The Basilica of Saint Mary in Livonia hosted the Michigan Fun Fest on June 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2014.
Watch the video below for highlights:
A makeup-free Haifa?
It’s all about who looks better when it comes to celebs and their covert competition with one another, but some may say that Lebanese diva Haifa Wehbe has no competition when it comes to looking best all naturale!
The starlet posted a makeup-free shot of herself on Instagram, where she appeared as pretty as she does with her full face on!
The diva’s fans were totes in love with the all-natural Haifa, and gave her pic over 19 thousand likes. Now that’s what we call true courage in the celeb world!
This week, a pic of a makeup-free Myriam Fares surfaced the Internet but didn’t receive the same love as Haifa’s snapshot!
Source: Al-Bawaba
Engaged! Clooney proposes to Lebanese lawyer
They’ve been trying to keep things low key, but when one of Hollywood’s most coveted bachelors gets engaged, it’s hard to keep schtum!
Oscar-winning heartthrob George Clooney, has got engaged to his British-Lebanese lawyer girlfriend Amal Alamuddin, People magazine reported Saturday.
“George and Amal are trying to keep things very low-key but they also aren’t really trying to hide this, it doesn’t seem,” the celebrity publication reported, citing an unnamed source “with knowledge of the situation.”
George Clooney Amal Alamuddin, leaving a restaurant in London in October. (Photo courtesy Twitter, via: ibtimes.com)
“I think it’s like they want the people they love to know that this is real, that they plan on being together forever,” the source said.
The source speculated that the engagement happened “not that long ago” and that there do not appear to be any wedding plans yet.
The magazine quoted a different source as saying that Clooney and Alamuddin were seen Thursday at a swanky Los Angeles restaurant dining with supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband, described as longtime Clooney friends.
‘Huge ring’
Alamuddin was then spotted wearing a “huge ring,” the witness told the magazine.
Clooney and Alamuddin recently spotted together, wearing matching smiles. (Photo courtesy Splash News)
Clooney, 52, has had a string of younger model and actress girlfriends over the years but shown little interest in settling down.
Alamuddin, 36, is a British attorney specializing in international law and human rights. Clooney has long shown interest in human rights issues such as the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
She specializes in international, human rights, extradition and criminal law, and has been appointed as an advisor to former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
They came out as a couple in October in London, according to People, and since have been seen together in New York and on trips to places like Tanzania and the Seychelles Islands.
The lawyer is representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his extradition proceedings with Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in a sexual assault case.
Source: Al-Arabiya
Celebrating jazz for one day in Downtown Beirut
BEIRUT: Beirut International Jazz Day is back with a lineup of six acts, which were announced at a news conference Thursday.
Scheduled to take place on April 30 under the patronage of UNESCO, half a dozen performances will transform Beirut’s Downtown into an open-air jazz club.
The Lebanese Conservatory Big Band will open the festivities at 7 p.m., mingling jazz classics with newer tunes. The 18 musicians are set to thrill with rhythmic saxophone, trumpet and trombone solos.
Those whose taste runs toward the good old blues will be happy to hear that The Real Deal Blues Band – considered among the best Lebanese performers representing jazz culture in the country – are scheduled to immerse audiences in their smooth Chicago groove. Composed of Hani Alayli, Elie Farah and Issa Ghrayeb, the band will showcase the sound they’ve been working on together since 1997.
The Real Deal Blues Band will be followed by F.B.B. (aka “Funky Blues Band”), who will reinterpret classics by BB King and Elmore James, among other legendary jazz singers and musicians. Their set should prove a nice test for those who consider themselves aficionados of the jazz classics.
An alternative take on the jazz theme will be provided by Xango. This Lebanon-based band takes its inspiration from Brazilian music and will perform compositions by Toquinho, Sergio Mendes and Baden Powel, to name a few.
Called the “Dean of Jazz Musicians,” Arthur Satyan will also be on hand with his Organ Quartet to perform jazz fusion – both Satyan’s personal compositions and exceptional arrangements. Satyan routinely performs around the city several times a week and has released multiple albums. He is among Beirut’s most prominent jazz musicians, so for those as yet unfamiliar with his work, this could be a chance to discover his unique sound.
Jazzmine Bey Quartet will draw a curtain on this day of jazz grooves with their blend of tunes by McCoy Tyner and Abdullah Ibrahim, among others. Composed of four European musicians, this Beirut-based band promises to bring their own unique blend of jazz fusion to the mix.
Source: The Daily Star
Clooney “besotted” with Beirut babe Amal Alamuddin
George Clooney is ready to settle down with his new girlfriend Amal Alamuddin, according to pals.
Friends of the 52-year-old actor, who has been going out with the 36-year-old advisor to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan since October 2013, said that the Lebanese born beauty is not like any other woman Clooney’s been with before, and he’s completely besotted with her.
The pal also said that Clooney has already spoken to Amal’s parents to ask her hand in marriage, Daily Star reported.
The source also claimed that Clooney had made it clear to Alamuddin’s parents that his intentions were honourable and he wanted to marry her. The Oscar winner is even ready to relocate to London for her, though he will keep his main home in Los Angeles.
Clooney, who’s first marriage with actress Talia Balsam ended in 1993, recently returned from a vacation in Tanzania and the Seychelles with his British barrister girlfriend before heading to Dubai in order to get to know her family better.
Source: Al-Bawaba
Top Egypt censor quits after Wehbe film pulled
CAIRO: The head of Egypt’s censorship board has resigned in protest at a decision to pull Lebanese star Haifa Wehbe’s latest movie, which has been criticised for scenes deemed sexually provocative.
On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab ordered “Halawet Rooh” (Beauty of the Soul) not to be screened until the censorship board reviews it again.
Revealing clothes worn by the pop and film star in the movie, sexually explicit movements and scenes featuring a young boy fascinated by her have stirred harsh criticism.
The censorship board head, film-maker Ahmed Awad, announced his resignation late Friday on the privately owned television channel CBC Two, saying he stood by his decision to allow the film to be shown.
The Egyptian-made movie, said to have been inspired by Monica Bellucci’s 2000 hit “Malena”, was released nationwide on April 3 for adults only audiences.
“I took the decision to allow the movie: I stand by it and I bear complete responsibility,” Awad said.
“The state has another opinion – they canceled our decision and withdrew the production”, he added, saying he was not consulted.
“Like any other self-respecting official, I presented my resignation.”
The plot revolves around Rooh, played by Wehbe, who ignites passions among men in her neighbourhood when her husband is away.
Independent newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm lashed out at the movie in a review headlined: “Halawet Rooh: how to produce an Egyptian porn movie.”
And Egypt’s National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, a government body, said the film posed “a moral danger” which could impact “public morals negatively”.
It praised Mahlab’s order as “responsible and wise”.
One media commentator saw possible sinister connotations in the ban.
“The one who bans a movie because he thinks it breaks morals will ban a movie” tomorrow for political reasons, television host Ibrahim Eissa said.
Source: AFP
Raunchy Haifa Wehbe film pulled from UAE cinemas
The National Media Council (NMC), the UAE body tasked with approving films for cinematic release, on Thursday said that they haven’t asked for the suspension of Arabic film Halawet Al Rooh in the UAE.
The Haifa Wehbe film was on Wednesday was pulled from screens in Egypt after complaints about its sexual content. The film released in 28 cinemas the UAE on April 10 and this week was the third most-watched film in the country, with four-day weekend admission of 26,453, according to statistics from local film distributors. Only Rio 2 and Captain America: Winter Soldier had more viewers.
A spokesperson for Vox Cinemas on Thursday told tabloid! the film was pulled from UAE screens on Thursday morning, saying it was banned after censors viewed it for a second time. The film is distributed by Gulf Film, who have not made any comment as yet.
“We didn’t confiscate it or withdraw the film after eight days of its release. Maybe the distributors made that decision. You should ask the producers or distributors of that film,” said Juma Obaid Al Leem, director of the Media Content Tracking Department at the NMC. However, he added that he had received several complaints about cinemas not respecting the 18+ rating issued by NMC.
“We heard that some cinemas were allowing people under 18 years of age to watch the film and that they were not obliging or respecting our rating. So we checked and gave them instructions to strictly adhere to it and had meeting with them about it,” said Al Leem. When asked which local cinema had flouted rules, he declined to name them.
The film, the title of which translates to Beauty of the Soul, is said to have been inspired by Monica Bellucci’s 2000 hit “Malena”, and revolves around Rooh, played by dark-haired pop star Wehbe, who ignites passion among the men in her neighbourhood when her husband is away.
Source: Gulf News
Jounieh Festival shows to go on despite political tensions
BEIRUT: Another season of long-anticipated concerts will kick off this summer, despite the political tension.
Neemat Frem, founder of Phellipolis, which sponsors the Jounieh International Festival, expressed the event organizers’ determination to hold the annual festival despite the fact that the security situation in the country remains uneasy.
The program for this year’s festival was announced at a press conference Tuesday and the line-up promises a few surprises.
“Every year it gets more difficult,” said Joe Beano, head of the festival’s marketing committee. “We have to take risks every time.”
Beano added that it had been more difficult to generate the required funding this year in comparison to previous editions of the festival, but said the support of several local banks and insurance companies had made it possible for the event to go ahead.
As in previous years, the festival will kick off with a fireworks display in Jounieh bay on June 27.
“It will be … synchronized with musical effects,” Beano revealed, adding that it would be “broadcast on several television channels.”
Unlike some other editions of the festival, this year’s line-up includes concerts and events catered to a wide range of musical tastes.
Elias Rahbani will conduct his orchestra on July 2, performing famous hits including “Diala,” “Endless Love” and “Love Words,” among others. A member of the legendary Rahbani family, he has written many songs for diva Fairuz and has also composed music for plays and television programs.
Aficionados of French music will be pleased to know that young French singer Zaz will come to Jounieh on July 3 to regale audiences with her greatest hits. Her talent was recently recognized with an award, presented by French musician Jean-Michel Jarre at the Grand Prix SACEM last November. Born Isabelle Geffroy, Zaz’s rich voice will immerse the audience in her joyful mood through songs including “Je Veux” and “On Ira.”
The concert that seems likely to be the biggest hit with local fans will be Imagine Dragons’ performance on July 7. The Grammy and AMA-winning American alternative rock band rose to fame with tunes such as “Radioactive” and “Demons.” They will be performing for one night only in Lebanon, amid their European tour.
On July 10, the stage of the Fouad Chehab Stadium will be invaded by the singing team behind the French version of “The Voice.”
The finalists of the show will interpret the tunes that made them famous in their third consecutive performance in Lebanon.
As in previous years, the organizers of the festival have also programmed many diverse activities into their festival schedule. Roads will be car-free and parades, carnivals and other events for children are scheduled to take place.
The Jounieh Festival aims to show that, unlike many of Lebanon’s summer festivals, the event is not only about concerts and performances, but also about making audiences discover or re-discover their city through social events.
The Jounieh International Festival runs from June 27 until July 10. For tickets, please call 01-999-666.
Source: The Daily Star
Haifa Wehbe’s sexuality in the film Halawet Rouh unnerves Qatari society
Qatari filmgoers were furious at the screening of Haifa Wehbe’s latest film Halawet Rouh (Beauty of the Soul), due to the indecent nature of the film.
As a result, there was a social media outrage due to the x-rated content of the film, which was deemed inappropriate to the norms of the conservative Arab culture.
The hashtag #banbeautyofthesouldmovie was trending on Twitter in support of banning the film from screening in Qatari cinemas.
They claim the film was banned in some of Qatar’s neighbouring countries for its brazen display of “nudity,” and the sexual undertones.
Concerned Qatari citizens said: “How could they have approved such a movie, we need new regulations to ensure that such unconventional movies are kept out of our islamic society.”
Source: Al-Bawaba
BIPOD dance festival kicked off in Beirut
Lebanon gets a taste of the world of the dance world, as Maqamat Dance Theatre kicked off its 10th annual dance event on Thursday, April 10th, 2014.
BIPOD (Beirut International Platform of Dance) was launched in 2004 as the Beirut International Dance Festival, organized by the Maqamat Dance Theater located in Hamra. The event offers dancing performances displayed by artists of different origins, at the same time, workshops, conferences, debates in order to develop new concepts of contemporary dancing. In addition, it will widen their performance scope by exposing them to international work and creating an interactive atmosphere between artists. This year’s line-up includes internationally acclaimed companies from Norway, Belgium, Lebanon, UK, Germany, Morocco, Australia, France and Switzerland.The first event entitled “Still Current” was a night of performances by the Russell Maliphant Company (UK). A combination of solos, duets and trios, the performances displayed choreography inspired by ballet, modern dance and martial arts, with tribal drum music of different rhythm patterns.
The dancers moved deliberately, creating poetry with their bodies, expressing emotions from love to longing, exposing themselves to the audience, letting the music lead their steps. As beautiful as their movements were, the choreography however was repetitive and stifling, as the dancers were sometimes confined to dancing in one particular spot instead of moving throughout the large stage. It felt like they couldn’t exactly break free.
The last performance of the evening was a duet, a love story, showing the flow of a relationship, from meeting to having doubts, to breaking up, to getting back together again. The lighting along with the music and choreography all came together quite beautifully to create a piece of art.
Overall, the night was a successful one, and a great start to BIPOD 2014.
Source: iLoubnan