TAXI!
Visitors for the 2009 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX may be in for a surprise when hailing a cab at the airport. The Arabian Taxi Company recently launched in Bahrain with a brand new fleet of 50 London-style taxis. The aim is to increase job opportunities for Bahrainis while offering a better standard of service. The company is offering 700 new jobs and aims to import a total of 200 London taxis, which come with 13in LCD screens and wheelchair access. Having ridden to Sakhir in one, we’d recommend it for making an entrance at the race circuit.
FESTIVAL
SPRING OF CULTURE 2009
Until 25 April
The Spring of Culture festival continues this month with a performance from Cuban singing star Omara Portuondo (pictured, below) at the Arad Fort. Portuondo, who celebrates 60 years in the music industry with new album Gracias, rose to international fame with the Buena Vista Social Club. She will be accompanied by a quintet of musicians. Other highlights include the Salzburg Marionette Theatre’s puppet version of The Sound Of Music (2-4 April) and the Al-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe, which combines Arab-Palestinian folklore and contemporary culture (6-7 April).
www.springofculture.org
Omara Portuondo
1 April The Cuban musical star performs live with a quintet
Salzburg Marionette Theatre
2-4 April Puppet version of The Sound Of Music at the Culture Hall
Camille Zakharia
5 April Group photography exhibition featuring six Bahraini artists at the Al-Riwaq Gallery
Al-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe
6-7 April This independent, non-profit organisation, now in its 30th year, is entirely made up of volunteers
Temptations Of An Angel
7-17 April More than 25 mixed media works resulting from a dialogue between Bahraini artist Lobna AlAmeen and poet Qassim Haddad, also from the Kingdom. At the Albareh Gallery
Bilateral Relations
15-25 April Work from four German artists living in the Kingdom, alongside contributions from seven leading Bahraini artists. At the National Museum
CAR SHOW
Monster attractions
2-4 April
The International Motor Show is back in Bahrain following its huge success in 2007. The first day is trade; it is open to the public from the second day. Consumer vehicles will go on show at the Formula One pit garages, bikes can be seen at the Oasis pits, and boats and commercial vehicles will be accommodated in the paddock pit along with all forms of car accessories. The biggest spectacle is likely to come from the monster trucks, including the giant, 3m-high Big Foot, which weighs more than four tonnes and boasts a 62m long jump record.
www.bahraingp.com.bh
ART EXHIBITION
KINGDOM’S COLOURS
11 April-8 May
Bahrain’s landscapes and cityscapes come to life in Andrew Hodgson’s first solo exhibition at Lina’s Café, in the Wind Tower Building in the Diplomatic Area. Hodgson captures the flavours of the island’s bustling souks, the heat of the desert and the laidback lifestyle in vivid watercolours.
+973 1775 0980
BOAT SHOW
Sail away
21-25 April
Super boats, luxury yachts and marina jet-skis are some of the items on show at the Kingdom’s first-ever Bahrain Boat Show International 2009, organised by Knotika Holding. The premium boat show will draw 60 exhibitors displaying a wide variety of boats and accessories, including fishing equipment. Boating activities and water show performances are some of the other attractions. The show opens at the Amwaj Marina on the Amwaj Islands from 4pm to 10pm.
www.bahrainboatshow.com
LIVE MUSIC
ALL THAT JAZZ
19-20 April
The Gulf Jazz Festival in association with Witold Wnuk, founder of the Gulf Chamber Philharmonica, takes place at La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art. Artists taking part include pianist and singer Karen Edwards, Antoni Debski, and trumpet maestro Saskia Laroo.
+973 1723 0123
FLOWER SHOW
Bloomin’ marvelous
17-19 April
The Bahrain International Exhibition Centre is transformed into an oasis of scents for the Riffa View International Garden Show. The venue becomes home to flowers, bonsai, ornamental plants, indoor gardens and accessories. Other highlights are lectures by gardening and landscaping experts and interactive exhibits. Get the young ones involved in gardening at the live arts, crafts, gardens and flower arranging demonstrations.
+973 1755 8826
THE JOY OF SIX
The revving of high-powered engines will be heard in the Kingdom again this month
As the Spring of Culture festival draws to a close, perhaps the island’s biggest event arrives in the Kingdom: the 2009 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX. Now in its sixth year, the race is the trigger for a host of festivities around the island; the main event, of course, is at the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, from 24 to 26 April.
This season, the Formula 1 drivers will have already raced in Melbourne, Australia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Shanghai, China before Bahrain. The FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX is an ideal opportunity to see how teams cope with a range of technical and regulation changes intended to encourage overtaking and offer smaller teams a chance to get on the podium.
Traditionally, the Ferrari team does well at Sakhir, where they tested earlier this year. Felipe Massa has won here for the past two years – can current world champion Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) prevent him from making it three in a row, or will someone else pip them to the finish line?
Tickets are on sale through the BIC call centre on +973 1745 0000, www.bahraingp.com, and Seef Mall and City Centre outlets.
For more on the 2009 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX see our separate supplement
Calendar APRIL
LONDON
Chinese State Circus
9-19 April
The Monkey King hosts a spectacular evening of swinging poles, spinning plates, contortionists, hoop diving and acrobatics, plus martial arts from the Shaolin Wu-Shu Warriors, at Alexandra Palace.
FRANKFURT
Dippemess
3-26 April
Dating back to the 14th century, this annual festival at the Festplatz on Ratsweg includes hi-tech rides and other attractions, and opens and closes with a fireworks display.
ISTANBUL
28th International Istanbul Film Festival
4-19 April
Two weeks of screenings and much more, with a special emphasis on encouraging Turkish film-makers and publicising the home-grown cinema industry. www.iksv.org/film
Abu Dhabi
23-25 April
The first World Of Music, Arts And Dance event in the Gulf region takes place at the Abu Dhabi Corniche and features performances by artists from around the world, including Algeria’s Souad Massi . www.womadabudhabi.ae
SHANGHAI
X-Games Asia
30 April-3 May
Get a taste of this sporting mix of inline skating, skateboarding, BMX freestyle and more with a pre-event roadshow at the Wanda Shopping mall on 25 and 26 April before the main competition at the KIC Jiangwan Sports Centre. www.kiaxgamesasia.com
DELHI
Bhakti Festival
3-5 April
Three days of traditional music in Nehru Park, Chanakya Puri. www.delhitourism.nic.in
KUALA LUMPUR
Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix
5 April
The second race of the 2009 Formula 1 season is at the 10-year-old Sepang International Circuit, where Kimi Räikkönen won last year. www.malaysiangp.com.my
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