Latest news with #TheLoft
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Wish List: Eight ideas to treat ourselves and loved ones
3D Maps Father's Day is coming up, and if you're on the hunt for something a little different for any sea-loving dads, Sligo-based Outcrop have nailed it. Their beautifully crafted round wooden 3D maps (€99) are the kind of gift that ticks all the boxes — personal, Irish-made, and eco-conscious. You can even mark a meaningful spot with a solid brass pin or add a custom engraving. We love the Atlantic blue stain (a nod to their coastal roots), and the new natural finish is just lovely. Made without glue or nails and fully compostable — how sound is that? Browse over 100 Irish locations at or check them out at stockists like Foxford Woollen Mills, The Loft in Clonakilty, or Krafted in Wexford. Street Carnival Mark your diaries: The brilliant Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival is back on Saturday, June 14, and fitness expert Karl Henry has already cut the ribbon. It's one of West Cork's happiest days out — think street food, music, colour, and serious summer vibes. Pearse Street transforms into one long open-air dining room, with top-notch dishes from local chefs (everything from spicy Indian to seafood feasts). Non-food activities are free, but grab meal tickets early from O'Donovan's Hotel or Fuchsia Footwear. Hungry birds Got a dad who loves his garden birdies? FieldDay's bamboo bird feeder could be a sweet little gift. It's part of their expanded collection, which now includes reusable stoneware candle pots and refill packs — great for repurposing and easy on the planet. This bird feeder, along with their wild bird seed, is a gentle reminder to enjoy the outdoors. Find them at and in stores like Avoca, Meadows & Byrne, and Blarney Woollen Mills. Bagged Beach days are back, and we spotted the perfect bag in Clonakilty: The Venice from Burke by Design — fully lined, zipped, with handy internal pockets, and just €39.95. It comes in black, brown, cream and gold, and honestly, it looks far more expensive. Pam's shop is a real treasure trove — think baby gifts, homeware, jewellery (Ania Haie, Ted Baker, Chlobo), and even bespoke wardrobe styling. You'll find them on Instagram @burkebydesign or at Or just pop in if you're in town — it's that kind of place. New tastes I had planned to include Keogh's new crisps in our Tried & Tested spot... but they vanished before I got the chance (thanks, family, ye hounds). Their Ghost Chilli & Sour Cream flavour launched at Bloom, and apparently, it's hot, hot, hot — but it is balanced beautifully by that cool tang. They're €2.89 a bag and available from June in stores and You've been warned! Time to cleanse One thing I did get to try is the new Rosalique cleanser and night cream. I'm a long-time fan of their three-in-one anti-redness cream, and the balm cleanser (€34.95) is gorgeously gentle — and it also doubles as a mask. The night cream left my skin calm, happy, and totally unbothered. Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and available from pharmacies or Organic beauty Beauty lovers take note: Innersense Organic Beauty has landed in Ireland. If you're into clean, conscious self-care, this California brand ticks every box — high performance, sustainable, and transparent. Prices range from €28-€70 and it's all available via The story behind it is special too, rooted in family, care, and making better choices. Cork pride Oh and before I forget, we had to include Jando's 'Everything Is Better In…' print series. It's a colourful, county-pride collection of riso prints that's perfect for GAA-loving dads or anyone missing home. Naturally, we went for Cork. Up the Rebels! Available in Irish and English, €30 unframed, €70 framed, at
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Akina Contemporary Asian Experience in Hyderabad has an exciting Asian menu
Terraces are great places for get togethers. So when Akina Contemporary Asian Experience from Mumbai decided to launch in Hyderabad, the chosen location was the terrace of The Loft building near HITEC City. The spot seemed ideal to stay true to the party mood. The play of light just as you enter Akina calls for some photographs. Natural light streams through the glass panelled roofs and complements the earthy elements of the decor. Cane chairs, wicker lamp shades, and ornamental grass bloom add charm. Akina is not all in tones of the earth; the green comes from healthy houseplants. In Hyderabad, the vibe and the menu of Akina is designed to represent 'all'. The restaurant's philosophy is inclined towards offering an immersive experience, bringing together contemporary Asian cuisine and cinematic storytelling. The digital menu lists everything neatly under sections. Akina does not serve favourites such as biryani, pulusu, 'manchurian' or makhani gravies with a modern take. Dimsums rule, so does nigiri, sushi and vibrant cold plates. But first a picante. On a balmy afternoon, picante turned out to be a good choice. Then came the Amma's mango-avocado ceviche — avocado's creaminess meets sweet, tangy mango with a hot after taste. From texture to flavours, a well thought out idea. Then came the cold soba noodle salad that changed my view of soba noodles. I always regarded soba noodles as tasteless and stiff. This salad is a mix of soba with kataiffi, cream cheese and finished with fried garlic chips. Every spoonful is a delight. The menu includes striking robata grills. So while I waited for my Balinese chicken wings, chicken Tsukune Anticuchos and tiger prawns in chipotle butter, burnt lemon and micro coriander, I tasted the Akina Spicy Crispy Maki Roll, which comes with stuffed chilli, tempura flakes, citrus cream cheese, chipotle, cucumber, spicy chicken dimsum and chicken and prawn sui mai. Dimsums were bite-sized delights that left no room for complaint. The local touch to the menu comes in the form of Kyoto karam podi, Vantimamidi beets, Mirpakaya tempura, Krishna river prawns and Chevella baby corn. The eatery's Asian menu is pretty strong and since everything worked, the chef suggested I try one of his choices for the main course — Akina fried rice with chicken and prawns with Mongolian cumin and red chilli chicken. While the rice was good to go by itself, the Mongolian xumin and red chilli chicken did not meet the hype. In the meantime, the selection from the robata grills arrived. It disappeared sooner than it arrived. The flavours were fresh and not limited to soya and garlic. It was hot and ended on a fine sweet note. What will I repeat at Akina? Amma's mango-avocado ceviche, the soba noodle salad and the dimsums.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Virgin Atlantic celebrates one month of nonstop service between London and Riyadh
Saudi Arabia - Just one month since its inaugural flight, Virgin Atlantic's new daily route between London Heathrow and Riyadh is already proving to be a game-changer — connecting two global capitals through premium service, strategic alliances, and growing travel demand. Launched on 30 March 2025, the nonstop service reflects Virgin Atlantic's bold expansion into the Saudi market, and the response has been nothing short of remarkable. 'The launch of our Riyadh service has exceeded expectations,' said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. 'We're seeing strong momentum across business, leisure, and family travel — testament to the appetite for connectivity between the UK and the Kingdom.' The route has quickly become a cornerstone in Virgin Atlantic's broader regional strategy. Early indicators showed around 80 percent point-of-sale from Saudi Arabia, with high demand from premium business travelers and a notable increase in VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic. The aircraft of choice is the A330neo, offering Virgin's signature Retreat Suite, The Loft social space, and full onboard Wi-Fi — all tailored with Arabic-language entertainment, Halal dining, and culturally trained crew to meet the needs of Saudi guests. Beyond passenger traffic, the route is also serving as a vital cargo corridor, supporting up to 30 tons of freight per flight. Demand is booming in sectors like pharmaceuticals, perishables, and e-commerce, further solidifying Riyadh's role as a logistics hub. Strategic partnerships are another key success driver. The new route strengthens Virgin Atlantic's SkyTeam alliance, particularly through its codeshare with Saudia, and opens doors to regional travel. A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with Riyadh Air sets the stage for a deeper collaboration, focused on future connectivity and joint growth. Looking ahead, the 7:00 AM arrival into Heathrow provides seamless onward connections to 12 major U.S. cities and beyond, placing Riyadh at the center of a growing transatlantic network. For Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, this route marks more than just a successful business move — it represents the next chapter in Virgin's Saudi story. 'With Virgin Mobile and Virgin Megastore already here, this new flight connects the Kingdom to our wider world of innovation and customer delight,' he said. 'This isn't just about flying — it's about building bridges between cultures, people, and opportunities.' Virgin Atlantic's Riyadh launch underscores a clear promise: to deliver an experience that's premium, thoughtful, and refreshingly different. As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its global reach, Virgin is proud to be part of that journey—airborne and invested for the long term. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saudi Gazette
27-04-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Virgin Atlantic celebrates one month of nonstop service between London and Riyadh
Just one month since its inaugural flight, Virgin Atlantic's new daily route between London Heathrow and Riyadh is already proving to be a game-changer — connecting two global capitals through premium service, strategic alliances, and growing travel demand. Launched on 30 March 2025, the nonstop service reflects Virgin Atlantic's bold expansion into the Saudi market, and the response has been nothing short of remarkable. 'The launch of our Riyadh service has exceeded expectations,' said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. 'We're seeing strong momentum across business, leisure, and family travel — testament to the appetite for connectivity between the UK and the Kingdom.' The route has quickly become a cornerstone in Virgin Atlantic's broader regional strategy. Early indicators showed around 80 percent point-of-sale from Saudi Arabia, with high demand from premium business travelers and a notable increase in VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic. The aircraft of choice is the A330neo, offering Virgin's signature Retreat Suite, The Loft social space, and full onboard Wi-Fi — all tailored with Arabic-language entertainment, Halal dining, and culturally trained crew to meet the needs of Saudi guests. Beyond passenger traffic, the route is also serving as a vital cargo corridor, supporting up to 30 tons of freight per flight. Demand is booming in sectors like pharmaceuticals, perishables, and e-commerce, further solidifying Riyadh's role as a logistics hub. Strategic partnerships are another key success driver. The new route strengthens Virgin Atlantic's SkyTeam alliance, particularly through its codeshare with Saudia, and opens doors to regional travel. A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with Riyadh Air sets the stage for a deeper collaboration, focused on future connectivity and joint growth. Looking ahead, the 7:00 AM arrival into Heathrow provides seamless onward connections to 12 major U.S. cities and beyond, placing Riyadh at the center of a growing transatlantic network. For Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, this route marks more than just a successful business move — it represents the next chapter in Virgin's Saudi story. 'With Virgin Mobile and Virgin Megastore already here, this new flight connects the Kingdom to our wider world of innovation and customer delight,' he said. 'This isn't just about flying — it's about building bridges between cultures, people, and opportunities.' Virgin Atlantic's Riyadh launch underscores a clear promise: to deliver an experience that's premium, thoughtful, and refreshingly different. As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its global reach, Virgin is proud to be part of that journey—airborne and invested for the long term.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans at Lewis County Lincoln Day Dinner urged to get involved
Apr. 14—The Lewis County Republican Party on Saturday, April 12, hosted its annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser and auction at The Loft in downtown Chehalis. The event, which opened its doors at 5 p.m., featured keynote speaker state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, who is also the chair of the Washington state GOP, preceded by shorter presentations from Lewis County Republican Party Chair Mitch Townsend and Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer. The theme of the night was the state of the union, with speakers presenting on the Lewis County Republican Party, Lewis County government and state government. Alive 85 radio personality and Elvis impersonator Steve Unger emceed the event, which also featured live music by Chris Guenther. Before the speakers took the stage, the event began with a prayer from Frank Corbin, the pledge of allegiance led by Ron Averill and the national anthem performed by Dawn Miles. Local elected officials such as Washington state Senate Minority Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Lewis County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock also attended the event, among many other local Republicans. Townsend was the first to speak and presented current priorities for the Lewis County Republican Party focused on four main points: modernization, accountability, transparency and leadership development. As part of his goal to develop leaders, Townsend suggested the party invest in young leaders and support fledgling politicians in local races. In the same breath, he emphasized the importance of upcoming local elections for city councils and school boards, urging attendees to get involved. "Our kids are our future. We need to get involved in their education," said Townsend, who also serves on the Mossyrock School Board. "In order to perfect that and to counteract the teachers union we need good conservatives on the school boards. That means you folks." Brummer, filling in for fellow Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope, took the stage next presenting on the current state of the county. He focused on the county's commitment to conservative values and the recent budget season, which posed serious financial challenges for the county. Among those challenges, Brummer listed stagnant tax revenues and the financial burden of state mandates. The county faced a projected budget shortfall of roughly $5 million when planning for the 2025 budget at the end of last year. In order to balance the budget, the local government cut staffing and took a significant property tax revenue increase for the first time in recent years. "We have made tough decisions. We have (cut) our staff. Some services are not there to be provided, but we have done that so that we are not taking more than is what's absolutely necessary out of your pocket," Brummer said. During the event's keynote speech, Walsh took the stage to talk about the 2025 Washington legislative session, likening state Republicans in the Legislature to a hockey team playing defense while outnumbered. "It's a battle, and we measure most of our successes in defensive terms," Walsh said. "It's the bad tax we knocked down. It's the bad anti-parent bill we knocked down. It's the bad school break that we knocked down." He first presented concerns with the integrity of Washington state elections and parental rights, which has been a hot topic during this year's legislative session after a voter initiative, I-2081, deemed the "Parents Bill of Rights," was passed into law last year. At the same time, Walsh praised a recent executive order from President Donald Trump that would require documented proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, in order to register to vote. "I believe that when we implement this executive order out of D.C., we will solve the biggest single part of our election troubles here," Walsh said. "Our long term goal is to get back to in-person, same-day voting." That executive order was signed by Trump in late March and faced immediate legal challenges. The Washington Attorney General's Office recently filed a lawsuit in tandem with the state of Oregon challenging the executive order as unconstitutional, claiming that it violates the rights of states to set their own rules on how to conduct elections. Walsh also took the chance to critique Washington Democrats for a bill making its way through the Legislature that would make changes to the Parents Bill of Rights. Democrats have pitched Senate Bill 5181 as a cleanup bill that will make tweaks to the recent vote initiative in order to put it in line with state and federal law, but state Republicans have firmly opposed it. The bill passed the state Senate along party lines in February. In his closing remarks, Walsh echoed a message from Townsend earlier in the night urging locals to get involved in local government and emphasizing the importance of running for local school board seats. "This year, it's a lot of city council races, it's a lot of mayor races, and Mitch said it, a lot of school board races," Walsh said. "Please know this, getting good people elected to school boards is the most important thing you can do right now." Learn more about the Lewis County Republican Party at
