Be my Valentine by Charlotte Olympia....

One of the things that drives me crazy, are shoes.... and the famous brand Charlotte Olympia is one of my favorite designer. She is inspired by the glamour and sophistication of the 1940's and 1950's. Known for creating the iconic Dolly model shoe with the gold island platform (which is a little bit to high for me...)

Has having always this celebration concept, Charlotte Olympia just released a special romantic collection for Valentine day. With 6 different styles from Ballet Flats, Escarpins to Platforms for you to fully embrace the day, from head to toe...

The names she gave to each shoe are absolutely delicious and appropriately romantic for this occasion, like Bisous, Bon Bon, Debonaire .... how cute!

Isn't that love for shoes ?!... 

Photos: Charlotte Olympia

One Art - Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop is considered one of the most important American poets of the twentieth century. Known to be a perfectionist, who would spend long periods of time polishing her work . Only 101 poems where published during her life time.

One art is a very interesting and deep poem, that talks about mastering loss and one's emotions,  but  at the end...she doesn't believe that loosing 'isn't hard to master'. 

First feeling in the poem is that she's trying to convince herself that loosing small things like a key is no disaster, easy to cope with, then the things increase in dimension and value and still it doesn't matter she can master it, it's no disaster. 

Then, when loosing that someone, because the only important loss is her love, she has difficulties to write sincerely, for that was truly a disaster she has yet to master.

One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster,

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

- Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like a disaster. 

Elizabeth Bishop
1911–1979

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

                                         Photo: Ibis

What an amazing way to star the weekend......the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra just performed this amazing concert at QNCC - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony......

Two girls, late... literally running from the parking lot to the Lyric Theatre inside QNCC...removing the high heels...(ups)...to reach on time...to this stunning concert!

                               Photo: the blue chic

I would remove my heels a thousand times.....and run (which I hate).... not to miss one second of one  the greatest masterpieces ever written in the classic music history.

This masterpiece was completed in 1824, and its one of the best known and the greatest work of Beethoven.

                               Photo: the blue chic

Its is also one of the first examples of a major composer to use voices in a symphony, making it a choral symphony in which the final movement is absolutely brilliant where the soloists and the chorus together with the musicians make such and incredible ending...OMG!!! 

I guess the lyrics where taken from the poem written by Friedrich Schiller (1785) called 'Ode to Joy'. 

                               Photo: the blue chic

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has many concerts soon, you should not miss them if you are in Doha, just check here their schedule.

Souq Waqif’s annual spring festival

If the Souq Waquif is the place where everyone meets in Doha, now there is one more reason to go there....the Annual Spring Festival that just started.

Two weeks full loaded of exciting activities and shows for all ages...I guess one way or another I will end up going a lot to the Souq these days to see some of the shows they are preparing. 

You can see from live theater shows, daily concerts and folk band performances and other surprising shows like:

- Dolphin & Penguin Show

- Human Canon Ball
- Qatar's Highest Bungee Jump
- Thrilling Air Drive- Smurf's Kids Village (Al Kout Fortress)
- World-class Magic Show

From: February 7-21, 2013

Where: Souq Waqif

Photos: the blue chic

Marc Jacobs New Creative Director for Diet Coke

Great news...the sexy Marc Jacobs is the new Iconic Diet Coke man....
Who doesn't remember for example this commercial...

With Louis Vuitton under his belt, the 49 year- old Fashion Designer Marc Jacobs has been appointed as the new Creative Director for 2013, to create the new limited edition collection of Coca-Cola Light bottles and cans, to honor the brand's 30th anniversary. 

Marc Jacobs will be following the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier who was  in 2012 the Creative director for the Diet Coke.

As Jacobs said in a interview 'Diet Coke is as icon....and I love an icon'.

Although its not the first time Jacobs reveals his body in a advertisement , he did it it 2010, when he posed nude,  in a campaign for his man's fragrance BANG! with a over-sized bottle covering his privates, he now appears shirtless for Diet Coke Add's not only in the set of images but also in the commercial. Take a look...

QNCC - Qatar National Convention Center

Photo: QNCC

Doha, has a lot to see...and one place you should not skip is the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) for all the reasons, but specially for its unparalleled,  sophisticated, incredible state of the art design and facility.

This Convention and Exhibition Centre open in 2011, design by the renowned and avant-garde Japanese Architect Arata Isozaki, who's first notable building is the Oita Prefectural Library (1966). Other famous structures among is work are the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (1986) and Art Tower (1990) in Mito, Japan.

QNCC, is a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and its one of the most environmentally friendly large scale event venues of its kind in the world, and the first of its kind being built to achieve the gold certification of U.S.Green Building Council's (USGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED). 

To host environmentally sustainable and energy efficient features QNCC added many features into its design which includes 3,500 square metres of solar paneling, on the top roof, which provides up to 12.5% of the Centre's energy consumption. Iinstallation of high efficiency water fixtures reduced the use of potable (drinkable) water within the Centre by 40%.

Day-light used is maximized throughout the Centre which reduces the energy consumption normally used for lighting, also automated shade devices are provided to shade the east and west elevations of the exterior window walls from the direct sun, thus reducing the air-conditioning requirement.

Sidra Tree

When you approach QNCC building, the first thing you notice is this huge breathtaking structure at the entrance resembling a tree. In fact, this structure is inspired in a iconic symbol of the Qatari culture, the Sidra Tree or lote tree, grows with it's branches to support the overhanging roof structure.

Photo: the blue chic
It symbolizes the Qatar Foundation's three pillars of education, science and research and community development. Also signifies nourishment, strength, courage, learning and growth, it was traditionally, a meeting place in the desert to share knowledge between poets and scholars but also as a place to provide a cool shade, fruits, leaves for medical use in the harsh conditions of the Qatari desert.

Photo: the blue chic

"The Sidra tree, growing strong and proud in the harshest of environments, has been a symbol of perseverance and nourishment across the borders of the Arab world. What is the significance of this glorious tree? With its roots bound in the soil of this world and its branches reaching upwards toward perfection, it is a symbol of solidarity and determination; it reminds us that goals of this world are not incompatible with the goals of the spirit."
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
Qatar Foundation Chairperson, at the inauguration of Education City, 13 October 2003.

Mamman 

Right in the middle of the main entrance foyer, a magnificent sculpture captures your attention, not only by its size, but also by its beauty.

This 8 legged spider sculpture made of steel, named "Mamman" (1999) rises 9 meters high,  right in the middle of the main hall. With a sac containing 17 white and grey eggs made of marble, a symbolism of motherhood.

Created by the american artist Louise Bourgeois, a tribute to her mother, "Mamman" represents a continual renewal of the cycle of life.

"The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother."                                                                         Louise Bourgeois

Photo: the blue chic

Facilities

Inside QNCC, there is a great variety of facilities which includes a ceremonial drop-off area, 40,000 square metres of exhibition space over nine halls, adaptable to be used for a conference or banquet. 

The exhibition halls are stunning by its dimension and incredible adaptability. With the possibility to be divided in the needed size.

Photo: QNCC

Also in the conference hall with a capacity for 4,000 seats or half when used for a banqueting venue, has this amazing decorative customized chandeliers, dubbed Oyster Lights, with colour changing panels viewed through arrays of Swarovski crystals. This superb chandeliers can span five meters when opened and create an incredible intimate experience in the hall

Three auditoria  and 52 conference rooms, meeting centre which can be used for dining functions or large meetings.
The conference Hall, is impressive by its versatility, the reversible furniture is able to transform a chair into a table, increasing the functionality and adaptability for the event being held.

Photo: QNCC

Photo: the blue chic

A impressive Lyric Theatre with 2,300 seats,  with a exterior curved wall with customized RGB LED star-points with 180 degree viewing angles mounted at leather panel intersections. These individual panels can be program sequences giving the impression of dynamic waves and sparkle reflecting in the glass curtain wall.

The theatre has the highest grade for quality, and like in most halls, leather stand out in the furniture. It has high quality, it's durable and has clean ability. The colors chosen are gorgeous matching perfectly the architectural materials.

 Photo: QNCC

Photo: the blue chic

QNCC, also has a small cafeteria, mosques for men and women, secure loading zone and crate storage for exhibitors, and parking for over 2,300 vehicles which connects directly with the convention centre.

A place to go....definitely! At least to one of the many events held in the Lyric Theatre...

PARK BAZAAR

On the first Saturday's of each month there is a cool program to do in Doha. Perfect for these winter days....its the PARK BAZAAR....

This open air market, just adjacent to the MIA Museum grounds, showcases an eclectic mix of stalls, selling from jewelry, arts, all kinds of crafts, souvenirs, perfumes, clothes, mix of food.

The weather is great right now, so its a really cool outdoor program to do with friends or family and enjoy the day at the park. 

MIA Park Bazaar has a great and relaxed atmosphere where you can seize the afternoon, try some local food, buy some handicraft or just enjoy the atmosphere of the park.

First Saturday of the month from 12pm to 19pm.

Photos: the blue chic