Diwali, the Indian festival of light, is fast approaching this Thursday 19th October.

” One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.” – Wikipedia.

 

With twinkling diyas (Indian clay lamps), an array of festive treats and clothing as colorful as Bollywood dance sequences, Diwali is a great time of year to let out the inner Desi in all of us.

Last weekend we were invited for a Diwali brunch at Bombay Bungalow (at JBR, Dubai). This was my very first visit here, and I was absolutely awestruck with the interiors. The turquoise walls, the intricate vintage-style Indian decor is so picturesque and Instagram-worthy!

Established way back in 1979, Rasasi Perfumes is a household name in the Gulf region. This family business was spearheaded by the very enterprising Abdul Razzak Kalsekar who is still overseeing the business today, along with his six sons.

I spent an afternoon in their City Centre Deira branch last Friday morning, and was in awe with the very beautiful, spacious interiors of the store. The store takes cues from simplistic yet classy Parisian design. On the one end is a selection of oud chips, and an array of long-necked glass bottles with interesting perfume potions that can be mixed together and customized.

 

My eyes caught sight of the absolutely stunning enamel bottles that were on display. Each look like a work of art, and I was quite certain they’d cost a fortune. To my surprise, most of these retail for under AED 200!

 

Last week I spent a really fun-filled afternoon in Ikea, and no, I wasn’t shopping for home improvements!

This Swedish home furnishings giant has built a solid reputation over the last few decades, but what makes the brand even more endearing is their stance at being accessible to all, and their very core idea that family comes first. Apart from affordably priced furniture with (almost) easy DIY assembling steps, Ikea’s inbuilt restaurant is almost always packed. 

 

“Life is like a bowl of spaghetti. Every once in a while, you get a meatball.” – Sharon Creech.

In the famous words of American children’s author Sharon Creech, if meatballs are the poetic reference of euphoric highs in life, Meatballerz is a wee slice of paradise!

Located in a very quiet corner of the Dubai Marina promenade (on the ground floor of Marina View Towers), Meatballerz is Dubai-grown concept pioneered by banker turned restaurateur Dipesh Babani.

The quirky New York-style interiors features a juice bar at the front, tongue in cheek quotes, as well as a retro-style meat grinder that had my little one rather curious.

The foodie scene of Dubai is fast evolving, and new players are introduced into the market every month. Yet only a handful can bashfully say they’ve been around for over a decade. Golden Dragon goes well past that milestone, having opened shop in Oud Metha (Dubai) as far back as 1976.

Originally an Indo-Chinese restaurant, Golden Dragon has recently revamped their menu to include more pan-Asian flavors to entice a wider set of diners. The new menu includes delectable wok-tossed dishes, soulful Thai soups, and a long lineup of interesting Dim Sums.

Calling all sushi lovers living or working in the Media City vicinity… I have great news for you! The very popular Japanese eatery Sushi Express (located in Cluster R, JLT) has opened a compact little cafe-style branch in the ground floor of Gloria Hotel, Media City Dubai.

Compact with Japanese-style sparse utilitarian furnishings allowing diners to sit in rows with a view of the chef in action, Sushi Cafe Express is the ideal stopover for a quick healthful lunch on a busy workday.

I visited the cafe on a weeknight with the family, and we had the place to ourselves. Despite the size of the place, the menu is brimming with enticing options. 

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Sephora Fall 2017 launch event. Every girl worth her makeup bag eagerly awaits anything to do with Sephora, there’s always something new and exciting happening here.

I got a sneak-peak of many of the brand new Fall 2017 beauty goodies that are hitting the Sephora shelves this October, and wanted to share a rundown of my favorites here with you…

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Are Selfies fun or narcissistic? Arguably the backbone of social media as we know it, selfies are no passing phase and here to stay. Despite its popularity, selfies also get a whole load of slack. 

Can Measure and Access really coincide side by side in peace and harmony? Moroccan teenager Hiba Khamlichi takes on this philosophical puzzle with stunning paint on canvas. At a mere 17 years of age, the complexities of her creations far beguile her tender years, and her masterpieces are going up on display in the very prestigious Art Space exhibition at DIFC Dubai from today.

Hiba Khamlichi Measure and Excess Art Space Dubai Exhibition Moroccan Artist (2)

I had the pleasure of having a wee chat with the very talented young lady before the exhibition, and here is what she had to say about her debut in Dubai…