Announcements for Events, Concerts and Shows

3rd Chiang Mai Mardi Gras street festivities will be on from February 12 - 15. It will be held along Changklan Road at the Night Bazaar, where food, drinks and entertainment are available between 6 p.m. to midnight. Apart from the street carnival, there will be a Mardi Gras parade on February 11 at 3.p.m.

‘Identities versus Globalisation’, Southeast Asian Art Exhibition, from February 7-29 at CMU Art Museum. Modern art from 60 ambitious artists from 10 Asian countries, organized by The Heinrich Boell Foundation. (See article in this week’s paper.)

La Cigale Children Choir will perform at Kad Suan Keow Theatre on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p. m. Tickets are priced at 50 baht and can be bought at the information counter.

FERC (Foundation for the Education of Rural Children) will hold its fifth Gala Dinner on Saturday, February 28, at Le Grand Lanna, soon to be the new Chiang Mai Mandarin Oriental. Dinner and dance for the price of 1,500 baht p.p., and with the assurance that you will be helping to fulfill the 2004 project: the building of a library/study center in Mae Sariang District. Tickets can be purchased at Amari Rincome (guest relation desk), FERC committee members or at the Chiangmai Mail office (Marion 053 234 102).

4th ‘Jed Yod Group’ Art Exhibition at Gong Dee Gallery by art instructors of the faculty of Fine Art, Rajamangala Institute of technology Northern Campus Chiang Mai. Daily from February 2 – 28 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Soi Nimmanhaemin.

Photo exhibition at ‘The House Gallery’ (199 Moonmuang Rd.) from photographer Tirawat Sangphueng called ‘Rustic’. Open daily except Sundays. Tel. 053 419 011.

Solo Exhibition by Jittiwut Sriyang at Umong Sippadhamma, near Wat Umong during January and February 2004.

Every Saturday, San Kamphaeng District Shopping Street, ongoing event until February 21. The event features Thai northern handicrafts. On February 14, Valentines Day, beauty products from Thai herbs will be displayed. On February 21, the last day of the event, handicrafts will be on display. San Kamphaeng District Office, the venue of the event, is located at the 14th - 15th km of the Chiang Mai – San Kamphaeng Road, opposite YMCA Crafts. As the event area covers much ground, for ease of travel, visitors are offered several shuttle service options consisting of transfers to and from the event venue, as well as tours of the festival highlights, by motorcycle, mini-tram, electric carts, traditional horse-drawn carriage or trishaw.

INTG: The next meeting of the Informal Northern Thai Group is Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Alliance Fran็aise Chiang Mai. Everybody is welcome. The speaker for this INTG talk will be: Dr. B้n้dicte Brac de la Perri่re: “Possession Rituals in Burma” and on Tuesday, March 9: Reinhard Hohler will talk about his “Mekong Expedition 2002 in perspective.”

Clubs 

Lucky Dogs Club Chiang Mai needs volunteers (students are welcome!).

More information at 053 342 362 or 09 997 8146.

Good Life - a new tea shop on the premises of the Sheraton Hotel has opened to sell over 60 different kinds of herbal tea which you can test from Monday to Friday. Different herbal products for sale as well.

If you have a passion for making movies using film or video, and are looking for others who have similar interest - then ‘IndieClub’ is the community for you. Whether your interests lie in acting, directing, producing, writing, lighting or any other skill that is associated with making great film or video, join for free. Need more info about the Chiang Mai ‘IndieClub’? Email: [email protected] loxinfo.co.th

Cocktails & Sundowners

A new meeting point has opened in town: Rydges Hotel has opened its new Lobby Bar! Happy Hours from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m.! Meet your friends and business partners and enjoy a drink and a snack. Free car park available.

The Meeting Place is a new ‘watering hole’ for after shopping. Cool off and drop by for a chat or a drink. Just behind Rimping store on the left.

The Bears Den has a new ‘early bird happy hours buffet’ from Monday - Thursday 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thai & international buffet, all you can eat! 99 baht adults / 49 baht children.

Dining

Amari Rincome’s food promotion for the month of February is: “Asian Reflections - a fusion of East-West cuisine”. A fusion menu could be, for example, something like this: asparagus-sesame crusted salmon, asparagus vinaigrette and wasabi cream, followed by grilled Australian fillet of beef on soft coriander-whipped polenta with roasted shallots, pinot noir reduction and a crisp parmesan tuile and as a dessert, caramelized banana tart with frozen star anise souffl้, banana caramel sauce and chocolate ice cream.

Amazing Sandwich, ‘a shady island in a sea of rice’ Deli Restaurant and Takeaway, between Thai Airways Office and Vista Hotel can also deliver to your door for orders over 350 baht. Lunchtime orders for delivery have to be faxed in no later than 10.30 a.m. Please phone after faxing to check if your order has been received. Tel/Fax: 053 218 846.

‘Follow the Bear’ to the Bears Den, where they offer a Sunday roast set lunch with soup-starter, roast of the week (lamb, beef, pork or chicken), roasted or mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, gravy and of course dessert for only 370 baht while sitting overlooking the river. Bookings at 053 260 404.

Chez Gibus Grill House Restaurant offers a Valentine Cous Cous Night and free desert for every couple on February 14. Otherwise the daily BBQ, salads & french-fries buffet is still on except Sundays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. All you can eat for only 199 baht. 42 Kampeangdin Road. Table reservations at tel. 053 272 712.

The Rydges Chiang Mai offers Sunday Family Brunch with Thai specialties and a variety of international, mouth-watering highlights. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Chillies Restaurant. Special children’s buffet and kindergarten with somebody to look after the kids so that parents can eat in peace. Rydges Beer Garden is now open from 5 p.m. – midnight, Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. - buy 1, get 1 free (glass of beer or jug), snacks and special dishes only 40 baht net per serving, BBQ and suckling pig every Sunday, freestyle live music with female singer. Parking available at the hotel. Table reservations at 053 251 531.

Kurt’s Restaurant will soon start showing Formula 1 races again in the restaurant at Anusorn market.

Education

Childbirth Preparation Classes - Especially for first time parents who are interested in the Bradley method, Juanita Duong, Diane Smith and Lori Rowe work together to teach a series of two 2-hour classes that will help prepare a couple for the birth of their baby. After the birth, one of these nurses will also do a follow-up visit to answer any newborn questions as well as assist with breast-feeding if needed. Contact Raintree Community Resource Center (053-262-660) if you are interested in the classes, which are offered free of charge.

The Plearn Center for Language, Art and Culture is now open. ‘Little Chef’ program for children, language lessons for kids and adults and much more. For more information call 053 247 800.

Entertainment

Saturday Jazz at the Amari Rincome Hotel - each Saturday at 6:30 - 10 p.m., La Gritta Restaurant at the Amari Rincome Hotel, Chiang Mai arranges a live jazz performance by Daeng Fantastic team of four. Listen to jazz favorites down the years, and enjoy a specialty theme buffet created by expert chef, Adrian O’Herlihy.

CMU Art Museum is showing free classic movies every Sunday from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Feb 15: The long walk home (1989) /USA- Director Richard Pearce. Feb 22: Calmi Cuori Appassionati (2001) /-Japan- Romantic movie playing in Italy and Japan. Feb 29: Gobbeh (1996)/-Iran- Beautiful fairytale of life and love telling the story of a nomadic couple and a young woman who emerges from a carpet. Won numerous awards.

Events

Consumer Fair at Central Airport Plaza from February 13 – February 15. Phuket Air offering special privileges to shoppers who buy air tickets during the fair. The offers are as follows: 1) Buy one get one free for Chiangmai-Chiang Rai, 2) Buy one way, get free return for Chiangmai-Udon Thani and Chiang Rai-Udon Thani.

Promotions

Ginger Shop 1 (Soi Loi Kroh) and 2 in the garden of The House Restaurant & Tapas Bar have great Valentine presents for your sweetheart. Fashion, jewelry and all these things you never know you needed until you see it. Big sale on accessories. Open daily except Sunday.

Services

Raintree Resource Centre - located just east of the Nawarat Bridge. Free booklet: “Helpful Hints for getting settled in Chiang Mai”. Open Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. - noon and Sundays 4 - 4.45p.m. (Closed on Wednesdays). Free library membership with more than 600 videos and 5,000 English books available. Info-line 053-262660. Movie-line 053-262661, e-mail: raintree @cmc church.org

The Phamai Clinic, a governmental organization in Chiang Mai treats people who have problem with alcohol, smoking and drugs of any kind. Files are confidential! Call 053 226 135 or e-mail for more information: [email protected] hotmail.com

Looking for a wheelchair? Hopefully not! But many poor disabled children in Chiangmai area. So why not donate one for only 7,000 baht? Visit the Freedom Wheelchair Workshop across from the Chiangmai Disabled Center, 133/1 Rajapakinai Road, Chiang Mai (near Thapae Gate).

Laundry and Internet service, traditional Thai massage, Thai language courses. You find it all at the Chiangmai Disabled Center, 133/1 Rajapakinai Road, Chiangmai (near Thapae Gate).