best of january 2008
| The Pattadakal Dance
Festival The
Pattadakal Dance Festival is an annual event organized by the Government of Karnataka in
the month of January. Pattadakal is popular for a number of temples dedicated to Lord
Shiva. Out of these temples, about ten temples boast of both North Indian as well as South
Indian architecture.
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Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne
As he defends his Australian Open title, world number one Roger Federer will be playing on a new surface in Melbourne this year after completing a series of exhibition matches in Asia against past Grand Slam title winner Pete Sampras Last year,
Swiss player Roger Federer won the tournament by defeating Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6
(7-2), 6-3, 6-4, in the men's singles men's final on January 28, 2007. It was Federer's
third Australian Open title. As usual, The Australian Open kicks off the 2008 season in style. Five different titles are up for grabs: the women’s and men’s singles titles; the women’s and men’s doubles titles; and the mixed doubles titles.
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This year's Russian Winter Black Tie Gala is honoring Deborah Voigt, the famous Metropolitan Opera Soprano. The evening has an unusual line-up including a Caviar and Russian Hors d'oeuvres cocktail hour; an art exhibit of famous Russian painters; and performances by international singers and Russian Children in costume with Balalaika, After an introduction
to the Honoree, Ms. Voigt, guests will enjoy a Deluxe Russian Dinner, catered by Rasputin
Restaurant. . |
Hard Days Night Hotel
The concept of a Beatles themed hotel in Liverpool had been prevalent amongst Beatles enthusiasts in the city since the late 1980's. The choice of a suitable location and the finance to make the vision a reality only came together in 2004 when plans were finalized to convert one of Liverpool's classic city centre buildings into a luxurious 4 star hotel. From an early stage the objective was to create a unique environment that offered high quality hotel facilities with an exciting and interesting 'twist'. With clever presentation the theme is presented in a subtle and yet challenging design which reflects the incredible story of the Beatles. Located in the 'Beatles Quarter' of the city adjacent to the world famous Cavern Club, the Hard Days Night Hotel will feature visually stunning specially commissioned artwork covering key events in the lives of four lads from Liverpool whose fame knows no boundaries.
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The Imperial
War Museum London
Queen and Country by Steve McQueen commemorates the British service personnel who have been killed in the war in Iraq. The project takes the form of a series of postage stamp sheets featuring photographic portraits of individual men and women who have lost their lives in the conflict so far. Each stamp also bears the standard profile of Her Majesty the Queen, the sovereign in whose name they went to fight. Commissioned by the Imperial War Museum and the Manchester International Festival to respond to the conflict in Iraq, Steve McQueen wanted to find a way to bring these people into our everyday lives, our homes and workplaces as a reminder of our country’s participation in the war. The project is both a tribute to the deceased and 'a reflection upon the validity of war, the structure of power and notions of national identity'. These stamps are facsimiles: the artist hopes that an official set of stamps might eventually be issued by Royal Mail. The project is a collaboration with the families of the deceased, to whom the artist acknowledges a huge debt of gratitude. They each chose the photograph of their lost child, spouse or partner that is reproduced on the stamp. At the start of the project, 115 families were invited to participate. A few families preferred not to participate and others could not be contacted. This is a work in progress and the project will continue until British Forces leave Iraq. The work is dedicated to all victims of the Iraq war.
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Amateurs go head-to-head with the Pro's
Last year's fun in the sun was the name of the game as the ''Magnificent 12,'' spearheaded by world number one Tiger Woods, entertained a strong crowd during the Challenge Match, sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, at the par-3 course of the Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday. Dubai-based Henrik Stenson, pairing with Notah Begay III, used his "local knowledge" to a great effect, winning the match at four under par 23, one shot ahead of the star pairing of Woods and Mark O''Meara while Ryder Cup heroes Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke finished third on one under par. Henrik Stenson and Notah Begay III with Mohamed Juma Buamaim and Pete Dye after the presentation The other pairings included Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia; Colin Montgomerie and David Howell and Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els. The scores at the end of the day, hardly mattered as the very thinking of the tradition curtain-raiser to the Dubai Desert Classic was to provide a rare opportunity for fans to see the game’s biggest stars up close and personal. And they relished every moment of it. The match involved six teams of two, split into three groups, who played in a ‘greensomes’ format on the par-27 course, measuring 1,239 from blue tees. Once again, a significant part of the money raised during the match was presented to three different charities –- the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, Al Noor and the Dubai Centre for Special Needs. Each of the charity received Dh45,000. The Pre-qualifying for 2008 Dubai Desert Classic - a 36 holes pre-qualifying event is held at Emirates Golf Club, Majlis course. The event is open to: Amateurs who are full members of a Club or UGA Handicap Scheme in the UAE, or Arab Nationals outside the UAE who hold a handicap of scratch or better at the time of pre qualifying round as well as at the time of the tournament proper. The winner of the event receives an invitation to participate in the 2008 Dubai Desert Classic. They will be responsible for their payment of entry fees required by the European Tour and to agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the European Tour that apply to the Dubai Desert Classic. If the winner declines the invitation the organizers of the Dubai Desert Classic at their discretion may only offer the place to the next placed qualifier.
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| The UNICEF NZ Charity
Lobbo,
As part of the Heineken Open (January 7-13, 2008) an annual fundraising event, Charity Lobbo has become a welcome addition to the event calendar. It involves thousands of tennis balls which are tagged with a label that resembles a raffle ticket and sold in lots of 3, 5 or 10 to the spectators. At a set time the spectators in the stands are asked to throw all of the tennis balls they have purchased into two big buckets placed on centre court. Most of the balls miss but those that manage to get their balls into one of the buckets go in the draw to win some fantastic prizes which are drawn by a celebrity tennis players (in 2006 it was Roger Federer). All of the funds raised - around $4,000 to $5,000. All funds raised from January's Lobbo will go to UNICEF projects to protect and care for children affected by HIV/AIDS, as part of a global campaign ‘Unite For Children, Unite Against AIDS'. Please see www.unicef.org/uniteforchildren for more info.
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Four archaeological sites play a key role in this exhibit. The oldest, Tepe Fullol, dates from the Bactrian Bronze Age (around 2000 BC). It is followed by a larger section dealing with Ai Khanum, a city that was founded by Greeks in the wake of Alexander the Great’s campaign of conquest and that bears witness to Hellenism on the edge of the steppes (4th to 2nd centuries BC). The famous gold treasure of Tillya-tepe is renowned: jewellery and other art objects from six graves from the 1st century AD which were excavated in 1979 by a Soviet-Afghan team led by the Russian archaeologist Sarianidi. They form a splendid mix of the art of the steppes, Graeco-Roman iconography, Indian objects and Chinese mirrors. Finally, in Begram, also from the 1st century AD, in 1937 and 1939 two sealed chambers were revealed containing elaborate Indian furniture in ivory, glass, vases and plaster emblemata of Hellenist origin. Strategically located on the trade routes between East and West, ancient Afghanistan was at the crossroads of civilisations in central Asia. This is evident from the magnificent archaeological finds that have been made there. The exhibition presents 250 archaeological objects, most of which were 'rediscovered' in 2004 in the vaults of the Central Bank in Kabul and brought to Europe in 2006 for restoration and for this travelling exhibition.
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White tie and tails. Diamond tiaras. Couture gowns. As one of the most anticipated social events of the Palm Beach social season, the International Red Cross Ball promises an enchanting evening with classic entertainment, global diplomats and an elite guest list. The magnificence and formality of the evening parallel the importance and significance of the cause it grandly supports – the American Red Cross. Co-Chairs Nancy Ellison Rollnick, chairwoman and William D. Rollnick, chairman.
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Dakar
Rally
The Dakar is
an endurance and navigation between Lisbon and Dakar for the cars, trucks, bikes and quads
and is made up of fifteen stages. A Stage is a course to cover between two cities.
It includes a special as well as one or two liaison sections, according to the days.
A Special is also called a timed section. It is the portion of a stage, covered on
or off course, on which the competitors are timed between two time checks. The time
registered on this section will be used to establish the standings.
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| the editor, January, 2008 |
| theNewYorkSeason | ||
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