One Night Standup’s in the news

Thanks to the folks at the National. One Night Standup will continue to be a monthly free-to-the-public event. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/OneNight StandUp The Emirati comedian Abdulla “Abz” Ali is not afraid to push boundaries in his stand-up comedy routines. His acts have a tendency to be at times racy and controversial, but he makes no [...]

Graffiti…

  This is very cool. Lots of people, including the erstwhile staff at local English daily The National, have run stories on the graffiti and street art scene in Dubai. It can’t hold a candle to other places in the world, but the fact that it remains a jail-worthy – and worse, a deportation-worthy- act, [...]

The human capacity to make beautiful noise…

The power of human creativity. Or rather, the ability of humans to make noise. No matter the situation, or the tools to hand. This was spotted by @mahreenkasana on twitter. Give a man a glass of brandy, he’ll sing for a day. Teach him how to make brandy glasses sing, and ahhh…music. Observe:

Severely brilliant and annonymous

This came to my attention recently, through my twitter timeline – and I utterly fail to recollect who it was, else they’d get deserving mention. Utterly superb. Paper sculptures, intricately hewed out of books. And left annonymously at libraries, bookshops, etc, in Edinburgh. With personalised notes indicating appreciation for the work these institutions were doing. [...]

So Artsy, So Culturey, so New Yearsy

Yes, t’is that time of year. When tired old 2011 trots out with head bowed and beard tripping up knobbly knees. On the other side, 2012 will probably behave in the manner of all newborns: kicking, screaming, temperamental, and as full of smiles as poop. So Dubai, you think you’ve got New Year‘s nailed eh? [...]

A haven for the arts

    Tsk tsk tsk. Over a month without an update. Terrible of me, really. But there’s sometimes a distinction to be made between writing and doing – and the past month has been all about the Doing. First there was the Abu Dhabi Film Festival – which I covered for GN (over at hishamwyne.com). [...]

So you’ve heard of the Cirque del Soleil. How about the Cirque du Souq?

[Picture from The Fridge website here] Yup. Cirque del Soleil. That magical, gravity defying show of wonderous proportions glitz and glamour. I’ve been fortunate to catch it in action on more than one occasion. The images embossed on the rear of my retinas have proved indelible. But now, say hello to Cirque du Souq. The marvelous folk at The [...]

When Portobello Road hits Dubai… flea markets, Flea4Charity, Voice4Charity.

Those absolutely classic lyrics from Bedknobs & Broomsticks. Portobello road, Portobello road Street where the riches of ages are stowed. Anything and everything a chap can unload Is sold off the barrow in Portobello road. You’ll find what you want in the Portobello road. Don’t take my word for it. Check out the song in [...]

Eid down in Old Town

Tuesday was the first day of Eid here in the UAE. And Dubai was thronging. In particular, anecdotal evidence suggests there was a full scale attack on Dubai Mall. The Saudis threatened our borders, while the Omanis also advanced into retail areas. The GCC influx was in force. More seriously, it occasioned such that I [...]

Hunger. Starvation. Anna Hazare. Inspiration & Art

It’s the furore over Anna Hazare and his campaign to combat corruption in India that’s inspired this post. He’s been in the news constantly over his plans to fast in protest against graft, with the powers that be dutifully ensuring him further coverage. Ok, less Anna Hazare. More his hunger. It makes one question whether [...]