2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003
Not a lot happening this weekend, but on the bright side Superman is out in the theaters here. Haven’t read any reviews yet but it’s a movie I’m planning to watch. Also need to watch the new Jurassic Park.
Friday, July 11
Wellthy’s Summer Bodega
Experimental Film Photography
Sunrise Paddle
Summer Flea Market
Saturday, July 12
Wellthy’s Summer Bodega
Girls Only Board Gaming
Sunrise Paddle
DAI Family Day
Summer Flea Market
Korean Movie Night: Masquerade
Looks like there are more Switch 2’s in Kuwait than people actually want them. I was at Xcite Avenues yesterday and noticed they’re now selling the Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle for KD175, and the console only version for KD150.
Blink are selling the combo for slightly cheaper at KD173 as well and I’m sure there are probably even cheaper prices elsewhere. So if you wanted to wait till prices dropped to something reasonable, you’re in luck.
Update: Game Store selling the combo for KD170
We don’t have a shortage of burger spots in Kuwait, but a new spot just launched that’s doing things a bit differently. GYU is a Japanese-inspired burger concept that just opened for delivery, and it looks pretty interesting.
The name GYU is the Japanese word for “cow” or “cattle,” and is pronounced like “gyoo”. The team behind GYU are clearly fans of Japanese culture. Their idea was to blend Japanese flavors with classic American burgers and sandwiches, and the result is a menu full of interesting twists like Katsu Sando burgers and sandwiches with umami-packed sauces and ingredients.
They also have a bunch of unique items planned for future phases, including some premium secret menu items that will only be available through their website, GYUKW.com.
For now, GYU are operating as delivery only, but I’m looking forward to trying them out. You can check them out on Instagram at @eatatgyu
I’ve heard from two different sources that Barry’s, the popular LA-based fitness chain, is opening in Kuwait at the end of this year.
Barry’s is a fitness studio brand that is best known for their signature “Red Room” workout, a high-energy class that alternates between High‑Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on treadmills (cardio), and strength training on the floor (weights, resistance bands, bodyweight exercises).
I’ve never taken any of their classes, but I have a friend in Dubai who’s obsessed with them. Supposedly, you can burn up to 1,000 calories in a single 50-minute session, which is insane.
They currently have over 90 studios across 17 countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, with the Kuwait location expected to open in October.
Since 2015 I’ve mostly been wearing Adidas Ultraboosts as my daily sneakers. Since 2018 I’ve actually been wearing one specific model/color of the Ultraboosts which is the Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 Limited Cream Chalk. The original 1.0 version of the Ultraboost has always been my favorite the I found the cream color works with everything I have. But since they were only released for a limited time period and they weren’t that special of a pair for collectors, finding a new pair kept getting harder and harder every year. Eventually Adidas reissued them and they became easier to find again for a while before they started becoming rare again (and with that more expensive).
The Ultraboosts were also my travel shoes since they were comfortable and light, and I even got hitop Goretex versions for when I’m expecting there to be rain. But, no matter how comfortable the Ultraboosts were, after 20,000-30,000 steps my feet and lower back tended to hurt at the end of the day.
So I decided to look for a new pair of travel sneakers and eventually ended up with a pair of Hoka Clifton 10’s. I just got back from my first trip with them and I’m really impressed. The first time I put the Hoka’s on in the store I was so surprised at how soft and cushiony they were to my Ultraboosts. It was weird cuz every step I took felt bouncy. I wore it in Kuwait for like a month so I could get used to it when I traveled and now that I’m back I’m completely sold on them.
Looking back at my data now I didn’t hit 30,000 steps on any day this trip, but I had three days in a row where I was hitting between 21,000 and 24,000 steps a day. The whole trip I didn’t have any pain in my feet after a long day of walking, nor did I have any back issues. Usually the back issues pop up when I’m standing too long and my feet start to hurt, so I start shifting weight from one leg to another. I didn’t have that problem with the Hoka’s. They’re so soft and cushiony they make me wonder how I thought my super comfy Ultraboosts were actually comfortable.
The Hoka’s also cost less than a new pair of Ultraboosts at KD57. The cheapest pair of new Cream Chalk Ultraboosts in my size on StockX is currently KD122, but even when they were readily available at Adidas they were like KD69 or something.
I really like the Hoka’s and they aren’t that bad looking either.
SuperPark Arena, the newest and 5th SuperPark in Kuwait, just opened and it’s the 3rd branch of SuperPark inside The Avenues Mall. It’s located right next to KidZania and above the Souk entrance. SuperPark is a Finnish brand having branches in 12 countries.
This new branch has a bunch of new attractions including:
In addition to the above there is also a separate toddlers area for safety, and a dedicated premium birthday room for celebrations.
You can either get a 1-hour or 2-hour pass, and that gives you access to all the activities and games inside. It’s fun for all ages, including kids, teens, adults and parents.
Location: Avenues Mall, Phase 3, Level 1 (next to KidZania)
Opening Hours: 10AM to 10PM on weekdays, 10AM to 11PM on weekends
SuperPark now has five locations in Kuwait:
– SuperPark Arena (Avenues, above Souk) (recently open)
– SuperPark Kuwait (Avenues, Gate 16)
– SuperPark KidsZone (Avenues Forum Basement, Gate 27)
– SuperPark Jahra (Al Mekhiyal Complex)
– SuperPark Siddeeq (Siddeeq Co-op)
For more info head to @superparkkw
After my last post on watching AC/DC live, I ended up watching Nine Inch Nails the following day, they were actually why I ended up in Berlin. This was the second time I booked for NIN in Berlin, first time was back in 2018 but never ended up going (I don’t remember why now), but I’m so glad I went this time.
I knew going to the NIN concert I had good tickets since I got them within the first 15 minutes of the tickets going on sale. They were 3rd row seated and near the stage off to the side, but not too much to the side. When NIN started their tour a couple of weeks ago, they revealed they’d also have a second smaller stage in the middle of the arena. I was hoping we’d get that as well since my seats would turn out to be perfect, and we did. My seats turned out to be between both stages so I couldn’t have asked for better tickets.
The concert itself might be the best one I’ve ever been to. The only reason I’m not sure is because I did Foo Fighters in a stadium and I was like front row middle standing in front of the stage which is hard to beat. Also I had to get to that concert 5 hours before the gates opened to stand in line and then run to the stage to get that done so there was quite a bit of work involved. I also watched Smashing Pumpkins with Marlyn Manson live in LA, and Smashing Pumpkins have always been my #1 band. So I guess this NIN concert is my top 3.
Performance wise, I think they were than Foo Fighters and Smashing Pumpkins and I had such a great time. I was actually so upset when the show finished since it felt too short. I just checked how long it was based on the first and last photo I took and turns out the concert was 2 hours and 35 minutes long. That’s crazy because I was just going to type the concert was 1:30-2 hours long max but figured I’d double check. I can’t believe it was two and half hours long, time flew by so quickly. The crowd was great, the lighting and sound was great, and the band were just incredible.
Anyway, I’m mostly posting this for me, as a personal diary note. But, if you’re a fan of Nine Inch Nails I highly recommend you try and watch one of their shows. This was my second time watching them, first time was at a festival, but it’s so much more personal when it’s the bands tour and in a much smaller arena and everyone there is a super fan and knows all the lyrics.
Between Kuwait Towers and JŌN on the Gulf Road are three abandoned restaurants that have been sitting empty for years (Google Maps). They’re clustered together in an area that was called “Dhiafa Village.” Back in 2008, three restaurants opened there: Trader Vic’s, Letter D’amour, and Don Mario’s. I always thought the area had a lot of potential, and it looks like it’s finally going to be put to good use.
Dhow Hospitality won the bid for the location and will be opening three major concepts there:
La Petite Maison
3Fils
Matbakhi by Sawsan
LPM is a high-end French Mediterranean restaurant that most people are already familiar with. 3Fils is a Japanese concept that started in the UAE and was recently voted the No. 1 restaurant in the MENA region. Finally, Matbakhi is a local concept by chef @sawsansmatbakhi and is my favorite (and a favorite for many others) when it comes to authentic Palestinian food.
The new name for the village will be “Peninsula,” which makes sense since the property stretches into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides. I saw renderings of the area and can confidently say there’s nothing else like it in Kuwait right now. The three concepts will have both indoor and outdoor seating, and together should create a very cool vibe.
LPM will take over the first building on the left, Matbakhi the second one on the right, and 3Fils will occupy the third building, which is the closest to the sea.
Construction on the project will start this summer, with openings expected by the end of the year.
Nonstop Dan has uploaded one last video related to his experience flying Kuwait Airways, this time the video is regarding the responses he got from Kuwait Airways (and a member of the royal family?). Video thankfully isn’t 30 minutes long but if you want to skip the intro just jump to minute 3:30.
In summary if you don’t want to watch the videos. He got three emails, 2 from Kuwait Airways, and 1 supposedly from a member of the royal family. The emails were apologetic, friendly and wanted to make it up to Dan. So the saga is over, Dan and Kuwait Airways are friends again.
OffTheCoal is a restaurant that’s been over a decade in the making. Its owner, Bader AlMutairi, has always had a passion for food and design, and OTC is a combination of all his interests and obsessions rolled into one.
Before my first visit, I had seen photos of the space, but once you’re actually there, it’s a completely different experience. The owner, a fan of the lifestyle and design of the 1920s to 1950s, as well as both Steampunk and Art Deco, worked with @manmade.studio to bring his vision to life. Every corner is filled with quirky details, from vintage gears to bold geometric patterns to a retro-style flap display that shows custom messages. There’s even a miniature train-like mechanism that transports food between the back kitchen and the front bar. The space feels more like a themed movie set than a typical restaurant, and that’s exactly how the owner wanted it.
The restaurant itself is meat-centric. They have a highly specialized smoker that runs 24 hours a day, constantly churning out pastrami and ribs for guests. The pastrami, by the way, is one of the best I’ve had and completely caught me by surprise. The menu is full of fresh, creative, and slightly upscale small dishes, most of which feature smoked or roasted elements.
Going back to the retro-style flap display I mentioned earlier, guests can even request to show their own custom messages on it. That’s just one of the ways they can interact with the space. OTC also has carnival-style coupons and golden tickets that can be used to redeem fun prizes. These touches were inspired by the owner’s love for the 1920s and the nostalgic spirit of mid-century American boardwalk carnivals. It’s a playful reference to that era and a way to make the dining experience feel more personal and engaging. As for the name OffTheCoal? It was inspired by Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album. That’s another one of Bader’s interests.
OffTheCoal is clearly a passion project, so whether you’re into design, food, or just curious to try some of the best pastrami in town, it’s worth experiencing at least once. Here is their location on Google Maps and they’re on Instagram @offthecoal
Dan just published part two of his review where he goes into details about what happened with Kuwait Airways.
I don’t watch his videos so not sure if they’re all like this but god he drags things for sooo long. This video could easily have been 5-10mins long instead of 26mins.
In short, nothing surprising for anyone living in Kuwait. Basically he was told he can’t record video onboard and publish it without permission from Kuwait Airways. Obviously that’s not true and the people involved were most likely all old school crew. He was threatened that he would be sued if he did which again is such a normal thing for us to hear, or at least I’m used to this. Eventually when he landed the cops came and spoke to him and obviously nothing came out of it because he hadn’t done anything wrong. Just normal Kuwait drama.
Anyway, that was all of it. It didn’t need a part 2 video, and definitely didn’t need to be longer than an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
I’m in Berlin for a week because of a Nine Inch Nails concert, but yesterday while out shopping I started noticing a lot of people wearing AC/DC t-shirts. It seemed odd seeing so many people with the same band shirt, so I went up to one guy and asked if AC/DC were playing in Berlin. Turns out they were, and the concert was starting in less than three hours.
So I told my wife we had to go. I quickly found two tickets still available online, no idea how, and they were good seats too. I figured someone must have decided last minute not to go and put them up for resale. We ended up rushing back to the hotel, dropping everything, and then heading straight to the historic Olympic Stadium, the same one built for and used during the controversial 1936 Olympics.
The experience was epic. I’ve only ever been to a stadium concert once before, and that was for Foo Fighters, which was a completely different experience. The AC/DC crowd was so different, a lot older thats for sure but you can tell they used to be party animals when they were a lot younger. Basically the same as the band who I have no idea how they can still perform live with so much energy and passion.
I first heard AC/DC when I was a kid in the mid 80s. My older cousin was a fan, along with bands like Iron Maiden and The Rolling Stones. I never imagined that 40 years later I’d be watching them live. It’s crazy.
Condé Nast Traveler just published their list of “The 11 Best Restaurants in Kuwait” on their website. Here’s what they picked, in no particular order:
Seems like an odd list. I definitely would’ve included Phet Phet, Matbakhi, and Oak & Smoke. Having two burger spots and two shawarma places also feels repetitive for such a short list.
Pictured up top is Li Beirut.
The airline YouTuber Nonstop Dan recently flew Kuwait Airways and just published his part 1 of 2 review. The review goes as expected, nice first class seats, but subpar service and poor amenities. But, supposedly he was threatened not to publish the review and police got involved once he landed in Kuwait. He’s publishing the dramatic second half of the review after tomorrow so we will have to see what happens.
Nowadays I don’t believe anything I watch online since everyone is just trying to grab headlines. I don’t know anything really about Dan’s credibility so I don’t know how dramatic he usually is. I’ll have to watch his second video to see if things were lost in translation, or if the police did get involved etc. I guess he’ll be getting my views.
I don’t know how I only recently realized this but turns out there is a pretty big difference between the first gen Apple TV 4K and the 3rd generation one, even though they look pretty much the same.
I only found out after I installed tvOS 26 developer beta on my AppleTV. I didn’t notice any visual differences and then a few days later I read an article about how some of the new visual changes would only show on the gen 3 AppleTV. So I checked my model and realized it was the first generation from 2017. I didn’t really realize because at one point in time I upgraded my remote to the new one and so my AppleTV in my hands resembled the latest gen.
What I also didn’t realize was that there was a considerable upgrade to the Apple TV CPU from the 1st gen to the 3rd. So I went out and bought the latest AppleTV which is over 2 years old now and damn, the difference in experience is pretty big.
All the streaming apps start and run faster now, and even the streams start quicker. Not only that but Peacock for example seems to be streaming in 4K now when it previously wasn’t. Or maybe it was but the app processes the stream better now resulting in sharper footage? No idea but the whole AppleTV experience had just been a huge upgrade for me.
Usually I’m on top of everything Apple so quite surprised at how I was so unaware of this. I actually shouldn’t have bought the AppleTV now since it’s due for an upgrade soon, but figured I’d just sell it again once the new one comes out.