Latest news with #Mado
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Where We Are Going Today: Mado restaurant in Makkah
With a central location across from the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Mado is one of the only full-service restaurants in the area, in addition to nearby hotels. Arab News visited the restaurant and tried a variety of their items, including their fresh salads, grilled meats, desserts, and fresh juices. The staff are knowledgeable about the menu, offer great recommendations, and are accommodating of any allergies. Mado's juice options, like mango, orange, and pineapple, are all refreshing, especially after a day in the mosque. We tried the highly recommended penne arrabiata; while the pasta was cooked well, the sauce was too sour due to the tart tomatoes used. As for the salads, we tried the tabbouleh, Ahirdag, and crispy chicken salads. While the tabbouleh was standard and nothing to write home about, the Ahirdag and crispy chicken salads were among the best starters on the menu. The Turkish mixed grill was delicious, offering a variety of meat, including shish tawouk, beef skewers, and kebabs. We ordered the mixed grill for one, but it was enough for two people. The doner, which is advertised prominently, was unavailable when we tried to order it. For desserts, two options stand out: the kunafa and the layered Turkish ice cream (chocolate, pistachio, vanilla, and strawberry). The restaurant is quite spacious and offers many seating areas, but the best seats by far are those near the window overlooking the Grand Mosque. The service can be improved; while staff members are numerous, the restaurant's reception area remains unmanned at times, leaving guests waiting to be seated. Mado also has locations in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Hail.
Euronews
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Belgian music festival under pressure over Franco-Israeli billing
Les Francofolies de Spa, a staple of Belgium's summer music festival season since 1994, is at the heart of a growing controversy mere days before it starts. The four-day event, which aims to promote francophone artists, kicks off tomorrow and one planned set on Friday is fueling concern - that of Franco-Israeli singer Amir, a former contestant on The Voice and France's Eurovision representative in 2016. His presence on the billing has angered several other artists who are also due to perform at the festival, who have expressed their unease at Amir's perceived pro-Israel stance. Artists like Lovelace, Nicou, CHOSE and Mado have signed a statement denouncing the singer's presence: 'As artists scheduled to perform at the Francofolies de Spa, we strongly disagree with the decision to programme Amir.' As for Franco-Swiss singer Yoa, she has cancelled her participation (also originally set for Friday) altogether, citing her 'social, political and humanist" convictions which dictate that she should not 'share the stage with an artist who does not recognise the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and who has taken part in events organised in support of the Israeli army.' Indeed, Amir took part in an event in Hebron, an Israeli settlement that is illegal under international law, in 2014. Artists have also referred to his attendance at an evening in support of IDF soldiers, organised by Yoni Chetboun - an MP for the far-right Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home) party. In the wake of Yoa walking away from the festival, two other artists announced that they too were withdrawing from the Francofolies de Spa: Brussels DJ RaQL and activist DJ LibraRomea. Amir's label has denounced "an outpouring of anti-Semitic hatred" and posted its support for the singer on Instagram. As for the organisers of the Francofolies de Spa, interviewed by public service broadcaster for the French-speaking Community of Belgium RTBF, they said they had received "numerous messages calling for Amir to be deprogrammed." "In a dramatic context, it is understandable that citizens and artists should question us about the commitments of an artist on the bill", said the organisers. "We are outraged by the ongoing tragedy in Gaza and deeply shocked by the unacceptable suffering inflicted on the civilian population." However, the festival seems to be maintaining Amir's concert, as they are unable to 'morally assess the entirety of his personal trajectory or access the innermost depths of his convictions'. This comes at a time when tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are regularly overshadowing European music festivals. For instance, this year's Glastonbury festival in the UK courted controversy over sets by Kneecap and Bob Vylan. This led to the BBC (the festival's official broadcaster) facing pressure from the UK government – and ultimately leading to the BBC's director of music having to step down over the scandal. Les Francofolies de Spatakes place in Spa, Belgium, from 17 - 20 July 2025.
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Mado Dynamic Raises Over $300k on Kickstarter, Validating Demand for Smart, Energy-Saving Window Shades
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mado Dynamic, a climate-tech startup reimagining window treatments for the modern home, has successfully concluded its debut Kickstarter campaign with $306,960 raised from 330 backers—828% of its funding goal—in just 37 days. The campaign places Mado in the top 1% of all hardware projects by funds raised, with nearly 1,000 solar-powered, automated window shades pre-sold. For context, VC-backed Peloton raised a similar amount—$307,332 from 297 backers—during its 2013 Kickstarter debut. In a traditionally slow-moving category like window coverings, Mado's early momentum represents a rare breakout moment. Additionally, over 70% of backers expressed intent to purchase additional units for multiple rooms or full-home installations—demonstrating strong early retention potential and deep customer enthusiasm. The Product: A New Standard in Energy-Efficient Comfort Mado's flagship product, the C-Series, blends intelligent automation with clean-sheet design. It features solar-powered motors, adaptive algorithms that respond to changing light and temperature, and a tool-free, drill-free installation that takes minutes—no handyman required. Designed for both renters and homeowners, the system uses ambient sunlight to power itself and automatically adjusts to optimize light, reduce heat gain, and lower HVAC usage up to 20%. 'We're not just selling window shades—we're delivering an instant, intelligent energy retrofit,' said Andrew Einaudi, CEO and co-founder. 'We believe sustainability should be simple, beautiful, and accessible to everyone.' Campaign Highlights: With the campaign now closed, U.S. shipments are set for September 2025, followed by a direct-to-consumer launch and retail rollout later this year. 2026 Global Expansion & Strategic Opportunities Mado will expand internationally in 2026, targeting markets where urban density, rental housing, and climate-forward policy are accelerating demand for retrofit-friendly solutions. The company is fielding active interest from global distributors, architects, energy-efficiency consultants, and developers. 'This is just the start,' said co-founder Michael Brylawski. 'The window is the gateway to every building's energy story. Mado makes it ridiculously easy to install smart, solar-powered shades that save up to 20% on energy bills—with design and simplicity consumers love.' Mado Dynamic is currently seeking strategic partnerships and early-stage investment to support international growth, manufacturing scale-up, and continued product development. Media Contact Brian Jaquet Communications and PR, Mado Dynamic [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mado Dynamic
Associated Press
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Rubens is a titan of Western art. The task of restoring his paintings is equally gigantic
ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — When an iconic painting is in need of restoration, it is usually taken to a studio to be worked on in seclusion. In the case of a massive Peter Paul Rubens masterpiece in the artist's Belgian hometown, the studio had to be taken to the painting. In the largest room of Antwerp's Royal Fine Arts Museum, the restorers have the eyes of visitors on their backs and — sometimes — criticism ringing in their ears. At 6 meters (19.6 feet), the 'Enthroned Madonna Adored by Saints,' a lush swirl of flesh, fabric and drapes, stands taller than an adult giraffe. A team of six restorers is poring over it for a two-year cleanup, which is scheduled to end this fall. Compare that to Rubens himself, who could put paint to canvas on such a massive work in only a few weeks. No wonder such panache, the grand gesture in a simple brushstroke, left all in awe — then and now. Rubens, perhaps Antwerp's most famous son, painted the work in 1628 in the studio of his house in the city. 'It's such a flamboyant painter that, yeah, we love it,' said Ellen Keppens, grasping for the proper effusive words. Together with her twin sister, Jill, Ellen is leading an international team of six women restorers. On a recent morning, they were applying undertones to the Baroque masterpiece, sometimes crawling along the wood-paneled floor to apply a touch here or there. Later, they had to crouch under a metal staircase before heading up to the top corner for another dab of retouching there. Who ever said art restoration was not physical labor? 'Like our colleague says, she's become really good at yoga,' said Keppens of a team member. 'You notice that you can bend in all kind of angles in front of a painting.' When a crick in her neck gets too bad, she can just walk to the computer desk next to the painting for some administrative work. She'd better not look too far to her left down the room known as the Rubens gallery. At the other end stands another iconic work of the master, equally daunting and gigantic, and also badly in need of restoration: 'The Adoration of the Magi.' Koen Bulckens, the curator of the Baroque section at the museum, knows the challenges ahead. 'We will use this studio now for the treatment of this work,' he said, looking at the Madonna, the brightness of the original paint revealed after the painstaking removal of aged varnish. Then, he said, comes 'another work, which is the 'Adoration of the Magi.'' And the clock is ticking. 'The project is set to end in 2027, which will be the 450th anniversary of Rubens' birth. So it will be a jubilee year,' Bulckens said. As with so many centuries-old paintings, the biggest problems are old varnish and bad previous restorations. 'This work was covered by a very exceptionally, I must say, thick and yellow varnish which distorted on the one hand the colors, but on the other hand also the brushwork, which had become impossible to see,' said Bulckens. In addition, two paintings hanging on either side of the Madonna had been cleaned 35 years ago, leaving the Rubens in the middle looking jaundiced. 'It was obvious how yellow it looked. You can play with the museum light to make it a bit bluer, but that was really not a definitive solution,' he said. Removing the varnish, though, left the painted surface with a dull complexion. Restorers working in a studio know the removal is part of the process and the final result will only look more splendid later. At the museum itself, some visitors were convinced the beloved painting was being ruined and, despite the ample 'do not disturb' signs, let their concerns be known. 'Some absolutely we don't realize it. And then they think, like, was it a good idea? Yes, of course it was a good idea,' said Keppens. 'We know what's going to happen next,' once new varnish and touches are applied. 'Sometimes you have a moment to explain to visitors, but often we are just working and, yeah, but then we hear the comments in the background, of course,' Keppens said. Standing up for the master — and for their own work — now comes naturally. After dealing with Rubens, month in and month out, 'he is a very large part of our lives.'
