TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014
lifestyle
F E A T U R E S
Cuba’s classic cars
Tourists ride in a classic American car on the Malecon in Havana, Cuba.
A man drives a classic American car after exhibition of antique classic cars. — AP photos
New gloss on
W
Photo shows a man cleans his American classic car
before going to work in Havana, Cuba.
An American classic car is reflected in a mirror.
A man drives a
classic American car
on The Malecon in
Havana.
A group of men work together to repair a classic
American car.
Yoandi Failu, 34, repairs coil spring of a classic
American car in Havana, Cuba.
Tourists ride in a classic American car on the Malecon in Havana.
hen Martin Viera’s Chevrolet
rolled out of the dealer’s lot,
Harry Truman was president
of the United States, gasoline cost 27
cents a gallon and a 24-year-old lefty
named Tommy Lasorda was pitching
for Almendares in the Cuban winter
baseball league. That world is long
gone, but the Chevy’s still running on
the streets of Havana - part of a fleet
of classic cars that have become an
icon of tourism in the socialist nation.
For decades, the cars slowly
decayed. But officials in recent years
have eased state control over the
economy by allowing limited selfemployment. So those lucky enough
to have a pre-revolutionary car can
earn money legally by ferrying
tourists - or Cubans celebrating weddings - along Havana’s waterfront
Malecon boulevard. That’s allowed
many to paint and polish their aging
vehicles. Viera’s 1951 Chevrolet and
Osmani Rodriguez’s 1954 Ford are
now part of Havana’s tourist draw.
Rodriguez, who has three daughters, said the opening to self-employment “was a great benefit for me. I
bought an apartment to live in and
really it improved my standard of living a lot.” The cars may gleam on the
outside, but they’re often battered,
rolling monuments to ingenuity
within. People like Yoandri Failu fabricate parts in crude workshops. Many
scavenge parts, particularly engines,
from Soviet-era cars and trucks.
While the US embargo that took
effect in 1961 stopped the flow of
new cars, and most parts, a few
Cubans now manage to bring in
replacement parts when friends or
family visit from the US. —AP
‘Make Meaning’
opens first international store
in Kuwait’s 360 Mall
T
he first Make Meaning store outside of the
United States was launched in Kuwait at
the 360 Mall, level 3 on October 14th 2014.
Make Meaning is a world-class events and family
entertainment destination that is all about fun
with creativity. A variety of hands on creativity
activities provide an unforgettable outing filled
with fun and creativity for kids and adults of all
ages.
At Make Meaning, guests can choose from an
interactive activity wall featuring Glass Making,
Candle Making, Plaster Painting, Soap Making or
Ceramics Painting. Make Meaning’s highly
trained staff will assist guests to bring their creative vision to life resulting in a fantastic piece to
bring home.
The Make Meaning store was launched by
the US Ambassador to Kuwait Douglas Alan
Silliman who expressed his happiness to witness
this store opening in Kuwait. The launching ceremony was also attended by Ahmad Al-Osaimi,
CEO of Tamdeen Entertainment Company,
Melody Conwell, VP of International for Make
Meaning, Buck Hendrix Executive Vice President
of Make Meaning and others.
Ahmad Al-Osaimi welcomed the guests and
invited them to try the amazing entertaining
experiences. “Just bring your imagination, and
we’ll handle the rest. Walk in and choose from a
wide assortment of creative activities for the
whole family or work with our experienced
events team to plan the perfect party or event
for your friends, family or colleagues,” he said
during the launching ceremony.
Make Meaning and Tamdeen Entertainment
Company have foraged a partnership to expand
the brand into the MENA region starting with
Kuwait. “We are proud to bring this great experience for people in Kuwait and the region. When
you arrive, our staff will help you choose from a
wide variety of activities. Our prices include
everything you need to let your imagination run
wild and make something amazing,” added AlOsaimi.
He also said that the Make Meaning store has
much more to offer. “For those who are planning
a party, we have that covered too. From unique
birthday parties for all ages, corporate team
building events and much more the Make
Meaning team will customize your event to any
size and budget and take care of all the details
to provide a spectacular and unforgettable
event for any occasion,” concluded Al-Osaimi.
Alan Silliman noted that he is pleased to
inaugurate this great event. “Make Meaning is a
very popular and successful store in the United
States as the provided activities combine education and entertainment for all ages. The whole
family can enjoy having fun and expressing creativity all in one place. The variety of materials
provided at this store offers something for
everyone.
Make Meaning’s flagship store in Kuwait
boasts 112 seats for walk-in activities, two large
private party rooms, a VIP lounge, and an instore cafÈ. Other locations are planned to open
soon throughout the region through Make
Meaning’s franchise program.