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| Friday, 14 May 2004 |
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Kandy goes Karaoke by Prasad Abu Bakr It's all sensational singing sessions at the newest Karaoke Lounge and Bar at Earl's Regency in Kandy all seven days a week. It has become a well patronised venue by the entertainment starved young Kandyans as there is a new theme to fit in to each day of the week. For example on Mondays it is a strict tempo evening, the 60's and 70's will be focused upon on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays it will be a tribute to the King of pop the legendary Elvis Presley. An evening of relaxation is what the Karaoke Bar will all be about on Thursdays with sounds of cool jazz to serenade you. On Fridays and Saturdays it will be Karaoke with Regency DJs who will put you in the mood with a variety of music ranging from soft ballads to reggae and other tunes that will keep your feet tapping and it is country and western round up on Sundays. General Manager, Roshan Fernando who is the brain child behind this and many other latest happenings at Earls Regency, commented that generally a crowd sets in mostly on a weekend. The hotel is full with weekend holiday makers and also the night clubbing crowd from Kandy and from as far as Colombo drive in over night to the hill capital to catch up the entertainment that it has to offer. "However we are generally well patronised throughout the week as most of the house guests and others who are having a late evening entertainment patronise the place" added Fernando. An added specialty to these theme nights is that the ambience to suite each night is created within the Bar with the staff appropriately dressed to enhance the theme of the evening. Besides all these attractions the most vital aspect is that the hotel has placed its attention in making a successful Karaoke Bar, with all modern lighting and music systems, it has installed to create that mega effect upon everybody. On week days there is a happy hour that is on offer to anybody who walks in between 8.00 and 9.00 pm on a 'buy one and get one free' basis. There is no cover charge until further notice and if it is a large crowd it is advisable to make a prior reservation as the place is full most evenings. It will be well worth trying out this latest happening in Kandy, the Karaoke Lounge and Bar at Earls Regency. ########### Hilton Chef bags three medals in Singapore Young Susantha Luxman Amarawansa, a man with talent and enthusiasm is the only Sri Lankan who managed to bag two gold medals and one silver medal at the recently concluded "Food and Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge 2004" held in Singapore. He won gold medal for Plated Appetizers and for Live Cooking in New Asia Cuisine and silver medal for Plated Main Course. Luxman got this opportunity to take part, after he won the "Best Chef" award in the local Culinary Art 2003. Luxman is now working at Hilton Colombo as a Demi Chef de Partie at Spoons and according to Executive Chef, he is ranked as one of the Best Grade Manager Chefs in Sri Lanka. Luxman started his career at Don Stanley's as a trainee cook in 1992 and later joined Hilton Colombo in 1995 as a kitchen apprentice. After proving his capabilities, he was promoted as Commis III in 1997. Having worked for Hilton Colombo for two years he was given the opportunity to take part in the "Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka '95 Culinary Competition" and won a bronze medal for Plated Appetizer. Thereafter he took part in three Culinary Competitions in Sri Lanka and won four gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal. In 2001, he won the award for the "Most Outstanding Meat Presentation" in Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka Culinary Competition. ########### British pop star swings Negombo's tourist resort Making his appearance for the first time in Asia, renowned British singer Jason Prince is presently performing in Negombo at the Bowlers Night Club located in the upper most floor of the `Lords' Entertainment Complex. The singer who has flown in specially for a highlighting event on the opening of the complex is currently performing on limited events at the venue. Out of the singles he has released, six have already made it to the British pop charts giving him VIP status within the UK which is hardly achieved by many unless they display special traits of talent that can win them a place in the spotlight. The tall elegantly dressed performer belts out a series of hits mostly from the 80's as he says, it is his favourite period in music. And he has discovered on his first night's performance here at the Bowlers Night Club the music of that era is also popular amongst audiences here. But beside those ever popular hits Jason also performs some of his own songs most of them written by himself, I have been writing my own songs for a long time but when performing at night clubs, which is my regular act, I do songs by other artistes as well, said the British born Londoner who presently lives in Brighton. According to him the only link between his adopted residence in England and the first ever Asian destination he is performing at is the vast blue sea and that's where it stops. Besides his extended act at the night club Jason also makes an early evening appearance at the LBW Bar which is situated at the entrance to the `Lords' entertainment complex for the benefit of its diners and pool players. Though he is mostly known for his rather flamboyant taste in clothes, specially during performances back at home the singer has toned down his sense of dressing to smart suites and mostly tailored outfits to keep with the image of the location he is presently performing at. With a taste for the stage from a very early age Jason comes from a family that had had no performers in its family history, but for Jason it was an obsession, he says `Which eventually made it possible for him to make it to the top. But he lives with the impression that his parents sometimes wish that he had a rather regular lifestyle. An extrovert by all means the singer with a well proportioned body confessed that though he was not a regular eater here in Sri Lanka it is quite different and he is snacking most of the time. He likes a variety of foods and is not fussy whether it is Chinese, Japanese or his own preparation. This probably goes for his music too - though he was born and bread to an all English musical culture he does not close his doors upon other cultures and rhythms. His most enjoyable tour was to the Grand Canneries a location with an enchanting Spanish backdrop to it where he performed at the Mardi Gras that was on at the time. `It was a wonderful experience' said Jason, as the crowds were going wild to his performance. As the only child he used to be with many pets until he grew out of it at a later stage when music became a form of solace to him. But nevertheless he never let anything or anybody bring him down. He had a vision and he travelled towards it with total commitment and pride shedding away all doubts that there was nothing that one could not achieve if one is willing to give what it takes. And his former manager Simon Nepier Bell is the other supporting factor who made him achieve the rest of it, said the blue eyed singer with a smile. As for personal preferences he likes a hearty chat in place of being isolated or immersed in a book and prefers to be within a crowd entertaining them, which gives him a natural high which does not call for outside stimulants and which most pop stars of today are getting noted for. And coming back to his performance at the `Bowlers Night Club' in Negombo it is a clean and well presented one with his sultry voice rendering a string of evergreens that leaves one totally refreshing and lurking in the backstreets of ones memories. And going down memory lane with British pop star Jason Prince is one hell of a experience. P.A.B. ########### Flag and Whistle An all new Pub and Restaurant was open in grand style at Setmill Building in Colombo 15 last week, by German Lanka Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd. The location which is ideal for unwinding after a hard day's work is set facing the Colombo Harbour and an ideal view of passing ships are a main attraction. Housed on the fifth floor of the building the setting of the interior is tastefully designed to create that all important pub and restaurant atmosphere with one section reserved for diners and another closer to the entrance where the bar is located with a constantly running fountain reflecting against a base of a mirrored wall at the far end to the entrance. Circular pub tables are placed more towards the glassed enclosure open to a panoramic view of the harbour if one enjoys having a glass of beer standing by the view. But the most relaxing of all is the outer balcony where tables and benches in real pub style are laid out for people who want to dine under the stars again with a full view of the harbour. "We hope to welcome in-coming ships and out-going vessels by hailing the national flag each time it passes by our restaurant" said owner Paul Bischof who has always wanted to operate a venue of this nature as much as a business adventure and for all the fun that this kind of project generates. The restaurant serves besides German food which is its signature menu, a variety of other dishes which includes a range of western and eastern cuisine. The food is sumptuous and tasty and served in real European style. A well catered to wine and beverage list is also available to complete the pub image that `Flag & Whistle' is all about. Open seven days a week both for lunch and dinner it also has a happy hour from 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM where you are entitled to a 50% discount on Draught Beer. To add a little bit of special touch a band will be on attendance on Friday evenings which hints that it is going to be another place for late night revellers. P.A.B. |
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