2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

I love the new look, always preferred Pepsi over Coke and now I have one more reason why. The video below is what Pepsi sent out to 25 influential people but if you want to simple take a look at the new logo and bottle designs click [Here]

I heard about this earlier in the week and a reader called Aadel just sent me pictures of it. Early Friday morning a Ferrari was involved in a high speed crash on the Gulf Road, I don’t know what caused the crash but judging by the pictures the car got thorn torn up into pieces and then caught fire. You can check out more pictures by clicking on continue below.

According to The Avenue’s website Arby’s is opening there! They have a list of all the restaurants that are open and opening at The Avenue’s and Arby’s is on that list!! Just go to their website, click on restaurants and then on the burger picture. [Link]

I just got an email from a reader called Nawaf saying that The Cheesecake Factory will be opening up at The Avenues phase III. The owners will be both a Kuwaiti and a Saudi, the Saudi being the same owner as The Cheesecake Factory in Saudi Arabia. I hope this turns out to be true although I doubt it since according to The Cheesecake Factory website:

Franchise Information
Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory. Our full-service restaurants are Company owned and operated. We currently do not offer franchises or joint venture opportunities and have no plans to do so in the future.

Also under locations on the website it doesn’t list Saudi Arabia although. I am guessing because the Saudi branch isn’t a “full-service” restaurant but just an outlet that sells only cheesecakes its not listed on their website? Here is a picture of one of the Saudi Branches. [Picture]

Update: I emailed The Cheesecake Factory asking about their Saudi and Kuwait branch and I got the following generic response:

Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory.

We are flattered that you feel that our brand would be a success in Kuwait. Our plan at this time however, is to focus on growing our brand within the continental United States and Hawaii, rather than other markets. We wish you the best of luck with your endeavors and hope that you will have an opportunity to dine with us again sometime soon!

Thank you for contacting us and have a wonderful day!

Reporters without Borders just released the 2008 Worldwide Press Freedom Index and Kuwait came first among Arab countries ahead of both Lebanon and UAE. It isn’t really a surprise since the top spot is usually always a fight between Kuwait and Lebanon but when Kuwait wins it always feels more impressive. [Link]

via

I don’t know why the sudden influx in Lebanese restaurants but there are three new places that are opening up. BuzBerry posted about the new one in Avenues called Leil Nhar, I think thats even open already. There are two more I know of also opening up. Abdul Wahab a famous Lebanese restaurant is opening in place of Fuddruckers on the Gulf Road. I actually can’t believe they shut down that Fudds, they were the first restaurant to open up on the Gulf Road. Another new Lebanese restaurant thats opening is Karam. They’re also really famous in Lebanon and they’re opening up next to Hard Rock Cafe.

What we need is an influx of fast food joints. We need the following please: Wendy’s, A&W, Jack in the Box, White Castle, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Arby’s, Cheese Cake Factory, In-N-Out and Taco Bell. Thank you!

Name: Laylat Al Ro3b / Night of Horrors
Date: Thursday October 30th (This Thursday)
Time: 6 PM – 10 PM
Entrance Fee: 3 KD
Location: AUK, American University of Kuwait Salmiya ,Salem Al Mubarak Street, Opposite to Plaza Complex

Entrance Fee Includes:
Haunted House
Water Fight
Costume Contest

Other Activities:
Mask Making
Face Painting
Fortune Teller
Fire Performance
Laser Show
and much much more!

Here is a link to a jpg they sent me with the event details. [Event Flier]

According to Alhamour.com; Bassam Al-Ghanim has submitted his official resignation as the Chairman of the Gulf Bank. Gulf Bank still has not announced his replacement, but they expect it to be someone from the Al-Ghanim family. This is a result of the Gulf Bank Shipwreck; which has resulted in a total loss of US$ 1.2bn (KD 313 mm), an amount that represents 70% of Gulf Bank’s Tier 1 & 2 Equity.

Update: Kutayba Al-Ghanim is the new Chairman of Gulf Bank.

Posted by K.

Legendary Kuwaiti actor Ali Al-Mufidi passed away today morning in Jordan. He originally used to work in television before he moved to acting and quickly rose to fame after staring in the popular show Darb Al Zalag.

Here is a link to YouTube where you can over 200 clips of him. [Ali Al-Mufdi on YouTube]

He will be missed.

There was a demonstration taking place on my way to work today this morning in front of the house of parliament. At first I assumed it had something to do with the current financial instability but looking at the banners now I think the demonstration was related to the naturalization of the Bedouins Bedoun’s. Here is the larger size of the picture above. [Picture]

Picture taken by ads2blog

Found this short film on YouTube, skip to the second minute since thats when the movie actually starts. The clip above is [Part 1], here is the link to [Part 2] and [Part 3]. Kinda makes me want to film my own B-rated horror with a cheesy title like Escape from Salmiya or The Shawerma Zombie. Anyone want to help me with the script?

I am standing in front of the main Gulf Bank building in Kuwait City and I can count 12 money truck parked in front of it. There are also a ton of security guards (probably the money truck drivers) all standing on the side of the building waiting. I can’t tell if they are moving money in our about to get ready to move money out but my uneducated guess is they are probably getting ready to move money to their branches around Kuwait. I took a picture which I will post here once I get back home.

update: Just added the picture to the post

I decided to stop by and check out some of the Gulf Bank branches yesterday; there was a long queue at every location. Customers almost caused a riot trying to withdraw their money. Gulf Bank were limiting the amount a person could withdraw, but the customers still managed to withdraw over 4 million KWD in cash from the bank!

The aftermath of this issue is going to result in some major overhauls at the Gulf Bank. For an explanation of what happened to Gulf Bank check out the article Gulf Bank of Kuwait Shipwrecked.

Posted by K.

I’ve heard from a number of people that a lot of Gulf Bank customers are trying to withdraw all their money from the bank in fears of losing it. The central bank already stepped in since morning and said it would guarantee the bank which means if you have your money with Gulf Bank its safe. DON’T PANIC and don’t spread rumors. Gulf Bank is not bankrupt, people are not going to lose their money and the bank won’t be closing down.

This is pretty freaky news…

KUWAIT, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Kuwait’s government will prepare an urgent bill to guarantee deposits at local banks after the central bank said on Sunday it was forced to step in to support Gulf Bank after it suffered losses.

The central bank said on the bourse website it had halted trading in the lender and would appoint a supervisor for several bank activities after some clients had refused to cover their losses from derivatives trading, leaving the bank to foot the costs.

[Link]

Update: Here are more articles [Link] [Link] [Link]

NBK customers don’t have to worry according to this article [Link]