The Culturist won Best Asian Weblog in this year's Bloggies. Thanks to everyone that voted. List of all the winners.
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 8:16PM 
Michael Love Rexen is the lead singer from the Danish indie folk band A Key Is A Key. I saw this band play at The Fridge last January and it was one of my favourite concerts I've been to in Dubai. So I'm glad to hear Michael Love Rexen is back in Dubai and will be performing with a sextet of Dubai based musicians, playing a selection of unreleased songs and personal favorites.
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 3:02PM 
No One Knows About Persian Cats is the fifth feature by award-winning director Bahman Ghobadi (A Time for Drunken Horses, Turtles Can Fly), winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the Cannes film festival. Co-written by imprisoned Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, the film is an indictment of cultural repression in Iran’s exciting underground music scene, a powerful cinematic foreshadowing of current protest movements, and a celebration of an entire generation of Iranians striving towards personal and creative freedom.
Shot in secret and featuring extraordinary performances by real underground bands, No One Knows About Persian Cats follows a pair of young musicians, recently released from prison, on a mission to take their rock band to Europe. Forbidden by the authorities to play in Iran, they plan their escape abroad with a fast-talking music promoter. Vowing to play one last show before leaving Tehran, their dangerous mission takes them on a free-wheeling journey through the City’s vibrant and diverse underground scene, home to an estimated 2,000 illegal independent bands.
Event details
Date and time: 13th August 2011 at 8.30pm
Venue: The Fridge, Warehouse #5, 26 Street, (location map)
Free entry.
Bahman Ghobadi, Dubai, Iranian cinema, Iranian film, No One Knows About Persian Cats, Quint, Quint @ The Fridge Film Screenings, Quint At The Fridge Film Screenings, Quint at The Fridge Film Screenings - No One Knows About Persian Cats, The Fridge, movies from Iran, music from Iran in Film, United Arab Emirates Friday, August 5, 2011 at 6:20PM 
A new collaboration between design studio Quint and music agency The Frdige called Quint @ The Fridge starts this month showcasing some of the finest art house, film noir, world and independent cinema. The screenings will take place at The Fridge in Dubai. They start this Saturday, 6th August with the screening of The Fall by Tarsem Singh.
The film is a visual feast shot (see more photos added after the trailer) in 18 countries over a period of four years. There are no digital effects in this film, what you see exists in the real world.
There are no computer effects. It’s just the kind of visual stuff like what I was doing all the time with commercials, where it looks like more than it is. In all these places I had filmed over at least 17 years, I told the people, this is a paid job, its a commercial, but I’ll come back one day and make this place look magical. From an interview with with Roger Ebert.
Award-winning music video,commercial and film director Tarsem Singh (The Cell) creates a moving and seamless blending of mundane life in a 1915 Los Angeles hospital with a visually sumptuous fantasy world of exotic bandits, evil tyrants, dream-like palaces and breathtaking landscapes.
Shot on location in 18 countries around the world, The Fall stars Golden Globe nominated actor Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, Infamous, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) and Justine Waddell (Mansfield Park, Chaos) and features a breakthrough performance by first-time Romanian child actress Catinca Untaru.
Tarsem Singh interview with Roger Ebert.
Tarsem Singh interview with The New York Times.
Event details
Date and timi: 6th August 2011 at 8.30pm
Venue: The Fridge, Warehouse #5, 26 Street, (location map)
Free entry.
www.thefallthemovie.com
www.quintdubai.com
www.thefridgedubai.com
Friday, May 20, 2011 at 7:34PM 
STAR TOO is an experimental theatre project based in Dubai. Following the success of their two previous productions "Where Is Home" and "What's The Time", they will be presenting their third production, "Who Did It" featuring a cabaret setting, a magic table and aerial art at The Fridge on 28th and 29th May.
According to The Fridge, "Don't be pulled back by the word experimental. STAR TOO productions are accessible and very entertaining!"
About STAR TOO
STAR TOO is Dubai’s first experimental theatre project that includes an elite group of performers creating original productions in the UAE and mastering their skills by working with a wide variety of artists in the local community. It is breaking ground at every possible turn, ultimately working towards a meaningful contribution to the present cultural landscape.
The aim of the project is to forge a legacy, tirelessly setting high standards of theatre practice in this region, fostering purity and articulation and highlights that acting is not about pretending but about convincing. STAR TOO bridges the gap between the arts in the community, inviting vocal specialists, movement experts, and published authors who live here and now. The group’s work offers local audiences innovative live shows incorporating multi-media, created by talented actors dedicated to the art of theatre.
Event details
Dates: 27th and 28th May 2011 at 8.30pm
Ticket: AED 50
Venue: The Fridge, Al Quoz, Warehouse No. 5, 26 Street (location map)
Phone: +971 4 347 7793
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 11:20PM 
The Fridge is hosting History is Herstory too, a one of a kind evening on Tuesday, 22nd February, celebrating the very best in music, art and poetry that the women of Dubai have to offer.
Proceeds from the night will be go towards women in need (yes, we do have them in the city believe it or not). More details will be shared on the night.
Artists confirmed for the night include:
DJ Zahra
Poet - Hind Shoufani
Spoken word - Hala Ali
(New Addition) Art - Floredeliza
I've seen most of these women perform in public before and I am certain it will be a night full of great talent and lots of fun. Please spread the word and come to support a worthy cause.
Noush LIke Sploosh
DJ Zahra
www.myspace.com/mestizauk
www.noushlikesploosh.com
www.dubaieye1038.com/zahra-soar
www.hindshoufani.com
www.poeticians.com
www.edgeofarabia.com/artists/hala-ali
www.myspace.com/gayathrimusic
www.flordeliza.net
Friday, December 31, 2010 at 11:00PM Here are my 2010 highlights in no particular order:
Film 
Camp ka ChampMahmovies - Music for the Eyes series at thejamjar is always a favourite event of mine. It's a curated series of music themed movies and live performances organised by Mahmoud Kaabour. The most memorable night for me though was watching Camp ka Champ. Camp Ka Champ (Champ of the Camp) is a singing competition that takes place annually across Dubai’s labour camps, and at Mahmovies' night, we had nine singers crooning for us acapella style. You can read the full review of the night here.
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival in October and Dubai International Film Festival in December were other highlights where I got to see some great films and documentaries and met some fun people as well.
Music
A Key is a KeyMy favourite musical performance in Dubai was at The Fridge in January. An indie band from Denmark called A Key is a Key performed and it was a very rare and initimate experience for me. They were quirky, fun and amusing. I wish we can get more acts like them in Dubai.
I've always said I need to travel outside Dubai to see bands I like. So when I travelled this year, I made sure I caught some concerts. In the summer, I went to London's Lovebox Festival in July and saw Hot Chip, Yeasayer, Chromeo, Roxy Music, Hercules and Love Affair to name a few. In November I went back to London and saw Jonsi and Arcade Fire. Needless to say, I had an amazing time at all of them.
Theatre
I miss going to small plays in Dubai, but this year I enjoyed going to Animal Farm and One Small Step at DUCTAC.
Art Fairs
Art Dubai in March - the highlight for me at this fair was the Bidoun Projects Art Park, a great space for art, film, video and artist talks. My favourite talk was by Kenneth Goldsmith from Ubu.
Soundwalk at Abu Dhabi ArtAbu Dhabi Art in November - the highlight at this fair was my brother's participation in the Design Studio and Art, Talks and Sensations curated by Fabrice Bousteau, a labyrinth built by the beach that had 10 different art events happening at the same time. It included live performances, film, music and photography. It was an experience where you could just wander around and give in to the place and moment. The open air cinema and The Desert of Desert sound installation by Soundwalk were my favourite.
Paris Photo in November - it was my first time attending this fair and I hope I can attend it annually. It's such a great opportunity to see some great photography and top galleries from around the world.
Art Exhibitions in Dubai
I didn't get a chance to attend most of the exhibition this year, but these are the ones that stood out for me.
Islands by Abbas AkhavanExhibitions at The Third Line:
Pins and Needles by Hayv Kahraman
That Obscure Object by Azeru
Islands by Abbas Akhavan
Dubai Episode a group exhibition that included Mona Ayyash, Raja'a Khalid and Sara Naim.
Muqtanayati at thejamjar was a very different kind of exhibition that involved the community who could submit objects that represented the United Arab Emirates or that had a special meaning to them because of the place. I submitted my cassette collection from the 1980s which was a nostalgic look at my childhood in Dubai and was so happy to see it struck a chord with some of the visitors at the exhibition.
MinD (Made in Dubai) at DUCTAC was a group exhibition that showcased a variety of disciplines by very talented artists based in Dubai. I was honored to be taking part in this exhibition and to be part of the taleneted artists that took part.
All the photography exhibitions at The Empty Quarter.
Gulfphoto Plus' Slidefest II and Slidefest III - although not exhibitions per se, but it's a great initiative by Gulf Photo Plus that brings together photographers from the region to present and talk about their work. I was fortunate to be invited to take part in the 2nd one and grateful for all the positive feedback I received.
Art Exibitions outside Dubai
During my travels this year, I got a chance to attend great exhibitions and these are the ones that left a strong impression on me: Victoria and Albert's Shadow Catchers: Camera-less Photography exhibition, Tate Britain's Eadward Muybridge, Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds at the Tate Modern and Centre Pompidou's Arman.
Grand openings
Burj Khalifa opening on 4th January, a very memorable night where I was lucky to have a close up view of the building and the fireworks. I know there will be a great show tonight, but I am happy to settle for one night of Burj Khalifa fireworks even if it was earlier this year.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 11:48PM 
Where is Home is an experimental performance piece by Star Too made from scratch by trained actors who have have been working together through workshops for 24 hours spread over 3 months, engaging in exercises inspired by renowned theathre practictioners and devised their own narratives. These stories are shaped together to shape this show.
Dates: 3rd June (doors open at 7.30pm and show starts at 8pm)
Ticket: Dhs 50
Location: The Fridge Dubai, Al Quoz (location map)
Phone: +971 4 347 7793
www.startoodubai.com
www.thefridgedubai.com
Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 11:38PM
Noush Like Sploosh will be playing at The Fridge this Monday, 17th May. The name alone makes me want to go to this gig. I've not heard of her before and after listening to some of her music online, I think we should expect a bit of a quirky and fun evening.
Noush Like Sploosh combines vaudevillian swing and sing-song lyrics that are filled with humour, sarcasm and a touch of heartfelt emotion. With a sultry voice that crosses into jazz, pop and spoken word, she works with multiple instruments including the guitar, harmonica, a music box and percussion.
Event details
Date: Monday, 17th May at 8pm
Ticket: Dhs 50
Location: The Fridge, Al Quoz (location map)
Phone: +971 4 347 7793
www.myspace.com/noushlikesploosh
www.thefridgedubai.com
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:00PM 
Next Monday will be the closing night of another series that has been going on for the past few weeks – The Fridge Concert Series. It will end with an evening dedicated to dance.
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 10:21PM This Monday, 1st Feb, The Fridge will host a Japanese themed evening dedictaed to the Shakuhachi flute played by Kyle Kamal Helou. The shakuhachi flute is a Japanese instrument that has accompanied meditations and prayers since the dawn of the nation.
