Don’t miss out on your chance to win one of three fantastic luxury hampers – a  handsome payback for doing your Christmas Shopping in Puerto Banús. The clock is ticking!

Aretusa, Chateau Mona Lisa and Carpaccio restaurants are getting into the spirit of Christmas with some generous gifts to Christmas shoppers this week in luxury shopping haven, Puerto Banús.

Showing more than a sprinkling of good will, around 50 businesses in the world famous leisure port have prepared a selection of irresistible gifts to package up into three luxurious Christmas hampers that will be raffled among their faithful clientele in an exciting draw on Thursday 22nd December at 6pm on the Muelle Ribera Levante, on the eastside of the frontline port, close to Restaurante Chateau Mona Lisa.

Blue Gourmet, which comprises three successful restaurants on the frontline of Puerto Banús is delighted to be offering its customers the chance to win a meal for two in each of their quality restaurants, Chateau Monalisa, Aretusa and Carpaccio.  The coveted Christmas hampers will be replete with a range of desirable luxury goods from the various boutiques, perfumeries, bars, restaurants and luxurious establishments participating in the Christmas hamper giveaway.

Get Shopping & Get Lucky!

Shoppers are not too late to enter this exceptional draw.  Simply head down to Puerto Banús for some seasonal shopping, not forgetting to stop off for some festive fare at the restaurants listed, and if you may still be in time to be gifted with a ticket for the lucky draw!

Coinciding with the day that the Spanish National Lottery dishes out millions to winning ticket holders of the famous “Gordo” prizes, 22nd December could just be your lucky day!

Boland Is Back! Maurice Boland returns to the airwaves with new Costa del Sol radio station iTalk.fm Following a year of soul-searching, larger-than-life radio host, Maurice Boland is back on the airwaves with the launch of his new station italk.fm.  Louise Cook Edwards talks to the Coast’s beloved and berated Irish media star about his return to the public domain.

Love him or loathe him, Maurice Boland is the self-confessed “Marmite” of the Costa del Sol’s media..  12 months on from his shock departure from TRE, the station he founded a decade ago , following an alleged indiscretion with  a teenage girl, Boland has bounced back with a smart new radio station located in a suite of offices within the 5-star Kempinski Hotel Estepona.   Already notching up impressive interviews with key celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Sinead O’Connor, is it onwards and upwards for the man who loves nothing more than talking on the radio?

LCE. How does it feel to be back in action on the radio with a brand new station?
M.B. As I said at our opening cocktail reception I could never believe a year down the line that I would be standing here with such a big turn out launching my new radio station iTalk FM its simply unbelievable.

LCE. You have been through a tough time emotionally – what did you learn in the past year?
MB. I learnt who were my friends and who were my enemies – simple as that.

LCE. You are a very religious man  - do you think we suffer for our mistakes in this life, or when we meet our maker?
MB. It’s up to us to face up to our mistakes in life and do the best not to make them again.

LCE. If you could go back in time, would you change anything?
MB. One or two things…

LCE. Starting afresh feels good – why have you gone back down the same road – ie launching another radio station?
MB. Radio/TV entertainment is all I know and I hope I’m good at it. Radio is a great passion of mine – not just the performance but the writing and designing programmes. Creativity plays a great part in my business and I always enjoy launching new ideas for shows, and allowing and watching novice presenters developing. I have seen a few of my protégés develop into talented radio presenters. Currently Pippa Jones, who started with me only a few weeks ago and had never sat behind a microphone, is showing favourable signs of becoming one of our leading broadcasters.

LCE. What will make iTalk.fm different and a success?
MB. It’s down to three important points Experience; Leadership and The Professionalism of  iTalk.fm’s presenters. For some reason it seems that everyone thinks they can become a radio boss or broadcaster after 5 minutes in the business and it shows as we all know only too well. So yes I hope the combined years in the business of my team will help guide iTalk FM to the success I know it should be. The coast’s media has lost a lot of its audience to the recession.

LCE. Do you think those boom days with half a million Brits living here are ever coming back?
MB. No I don’t believe they will…but business will recover in a good way in time but not as we long-time residents remember.

LCE. 2012 is around the corner – what challenges do you think the Costa del Sol will have to face next year?
MB. Financial survival!
LCE. If you were Mayor of Marbella what would you do  to attract investment and new foreign residents?
MB. Tax free incentives. The name Marbella conjures up success overseas and I would capitalize on that by encouraging big companies to host more seminars here etc. I spoke with the Town Hall in that past about trying to host some kind of UK TV awards here as many of the soap stars love coming to Marbella.

LCE. And with the new government in Spain – how quickly do you anticipate seeing a change for the better?
MB. Today I interviewed an Irish expert on Ireland’s economy (also in crisis) He predicts a recovery in 12 years! I hope he’s wrong but certainly it won’t be overnight.

LCE. What is your personal wish for 2012?
MB. I have many! Obviously the good health and happiness of my family, the success of iTalk.fm and some light at the end of the tunnel for the recovery of the European economy.

www.iTalk.fm
Broadcasting 24 hrs a day on 88.5 FM from Gibraltar to Motril with some of the Coast’s best loved presenters including Maurice Boland, Stephen Ritson, Rosalind Scott-Gibb and Barrie Mitchell.

The Red Penguin Art Gallery is 1st Commercial Art Gallery within El Corte Inglés in Andalucía. marbellas.com joined artists for the Colourful Launch

Serious art lovers and Marbella’s creative elite were out in force to celebrate the launch of the new Red Penguin Art Gallery at El Corte Inglés in  Marbella. Some 200 guests enjoyed the spectacular collective exhibition entitled Identity which kickstarted what promises to be an exciting new venture bringing quality international art into the heart of the resort.  Some of the artists featured were present at the event, mingling with guests and discussing their works as a violinist kept the tempo up on an electrifying debut night for the cultural venue.
Showcasing a wealth of quality art from upcoming and acclaimed Spanish and International artists, with  “Identity”, a collective exhibition of 18 ground-breaking talents, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is launching as it means to go on, as a dynamic gallery which acts as a creative platform for talent,  ideas and diverse cultural interests including not only art itself but also: Vintage Objects and Collectables, Art & Design Books & Magazines, Art Consultancy, Art to rent for companies, Decorative artistic painting, Education, workshops, lectures & events.

Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and talent, the Red Penguin Art Gallery will work in close collaboration with four other galleries based in Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and Beijing creating a broad international platform for the exchange of some of the world’s most exciting artistic talent.

A Haven of Style and Talent
Owned and managed by Dutch art experts, Joris Marjot and Loni Olfers, both of whom bring to the new venture extensive careers in art & design. Joris is a talented interior designer who has decorated a plethora of luxurious homes, hotels and temples of style, while Loni has successfully managed several art galleries in Holland and Spain.  Passionate about raising the cultural and artistic game in Marbella – to help the city compete on the world stage as a high calibre destination for international tourism, at Red Penguin Art Gallery, they will be doing everything possible to put Marbella on the cultural map, with a presence at the top art fairs around the globe, and contributions to new art magazine Artmosphere.

As Loni Olfers states, “Art and creativity are important to the economic recovery of Marbella, and we have a major project underway that will help to make Marbella more beautiful by transforming the streets and empty shops and offices with the help of the Town Hall, and business and creative community in the town.
“At Red Penguin Art Gallery we scour the world  – and the web – to tap into rising talent. We dig deeper and get fully acquainted with the artist, their work and methods to make sure only top quality art and design is on show in our gallery. We are looking for work that will stand the test of time, and gain in value. The Red Penguin Art Gallery is within the Centro Comercial El Capricho on the 2nd floor of El Corte Inglés.  The first professional art gallery to ever have a presence within El Corte Inglés departments store in Andalucía and only the second in Spain following the launch of a similar venture in Madrid, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is excited about working alongside the store’s interior designers and sourcing art works for their clients.

Stellar Artists
Among the artwork on display at Red Penguin Art Gallery’s inaugural exhibition will be works by Joseph Klibansky.  A hot new talent working in new media, aged just 27, Kibansky’s work has already been acquired by Sotheby’s for 34,000€ – the highest yield ever for such a young artist. Present at the launch, the artist Joseph Klibansky currently based in Amsterdam said he was “happy to help  stimulate the cultural landscape in Marbella”.  Also present were artists Felix Muyo,  Russel West and Jacinto Moros.

The artists featuring in the inaugural “Identity” exhibition include: Antonio Puri painter and mixed media; Barbara Nanning glass objects; Berend Strik photography with embroidery bordado; Corneille painter; Debra Franses Bean Artbag; Jacinto Moros Sculptures; Jerome Esch photography: Joseph Klibansky new media, Gary Edwards photography, Kantcho Kanev paintings mixed media; Lu Luo   mixed media: Nicole Montagne template press Plantilla de prensa; Odile Kinart sculptures; Otto Bachorik sculptures; Paul Smulders mixed media; Peter Pollág paintings and sculptures; Robert Hromec engraved paintings; Russell West painted sculptures; Zhuang Hong Yi mixed media.

www.redpenguinartgallery.com
Red Penguin Art Gallery, 2nd floor, El Corte Inglés, El Capricho, Bvd. Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, 2, 29600 Marbella.  Tel: +34 664340107  +34 639616300.
Opening Hours: 11am  – 9pm – throughout December.

An interview by Louise Cook Edwards with Wendy Salisbury, best selling author of the Toyboy Diaries, on the launch of her first novel “Blood on the Sand” on Amazon and Kindle.

LCE: What prompted you, as an English woman, to write a book about bullfighting?

WS:  Blood on the Sand is essentially a love story.  In the 1960s, when I was 18, I came to Andalucía for an extended holiday.  My parents had already built a villa in Las Chapas and my sister had married a local Marbella boy.  First I got a job with the architect who designed Puerto Banus then I met two journalists commissioned to write the biography of Manuel Benitez El Cordobés, the most iconic matador of the time.  They needed an interpreter!  I sort of fell into their laps.

LCE: Did you know anything about bullfighting at the time?

WS:  I was already a true aficionada. I’d seen my first fight when I was 9. Love it or hate it, la tauromaquía is an ancient art, an integral part of Spanish culture.  The drama, the power, the sights, the sounds, the smells…  All those dashing toreros in their exquisite suits of lights! My pre-pubescent heart pounded with a passion yet unknown!

LCE:  How did you and the journalists research the biography?

WS: I set off with Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins to Córdoba where we joined El Cordobés’s entourage.  We traveled round Spain with him for the season of 1965.  Manolo, as he was known, was at the top of his game. Always surrounded by clamouring fans, fighting daily in a different city.  We interviewed everyone he’d known as a gypsy orphan boy in Palma del Río and the book ‘…Or I’ll Dress you in the Mourning’ became a global best seller.

LCE: What was Manolo like as a person?

WS: The most charismatic ‘nutcase’ I’ve ever met – before or since!  He had such charm, such joie de vivre, yet he faced death every afternoon.  He was exceptionally brave, always striving to please the crowd.  His style was random and exciting, not classical like Belmonte or Manolote.  He loved and respected the animals and treated them with nobility. He became the highest paid matador in history yet he was still illiterate.  His parish priest travelled with us teaching him to read and write.

LCE:  Life must have been very intense.  What did he do to relax?

WS: He’d bought himself a 6-seater plane, a Piper Aztec, and he was learning to fly.  We used to buzz around from city to city.  On rest days, we’d hang out on his ranch, having long lazy lunches then we’d ride out to visit the breeding herd. At night, he’d play his guitar and we’d dance flamenco under the stars.  It was a very heady time for me. There were always friends, relations and hangers-on around.  But we did get time alone together…

LCE: Did you fall in love with him?

WS: I suppose so, in a way.  He wasn’t the type of man you could just take or leave.  You had to get involved!

LCE: And your novel Blood on the Sand? How did that come to be written?

WS:  It was a story that had lain dormant inside me for over 40 years.  When the season of 1965 and my job as interpreter ended, Manolo asked me to go with to South America.  My father wouldn’t let me.  So I came home to London, married and divorced twice and I now have 5 grandchildren.  I decided to write my version of events imagining what might have happened had the English girl married her torero.

LCE:  Would that have been a happy life?

WS: Not at all! The story became unbelievably complex full of twists and turns.  It surprised me even as I wrote it!  El Macho, the central character, is really an anti-hero – a savage womanizer with a very dark side.  The young girl, Cassi Samuels, is ill-equipped to cope with it.  She goes from trauma to drama and back again, but she’s feisty, believes in the power of love and ultimately survives in the face of gut-wrenching adversity.

LCE: And Manolo himself?  Did you ever meet again?

WS: Yes! Two summers ago in Marbella he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.  I met him backstage at the bullring and we reunited with hugs and kisses.  It was wonderful to see him again.  It gave me some closure too. He’s married with 5 children now but for 73, he still looks great!

LCE: Do you still visit Marbella?

WS: Absolutely. It’s my home from home. My sister and her family live here and I come to relax whenever I can.  I wrote Blood 0n the Sand on the terrace of my late parents’ home near Torre Real. The Spanish edition La Inglesa y el Torero came out last year and I hope the English version available now on Amazon Kindle will give everyone who buys it a ‘bloody’ good read!

www.WendySalisbury.com

The Open House was a chance for members of the Press Club to invite guests who also work in the media across a whole range of activities, from the largest publications and broadcasters on the Coast to the smallest freelance agencies.  Also in attendance were councillors responsible for foreign residents and the press from Marbella and Fuengirola Town Halls.

The strong turnout and enthusiasm of the people attending showed just how vibrant the foreign resident media community is, and reminded everyone of the important role journalists and other professional communicators play in integrating the different nationalities on the Costa del Sol and keeping residents and visitors informed about life here.

Introducing the event, The President of the Costa Press Club, Jesper Sander Pedersen, explained to guests that the Costa Press Club is celebrating 10 successful years next year acting as a representative of the foreign media in southern Spain and that he was looking forward to welcoming several new members as a result of the ‘Open House’. Speaking afterwards, Jesper said “The response to the event shows how strong the journalistic community is here and highlights the huge role we media people play in supporting the international and national residents. The club is really looking forward to the next 10 years! New members are welcome to apply to join.”

Stop Press!

The Costa Press Club is the longest established association in southern Spain for members of the international media. Membership of the club is open to all professional communicators, from the fields of journalism, TV, film, photography, public relations, and private company press departments. It offers a full social calendar of events, including monthly Costa Press Club dinners with guest speakers and the annual Communicator Award.
The Costa Press Club delivers a forum where like-minded media professionals can exchange ideas, engage in informed discussion, seek advice, and make local, national and international media connections.

To find out more please visit www.costapressclub.com. For press enquiries please email: adminfb@costapressclub.com

The romantic contemporary classic restaurant, Nueva Kaskada, opened its doors to Marbella society recently to present the autumn/winter season with an exciting new menu by celebrated German master chef, Ewald Fichthaler.

Fashionable Marbella was out in force at the celebratory cocktail party to officially mark the autumn/winter season at the chic restaurant that effortlessly combines a natural countrified location overlooking a waterfall, with contemporary décor and the finest cuisine for all pockets.

A purple carpet affair, guests enjoyed the restaurant in the warm twilight, suggesting just a hint of autumn after a glorious season of summer dining on the spacious terrace.  Chef Fichthaler presented a selection of delectable canapés and finger foods, giving the assembled guests a taster of the sensational new menu of his finest dishes.

The Signature Cuisine of Eward Fichthaler
Chef Fichthaler has an impressive track record having headed up a range of establishments in Singapore, Shanghai, Sidney, London, Switzerland and Spain, where he has been at the forefront of creative east meets west cuisine. Frequently cooking for royalty and international dignitaries in Michelin star restaurants, Eward Fichtaler is now conferring all of his exciting culinary experience and creativity onto the cuisine of Nueva Kaskada.

Welcoming the Autumn Winter Nights
The venue will continue to offer both inside and outdoor dining on the spacious terrace in the cozy interior, complete with open kitchen, terracotta floors, round tables, contemporary art and splashes of purple and blue creating an elegant ambience which extends to the stunning terrace which will continue to welcome guests with soft lighting and heaters.

Nueva Kaskada in the autumn/winter is a dream, with its trendy open fireplace, newly appointed cocktail bar and chillout lounge, and regular evenings of live piano music and after dinner DJs. A weekday lunch menu is available for just 15 euros a head. Nueva Kaskada’s legendary Sunday lunch, complete with Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding, is just 12.95€ per person.

Open for lunch from 12 noon, dinner from 7pm daily.  (Closed Tuesday). Open until 1.30am.
For reservations call Tel: 952 86 4478.

Nueva Kaskada Restaurante, Urb. La Montua, C/. Chorreadero, 39, 29601 Marbella

www.nuevakaskada.com

Nikki Beach Red Closing Party Kisses Goodbye to Marbella Summer in Style. Luxury beach club, Nikki Beach Marbella kissed goodbye to a sensational summer season with the exceptional Grand Closing Red Party.  The crème de la crème of the Costa del Sol was out in force, ready to say a fond farewell to a summer of fun, sun and style at the ever-glamorous Nikki Beach Marbella. Official Nikki Beach Photography by Gary Edwards

On Sunday 2nd October, guests danced their way through the hot, sunny day to the cool, summer beats mixed by Nikki Beach’s resident DJ and special guests Mark Knight and High on Heels. From 2pm onwards, closing party guests were treated to the hottest Nikki-style entertainment that comes as standard at this stunning beach club. Gorgeous dancers, emblematic white tepees, live musicians and entertainment, a blazing red dress code, plus a few finale surprises, this year’s closing party was simply sizzling from beginning to end.

Red Hot Style

Nikki’s signature white décor was transformed with splashes of crimson and filled with a river of guests dressed head to toe in sexy red as over 1,500 partygoers descended on the hip beach club for the thrilling finale to Nikki’s 2011 season. The closing party brought the Marbella summer season to a red-hot finale with music, dancers, champagne flowing and a host of world class entertainment, the Grand Closing Red Party did not disappoint.

Turning heads as a star attraction at the Red Party were the gorgeous and talented female collective, High on Heels. With their dazzling blend of high-octane glamour and musical flair, the girls turned up the temperature on the red party as their compelling performance and irresistible beats whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

Top international DJ and Grammy nominee, Mark Knight flew in to perform, and Nikki Beach Marbella danced to the sounds that have attracted crowds to see Knight at clubs including Cocoon Frankfurt, Club Space Miami and Ministry of Sound London.

Popular Nikki Beach resident DJ, Mario Z kept his fans happy throughout the party with a round up of the season’s hottest Nikki beats, bringing the summer to a thrilling climax.    Nikki’s signature white décor was transformed with splashes of crimson and filled with a river of guests dressed head to toe in sexy red attire as 1,500 people descended on the hip beach club for the thrilling finale to Nikki’s 2011 season.

A quality guarantee, the global Nikki Beach brand represents everything cool, sexy and glamorous about spending the day, or night, on the beach.  Nikki Beach is an international luxury beach club brand and style leader. Founded in Miami by entertainment wizards Jack and Lucia Penrod and Eric Omares. A global phenomenon in the luxury leisure sector, Nikki Beach can be found in the world’s hotspots including St. Tropez, St. Barths, Marrakech, Koh Samui and Las Vegas.

www.nikkibeach.com

One of the longest established real estate companies in Marbella, Casa Marbella celebrate 30 years of recession-busting success. Photography  ©Gary Edwards

Few are the companies that rack up an impressive 30 years of trading – and even less so in Marbella, a cosmopolitan melting pot where many businesses are unfortunately set up with a boom or bust mentality. All the more reason for Wolfgang Schlesier to be celebrating the enduring success of his real estate agency Casa Marbella, one of just a handful of property companies in the area with a long history of steady success in a competitive industry in which true professionals stand out.

Three Decades of Success
With offices bookending Marbella in Elviria and San Pedro de Alcántara, Casa Marbella has been purveying properties to a local and international clientele  for three decades, and to celebrate a job well done, managing director Wolfgang Schlesier and his partner Xusan Teo held an  upbeat  party for colleagues, clients friends and well-wishers at top Marbella Thai restaurant, Thai Gallery.
Among the guests were tourism councillor Jose Luis Hernández, gallerist Shahed Kavousi, Architect Pablo Villarroel with his wife Claudia, Mandarin Tutor Yingying Hu, Architect Pablo Mena Owens and his wife Llanos, Silvia & Rui Carlos Conceicao and many well-known Marbella personalities.

Celebrating with Style
Over two hundred guests enjoyed a champagne reception along with a homage to Casa Marbella
as told by comperes Mugge Fischer and Oscar Horacio, with a thank you speech from Casa Marbella boss, Wolfgang.  This was followed by a fabulous catwalk show by Julia Rep of Fashion Villa. Showcasing an advance selection of winter wonders – including cosy fur-edged parkas, funky leopard print gabardines, 80s inspired red and black outfits, shimmering sequined cocktail dresses and inspired outfits for  bride and “groom.”  An acrobatic dancer wowed the crowd with a display of fascinating flexibility.

Following the formalities and fashion segment, special guests sat down to a sumptuous Thai meal from the legendary chefs at Thai Gallery.

www.casamarbella.com

On Friday 16 September, Suite del Mar in the luxurious Hotel Puente Romano hosted the Global Party.  Many of the Marbella Glitterati and familiar faces from the Marbella press attended the event at Suite. Regular party goers were impressed by the amount of money spent on entertainment, ice sculptures (which melted away in heat of the evening fairly rapidly) and on the spectacular marque and lighting erected for the one night extravaganza.

Clearly raising money for 80 different charities around the World from a series of parties is a good idea – the charities benefit and so do the benefactors as they have a luxurious night out. The amounts paid to the organisers and the amounts donated would make interesting reading as no expense seems to be spared on the one night function. A full list of the charities is not displayed on the Global Party website, however those mentioned include; The Blue Marine Foundation, Raisa Gorbachev Foundation, The Pratham Education Foundation, Prince Harry’s Sentebale Charity, Tusk Trust (of which Prince William is the patron) and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund UK.

In an effort to unite leading luxury brands and intensify awareness for charities around the globe the event was inspired by fictional character Phileas Fogg, created by Jules Verne his book ‘Around the World in 80 Days’.  Apparently toted as the hottest ticket this year, the question heard around town was “have you received your invite yet?”

Never shy to throw a good party, Suite del Mar did pull out all the stops for the Global Party.  From acrobats and violinists (the famous Julio) to flame throwers and ice sculptures to internationally acclaimed DJs and performers, the party brought the summer season to a close with a grand impact. Guests were particularly excited for the performance of recording artist and Queen of UK clubs, Hannah.  With number one hits on the club and dance charts in Ibiza and the UK and remixes by top DJs such as Robbie Riviera and Armin Van Buuren, Hannah elevated the party atmosphere.

Invitations to the Global Party enabled guests to select from any of the 80 parties taking place around the world. They could sip Champagne in Marbella, Vodka Martinis in London, Manhattans in New York or Margaritas in Mexico, and with celebrity supporters comprising the likes of Damien Hirst, Elizabeth Hurley, Simon Cowell, Jemima Khan and Boris Johnson; you never knew who you would have run into any of the chosen destinations.  Along with the invitation, each invitee received a limited edition, purchasable Global Party Key-2 Luxury silver key ring, which allowed them access to privileges around the world and entry into a parallel universe of luxury.

The directors behind this ambitious venture are the renowned hedge fund veteran Lord Stanley Fink and luxury lifestyle expert David Johnstone, whose joint expertise have inspired the leading global players to commit to such an extraordinary concept.  This ambitious event is creating a global media stir. Mikimoto, The Orient Express and Harry Winston confirmed as ‘Gold Sponsors’ and the Global Party brought together many luxury brands to create a truly global event.
www.theglobalparty.com

“Car Marbella” took victory in the latest race in China, and now leads the World Championship FIA GT1

A racing car bearing the Marbella town logo raced to victory at a recent race in Beijing, helping to put Marbella on the map in front of up and coming Chinese public.

Young Driver AMR – with “Car Marbella” experienced success  in the opening race GT1 World Championship in Beijing. Stefan Mücke (GER) and Darren Turner (GBR) claimed their first win of the season in a thrilling race with his Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9 AMR – while Alex Müller (GER) and Tomas Enge (CZE) finished the qualifying race with a superb second place. With a dominant performance in China, Young Driver AMR is in an excellent position in the FIA World Championship GT1 ahead of the next race in Argentina.

Sponsored by Buddha Beach and La Sala Bar in Nueva Andalucia, the car proudly wore the official logo of Marbella before a crowd of 250,000 spectators in China,  a great promotion for the city in the growing Chinese market.