It's time to Frol!k!
Grab your masks, dig out your lace and head to Cat's Kitchen, ArgoJardin, Estepona, for a one off Burlesque performance from UK based artist Zaffire Phoenix this Saturday, May 11
The show is part of Frol!k's Mask & Burlesque banquet, a hedonistic night that promises to be unforgettable.
The party continues after the show with DJ's making you dance until the early hours. Dress up and be who you want to be!
For more information click on the link below
Polo on the Playa!
The action and excitement of polo came to the Kempinski Hotel Bahía this weekend, when the II Edition of the Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup attracted the crème de la crème of Costa del Sol society, as well as over 1,000 spectators.
International players including Patrons Niclas Johansson, Andrew Nolte, and Carlos Piñal the high level professionals Jamie Le Hardy, Douglas Thompson and Hernan Pieres put on an excellent show for the crowds over the two-day event.
The teams battled it out to win the cup with Perlage taking the title. Team Pagani followed very closely behind and all teams put on a fantastic display of beach polo.
Following the matches there were two glamourous events at the Kempinski Hotel Bahia’s new beachside restaurant Spiler Beach Club. The After Polo Party and Polo Glam Lunch saw VIPs including Countess Gunilla von Bismarck and Luis Ortiz, Victoria Junot, and with corporate tables from Christies, Les Roches, Bulgari and Scapa Sports rubbing shoulders with the professional polo players and the Mayor of Estepona, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano. Bélen Cepero from Premier Law won the award of the first 'Lady Polo Chic', which was presented by organiser Isabel de Borbon, while Kempinski Hotel Bahía and the Town Hall of Estepona were congratulated for being the driving force in bringing beach polo to the Costa del Sol.
Photo: Mike Jackson
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Beach Polo comes to the Kempinski
Sun, sand, sea and polo will delight the crowds on May 4 and 5 at Kempinski Hotel Bahia as the hotel will host “Sport of Kings” for the second time.
During two days glamour and excitement will be at high as four international polo teams will compete for the second edition of the ‘Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup 2019’ - a sought-after event that promises glamour and gourmet cuisine by the sea.
The two-day tournament launched last year was a tournament of firsts: it was the first-ever overall victory for the team “Kempinski Bahia” and it was the first time a Polo Tournament was played at a beach in Estepona.
The II Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup will have two different spaces to experience the best polo: the public area through the bridge and the Kempinski VIP Marquee. Spectators who just wish to watch the matches can do so for free, simply stroll along and enjoy the action. This is a great opportunity for everyone to come and experience the sport, and watch top polo players and their ponies at close range, right on the sand.
The principal sponsor is Kempinski Hotel Bahía, other sponsors include Bvlgari, Scapa Sports, Perlage, Ferragamo and Pagani.
Organiser Isabel de Borbon commented, “I am delighted to bring again Beach Polo to the shores of the Costa del Sol and to the prestigious Kempinski Hotel Bahía. This has been a very ambitious project that could only be realised with the great support of Estepona's Town Hall and the coordination and the enthusiasm of the Kempinski Hotel Bahía since day one.
Axel Bethke, General Manager of the Kempinski Hotel Bahía commented, “Everyone at Kempinski Hotel Bahia is excited to deliver the II Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup and we look forward to build tradition again this year” he further added “this second edition of the Polo Cup is even more special this time as the timing of this year event goes hand in hand with the launch of our new Spiler Beach Club”.
The 2019 edition programme
Saturday, 4th of May – Matches at Playa Padron (Kempinski Hotel Bahia beach). From 16.00 to 19.00.
Sunday, 5th of May – Matches and Awards Ceremony at Playa Padron (Kempinski Hotel Bahia beach) from 12.00 to 14.00.
VIP tickets will include entertainment, fabulous food and champagne and are available also for those who wish as well to attend to the Saturday, 4th May Gala Dinner and Sunday, 5th May Polo Chic Lunch.
To Book your VIP tickets info@costadelsolbeachpolo.com or call 663 706 105.
Keyboard Warriors
Is it just me, or are people getting ruder?
Perhaps it’s just a sign of my approaching decrepitude that we seem to be a more brusque, less polite society than 20 years ago. I may be developing a pair of rose tinted spectacles, in the same way that youngsters respected their elders, politicians knew what they were doing (insert your own Brexit comment here) and that pop music was good. Although as someone who lived through the horror that was Stock, Aitken and Waterman in the 80s, I beg to differ on that one.
As a northern European coming to Andalucía for the first time it can be something of a shock when you overhear your first conversation in Spanish. The dialogue is so loud and frenetic that you assume that everyone is arguing and you expect the first punch to be thrown at any second. The healthy sprinkling of swearing in any Andaluz conversation, dropping the c-bomb in as a matter of course, would also seem to be a certain prelude to impending violence. Use that particular noun in the UK and you’d probably end up in Accident and Emergency.
But that is all part and parcel of living in Spain. Nobody takes offense, although that might have something to do with the fact that it’s in the real world.
Online, however, things are slightly different…
Yes, I am well aware that the Internet has been a largely brilliant and benign invention that had brought people together, allowed family and friends to catch up with news and generally ‘spread the love’.
On the downside, however, it has also allowed small but vocal minority to become keyboard warriors, firing off inflammatory posts indiscriminately. In the Kevin Costner baseball movie ‘Field of Dreams’ there is the classic line ‘If you build it they will come’. The same type of logic applies to posting anything vaguely controversial on social media. It’s much easier to be rude to people if your are safely behind a computer screen.
Luckily as a hard-bitten hack I’m fairly used to being called a witless moron on a regular basis. And that’s just from friends and family. But to those who didn’t have the pleasure of working on the national newspaper in the glory days, where things tended to get out of hand on a regular basis – I received a well aimed mini football on the back of the head on my first subbing stint on The Mirror, which came sailing over from the Sports Desk – having your parentage called into question can be a deeply upsetting experience.
So please, whatever your views on Trump, Brexit or Podemos, next time you feel the urge to savage someone online, do what I do, in all situations, and ask yourself the immortal question
“What would David Niven do?"
La Catarina to Close!
One of Marbella's best live music venues, La Catarina, is set to close.
In a post on the bar's Facebook page, La Catarina's management stated "We feel it is now the right time to announce that La Catarina will close at the end of May. All good things come to an end and we feel that this is the time for our beloved venue to complete its cycle. It's been 5 tough but beautiful years fighting for what seemed impossible: to create and support the culture and the alternative scene in our city."
The post confirmed that the popular craft beer brand would continue to operate and that the brewery would relocate to the new venture, Cat's Kitchen in Estepona.
The news is a body blow to a Marbella music scene that has a lack of alternative venues. As well as the popular jam sessions, DJs and Sunday markets, La Catarina also saw international acts such as La Mari , soul legend Fred Wesley and Chicago's Hypnotic Brass Ensemble perform.
La Catarina's last night will be May 31st. Let's give it a send off to remember!
'Meh' bella Arena
The announcement that Marbella Arena – the former Bull Ring in Nueva Andalucia – was being reformed as an “international concert venue” had concert goers buzzing.
So to say we were not impressed with the management is putting it mildly. First was the lack of invitations to the English media for the Press Conference when the line up of acts was unveiled.
And then there was the line up itself. Promising international acts to "be announced later", the only non Spanish performers so far are Bob Marley's backing group, The Wailers.
Somehow we can't see that one packing out the 5,000 seater venue, especially considering that they will be up against other concerts this sunmmer including Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Sting, The Jacksons, and the recently announced Jason Derulo.
And as for the "Spanish Hip Hop" Festival, that would seem to be inviting mayhem to Nueva Andalucia.
Good luck Marbella Arena. Looks like you are going to need it...
The Cat's Whiskers!
Hot new eatery Cat's Kitchen is set to officially open on Saturday.
Located in the Agrojardin centre just past Cancelada, the laid back vibe and great food has already ensured a devoted group of regulars.
Saturday promises to be a day full of great entertainment with lots of fantastic live music including Colm Fitpatrick, legendary DJ Larry Jazz, live band The Cops and DJ Fadakata
If that wasn't enough, Cat's Kitchen is offering free Paella, La Catarina beer and soft drinks from 2 - 5pm!
We'll see you there!
Free Draw! Win a skydive simulator experience!
Fly4Real is bringing Spain’s first outdoor skydiving simulator to the Costa del Sol next month and have launched a competition to win the first 10 flights.
All you have to do to enter is send them an email, or fill out the contact form on their website www.fly-4-real.com before April 26.
A skydiving simulator allows visitors to fly on a column of air, without a parachute. It simulates the freefall portion of a skydive, and is an addictive, exciting and thrilling experience. It's the perfect way to find out what skydiving feels like without jumping from an aeroplane.
Anyone can safely enjoy the thrill of flying and as long as you’re reasonably fit and healthy, age is no barrier.
Located at KartCenter Campillos, under an hour from the coast, Fly4Real’s outdoor simulator is set be an exciting new addition to the area's tourism activities.
To be one of the very first people to try an outdoor skydiving simulator in Spain enter their competition to win one of the first ten flights. They are giving away ten 48,000 foot freefall flights, their recommended option for beginners who are trying out a skydiving simulator for the first time.
The competition will run until the 26th of April. To enter, send an email to info@fly-4-real.com or visit the website www.fly-4-real.com.
Ten winners will be selected at random from the entries, and the winners will be announced on Monday April 29 and be notified by email. Flights will be arranged in the opening week from May 1.
Monday Motivation - Dieting and Teeth
In her latest column, Ali Silver discusses Dieting and Oral Health
By now, you know that diets don’t work and they that seriously disrupt your relationship with food and your body.
In the quest for weight loss, we often overlook our teeth and gums.
However if you have ever had to have work done to your teeth, you’ll know it can be a painful and lengthy process!
So how can dieting affect the health of our teeth and gums?
Diet-Binge Cycle:
You know the drill, restriction or deprivation of foods can cause you to crave it uncontrollably, thus causing you to lose your cool when confronted with it and eat past the point of comfortable fullness. One way in which a binge is characterised is the speed at which the food is eaten. When we eat too quickly, food doesn’t have a chance to breakdown properly before continuing on its journey. This doesn’t give our mouth time to produce saliva, which aids in the breakdown of what we’re eating – leaving our teeth more prone to damage.
Stress:
Diets are STRESSFUL! Whether it’s our body’s which are stressed from the lack of sufficient nutrients and being over-exercised, or we’re suffering from the mental effects of controlling and calculating our food.
When we eat in a state of stress, food isn’t as well broken down as it could be. In terms of our oral health this can lead to poor nutrient absorption and acid reflux – both of which can affect teeth and gums.
Stress can also contribute lead to tooth grinding and can worsen pain.
Restricting Carbohydrates:
Low-carb diets ranges from paleo to the ketogenic diet. By cutting out carbohydrates like grains and pulses, your body in not burning carbohydrates (its preferred fuel) and burns fat instead. This results in the body releasing ketones, however an overload of ketones can make your body burn muscle as well which causes fatigue and even heart damage in some cases.
A key sign of ketosis? Your breath starts to smell like nail polish remover.
Reducing Fat:
This sounds obvious but when opting for ‘low fat’ versions of foods consistently, or omitting oils and nuts from your diet, you may be interfering with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. Vitamin D is especially important as it helps your body to absorb calcium. Teeth and bones can break down if your body not absorbing calcium efficiently.
Calorie-Deficit/Calorie Counting:
Undereating not only mean lacking in macronutrients like protein carbohydrates and fats, but also could mean you are not getting the sufficient minerals and vitamins needed to maintain good oral health (and overall health!). Malnutrition is bad news all around, but for your mouth it can mean a weakened jawbone (causing teeth to move or fall out), softened enamel (increasing your chance of cavities) and deficient gums (making you vulnerable to gum disease).
For more information on how you can ease up on the food rules and make peace with your body, get in touch ali@alisilver.co.uk or you can find me at the Sonrisa Dental Clinic
Something for the Weekend? Book Review Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap
Alicia Duggan of The Bookshop reviews the latest releases.
This debut young adult novel by Shannon Dunlap is a modern take on the legend of Tristan and Iseult. As it says in the prologue, “This is not a novel. It’s a romance.”
Izzy is a sixteen-year-old, bright and practical aspiring doctor who has grown up in comfortable affluence on the Lower East Side. When her hippy parents decide to move the family to Brooklyn, Izzy and her twin brother Hull are less than happy.
Tristan is a genius chess prodigy from dysfunctional home who has spent the past two years living with his aunt in Brooklyn. His cousin Marcus has watched over him since he arrived, taking care of him but also making money out of betting on the chess matches he makes Tristan play. One such match, between Tristan and Hull, is the catalyst for all the wonderful and tragic things to come.
Izzy and Tristan meet and in true romance-novel fashion it’s love at first sight, however, they feel they must keep their relationship a secret leading to moonlit rendezvous and stolen kisses. However, as with all romantic tragedies, it begs the question – Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
This is by no means a new story, but it is a fresh, modern take on an old one.
https://www.thebookshop.es/product/izzy---tristan---shannon-dunlap