Latest news with #Lunar
Web Release
14-05-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Vitor Hugo Lourenço Appointed Group Beverage Director at Culinary Arts Group
By Editor_wr On May 14, 2025 The Culinary Arts Group has recently appointed Vitor Hugo Lourenço as Group Beverage Director, strengthening its focus on innovative and experience-driven beverage programmes. With over 16 years of international experience and a reputation for combining creativity with precision, Vitor will oversee the beverage direction for the group's flagship Dubai venues: Revolver Dubai, Maison Dali and Dali Supper Club. In addition to his new role in Dubai, Vitor's portfolio also extends to Culinary Arts Group's acclaimed concepts in Singapore, namely Hamamoto, Revolver, and Araya, where he plays a key role in elevating the beverage experience to match the exceptional dining standards of each award-winning restaurant. A respected name in the global beverage world, Vitor's career began with a foundation in hotel management and evolved into a dynamic journey across renowned establishments in Europe and the UAE. From leading the celebrated Gin Bar at Rosewood London to crafting beverage experiences for the Harbour Hotel Group and Atlantis The Royal, Vitor has earned a reputation for concept-driven storytelling, operational excellence, and menu innovation. Most recently, as Group Beverage Manager at?EatX, Dubai, Vitor led the development of signature cocktail programmes across a diverse portfolio while championing talent development and building standout brand collaborations with Campari, Diageo, Rémy Cointreau, and others. In his new role, Vitor brings his layered approach to each of Culinary Arts Group's concepts. At Maison Dali, a modern brasserie helmed by three-Michelin-starred Chef Tristin Farmer, Vitor's cocktail menu is inspired by the seven global art disciplines — music, sculpture, performance, architecture, literature, film and painting. Signature serves like the floral and elegant Symphony, the mellow Mist, and the smoky, mysterious Lunar are just the beginning of an ever-evolving BARTENDER programme designed to complement the restaurant's refined culinary vision. At Dali Supper Club, the surreal hidden concept within Maison Dali where captivating mixology meets playful gastronomy, Vitor launched the Red Passion Hours in collaboration with Campari — a bold reinterpretation of the classic aperitivo hour through smoky mezcal twists, sparkling sbagliatos and deep, bourbon-infused boulevardiers. Dali Supper Club is truly unique as Vitor's cocktails are complemented by a specially curated finger food menu developed by three-Michelin-starred Tristan Farmer. This collaboration enhances the venue's multi-sensory journey and reinforces its avant-garde edge. It is also setting a global precedent, being the only bar in the world where the food menu is crafted by the acclaimed Tristan Farmer and purposefully designed to complement the beverage programme. At Revolver, one of Singapore's hottest restaurants, now in Dubai, Vitor has introduced a bespoke Martini Programme, featuring eight bold takes on the classic — from a sharp Extra Dry to a Filthy Martini garnished with blue cheese-stuffed olives — served on custom trays alongside house-pickled cherry tomatoes, aromatic herbs and vermouth pairings. Revolver Dubai's signature cocktails also reflect the restaurant's bold and unapologetic personality. Highlights include the popular Unlighted – a mysterious serving of Don Julio Reposado, Talisker Storm, Rinomato Deciso Rosso and Campari infused guava, smoked with aromatic Palo Santo Wood; and Drift, a modern, fruity concoction featuring The Botanist Gin infused ginger, vanilla and hazelnut, complemented by Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur and finished with a refined touch of Telmont Réserve Brut Champagne. Its bespoke ice programme, crafted using distinctive techniques and tools, enhances the visual allure and sensory experience of each beverage. Recognising the growing demand for inclusive and mindful options, Vitor has also curated VOL. ZERO.1, a non-alcoholic menu rooted in complexity, depth and craftsmanship. Standouts include Crystali-No – a creamy blend of oolong cold brew, honey, vanilla and non-alcoholic fizz, Lalli – organic barley malt, berries and citrus Bubbli – Tanqueray 0.0, plum verjus and housemade falernum. Commenting on his new role, Vitor Lourenço shared, 'My career to date has been built on the ethos of enjoying as much as you can. I firmly believe there is a synergy between being a bartender and being a chef, as it allows us to create, to be bold, and to express ourselves. It has been the best journey ever so far, and I am excited to bring that spirit to Culinary Arts Group, where creativity has no limits. I look forward to building unforgettable experiences with our team, guests, and partners. For me, it's all about learning, teaching, and being inspired by those around me.' With Vitor's appointment, Culinary Arts Group continues to build a collective of best-in-class talent across all disciplines — united by a shared ambition to redefine the region's dining scene through bold innovation, cultural collaboration, and immersive guest experiences. Maison Dali and Dali Supper Club For reservations, email: [email protected] For reservations, Email: [email protected] All three venues are located within the iconic Opus by Dame Zaha Hadid, in Business Bay. Follow: @maisondali_dubai, @dalisupperclub and @revolver_dubai. Comments are closed.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Understanding the Nine Planets and Their Connection with Lord Vishnu
Vedic astrology and ancient Hindu mythology are the sources of the relationships between Lord Vishnu and the nine planets. Lord Vishnu, who is regarded as the universe's guardian and preserver, is linked to a particular avatar (incarnation) on each planet. The nine planets and their associated Vishnu avatars are essential to comprehending a person's birth chart and life path in Vedic astrology. Numerous facets of life, including personality, relationships, job, and spiritual development, are influenced by the combination of each planet and avatar. Let's check out Nine Planets and their connection with Lord Vishnu: Sun-Ram Ram, which literally translates to "Light," is a fitting reference to the sun, which sustains the cosmos. We may boost the sun energy in our lives by worshiping Lord Vishnu in the form of Ram. The planet Sun represents the universal life force. Moon - Krishna The Moon is exalted in Rohini Nakshatra, which is under the sign of Taurus and in the same Nakshatra, Krishna was born. We may increase the Lunar energy in our lives by praying to Krishna. This planet symbolizes beauty, grace, and emotional intelligence. Mars - Narasimha To keep his follower Prahlada safe, Lord Vishnu took on the form of the ferocious Narasimha. "Divine Anger" is the Narasimha force needed to vanquish evil. Mercury - Buddha Buddha refers to intellect, intelligence, reasoning, and discrimination. What a powerful mercury represents Worship Buddha to transform your erratic energy and channel it toward a greater purpose. This planet symbolizes intelligence, communication, and spiritual awakening. Jupiter - Vamana Remember the story, when Vamana measures the entire cosmos in three long steps? Worshiping the Vamana avatar is suggested as a way to change our Jupiter energy. This represents expansion, growth, and wisdom. Venus - Parashuram Venus is the planet of relationships, beauty, material comfort, and so forth. The demon guru is Venus, Shukracharya. Parashurama changes the negative forces to the path of righteousness when they submit to him. Saturn - Kurma The entire cosmos was borne by Lord Vishnu in "Samudra Manthan" as a turtle. Saturn was frequently associated with setbacks and difficulties. However, if you let it work on you, Saturn offers the most strength and support in life. Our Saturn is strengthened when we worship Kurma's avatar, representing discipline, responsibility, and spiritual growth. Rahu - Varaha In order to save Mother Earth from Hiranyaksha's theft, Lord Vishnu took on the form of a boar. Rahu may defend and save the universe when it is acting in accordance with its greater principle. We can elevate and utilize our Rahu energy by worshiping the Varaha avatar, symbolizing protection, courage, and spiritual evolution. Ketu - Matsya After saving Manu from a massive flood, Lord Vishnu took on the form of Matsya, and Manu then initiated a new cycle of creation. Ketu is the planet of new beginnings and ends. We may move past the past and toward a higher goal by worshiping Matsya avatar. Ketu planet represents spiritual growth, self-realization, and liberation. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Press and Journal
28-04-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Molly Malone's air conditioning plan to boost 'customer comfort' as Aberdeen bar gets revamp
Molly Malone's in Aberdeen could soon undergo a revamp, while proposals to turn Portsoy's closed Boyne Hotel into flats have been approved. These and more feature in this week's Planning Ahead, our regular round-up of the latest proposals being pondered across the north-east. Every week we bring readers a selection of the most interesting applications submitted to our councils to form changes big and small in our communities. We start with a Deeside wedding venue's plans to create extra room for celebrations… With wedding season getting under way, various scenic settings across the north-east are about to spring into life as they become elegant backdrops to special ceremonies. Ballogie House, near Aboyne, is at the heart of an estate which lists its 'key operations' as farming, cropping, forestry and field sports. But the historic manor is now becoming a popular wedding venue. As a countryside retreat, it provides rooms for up to 14 guests – and was recently spruced up to entice more guests. And as more requests for charity events and weddings roll in, owners are seeking permission to erect a marquee in the grounds. Papers sent to the council add: 'Ballogie House has built up a reputation for holding wedding functions. 'If temporary planning permission were to be granted the applicant would be in a position to continue to offering larger events for the general public.' They explain that erecting a marquee would allow them to 'quickly activate this business expansion' and 'support local employment and tourism'. Crumbling old farm buildings between Banff and Whitehills are being transformed into new housing. The Mill of Boyndie site, just off the A98 road at Inverboyndie, dates back to 1809. Boyndie-based Ken Barbour is turning the old farm, including its B-listed farmhouse, into six homes. Architects have described the plans as a 'stunning rural development'. Most of the outbuildings surrounding the B-listed farmhouse are now to be torn down, 'due to lack of foundation and their unstable nature'. One steading was demolished last March following 'concerns about the structural integrity of the roof and walls following a recent storm'. The same engineers who scrutinised the dilapidated steadings, ruling them irredeemable, also examined the farmhouse due to be renovated under the proposals. There are hopes to 'restore it to its former Georgian grandeur'. But while the building experts stopped short of recommending it be demolished too, they noted that it would be expensive to 'bring it up to modern standard'. Plots within the development are already on the market. Over in Peterhead, the Lunar fish filleting factory has put in plans for an expansion. A new plant room and box store will be created in a yard area under the proposals. Lunar carries out regular deliveries to Belgium, France, Holland and Germany from the spot just off the town's Invernettie roundabout. Meanwhile, plans to transform a former Aberdeen gym into a motorcycle workshop have been approved. Jopps Motorcycles, a repair shop in the city centre, has been given the go-ahead to relocate from its current premises on Jopp's Lane to a larger unit around the corner. The new location on Loch Street previously housed CrossFit Emergence, a gym that closed more than a year ago. The two-wheeler-daft owner Lee Addison has worked out of their Jopp's Lane home for 10 years, after taking over from his dad. The move, which has now been approved by council planners, will see the former gym turned into an MOT and brake testing centre, as well as a garage for servicing motorcycles and mopeds. Scores of bikers wrote to the local authority supporting the move, expressing their love for 'one of the most dedicated garages' around. Last week, Planning Ahead detailed a spiralling spat in Aberdeen's west end that all began when one resident wanted to create a driveway to power their electric car. But this week, over in Westhill, it's a fast food giant rather than a west end resident wanting to install EV kit. The McDonald's at Arnhall Business Park is looking to build two plug-in ports next to the entrance of the restaurant. These 160kW chargers can take a car from 10% to 80% battery in around 25 minutes – enough time to enjoy a Big Mac meal inside the American burger bar. Portsoy's Boyne Hotel has faced an uncertain future for some time now. The inn dates back to the 1700s, but it has become a prominent empty building in the picturesque seaside community in recent years. Plans to bring it back to life had been approved in 2021 – but the proposal to turn it into three townhouses fell by the wayside. At the time, building boffins had said the historic venue needed to be converted to prevent it from falling into ruin. Owner Catherine Johnson went back to drawing board – amending her plans to be for just two homes instead. And it's these plans which have now finally been approved by the council. Blueprints show both a three-bed and five-bed home stretching over three floors, along with new slate-coloured solar panels on the roof to help them blend in. Bosses at Molly Malone's are keen to do up the Aberdeen pub – saying it needs air conditioning installed to help customers feel more 'comfortable' among a host of planned improvements. The C-listed 224 Union Street address dates back almost 200 years, when it was the office for architect John Rust (who famously designed the city's bathing station at the beach). But it will be remembered by some as The Other Record Shop – or Egyptian-themed bar The Nile. But as well as an interesting past, having such an old building can come with its issues too. Pub chain Greene King own the Molly Malone's in Aberdeen city centre. They want to alter the bar as the existing servery is 'of a relatively poor quality'. This new version would 'be of a high quality panelled timber front, with hardwood top'. Architects add: 'It is also better situated to be the focal point of the customer area, which is important for sustaining the business moving forward.' A 'general refurbishment and redecoration' is also planned to 'help breathe new life into the building', while respecting its existing historic charm. And new signs will be added outside too. Architects explain that the current layout presents an 'inherent issue' with ventilation and 'air comfort for visitors'. They now hope to address this with air conditioning to be installed, with four units strategically placed over different parts of the pub. Condensers would be 'discreetly' located to the rear of the building and enclosed in a timber casing. The new plans for Molly Malone's come amid a boom in the popularity of Irish pubs – and just months after a new rival opened up in Aberdeen city centre. The former Cafe D'ag was given a makeover as O'Malleys. A rush on the black stuff left scores of pubs across the UK running dry towards the end of last year. Guinness's owner Diageo even had to limit how much pubs could buy because of 'exceptional consumer demand' in Britain. It's become more and more popular with youngsters and women. And with experts reckoning the stout will keep going from strength to strength, it seems Molly Malone's wants to become the go-to destination for anyone looking to 'split the G' in Aberdeen. Ballogie House marquee Mill of Boyndie steadings to become homes Peterhead fish factory extension Loch Street motorcycle plans Electric charging at Westhill McDonald's Boyne Hotel plans APPROVED Aberdeen Molly Malone's improvements planned
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Google's half-moon Doodle turns Lunar phases into a game
Google's half-moon Doodle turns Lunar phases into a game Today's Google Doodle is no ordinary tribute, it's an interactive card game challenging users to outsmart none other than the moon itself. In honor of April's last half moon, Google has rolled out 'Rise of the Half Moon,' the latest installment in its whimsical Doodle game series blending education with entertainment. Users are invited to play a celestial card showdown by matching lunar phases to gain points and unlock wildcards. Accuracy is key: the more correct your plays, the more you edge toward lunar domination. The game taps into themes of astronomy, folklore, and logic, turning lunar learning into a competitive quest. Whether you're a space geek or a casual player, the Doodle offers an engaging way to revisit moon phase knowledge while chasing high scores.
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lunar Remastered Collection Review: A Modern Classic For JRPG Fans
LUNAR Remastered Collection Lunar has always been one of the more interesting JRPG franchises out there. Everyone who played them seems to remember them quite fondly whether it be the original Sega CD releases, or the remakes across Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, and PSP. But despite that fandom, they've been out of reach for modern audiences for decades even with so many re-releases. Until now. Finally, it's easy to say that Lunar is a must-play for any JRPG fan. For those unaware, Lunar: The Silver Star, the first game in the series, debuted on the Sega CD peripheral for Sega Genesis back in 1992 (or 1993 in North America) featuring high-quality CD-ROM sound, full motion anime-style video cutscenes, and lots of voice acting. For the time, it was revolutionary. The sequel, Lunar: Eternal Blue, was released on Sega CD as well in 1994 (or 1995 in North America), and pushed the CD format even further in all areas with a more mature storyline and even grander adventure. If you really want to trace the lineage and timeline of the series you can totally do that, but let it be known the first game has been ported and remade a ridiculous number of times and each version has its own brigade of defenders. For the sake of clarity, this collection focuses specifically on the PlayStation versions of both games dubbed Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete. In my opinion, these are the best and most balanced versions. LUNAR Remastered Collection With the Lunar Remastered Collection, we're finally getting both games together for the very first time in widescreen, at higher resolution, with remastered audio, new voice acting, and a few quality-of-life improvements like the ability to speed up combat and customize auto-battle parameters. Additionally, the classic versions of both games are also included, so you can play those versions instead if you really want to. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder All in all, this is a very solid collection that modernizes the games in subtle ways without stripping away what made them feel special. All too often remasters and remakes of games from this era dramatically change things, but that wasn't the approach here. In fact, unless you look at the two versions side-by-side, you'd be hard-pressed to spot major differences beyond the widescreen resolution and a few visual flourishes here and there. To me, that's the trademark of a great remaster: it looks precisely how my memory thought it did all along, while also still sticking true to the core of its identity. LUNAR Remastered Collection Even though the games are just loosely connected, I recommend starting with the first game. Not only does it take place first chronologically in-universe and in terms of the actual release order, but Lunar 2 also generally builds on the first game's mechanics and presentation so it would feel like a step backward to play the original afterward. Thankfully, both are wonderful adventures with incredible music, gorgeous visuals, and charming characters so you can't go wrong. The first game is the shorter of the two with a slower ramp-up narratively, so it's a solid entry point in that regard as well. You take on the role of Alex, a young warrior who dreams of being a hero like the ones from the stories he's always heard growing up. He's from the same small town as Dyne, one such legendary warrior, and what begins as far-fetched fantasies eventually become a reality as you're thrust into an epic world-spanning story full of danger and heroism. What I like most about the first Lunar game is that it feels like JRPG comfort food. There's a wonderfully animated cinematic introduction with excellent music, a cozy small-town introduction, and a wide cast of characters that each feel distinct and opinionated. To put it to a specific example, near the start of the first game you set out on your adventure but eventually turn back home due to the children being too scared to carry on. Every now and then you're reminded these heroes are very young and they don't mature overnight. I really appreciate the small little touches like that because, when you consider the time period this game was released in originally, the amount of lore detail, dialogue depth, and character progression was relatively unheard of even in the RPG genre. It's a pretty by-the-numbers hero's journey for the most part, but keep in mind it was originally released in the early 1990s and admittedly is part of the early wave of games that established the very tropes we all know and expect. In the sequel, things get underway immediately and overall it's a slightly darker story with a more mature tone. There are still moments of whimsy with some silly jokes, as expected, but it feels like the target audience is a little bit older than the first game. LUNAR Remastered Collection Lunar 2 takes place 1,000 years later as you take control of a new main character named Hiro with a fresh cast of characters aiding him in his journey. Once you meet Lucia, you get mixed up in her mission to stop an evil being from destroying the world. There are a handful of returning locales, characters, and other elements that tie the adventures together in some surprising ways. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it feels like one continuous game by any means, but together they're an engrossing collection of games absolutely worth playing for any fan of JRPGs. While there are a handful of great quality-of-life changes like being able to speed up battles by up to three times speed, I would have liked to see a little more work in this department. For example, characters tend to repeat themselves in combat. A lot. And speeding up combat does not speed up the voice lines, so you're going to hear Luna sing her, 'La la, la la laaaaa' jingle after every spell over and over and over again for dozens of hours. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice and beautiful melody, but I would have loved being able to turn that off or something. Combat in Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete Remastered On the one hand, I love that they've made it extremely easy to automate and speed up all of the simple fights and grinding that happen in games like this because it certainly helps sidestep a lot of the tedium. But on the other hand, it begs the question of why this sort of game design was ever popular in the first place. If the developers feel the need to provide a way to shortcut through a massive chunk of the game experience to the point that I can watch TV while mashing auto-battle over and over to progress to the next plot point of interest, is that content really compelling in the first place? I'm not sure I know the answer to that question because, as I said, it's a lot like comfort food to me. Longtime fans of JRPGs often enjoy mindless grinding, or at the very least don't mind it very much, so it's not fair to use Lunar as a soap box since it's far from being one of the worst offenders. The fact of the matter is that you can zip through most fights extremely quickly, the animations and music are fantastic so it's a pleasure to witness even on 4x speed, and all enemies are visible during exploration with zero truly random encounters, so it's not a massive intrusion. But it's still worth noting that if you never liked the frequent fighting and grinding of old-school JRPGs, consider that even though it's alleviated a lot here, those elements are absolutely still present. At least the grinding requirement isn't bad at all. You can mostly critical path your way through both games with little trouble, only needing to stop and grind before a boss occasionally. Combat in Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete Remastered Lunar Remastered Collection doesn't change a whole lot about either game mostly because it doesn't need to. Since this collection is based on the PlayStation versions, which were already remakes of the original games, it had a great foundation to build from. As far as I've seen all of the dialogue is identical, despite the actual voiceovers being new, and many elements still feel fresh even all these years later. To that point, the anime cutscenes in both games are absolutely superb. With a little bit of upscaling, they look sharper than ever and add so much depth and complexity to the narratives. It's worth noting that, as far as I am aware, not many JRPGs have this amount of quality animated cutscenes like this—even today. Fully rendered 3D cutscenes of course take center stage in many modern JRPGs such as the Final Fantasy series and event-driven dialogue scenes are the norm in most other franchises, and then you might get a handful of animated cutscenes as very rare treats in a few other games, but the Lunar series is really in a class of its own in my opinion. Each game features over an hour (if my math isn't wrong?) of fully animated scenes which may not seem like a lot, but when you realize each scene is quite short and spread out across the entire game, it feels like you get at least a few scenes per play session. It's almost like a little reward for progressing the main story, especially since many of the game's biggest moments are included in these animations. Don't skip the fantastic songs or sections with actual lyrics! I am careful about throwing around recommendations like calling something a must-play, but I genuinely believe that if you're a fan of JRPGs, especially the early to mid 90s era of roleplaying games, then you truly owe it to yourself to experience Lunar despite the ways it can show its age at times. Neither of these games will feel groundbreaking to play when measured against modern RPGs and they do require a bit of grace and nostalgia for the time period to fully appreciate, but even outside of all that they have a secret sauce that's difficult to replicate. What Lunar lacks in gameplay complexity it more than makes up for in wonderful animations, captivating characters, and riveting music. You'll absolutely feel the surge of excitement as you set out on these adventures, letting the whimsical charm sweep you away. Prior to the Lunar Remastered Collection, I had not played either game in well over two decades, but I still found myself looking up the introductory animations and various music tracks for background sounds while working. These are the kinds of games that stick with you and you'll remember them for a very long time. Platform: PlayStation 4 & 5 (Reviewed), Xbox One & Series X|S, Switch, PC Developer: Ashibi Co., Game Arts Publisher: GungHo Online Entertainment Release Date: April 18th, 2025 Price: $49.99 Score: 8/10 Disclosure: A representative on behalf of publisher GungHo sent me a download code for an NA digital copy of Lunar Remastered Collection on PlayStation 4 (played on PlayStation 5) for the purposes of this review.
