Latest news with #Tiara
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
6 Niagara hotel restaurants on Canada's top 50 list
Six Niagara dining establishments, including four in Niagara-on-the-Lake, cracked a new top-50 list of best hotel restaurants in Canada. The local restaurants appeared in the inaugural list released by OpenTable and KAYAK this week. The Niagara restaurants are: Where: 3845 Main St., Jordan Village, Lincoln This is a popular spot for weddings that sports a panoramic view of the beautiful Twenty Valley, featuring lush gardens and trees. Located in a boutique hotel in Jordan Village, Inn On The Twenty says it provides a 'handcrafted menu favouring farm-to-table flavours' from the Niagara region. The menu includes seared scallops, pork belly, Arctic char and king oyster mushrooms. Where: Hilton Niagara Falls, 6361 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls Corso, in the Hilton hotel that overlooks Niagara's spectacular falls, features classic Italian dishes such as lasagna and porchetta, along with fusion items such as oxtail ravioli. The restaurant website says 'we savour the stories behind each dish and the regions of Italy from which they originate.' Where: Pillar & Post Inn and Spa, 48 John St., Niagara-on-the-Lake Cannery is within a five-star hotel in a 19th-century building in beautiful Old Town in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The restaurant is well known for its steaks, particularly its rib-eye. There are also chef specialties such as short ribs and swordfish Niçoise, a swordfish salad. Where: Moffat Inn, 60 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake This sushi spot is also located Niagara-on-the-Lake's Old Town and says it uses the finest seafood brought straight from Japan, providing an authentic yet modern Japanese cuisine experience rivalling Sushi restaurants of Tokyo. It has gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, along with classic rolls such as dragon rolls (with shrimp tempura) and spicy salmon rolls. The 'Maki Sushi' menu also includes combos such as lunch specials. Where : The Prince of Wales Hotel, 6 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake Located in Old Town's Prince of Wales Hotel, which describes itself as a 'destination rich with timeless elegance,' The Drawing Room says it can 'bring a little whimsy' to a visit. Guests can partake in a traditional afternoon English tea offerings, with light foods such as finger sandwiches, assorted pastries and homemade scones, served on ornate tea sets amid regal decor that has an 'attention-to-detail that transports you to the Victorian era.' Where: Queen's Landing Hotel, 155 Byron St., Niagara-on-the-Lake Tiara is in the Queen's Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a Georgian mansion that overlooks the Niagara River. Tiara says it offers a five-star 'culinary experience complete with succulent flavours and panoramic views of Niagara-on-the-Lake's harbour' with 'fine dining featuring the best Canadian ingredients, Niagara wines, craft cocktails and local beer.' Other restaurants on the list include Cambridge's Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Toronto's Akira Back, Café Boulud, Clockwork, Joni Restaurant, KŌST, Louix Louis, ONE Restaurant, Reign, The Tea Room — Windsor Arms Hotel and Toca at The Ritz-Carlton. The new rankings are based on data from OpenTable and KAYAK reservations. The OpenTable metrics used data from online reservations from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, and compared those metrics to the previous year. Each hotel restaurant had to have a minimum number of reviews and be present on . These eateries serve great food at prices that won't break the bank. OpenTable data was used to gather info on which diners were also local, versus travelling in the area. According to the data, 61 per cent of the diners were local. KAYAK search data showed its 'restaurant' hotel filter almost doubled within a year, highlighting how travel and dining are becoming increasingly connected. With food being an integral part of the travel experience, it is also no surprise 68 per cent of Canadians would also book the same hotel again because of a positive dining experience in its restaurant. Which could mean there could be a continued trend of more residents and travellers putting Niagara hotels on their list.
Daily Express
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Sabah dancers bring home ballet medals
Published on: Friday, July 18, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 18, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: Farish won second place in Solo National and Folkdance Boys category. Kota Kinabalu: The all-girls team from Ballet By Nora, who represented Malaysia at the Dance World Cup 2025 (DWC2025) in Burgos, Spain, brought home four international medals, making history for Malaysian ballet. Competing in eight categories – six solos, one duet and one group – the dancers earned the followings: Advertisement Silver: Children Solo National & Folklore by Tiara Izz Zayani Silver: Mini Solo Ballet Any Style by Ivana Iman Mohammad Ezral Silver: Children Classical Ballet Duet/Trio En Pointe by Ashlyn Chong & Shanelle Santani Bronze: Group Classical Ballet/Repertoire (Valse Reverie) by Adrea Yu, Faith Kennedy, Ashlyn Chong, Shanelle Santani, and Ivana Iman. Coach Nora Ridzwan praised her students' graceful movements and strong connection on stage. 'Their connection on stage was like poetry, and their hard-work had paid off' she said. Tiara, who previously won gold in the Children's Folklore Trio at the 2024 finals, impressed the crowd with her performance of 'Kreasi Zapin Galit.' Despite dancing in pain, she finished with strength and determination. 'Tiara danced until her nails came off, but she never complained,' said her mother, Tuya, tearfully. 'She told me, 'I just wanted to finish strong.' Ten-year-old Ivana won silver in the Mini Ballet Any Style Solo category, shared that she felt nervous at first, but once she started dancing, she just imagined she was home. She felt proud to be able to dance in international stage. Coach Nora added, 'This double silver means more than just medals. It shows years of hard work, late nights, and strong commitment. Tiara and Ivana have inspired us all.' Ivana's parents, Dr. Natassia and Mr. Mohammad Ezral, said,'We're very proud of Ivana. She danced with joy, and that joy brought her this far. We're also happy to celebrate this moment with Tiara and her family.' These young dancers are now seen as ambassadors for Malaysia, showing the world the beauty of Sabah's culture and talent. Meanwhile, more Sabahan dancers won on the world stage when in the Children's National and Folklore categories, the Parhakow team placed 4th in the world in two events, namely; Small Group National and Folklore (Boya), just 0.1pc behind the 3rd place winner, and Small Duo/Trio National and Folklore (Nyebang). Team member Farish Hail Umar Farruq, 13, won a silver medal in the Solo National and Folkdance Boys category. He was accompanied by his mother, Maria Sularso, who was extremely proud and excited about the team's achievements, even though none won gold. Another Sabahan team from Tawau students brought home bronze, they are two students from SK Muhibbahraya, Tawau also made Sabah proud by winning third place at DWC2025. Muhd Syahmi Asyraf bin Sulaiman and Muhammad Ammar Asyraf bin Mohd Taufik impressed judges with their energetic Zapin performance titled 'Suara Siam.' Their success was guided by teachers Sarena Sanin and Basri Kambung, with support from headmaster Tuan Haji Sapri bin Haji Raupu, who said the win reflects the school's vision to help students succeed internationally. These young dancers competed among 120,000 participants from over 60 countries, proving that Sabahan talent can shine on the global stage. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
LeMonde
07-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Iranian photographer Forough Alaei portrays life during the war: 'Nothing will ever be the same again'
Rarely have photos of daily life in Iran reached us during the 12 days of fighting between Israel and Iran. After authorities in Tehran cut access to the global internet on June 18, only Iranians with VPNs could, with difficulty, contact their loved ones. In this context, the work of Iranian photographer Forough Alaei, 36, documenting her family's flight from the Iranian capital to the shores of the Caspian Sea stands out as unique. Far from the usual images of a population under the grip of the Islamist regime, she offered an intimate and unvarnished portrait, depicting scenes of family life during a pivotal moment in her country's history. On Sunday, June 15, two days after the start of Israeli airstrikes, Forough Alaei left the capital with her family to take shelter at her uncle's home in Abbas Abad, on the Caspian Sea coast. "My sister called, panicking, to warn us that our neighborhood had been hit," the photographer recounted. "The neighbors' windows had shattered. Tiara, my 8-year-old niece, was terrified and couldn't calm down. I told her to pack their things, that we would come pick them up by car to leave Tehran ( … ) I had never seen such traffic jams… Usually, it takes less than four hours to reach the sea; that day, it took us sixteen hours to get there." Forough Alaei and her family remained on the coast for the entire war, moving between her uncle's house in Abbas Abad and her aunt's in Sari, before returning to Tehran. On June 27, three days after the ceasefire, the photographer wrote: "These days, we are torn between two conflicting feelings. On one hand, the desire to return to a normal life and, on the other, anxiety about the future. The only thing we can say for certain is that nothing will ever be the same again."
Borneo Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Sabahans shine at Dance World Cup
Tiara with her coach Arthur. KOTA KINABALU (July 6): Malaysia proudly celebrates a double silver medal victory at the Dance World Cup 2025 in Burgos, Spain – thanks to the remarkable performances of Tiara Izz Zayani and Ivana Iman binti Mohammad Ezral, two young dancers from Ballet By Nora, Kota Kinabalu. Ivana with her coach Nora. These talented young Malaysians earned second place in their respective solo categories, rising above thousands of international competitors and making their mark on the global stage. Tiara, known for her powerful and expressive interpretations of Malaysian traditional dance, brought the house down with her performance of 'Kreasi Zapin Galit'. Dancing through pain, she gave her all on stage: 'Tiara danced until her nails came off — but she never complained,' said her mother, Tuya, visibly emotional. 'She told me later, 'I just wanted to finish strong.' That's her strength — heart, discipline, and quiet courage.' Ivana, age 10, earned silver in the Mini Ballet Any Style Solo category. 'I felt nervous at first, but once I started dancing, I just imagined I was home. I'm so happy I could make everyone proud,' she said. Their teacher and mentor, Nora of Ballet By Nora, expressed her pride in both girls. 'This double silver is more than a medal. It's the result of years of discipline, late nights and unwavering commitment. I'm honoured to guide them. Tiara and Ivana have inspired all of us,'she said. Ivana's parents, Dr Natassia and Mohammad Ezral , added: 'We're humbled by Ivana's achievement. She danced with joy, and that joy brought her here. We're just so proud — and even more proud to share this celebration with Tiara and her family.' These two dancers stand as young ambassadors for Malaysia, showing the world the strength, artistry and cultural beauty that lives in Sabah. The Dance World Cup 2025 continues, with more Malaysian dancers taking the stage in the days ahead. Meanwhile, SK Muhibbahraya students from Tawau also put Sabah in the eyes of the world when they won third place in the same competition. The young dance duo — Muhd Syahmi Asyraf bin Sulaiman and Muhammad Ammar Asyraf bin Mohd Taufik — captivated judges and audiences with their energetic and disciplined Zapin performance titled 'Suara Siam. 'Their success is the result of dedicated coaching and mentorship by their teachers, Sarena Sanin (Senior Assistant for Student Affairs) and Basri Kambung (Senior Assistant for Co-curricular Activities). Upholding the school's motto, 'SK Muhibbahraya Unggul, Melangkah Jauh dari yang Biasa' (SK Muhibbahraya Excels, Moving Beyond the Ordinary), this team has proven that young talent from Sabah can not only compete but excel on the world stage. This achievement is a reflection of the vision of Tuan Haji Sapri bin Haji Raupu, headmaster of SK Muhibbahraya, Tawau, who has long aspired to see his students succeed internationally. Their accomplishment not only brings honour to the school and local community but also serves as an inspiration for students across the country to pursue their dreams with dedication and determination.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Arts can drive Malaysia's progress with collective support, say industry leaders
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's rich and diverse arts have the potential to drive both economic and social progress, but only with the support of all stakeholders, according to leading figures in the local arts industry. Award-winning producer and director Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina Eu Effendi noted that local leaders have become disconnected from the vital role art can play in nation-building, focusing solely on its financial benefits. She pointed out that having a creative idea alone is no longer sufficient for potential artists. Increasingly complicated demands from stakeholders are hindering the creative process, making it difficult for new artists to succeed. Such demands include optimising airtime and heavily pushing for media publicity to increase profitability, instead of focusing on the creative value of an idea itself, Tiara said. "Art is not just a business for providing entertainment but a platform to create meaning and our national identity, shaping how people feel, remember, and connect with Malaysia. "If we want the arts to thrive, we need to recognise it as a key part of our national development, which can serve as a catalyst for driving unity and innovation," she said during a Merdeka Award Talk Series panel discussion on Wednesday (July 7). To achieve this, she said, it requires everyone, including the artists themselves, to support the art sector. "Artists must lead with truth in their works and not mislead the people, while business leaders must invest in art with a vision of how they want our country to be. "Policymakers must strive to build systems that allow arts to flourish without being tied down by red tape, and the people must show support for local artists whenever possible," she added. She also stressed that this widespread support must be maintained to ensure sustainable success, as reigniting a completely dead art sector would be nearly impossible. Legendary choreographer and Indian classical dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim urged fellow artists to focus on their art's ability to invoke societal change instead of profits. "Truly successful art is not only about profits generated or how many people view your art on social media, but on how it benefits the nation and the people. "We must remember that our arts and culture define our national human development and distinguish us as a civilization," he said during the panel discussion. Ramli also criticised those who use Malaysia's unique cultural diversity in arts to stoke conflict, adding that the disconnect between artists, academia, and bureaucrats has worsened recently. He said this had led to many becoming desensitised to the arts. Renowned Malaysian designer Datuk Seri Bernard Chandran encouraged budding artists in the industry to lead by example through creative consistency. "Creativity is all about problem solving, and if you're passionate about something, the freedom of creative arts will allow you to showcase that as long as you try. "No matter what, being consistent with your creative style will be the most important trait to have above all else if you want to succeed, as eventually your time will come," he said in the panel discussion. Themed "Profit Meets Performance: When Arts Means Business," the first Merdeka Award Talk Series 2025 focused on how creativity drives commerce and how arts can thrive as a sustainable, impactful industry. The event brought together over 200 key stakeholders in the art sector, including arts practitioners, business leaders, government representatives, corporate foundations, and many others.
