Tag Archives: party

Lunch-hour dance parties widely popular, spreading to 55 cities

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 dance lunch(Photo: DJ Brandon Lee, Instagram)

Bored, lacking in creativity and stuck behind a desk of work? Lunch hour dance parties are freeing office workers from their desks for a 60-minute dance in the middle of the day.

Lunch Beat began as an underground movement by Molly Range in 2010 in Stockholm, and since has spread to other global cosmopolitan cities such as London, Johannesburg, Seoul, New York, Toronto and Paris.

Lunch Beat parties can be hosted by anyone, as long as they follow the group’s rules: the event remains non-profit, offer a lunch meal, last only 60 minutes during lunch hour from noon to 1 pm, and has to be held from Tuesday to Thursday.

Office workers can blow off some steam and calories, enjoy some great music, and have fun at a midday dance party.

Would you go if Lunch Beat came to Nairobi?

For a full list of events, visit: http://www.lunchbeat.org/next-event/

HOW MANY CALORIES CAN DANCING FOR ONE HOUR BURN? Here are 9 different dance styles…

Hip Hop – In 60 minutes, hip hop will use between 370 (for people of lighter bodyweights) to 610 (for those weighing 180 and up) calories.

Salsa – Roughly 405 per 60 minutes for someone weighing 140, or around 480 for a 180 lb person.

Ballet – 380 to 450 ballet calories burnt per hour.

Swing – This moderate to intense cardio workout burns between 300 and 550 calories

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In Pictures: Smirnoff paints Nairobi white

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DJ Chucky (Kenya) & Shaun 'Banger' Scott (UK) Smirnoff ushered in 2013 in style, with a party that thousands will remember well-in to the new year, at the Carnivore restaurant on 31st December 2012.

Dubbed ‘The Night,’ the New Year’s Eve party featured, for the first time in Kenya, a 16-DJ line-up including international mix masters DJ Shaun ‘Banger’ Scott from the U.K. and DJ Dino Bravo from South Africa. Completing the line-up were the cream of local DJs Joe Mfalme, DJ Chucky, DJ Kaydee, DJ Riggz, DJ Klash, DJ Stretch, DJ Jean-Marie, DJ Frakus, DJ Wati, DJ 7, DJ E, DJ Denz, DJ Erik and DJ Cat, and one of Kenya’s most talented emcee’s Buddha Blaze

The all-white party saw revelers entertained from three stages with a mix of music ranging from kwaito to dance, house, international and trance, with the stages effectively creating three parties in one. To enhance the experience were features such as a boom-box techno dome, a teleporting wall allowing party-goers to ‘travel’ and get photographed at world-famous sites such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France and Times Square Garden New York, U.S.A., signature Smirnoff cocktails and pyrotechnics.

“Smirnoff knows how to give the best of international night life to fans, and we believe that with ‘The Night,’ we’ve lived up to those expectations,” said Kate Katisya, Smirnoff Brand Manager in Kenya.

Here’s what you missed:

DJ Dino Bravo (S.A.) 4 DJ Joe Mfalme 2 DJ Pinye DJ Shaun 'Banger' Scott (U.K.) 4

Tomato battle drenches Spanish town in red

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(AFP) – Tens of thousands of revellers hurled 120 tonnes of squashed tomatoes at each other Wednesday, drenching the streets in red in a gigantic Spanish food fight known as the Tomatina.

A sea of more than 40,000 alcohol-soaked men and women packed into the Plaza Mayor square of Bunol, eastern Spain, many with their shirts off and wearing swimming goggles to keep out the stinging juice.

Spectators peered over the balconies of surrounding buildings, some also chucking tomatoes on chanting, dancing food-fighters below, who covered the square like a carpet.

Five trucks loaded with the tomatoes struggled to find space in the human tomato soup to enter the square.

But as they unloaded the edible ammunition, the square and surrounding streets were suddenly awash in a sea of tomato sauce, covering the crowds of festival goers.

“I can’t throw fast enough. This is crazy. It’s my third year,” said one battler, Angel, as he pelted others with tomatoes, which must be squashed before being chucked so as to minimise the pain.

“It is a battle of crazy people, who get on together, and no injuries,” said another, Nestor, who after being slathered in tomato in previous years chose to watch from balcony, spraying others with a water hose.

Many wore yellow T-shirts enscribed “Fanatic of the Tomatina”.

“Long live the Tomatina! cried one Japanese tourist wrapped in a scarf decorated with a huge tomato picture, alongside a friend who protected himself with a tomato-shaped helmet.

The Tomatina is held each year in Bunol, in the heart of a fertile region some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the coastal city of Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, on the last Wednesday in August.

The town says it expects the fight to bring in 300,000 euros ($380,000) to the local economy, a welcome financial boost as the country suffers from a recession and a jobless rate of nearly 25 percent.

“We don’t have much space but there is no other way,” said Rafael Perez, spokesman for the town of 10,000 inhabitants.

“It’s been here since 1945.”

Though the origins of the event are unclear, it is thought to have its roots in a food fight between childhood friends in the mid-1940s in the city.

It has grown in size as international press coverage brought more and more people to the festival, with tourists flocking in this year from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

After the fight, many of the revellers head to the local river to wash off the pulp.

This year, six special trains offering 29,000 seats were laid on for the Tomatina, along with camping grounds for the tourist influx.

Celebrate Olympic fever with classic Cornish pasties

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With London being the epicenter of the universe at the moment and all things Britannia given the international spotlight, check out this classic British recipe perfect for your very own Olympic party.

Savoury: Cornish Pasty

A savory pastry native to Cornwall, England, the Cornish pasty recently gained Protected Geographical Indication status in Europe, meaning that no other pie can carry the name unless it was made in the region, using traditional methods.

Cornish pasties are created in a distinctive D-shape and are always crimped on one side.

Here’s a recipe for pasties stuffed with pork and apples, courtesy of lovebritishfood.co.uk, which works to promote local produce, and lovepork.co.uk.

If preparing them outside of Cornwall, just be sure to drop the ‘Cornish’ name when presenting the dish lest you incur the wrath of Cornish residents.

Pasties with Pork Sausage, Apple and Cider

Makes about 6-8 pasties
Takes about 40 minutes

4 Pork and apple sausages

3tbsp (45ml) Cider or apple juice

1 Eating apple, cored and thinly sliced

Black pepper

1 Fresh sage sprig, roughly chopped

500g  Packet puff pastry

1 Egg mixed with milk to glaze

Preheat oven to Gas 4-5, 180oC, 350oF.

Slit the sausage skins, remove the sausage meat and place in a large bowl.

Add to this the cider, apple, pepper and sage. Mix together.

Roll pastry out thinly and cut into 6-8 circles (about 12½cm (5″) re-roll pastry to make more if possible.  Place a spoonful of the mixture in the centre.

Wet edges with water and fold circle in half, crimp edge to seal.

Place on greased trays, brush with egg and milk and cook for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

Serve hot or cold, picnic or lunch, with a large seasonal salad or slaw and a chunky fruit chutney.

 

Source: Relaxnews

Rihanna briefly hospitalized after New York party

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Pop star Rihanna was briefly hospitalized in the US this week and posted a picture on Twitter showing her arm hooked up to an intravenous drip, with media reports citing “exhaustion” and “dehydration.”

Several entertainment news websites reported Wednesday that the Barbados-born singer was admitted after attending the Met Costume Ball in New York on Monday night. She had for several days told her Twitter followers that she had been feeling sick.

But when the updates stopped on Tuesday one fan who tweeted Rihanna to ask what was going on prompted the singer to post the picture which showed her trademark long black fake nails and a fluids drip taped up to her arm.

The mediatakeout.com website reported that Rihanna had suffered exhaustion and dehydration after a night of hard partying at the Met, but said she was now “doing better” and had flown back to her home in Los Angeles.

The New York Post, meanwhile, quoted an anonymous source as saying the singer had become sick from “excessive partying and not slowing down.”

The Night: a Smirnoff VIP reveal party

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They call it The Night; an entry into Kenya by Smirnoff’s party animals to introduce a Nightlife experience, something that has already been launched across more than 50 countries worldwide.

The brand’s Marketing Manager Kendi Kilonzo says the Smirnoff Nightlife experience is a project intended to share and improve the party experience across the globe, and on top of the fun, responsibility is key.

Two female international DJs will be hosted in Nairobi by Smirnoff for the first ever experience, which will feature state-of-the-art 3D projection mapping and lasers, at an exclusive event on April 6.

Dj Cheryice who specializes in Hip hop/RnB music as well as Old school and Vocal Funky/house will be the headline act, with Emma Feline who runs her own night Decks in the City at different venues in London.

They will team up with Capital FM’s DJ Joe Mfalme, and DJs Chuckie and Mobi.

As a precursor to the main experience, Smirnoff hosted an exclusive get together at Toby’s Place, a private club in Nairobi’s Runda Estate.

The exclusive party was attended by leading personalities in the arts and entertainment industry, under the theme ‘All white and sexy’.

“Karen Galleria will be transformed into a spectacular party zone for ‘The Night’,” said Kendi.

Wallet-friendly Christmas party ideas

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Throwing a party for your friends and family over the Holidays? On a budget? Want to please everyone? Pulling off a delicious and fun party yet sticking to a tight budget, is definitely a difficult challenge.

It’s pointless to pour the most expensive wines of the world for your guests when they’re too busy having fun to appreciate. Leave the connoisseur-level bottles such as the French reds from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, which a bottle can set you back on average a cool USD $10,000 for a dinner party amongst wine lovers.

For large parties with a varied level of wine-drinkers, break out the fresh, vibrant, fruity, balanced flavours, and affordable bottles.

Sangria: An elegant and affordable option
Choose easy to make cocktails like Sangria, which is a refreshing wine-based drink that’s simple and elegant enough for any occasion. Making a big pitcher of a tasty cocktail also is budget-friendly as the cocktail is a mixture of many ingredients, resulting in more value for your shilling. Not to mention, your guests will give you bonus points for creativity!

Themed parties
Themed parties are generally more pocket-friendlier than traditional parties where the host is the sole person who bears the costs of the festivities. Including your guests in the party festivities ensures that everyone has a part in the evening, and ultimately, the party theme will only be as successful as the guests make it to be.

Dessert Party – Make the desserts yourself or ask each guest to bring something sweet. Prepare a delicious pot of coffee and with a beautiful crackling fire in front of the Christmas tree as your backdrop, and you’ve got the perfect frugal get-together.

Fondue – Savoury or for dessert, fondues are not only engaging but delicious. Break out some pots, melt some cheese, and serve up chunks of meat and vegetables for your guests. For dessert, a dark chocolate and alcohol based sauce with a diverse range of fruits for dipping will certainly have your guests wanting more.

Potluck – Cheap, tasty and also gives a chance for everyone to show off their culinary skills. All you’ll have to provide are the drinks, cutlery, plates and some napkins!

Wine and Cheese Party – Wine culture is certainly growing in Nairobi, so why not organize your very own wine and cheese party? Have all your guests bring a bottle of wine and all you have to do is buy some artisan cheeses and there you have it!

How to survive your office Christmas party

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With the middle of December quickly approaching, Christmas party invitations are probably piling up in your inbox – especially ones that are work related. Finally, you can let your hair down, your gut out and leave your constricted monotone corporate uniform at home; and party uninhibitedly with your colleagues and perhaps, reveal to your office crush how much you love her…

Think again.

Next week when you realize that your ingenious ideas at the office are being dismissed or you’ve been pulled off of an important project because your colleagues doubt your professional abilities. In retrospect, dancing on the table and the impromptu striptease at the company Christmas party may just not have been the greatest of ideas.

Company holiday parties are a tricky middle-ground where you’re supposed to hang out with your colleagues, let loose, and have fun; but you can’t have too much fun or your entire office will be whispering about you behind your back. You, have to keep that balance.



Here are a few tips to insure you’ll survive your company Christmas party:

Drink responsibly
Don’t throw back chasers after shooters or drink a dozen of Kenya’s finest beers and end up as a roaring drunk on tables dancing, with your tie as a hair accessory. Being known as the office drunk is a reputation that you won’t be able to shake off anytime soon. Be prepared to be judged by your superiors and star in infamous office jokes. Know your alcohol tolerance and remember that even though this is a party, it’s still an office party. If you see a colleague slipping in to trouble, don’t stand there and watch the show – help them.

Don’t be a slob
Bad eating manners directly reflect one’s upbringing and competence as an individual in the society. So, don’t over eat. Don’t drip tomato sauce on your shirt or wipe your hands on your clothes. As office parties are meant for mingling, be prepared to be chit-chatting a lot – so, don’t try to engage in conversations with your boss when you’re holding kuku in your left hand, a glass of wine in your right and chewing on tough nyama, all at the same time. If you’re never invited to a lunch meeting with a client, now you know why.

Choose your +1 wisely
In most cases, I would avoid bringing a +1, guest, to office gatherings because of two reasons: one, if they don’t know anyone at the party you’ll have to chaperone them the whole night; and two, if they’re your significant other or just someone you’re seeing, the potential of colleagues passing judgement is high and as a result, you’ll have to deal with office gossip post-party.

In the event that you do bring a guest with you, make sure they’ll be just as well-behaved as you. I know you want to show off a rare beauty on your arm, but leave the chips funga at the hotel, and only bring people that won’t risk your reputation at the office.

Secret Santa and gift-giving
Please keep your choice of gifts office-appropriate – no lingerie etc. If there are rules, then follow them – especially when it comes to price. Lastly, be a good sport and participate in the gift-giving exercise because it shows you’re a team player.

Avoid verbal diareahea
Yes, company Christmas parties are suppose to be a relaxed event where employees can actually socialize and enjoy the holidays without the daily stresses like being chased by the Johns in Accounts. However, think before you speak and avoid verbal diareahea. What you say to a colleague at the party may be taken out of context and then featured in the latest issue of office gossip.

Cupid’s love
So you think your colleague is amazingly hot and intelligent or you’ve been crushing on leggy-Ann for the last year and you’ve finally decided to share your feelings. Do not. Romantic relationships are meant to be dealt with in privacy and not under the criticizing eyes of your colleagues. Can you imagine if your feelings are dismissed in front of everyone? Crawl under the nearest table.

Be grateful
Finally, make sure you acknowledge the hard work of your colleagues who have put into organizing the holiday bash. Be sure to thank the hosts of your party to ensure that you won’t start 2012 in someone’s bad books.

Happy 15th Birthday Capital FM!

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15 years ago, Linda Holt had a dream. With KBC’s general service as the main provider of radio entertainment, Linda was dreaming up an uprising; one that would revolutionise the drab nature of Kenyan airwaves in a way that she would never have imagined.

She knew what she needed to get her dream on a footing at least and a big part of that was radio guru Phil Matthews. And so together, in 1996, the best mix of music 98.4 Capital FM was born.

It was the pioneer in professional radio, the new toy that everybody wanted to play with, the station that dared to talk about real issues whether or not the government was involved, the station that dared to talk about sex, the station that was not afraid to have fun while working and the radio platform that dared to be mzungu – i.e., play rock.

In the beginning, there were only two presenters, Phil Matthews and Nicola Miyawa. Shortly after there was Jack Ojiambo, Jo Thoenes, Neil McCloud, Zain Verjee, Michael Oyier, Caroline Mutoko, Maina Kageni, Robert Warobi, Sean Cardovillis, Muthoni Bwika, Julie Butt Gichuru, Bill Amira, Patricia Amira, Fareed Khimani, Pinky Ghelani, Nini Wacera, musician Amani (marketing), DJ Delite (David Mureithi), Jimmi Gathu, Ngatia, Teddy Muthusi, Kalekye Mumo, Leo Faya, Marcus Kwikiriza, Esther Arunga, Riz Jiwa, Waweru Njoroge, Eve D’souza, Gaetano Kagwa, Peter Mucai, Anne Kiguta, Janet Mbugua… and the list goes on.

Anybody who is anybody in the media industry had to have passed through the 19th floor of Lonrho House.

The professionalism and expertise beckoned to anyone who excelled at what they did and worked with fun and passion. In terms of programmes, sales, news, production, marketing, and sports nearly every other radio station that has graced the Kenyan airwaves, and especially in Nairobi, has part of the Capital FM family in their flock.

“Professionalism and quality. Basically that is what Capital is about. For any long running business, those are the attributes that make you a constant success,” said Patricia Amira, who hosted the first neo-soul music show in Kenya – on 98.4.

An empty spot at Capital gave room for a new name and the fans whose ‘radios don’t shika anything else’ did not leave our sides.

And now, 15 years later, Chris Foot, Janice Njuru, Italia Masiero, Kui Gitei, Cess Mutungi, Maqbul Mohammed, Joey Muthengi, Suleiman Munyua, Chao Tolle, Charles Kiarie, Eric Latiff, Wambui Waweru, Yunia Amunga, Chiko Lawi, Eddy Kimani, Jack Ojiambo and I are still holding it down.

Industrialist Chris Kirubi is proud to be the owner of Capital FM.

“I’m proud of the achievements we have made; it’s a challenge. We have built several families of listeners and fans especially now through our digital media platform,” he told Capital Lifestyle.

“With 3 million readers on our 10-in-one website everyday and thousands streaming live on it from all over the world, it is our intention to grow to have as much influence as the BBC, which is a powerful media,” he adds.

Kirubi, who goes by the name DJ CK on rock show The Fuse, is also proud to have a young dedicated team behind the scenes that puts everything together.

“It gives me great joy and purpose and I am looking forward to another 15 years!”

Kirubi has thanked all of Capital FM’s supporters in business, whom he says are confident that the work they give to Kenya’s oldest commercial radio station will be done excellently.

“We are enthusiastic about promoting business and not politics, and we are trying to train youth to be responsible and build Kenya for the future.”

“I’d like to wish all our listeners and the Capital FM Family a happy 15 years, and I invite you to join us tonight as we celebrate this milestone event at the Carnivore,” he said.

To all our well-loved fans, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Make sure you join us as we celebrate our life and growth from 6pm sharp. Asante sana.

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