Dermalogica Skin Bar launch

The Point  at Level O was a hive of activity last week and some shops remained open for the occasion. It was the launch of the Dermalogica Kiosk, definitely a first for Malta. Shoppers can browse the company’s products at the kiosk or opt for a Face Mapping  – Dermalogica’s signature 14-zone skin analysis. They will also have the opportunity to learn about and sample products at the Skin Bar. I remember seeing one such kiosk in Westfield Shopping Centre in London. One of the aims of these skin bars is to reach out in new ways to make professional skincare and optimum skin health accessible to more people.  Dermalogica’s strategy is to educate consumers about their specific skin conditions, which products are needed, and how to use them correctly for maximum effect. And it can all be done there while you are shopping.  These kiosks provide easy public access to what professional skincare services and products have to offer. It is no longer just a matter of sticking your fingers in any jar of cream and plastering it onto your face.  Millions are poured into research these days to improve on these skin products and make them more effective.  With investment comes salvation. Any sybarite worth her face cream will want to pay this very special kiosk a visit.  Whose face and body, at a certain age, don’t need an overhaul or at least, a little more attention given to them?

Din L-Art Helwa’s dinner at St John’s Cavalier

I take a deep breath whenever there is an activity in Valletta. What immediately comes to mind is parking.

So before I hit the Valletta tarmac for Din l-Art Helwa’s 47th Anniversary Celebration on 24 November I worked out the great expedition to Valletta carefully in my mind.  How was I going to get to St John’s Cavalier in high heels with the least possible stress and without getting a parking ticket? I was not going to risk the MCP car park at night when I know of someone who was almost strangled for a gold necklace at 3pm.  Finally I opted for the Central Bank parking but had to queue for some time before I eventually managed a place.  When is parking in Valletta going to ease so that we can enjoy our lovely baroque city more often?

I had never been inside St John’s Cavalier before although it is entirely my fault as in the past I had been invited several times to the annual reception by the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Malta but somehow have never managed to attend.

The ambience inside this cavalier is unique. One immediately feels protected by these massive, strong walls. Drinks and canapés were served in the entrance hall with some guests relating where and how they had parked. And there were several amusing stories too.

The evening was sponsored by the Embassy of the Irish Republic and the ambassador and his staff  - Marthese and Josianne – had worked hard with the Din l-Art Helwa team as well as that of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta,  to make it the success it was.

The stars of the evening were without doubt the two musicians brought out to Malta especially for the occasion: Róisín Walters on the violin and Evin Kelly, a classical accordionist.  The local soprano Gabrielle Sargent also participated. Ms Walters, a tall redhead with her skin made out of rose petals, or so it seemed, was so incredibly at ease with her violin. She had started playing this instrument at the Young European Strings School of Music when she was a mere three years of age. This, as you can imagine, was but the start to a career which is studded with scholarships, prizes and performances. One can see at once that she is naturally gifted and must have been in the front row when God was giving out musical gifts. It is the same with Evin Kelly who is only 21-years-old and again is a multiple prize-winner in international competitions. He too, has performed in a number of countries and at the invitation of the French Government for former President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris. He is currently studying in Finland.

As we sat at the beautifully napped dining room tables these young Irish stars enthralled us with Bartok, a selection of traditional Irish Airs including Danny Boy, which many of us learned to sing and love at school,  Astor Piazzolla and easily my favourite Pablo de Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy which borrows some of the best loved melodies from Bizet’s timeless masterpiece. What joie de vivre this duo delivered to this audience which could not stop clapping and demanded at least one encore.

The soprano Gabrielle Sargent gave us an enjoyable interpretation of two Irish melodies.

No wonder, later on in his speech, the ambassador said: ”Tonight we have witnessed an exceptional performance by the young stars of the future. In years to come, people will look back on this concert and say ‘I was there at the Din l-Art Helwa dinner’. Their immense talent shows why so many people appreciate our rich cultural heritage and travel to our countries.” I hope His Excellency will sponsor them again to come to the Manoel Theatre in the near future.

The hardworking President of Din l-Art Helwa, Mrs Simone Mizzi also spoke and pointed out that DLH have saved 37 national sites in 47 years, “all with our own funds and just volunteers and now manage 17.”  A truly remarkable achievement. Of course it was Simone’s father, Judge Maurice Caruana Curran who had set up our national heritage organisation. He has inherited 50-per-cent Irish genes from his Irish Curran and Quinn mother “and often claimed we were descended from the Irish Kings of the 12th century,” Mrs Mizzi said. She pointed out, in her speech, the similarities between Malta and Ireland: both are islands; we have kindred independent souls; our citizens work very hard, many outside our own homelands; we both speak an ancient language nobody understands, except ourselves; we share the same faith “you have more saints, some 333, but we have more churches per square mile, one for each day of the year.”

The evening ended with double tots of Bailey’s or Jameson’s whiskey and I resolved there and then, to renew my membership of DHL which I had neglected to do for a number of years.

Christmas at the Priory

On Wednesday 12 December the Augustinian Priory, Rabat, will open its doors exclusively to guests of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, for an evening of Christmas music and food.

The VOCA Choir will open the evening with a carols concert at St Mark’s Church, followed by welcome drinks while shopping for Christmas fare and exclusive decorations.   A traditional Maltese Christmas meal prepared by Osborne Caterers will then be served in the cloister.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards restoration of a Medieval painting owned by the Priory.  The concert starts at 7pm at St Mark’s Church, Rabat. Tickets for the concert and lavish dinner including wine at 35 € (children 20 €) may be booked by emailing [email protected] or phoning 99820159.