2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

I finally got to pass by Payless over the weekend. Payless is the X-Cite Electronics outlet and they’ve been open for a couple of years now (I think) but never really had a reason to pass by until now. I was looking for some Alpine components for my car sound system and I was told I would find some models at Payless. I didn’t end up finding what I was looking for but I still found the place interesting. They had a lot of random stuff all over this large warehouse and some looked like great deals while others didn’t seem discounted at all. They had a lot of laptops, phone accessories and I even spotted a bunch of Sonos devices. They’re located in Shuwaikh near the main Alghanim head quarters opposite City Center. It should be easy to spot since the warehouse has a large yellow sign on top.

Since we’re on the subject of good deals I managed to get my hands on an Alpine PDX-4.150 car stereo amp for just KD21! The retail price for this Amp was $399 in the US before it was discontinued and that’s without tax or shipping cost to Kuwait so KD21 is ridiculously cheap. For some reason X-Cite is getting rid of all their Alpine stock so you can find some really good deals.

If you’re interested in the PDX-4.150 I took a snapshot from their point of sale system showing all the available locations where they might still have them. I passed by the Hawalli and Marina branch but they both didn’t have them even though the computer says they did so I marked them both out. The Rai branch is where I got mine (it was the last piece) and the Baitak Tower branch has one on display but missing some accessories. That leaves 3 other branches which I didn’t pass by but they should have a piece each left so good luck finding one.

A new Apple store is opening up at Tilal Complex. Hopefully the extra competition will help bring the prices down. I’m still hoping we get an official Apple store one day.

Here are some of my favorite posts on 2:48PM from last week:

– Face Subsitution
– The McGurk Effect
– ‘The Office’ Skit from the Emmys
– Chinese Bike Couriers
– Bakery that sells gruesome human body parts

Prada and Miu Miu are finally coming back to Kuwait again and this time they’re opening up at 360 Mall. Both brands were previously located at Villa Moda but ended up closing down along with the other brands.

Note: I think the location of the Prada store will be in front of Bottega Veneta near Burberry. That location seems big enough and it would be located in a strip that’s currently occupied by Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent as well.

Update: Got some more information regarding this. Prada signed a regional partnership with UAE based Al-Tayer Group and they are the ones who are bringing Prada and Miu Miu to Kuwait. As I predicted the Prada branch is going to open opposite Bottega Veneta while Miu Miu is going to open next to Marni. My guess is they might be open by the end of the year or early 2012.

I haven’t tried the Sidekick Academy fitness classes but I’ve got friends who did and they told me it’s pretty tough. These classes are for men and women who are interested in losing weight and getting in shape. The timings are:

Men’s Sidekick Academy Fitness (SAF) class
Every Saturday/Monday/Wednesday at 4:00
Daily from 18:30 to 19:15

Women’s Sidekick Academy Fitness (SAF) class
Every Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday at 4:00

For more information you can call them up on 99975562

Note: Updated men’s timing

Leila is my favorite Lebanese restaurant in Kuwait and I’m there usually on a daily basis for lunch since one of their locations is right next to my office. Last week they added a new “light” menu which includes some popular Lebanese dishes that are cooked in a healthier way for example their light taouk dish now uses a mustard based marination resulting in a final dish that contains only 430 calories. Yeah they actually have the calories listed next to the dishes, something I hadn’t seen at a Lebanese restaurant before.

They only have a few items on the light menu right now but they will be adding some more over time. The location I visit the most is the one next to Johnny Rockets outside Salhiya Complex but they have another one at The Avenues near the cinema as well.

The rendering above is of the new design for the Pushkinsky cinema in Moscow. It was designed by architect Hend Almatrouk and Gijo Paul George. I’ve never seen anything that looks like it and I also hadn’t heard of Hend before. I was just checking out her blog and she’s got a lot of crazy stuff. Here are some related links:

Time Warp Architecture – Trend Hunter
Rossiya’s Flourish – suckerPUNCH
Hend Almatrouk on YesYous
Hend’s Blog

Thanks Mohammad

Update: Hend sent me an email saying that she has a design studio which she started with her partner Gijo Paul George called “Studio_Toggle”. They’ve got better quality shots on their studio’s website so check it out [Here]

It’s about time! The small LoFat canteen above is located at the American International School.

via PinkGirlQ8

Update: LoFat is also available at Al-Bayan Bilingual School

I was surprised to find out that Lita’s the small Mexican food joint in Mahboula had closed down. They literally served the best Mexican food in Kuwait but even their website was down so I figured something really weird/bad had happened. Turns out they closed down because they’re moving to a larger location on the Gulf Road and they should open in a few months time. But, I still think that’s weird. If it was me I wouldn’t have closed down the Mahboula branch since it was very popular with the expats over there so I’m wondering if there is another side to this story. On the bright side, if they do open up on the Gulf Road then that’s better for me since they’d be a lot closer to my home.

I’ve seen drifting videos similar to this before but I hadn’t seen one with this much street traffic nor one showing the view from inside the car. I’m glad we don’t have that crap here. [YouTube]

I was having lunch today at the Avenues and I noticed Victoria’s Secret is opening up next to Starbucks opposite Lorenzino near The One furniture store. It looks like it’s going to be much larger than the Marina Mall branch so I’m guessing they’re going to have a proper lingerie section which is why I find the location a bit weird.

I posted about the LoYAC Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA) before but since then they’ve added extra sessions and courses as well as changed most of the timings. Bloyac just posted the updated list of activities which you can see below:

Hip hop (mixed): Wednesday 6-8 pm / Saturday 1-2 pm
Hip hop (females): Saturday 12-1 pm
Break dance: TBA
Salsa: Monday 8-9:30 pm
Drama: Thursday 4-5:30 pm
Guitar: Sunday 5-9 pm / Tuesday 5-9 pm / Thursday 5-8 pm
Violin & Arabic Orchestra: Monday 6-9 pm / Tuesday 6-9 pm
Ballet: Saturday 4-5:30 pm / Thursday 4-5:30 pm
Piano: Monday 5-8 pm / Wednesday 5-8 pm
Fitness: Monday 6-8 pm / Wednesday 5-7 pm / Saturday 5-7 pm

According to the blog Bloyac, they’ll also add drumming to the list if enough people sign up for it. The classes operate on a six-week basis and the cost is KD36 per course. If you’re interested in taking any of these classes you can call them up on 96653377.

For more information check out the LOYAC blog [Here]

A reader emailed to tell me there is a window cleaning crew trapped on top of a cleaning lift which stopped working because of a mechanical breakdown. The workers have been up there since noon and they still haven’t been able to get the truck to bring them down. The building is the Global Tower which is located in Sharq opposite United Towers. You can see some pictures below.

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

Thanks Fahed

Note: I’m guessing the workers were rescued right after the pictures were taken

I know this sounds weird and I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it but according to an article on the Hotelier website it seems they’re planning on bringing the famous Swedish Ice Hotel to Kuwait. The Ice Hotel is basically a hotel built out of ice and everything inside is made of ice so I have no idea how this will work in Kuwait. Check out the article [Here]

Nawaf al Gheraibah, is a half Kuwaiti, half Indian/Portuguese musician with a pretty weird music style like nothing I’ve heard locally. It’s not mainstream stuff so not sure how many people here will like his music but even if it’s not your style it’s still worth appreciating. My biggest criticism though is the fact that I think his music lacks a local identity. When I listen to the music it sounds like a lot of different things but none of which sound like the songs originated from Kuwait by a Kuwaiti.

Anyway his songs are all available for free to download on his [Website] and Facebook page. I found it a lot easier to listen to the songs on the Facebook page so check it out [Here]