The end. - Gulf Times

DOHA 21°C—29°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11L P

Thursday, November 30, 2017Rabia I 12, 1439 AH

CommunityOver 100 recreational runners aged

12 and over compete together with 29 student-athletes from Aspire Academy.

P6 P16 CommunityThe Lounge at Kempinski Residences

and Suites promises to be the perfect after-work hangout to meet friends.

The end.COVERSTORY How Nasa engineers mourn the

demise of a spacecraft. P4-5

Thursday, November 30, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.41amShorooq (sunrise) 6.01amZuhr (noon) 11.22amAsr (afternoon) 2.23pmMaghreb (sunset) 4.45pmIsha (night) 6.15pm

Never believe that a few

caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s

all who ever have. — Margaret Mead

The Mall Cinema (1): Tumhari Sulu (Hindi) 2pm; Daddy’s Home 2 (2D) 4:30pm; Daddy’s Home 2 (2D) 6:15pm; The Mountain Between Us (2D) 8pm; Act Of Vengeance (2D) 10pm; Good Time (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Olaf And Coco (2D) 2:30pm; Paddington 2 (2D) 5pm; Paddington 2 (2D) 7pm; Firangi (Hindi) 9pm; S.M.A.R.T. Chase (2D) 11:45pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 2:15pm; Firangi (Hindi) 5pm; S.M.A.R.T. Chase (2D) 7:30pm; Better Watch Out (2D) 9:15pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Paddington 2 (2D) 2:30pm; Olaf And Coco (2D) 4:45pm; Act Of Vengeance (2D) 7pm; S.M.A.R.T. Chase (2D) 8:30pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 10:30pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Olaf And Coco (2D) 3pm; Paddington 2 (2D) 5:30pm; Paddington 2 (2D)

7:30pm; Daddy’s Home 2 (2D) 9:30pm; S.M.A.R.T. Chase (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Thiruttu Payale 2 (Tamil) 3pm; Daddy’s Home 2 (2D) 6pm; The Mountain Between Us (2D) 7:45pm; Better Watch Out (2D) 9:45pm; Good Time (2D) 11:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Olaf And Coco (2D) 2:30pm; Olaf And Coco (2D) 4:45pm; Paddington 2 (2D) 7pm; Daddy’s Home 2 (2D) 9pm; S.M.A.R.T. Chase (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Paddington 2 (2D) 3pm; Paddington 2 (2D) 5pm; Act Of Vengeance (2D) 7pm; S.M.A.R.T. Chase (2D) 9pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 11:15pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace

(3): Al Jawla Akheera (Arabic) 2:30pm; Daddy’s Home 2 (2D) 4:30pm; Better Watch Out (2D) 6:15pm; Good Time (2D) 7:45pm; The Mountain Between Us (2D) 9:30pm; Thiruttu Payale 2 (Tamil) 11:30pm.Asian Town Cinema:Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 12:30pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 3pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 5:45pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 8:45pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 11:45pm; Firangi (Hindi) 1pm; Oxygen (Telugu) 3:45pm; Jawaan (Telugu) 6:30pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 9:15pm; Lava Kusha (Malayalam) 12:15am; Annadurai (Tamil) 1pm; Thiruttu Payale 2 (Tamil) 4pm; Annadurai (Tamil) 7pm; Thiruttu Payale 2 (Tamil) 10pm; Annadurai (Tamil) 1am; Jawaan (Telugu) 12:30pm; Gooda Loochana (Malayalam) 3pm; Firangi (Hindi) 5:45pm; Gooda Loochana (Malayalam) 8:45pm; Annadurai (Tamil) 11:45pm.

EVENTS

Jingle all the Way WHEN: TodayWHERE: Shangri-La Hotel Ballroom, West Bay DohaTIME: 7pmThe Doha Singers will be presenting its Annual Festive

Concert at the Shangri-La Hotel Ballroom. This concert, titled “Jingle all the Way,” will see the Doha Singers showcasing some of the festival’s most favourite songs, featuring also the choral suite from the animated movie Frozen and a wide selection of traditional songs and carols.

The concert features the chorus of more than 120 singers, a violinist and a pianist. Musical Director Claire Daniels conducts the concert. In addition to the pieces performed by the full chorus, the programme includes special performance by the Acapella Group, solo and duet singers. Joining the Doha Singers will be the young and talented group of choir singers from International School of London, Qatar.

The audience can expect well-loved festive music. Tickets are priced at QR120 for adults and QR80 for children aged 11 and under.

Kids Dance Classes for NovemberWHERE: Music and Arts Atelier, Bin Omran near Ahli

HospitalWHEN: Until end of NovemberTIME: 5pm-6pmKids dance classes this November at Music and Arts

Atelier promise to teach them Latin, Ballet, Hip Hop and even Tae Kwon Do this November. Call 3300 3839 for more details.

CIGI Aptitude TestWHERE: MES Indian School, Gate 2WHEN: TomorrowTIME: 8am-3pmC-DAT is a proven scientific test that unveils a structure

of a person’s inborn potential and natural ability. This test is ideal for 9th to 12th grade students. The test will be held

on December 1 from 8:30am till 3pm. For more information call 3344-4668.

Aspire Park Run ChallengeWHERE: Aspire ParkWHEN: Dec 2TIME: 7:30amAspire Zone Foundation is organising its first ‘Aspire

Park Run Challenge’ to give recreational runners over the age of 12 years a chance to test their speed and stamina in 3-6K races against Aspire Academy’s world-class athletes. The first race has already been held, while the second race will be held on December 2. This event builds on the success of previous professional tournaments in Aspire Zone, such as the IAU 50 KM World Championship and the Aspire International 6:50 Race, which reflects the growing interests in running within the community in Qatar. The races are open for anyone above the age of 12, so friends and family members can make a fun family day out of it.

Volunteer for Ajyal Youth Film FestivalWHERE: DFIWHEN: Nov 29-Dec 4Volunteer for the annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival and

gain invaluable experience in the film industry. The festival takes place from November 29 to December 4. It brings audiences of all ages from around the world to discover new stories and hear new voices in a fun and collaborative environment.

Luis Fonsi in Doha WHERE: W HotelWHEN: Dec 6TIME: 9pmDespacito star and Puerto Rican music sensation Luis

Fonsi is coming to Doha for an exclusive performance on December 6 at 9pm at the Great Room at W Doha. As a singer, songwriter and music producer, Luis has dominated across several genres including Billboard’s Top Latin, Latin Pop and Heat seekers charts.

3Thursday, November 30, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

Amazing African CircusWHERE: Hyatt PlazaWHEN: Jan 8-21TIME: 5:30pmFrom January 8 to 21, the Amazing

African Circus will be at Hyatt Plaza food court area starting from 5:30pm. Bring your friends and family and come enjoy the show. Entry is free.

B.Square Mall Grand EventWHERE: Al Thumama, DohaWHEN: OngoingTIME: 6:30pmThe only mall in Qatar dedicated to

entertainment, B.Square Mall will occupy a total space of 26,000 sq.m and 250 car parking spaces, as well as provide a range of shopping, services, and entertainment options.

Torba Farmers MarketWHERE: Education CityWHEN: OngoingTIME: 9amQatar Foundation (QF) has partnered

with Torba Farmers Market, a Qatar-based initiative that aims to deliver organic and locally-grown food and homemade products, to host a weekly market in Education City. Open to the public, the market be held at QF’s Ceremonial Court, accessible from gate 2, every Thursday from 9am-4pm and every Friday from 8am-11am and 2pm-5pm.The name ‘Torba’ is derived from Arabic, and means “the pure soil that feeds, nourishes, and nurtures.” A wide range of fresh, locally-grown items will be on offer, including organic fruits and vegetables, homemade preserves, syrups, and butters, as well as handicrafts and gardening supplies.

Evolution Sports QatarWHERE: Evolution SportsWHEN: OngoingEvolution Sports will mark its

anniversary by hosting a number of exciting events throughout 2017 as well as some

amazing promotions, ten years on from when the club was formed on September 1, 2007. The club has been working with a panel of coaches and directors to plan the events which will be announced over the coming months. Members should look forward to a variety of different occasions, suitable for all ages so the whole family can get involved in the birthday celebrations. To kick-off things off, Evolution Sports recently launched their 10-year anniversary logo. The emblem has been designed by Toyan Greaves, the man behind the original Evolution Sports logo and will be used on all documentation, both online and offline for the next 12 months.

Breakdance ClassesWHEN: Sunday-WednesdayBreakdancing is part of the Hip Hop

culture that originated in New York and has since spread all over the world. Breakdancing is an athletic and acrobatic style of dancing, which can often appear to defy the laws of physics. This extreme dance-sport uses tremendous upper-body strength for tricks and poses and a great way to get into shape and have fun. Register now by calling 33003839 or e-mail [email protected]

Reggae Beachfest DohaWHEN: Thursdays and FridaysWHERE: Oyster Beach Bar at St. Regis

HotelTIME: 8pm onwardsIn collaboration with Reggae Beachfest

in Dubai, Qatar will witness the best rasta nights around. The organisers say, “We’ve got the setup sorted to get you feeling the Caribbean vibe. Along with our resident

band Earthkry all the way from Jamaica, we have so many big names in the Reggae scene lined up at this huge beachfest!” Entrance fee is QR50 at the door. For more information, please call 44460105.

Dance & Fitness Classes WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier, Villa 57,

Bin OmranWHEN: OngoingAtelier is the newest music and arts

school in Doha that offers dance and fitness classes for kids to adults such as ballet, hiphop, salsa, tango, and other Latin dances, Zumba, Tae Kwon Do, Yoga, kickboxing.

Contact at [email protected] or 33003839.

Reggae Nights every SundayWHERE: Sheraton Grand DohaWHEN: Every Sunday TIME: 9pmSpend your summer nights with some

good “irie” reggae music every Sunday. Doors open at 9pm at The Irish Harp. Entrance Fees is QR50 for gents. Ladies enter free. For further information, please call 44853000 or e-mail at F&[email protected]

Salsa NightsWHERE: The Irish Harp-Sheraton

Grand Doha WHEN: Every WednesdayTIME: 9pmGet ready for some Latin beats every

Wednesday night, where all the salseros and salseras in town meet and party all night. Entry is QR50 for gents. Ladies enter free. For details call 4485 3000

It’s the end of the year and business is looking good. People are walking into restaurants now more than they did last month or

early this year. Everyone’s in a good mood. They want to spend some good time with their family and friends in their favourite restaurants in town. As a restaurateur, you are on the other side and get to see your restaurant booked out or even people waiting to get in. It’s a great time for all no doubt. But it’s also when you need to take care of and appreciate your customers more than before.

Appreciation doesn’t need to be vocal or in plain words like ‘thank you’. Gestures speak the loudest. Since it is the season for being thankful for everything the year has given, you can include your patrons in the list. Like we always say, little things go a long way. Let’s break down these few “little things” you can do for your customers this festive season.

On the houseIt’s pretty standard practice to

give a dessert or a beverage on the house to help rectify customer complaints. But it doesn’t have to wait till customers are

disgruntled. Being nice is a part of hospitality. On festive occasions, you can give them a dessert on the house. Even better, send your loyal customers a box of specialties from your restaurant’s kitchen. Cookies, plum cake, cold pressed juices, chocolates, savouries and the likes. With that you can nudge them to visit your restaurant,

giving them the itinerary for the event. It won’t just get you some good will, but also some buzz on social media.

Speaking of social mediaThis is where you need to get on

fourth gear. Everybody is looking for new things to do this month. New restaurants to visit, checking out restaurants with special

menus or events and posting what they ate and where they ate. You have to get in on some of that action. Regularly post about your restaurant promotions, making sure it catches the most eyeballs. A kind gesture will reach a number of potential customers on social media. Haven’t you seen pictures of hampers or even a box of cookies floating around

Instagram and Facebook with a thank you note to the brand, restaurant or patisserie? It’s a way to spread the word of your presence and goodness.

Make them comfortableWhen dinners are booked out

and people are standing in line, get one of your staff members to attend them. It still isn’t a common practice, but it should be. A negative review begins while standing in line waiting to be served. When someone with a smile helps them stay calm and comfortable, it shows them you care. Even a simple gesture like taking their orders while they wait for a table or having extra stools put up at the bar for them will do more than giving them freebies. Hire extra staff during these peak seasons and motivate your current staff to give the restaurant more than what they normally would.

Sail through this festive season with happy customers on board and you will surely be making merry once the stars are taken down.

Content contributed

by zomato.com

Making customers happy


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The last goodbyeThe team had seven years to prepare for the spacecraft’s end on September 15.

But that didn’t make it easy to say goodbye, writes Deborah Netburn

EMOTION QUOTIENT: When it comes to spacecraft, even scientists get sentimental.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, California — They called it a wake, but the loved one they had come to mourn

wasn’t a person.It was the Cassini spacecraft,

the robotic explorer that had spent the last 13 years unlocking the mysteries of Saturn, its rings and its many moons.

Soon after Cassini vaporised like a shooting star in the

Saturnian sky, about 175 members of the mission’s engineering team gathered in an airy banquet room at the La Canada Flintridge Country Club to eulogise their spacecraft.

There were toasts and singing. But there were some misty eyes as well.

“You have this great pride in all you were able to accomplish,” said Earl Maize, Cassini project manager at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion

Laboratory. “But it’s still an emotional loss.”

When it comes to spacecraft, even scientists get sentimental.

These flying hunks of metal call their caretakers in the middle of the night, infuriate them with their quirks and dazzle them with amazing discoveries about the universe.

So is it any wonder that when their time has passed, their human handlers will feel a sense of loss?

Cassini’s instruments were working just fine at the time of its demise; the problem was that it was running out of fuel. Mission planners worried that if they didn’t crash the orbiter into the ringed planet, it might collide with one of Saturn’s ice moons and contaminate it. That would complicate future efforts to search for signs of life there.

The team had seven years to prepare for the spacecraft’s end

on September 15. But that didn’t make it easy to say goodbye.

Some of the assembled mourners had been with the mission since before it blasted into space in 1997.

The banquet room was booked for five hours. It wasn’t enough.

When a spacecraft dies, it’s not just the exploration that comes to an end. It’s also the end of an intense collaboration here on Earth.


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

“People put so much of their heart and effort into what we used to call the care and feeding of the spacecraft,” said Eilene Theilig, a planetary geologist who worked as the project manager for the Galileo mission to Jupiter at JPL and is now an ordained minister in Fort Worth, Texas. “It is such a team effort, and when it goes away, you are dealing not only with the loss of the spacecraft, but also the loss of the team.”

Nicolas Altobelli, a scientist at the European Space Agency, bid farewell to two spacecraft in a 12-month period.

In addition to serving as the ESA’s principal scientist for Cassini, he worked on the agency’s Rosetta mission to the comet known as 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. After a dozen years in space, Rosetta crash-landed on the comet’s austere surface in September 2016.

Working on a flagship space mission is like being on a ship that has been sent to explore a new world, he said.

“Everyone is kind of unified by this one object, and that’s the beauty of it,” he said. “But when it’s over, you realise that it’s not the ship disappearing that hurts the most, it’s the dismantling of the crew.”

Sometimes the sense of loss begins even before the mission ends.

Todd Barber, Cassini’s lead propulsion engineer, found himself unexpectedly overcome by emotion during Cassini’s last weeks. He had just completed a routine report detailing how much propellant was probably left in the spacecraft’s thrusters.

“I’ve done almost 3,000 of those reports over the past 20 years,” he said. “When I finished my very final one I just burst into tears.”

Jo Pitesky also found herself

feeling increasingly distraught as the mission’s final days drew near. A science planner for the Cassini mission, she reached out to a friend for advice on how to honour the mission’s end.

That friend, Deborah Silver, happens to be a rabbi.

“It was probably the weirdest pastoral counselling request she ever got,” Pitesky said.

To help Silver understand the significance of the event, Pitesky sent her an animation that dramatised Cassini’s final, unwinnable battle against the atmosphere of Saturn.

“Even people who have nothing to do with the mission watch that video and cry,” she said.

Of course, everyone mourns

diff erently. And some less than others.

“I think I’ll start missing it, but I don’t miss it yet,” said Julie Webster, Cassini’s chief engineer at JPL who was charged with making sure the spacecraft stayed in good working order. “I’m still in the recovery phase of ‘I’m so glad this thing isn’t calling me in the middle of the night.’”

Then there are folks like Bonnie Buratti, principal scientist and supervisor of the Comets, Asteroids and Satellites Group at JPL. She became so attached to the robotic explorer that she tried to dampen her pain with a little retail therapy the day before the fi nal plunge.

“I bought a new car,” she said. “I didn’t realise it was the substitute

when I was buying it, but when I went to pick it up I realised what I was doing.”

The new car is a silver Pacifi ca hybrid minvan, and Buratti said it reminds her of Cassini.

She named it Cassie.Comet researcher Paul Weissman

worked on both Galileo and Rosetta during his tenure at JPL. He said seeing them end is like losing a member of your family — but working on missions that never got off the ground is worse.

“That was more hurtful,” said Weissman, who has experienced that pain twice. “We put in a lot of eff ort and they didn’t happen because of politics or fi nances or petty personalities. I’m still very bitter about that.”

And then there are the ones that make it to space but meet an untimely end. Consider the Mars Observer, which launched in 1992 and exploded just a few days before it was supposed to begin orbiting the Red Planet.

“That was a very heavy time around here,” said Webster, who was telecommunications lead for that mission. “Twenty years later I was fi nally ready to give a talk about what happened. It was like a group purge.”

Pitesky said that while there are feelings of grief and loss for Cassini, there is not a sense of tragedy.

“It’s like how it’s diff erent when a young adult dies, rather than someone who had the fullness of time,” she said.

It also helps that JPL has a lot of experience with the emotions tied to the end of a mission. Maize said the Cassini leadership team reached out to the lab’s employee assistance programme to get advice on how to help those who might be struggling with the transition to post-Cassini life.

“Among the many suggestions were that we get people together soon after the event,” he said.

Which explains the gathering at the country club.

That day, there was a performance by the Cassini singers, a group of about a dozen mission staff ers who write and perform parody songs with a Cassini theme. Their end-of-mission repertoire included two Hamilton parodies — You’ll Be Back and The Saturn System (sung to the tune of The Schuyler Sisters).

At one point the group rapped:We hold this truth to be self-

evidentNo planets are created equalAnd when I meet the head of

Nasa (Unh!) I’mma compel HER to include a Cassini sequel

The crowd roared. — Los Angeles Times/TNS

BIDDING ADIEU: Jo Pitesky, right, Cassini project scientist/engineer holds a model of the Cassini craft and Todd Barber, lead propulsion engineer, in the Mission Control Center at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

LEGACY: Bonnie Buratti, at her home in Altadena, California, is a principal scientist and supervisor of the Comets, Asteroids, and Satellites Group at Jet Propulsion Laboratory and says she is using retail therapy – she purchased a new minivan that she has named Cassie in memory of the Cassini mission.

“Everyone is kind of unified by this one object, and that’s the beauty of it,” Nicolas Altobelli, a scientist at the European Space Agency, says. “But when it’s over, you realise that it’s not the ship disappearing that hurts the most, it’s the dismantling of the crew”


COMMUNITY

Over 100 participants compete in first Aspire Park Run Challenge

THE FASTEST: The Top three 6K winners.

GROUP PHOTO: Some of Aspire Academy's student-athletes at the race.

REGISTRATION: A snapshot from the participants' registration before the races began.

More than 100 recreational runners aged 12 and over competed together with 29

student-athletes from Aspire Academy in the fi rst Aspire Park Run Challenge Series, organised by Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), recently. Abdulla Aziz (Adult) and Ilyass El Ouali (Junior) won the 3K and 6K races respectively.

The 3K race started at 7:30am with 60 recreational runners and 22 student-athletes from Aspire Academy taking part. Abdulla Aziz (Adult) secured fi rst place after fi nishing the race in 9 minutes and 46 seconds. Second place winner Ethan Bennett (Junior) trailed seconds behind, fi nishing the race in 9 minutes and 54 seconds. Adnan Karmoussi, a young athlete from Aspire Academy, fi nished in third place completing the race in 10 minutes and 10 seconds.

The 6K race followed at 8am with more than 76 recreational runners and seven student-athletes from Aspire Academy taking part. Ilyass El Ouali (Junior) won the race in record-time, fi nishing in 19 minutes and 54 seconds. Mehdi Mersni (Adult) followed in second place after fi nishing in 20 minutes and 35 seconds, with Muawia Abdulrahman Balla, another young athlete from Aspire Academy, coming in third after fi nishing the

race in 20 minutes and 56 seconds.Adnan Karmoussi, a student-

athlete at Aspire Academy who competes in the 800m and 1500m and who fi nished third in the 3K race, said: “It was great to compete in today’s event. Running on sand on the horse trail gave us useful experience of diff erent surfaces and is good preparation for cross-country competitions. I have just returned after a fi ve month break due to injury, so this race was great practice for me. Competitions like these are a great opportunity for student-athletes at Aspire

Academy to see how we measure up, and provide useful indicators of our performance leading up to the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.”

Commenting on the competitions, Alanoud al-Mesnad, Acting Head of Events at AZF, said: “Aspire Zone always looks to provide a wide range of community events to give sports enthusiasts plenty of chances to enjoy their favourite sport. We had more than 100 participants take part so we’re very happy with the big turn out and involvement of large numbers

of recreational runners in Qatar. Today’s event is part of a challenge series that will be resume in early December when we’re expecting an even larger participation.”

She added, “Qataris and expats over the age of 12 are all welcome to sign up for the races – both men and women. Aspire Academy’s student-athletes took part to make the race more challenging and exciting for recreational athletes who are keen to fi nd chances to compete against professionals.”

Meanwhile, 17-year-old runner Ilyass El Ouali from Al Ahli Sports

Club, who won the 6K race, praised the competition organisers by saying: “I’m very happy to have won the 6K run. I’ve been training very hard work and focusing my eff orts for a number of years. The event was very well organised and I really enjoyed taking part. Students from Aspire Academy provided a very high standard of competition and I wish them all the best of luck.”

Qatari participant, Abdullah al-Kaabi, was part of Q-tri team comprising seven Qatari recreational athletes who take part in various swimming, running and cycling competitions around Doha. Speaking on behalf of his team, he said: “We thank Aspire Zone Foundation for doing such a wonderful job in organising great competitions like this. We’re always keen to take part in such events organised by AZF and other local sporting organisations, and do so on nearly a weekly basis. We’ve enjoyed our time today, but we need to build up our stamina and speed, particularly for the 6K race. Doing so will enable us to come back even stronger and quicker in forthcoming events.”

The second ‘Aspire Park Run’ race will be held on December 2 in Aspire Park, behind the Coff eeshop Company. Adults and young people interested in taking part can sign up through the website www.lifeinaspire.qa

RACE: The 3K race started at 7:30am, while the 6K race took place at 8am.


COMMUNITY

Smash Tennis Academy appoints Burrda Sport as kit partnerSmash Tennis Academy and Burrda Sport have announced a new partnership. Burrda Sport has become the Smash Tennis Academy’s Off icial Kit Partner and will provide the club with a selection of clothing for training and leisurewear. Ayham Deeb, General Manager of Smash Tennis Academy, said, “We are very pleased to appoint the locally-based Burrda Sport as our off icial kit partner. Our coaches now have a dedicated collection of training and leisure wear which also provides a fresh, uniform and consistent look for

our team. We look forward to a long and successful partnership together.”Collin Allin, Chief Operating Officer of Burrda Sport, said, “This is fantastic news for our brand, especially as we move forward to provide customised and dedicated sports and leisure clothing and footwear working across a variety of sports. We are proud to be partnering with the talented team at Smash Tennis Academy as the academy grows and reaches out to more people.”

Maktaba Children’s Library to mark second anniversary with craft fair

STORY TIME: The event will give people an opportunity to discover Maktaba Children’s Library. FAIR: The QatArt craft fair will feature over 20 vendors.

Maktaba Children’s Library is welcoming the public to join it for its second anniversary

celebration and craft fair on December 2 from 11am to 4:30pm. The event is being co-sponsored by

QatArt Handmade Community. The event will give people an

opportunity to discover Maktaba, shop the QatArt craft fair with over 20 vendors selling handmade art works, jewellery, soft toys and locally made crafts of all kinds and grab a bite from the handpicked vendors in

their food court. Inside the library, participants

have access to what the library is describing as exciting craft workshops and healthy living cooking demonstrations, story time and lots of library activities as well as the chance to win a free library

membership. Entry and library activities are free.

A special anniversary promotion will roll back Maktaba membership fees by 30%. Vendors at the event will only accept cash payments.

QatArt’s support for Maktaba’s anniversary includes handmade

market with more than 20 vendors and workshops for children. Participants can get creative with buttons or make bookmarks with rubber stamps. Workshop fees start at QR30 inclusive of all materials and children from the age of 2 can participate.


COMMUNITY

Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Wonderland now open in QatarHot on the heels of the hugely successful launch of Charlotte Tilbury’s first ever standalone Beauty Wonderland outside of the UK in Kuwait, the world’s number one makeup artist continues on the Middle East launch of her revolutionary makeup, skincare and scent brand by opening a Beauty Wonderland at the Doha Festival City Mall, Qatar. Charlotte Tilbury is operated in the Middle East by M.H. Alshaya Co. The store incorporates the latest cutting-edge digital innovations with the signature, sumptuous Old Hollywood-inspired interiors which have become synonymous with the brand.

Blue Salon customers experience Franck Muller’s perfume line

Friendly football match between One India Association and FC BiddaThe One India Association organised a friendly football match between its Kerala Chapter and FC Bidda at GEMS Wakrah recently. FC Bidda won the match 4-2. In the end, OIA Kerala Secretary Mohammad Ajmal congratulated the winners and thanked both the teams for providing good sporting value.

Blue Salon recently organised a private olfactive experience and the viewing of the haute perfumery line of Franck Muller, the master of complications. Watches by Franck Muller are famous for their fusion of modern style, mostly inspired by American watches from the thirties, with Swiss watchmaking excellence.


COMMUNITY

Bennett Jones’ Doha off ice celebrates 6th anniversary

MANAGING PARTNER: George Vlavianos.

The Doha offi ce of Bennett Jones (Gulf) LLP is celebrating its sixth anniversary since opening in the fall of 2011. The Canadian-based international law fi rm established itself in Qatar to better serve clients in the

country and the Gulf region. Bennett Jones’ offi ce has been located in Tornado Tower since 2013.

“It’s been a tremendous six years here in Qatar,” says George Vlavianos, managing partner of Bennett Jones’ Doha offi ce and leader of the fi rm’s arbitration practice, who’s been there from day one. “When we opened our offi ce in 2011, our goal was to serve Canadian and Gulf-based clients in the region and to help facilitate market and foreign investment opportunities between Qatar, the Gulf and Canada. We feel we’ve accomplished that and more. I am particularly proud of the disputes and arbitration practice we have built in Doha; it is second to none as is our team here on the ground in Qatar.”

In its six years in Doha, Bennett Jones has handled a series of complex dispute mandates arising out of large-scale construction projects in Qatar and elsewhere in the Gulf region. The fi rm has also worked closely with sovereign wealth funds, ultra-high net worth individuals and their families.

“We’ve grown, become a part of the local business

community and worked with some incredible clients,” says Vlavianos. “We’re looking forward to continue growing and building our offi ce and business here in Doha.”

Bennett Jones is one of the top energy law fi rms in the world, working for some of the largest conglomerates in the industry. The fi rm routinely acts on high-level dispute mandates in the energy and construction sectors, and has advised on some of the largest international oil and gas deals in recent years.

Bennett Jones is fully integrated in Qatari life, as well. All of the lawyers and staff in Bennett Jones’ offi ce live in Doha with their families and support the local community. “We all feel right at home here,” says Vlavianos. “Being a part of everyday life in Doha has made us part of the community. All of us really enjoy it here and this helps us understand the needs of our clients much better.”

Bennett Jones’ history in Canada dates back to 1922 when it opened its fi rst offi ce in Calgary. When oil was struck in Alberta in 1947, the fi rm’s lawyers began drafting the original oil fi eld contracts in Canada. Since then, Bennett Jones’ energy practice has been the leader in Canada and expanded to serve clients around the world.

Gahwetna and Jwala now open at Medina Centrale

TUK TUK: Jwala, with its elegant yet minimalist truly Indian-inspired décor, is gunning to become the favourite Indian dining destination for Doha foodies.

INSPIRED: Gahwetna is a unique all-day dining outlet, which features authentic Qatari cuisine.

AURA Hospitality & Food Services and its sister company Palma Hospitality Group offi cially opened two

new dining outlets, Gahwetna and Jwala, at Medina Centrale, The Pearl, during the Lifestyle Festival, a unique entertainment and lifestyle extravaganza.

Gahwetna is a unique all-day dining outlet, which features authentic Qatari cuisine. The restaurant welcomes guests in its cosy ambience, which recreates an old typical Qatari house, and presents its authentic and eclectic menu inspired by the Khaleeji culture.

On the other hand, Jwala, a

unique fi ne dining contemporary restaurant with its rich and varied menu, promises to take guests on a multi-sensory journey through the diverse gastronomic traditions of India. Featuring elegant yet minimalist truly Indian-inspired décor, the outlet is gunning to become the favourite Indian dining destination among Doha’s food-loving community.

Celebrations to welcome the new comers in the picturesque settings of Medina Centrale featured live performances of street artists, stilt walkers and music bands, as well as karaoke stages and exclusive entertainment sessions, including live shows by renowned Lebanese singer Diala Saab and Wahdon band

who entertained the guests at Debs W Remman.

Following its success over the past few weeks, the Lifestyle Festival will resume on December 7 with more exclusive entertainment including a performances by the Lebanese band Iyyem el Lira in front of Debs w Remman.

In addition to the new restaurants, the festival features memorable family-friendly gastronomic experiences off ered by AURA and Palma’s six key F&B and entertainment outlets, including Megapolis, the top-notch indoor entertainment venue: Orient Pearl, Qatar’s most acclaimed standalone fi ne dining restaurant; Souq Waqif’s renowned Syrian outlet,

Damasca One; Debs W Remman, the Ambassador of Lebanese cuisine in Qatar; the Mediterranean La Casa Twenty Eight and Baladna Park in Al Khor.

The recent Lifestyle Festival’s unique initiatives and activities included the generous and wow-factor competitions held in collaboration with Megapolis entertainment centre on November 10 and 11, which awarded Mashaal al-Naimi, who won the Formula One simulator competition, with a brand new 2018 Mini Cooper and Benjie Gutreres, who came fi rst in the billiard competition, winning a trip for two to Turkey with a fi ve-star hotel accommodation.

“Lifestyle Festival is a great in-

house initiative, which we see as an opportunity to better connect with our consumers in Doha. Our collection of restaurants and entertainment outlets have grown to become a popular addition to the city’s leisure off ering and the festival, is our way of thanking our guests for their loyalty and support over the years. Both AURA Hospitality & Food Services and Palma Hospitality Group are committed to strengthening Doha’s gastronomic and entertainment credentials, and we are proud to host the Doha community at this festival that provides more awareness of our world-class brands,” said Charbel Mhanna, CEO of Aura Hospitality & Food Services.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

Out with the old and in with the new! That seems to be your mantra

for the day, especially where your home is concerned. Your energy

and motivation are high. If anyone can execute a complete one-day

redecoration, you can. But even you can get hurt when trying to

move a sofa by yourself. Enlist help, but be careful not to work them

too hard. Not everyone has your energy!

Today is good for relationships. Regardless of whether it’s personal

or professional, you can expect good things to happen. You may be

called upon to participate in an unusual group project and strike up

some potentially beautiful friendships. At home, your mate may be

especially thoughtful and demonstrative. You radiate an aura of love

and warmth, and people respond in kind.

It’s likely that you’ve been working too hard and too long. Don’t you

think the time has come for a bit of a break? Even if you manage to

drag yourself out of bed, you’re unlikely to accomplish much. When

your heart isn’t in it, it’s diff icult for your mind to work. A few days of

rest and relaxation will rejuvenate you. Perhaps you should take a

short jaunt out of town.

Try as you might, you may spend the better part of the day with your

foot in your mouth. It’s one of those days when anything you say

to clear up the confusion only confuses matters more. You want to

spend a fun evening with friends but fear you’ll only make matters

worse. Your friends love you even on days when your social skills

aren’t at their peak!

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, as the saying goes. You’re likely

to receive some good news today. Don’t second-guess it, or worry if

you’re worthy of it. Accept it for what it is, though it might be worth

taking some time to consider why you feel unworthy in the first

place.

You deserve a day off . Why not play hooky from your duties and

surround yourself with beautiful works of art? Better yet, try to

create some yourself. Admit it, you’ve been hankering to try a

creative endeavour. Why not begin today? Your creativity and

intuition are at an all-time high. The combination might produce

something of real merit.

It’s time to expand your horizons. No more waiting around for events

to change of their own accord. You’ve grown up enough to realise

that if change is going to happen, you have to make it happen. As a

result, today is busier than most as you begin to execute all those

ideas you’ve been thinking about.

Just because you’re stressed now doesn’t mean that you need to be

stressed tomorrow, or the rest of the day for that matter. There are

steps you can take to soothe your troubled soul. Stop, close your

eyes, and relax into some deep breaths. You’ll be surprised by how

refreshing these few moments can be. Why not try it?

Are you one of those people who thinks that your bank account can’t

be overdrawn as long as you still have cheques in your chequebook?

As bad as you think your financial situation is, your problems are

easily reconciled. It’s not that you’re spending more money than you

have, but that you’re not keeping track of what you spend. Better

recordkeeping will help ease your anxiety.

You have an exciting, intense day in store. Your curiosity is at a

peak, and today it combines with a vivid imagination. This makes

you ideally suited for medical research projects, as it gives you the

ability to make connections among seemingly disparate themes.

Regardless of your profession, you can expect to see the world in an

entirely new way today.

As much as you want to change your financial situation, don’t act

rashly. If there are several options to choose from, you’re advised

to refrain from making any decision until your thoughts have

crystallised. If you feel in a hurry to make progress, you can record

your options so you have them to review in the light of a clearer day.

Your tendency is to rush headlong into a new project. Not everyone

is caught up in your enthusiasm. Be careful not to steamroll over

those you care about most. Your partner, especially, feels a bit miff ed

and left out at the moment. Do what you can to soothe any ruff led

feathers. It might be time to set aside your project in favour of a

romantic outing.

5 myths about solar panels, debunked

Home solar panels can drastically cut or even eliminate electricity bills, reduce a home’s carbon footprint,

increase resale value, and may even help a home sell faster.

The cost of rooftop solar systems has fallen dramatically in recent years, and most homeowners have the option of buying the system, leasing it on reasonable payment terms, or having a third-party pay for and install the system at no up-front cost at all for the homeowner. Plus, home solar systems are eligible for federal tax credits.

If you’re considering installing a solar panel system on your home, here are fi ve common myths – and why you shouldn’t believe them:

Myth 1: Solar panels only work if you live in a warm, sunny climate.

While solar panels work best when they get a lot of sun, a lack of bright sun doesn’t mean they’re not working. Panels can still absorb ambient sunlight, even on cloudy days or in regions that get less bright sun. What’s more, today’s solar panels are more energy effi cient than ever. Newer systems

maximise sunlight absorption and generate the maximum possible output – as much as 26 percent more than other comparably sized solar panels. This higher effi ciency means that solar panels can work in virtually any climate and every season.

Myth 2: You need a lot of roof space for solar panels.

Just like other amazing technologies (think microchips), solar panels are getting smaller, more powerful and more effi cient. High-effi ciency panels take up less space because fewer panels are required to produce the electricity needed to power your home. So even a smaller home could have enough roof space to fi t the number of panels needed to generate the

necessary power and save you money.

Myth 3: Installation is a long, drawn-out hassle.

While adding solar panels to your home isn’t a DIY project, installation usually takes only a day or two. New models streamline the process further, eliminating the need to install a separate inverter.

Most solar panels require a separate inverter to bring electricity into your house, but new panels from LG, for instance, incorporate the inverter, simplifying and accelerating the installation process.

Myth 4: If something goes wrong, you’re on your own.

As with any major investment in your home, you should make sure you understand the manufacturer and installer warranties for your solar panels, including how long the coverage lasts and what types of problems are covered.

Myth 5: Solar panels will look big, bulky and ugly on your roof.

Solar panels are becoming smaller, sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing. Higher-effi ciency models are also off ering increased fl exibility of confi guration. Instead of having to cover an entire roof with panels in a specifi c arrangement in order to generate power, modern options allow you to arrange panels to meet your sense of aesthetics.

© Brandpoint


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.

Lady Madonna

AMAZON BELLE BLUESTOCKING COQUETTE DAME DAMSEL FEMALE FEMININE GIRL

GODDESS HEROINE HOYDEN JEZEBEL LADY LASSIE MADONNA MAID MATRON

MINX MISS MOTHER NYMPH VAMP VESTAL VIRAGO WOMAN


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. An attendant for a short time

(6)

5. A drink in the shade (6)

8. Upright build (5)

9. Tears the pieces of film (6)

10. Are playing with a child, you

deduce (6)

11. Foolishly, tear round

beforehand and hold forth

(5)

14. Participate, but don’t hog the

lot (4,4)

16. The man notes the attitude

(6)

18. The arrow ensuring you don’t

forget your route? (7,8)

20. Turning, stands right in the

way (6)

22. That’s no mermaid, darling,

swimming on the lake! (4-4)

25. Hearty, but it’s just a sham (5)

27. What a child at a music exam

might play (6)

28. An alternative to concocting

a potion (6)

29. The two men have joined up?

Splendid! (5)

30. Didn’t seem sober - was

under the influence (6)

31. Give the time of year on the

inside (6)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

ACROSS: 1 Last demand 6 Fair 10 Mariner 11 Meeting 12 See reason 13 Panel 14 Credo 15 Pulled out 17 Coltsfoot 20 Roams 21 Allay 23 Transacts 25 Ophelia 26 Failure 27 Part 28 Bedlington.

DOWN: 1 Limes 2 Serve well 3 Dangerously ill 4 Marks up 5 Nominal 7 Alien 8 Regulates 9 Deep depression 14 Cock-a-hoop 16 On account 18 Outrage 19 Tearful 22 Lehar 24 Stern.

DOWN1. Grow, as a vegetable (6)

2. About the pole-cat; get rid of

it (4)

3. Outdoes the former, though

hopeless (8)

4. The withdrawing-room? (9,6)

5. Strain that’s dissipated by a

rest on board (6)

6. A pink lady or wine (4)

7. Get all mixed up when you

argue (6)

12. Don’t go straight to the point

when a repair-man is sent

round (7)

13. Keep complaining and wind

about the slaughter (7)

15. In the neighbourhood for a

spell (5)

17. Jump well: that’s obvious (5)

19. Like many a chap, I go out of

business (8)

20. Feels there are quarters and

looks around (6)

21. Take the label away from the

tunic (6)

23. Having caught the ball,

plunge forwards or do

nothing (6)

24. She’s on the rebound, too (4)

26. Place in which a girl won’t

finish up (4)


COMMUNITY REVIEWS

STRUGGLE: The story in the movie keeps the stakes simple and the focus on getting Lightning back into the winner’s circle, on his own terms.

FALLING SHORT: The movie lacks the warmth and fun of the original 2010 film.

By Michael Phillips

Cars 3, a reasonably diverting account of middle-aged pity, humiliation and suff ering as experienced by Rust-eze-sponsored race

car Lightning McQueen, is not the weakest of the Disney/Pixar sequels (I’d vote Cars 2 or Monsters University, those sour, desperate things). But it’s by far the most guilt-ridden. Every few minutes we get another reminder of the franchise’s success in the merchandising department — over $10 billion in “Cars”-related toys and towels and lunchboxes before the release of the third picture. Our household bought approximately half of it.

“You are about to become the biggest brand in racing!” Lightning’s told by the billionaire coupe (voiced by Nathan Fillion) in charge of the next phase of the ageing champ’s fl ailing career. He notes the lucrative movie deals in his future. “I never thought of myself as

a brand,” Lightning responds, half-sheepishly. All this comes with a hint of poor-me: In Cars 3, you can hear the inner thoughts of the screenwriters, protesting a little too much about franchise expectations.

Lightning’s confronted with a technologically advanced world he does not understand. He has no use for racing simulators and statistical analysis. Give this pro an open stretch of beach, or a dilapidated dirt track, and he’ll fi nd himself again.

At one point in Cars 3, directed by fi rst-time feature fi lmmaker Brian Fee, Lightning and Cruz mistakenly enter a rural demolition derby (Lea DeLaria voices a terrifying school bus) and while the setup’s promising, the result goes for grungy thrills rather than comic slapstick. The movie relies on audience familiarity with fi rmly established supporting players ranging from Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) to Sally (Bonnie Hunt), even though they’re marginalised here.

In Cars 2 John Lassiter and company threw Lightning and the gang into another sort of fi lm genre entirely, a

James Bond universe where cars got tortured and killed (yeah, terrifi c idea) and where international terrorism and insidious corporate malfeasance involved bomb threats in world capitals. Cars 3 tries, and partly succeeds, in taking it back to basics.

The script credited to Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson and Mike Rich keeps the stakes simple and the focus on getting Lightning back into the winner’s circle, on his own terms. With the addition of the female co-star, Cruz, one would assume the fi lm’s a little less boy-centric than its predecessors. And it is, though it’s genuinely disheartening to realize that in 2017 the whole “What? We’re letting a GIRL race, too?” routine is even considered dramatically necessary.

The fi rst Cars, such as it is, remains the most appealing in a relatively weak fi eld. But if Cars 3 pays for another Ratatouille or Inside Out, I say: slum away, slum away.

— Chicago Tribune/TNS

DVDs courtesy: Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha

Key elements missing from Despicable Me 3By Rick Bentley

Despicable Me 3 comes across less like the latest animated tale in the popular franchise about the once evil

Gru (Steve Carell) and more like a made-for-television movie rushed into production to introduce a new TV series. This third production in the series lacks the warmth and fun of the original 2010 fi lm and comes nowhere close to having the off beat antics of the second fi lm that hit theatres in 2013. As a bonus, the sequel solidifi ed the fame of the most entertaining group of yellow-skinned characters this side of The Simpsons in the Minions.

The third fi lm is more like a series of diff erent vignettes more intent on introducing new characters than capitalising on what made the fi rst two movies work. Among the new players is

Dru (also voiced by Carell)’ Gru’s long lost twin brother, who ends up being more of a detractor than a participant. At least the new villain, Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker) brings a larcenous energy to the production played out against an ’80s soundtrack that will keep parents from nodding off .

Despicable Me 3 starts strong with Gru and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) losing their jobs as crime fi ghters. They fall out of favour because they are unable to capture Bratt, a former child actor who has become the menacing person he played on TV when he was younger. From his mullet to his dance movies, he’s evil.

The jobless Gru agrees to meet with his twin, a wealthy farmer in Freedonia. After coming together, Dru’s eff orts to convince Gru to return to his evil ways to keep the family tradition alive lead to a plot to steal the world’s largest diamond that Bratt has taken. The majority of the fi lm looks at Gru’s battle

between going back to his old life or embracing the new loving world he has created.

Writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio – the team behind the other Despicable movies and the Minion’s solo fi lm eff ort – fail to focus on the two elements that made the original movies work. The fi rst movie drew strength from how a trio of little girls could touch the heart of an evil genius. Dealing with family issues, as seen through the eyes of very diff erent people, created captivating emotional moments.

Directors Eric Guillon and Kyle Balda keep the pace fast and the visuals bright but there are so many detours from what are the strengths of the movie, the overall production comes across like the bubble gum bubbles Bratt uses as weapons. It’s pretty and sweet but there’s little inside.

In the end, Despicable Me 3 has twice the brothers but half the fun. — TNS

The middle-aged pain, humiliation and branding of Lightning McQueen

Thursday, November 30, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

Avengers 4 will be fi nale of sorts

The fourth Avengers movie will be a key infl ection point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to producer Kevin Feige.

In an interview to Vanity Fair, Feige said Avengers 4 will “bring things you’ve never seen in superhero fi lms like a fi nale”.

Does fi nale imply a number of dead superheroes?

“There will be two distinct periods. Everything before Avengers 4 and everything after. I know it will not be in ways people are expecting,” Feige teased.

Feige termed the fi lm “the culmination of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe as started in May of 2008” with the release of the fi rst Iron Man movie.

The third instalment Avengers: Infi nity War is due in May 2018.

Avengers: Infi nity War stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans,

Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruff alo, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Chris Pratt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Don Cheadle, Sebastian Stan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff , Tom Hiddleston, Benicio del Toro, Idris Elba, Jon Favreau, William Hurt, Benedict Wong, Linda Cardellini, Danai Gurira, Leticia Wright, Florence Kasumba, Peter Dinklage, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

Anthony and Joe Russo are directing the fi lm, which is produced by Feige. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee are the executive producers.

Talking about the work slate, Feige said: “Marvel has got another 20 movies on the docket that are completely diff erent from anything that’s come before – intentionally.” – IANS

I want to present a new aspect with each film, says ParineetiBy Durga Chakravarty

She is just six years old in Hindi fi lmdom and has been a part of nine fi lms, mostly in diff erent genres. And actress Parineeti Chopra says she prefers not to

play repetitive characters.“Audiences are keen to see a

performance, as much as they like watching the stars and larger-than-life fi lms. So being able to deliver in diff erent genres and tackle a variety of roles has more value. Personally, for me, repeating myself at this stage of my career would just be uninspiring. I like to challenge myself and put out (present) a new shade (aspect) with each fi lm,” Parineeti told IANS.

She was last seen on screen in the comic entertainer Golmaal Again, which minted over Rs200 crore in India.

Does crossing these benchmarks matter to Parineeti?

“As an actor, you want to have a great body of work, but I would be lying if I said the Rs100 crore benchmark doesn’t matter. It matters to every actor. It just shows how audiences are accepting you, how much they love you. I’m loving the feeling that I have right now,” she added.

Her next fi lm project is Dibakar Banerjee’s Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar.

Parineeti says Banerjee was always in the list of her “dream directors” ever since she started acting.

“I have always been really fortunate to work with amazing directors. Dibakar has been on my dream directors’ list ever since I took up acting. Working with him has involved elaborate prep and very focused workshops. He has an exquisite

eye for nuance and detail,” said the actress.

“His characters make his movie stand out. I am thoroughly enjoying this process of shooting for the fi lm with him,” she said.

Parineeti will be seen as a fi ercely ambitious girl in the fi lm.

Is she similar in real life?“I am ambitious, yes, just not fi ercely

ambitious. When I take up something, I give it my absolute best. I focus on it 100 per cent and try achieving it. I don’t like ambition that tries to put down people and talent. I feel there is enough room for everyone to grow,” she said.

Whether it was Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, Ishaqzaade and Shuddh Desi Romance or Hasee Toh Phasee, Daawat-e-Ishq and Meri Pyaari Bindu, Parineeti says when she plays a character, she tries to bring it alive with “human, believable traits and nuances”.

“I want to work on varied characters, fi lms and subjects. In that sense, I am passionate more than ambitious. My character in Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, though, is super ambitious and that makes her diff erent from me. It’s also fun playing characters that are so diff erent – it makes you live someone else’s life, dreams, aspirations,” she said.

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar which is slated to release next year, also stars her Ishaqzaade co-star Arjun Kapoor.

She says her relationship with Arjun has not changed. “Arjun has certainly evolved as one of the bankable actors that there is today, which is a huge achievement. Arjun’s understanding of the craft and his eagerness to learn sets him apart. With Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, we are doing a very intense fi lm together... We are at loggerheads in the movie,” she said. – IANS

CULMINATION: Feige says Avengers 4 will bring things never seen in superhero films like a finale.

CHALLENGER: The Bollywood star says that she likes to challenge herself in diff erent roles.


COMMUNITY

The ‘perfect place for friends to hang out’

“Living in Qatar, you can see how the future of the world is going to be. Three continents meet here. People from diff erent cultures, creeds, and countries live together here”

— Christoph M Strahm, resident manager of Kempinski

Residence and Suites

By Mudassir Raja

If you are tired after a busy day and just want a place to relax and simmer down with friends and colleagues, The Lounge is the perfect

place for you. It is a place where you can shake hands with the elite while savouring fl avours that will defi nitely suite your palate.

These were the words used by Alican Sunal, director food and beverage at Kempinski Residences and Suites, while introducing the new facility on its opening day on Tuesday evening.

A good number of people from diff erent communities, social groups, and media persons were present at The Lounge on the occasion. They were seen enjoying a variety of food and beverages as the chef prepared delectable hors d’oeuvres and the staff members were vigilant and on their toes.

“The Lounge is a unique place to relax. The set-up reminds one of classic, luxurious, and an ideal place to sit together. It will provide live entertaining music from well-known musicians from Brazil, UK, and Ireland. The musicians from Doha will also be playing their music at The Lounge,” Sunal said.

He said, “We are having a changed approach here. We are off ering a variety of foods with healthy options. We care for calorie count. The Lounge will not only provide you a variety of tastes but also healthier options. We are also bringing in more options when it comes to having coff ee at our Gourmet House. We have special facilities for business lunch, off ering multiple options for diff erent cultures and regions.”

Sunal added, “Providing true and excellent European heritage at Kempinski, the ultimate party is at our 61st fl oor. We are the highest building in West Bay. The view of Doha from the top fl oor is awesome. At the Z Lounge, we have a vocal house band that off ers excellent music. Our DJ from the US plays some good music for the ultimate party at the top.”

As the guests were enjoying their food and beverages, Community got a chance to catch up with the new resident manager of Kempinski Residence and Suites.

Originally from Switzerland, 40-year-old Christoph M Strahm – who joined two months ago – exudes energy.

Sharing his views on The Lounge opening, Strahm said the place will be exceptional, with the traditional uniqueness of Kempinski.

He said, “Food and beverages are in our genes at Kempinski. It is our heart. Kempinski celebrates its 120th birthday this year. It started as a bar initially, got into the food and beverage business, and then became a full-fl edged hotel. At The Lounge, we will try to revitalise the heart of food and beverages for our customers. It is a place where people can meet after their daily work. We off er a variety of foods according to diff erent cultures and tastes here.”

When asked how Kempinski in Doha diff erentiates itself, Strahm said, “Kempinski maintains its traditions and tastes across the world. However it also adds elements according to diff erent cultures and tastes, keeping the [base] intact. We, unlike other hotels, do not follow on an SOP for all countries and cultures. We do not copy and paste. We learn new things at new places and introduce

innovations accordingly. We also maintain our European brand with a unique quality. Kempinski in Qatar is our unique brand. We off er high quality services with a variety of food and beverages. Our guests at the residence do not stay for a short period. They will stay for say 10 months or 12 months.”

When asked how he will describe his experience of working with Kempinski, he said, “It has been 15 years since I joined Kempinski in Switzerland. I have worked with the hotel in Switzerland, Italy, China, and in Rwanda. Working with the brand has been a wonderful experience. I have learnt a lot of new things, worked in diff erent environments, with diff erent people and in diff erent cultures. It has been an amazing journey.

“I am looking forward to our 2018 plan. Qatar is a fast growing country and economy. The drive of self-reliance has been bringing in new projects and companies.”

When asked how he decided to get into the industry, Strahm said, “I an MBA but joined the food business out of my passion for it. I do not want to serve a plate but an experience. I do not want to provide just a comfortable room to a guest but a feel-like-home feeling.”

About his family and life in Qatar, he noted, “I am married to a woman from Vietnam and have two kids. I am living here with my family. Qatar is a beautiful country. I like the corniche, Souq Waqif and big malls. But what I love is outside Doha. I love the sea, sand, and silence, with the sun setting in the west. Living in Qatar, you can see how the future of the world is going to be. Three continents meet here. People from diff erent cultures, creeds, and countries live together here.”

RELAXING: The Lounge reminds one of classic, luxurious, and an ideal place to sit together. Photos by Ram Chand

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The end. - Gulf Times