Buy Mommy A Prezzie

Material: Courtesy of The Valiram Group

COACH always has the most beautifully crafted and luxurious gifts for moms. Here are some of our favourites compiled from the Spring Collection, which also make ideal gifts for Mother's Day, which is on May 13.

If you are looking for a handbag Mum will enjoy for a lifetime, Coach’s elegant Madison Collection offers the perfect options.

Coach’s Madison Tossed Lace Sophia in burnt orange is an updated take on our instant classic Sophia shape. Intricate laser cut details adorn the leather - making it a must-have for Spring and beyond.

A matching assortment of Wallet’s and Zip Clutches in complementary colors, are the perfect addition to your gift.

Coach’s Madison Woven Caroline, in parchment and blue is a bit more structured with our iconic double ‘broken’ dowels, inspired by the Coach Archives, running along the top. Delicate, soft woven leather adds texture to this elevated style. 

Coach’s Hamptons Perforated Shoulder Bag is a sporty take on a classic shape. Named for the exclusive beach towns favored by well-heeled New Yorkers, silhouettes from the Hamptons Collection have simple lines, in a rich nautical color palette of corals and blues. The convertible strap allows for easy conversion from day to night, and the contrast leather base creates a beautiful spectator effect. Add an exquisite piece of jewelry like Coach’s Convertible Heart Necklace or Linked Heart Bracelet in rose gold for that special touch.

Album Review-KELLY CLARKSON

Album reviews by ACID

Artist: KELLY CLARKSON
Album; Stronger
Label: Columbia/Sony Music

I‘VE  always had a faulty tendency to just watch American Idol for its entertainment value (which is questionable at times), but after seeing the title awarded to the winner, fail to follow up with what happens post-Idol. Sometimes, it feels like Idol winners enjoy their extended 15 minutes of fame, but there are a few whose longevity withstands a short-term test of time. Chief of this, and possibly the most is the country star Carrie Underwood, followed by Texan-born Kelly Clarkson and arguably, Adam Lambert.

Clarkson has that kind of sleek muscularity to her voice that is quite taking, and suggests that she would do proper justice to a rock album, but still has yet to come up with one. Stronger is her fifth studio album, and it resonates with its strong pop melodic lines, slick yet sensitive execution and a definite sense that she has come into her own as a professional singer and most importantly, she sings like she feels comfortable in her skin, more than ever.

Stronger largely contains survival songs, most of them well-crafted power ballads, which she ably belts out, from the first two tracks, the hits Mr Know It All and What Doesn’t Kill You onwards. One gem that needs kudos is the third track, Dark Side, which she delivers with punchiness and earnest emotion that lingers in the brain and ear well after the track is done. The War is Over is another guitar-driven, rhythmic noteworthy piece.

Containing a whopping 17 tracks (four of them are bonus tracks, one featuring American Idol former judge Kara diGuardi in The Sun Will Rise and country singer Jason Alden in the wonderful duet Don’t You Wanna Stay), this should be a must-have for any Clarkson fan. All things aside, it’s a strong pop album, and much better than a lot of what her contemporaries are putting out. Don’t miss it!

Album Review - Leonard Cohen

Album reviews by ACID

Artist: LEONARD COHEN
Album: Old Ideas
Label: Columbia/Sony Music

HAVING been a longtime fan of the Canadian singer-songwriter-poet-famous Buddhist Leonard Cohen, I look forward to his work with a measure of anticipation. Cohen’s biggest strength, it is often successfully argued, is his version of the written word.

Right off the bad, the material in Old Ideas, while it almost seems to project different nuances of Cohen through the different phases of his creative career, is not a let-down. This album is also his first in seven years. Growled, whispered, spoken and sung in intervals in that scratchy, decadent baritone, the songs are about the subject he knows the best – himself. This is apparent from the beginning itself in the first track Going Home, when he starts off with “I love to speak to Leonard / He’s a sportsman and a shepherd”, all wryness, quiet and grim wit.

Present in the album, too, are familiar tools – mildly repetitive lines (which are always deliberate), found in Going Home and Amen (which sounds like that other paean Hallelujah). Darkness is a sultry ode to pure temptation, cunningly put in an organ-and-Southern blues-hook combination. Banjo, is another one of those unexpected pleasures, and you know that outright when you find yourself tapping your feet to lines like “It’s a broken banjo bobbing / on the dark infested sea”.

Whether he is sly, humorous, despairing, intimate, the songs seem to present a deeply personal side to Cohen’s life and work. And considering how he continues to fascinate critics and fellow musicians, it is wholly justified.

Anyone listening for that pleasant hook and arresting vocal ability will never truly find that in any Cohen album – he maintains that gritty and gaunt edge and slips effortlessly into the stance of the poetic, haunted, emotionally resonant troubadour. At the grand old age of 78, the one who brought classics like Song of Bernadette, Famous Blue Raincoat and Marianne still shines through the medium he knows so intimately and so well.

A real treat, this, and one worth listening to again and again.

Great Sounds from Sony Music

WHAT’s your food for the soul? For NFM’s team, it’s definitely music. And we are so very happy to share with our friends here some good news. Starting April, we will be including music album reviews in our posts. The selections we currently have are courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Reviews of albums coming soon in NFM.

Sony’s first contribution to NFM’s music album reviews are:
1.       Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
2.       The Shins – Port of Morrow 
3.       Joe Brooks – A Reason To Swim
4.       Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
5.       Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
6.       Foster The People – Torces
7.       Rebecca Ferguson – Heaven

Lookout for the reviews by one of our entertainment writers coming soon.

CLUB SCENE - ZOUK in April

* Material: Courtesy of ZOUK KL

MR. NASTY/GURU GURU
Barsonic
Sat, Apr 21, 2012

Our friendly neighborhood androids Mr. Nasty/Guru Guru bring a special guest to each installment dropping the freshest electrohouse tunes with heavy duty audio machineries.

Sommelier Cert @ HTC

HTC IN ASIA – THE FRENCH CULINARY SCHOOL IN ASIA
PROGRAMME UPDATES - APRIL 2012

•    Material: courtesy of HTC

PROFESSIONAL SOMMELIER CERTIFICATE
•    For details please see Courses @ HTC

Module 1:
The Wine Fundamentals
April, 11 and 12, 2012
Instructor: Jean Michel Fraisse
Daily, 9am–5pm

Module 2:
Wines of the Old & New Worlds
April, 16-17. 2012
Instructor: Bruno Casassus
Daily, 9am–5pm

Module 3:
Wine Pairing, Sales & Cellar Management
April, 23–24, 2012
Instructor: Bruno Casassus
Daily, 9am–5pm

Kors' One Million FB Fans

MICHAEL KORS has announces that the brand’s Facebook page now has a million fans. In conjunction with this milestone, it has launched a newly revamped Facebook Timeline that celebrates the brand’s 31-year history as well as the life of the designer himself.

The one-million-fan benchmark is the most recent of many “Michael’s Milestones” celebrated throughout the Timeline. It reinforces the success of a continued effort on the part of the Michael Kors brand to engage and interact in increasingly innovative ways with its social community and raise its digital presence.

Having launched its Facebook page in June 2009, Michael Kors has seen its most rapid growth in the digital space over the last six months, doubling page fans since September 2011 and becoming one of the most engaging luxury fashion brands on Facebook with over 50,000 post likes in the past month alone.

Accompanying the launch of the new Facebook interface, a digital video brings to life memorable moments of the brand and the designer. Michael Kors is celebrating across its other digital platforms including Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Fans will be directed back to Facebook to view this exclusive living archive of runway shows, editorial highlights, past and current advertising campaigns, iconic product shots, personal photos of the designer’s memorable moments, behind-the-scenes videos
backstage at fashion shows and on-set of campaign shoots and more.

“What a great way to celebrate our one-million-fan landmark,” says Michael Kors of the Timeline and video. “It’s wonderful to look back on more than 30 years with this fabulous community of fans.”

Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready to wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products through his Michael Kors, KORS Michael Kors and MICHAEL Michael Kors labels, including accessories, footwear, watches, jewelry, men’s and women’s ready to wear, and a full line of fragrance products. Michael Kors stores are located in some of the most prestigious cities in the world, including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, London, Milan, Paris, Munich, Istanbul, Dubai, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Party@ZOUK KL This Friday

* Material: Courtesy of ZOUK KL

PRE-ZOUK @ SEPANG PARTY ft NASTY HYPE
Fri, Apr 6, 2012

NASTY HYPE marries two of ZOUK KL’s most promising upstarts, Mr Nasty & HypeEmBeats. The duo will be setting their sails for the mainroom, armed with their high energy sets and unfailing crowd pleasing anthems, dosed with a steady bass lines that guarantee to rock the dance floor. Now, dust off those dancing shoes!

Admission:
Ticket Entry: RM25 Ladies / RM35 Men (incl 1 drink)
Bottle Entry: RM351 / 5 pax (At the door before 11pm)
Reservations (21 yrs old and above): Call +6 03 2171 2075 (noon-6pm) or +6 016 332 3191 (after 6pm) or email rsvn@zoukclub.com.my

OMFG! Presents GuruGuru & Mr Nasty
Barsonic
Sat, Apr 7, 2012

Your friendly neighborhood android Mr.Nasty & GuruGuru comes out to play every first Saturday of the month accompanied with the biggest and freshest house tunes.

Courses @ HTC in April

HTC IN ASIA – THE FRENCH CULINARY SCHOOL IN ASIA
PROGRAMME UPDATES - APRIL 2012

* Material: courtesy of HTC  in Asia Sdn Bhd

PROFESSIONAL SOMMELIER CERTIFICATE

Module 1:
The Wine Fundamentals
April, 11 and 12, 2012
Instructor: Jean Michel Fraisse
Daily, 9am–5pm

RM 1,600 per participant for one (1) module
RM 2,800 per participant for two (2) modules
RM 3,750 per participant for three (3) modules

Module 2:
Wines of the Old & New Worlds
April, 16-17. 2012
Instructor: Bruno Casassus
Daily, 9am–5pm

RM 1,600 per participant for one (1) module
RM 2,800 per participant for two (2) modules
RM 3,750 per participant for three (3) modules

Module 3:
Wine Pairing, Sales & Cellar Management
April, 23–24, 2012
Instructor: Bruno Casassus
Daily, 9am–5pm

RM 1,600 per participant for one (1) module
RM 2,800 per participant for two (2) modules
RM 3,750 per participant for three (3) modules

Course Fee Includes:
- Certificate
- Course manual
- Lunch / coffee & tea

In the first module, you will be exposed to all the elements involving the wine business including the viticulture, vinification, and regional laws. You will begin to develop wine tasting skills by studying old and new world wines, as well as sparkling and fortified wines.

 The second module provides an in-depth study of the old and new world wine producing regions. You will learn the geographical, historical and cultural significance of the wines in each region. And what’s better than learning by tasting! You will have the chance to taste premium wines from the regions.

 The third module will unravel the myths and mysteries surrounding the art and science of successful wine and food matching. The programme offers a hands-on experience that challenges your senses and perceptions in the kitchen and tasting room. It also introduces you to the practical duties of a sommelier with extensive tasting session focusing on the current vintage releases.
 
ABOUT THE TRAINERS:

JEAN MICHEL FRAISSE has opened and operated numerous restaurants and catering businesses in France and Asia in a career spanning 33 years. A graduate of the Masters in Hospitality, Tourism and Spa Management course from the University of Toulouse in France, he has been providing consultancy services to the hospitality, tourism and food businesses in Asia for the past decade. In his home country, he was a chef de cuisine at age 20 and an executive chef when he was merely 23 years old.

His company, HTC in Asia and The French Culinary School in Asia are committed to provide the highest quality training for hotels, resorts, restaurants and business entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific to arm their employees or individuals with the right skills.

BRUNO CASASSUS was born in the southwest region of France. He graduated top of his class with a Masters in Hospitality, Tourism and Catering, and was also awarded the Masters of Engineer for Hospitality, Tourism and Catering.

Casassus comes from a family of hotel and restaurant owners. In Scotland, He gained his sommelier experience in one of the Michelin-star restaurants in Scotland. After managing the Wine Club in the famous Toulouse Hotel School in his home country, he worked as a Restaurant & Banquet Manager and Sommelier.

For the past six years, he has been conducting F&B Excellence training programmes under HTC IN ASIA in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, France, Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Australia, Tahiti, Japan and China.

VENUE:
The French Culinary School In Asia
HTC in Asia Sdn Bhd (Co. No. 634020-A)
8th Floor – Annexed Block, Menara IMC
No.8 Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

HOW TO GET THERE:
The building is next to Concorde Hotel, Kualka Lumpur. Please take car park lift to 8th floor.

ENQUIRIES:
Tel: +603 2026 9188
Fax: +603 2026 4188
Email: professional@htcinasia.com

Additional Details:
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT BERHAD (HRDB):
Our programmes are 100% claimable under the Skim Bantuan Latihan (SBL) from the Human Resources Development Berhad. Please apply with the HRDB, with the following: http://www.hrdf.com.my/http://www.hrdf.com.my/
Form PSMB/SBL/1/01, Course Content and Presenter’s Bio-data

 * Your application, together with course fee must be forwarded to HTC in Asia Sdn Bhd at least five working days before course commencement. Kindly contact us for course content and trainer’s CV.

Extreme Dream - from Symbolism to the 70s

* Material: Courtesy of The Valiram Group

THE new shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti tell an underground story, create poetic abstraction, invent new rhythmical “jazzy” steps, play on underground, but most of all invent a new happy decadence. It is a new form of Symbolism, of abstract representations as it was in visual arts from 1885 to 1910.

Symbolism was about avoiding objectivity in favour of the subjective, of ambiguous and powerful symbols. Primitive. Among the artists associated in the Movement there were Odilon Redon, Gustave Moreau, Gustav Klimt, Fernand Khnopff. The new shoes addiction is, in that sense, a very modern identification, plus an accent of happiness, of constant play, with a form of exaggerated culture. To play with the colors, with the shapes, to be amused by the abstraction. The new memory is the wake-up, the transformation of a woman who lives the 70s with a constant poetic licence. The real memories are a part of the graphics, prints, volumes, but especially colors. All these elements are re-studied, re-formulated and exude a light mood less intrusive, more subdued. After all, this woman aims to be comfortable, at ease and to move with a “contemporary step”.

There is not only the high heel, the stiletto, but there is also a flat basic version, as well as an exaggerated one with colors ranging from  water green to deep blue, to cobalt, also yellow. And there are “pastiches” of green, which give the idea of water. The textures include chamois, which is prevailing. Then there is varnish, with an almost technological atmosphere with yellow, turquoise, fuchsia, which are combined or separate. Then there is graphic animalier and embroideries. Now even the platform is softened, but the heel is hard, very graphic. A platform becomes a base for wood, flowers and embroideries. The styling is always the same but with muted color mixtures and contrasts.

As for the jewels, which “dress” from the neck to the heels and necklaces made for the neck  but also dress the body,  is more silver and nickels - old, chromed, silvered, palladium, coordinated with black lacquer, leather, silk with a baroque feeling.

Sneakers are a come-back to reality as an urban product which crosses every group. They have become the uniform of human kind. T-shirt, jeans, sneakers. Every season Giuseppe Zanotti introduces the same styles, but with different colors and materials. After jeans, sneaker is the real invention of costume.

 

Through this collection, bags play with ornamental elements like fastenings, handles, metallic stories, a precious mood and proportions, from the small jewelled clutches to the maxi bags. A complete bag-stage, a new identification story: from the Symbolism to the 70s. Bags are also a form of culture, a message and a frivolous obsession!