. We want more than enough.”

But The word “but” derails a message and severs whatever comes before it. Replace “but” with a better joiner—”and.” “When I offer ‘and,’ I’m extending the conversation and moving forward collaboratively,” says Short. “‘And’ means we are moving together in a positive direction.”

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There’s nothing I can do about it When you use this phrase, you are throwing up your hands and choosing to be a victim. Resilience, on the other hand, is finding what you can control and reframing a situation. “In 2020, we learned we were capable of reframing just about anything, from how we work to where we work,” says Short. “When you say, ‘There’s nothing I can do about it,’ you insert a lack of control. Instead, focus on what you can do.” You don’t understand When you tell someone, “You don’t understand,” you limit access and openness to another perspective. “We’ve all had our own unique past experiences, or you may think you know better,” says Short. “This phrase serves no purpose. Instead, move forward and open up to the potential that exists. Invite another person’s perspective. It’s our collective understanding and experiences that can propel us forward.” Removing the Words Recognize yourself in any of these words and phrases? Short recommends choosing the top two or three that are part of your lexicon and commit to leaving them behind. “It may result in a little stuttering and stopping yourself as your talk,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to practice a pause. It slows you down. We could all use a little more pausing. When you are intentional with your word choices, you abandon the minimizing and limiting of your potential and represent yourself as confident and certain. You can inspire others.” Photo by Alexandra on Unsplash.


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POWERFUL

PRADO

A roaring engine that powers a sophisticated drive The Prado doesn’t need an introduction. The powerful SUV has tamed city streets and offroads equally. The new 2021 Prado has a powerfully enhanced drive, advanced technological specifications and highly developed safety systems. A sophisticated two-step design combined with outward reaching chrome bars and openings on the sidewalls, underlines the way the car fuses sheer muscularity with breathtaking looks. The dashboard is modern and attractive, while new smart features have been added to make everything seamless and easy to do. The Prado’s 6 cylinder V6 engine pumps out an impressive 271hp. So whether you’re off-roading or on the open road, you have all the get-go you could need. Smart safety features like the Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) controls braking force to each individual wheel, depending on conditions and load distribution, helping to prevent skidding to ensure the car stops in the shortest distance possible. It is roomy and spacious, perfect for large families or the active individual who wants to discover the desert, as well as the CEO driving to their next board meeting.


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Schedule a test drive today to find out for yourself why the Prado is a dream behind the wheel. Visit toyota.com.kw, call 1803803, or follow @toyotakw on Instagram.


ARMY OF THE DEAD’S TEMPERATURE GUN

Netflix’s ‘Army of the Dead’ reminds us that we’re not yet post-pandemic By Joe Berkowitz

All manner of guns go off throughout Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder’s turbo-charged sophomore zombie romp, streaming today on Netflix. The gun that may hit viewers the hardest, however, is the one that’s least lethal: a temperature gun.

Zombies can famously only be killed through brain trauma, so most of the film’s guns are aimed at once-human heads. But unlike that rather rare-inreal-life circumstance, many viewers of this film will have actually had a temperature gun aimed at their heads at some point in the past 14 months. (Some of us quite frequently!) Seeing that unfortunately now-common occurrence depicted onscreen here, in the first major zombie movie of the COVID era (apart from South Korea’s Peninsula), will bring home the parallels of an undead plague and a garden-variety one in ways that older zombie movies simply can’t. Army of the Dead is the latest chapter in the “of the Dead” series established by zombie godhead George Romero, and updated by future DC franchise savior/saboteur Snyder with 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake. The plot concerns a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, which is quashed early on in the film in a stylish and inventive, all-hellbreaks-loose sequence, at the expense of the city’s inhabitability. From there we cut to an unspecified number of years later, when the United States is all

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set to hit the walled-off city with a low-yield tactical nuke. Before that can happen, though, Dave Bautista’s character is tasked with leading a ragtag team into the Z-zone for a classic Vegas heist. Call it Oceans (of Blood) Eleven. What’s fascinating about this setup is, unlike most other zombie movies, this one takes place mostly after a close brush with the apocalypse, in a world on the brink of returning to normalcy. Sure enough, Army of the Dead is being released just over a week after the CDC loosened its restrictions on mask-wearing because so much of the U.S. is vaccinated and ready to get back to the business of normal life. Although COVID-19 didn’t seem quite as much an extinction-level threat as zombies for long, it still feels somewhat miraculous to feel the pandemic begin to recede into the rearview, like the characters in this film after the opening sequence. But just like those characters, we may also be getting ahead of ourselves. That temperature gun mentioned up top is a fixture in the film’s Vegas-bordering quarantine camp, a minor burden the residents must endure

that has the feel of an unnecessary formality. Kind of like having to wear a mask into a restaurant before taking it off at the table, despite being vaccinated. Of course, just as a zombie outbreak is never as contained as it may seem, America’s COVID-19 victory lap is premature as well. Our corner of the world isn’t even in the clear yet, despite how it may feel on the ground sometimes, while in other areas such as India, the pandemic is still rampaging. Experts are even warning we could go right back “to square one.” Zombie films have always been outstanding trojan horses for unsubtle messages—about conformity, consumerism, the military industrial complex, and any number of other concepts over the years. This time, however, the call is coming from outside of the house. Snyder never meant for his film, which went into production in July 2019, to have a pandemic message baked into it, but alas, one exists: Never take a reprieve from a plague for granted, but always remember that it may only be a temporary one.


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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IS STAYING

This is an important conversation By Mark Debus

Over the last year and a half, people around the world have experienced collective trauma inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost everyone has some relation to COVID-19, directly and indirectly, from contracting the virus or losing a loved one, to wearing masks and experiencing social distancing restrictions. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) latest announcement about fully vaccinated individuals no longer needing to wear masks in most circumstances is a step in the right direction, many might feel anxious about returning to normalcy after this unprecedented era. With feelings of isolation and many lacking in-person interactions, our society will need to place higher emphasis on mental health to resume normalcy in a post-pandemic world. During times of crisis, important societal issues and trends become more apparent. After September 11, Americans suffered a deep and public trauma that lingered months and years after the attacks, even for those indirectly affected by this event. The mental trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded in a similarly public and universally felt way while the profound isolation and loneliness we have experienced brings us into a new kind of shared experience. The next wave of the mental health crisis The pandemic had a pronounced impact on mental health. There are two key issues to watch for in the future: possible post-traumatic stress disorder (or other trauma-related symptoms) and the impact of isolation and feelings of loneliness over a long period of time. It is important to prepare for the potential mental and emotional transition for people directly impacted by COVID-19 as they may struggle to come to terms with this new normal. According to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had a prevalence of 30.2% among acute COVID-19 infection survivors. This is not surprising, and we will likely see more PTSD cases especially in those who experienced severe symptoms resulting in hospitalizations or those considered “long haulers.” It is a normal response for patients with life-threatening diseases to experience trauma-related disorders during a serious hospitalization, and the same seems to be true for severe COVID-19 case, as well. Mental health is also a top concern for those who were indirectly affected by the virus. There has been an increase in substance abuse across the country since the onset of the pandemic as well as a concern that suicide rates may also increase. Feelings of loss, grief, and isolation are more common than before, due to a lack of physical human connection and socialization. As we look towards healing as a society from this collective trauma, mental health will need to remain a top priority for all individuals during this time of transition. Stress-reducing solutions Anxiety in social situations after a pandemic is a normal response. Rest assured, you are not alone. Questions about workplace safety, indoor

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meetings, social distancing protocols, office layout, as well as the vaccination status of friends and coworkers are all top of mind when slowly reintegrating to normal life. On a personal level, self-awareness and self-care will be important to maintaining positive mental health in a post-pandemic world. Turn off your screens two hours before bed to reduce mental stimulation and promote better sleep, set a limit on how much time you spend consuming news and social media each day (use a tracking app to help with sticking to allotted times), monitor your substance and alcohol use, and reach out to loved ones to reconnect and check in. Shifting some of your focus towards other people and providing assistance helps build stronger connections with them. There are many ways to carve out time to relax, and this will look different for everyone. If you are looking for resources, there are free apps for meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness techniques, all which can help calm your mind and promote stress relief. Above all, being kind to both yourself and others will help you feel more connected and mentally prepared to return to work and everyday life.

Virtual therapy and the future of mental health care The teletherapy genie is now out of the bottle, and there are no signs of telemedicine returning to pre-pandemic levels soon. While the industry was already moving in this direction, the pandemic accelerated the boom of teletherapy by years. As we move forward into this next chapter, now is the time to prioritize mental health and identify supportive resources so we can be prepared for the adjustment struggles in the coming months. Taking a step back and finding comfort in situations that have not been experienced in a long time, such as not wearing a mask in public, will be important steps while readjusting to a post-pandemic world. Being kind to one another and understanding individual boundaries will create a smoother transition to this new normal where mental health awareness needs to be at the center of social activity to heal from this collective trauma, together.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.


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Step into a world of inimitable dining experiences at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya.

SINTOHO AND DAI FORNI RESTAURANTS REOPEN THEIR DOORS WITH A CELEBRATION AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ ALSHAYA By bazaar staff

Missed dining out? Make your first meal out an experience to remember! We’ve missed the ritual of being pampered with amazing food and service, and now that restaurants are back, we are going to make sure that our first culinary experience back out in the world is one to remember at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya. Not one, but two of the Hotel’s signature eateries make a welcome return to the Kuwait dining scene, re-emerging with elevated experiences for the summer season and beyond.

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Spectacular rooftop views with Asian dining vibes from Sintoho Restaurant.

Executive Chef Sebastiano Spriveri.

Sintoho and Dai Forni restaurants at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya reopened last month welcoming back guests and foodies from the city’s discerning dining community. Leading an energized culinary team across both of the Hotel’s rooftop dining destinations is Executive Chef Sebastiano Spriveri. “We are thrilled to be welcoming our friends back,” smiles Chef, referring to restaurant patrons who have frequented Sintoho and Dai Forni since the Hotel’s celebrated opening in 2017. “My team is excited and ready to get back to delivering exceptional dining experiences again” he remarks, pointing to the unwavering passion and commitment of his colleagues across the two restaurants. Already having established the Hotel’s 21st floor eateries as amongst the most respected in the city, Spriveri intends to build on the recent momentum gained by Sintoho’s Asian concept and the truly authentic Italian experience that Dai Forni delivers. “I can’t wait to showcase some new dishes in the menus. I like to think that we have added a little more depth to the dining experience on offer in both locations,” he adds. “I’m particularly excited about Sintoho, which has a great energy and has been growing in popularity as we have evolved the concept,” points out Chef, alluding to the increased popularity of the Asian rooftop’s stellar menu of favorites including Rock Popcorn Prawns and Stone Pot Rice with Wagyu Beef Ribs. Sintoho Recently celebrated for its reimagined menu and sophisticated evening ambience that has captivated diners from the city’s competitive dining scene, there is no doubt that Sintoho welcomes back diners with an elevated dining experience on offer.

Panoramic views and an elegant ambience with signature Italian flavors at Dai Forni Restaurant.

[Continued...]

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Visit Dai Forni Restaurant to sample the finest wood-fired pizza using the highest quality ingredients.

The famous Rock Popcorn Prawns at Sintoho Restaurant.

Tantalize your senses with Sintoho’s mooncake with peach and vanilla ice cream, pink guava and peach salad, garnished with Thai basil.

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[...Continued]

Panoramic city views set the scene for a lively meal at the Hotel’s rooftop hot spot. Signature flavors originate from the restaurant’s robata grill, sushi counter and teppanyaki station, producing a plethora of ever-popular dishes that combine perfectly into an Asian feast ideal for sharing. Firm-favorites such as Black Cod and Signature Peking Duck, combine with an eclectic range of sharing dishes like sushi, sashimi, bao, tacos and sliders that makes a dining experience at Sintoho one of conviviality and culinary discovery. The menu is complemented by stunning dessert options, including the new favourite of frozen mooncake served with peach and vanilla ice cream, pink guava and peach salad, garnished with Thai basil. Dai Forni Offering spectacular views from the 21st floor, fine Italian dining and the unique sophisticated style of Dai Forni combine to create the perfect environment for any occasion. Under the leadership of Sicilian-born Chef Sebastiano Spriveri, it is no wonder that Dai Forni’s “true-toconcept” offering has made it a regular spot for many loyal guests. Returning patrons can rest assured that old favourites will return, as well as new season dishes such as the “Tagliolini al doppio uovo”, handmade angel hair pasta with butter and thyme emulsion and black truffle shavings. For meat lovers, Chef has introduced the imaginative “Costolette di agnello”, Australian lamb chops served with broccolini, buffalo mozzarella and an arrabiata sauce. Meanwhile, impressive wood-fired pizza ovens continue to produce outstanding Italian classics with more imaginative alternatives such as the “Parmigiana” (tomato sauce, fried eggplants, buffalo mozzarella, aged Parmesan cheese, basil leaves) all sharing the kitchen’s deeprooted passion for using only the highest quality ingredients and authentic preparation methods. Sintoho and Dai Forni are situated on the 21st Floor of Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya. For more information or to make a reservation, call or WhatsApp 2200-6000 or email reservations.kuw@fourseasons.com and check out @FSKuwait on Instagram.


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THE PLANTING WON’T SAVE US

We can’t plant our way out of the climate crisis By Adele Peters

There were once around 6 trillion trees on the planet; now, thanks to human civilization, there are around half that number. Reversing that trend is a key pillar in the fight against climate change. And for companies and countries aiming to use carbon offsets for net-zero emissions, planting more trees can seem like an obvious option. Trees capture carbon, and planting them is a relatively cheap way to fight climate change. But there’s also a risk: Many of those trees might not survive, and could end up adding to emissions themselves.

“I think the emphasis on planting trees is risky or even a misplaced dream unless we first put priority on reducing or halting climate change, because the trees are going to be stressed— they are getting stressed now,” says Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan and one of the authors of an op-ed in Science arguing that the world needs to rethink how much we rely on tree planting as a climate solution. Vegetation is being stressed by climate change “in ways that are increasingly unprecedented,” he says. In California, hundreds of millions of trees died in the last drought, after a combination of heat, lack of rain, and attacks from pests, and then many burned in the record-breaking wildfires in 2020. In Australia, millions of acres of forest burned in 2019 and 2020, emitting more CO2 than the rest of the economy combined. Zombie fires are burning forests in Siberia now. Even in areas where large wildfires aren’t common now, such as Michigan, climate change is killing some trees. “Part of the story is the same thing as in the west: Trees are getting stressed out by the warmth,” Overpeck says. “And because 80

they’re stressed, they can’t fight the diseases as much.” Hotter temperatures dry out soils faster, and dry out plants. The changing climate also means that some species are no longer growing in the right place to survive. There’s a risk, then, that trees that are newly planted in a forest might end up dying from disease or burning in a fire. “When you get these large wildfires, of course, you’re converting carbon that’s in vegetation—and often in soil that’s accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years—you’re converting that carbon to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” he says. “You’re also putting soot into the atmosphere, which is dark colored, and therefore also acts to warm, just like greenhouse gases. And that’s accelerating the climate change that is stressing the vegetation out.” (In other cases, tree planting projects might happen so haphazardly that even without the added stresses of climate change, the trees are unlikely to make it.) Any trees that are planted need to be planted carefully—like a project in Paradise, California, where species have been chosen to have the best chance of surviving in a hotter, drier climate,

and planted in a way to minimize the likelihood of spreading fire later. But there also needs to be much more done to protect existing forests and to study new ways to help them survive, Overpeck says. In another example in California, some trees are being thinned out in forests to reduce fire risk and then converted into biochar, a material that can be put back in the soil to sequester carbon. Companies and countries should focus on directly cutting emissions rather than relying on trees for offsets. “It’s an easy way out to plant trees instead of making the harder choice to limit greenhouse gases,” he says. “You have a lot of folks say, ‘well, our best way to fight climate change is to plant more trees,’” he says. “Or to buy carbon offsets for these existing forests. And we’re saying, ‘whoa, wait a minute. That’s okay. But the first thing we have to do is we have to stop the damn climate change that is stressing out these forests.’ Because the carbon isn’t safe.”

Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash.


B O L D F L AV O R S . AU THENTIC RECIPES. The Plaza, The Avenues • Al Kout Mall • Sidra Restaurants, Mahboula • Gulf Road, Salmiya

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THE LIFE JOURNEY OF A FERRARI

From production to achieving its legendary status, discover peace of mind with Ferrari’s Aftersales Programs By bazaar staff

When it comes to the superior performance of the cars that he built, Enzo Ferrari was clear, simply stating; “They have more horsepower, and they don’t break down.” As a tribute to this vision, Ferrari is committed to ensuring that every single car remains in the same pristine condition that it was delivered in, no matter whether 5,10, 15, or 20 years after its production in Maranello. 82


Each of the world-renowned Ferrari Aftersales programs offer clients the utmost peace of mind, guaranteeing their much-loved Ferrari is always as good as the day it was driven off the production line. With the exception of limitededition models, the ownership experience of a Ferrari always comes with an exclusive sevenyear maintenance contract in addition to the standard three-year contractual warranty, setting an unprecedented standard throughout the industry for customer care. This peace of mind is provided through the Genuine Maintenance program which offers a tailored service for every car and is extended to any subsequent owner during the car’s first seven-year period. Checks are scheduled annually, or every 20,000km, and are performed by highly qualified technicians who have been extensively trained at the Ferrari Training Centre in Maranello using factory-approved dedicated diagnostic equipment. Nobody knows the unique characteristics of the various Prancing Horse models better than them. The costs of labor, original replacement parts, lubricants, engine oil and brake fluid are all covered under this unrivalled program. Following the expiration of the first threeyear warranty, Ferrari presents the option of subscribing to the NewPower15 extended warranty program. This makes Ferrari the first marque to offer warranty cover of up to 15 years or 90,000km after the car is registered. The NewPower15 program is offered on a yearly basis and can be renewed for an extra three years after the NewPower15 contract has expired. The NewPower15 warranty programs cover the vehicle’s main mechanical components, including the engine, gearbox, PTU, suspension and steering. Ferrari cars are a manifestation of Enzo Ferrari’s vision of innovation, and that innovation isn’t only limited to the cars, but also extends

to class-leading aftersales services. Ferrari offers an all-new extended warranty and service program called MainPower. MainPower is a service offered to customers who, at the end of the seven-year Genuine Maintenance program, wish to extend their service and warranty contracts. In essence, MainPower is a combination of Ferrari’s industryleading NewPower15 and Ordinary Maintenance programs. The warranty coverage of the program is identical to that of NewPower15 with the addition of the tried-and-tested seven-year Genuine Maintenance service program. For a few selected Ferrari models like the Ferrari California, 458 Italia, 458 Spider and FF, MainPower completely replaces the NewPower15 programs. Ferrari Genuine also includes an accessories division, which is solely aimed at making the experience of owning a Ferrari extremely personalized and unique. Ferrari Genuine accessories offer a wide variety of Ferrari products and kits specifically designed to make each Ferrari special and unique to its owner. These products include interior carbon fiber trims and inserts, infotainment systems, battery conditioners, AFS headlights, and many more. Last but not least is the new Ferrari Premium program. The maintenance program, called “Ferrari Premium”, is a new program exclusively developed to safeguard the efficiency, reliability and market value of Ferrari cars. The program enables the customer to replace components that wear out with time. Using only original Ferrari components, highly specialized technicians from the official Ferrari Service Network service the car over the course of the years during which the customer is a member of the program. Members of the program are provided with a Ferrari Premium Certificate, and the right to facilitated access to Ferrari Classiche certification. The program is extended to owners of the

360 Modena, 599 GTB Fiorano, F430, 612 Scaglietti, 612 Scaglietti Sessanta, 612 One to One, 456 GT/GTA, 456M GT/GTA, 550 Maranello, 550 Barchetta, 575 Maranello, 575 Superamerica, 599 GTO, 599 SA Aperta and Enzo. Ferrari Premium completes the wide range of official services that Ferrari offers after a customer purchases a car, guaranteeing continuity over the first 20 years of the car’s life and providing facilitated access to Ferrari Classiche certification, thus offering Ferrari car owners a comprehensive and fully-exclusive service. The Classiche certification maintains a classic Ferrari and makes it more than simply a collectors’ car. It is a testimony to Ferrari’s heritage, and each model represents the pinnacle of road-car engineering of its era. When you own a Ferrari, the most important aspect is originality. Since 2003, Ferrari has provided factory support for the collector car world, introducing a program that testifies to the authenticity of cars over 20 years of age and supplying a comprehensive range of services dedicated to the preservation of these historically significant motor vehicles. All restoration work carried out by Ferrari Classiche is underpinned by in-depth research using Ferrari’s production archive, a treasure trove of invaluable technical information on every car built at the factory. This extensive archive allows us to offer our classic car clients a Certificate of Authenticity or an Attestation for vehicles of historic interest, and to supply all major mechanical components manufactured to the original specifications.

For more information, please visit the official Ferrari Showroom in Kuwait- Kuwait Automobile & Trading Co located in Al-Rai, on the 4th Ring Road, visit safat.ferraridealers.com or follow them on Instagram @ferrarialzayanikuwait.

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MOTIVATIONAL FAILURE

3 ways you can turn fear of failure into motivation By Brendan Keegan

We’ve all experienced the fear of failure whether in business, relationships or with personal goals, That doesn’t mean we all look at it the same way, though. Some of us associate it with the consequences of failing. We stress that we won’t get the job we want, or that we won’t measure up to someone’s expectations—and those may be our own. But there’s another way to look at the fear of failure, and the stress and anxiety that inevitably come with it. We can remember that these feelings have been the source of some of the world’s most impressive achievements, as well as a fundamental factor in the ability of humans to thrive, both individually and collectively. We can choose to see the fear of failure, in other words, as an opportunity. On April 13th of 1970, Jack Swigert uttered the now-famous words, “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” As if attempting to visit the moon wasn’t difficult enough, Swigert and the rest of the crew of Apollo 13 now had a serious mechanical failure on their hands. It’s safe to assume that everyone on the other end of that radio transmission, working from inside NASA’s command center on the ground, felt a knot rise up in their stomach. This wasn’t just the fear of any failure, either, but the failure of years of hard work, millions of dollars, and most importantly, of bringing the three astronauts aboard home safely. Of course, we now know that no one involved let fear stop them. Instead of giving up or being paralyzed by doubt, they channeled their fear into the greatest creative problem-solving exercise to ever take place, devising and engineering solutions for a crisis happening over 200,000 miles above Earth’s surface. One takeaway from the story is that overcoming fear is good, but leveraging it for our own benefit is even better. Fortunately, there are some actionable steps we can take in order to accomplish that. Assess the entire situation It’s a good idea to acknowledge your fear. Treat it as real and valid, and accept it as yours. There is some reason you feel this way, even if you don’t fully understand it, so you don’t need to try and hide it away. The other major thing to include in your assessment is any kind of objective data you can get your hands on. Intuition is important, but it’s not always enough to counteract self-doubt. So instead, try to separate feelings from facts. Is what you’re scared of actually something worth worrying about, or is it part of a story you’re telling yourself? Decide what you’re going to do about it Does your fear of failure relate to something imminent? Is it possible to face up to it today, or at least in the near future? If so, consider bumping it up to the top of your to-do list. Either way—even if 84

it’s something farther out—you’re going to need a plan of action. Plans can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing on their own, so it’s usually helpful to be very detailed with them. If building motivation is your goal, then you want to remove as many barriers as you can. Vague plans like: “I’m going to get a job,” will often leave you stranded. Detailed ones such as: “I’m going to build my resume tomorrow, then apply to one job every single day,” leave little question about what your next step should be. Commit Committing to something can be a powerful action on its own. If you’ve always wanted to run a marathon but are scared you can’t finish it, for example, then you can make the switch from fear to motivation by signing up and paying your entry fee in advance. Taking that action equates to putting fear in its place and focusing on your goal instead. At this point, you’ve already countered your fear with rationality and you’ve already come up with a strategy for achieving what you want. Much of the hard work is done. If you just stick to that plan by following through with action—feel free to incentivize the step-by-step process if it helps— then your motivation will take care of itself. Embracing failure It’s been said (and written) many times before, but there is also immense benefit in having the right

attitude toward failures when they do come and respecting the process even when it doesn’t net the outcome you were hoping for. It’s no accident that hugely successful companies like Pixar emphasize the value of being wrong within the larger process of getting things right. It’s a matter of “getting on the right side of failure.” In other words, stop looking at the negative side of failing and start looking at the positive. The more you focus on what’s wrong, the more that will become your reality. And, the same goes for focusing on what’s right. Instead of letting past failures feed your fears, practice changing your mindset to a positive one. Use these two questions to help make any failure into a learning experience: Did I do everything in my power not to fail? How could I have been better prepared to handle this situation? The bottom line is that fear can hurt us or help us. In a way, it’s designed to do both. How we look at it, respond to it, and incorporate it in our journey is largely a personal choice, however. When we take a logical and proactive approach to fear and failure, it can empower us to reach the stars—or at the very least the moon.

Photo by the blowup on Unsplash.


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SHUT IT DOWN

Doing this one thing with my computer at night helps me be more productive all day By Lindsay Smith

When’s the last time you actually turned your computer off instead of putting it to sleep? I’m not sure I have since the ’90s— that is, until a few weeks ago. Now I turn it off every night, and it’s been life changing.

I’ve been on a path of productivity improvements recently, and one of the things I’ve been doing is reflecting on how things are right now. I have a fantastic work journal that I use to log wins, lessons, and improvements I make each week. A few weeks ago, I had a long weekend. I randomly decided to shut my computer off before I left work on Friday. When I came in on Tuesday, I noticed a different feeling starting up my day. I felt fresher and clearer than I had in weeks. I sat and reflected with my journal on why that was. It could have been my longer break, but I really felt like it was the fresh start on my computer. No apps open from last week, no open tab chaos in Chrome, no Slack messages lingering, no baggage. My incredible coach, Latesha Byrd, taught me that starting my day playing catch-up was likely affecting my mood and productivity. The first thing I used to do at the start of my day was catch up on Slack. This made me feel behind before I even started. I couldn’t help but wonder: Did shutting my computer down help offset that feeling? So I tried it again that night. Before I left my desk at the end of the day, I closed all of my apps and shut down my computer. The next day, I had the same feeling. That fresh start, anything is possible, clear headspace. It was magic. I wasn’t starting my day exactly

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where I left it. Instead, I was starting the day with a new perspective and a blank canvas of endless possibilities. I did it for the whole week. I was so productive. Why it worked I’m a morning productivity person. Shutting down my computer meant I was no longer wasting my burst of a.m. energy on catch-up and yesterday’s problems. Instead, I was riding that energy to complete a new task or think on a new problem. I also noticed that shutting down my computer feels a bit like shutting down my work brain. If my computer is on and everything is open, I might be tempted to pop in and check on work after hours. Shutting it down gives me permission not to think about work until tomorrow when I turn that computer on again. Automating the habit This is a new habit I’ll definitely keep doing, so I created some workflows to make it easier. I use an Alfred workflow to quickly close all of my open apps (if you shut down a Mac with your apps open, they’ll be there the next day to haunt you still) and shut down my computer. I also created a workflow to start up my day with all the essential apps I need to get going.

Shut it down When I was a kid, I remember my mum yelling at me to shut down the family computer and come and eat dinner. You’d never leave the computer switched on— it would be a shocking waste of electricity. Much the same as leaving the TV on without watching it. Plus, the computer would probably blow up if you left it on too long (or at least the noisy fans in the PC tower would make you feel like it would). When I was older and at college, I might leave my computer on overnight so I could quickly start work in the morning or download a film while I was asleep. Even so, after a while, I’d have to shut it down or it would start getting slow. Something about the magic of turning the computer off would give everything a reset, and your computer would get back up to speed. Now, in a world of 24/7 internet access, technology convergence, and an on-demand culture, we rarely turn off our devices. At the movies, we switch our phones to silent; on flights, we turn on airplane mode; and at night, we put our laptops to sleep. But just because you can leave your computer turned on doesn’t mean you should. Remember: your computer is a tool. Shutting mine down every day reminds me of that and allows me to stop working when it’s time. Try it out yourself. Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash.


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H&M X BROCK COLLECTION

H&M TEAMS UP WITH LA-BASED BROCK COLLECTION FOR A ROMANTIC YET SOPHISTICATED WOMENSWEAR COLLABORATION By bazaar staff

H&M announced a collaboration with the LA-based women’s brand Brock Collection. The focus is on modern romance — approachable opulence mixed with streetwise ease and a hint of past decades. Country florals, tie-up shoulder straps and corset-like details emphasize the craftsmanship, while the feminine silhouettes and contrast with denim pieces are flattering and exude a city edge. Exactly the aesthetic we love in the hottest months of the year. The range of charming dresses, separates, denim and accessories are made from more sustainable materials.

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Founded in 2014 by Laura Vassar and Kristopher Brock, Brock Collection are known for a sophisticated yet down-to-earth aesthetic, vintagestyle pieces and emphasis on craft and cut. The pair met in New York City while attending Parsons School of Design and after launching the label, relocated to Los Angeles. The collaboration features signature Brock Collection pieces, a softly romantic yet city-ready range of dresses, blouses, tops, denim jeans and denim shorts, plus shoes, jewelry, handbags and sunglasses. Fitted shapes and dreamy ruffle details effortlessly mingle with flowing fabrics, voluminous skirts and statement balloon sleeves. The color palette consists of black, pale pinks, offwhite, cream and washed denim. The collection is made from more sustainable materials – organic linen, organic cotton, recycled cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel Lyocell. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Brock Collection, who are well-known for their luxe craftsmanship, impeccable fits and structures, and have quite the celebrity following. But there’s also beauty in the fact that their designs always

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feel down-to-earth, thoughtful and easy to wear — I believe that’s the key to their success. We want to celebrate romance and make it accessible to the many. By adding more sustainable materials, it creates for a collaboration I hope our customers around the world will fall in love with,” says Maria Östblom, Head of Design at H&M. “Brock Collection has always been about connecting the threads between uptown polish paired with a down to earth ease, which we are so happy to bring to a new audience. Each piece in the collection is special and carries a certain romantic charm, but is totally effortless,” says Laura Vassar and Kristopher Brock, Designers and Co-Founders of Brock Collection To celebrate the launch of the Brock Collection x H&M collection, H&M has partnered up with choreographer Sherrie Silver to create a modern dance routine. The concept of the choreography is “pure joy” with a selected cast of eight talents starring in the campaign: Julia Campbell, Patricia Manfield (Heir), Alva Claire Mc Kenzie, Dulcie Gibbons, MaryGrace Tropeano, Dohuyn Kim, Ajok Daing and Sherrie Silver.

The H&M x Brock Collection collaboration will be available in select stores, online on kw.hm.com or via the H&M MENA App on 3 June with prices starting from KD 3.990. 90

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NO APPS HERE Why some developers are avoiding app store headaches by going web-only By Jared Newman

Earlier this month, the indie developers Feross Aboukhadijeh and John Hiesey launched a new app called Wormhole, which lets users quickly share large, encrypted files with just a link. But unlike most new mobile apps, Wormhole doesn’t show up in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. Instead, Aboukhadijeh and Hiesey released their app exclusively on the web. You can run Wormhole in any browser, and if you use the “Add to Home Screen” function in Safari for iOS or Chrome for Android, the site becomes indistinguishable from a native app. Aboukhadijeh says that Wormhole has a long list of reasons for skipping mobile app stores, including the ease of developing for the web and the lack of platform gatekeepers to worry about. But for him, targeting the web is also just a matter of principle. “We want to be an example of what a modern, fast web app can do,” he says. “And we want to blow a few minds while we’re at it.” Wormhole That mentality clashes with the decade-old conventional wisdom that developers should build mobile apps first, if not exclusively. Still, the webfirst approach is one that some developers have been rediscovering as discontent with Apple’s and Google’s app stores boils over. Launching with a mobile app just isn’t as essential as it used to be, and according to some developers, it may not be necessary at all. Aboukhadijeh isn’t alone in skipping the App Store in favor of building a web app. Another example is 1Feed, a customizable news reader for catching up on your favorite websites, Reddit pages, or social media profiles. 1Feed Like Wormhole, 1Feed isn’t available in any app store, but you can install it on your home screen in Safari, and if you visit the site in Chrome—on either a computer or an Android device—you’ll see a prompt to add 1Feed to your home screen or dock. You can even use Android’s Share button in other apps such as Twitter and YouTube to add new sources to the feed. Android lets web apps offer an install button; iOS does not. 1Feed is the work of a 17-year-old developer from Australia named Ethan—he declined to give his last name—who says that publishing 1Feed in an app store isn’t worth the trade-offs. For one thing, his age presents a barrier: Apple’s developer program is only open to people who are 18 or older. More importantly, he’s unwilling to give up a cut of his subscription revenue or wait for app store approvals. (Ethan charges $5 per month to unlock more news items per source and other extra features.) 92

The cost of going mobile Apps such as Wormhole and 1Feed are obviously outliers in that they may never hit the App Store, but even developers that plan to release mobile apps someday have plenty of reasons to launch on the web first. HypeDocs Aashni Shah, the founder and CEO of HypeDocs, says she launched with a website in part because of her background in web development, but also because mobile apps are much more cumbersome to build. HypeDocs, which helps people celebrate their personal and professional milestones, launched in July of last year, and Shah is still testing new ideas such as public achievement pages. On the web, she can test those ideas instantly, but on mobile, they’d have to wind through the approval and update process. Makerlog Sergio Mattei of Makerlog, a site where developers can publicly log their daily tasks, says these advantages are especially pronounced for independent developers, who don’t have the resources to build and maintain apps for multiple platforms such as both iOS and Android. While some tools do exist for building apps across operating systems, Mattei says having a single web app is still simpler and easier. Reclaim.ai “All of those things have good mobile experiences

already,” says Reclaim cofounder Patrick Lightbody, “so we took a product design philosophy of saying, ‘Let’s make all those things work really well together with Reclaim, and lean into existing workflows.” And yes, there’s a pandemic angle to all of this as well. With more people working from home at the moment, developers may not feel as much pressure to create mobile versions of their productivity tools in the first place. An Apple-sized elephant in the room There’s just one problem with this zeal for web apps: On iOS, Apple doesn’t support several progressive web app features that developers say are necessary to build web apps that offer all the power and usability of a native app. iOS web apps, for instance, can’t deliver notifications, and if you install them on the home screen, they don’t support background audio playback. They also don’t integrate with the Share function in iOS and won’t appear in iOS 14’s App Library section. Android, by contrast, supports most of those features, and even allows websites to include an “Install App” button. Still, Ethan is optimistic that things will start to change, especially as more developers debut their work on the web. “If there are more high-quality, well-known web apps out there, that can really shift it,” he says.


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SUMMER CHIC WITH MUJI Beat the heat with cool linens and breathable fabrics By bazaar staff

We all know that while summer has started, we still haven’t had to deal with hotter temperatures and scalding heat just yet. While most of us would prefer to be lazing around at the pool or beach we still have to get dressed and go about our business. Choosing our summer outfits is not just about fashion, it is also about function movement and breathability. We found everything we were looking for in MUJI’s summer fashion collection.

MUJI manages to hit the sweet spot of timeless and trendy with their neutral colors and simple designs every season and without ever compromising on comfort. The latest collection designed for both men and women looks refreshing and also feels great on your skin. French linen is a star this season. The fabric is constructed by weaving flax fibers into a textile. The highly sought-after material feels high-end,

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and its natural features make it easy to care for. Additionally, French farmers generally follow more environmentally-friendly practices growing flax. The collection also includes other items that are made from organic linen, so whatever you choose you are also supporting sustainable fashion. Just like us, linen gets softer and better with age, so any garment you buy that is made from linen is guaranteed to bring you joy for many wears to come.

The easiest items to start with are the dresses. There is a wide selection of linen dresses that are either button down or pull-over style with different collar options that include stand-up, classic and V-neck. They are the easiest to wear. Just pop on a dress, slip on some comfy sandals and accessorize and you are out the door. The same dress can be easily dressed up or down with different shoe styles or bolder bling.


We also love the separates because of their versatility. MUJI’s neutral colors make mixing and matching different outfits a no-brainer. The Organic Linen Washed French Sleeve Blouse will work with the French Linen Straight Pants Ankle Length or the French Linen Gathered Skirt. You can tuck it in and add a belt or leave it untucked for a more carefree look. We also love the linen knitwear cardigans. They are lightweight and are perfect for layering when we’re indoors and the AC is blasting on full power. Men will also appreciate the French Linen Washed Shirt that comes in a variety of colors and stand-up collars as well as classic collars. These are the perfect shirts for the season and look great

at the office or after work. There’s also a wide selection of cotton t-shirts. As for bottoms; you can find the perfect 4-way stretch chinos, denim and amazing linen trousers that work perfectly with the linen blazers. A linen suit is a timeless wardrobe staple for any man, whether he’s presenting in a boardroom or sailing the seas on his yacht. Style isn’t only about what you are wearing on the outside, MUJI has the best collection of undergarments and accessories that complete an outfit by providing you with camisoles, undies and socks that are made from the perfect materials for summer. Cotton, silk blends and breathable fabrics will be soft on your skin and make going out and having fun so much easier.

The footwear collection is full of practical and trendy choices for everyone. From sandals and flip flops to packable ballet flats that look great with the linen dresses and pants. All of the fashion items at MUJI share the same color scheme so everything feels cohesive and put together, it is impossible to clash in any of these beautiful things.

Get summer chic by visiting the MUJI stores in 2nd Avenue – The Avenues, Grand Avenue – The Avenues and Al Kout Mall or shop muji.com.kw. For more information, follow MUJI on Instagram @mujimiddleeast.

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MAKE IT FLEXIBLE

How to advocate for a flexible work arrangement By Daisy Dowling

Maybe these past 15 months of remote work have convinced you that you never want to go back to a five-days-in-person schedule (or in person, at all). Or maybe you’re an extrovert who’s eager to go back to the office, but you want a different workload and less-crazy hours than you’ve worked before. Whichever the case, you’ve managed to move past that vague feeling of wanting more freedom and more control, and you’ve landed on a clear ask: on the specific flexible work arrangement (FWA) that will work best for you, your career, and your family as we enter the “new normal.” Now come the all-important next steps: securing organizational approval, getting your boss fully on board, and making sure that the key members of your work parent “village” are ready to do their part to support your new arrangement. Here’s how to handle each one effectively—and get your new FWA up and running. While at work If you’re seeking a more formal arrangement and you work in a large organization where FWAs are already common, this is likely to be a fairly straightforward process. Chances are, there’s a set of guidelines for putting your flex setup in place or even a sample-form contract to use for making the request. Once you know the drill, sit down with your manager to talk about your “ask,” making it clear you’re doing so within approved organizational bounds. Be gracious, positive, and appreciative, but know that if you’re in good standing (e.g., haven’t been issued any kind of performance warning), chances are decent you’ll get the green light. If you’re planning to use self-directed or informal flexibility, or are seeking a very small-scale accommodation (e.g., leaving two hours early and only on Wednesdays), try having a this-is-no-bigdeal, FYI-type conversation with your manager: “Chris, my plan is simply to duck out for doctor’s appointments and other kid-related reasons where needed, making up the work later in the day. I’ll keep the team posted, always be reachable on cell—but my hunch is that no one, including you, will notice.” If you’re seen as diligent and reliable, your manager is unlikely to squawk. If, however, you work in an environment that’s less flex-friendly, or if there’s no formal policy or other official “permissioning” of flex work, or if you’re making a big ask (like moving from five days per week to two), or if you’re the first person in your organization to seek a formal FWA and may be setting a new precedent post-pandemic, then you’re probably going to need to go into sell mode. As you enter those conversations with your manager or with HR, you’ll ensure the best possible outcomes by emphasizing four key factors: You plan to use the arrangement responsibly. There will be minimal if any impact on the team and the business. 96

The FWA creates benefits for your boss and organization, not just for you. Any “making it work” details remain squarely on your shoulders. As the conversation unfolds, try preempting any skepticism or reluctance by saying things like: “This arrangement will make it possible for me to continue practicing law, and let you keep a trained patent attorney on the team for the long term.” “Sure, I’ll need a better-quality, higher-speed print setup at home, but that’s on me and easy to do.” If you sense discomfort, or get real pushback, tell your boss and/or the skeptical HR manager the following: You understand that this is an only-if-it-really works situation. You communicate your understanding by using a statement like, “We could try this for two months, and if it doesn’t work, either of us could pull the plug.” There appears to be clear precedent. You’re in no rush. “I know it’s a lot to process, and I’m not pushing for an answer today. Please take your time, and when you’ve thought this through, we can regroup.” Throughout any conversation, and at every phase of the negotiation remember to avoid getting dramatic or shrill. And stay away from hostage-

taking: “Do this for me or I quit” is an option you should use only once, only at the tail end of an otherwise failed negotiation, and only if you’re prepared to follow through (e.g., because you have another job offer). If you don’t get what you want, or find yourself getting hot under the collar at any point, though, remember: You’re an employee—not an indentured servant. Your boss and your organization make their choices, and you’re free to make your own. While at home Your boss is an essential partner in making any FWA work, of course—but you also need the support and understanding of the “bosses” in the home sphere: your partner, family, and caregivers. Before your FWA begins, have a direct conversation about your new schedule and approach with each key member of your at-home village—just as you may already have done with your boss and colleagues. To help make things clear and to reinforce the idea that this is a real, official, nojoke arrangement, put your timetable on a piece of paper, with “work time” and “nonwork time” clearly marked off.

Photo by Standsome Worklifestyle on Unsplash.


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HAVE YOURSELF AN AERIE SUMMER! Let the Real You Shine with the lifestyle brand that is celebrating realness and body positivity, now open at The Avenues By bazaar staff

It’s time to get real, and celebrate body positivity like never before! This is why we were thrilled when we heard that lifestyle brand Aerie has opened its first standalone store in the Middle East in Kuwait’s The Mall - The Avenues. You instantly feel your vibes uplifted as soon as you’ve walked through the welcoming doors at Aerie.

From intimates, apparel, activewear to beautiful swim collections, you’re invited to be a part of the #AerieREAL movement, as Aerie celebrates its community by advocating for body positivity and empowerment. Not only has the brand been retouch-free since 2014, a refreshing break from the ultra photoshopped photos we see on our socials and mainstream media these days, they believe that inspiring customers to love their real selves is paramount to everything. 98

Since then, the #AerieREAL mission has changed women’s lives worldwide by challenging the fashion industry’s ideas of beauty and promoting self-empowerment, body positivity, diversity, and inclusion. This is why they’ve created clothing that not just speaks to your aesthetics, but also addresses your aspirations. Inclusivity is everything at Aerie, and we love that! Our visit to the new store at The Avenues gave us goals for this season: Sun, swim and chill! The

Aerie collection is made with love and reflects the confident spirit of the Aerie woman. We fell in love with the size inclusive range of swimsuits in super neutral shades with vibrant color choices like coral and mint green in between, and we love that you can mix and match the two pieces based on your style preferences. If you prefer one-piece swimsuits, then you will fall head over heels with the backless and one-shoulder styles available at Aerie. And for each and every swimsuit, you can


pick from the coolest summer shorts and breezy tie front tops to transform your outfit from swim to chill in no time. Aerie’s collection of sweat-ready activewear will make you feel good, inside and out! Choose from the coolest colors and prints, and smash those fitness goals, day in and day out. From activewear, we checked out the cozy collection of loungewear and beautiful intimates at Aerie, finding a moment to imagine zen downtime on weekends while wearing any of Aerie’s versatile pieces. If we learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that loungewear is here to stay, but it doesn’t have to look dowdy or unkempt. So head on down

to Aerie to check out the comfiest sweats, shorts and easy sweaters and hoodies to complete your loungewear collection. We couldn’t leave without choosing a tie-dye set for those nights dedicated just to Netflix and chill! We also can’t get enough of the basic, cropped tees, paired with any of their high- waisted sweat pants. The tees will quickly transform your outfit from chill to thrill, making heads turn wherever you go. Even though underwear is unseen, it is definitely impactful. Whether you are looking for a supportive sports bra or something seamless to wear under light summery fabrics, your next favorite bra is at Aerie. It is all about giving your body what it needs

to move throughout your day, so you can conquer and achieve everything you want to.

Aerie is located at The Mall - The Avenues, next to American Eagle. Follow @aeriemena on Instagram, @AerieMENA on Facebook or visit www.americaneagle.com.kw/shop-aerie/. 99


MOON LIVING

The moon is completely uninhabitable. Could high-tech lighting change that? By Lilly Smith

Gray, cratered rock as far as the eye can see. Constant sun for two weeks straight, followed by two weeks of complete darkness. And static silence. That’s life on the moon, which is not a naturally hospitable place. But a team of designers is working to make human habitation a little more possible.

Lighting design firm Louis Poulsen and SAGA Space Architects are collaborating on a transportable “moon habitat” for astronauts called Lunark. Using dynamic lighting design, it would mimic how we experience light here on Earth, and it could make all the difference in safeguarding the mental health of astronauts in extreme environments. Lunark is a collapsible egg-shaped pod that has a carbon fiber shell and foam core panels for extra insulation. The load-bearing structure is an aluminum frame that hitches to the ground with cables, like a tent. SAGA Space Architects tested Lunark in an environment that’s about as close as you can get to the moon without leaving Earth: the frozen tundra about 620 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in Greenland. Over a three-month period this winter, SAGA cofounders Sebastian Aristotelis and Karl-Johan Sørensen camped out in the small pod completely off the grid, with minus 41-degree wind chill. Due to the extreme conditions, Lunark had only a few tiny slivers of windows. The rest of the light came from artificial LEDs, which provided some insight into what longer-term lunar habitation might be like.

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The team at Louis Poulsen focused on three components: dynamic circadian light ceiling panels, task lighting, and small moveable lamps. Kasper Hammer, a director of product and design at Louis Poulsen, associates the three artificial light systems with three natural light sources: the sky, a fire, and candlelight. Key to maintaining astronauts’ physical and mental well-being were the circadian light panels, which mimic the natural light patterns we’re familiar with here on Earth. Louis Poulsen developed the programming and sequences of the dynamic lighting in the panels. SAGA architects and LED supplier YujiLEDs developed the hardware. Hammer of Louis Poulsen says the panels “made a huge difference” in the mental health of the explorers. The circadian panels brighten at 6 a.m. and go dark in the evening. Purple and red lights replicate what happens during sunrise and sunset. But they also help differentiate between days: Some days the lighting remains dim, to re-create a cloudy setting; other times it’s more dynamic to mimic, say, passing clouds or full sun. There’s also a light show of sorts on Saturdays,

when the space is bathed in monochromatic light like the aurora borealis. Hammer says the two men camped out in the hut really looked forward to the change of pace. Overall, Hammer says the team wanted to make the space as enjoyable as possible. “It’s not about surviving,” he says. It’s about using the light to make a hospitable and—perhaps—even comfortable environment for astronauts visiting the moon. The project isn’t associated with NASA, which makes it a moon shot itself, of sorts. Hammer also contends that the Lunark unit isn’t just for astronauts. “We felt it’s relevant in pretty much any replication on Earth as well,” he says. “[Lunark] was set up when there was light in Greenland and then no light at all.” But it won’t be available anytime in the near future. SAGA has to wait until this summer to retrieve the Lunark from the icy tundra, and then a Lunark 2.0 will go through another round of testing—just enough time for NASA’s next scheduled moon landing in 2024.

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash.


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DISCOVER AVENUE AT

DEBENHAMS

Say hello to the body positive brand that we’ve all been waiting for By bazaar staff

We are seeing a massive pivot in the fashion industry toward a more inclusive scene. One that celebrates women of all shapes and different walks of life. Gone are the days of trying on clothes, only to think that they don’t fit comfortably or don’t hug your curves the right way. With the arrival of fashion brand Avenue at Debenhams, the search for the perfect fit is now a thing of the past!

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Avenue is a heritage plus size brand which prides itself on offering versatile wardrobe solutions. The company believes in design with a focus on quality, comfort and fit to enhance every shape and flatter every curve. They are constantly striving to provide customers with a wardrobe that not only fits and flatters, but a wardrobe that every woman will truly love. They believe that trend-driven fashion should be available to every woman not just once or twice, but every season. Previously, trend driven style aspirations were reserved for only women who fit a certain size range or had the body type that was fashionable. We’ve heard phrases like plus-size women should avoid big prints, bold colors or slim cuts. But those

days are now thankfully over! Putting fashion at the forefront, Avenue is bringing contemporary styles with a size range of 14-32 to include more and more plus size women and to suit a wide range of lifestyles. Think comfy casuals, incredible denim styles, tailored workwear to impress and stylish party wear, to intimates, they’ve got it all! Avenue is all about projecting confidence in everything you choose to wear, this is why they offer the perfect outfit no matter the occasion. Their goal is to help women feel more confident in their style choices by offering them endless outfit options. Just in time for summer, you can choose from a vibrant collection that will instantly transport you to your favorite holiday destination. From casual

separates, tops and sweatsuits, to gorgeous showstopping printed dresses in different styles, you will be spoiled for choice at Avenue. We’re especially in love with the beautifully shaped Little Black Dress, lace detailed Navy Midi Dress, and the wrap-around sequined cocktail dress. We can’t wait to pass by Debenhams to see what Avenue has to offer!

Follow @debenhamsmiddleeast on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest updates. Shop the Avenue collection at Debenhams in Grand Avenue – The Avenues, Souq Sharq, The Gate Mall and Evans stores in Kuwait. Call Customer Service: 182-1212.

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GET SOME INSIGHT

Stop using Safari and try this breakthrough iPhone browser instead By Jared Newman

Extensions are among the best things about desktop web browsers. Instead of being stuck with the built-in features of Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, you can tack on extra tools such as pop-up blockers, coupon finders, automatic dark mode, and more.

Now, an iPhone and iPad app called Insight is trying to bring that same extensibility to the mobile web. The free alternative to Apple’s Safari browser comes with its own suite of extensions, and it also lets users create new ones from scratch. (Its developers say they plan to offer a for-pay “pro” version eventually.) So far, Insight’s extension list is small but still useful. There’s an ad blocker, of course, along with a handy “Dismiss Upsells” extension that prevents websites from begging you to install their native apps. (Looking at you, Reddit.) An automatic dark mode extension forces websites to display a black background when iOS’s Dark Mode is enabled. Insight’s setup lets you pick some extensions to start with. While the above extensions will run automatically as you browse the web, Insight also has several tools you can trigger while visiting certain websites. A set of extensions for YouTube essentially replicates the features of a $12-permonth YouTube Premium subscription, letting you skip ads, download videos for offline viewing, and view videos in picture-in-picture mode. Another extension lets you swipe over from any Amazon product listing to its corresponding price history on CamelCamelCamel. There’s even an extension for filtering recipe searches on Google so that only results from certain sites appear. 104

CamelCamelCamel’s Amazon price-history data is available within Insight via an extension. Even more intriguing than the current batch of extensions are the ones that might eventually be made by users. Insight’s extension creator lets users set up if-then statements to control what happens with certain search results or web addresses. They can then share the extensions as links for other users to install. (As a basic example, I created an extension for switching between search results from Google and Amazon. It took just a minute or two to whip up.) Try out Insight’s build-your-own-extension feature. I put together one that searches Google and Amazon simultaneously. Whether Insight will do more to advertise these additional user-created extensions in the future is unclear. Apple has generally barred apps from offering “store within a store” functionality on iOS, and Insight seems to avoid the appearance of store-like functionality with its current extensions, hiding uninstalled ones behind a “Getting started” section of its new-tab page. Insight isn’t quite the first attempt to bring extensions to the mobile web. Several Android browsers have their own extension support, including Dolphin and Firefox. The long-running iOS browser iCab Mobile has its own list of

extensions, or “modules,” that are included with the app, though users have to manually disable the ones they don’t want to use and cannot install any new ones. (Back in 2011, Apple forbade iCab from letting users create and share their own modules; it’s unclear whether Insight might suffer a similar fate.) Safari also has some limited extensibility of its own. Through its “content blockers” feature, users can install third-party apps that block ads, trackers, and annoying pop-ups. (The free app Hush is a great example.) And, of course, iOS has some of its own features that might otherwise be accomplished with an extension, such as system-wide password manager integration and the ability to send web links to other apps via a share button. One Insight extension offers YouTube niceties such as downloading and picture-in-picture mode. Still, none of those iOS options manage to replicate the full-blown extension support that Insight is trying to offer. As with any extension platform, its long-term success will be contingent on other folks building compelling functionality using it. But if you’ve ever felt hamstrung by mobile Safari, it’s already worth checking out as an alternative.


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FIND STRENGTH IN THE SILENCE WITH H&M’S MOST SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR COLLECTION YET SHOP OUR FAVORITE PIECES TODAY! By bazaar staff

Stop apologizing for eating too many qatayef last Ramadan. Stop apologizing for all those times you refused to take off that coverup over your swimsuit because you didn’t feel ‘beach ready’. Summer is here, and we can feel the collective anxiety of so many women peaking. It’s about time we’ve stopped the cycle of shaming, and celebrated health instead. This is why we’re loving H&M latest swimwear campaign. Their most sustainable swimwear collection yet, H&M’s summer collection, comprised of sustainably sourced fabrics, aims to change how women feel in their swimwear. This collection’s confident pieces bring a sense of warmth and calm amongst the noise of today.

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The collection captures an unapologetic feminine strength, focusing on bold, embracing strapped silhouettes that celebrate all bodies and forms. Classic bandeaus, curved briefs and feminine off-the-shoulder tops are made from pre-consumer recycled polyesters from textile waste and post-consumer recycled polyester from recycled bottles. As well as breaking ground in sustainable fabrications, these swimwear pieces will run up to sizes 50EU online and 46EU in-stores. “I’m particularly proud of the fabrics in this swimwear collection, it’s our most sustainable swimwear collection thus far, and all of the designs are made of at least 85% recycled polyester. We’re so pleased to offer inclusive sizing with this emboldening swimwear collection, too.” says Maria Östblom, Head of Design Womenswear at H&M. The accompanying campaign film, captured in LA, stands for the women who face public opinions daily, with model Paloma Elsesser the star. Cancelling out the noise, Elsesser dives underwater, finding strength in the silence there, only to come back even stronger as her co-stars Nouri Hassan, Bintou Sillah, Yumi Nu, Shawn Lakin, and Tani join. The compelling film is soundtracked by Depeche Mode´s iconic song ‘Enjoy The Silence’ in a new version performed by US singer Fousheé. The collection is available now in select H&M stores, online at kw.hm.com and the H&M MENA App with prices starting from KD 3.990. 107


HONORABLE RESIGNATION

How to quit your job with integrity By Tracy Brower

As the economy opens up and more employers expand their staff numbers, job seekers will encounter plenty of opportunities to grow their careers. This can be the best time for you, as an employee, to find a job you’ve always wanted, especially as companies seek out the best and brightest. However, as eager as you are to move on, when you quit, you have to be intentional about exit. A Microsoft survey found 40% of people are considering leaving their current employer. Therefore, your need to fine-tune and thoughtfully roll out your exit is high. And there are specific ways to move forward from your current position that won’t leave behind a wake of destruction, which will be important for your success as you move on. WHY IT MATTERS Leaving your current employer at your best is important for a variety of reasons. You demonstrate you have integrity and, therefore, want to do the right thing. Moreover, it may not be immediately obvious, but your network has incredible power and taking the high road will reap significant dividends. People are highly connected, so you never know when your current coworker or boss will turn up as the contact of a new relationship you’re building. And these days, transparency is also high. Networking sites make it easy to see how people are linked and seek input about a candidate or employee. HOW TO MAKE A GRACEFUL DEPARTURE Your job performance and behavior For starters, you’ll want to provide the required amount of notice to your employer (by the way, for some companies, it is more than the typical two weeks). You’ll also want to perform brilliantly as you prepare to exit. You may be looking for another job while you maintain your current position or already planning on your end date. Either way, you will want to continue to contribute fully. Even if they don’t know why, people will be able to sense if you’re disengaging or pulling back. Keep your head in the game and continue to invest your best in your current work. Doing good work will contribute to your ability to seek formal recommendations and the overall sense of positivity people will have about you. Another method to having a positive impact is by ensuring you leave your projects in great shape. The adage, “leave things better than you found them,” applies for your quitting process. Complete open-ended items (so you’re not dumping these responsibilities on others, be intentional about 108

passing on information to your successor, and be flexible about your employer’s needs. Perhaps you have to accelerate a project so you can finish it before you exit. Or maybe you need to document best practices you’ve developed. These above-and-beyond activities will matter to your reputation. Even if you’re not leaving on your own terms, facilitating a smooth transition will contribute to your credibility and influence. Your good-bye You can also demonstrate excellence by being appreciative of all you’ve learned. Things at your job may not have been idyllic, but chances are you’ve still gleaned something. Express gratitude to your coworkers and focus on what you’ve gained. Perhaps you’ve learned how not to lead, which in turn, will contribute to your effective leadership down the road. And maybe you’ve developed your ability to handle conflict because of strife on your team. From this experience, it’s possible you’ve gathered wisdom about how to assess company cultures that are the best fit for you. Any of these are positive elements of your experience and feeling grateful will influence your positive approach to parting ways. Furthermore, be sure to say goodbye to everyone, rather than slinking out the door (or not saying anything in the company chat). People want to be able to say farewell and wish you luck; oftentimes, closure is an important part of relationships. As

you leave, consider how you can help those you’re leaving. Your perspective is unique and especially valuable, since it’s based on real experiences and is still fresh. Even a terrific company can benefit from ideas about how they can continue to improve, so share your impressions openly—and tactfully— when asked for feedback in or in exit interviews. Your long-term thinking Upon your departure, also consider the future. This is the time to ask for recommendations from people you have had positive relationships with. Share your contact information so you can maintain connections. There are plenty of stories about people who kept in touch with contacts and received tips on new opportunities even years later. Remain professional about how you talk about your time with the company; whether or not it was a great experience, you’ll want to express yourself with grace. How you describe your tenure will reflect on you as much as on the organization, so choose a diplomatic approach when you can. In the same way you did your best while you were working there, you’ll also want to do your best as you leave. It’s not only the right thing to do, it will bode well for your future and your credibility.

Photo by Romain V on Unsplash.


CLICK & COLLECT NOW VIA

ORDER.RAISINGCANES.ME

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WILLIAMS SONOMA HOME

DISCOVER HOW ELEGANCE, QUALITY AND INTERIOR DESIGN FLAWLESSLY INTERSECT WITH THE ‘MADE TO ORDER SERVICE’. TRANSFORM YOUR HOME TODAY! By bazaar staff

Your home is your sanctuary. Every piece, and every corner should speak to your own aspirations and goals. And while we spend so much time chasing our vision, sometimes we lose the notion of function along the way, or the opposite. We seek function, and forget the importance of seamless elegance and the effect that home design has on our mood and how we interact with our living spaces. At Williams Sonoma Home, you don’t have to compromise on anything, because they pride themselves in offering beautiful, high quality pieces and excellent services which range from sourcing the most exotic furniture to interior design decor services.

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We are no strangers to Williams Sonoma Home’s exclusive ‘made to order’ services. With the ‘made to order service’, all you have to do is simply imagine the design of your dreams, and see it customized just for you at Williams Sonoma Home. Made to order products help you express your individual sense of style through quality pieces of furniture. One of Williams Sonoma’s core values is placing high value on their customers’ opinions and satisfaction. For that reason, they are always compelled to go the extra mile, making sure that anything you dream of can be a reality. The Williams Sonoma Home’s ‘made to order service’ is dedicated to making your home furniture choices as individualistic as you would like them to be. Looking for a unique wood stain and shape for your dining table? Do you want to fashion the canopy bed of your dreams? Maybe you want the pattern on your sofa to remind you of the special trip you took to the Maldives, or the art on your walls to be an ode to your lifelong pursuit of the arts. This is all now a possibility with your made to order purchase from Williams Sonoma Home. The specialized design team part of the exclusive ‘made to order service’ can customize and create products that are extremely unique to fit your design vision, and in doing so, you will be distinguishing your home from anything else you can see out there. Just imagine, you come home from work after a long day, and you rest your body on the stunning velvet love seat that was created especially for you, and you relax, knowing that this piece of furniture is truly yours. Williams Sonoma Home always strives

to offer and create original designs that have not been produced by other designers to stay attuned to their customers’ demands. But it doesn’t just stop there, because Williams Sonoma Home’s special ‘made to order service’ extends to the entire home! They can offer a complete home makeover upon request, and in doing so, they will ensure that your made to order furniture is the perfect fit for your home, blending harmoniously together with a unified theme and color palette. The brand only works with impeccably skilled craftsmen and only sources furnishings and textiles from the best producers across the globe. Craftsmen who still honor and respect the art of making furniture using traditional methods for items that will last you a lifetime. The in-house designers at Williams Sonoma Home, believe that home is at the heart of everything, creating unique collections which help you to realize the perfect aesthetic for your home that reflects your own personal style. By listening to you and your needs before making and designing furniture, the in-house designers can help you create the home of your dreams. Look no further than Williams Sonoma Home where everything about quality and elegance is re-imagined to match your personal design style.

You can find Williams Sonoma Home in Grand Avenue - The Avenues. Call 2228 3101 and follow them on Instagram @WilliamsSonomaMena.

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bazaar Apps

MAWJOOD

SEEDS MARKET

OVER

#SELFCARE

I LOVE HUE TOO

DROPS

Are you having a small (and socially distanced) family get together with your fully vaccinated relatives, but need coffee, dates or chocolates? There are so many wonderful makers, vendors and boutique stores that you might be missing out on. Check out the Mawjood app and find them all in one place. Order everything in one go and focus on enjoying your guest’s company.

Canva may have taken over the digital design world for non-designers, but there are still some great apps out there that can unleash your creative powers. Over allows you to quickly whip up some very artful designs using their template library or start your own idea from scratch. Designed for phone users, the app is user-friendly but definitely not basic.

From the makers of the beloved color puzzle game I LOVE HUE comes I LOVE HUE TOO - a psychedelic journey into color, light and shape. Create order out of chromatic chaos. Move each tile to its perfect place within beautiful mosaic patterns. Learn to see the smallest difference between similar colors. Push yourself with three daily challenges and divine the future with an all-new fortune telling system.

Perhaps there was one great thing that came out of our pandemic experience, the normalization and vast improvement of online grocery shopping. Seeds Market sources the best prime ingredients, groceries and fresh produce. The app is easy and simple to use with an intuitive and responsive interface that will deliver anything from late night snacks to an impressive selection of vegan meat alternatives.

The #SelfCare app designed by Tru Love is a fresh take on wellness apps. Instead of minigames or competitions that are designed to motivate you to do more, the app helps you create rituals and new habits that propel you to a more thoughtful and compassionate way of living. No alerts or streaks, just comfort and compassion to help you feel better.

Learn a new language … in just 5 minutes a day. Effortless, visual character learning. Word by word, Drops helps you learn new vocabulary through fun, fast-paced games with simple mnemonic images. Choose from one of more than 41 languages. From the world’s most popular languages to widely spoken dialects, Drops has you covered. Drench yourself in a new language

play.google.com itunes.apple.com 112


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#XCITEDFORSUMMER Have yourself a sizzling summer staycation with X-cite by Alghanim! By bazaar staff

With travel plans still in limbo, we’re cancelling that feeling of desperation and choosing fun instead! When you come to the fun side, you’ll find that there is lots to do at home, by the beach and at the chalet, with plenty of ideas to make a hot summer’s day way more pleasant. From the necessary to the frivolous, here’s our round-up of your summer must-haves from X-cite!

Cobra 14.5-inch Portable BBQ Grill

Bose 700 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones

We love a great big barbecue but their size means that they’re not easy to move around, especially if you want to take one on a quick boat trip or take it with you to the beach. It has a lot of features that help in grilling meat, chicken or fish, without leaving a mess. But our favorite feature is the closed ash catcher, so clean up is much easier. The lid, bowl and power coated handle makes it safe and practical, perfect for a day well spent outdoors. Here’s our realistic suggestion: Plan for an evening BBQ, now that curfew is over (can we get an AMEN, please?) and spend the evening grilling and chatting with your favorite people. Make this a recurring event, and your BBQ investment is all the more worthwhile.

The best kind of party is the one you can have inside your own head. We love tanning by the pool or at the beach without having our peace disturbed by other people. The Bose 700 noise-cancelling headphones are our new best friend forever. The comfortable over-ear design and adaptive 4-microphone system means you can wear them for hours even if you are making calls or just listening to music. You can even leave them off while still wearing and pretend like you’re listening to something, just to cancel out the drones of pesky people always nagging you for something. We won’t judge you if you do that, we promise.

Sony XB01 Bluetooth Compact Portable Speaker

Nintendo Switch Console Neon Extended Battery

But if you are in the mood to share your music, you should definitely grab the Sony XB01 Bluetooth speakers. The extra bass will boost your party anthems. They are splash proof so you won’t be worried about using them near water. Use these on boat trips, chalet days, pool days, or even in your own bathtub! Enjoy up to 6 hours of playback without having to find a plug or charger. And you can even control your music with on-speaker buttons instead of using your phone.

We know that some days are way too hot to step foot outside the house, and this is where the gaming console comes into play. The game console experience was completely transformed with the Nintendo Switch. It is portable, ideal for days out when needed, but can also be connected to a larger screen. The controllers are remote and allow you to enjoy active gameplay. The game library is huge and there is something for every kind of gamer. We love this version, but if you are interested in dipping your toes into gaming, the lite version is fabulous too but cannot be connected to a TV.

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Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure

iRest Luxury Zero Gravity Massage Chair

If you already own a Nintendo Switch or need another reason to buy one, the Ring Fit Adventure is it. Explore a huge fantasy world and defeat enemies using real-life exercise. Jog, Sprint, and high knee through over 100 levels in more than 20 worlds. You control the in-game movements with the new Ring-Con and Leg Strap accessories which allow for a wide range of motion. It is the best way to get your heart pumping while still having fun. The games are suitable for all skill levels so everyone in the family will have fun.

If you are feeling stressed that you won’t be living your best jet setting life this summer (again) then gift yourself a massage chair. You deserve it! The iRest Luxury Zero Gravity Massage Chair’s design was based on biomechanics, ergonomics and model physical therapy, aimed at human skeletal characteristics, combined with zero power, zero space, longer curved rail massage, modern physics stretch with 28 Airbags and 1 Air pump. Your whole body will thank you.

Insta360 Go Action Camera

Power Vision PowerEgg Drone

Nest Thermostat 3rd Generation

Speaking of cameras, the Insta360 Go Action Camera adds a new style of imagery to your arsenal. The GO uses proprietary FlowState stabilization to keep your footage impossibly smooth. It shoots stabilized hyperlapses and recommends the perfect playback speed for your shot. Editing will be a breeze with the AIpowered FlashCut to find your best shots and edit them together on beat. And the wide range of in-the-box accessories allows you to mount it just about anywhere. If adventure is on the horizon this summer, then this action Camera is the one for you!

If you are not traveling this summer, then it might be the perfect time to level up your photography and videography game with the PowerEgg by Power Vision. With the push of a button, the aircraft takes off automatically and hovers at the designated altitude. It returns to the home point with the push of a button and lands automatically. With PowerEgg Maestro, the industry’s first gesture recognition remote control, takeoff and landing can be done with the push of a button so that anyone can fly PowerEgg right out of the box.

We’re forever thankful for climate controlled homes. But the Nest Learning Thermostat makes it even better. It’s slimmer and sleeker with a bigger, sharper display. And it saves energy. That’s the most beautiful part. It learns what temperature you like and builds a schedule around yours. Now the Nest Thermostat does something new. It’s called Farsight and it lights up to show you the temperature you’ve set or the time. You can even choose a digital or analog clock face. Farsight is big and bright on the beautiful display – you can see it from across the room.

For a comprehensive list of X-cite’s 42 store locations and to shop online for the latest deals visit www.xcite.com. Download the X-cite app for Android on Google Play or iPhone on the App Store. Follow X-cite social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, @xcitealghanim and Facebook XcitebyAlghanim. Call 180 3535 for further Inquiries. 115


bazaar music

JUNE MUSIC

Since life doesn’t have to make sense, neither should the music we listen to. It almost feels like we have gone full circle, back to amateur musicians and bands who start in their living rooms, as opposed to highly produced and intentionally engineered songs and albums that plagued us in the last few decades. We have gone back to discovering artists and musicians and being able to follow them without having to depend on big record labels or pros to tell us what we should be blasting on our speakers.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE LYRICS

LEMON DEMON

MITSKI

WYE OAK

Title: Spirit Phone Format: Albums Release date: July 2016

Title: Be the cowboy Format: Album Release date: August 17, 2018

Title: The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs Format: Album Release date: April 6, 2018

Lemon Demon is a musical project and band created by American comedian and musician Neil Cicierega in 2003 in Boston, Massachusetts. Most Lemon Demon music is performed solely by Cicierega, who is the project’s sole official member, but a full band is usually assembled for live performances. Cicierega previously released instrumental music and several remixes of video game music under the monikers “Trapezoid” and “Deporitaz”. Spirit Phone is another great album that features catchy melodies and addictive hooks.

Mitski Miyawaki (born Mitsuki Laycock), known mononymously as Mitski, is a Japanese-American singersongwriter. Mitski self-released her first two albums, Lush (2012), and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013), while studying at Purchase College’s Conservatory of Music. After graduating, she released her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek (2014). It was followed by Puberty 2 (2016) and Be the Cowboy (2018), released on Dead Oceans. The latter widened Mitski’s palette with a return to the piano featured on her first two records alongside synthesizers, horns and the guitar that became her signature instrument. The album received widespread acclaim from music critics, who later ranked it among the best albums of 2018

Wye Oak is an American indie rock duo from Baltimore, Maryland, United States, composed of Andy Stack (drums, keyboards, backup vocals) and Jenn Wasner (vocals, guitars and bass). Their sound has been described as “earnest folk-influenced indie rock with touches of noise and dream pop” as well as indie folk. Wasner sings lead vocals and plays electric or acoustic guitar, while Stack plays both drums and keyboards, playing the drums with his feet and right hand, and the bass line with his left hand. Their latest album The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs is a unique combination of dream pop and strong beats. It is also slightly reminiscent of Björk in some tracks.

ORIENTAL SWEETS YOUTUBE MUSICIANS JACK STAUBER

WILBUR SOOT

CAVETOWN

Title: New Normal Format: Single Release date: March 24, 2020

Title: Internet Ruined Me Format: Single Release date: May 25, 2020

Title: Ur Gonna Wish U Believed Me Format: Single Release date: May 14, 2021

Stauber is an American singer-songwriter, animator, and YouTuber from McKean, Pennsylvania who is currently based in Pittsburgh. Known for the perceived strangeness of their lyrics and accompanying music videos, his songs have been used in a variety of internet memes on YouTube and won the Shorty Award for Best in Weird. “New Normal” is an embodiment of his musical style and wacky art. The song makes about as much sense as 2020 did.

Will Gold, better known as Wilbur Soot, is a British internet personality, Twitch streamer, and singersongwriter. He first became known in 2017 for his work with the group comedy YouTube channel SootHouse, where he made recurring appearances and was the lead editor and a co-founder. “Internet ruined Me” resonates with everyone, especially right now. The lyrics are raw, real and absolutely ridiculous. It is music for a generation that doesn’t even know what life was like before the internet.

Robin Daniel Skinner, known professionally as Cavetown is an English singer-songwriter, record producer, and YouTuber based in London. His style blends elements of indie rock, indie pop and bedroom pop with mellow, gentle ukulele ballads. As of May 2021, he has amassed over 6 million monthly streamers on Spotify. Ur Gonna Wish U Believed Me is sad but true, it is probably exactly how we all have been feeling for the last year, feeling unseen, unheard and ignored, even though most of us have been suffering collectively.

Source: albumoftheyear.org, rollingstone.com, songfacts.com 116


ORIENTAL SWEETS The Sweeter Side of Life ORDER NOW NOW THROUGH THROUGH ORDER

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PERFECTLY P.F. CHANG’S We speak with Culinary Operations Manager, Chef Ed Abdallah about how our favorite contemporary Asian restaurant delivers deliciousness, every single time By bazaar staff

Chef Ed Abdallah took the bazaar team for a behind-the-scenes tour of P. F. Chang’s incredible kitchen operation in the Grand Plaza - The Avenues location. The restaurant’s design is modern, sleek and uses a mix of subtle design choices like exposed brick walls and bold ones such as the beautifully captivating mural on the façade. The space is tasteful and welcoming, but still feels high-end and signals an exciting and eclectic Asian dining experience to come—everything that we know and love about P. F. Chang’s. Our host, Chef Ed Abdallah told us how he started his career at the Roseville California P. F. Chang’s in 1999 and worked his way up the culinary career ladder. Today Chef Ed is the Head of Culinary Operations for P. F. Chang’s Middle East. In 2009 when the first P. F. Chang’s location in Kuwait opened its doors, Chef Ed came here to help get it off the ground. He is tasked to ensure that the P. F. Chang’s experience is perfectly replicated from preparation to plate in every single restaurant across the region. One of the most unique things about P. F. Chang’s is that even though it is a global brand, the menu has been customized to better serve diners what they truly love and crave. For example, the Dynamite Shrimp is a best-seller here, so P. F. Chang’s have added a larger option that is perfect for bigger groups who love to enjoy this firm favorite. The team at P. F. Chang’s stay ahead of the trends by anticipating and creating dishes that will delight their guests. P. F. Chang’s constantly pushes the boundaries of Asian cuisine but still chooses to honor the 2,000-year-old tradition of wok cooking as the center of the guest experience. So many of their dishes are prepared using a wok, which is the large deep bowl-shaped frying pan commonly used in Asian cooking. In our behind-the-scenes tour, we witnessed this firsthand as the kitchen team expertly fired up the wok to churn out our favorite delicacies. 118


Learning by doing is a concept which is deeply steeped in P. F. Chang’s ethos. This is why Chef Ed explained that he begins his day at the restaurant with a daily demonstration from the team. One of the chefs cooks a dish and the team members take turns in tasting and critiquing. The experience is invaluable, as this process ensures that the famous flavors of P. F. Chang’s are perfectly recreated without a single error. Currently, P. F. Chang’s operate 26 restaurants in the region, and making sure that the dining experience is exactly the same at every location is imperative. Chef Ed also calls and connects with all the chefs at the different restaurant locations to make

sure they have everything they need, and to help them deal with any obstacles they might face. As Head of Culinary Operations, his job includes a lot of administrative and operational tasks to make certain that specs and recipes are consistent across the different locations. Consistency is a core value at P. F. Chang’s and they don’t just talk about it, they have implemented processes which guarantee that guests will receive the perfect dish, no matter the location of the restaurant. Consistency as a theme kept popping up in our conversation with Chef Ed. “Consistency is the key. Coming from the management's perspective, it is our job to relay the message and making

sure that we’re policing things. Our main job is to maintain the integrity of the brand.” Chef Ed explained. We also noticed that Chef Ed doesn’t act like a corporate chef with his crew, which is very symbolic of P. F. Chang’s early operation as a familyrun business. We watched him greet everyone, and stop to talk to the different members of the team. He proudly told us each chef’s specialty and what they excelled at doing. We were amazed by each chef’s role and their individual prowess behind-the-scenes at P. F. Chang’s, from expertly rolling an astounding number of dumplings in a single minute, to batch prepping dynamite sauce, [Continued...]

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everything is streamlined to perfection. P. F. Chang’s is a destination for so many families in Kuwait, and the family atmosphere is mirrored in the kitchen too. The staff treat each other with professional respect, but also make jokes and act like a true family. The success of the kitchen operation at P. F. Chang’s is all about effective communication. “I think the basic thing over here is to make sure that you’re communicating, with all the chefs and the regional chefs. We have a good team but without communication it would be very difficult,” he explained. Strong communication between the various P. F. Chang’s restaurants allows Chef Ed to better assess the strategies that work best for each location, quickly sort out what needs improvement, and also collate feedback from diners to communicate their evolving requirements to management. All of this is done in an effort to create better and more memorable dining experiences at each and every P. F. Chang’s restaurant. During our tour, the bazaar team watched the chefs chop, slice, and dice with ease we could only dream of. Despite it being a busy atmosphere, everyone gracefully moved like highly trained dancers at a ballet. The prepping, cooking and plating of dishes happened so quickly, it was magical. No toes were stepped on, no shoulders were bumped into, and crewmembers didn’t accidently collide. In the kitchen, the team operated as a well-oiled machine that produces deliciousness. After we completed our tour, we sat down with Chef Ed and sampled myriad delicacies and true bazaar favorites, including Shrimp Spring 120

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Rolls, Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps, and their Dynamite Shrimp. From the mains, we loved the Spicy Chengdu Beef, along with their famous Pad Thai. From sushi rolls, to various Asian specialties, the menu at P. F. Chang’s is sure to please every palate. Experiencing a behind-the-scenes look at P. F. Chang’s was a true eye-opener. We left feeling amazed by how all the dishes we love could arrive at our table in mere minutes, yet require a precisely calculated operation that takes hours of preparation. We have a newfound appreciation for the heroes behind the service counter at P. F.

Chang’s. But our favorite thing was learning that every dumpling we enjoyed eating was hand rolled with love and appreciation.

For more information follow @pfchangsme on Instagram or visit its various locations at The Avenues, 2nd Avenue and Grand Plaza, Sidra Restaurants in Mahboula, and Al Kout Mall.


Click & Collect now via ORDER.PINKBERRY.ME

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TWISTSHAKE Safe for baby, easy for mama! By bazaar staff

Having babies means needing to constantly choose the right products for them. You are thinking of safety, practicality, ease of cleaning and so many other things. Choosing what brand of baby products to use for your child doesn’t need to be an overwhelming decision. But there are so many alternatives. Some focus on aesthetics, some on technical gimmicks. As a parent though, the wellbeing of your baby is always going to be the focal point.

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That’s why you want you to be able to give your baby the time and the attention he or she deserves, without the burdens of everyday life coming in the way. Twistshake aspires to develop products that are simple and safe to use, yet also offers an appealing design. The brand is of the opinion that aiming for functionality does not mean that they can ignore aesthetics, and the designers are always looking for ways to combine practicality with eyepleasing design. Twistshake has already won several awards regarding design and functionality which is a confirmation that they develop safe, functional and appealing products. Babies are unique. They all have their individual needs, and these change at the same fierce rate that the babies themselves grow and develop. The brand is becoming an expert in all the phases babies go through. When a child is faced with new challenges they are going to be there to assist them by way of innovative and safe product line. Manufacturing things that will be used with babies is synonymous with an immense responsibility. Twistshake guarantees products of the absolute highest quality through compliance with all the legal quality controls, as well as through regular internal check-ups and quality inquiries. This mentality permeates not only the manufacturing process: it is a cornerstone of Twistshake’s entire business. All of Twistshake’s products are BPA-free. Twistshake cares about your safety. They want to give your child the best possible start in life. Twistshake’s products only utilizes raw materials that meet all the safety regulations in regard to foodstuffs. They have hand-picked materials of only the highest quality, and believe this is something that becomes clear when you encounter the products. It is there, at first glance and first feel. The way they work involves regular quality inquiries that are performed in cooperation with worldclass test labs, all in order to guarantee quality and safety of the absolute highest order. Vienar Roaks Founder and CEO – Twistshake of Sweden tells the story of how the company started. “In 2011 I was babysitting my aunt’s son. This task demanded full attention and it quickly became clear to me that I would have a tough time combining this with all the other things that the sitting involved. The biggest time-sink was the feeding: the servings came in intricate plastic bags, the formula clogged, clean-up was a hassle and when food time was over the kitchen was a complete mess,” explains Roaks. “Until a summer day not long after, when I witnessed a woman with a baby stroller. In the stroller, the woman’s baby is agitated, hungry and screaming. The stressed mother struggles hurriedly with bags of formula and baby bottles and before long everything is on the ground, while the baby is wailing even louder. I recognized the situation that the mother was in, and it took me back to when I had been babysitting my cousin. The ideas and solutions that had been in my mind back then immediately came back to me. It almost felt like a sign; the problems I had encountered as a babysitter had still not been solved. To ensure that I was on the right track, I discussed these ideas with some of my friends who are parents. They all spoke of the same complications. Some had their own solutions to these headaches, but many of them just felt dissatisfied with the lack of products on offer,” Roaks continues. Twistshake was born out of necessity. Bottles needed to prevent clogging of the baby formula, easily handle servings and a breeze to clean. They want to create a product that is both practical and easy and which in itself is a whole new way to address the needs of parents and their children. Today, Twistshake are proud to present a baby bottle specifically developed with these cornerstones in mind. And it would not have happened without encountering and noticing a struggling mother on that summer day. But that’s not all, you can also find sippy cups, tableware, textiles, pacifiers and teethers that were all designed with your baby in mind.

To learn more about the brand follow @twistshakekuwait on Instagram or shop the products on roomserviceq8.com. 123


bazaar techno

TRINOXO TEE

DJI FPV DRONE

COUCH CONSOLE

NEUROSITY CROWN

TACTSUIT X40

SNAPDRAGON XR1 AR SMART VIEWER REFERENCE DESIGN Smart Viewers are a type of augmented reality

The ubiquitous and unassuming tee shirt might be the last thing that comes to mind when you think of technology. Turns out you are probably wrong. The TrinoXO tee, solves the age-old and smelly problem of body odor! Just in time for our scaldingly hot summers. Simply designed and soft to the touch, the TrinoXO Tee uses revolutionary natural materials like crab shells to reduce odor and stay fresh between washes.

If you have trouble focusing because you are constantly being distracted by notifications, pings and dings, we have a crown for you. Neurosity’s wearable Crown analyzes brainwaves and plays music to help you stay in the zone. Avoid interruptions that kill your focus. Set the Crown to automatically mute your notifications while you are working. Discover the songs that expedite your flow and help you find the zone using the Neurosity Shift app with your Spotify account. We have mixed feelings about this brain reading tech.

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Flying a drone is already futuristic but throw in a headset and you are going to look and feel that you have jumped ahead in the timeline. DJI’s new drone beams the view from its camera straight to a headset back on terra firma. You see what the drone sees. It’s a user-friendly version of what drone-racing pilots use in competitions. The drone itself can move at a max speed of 140km/h (87mph) and can reach 0-60mph in just two seconds. It has a max range of 10km (6 miles), but you’ll need a spotter who can keep an eye out for people or obstructions below while you fly.

Introducing the TactSuit X40, a wireless haptic vest that packs 40 individually controllable vibrotactile motors. Stay immersed in your content with positional haptic feedback delivered to every corner of your body. TactSuit is compatible with a wide range of platforms, including PC, VR, Mobile, and console. The unique Audio-to-Haptic technology converts sound into haptic feedback in real time. Add haptics to all the content you love and enjoy sound-based haptic feedback with your favorite games and movies. Ready Player 1?

This little spunky organizer might not be hightech, but it is techno and geeky adjacent enough to be added to our list. It is a cup holder, snack cup, phone stand, charging dock, remote tray and storage solution. Perfect for when you are bingewatching or competing in e-sports. Everything in one place and in your reach. It is also modular, so you can switch our specific compartments to suit your needs, like adding a mug compartment for hot drinks instead of regular cups.

glasses that overlay digital information into your field of vision. The XR1 AR Smart Viewer reference design is engineered to improve the user experience by including the processing power of the Snapdragon XR1 chipset on the glasses, while also sharing processing with a connected Snapdragon 5G smartphone or PC device. Now hardware manufacturers can accelerate their design and development of commercial Smart Viewer solutions via early access to the latest technology and features of the Snapdragon XR1 chipset and reference design.


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bazaar movie night June Movies

FAST & FURIOUS 9

CRUELLA

GODZILLA VS. KONG

THE MAURITANIAN

WRATH OF MAN

DEMON SLAYER

Release Date: April 4 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait wide Genre: Action Cast: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham Synopsis: After the events of The Fate of the Furious (2017), Dominic Toretto and his family must face Dominic’s younger brother Jakob, a deadly assassin, who is working with their old enemy Cipher, and who holds a personal vendetta against Dominic.

Release Date: 12 February Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait wide Genre: Drama Cast: Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch Synopsis: The film follows Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who is captured by the U.S. government and is languishing in Guantanamo Bay detention camp without charge or trial. Losing all hope, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander and her associate Teri Duncan. Together, they face countless obstacles in a desperate pursuit for justice.

Release Date: 27 May Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait wide Genre: Comedy Drama Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser Synopsis: Set in 1970s in London during the punk rock movement, the film follows Estella de Vil, an aspiring fashion designer, and explores the path that will lead her to become a notorious criminal known as Cruella de Vil.

Release Date: 4 March Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait wide Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett Synopsis: Mysterious and wild-eyed, a new security guard for a cash truck surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman’s ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.

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Release Date: 24 March Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait wide Genre: Action, Adventure Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Synopsis: Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home. Along for the ride is Jia, an orphaned girl who has a unique and powerful bond with the mighty beast. However, they soon find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla as he cuts a swath of destruction across the globe.

Release Date: 16 October 2020 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait wide Genre: Anime Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Yoshitsugu Synopsis: A boy raised by boars who wears a boar’s head and another boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Flame Pillar. Their mission is to defeat a demon who has been tormenting people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it.


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MARTINI 0.0

The premium sparkling non-alcoholic beverage that we’ve all been waiting for By bazaar staff

With over 150 years of expertise, MARTINI brings its reputation and knowledge to the zero-alcohol category to cater to the low/no trend that’s sweeping the globe. All the skills of Martini experts were harnessed to produce the very best grapes from Northern Italy’s premium regions to produce the MARTINI 0.0. Lovingly crafted in the sun-drenched hillsides of Northern Italy, using the finest Italian grapes, MARTINI 0.0 provides consumers with an all-natural, alcohol-free sparkling beverage that still retains the same great flavor that Martini is known for. The result is a light, sweet, delicate fruity taste – perfect for celebrating with friends and with meals.

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Piedmont, home of MARTINI, is the birthplace of the Italian Sparkling tradition, here in the 1850s the first sparklings were made. In time the steep hillsides near the town of Asti became the center of Martini production. Martini is now synonymous with the glamorous, and aspirational lifestyle of Italy. Its links with fashion, glamour and car racing established the brand as a premium player. As the world’s number one Italian Sparkling beverage they felt compelled to be at the forefront on emerging consumer habits and trends. More and more consumers were demanding better alcohol -free beverages which led them to develop a pleasant and delicious sparkling drink without alcohol. This drink is for consumers that do not drink alcohol but who would still like to enjoy the celebratory and refreshing drinking experience that comes with bubbles. Martini 0.0 is not a wine because it is not fermented and does not contain alcohol at all; it is made from concentrated grape must, and is alcohol-free. Martini 0.0 is a stylish and refreshing sparkling drink that delivers a fresh and fruity taste. First, the harvesting of the grapes takes

place. This process is done by hand due to the steep slopes of the vineyards, which allows strict control of the quality of the grapes. Next the grapes are pressed. This is done in whole bunches and not in grapes to protect the delicate flavor of the juice by not bruising the fruit. During the blending phase, the grape juice is maintained at a cool temperature to preserve its natural freshness. It is then added to the blending tank with yeast and the temperature is maintained between 18° and 20°. After that, the blend needs to rest to make it sparkle. The liquid is transferred to an autoclave, a sealed and pressurized resting tank where yeast and sugar are added. This time the gas produced is trapped and dissolves giving the sparkle in Martini 0.0. Finally, the Martini 0.0 is filtered and bottled directly with the pressure maintained throughout to preserve the carbonation. Each bottle will be sealed with the traditional ‘muzzled cork’. Martini 0.0 has fresh, fruity, fragrant and pleasant aromatic notes of Moscato. The taste is fresh and well-balanced between acidity and sweetness. Think of typical of Italian white grapes, slight touches of citrus, sage, elder and

peach. In a glass, you will see the yellow with gold reflexes set in a rich golden color. Lovers of fizzy drinks will appreciate that Martini 0.0 has a pressure of around 4.5-5 bar, delivering the most exciting bubbles. For the best experience, Martini suggests using a flute glass. Hold the glass to the light, look at the color, and look for fine lines of bubbles. Smell just above the glass to capture delicate notes. Take a deeper smell closer to the glass to capture the stronger notes. Take into the mouth and swirl round the plate, so it touches all sides of the mouth. Assess how the bubbles feel in the mouth (soft, prickly, gentle). Then capture the key flavors. Think how long the flavors last in the mouth and what is the final taste you are left with. Martini 0.0 can also be mixed with syrups, fruit purées and even fresh mint for lots of different refreshing drinks.

You can find Martini 0.0 at roomserviceq8.com and select retailers. Follow @roomserviceq8 on Instagram for more information. 129


bazaar books

THE LAYOVER

by Lacie Waldon, Contemporary Fiction

THE SYMPTOM IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY by Daniel Araoz, Non-Fiction

After ten years as a flight attendant, Ava Greene is poised to hang up her wings and finally put down roots. She’s got one trip left before she bids her old life farewell, and she plans to enjoy every second of it. But then she discovers that former pilot Jack Stone -- the absurdly gorgeous, ridiculously cocky man she’s held a secret grudge against for years -- is on her flight. And he has the nerve to flirt with her, as if he doesn’t remember the role he played in the most humiliating night of her life. Good thing she never has to see him again after they land. But when their plane encounters mechanical problems, what should have been a quick stop at the Belize airport suddenly becomes a weekend layover. Getting stuck on a three-hour flight with her nemesis was bad enough. Being stranded with him at a luxury resort in paradise? Even with the sultry breeze and white sand to distract her, it will take all the punch in the country to drown out his larger-thanlife presence.

HOW TO WRITE LIKE TOLSTOY

by Richard Cohen Quinn, Non-Fiction

WHAT’S DONE IN DARKNESS

For anyone who has ever identified with a hero or heroine, been seduced by a strong opening sentence, or been powerfully moved by a story’s end, How to Write Like Tolstoy is a thought-provoking journey inside the minds of the world’s most accomplished storytellers, from Shakespeare to Stephen King. Behind every acclaimed work of literature is a trove of heartfelt decisions. The best authors put painstaking— sometimes obsessive—effort into each element of their stories, from plot and character development to dialogue and point of view. What made Nabokov choose the name Lolita? Why did Fitzgerald use first-person narration in The Great Gatsby? How did Kerouac, who raged against revision, finally come to revise On the Road? Cohen has researched the published works and private utterances of our greatest authors to discover the elements that made their prose memorable. The result is a unique exploration of the act and art of writing that enriches our experience of reading both the classics and the best modern fiction. Evoking the marvelous, the famous, and the irreverent, he reveals the challenges that even the greatest writers faced— and shows us how they surmounted them.

By Laura McHugh, Thriller

Trained mostly in cognitive-behavioral methods and techniques, many recent graduates from psychology, counseling, family therapy, and other mental health programs have not been exposed to psychoanalysis as a vibrant, practical, and beneficial approach to human problems. In The Symptom is Not the Whole Story, Araoz introduces the functional benefits and applications of psychoanalysis for these practitioners. Focusing sharply on the unconscious and its use in psychotherapy, this no-nonsense book illustrates how psychoanalytical thinking can transform people’s lives, thanks to the therapist’s active interventions and destabilizing interpretations. Written in a vivid and clear style, where clinical examples pointedly illustrate the psychological issues at hand, this book reverses the commonly held idea that psychoanalysis requires years of treatment before showing results. Araoz’s talent resides in his ability to teach mental health, marriage, and family counselors how to use psychoanalytic techniques without having been trained primarily in the discipline. All will find this book to be of particular benefit, discovering valuable guidance and applicable instructions for the use of psychoanalysis in their own therapeutic practice.

THE WISTERIA SOCIETY OF LADY SCOUNDRELS By India Holton, Historical Fiction

Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She’s also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it’s a pleasant existence. Until the men show up. Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he’s under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman. When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her--hopefully proving, once and for all, that she’s as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.

AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT By Tahera Mafi, Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old Sarabeth has become increasingly rebellious since her parents found God and moved their family to a remote Arkansas farmstead where she’s forced to wear long dresses, follow strict rules, and grow her hair down to her waist. She’s all but given up on escaping the farm when a masked man appears one stifling summer morning and snatches her out of the cornfield. A week after her abduction, she’s found alongside a highway in a bloodstained dress--alive--but her family treats her like she’s tainted, and there’s little hope of finding her captor, who kept Sarabeth blindfolded in the dark the entire time, never uttering a word. Five years later, Sarabeth is struggling to keep her past buried when investigator Nick Farrow calls. Convinced that her case is connected to the strikingly similar disappearance of another young girl, Farrow wants Sarabeth’s help, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get it, even if that means dragging her back to the last place she wants to go--the hills and hollers of home, to face her estranged family and all her deepest fears.

It’s 2003, several months since the US officially declared war on Iraq, and the American political world has evolved. Tensions are high, hate crimes are on the rise, FBI agents are infiltrating local mosques, and the Muslim community is harassed and targeted more than ever. Shadi, who wears a hijab, keeps her head down. She’s too busy drowning in her own troubles to find the time to deal with bigots. Shadi is named for joy, but she’s haunted by sorrow. Her brother is dead, her father is dying, her mother is falling apart, and her best friend has mysteriously dropped out of her life. Shadi tries to navigate her crumbling world by soldiering through, saying nothing. She devours her own pain, each day retreating farther and farther inside herself until finally, one day, everything changes. She explodes. An Emotion of Great Delight is a searing look into the world of a single Muslim family in the wake of 9/11. It’s about a child of immigrants forging a blurry identity, falling in love, and finding hope—in the midst of a modern war.

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‫‪www.euorganicjuices.eu‬‬

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‫ﻣﻭﻟﺔ ﺑﺩﻋﻡ‬ ‫ﺣﻣﻠﺔ ﺗﺭﻭﻳﺞ ﺩﻋﺎﺋﻳﺔ ُﻣ ّ‬ ‫ُﻣﻘﺩّﻡ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻹﺗﺣﺎﺩ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻲ‪.‬‬


DELIVEROO’S #LOVEYOURLOCAL CAMPAIGN GOES VEGETARIAN By bazaar staff

As part of Deliveroo Kuwait’s ongoing initiative to support local businesses, the delivery platform is encouraging customers to order their favorite coffees, meals and groceries from their most beloved local brands, under the campaign #LoveYourLocal. With many of us looking to get our diets and lifestyles back on track after Ramadan, Deliveroo is highlighting local vegan and vegetarian options that customers can enjoy. This month, Deliveroo is featuring OVO and Wilgrow, two local-grown favorites that can be found exclusively on Deliveroo Kuwait. Founded in 2016, OVO is beloved by both vegetarians and meat-lovers in Kuwait, having quickly set itself apart in the local vegetarian scene with unique dishes bursting with color, texture, and taste. Founded in 2019, Wilgrow offers a variety of delicious vegan dishes and unique, plant-based meal programs for customers. Deliveroo has seen a huge increase in demand for vegan food in the past year, with worldwide orders of plant-based dishes up 115% in 2020 compared to the previous year. In addition, the number of restaurant partners that offer vegan menus more than doubled in 2020, indicating both a consumer trend that is here to stay and higher demand from local vegetarians. Over the past year, Deliveroo has also seen a whopping 89% increase in restaurants offering vegan options worldwide. “Deliveroo Kuwait is proud to be among the market leaders who are making it that much easier to support local businesses that are at the forefront of emerging food trends both locally and worldwide,” says Seham AlHusaini, General Manager of Deliveroo Kuwait. “This month, we’re excited to focus on the vegan and vegetarian scene, highlighting two of our favorite local options, OVO and Wilgrow. At Deliveroo, we are excited to be the exclusive delivery partner of these homegrown favorites, and we look forward to continuing to support the local restaurant, coffee, and groceries industry.” OVO is a “vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian” restaurant, offering a wide array of unique vegan and vegetarian dishes, while also catering to customers who enjoy eating the occasional meat, chicken or fish. While developing its menu, OVO’s founder, Amal Chahine, adopted a vegan diet for four months as a way to ensure every menu item felt complete in and of itself, with each dish telling its own unique story. “I love tradition with a twist,” continues Chahine. “Behind every dish is a tale of civilization and history, and at OVO, every dish also incorporates something special and unexpected.”

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A prime example is OVO’s Kale Tabbouleh salad, one of the restaurant’s most popular vegetarian dishes. While tabbouleh is traditionally made using parsley, OVO’s is also prepared using kale and topped with pomegranates and goat cheese for added texture and flavor. Chahine also created her version of a rummaniya, an eggplantlentil dish native to our region and traditionally enjoyed warm and with flatbread. OVO’s recipe

can not only be enjoyed cold, but is also served with fresh sourdough to add a modern (and delicious!) touch. Located in Al-Dhai complex, Wilgrow prides itself on making healthy, clean food taste delicious. Wilgrow’s co-founder, Salman AlSabah, points out that vegan food is not only trending locally, but also internationally, with larger restaurant chains also starting to incorporate


Wilgrow’s Vegan Burger

vegan options into their menus. One of Wilgrow’s best-sellers is their Shawarma Wrap, a proteinpacked gluten-free coconut wrap with marinated soy meat. “Vegan food is not just for vegans! It’s not only fruits and vegetables that vegans have to choose from; there is so much you can do with whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds —the options are endless,” says AlSabah. “All you need is an open mind and the willingness to try.” As one of the few completely plant-based restaurants in Kuwait, Wilgrow’s dishes are also gluten-free and all-natural. The vegan restaurant specializes in making most of their ingredients from scratch — from their nut cheeses and mylks, to their breads, sauces, and more. Deliveroo Kuwait is proud to support local businesses in light of what has arguably been one of the most challenging years for businesses in the global food & beverage industry. Their latest #LoveYourLocal campaign is one of multiple initiatives designed to support local businesses throughout the year, including the addition of the pickup feature on the app, exclusive offers, and more. Deliveroo Kuwait has delivered hundreds of thousands of meals to hungry customers around the country. Since its launch, Deliveroo has set itself apart with its unbeatable customer service, putting thousands of hungry customers at ease from the second they launch the app to the minute they start enjoying a meal from one of its many local restaurant partners. With exclusive restaurant partners (including Five Guys, Starbucks, Super/Foods, OVO, Little Ruby’s, Thinnies and so much more), special offers and meal deals, you can bet that Deliveroo Kuwait’s got your next meal covered.

OVO’s Kale Tabbouleh

OVO’s Skinny Avocado Pizza

Download the app, on the App Store or Google Play for quick and easy delivery from OVO and Wilgrow as well as all of your favorite restaurants. Follow Deliveroo on Instagram @deliveroo_kw or visit deliveroo.com.kw for more information. [Continued...]

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bazaar around town FINAL TESTING FOR NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE MODEL IN THE CAYENNE PRODUCT LINE Walter Roehrl has been putting a still lightly camouflaged prototype of a powerful new Cayenne model through its paces in a tough test of its capabilities. The two-time World Rally Champion and Porsche Brand Ambassador completed numerous test laps in the high-performance SUV on the Grand Prix circuit of the Hockenheimring. In his assessment of its driving dynamics, he described the new Cayenne as a “great leap forward compared to everything that has gone before. This car redefines the meaning of the term SUV”. Since its debut back in 2002, the Cayenne featured Porsche-typical performance combined with a high degree of everyday usability and variability. In the first years, especially dynamic models included the first Cayenne Turbo S, which had an outstanding power output for 2006 of 521 PS (383 kW), and the GTS models, which were specifically tuned for sportiness from 2007. With the new model Porsche aims to underline its claim to best-in-class performance once again by focusing on exceptional on-road performance without neglecting driving comfort and everyday usability. The derivative is currently undergoing final testing and optimization for series production. It is based on the current Cayenne Turbo Coupé but has been designed and developed even more single-mindedly to provide the ultimate in terms of longitudinal and lateral dynamics. Alongside a host of other enhancements for all chassis and control systems, the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control active roll stabilization system makes a major contribution to the stable handling of the new Cayenne model with a new, performance-oriented set-up. Accompanied by the emotive sound of the new titanium exhaust system, which is equipped with centrally positioned tailpipes, Walter Roehrl drove lap after lap on the Hockenheimring and summarized: “The car remains incredibly stable even in fast corners, and its turn-in behaviour is extremely precise. More than ever, you have the feeling that you are sitting in a compact sports car rather than in a large SUV.” For more information, check out @PorscheCentreKuwait on Instagram and Facebook and contact Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company at 1870 870 or visit www.porschekuwait.com. EXPERIENCE THE FINEST HAND-CUT STEAKS AND AMAZING SEA VIEWS AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE ON GULF ROAD For those moments that you’re craving a beautifully cut flavorful steak, but you don’t feel like dressing up or worrying about reservations, Texas Roadhouse is the way to go. With their latest location on Gulf Road in Bneid Al Gar, you can experience the finest steaks cooked best to your liking with amazing sea views. The secret to the best experience at Texas Roadhouse, however, is their expert team’s ability to give you the best advice for an incredibly juicy steak- no matter what your cooking preference is! All of their steak offerings are seared to perfection to seal in their natural juices, and diners can expect the consistent quality of 100% halal USDA, 90-day grain finished, 28-day aged US beef for the perfect flavor, every single time. Don’t get us started on that bread with that mouthwatering honey cinnamon butter! Couple all this meaty goodness with the entertainment of staff line dancing and the occasional visit from Andy the Armadillo, Texas Roadhouse is a treat not to be forgotten. Texas Roadhouse is located in Grand Avenue- The Avenues (2228 3117), Sidra Complex in Mahboula (2208 1302) and Arabian Gulf Street- Bneid Al Gar (2221 4896). For more information and for the latest updates follow them @texasroadhouseme on Instagram and Facebook. ENJOY POWERFUL SURROUND SOUND WITH THE NEW HT-S40R FROM SONY Sony has announced the HT-S40R, a new powerful sound system, perfect for recreating a real cinema sound that fits your home. The HT-S40R has 600W of powerful and real 5.1 channel surround sound, with wireless rear speakers that bring every movie to life. With the new HT-S40R you can set up your home theatre system however you’d like with minimum wires. With a wireless amplifier that powers the rear speakers, there are no wires between the front and rear to get in your way. The system can deliver cinema sound without clutter or complexity. For even fewer wires in your living room, you can send audio to your home theatre system wirelessly with a Sony BRAVIA TV supporting TV wireless connection. It’s not just movies that sound amazing, the HT-S40R is made for music too. You can use Bluetooth to wirelessly stream music from your smartphone or use the USB port to play audio from a USB device. The HT-S40R is ready ‘to go’ straight out of the box. The speaker system comes with 4 sound modes; cinema, music, standard and auto sound so that you can choose the one that’s right for whatever you’re watching or listening to. You can also choose Night and Voice modes when you need them and the subwoofer’s volume control to fine-tune your viewing experience. For detailed product information, please visit: https://www.sony.com/en-ae/electronics/ sound-bars/ht-s20r. 134


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bazaar scopes

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Scorpios are the most deeply receptive of any sun sign. With the upcoming solstice, you are in your most receptive listening mode, tuned to the deepest possible realms. Healing dreams, revelations, and encounters with divine messengers are possible. Dreams or encounters with water spirits—dolphins, frogs, fish, have powerful personal messages now. The deepest part of your soul reveals itself. Be quiet and listen. Pay attention to synchronicities and symbols, especially those of water.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21

This is your most powerful and effective intellectual time of the year as Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Pluto add strength to your mental process. You have greater clarity of perception, thought and communication. You can successfully engage in challenging conceptual thinking, conversation, debate or selling. Show your bright mind. Don’t waste a fine opportunity by being mentally lazy. Think. Read. Learn. Write. Talk. Try Ginkgo Biloba or any other mind enhancing supplements that improve memory or stimulate healthy brain function.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22 This month’s solstice is one of the most restorative and healing times in memory. As the solstice energy mixes with the waters of Mars and Uranus in Pisces, it infuses you with renewed psychic and emotional energy. This is a highly fertile time, one that brings the birth of new elements into your life. Who, what and where restores you? Take time for these things. Heal family wounds through compassion and sensitivity. Tender acts towards others transform.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22

This month is a propitious time to reflect upon the intense and purifying fire you have recently endured. This is a fine time to reflect upon your spiritual purpose—as a Sagittarius—to be a catalyst to yourself and others. Reflect on the element of Fire as Spirit, Eros, Sun, Mountain, King, Gold and Purification. Build, light, gaze and tend fires—fire-pits, fireplaces or a simple candle will do. Rededicate yourself now to your renewed spiritual vision.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Magicians must be good astrologers to know when genuine magic can happen. Saturn, your ruling planet, makes its most auspicious contact with Uranus. You have the ability to successfully seed an intention within the hour suggested. Or concentrate then upon an important matter that has been stuck and needs to move forward with creative change. Watch what happens. Study the art of magic, as all you need now is the knowledge of an effective technique and the will to use it.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 This month’s Solar Eclipse makes its positive aspects to your Sun and to Neptune, Pluto and Jupiter. This celestial pattern acts like a cosmic “mental attractor” pulling the future toward you. You now have stronger imaginal power to specifically envision and seed your future. Empower your dreams with strong intention. Make a collage of words and images that you would like to see manifest for yourself. See this in your mind’s eye.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19

Periodically Leos allow their egos to start over to find their true spirit. If your old life is dying and another struggling to be born, you have help from Jupiter, Neptune, Venus and Mercury. They’ll assist you to let go, transform and transcend. Fresh starts are favored this month. Get rid of what no longer serves you. Shine your big-hearted Leo light, as the world needs it most now. Bless others with messages of faith and hope.

Earth to Pisces! This month’s solstice powerfully conjoins Saturn to help you feel more grounded and comfortable in your body. Neptuneruled Pisces sometimes have a hard time accepting earth life. Have you noticed how you yearn to escape into other dimensions? Practice grounding exercises: stamp your feet. Drum. Eat root vegetables. Sit on the earth. Hug a tree. Garden. Work your hands in clay or through a bowl of soil. Start a regime to strengthen your body.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22

ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19

“Carpe Diem” (Seize the day), as Saturn now helps to strengthen your position. Saturn makes an auspicious aspect to your Sun, especially for those born the last week of August. This influence acts like the reinforcing bars in concrete and supplies you with the raw material to build a stronger foundation for your future. What you accomplish now is earned. Work with discipline and patience. Take on your most demanding projects, especially those that depend on your leadership and your own personal effort.

You now have the energy, desire and good timing to gain attention or to attract others to you. Advance your ideas and position by taking the initiative. Watch that you are not being pushy and self-centered, however. If you are a timid Aries or feel sluggish, eat hot spicy foods—ginger, chili peppers, wasabi mustard. They stimulate what in yoga is called your “Mars chakra,” helping you activate your inner fire and make the best of this auspicious time.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20

Beauty = Attraction = Love. All these principles connect to Venus, your ruling planet, and especially this month as she ascends to sweetly touch five other planets. You more easily tap into your sensual, affectionate and loving Libran nature, stimulating your inherent romantic side and yearning for divine union. Any relationship that begins now is likely blessed by the Goddess. Be loving. Be receptive. Express your heart. Enhance your pleasure. Deepen intimacy with massage, fantasy or indulgence.

As this solstice occurs amidst profound celestial energy, this time can revive you. You are more able to drink in fresh psychic currents that flow from the depth of your being. Use this month to restore your soul. Take it easy and relax. Retreats that include water therapies—Jacuzzis, float tanks (sensory deprivation in salt water) or hot springs would be ideal. Take a beach vacation. Drink more water. Renew intimacy with those you have put on hold.

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Source: wisehoroscope.org


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Taking you to Sicily

Grand Avenue The Avenues

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