2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Looks like this winter is going to be packed with big events. Jon Batiste, the American musician, composer, and television personality, is coming to perform live in Kuwait this November.

If you haven’t heard his music before, it’s a mix of jazz, soul, R&B, and pop, and he has a way of blending it all together that makes his sound unique and uplifting.

Jon also won a number of awards over the years. In 2020, he teamed up with Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (one of my favorite bands), composed the score for the Disney and Pixar film Soul. The three went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score. In 2022, Batiste was the most nominated artist at the Grammys with 11 nominations and took home the most awards with five, including Album of the Year. In total, he’s won seven Grammy Awards to date.

If those accolades weren’t enough, Jon has also recorded and performed with big names like Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz, ASAP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, and Lana Del Rey. He was also the bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 until 2022.

According to Batiste’s website, he’ll be performing in Kuwait on November 29 at JACC. More details, including ticket information, will be available soon on the organizer’s Instagram @epicx.event

Popular Iranian-American stand-up comedian Max Amini is coming to Kuwait to perform live.

I didn’t recognize him by his name at first when a reader told me about him, but after watching his videos I realized he’s one of the funny stand-ups that often pop up on my TikTok feed.

With nearly 8 million Instagram followers, Max Amini would be the most popular stand-up comedian to perform in Kuwait. He hasn’t announced a date yet, but Kuwait and Bahrain are listed as stops on his page right after his India tour ends on December 3.

If, like me, you don’t recognize who Max is, head over to his Instagram account and watch some of his videos. @maxcomedian

Update: According to the organizers @epicx.event, he will be performing in Kuwait on December 18th.

It’s been a few months since Jar’s, the pizza spot, opened and today marks the start of their next chapter.

I’ve posted about the owner of Jar’s, Abdullah AlJarallah twice so far (here and here). Initially when he was making and delivering pizzas out of a commercial kitchen as a side hobby, and then again when he eventually opened his spot in Hawalli. It was a small cozy hole-in-the-wall that just made pizzas and had a set menu. Now Jar’s is expanding with more seating, a larger menu and they’re making a few other changes as well.

In addition to pizzas, Jar’s is now introducing two highly requested items, steaks and pastas. With these new additions, they’re moving away from the set menu, so you can now order freely without limitations. Like with their pizzas, they’re using top quality ingredients and making as much as possible in house. So fresh tomatoes, and plenty of good aged cheeses. All your favorite pizzas are still there as well.

The second biggest change is the addition of more chairs and tables. Jar’s outgrew the small space, so what used to be indoor seating is now a larger kitchen with a small gourmet merch section, while a new seating area was built outside. With the addition of more seating, you no longer need a reservation, you can just walk in.

Since I’ve been posting about Abdullah and his pizzas from the very start, it feels like I’ve become his official documentarian along the way, and it’s been fun watching Jar’s grow. Swipe left to check out some photos of the new items and then make sure you head over to his Instagram account @atjars

There’s an interesting variety of events taking place this weekend, here are my favorites. As always, double check the event details with the organizers.

Thursday, September 18
The IMPROV Show
Miami Show 3.0
Al Hamra Career Fair
Korean Movie Night: Along With The Gods

Friday, September 19
John Achkar Standup Comedy
Welcome Lunch Potluck
Miami Show 3.0

Saturday, September 20
Stretch for a Cause
Floral Workshop: Contemporary Design
World Cleanup Day
Trios by Haydn, Mozart & More
Miami Show 3.0
Morning Paddle Cleanup Edition
Denim Charms Workshop
Soof Wool Mill Tours

I’m a fan of Jimmy’s smashburgers, but I was never into their old location. It reminded me too much of Supernova’s interior in London and it was also tiny. Their new spot, on the other hand, is hot.

Jimmy’s just opened a much larger branch in Shuwaikh and it was designed by TWENTYONE Architects. TWENTYONE gave the brand a completely new look that is an elevated take on the American diner. The heart of the space is the open bar where you can watch them smash and cook the burgers for you. Part of the reason for the open bar is also for the sounds and smells, they want the customers to hear the sound of the grill and smell the meat as part of the experience

I love the checkered flooring and the warm walnut wood, and I think the space finally matches the quality of their burgers. If you want to check out more photos of the interior, click here.

Photos were taken by Sarah Jamaan.

Yesterday Carrefour stopped operating in Kuwait. They don’t list a reason for why, but it’s assumed the boycott hurt them a lot.

A reader emailed me to let me know that some Carrefour locations are now branded Hypermax. Hypermax like Carrefour is also owned by Majid Al Futtaim and is their own brand, not a franchise.

I previously mentioned that Spinneys would be taking over the Carrefour location in The Avenues. I think the chances of that happening now are really high.

It’s now official, Saint Levant is coming to perform live in Kuwait.

Fame Entertainment, in collaboration with Live Nation, is bringing Marwan Abdelhamid, AKA Saint Levant, to Kuwait. He’ll be performing at JACC on December 5.

Tickets just went on sale a few moments ago on the JACC website starting from KD 30. Based on the engagement my earlier post on Saint Levant got, I’m pretty sure they’ll sell out quickly, so if you want tickets you’ll need to move fast. Link

The Chinese food delivery service Keeta launches in Kuwait today, taking on Talabat, Deliveroo, Jahez, and Cari.

Keeta is the overseas brand of the Chinese company Meituan, the world’s largest food delivery platform. They launched in Saudi Arabia last year and it took them just four months to become the third-largest food delivery platform there. So I’m very curious to see how they’ll perform locally.

At launch, they’re offering a discount on your first order plus free delivery. After that, you’ll continue to get free delivery on all orders of KD3 or more (with no subscription needed). @kw.keeta

Kuwait Airways just won an APEX Five-Star award for outstanding passenger experience. That may come as a surprise, depending on how you feel about them, but according to APEX this was based on “neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights.” So not one of those awards you can buy just for PR purposes.

Etihad Airways and Gulf Air were two other airlines from the region that won an APEX Five-Star award. Qatar Airways and Emirates were strangely were not listed. Not sure why, but both did win APEX Best awards:

‎Best Entertainment: Emirates
‎Best Cabin Service: Korean Air
‎Best Food & Beverage: Qatar Airways
‎Best Seat Comfort: Eva Air
‎Best Wi-Fi: Delta Air Lines

APEX stands for Airline Passenger Experience Association and they were the first airline rating program to based solely on certified passenger feedback. The last time Kuwait Airways won an APEX Five-Star award was in 2021.

Can someone recommend a labor lawyer they’ve worked with and had a good experience?

Earlier this year I quit my job because my employer hadn’t paid salaries for three months, and now they aren’t paying my indemnity either (even though they split it into a ridiculous 14 payments!). I found a labor lawyer through google already but I would rather work with one that comes through a recommendation. So if you’ve worked with a good labor lawyer and had a good experience, email me their contacts.

Thanks!

Update: Thank you everyone for your emails (and WhatsApp messages). I wasn’t expecting to get so many recommendations so now I have to organize all the contacts and spend the rest of the week doing a bit of research. I might end up putting together a post with the list of lawyers for anyone in the future who also might be in a similar spot and are looking for recommendations.

Ulta Beauty Kuwait has an official opening date and it’s Friday, November 7.

Kecia Steelman, the CEO of Ulta Beauty, announced the date at a pre-launch party in Dubai this past weekend. Their first location in Kuwait will be at The Avenues, taking over the spot where Dean & Deluca used to be. It will also be the first Ulta Beauty location outside the U.S.

I visited Ulta Beauty for the first time a few weeks ago while I was in LA. The store felt like a mix between Boots and Sephora and wasn’t that visually appealing, but I’ve been told the Kuwait and Dubai locations will have a more premium look.

Ulta Beauty’s Middle East instagram account is @ultabeautymiddleeast

If you’re looking for something different to add to your Friday rituals, Altitude Roasters have a weekly event dedicated to crafted cocktails.

Altitude Roasters started out as a roastery back in 2020, and one of the things that set them apart from much of the local coffee market was their approach to roasting. They leaned toward lighter profiles at a time when that wasn’t common in Kuwait, and that quickly became their signature. They carried that same approach over to their coffee shop when they eventually opened it last year.

Their coffee shop is one I’ve been meaning to feature under my design highlights. It was designed in collaboration with the local creative Studio Nesef and has a retro-futurist, 70s-inspired aesthetic. That 70s vibe is also what inspired their Cocktail Fridays.

Cocktail Fridays is their way of creating and introducing new altered coffee drinks. The menu changes slightly week to week, but three of their most popular drinks are The Marlon, The Jetson, and The Ron.

The Marlon: a refreshing sparkly coffee cocktail with mixed berries and cold brewed coffee.

The Jetson: a seasonal latte made with a Kuwaiti farm produce infusion.

The Ron: a deep burgundy shot of espresso paired with the juice of the best red grapes.

If you’re into experimenting with coffee or just want something new to do on a Friday, Cocktail Fridays at Altitude are worth checking out. They’re located in LOT 90 in Shuwaikh and are open 7AM to 10PM on weekdays, and 9AM to 10PM on weekends. @altituderoasterscafe

It’s been a pretty slow couple of weeks for events, but here are a few things happening this weekend. Swipe left to check them out, and as always, double-check the details with the organizers.

Friday, September 12
Sun Stories
Sunrise Paddle

Saturday, September 13
Girls Game Day
Art as a Catalyst for Social Impact
Paint & Sip: Unwind Edition
Riso Workshop
K-Pop Night
Sunrise Paddle
Upcycled T-Shirts
Journal Club: Cozy Nights Edition

With the new iPhones just released and pre-orders starting tomorrow, a lot of people will be trying to get one. If you’re planning on getting a new iPhone, pre-ordering from Gait makes a lot of sense since they’ve got a few perks you might like.

First, if you like upgrading every year, Gait gives you up to 60% guaranteed buyback when you switch to your next iPhone. That way you don’t need to wait around trying to sell your old one and you always stay up to date.

They also have GaitCare, which comes with a free screen protector and accidental damage repairs. Basically, it’s an extra safety net for your phone and your wallet.

On top of that, you can save 30% on their Gilga essential kit. It includes a clear case, a screen protector, and a lens protector, so your iPhone is fully covered without hiding the design.

And if you’d rather not pay the whole amount upfront, they offer 0% installment payments over 12 months. You can also trade in your old device to lower the price even more.

So if you were already planning to get the new iPhone, pre-ordering with Gait is a good deal. Pre-orders open tomorrow, Friday September 12 at 3PM. Check them out gait.com.kw

I just got the official prices for the new iPhones in Kuwait. These are the prices authorized Apple resellers will be following:

iPhone 17 256GB – KD 300
iPhone 17 512GB – KD 370

iPhone Air 256GB – KD 378
iPhone Air 512GB – KD 448
iPhone Air 1TB – KD 518

iPhone 17 Pro 256GB – KD 410
iPhone 17 Pro 512GB – KD 480
iPhone 17 Pro 1TB – KD 550

iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB – KD 445
iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB – KD 520
iPhone 17 Pro Max 1TB – KD 590
iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB – KD 740

I also asked about the prices of the new AirPods and Ultra Watch since I’m interested in both:

AirPods Pro 3 – KD 92
Watch Ultra 3 – KD 280

As I mentioned earlier today, pre-orders start on September 12 and then become available on the 19th.

Update: Here is the price of the iPhone 17 Pro 256GB compared to the rest of the world:

Kuwait KD410

Australia KD404
Canada KD353
France KD476
Germany KD465
Honk Kong KD370
Italy KD480
India KD468
Saudi KD423
Spain KD472
Switzerland KD420
UAE KD391
UK KD455
United States KD336