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Served in The Tee Lounge and Blades Restaurant, Four Seasons’s Iftar buffet comprises an expansive selection of traditional Arabic dishes and beverages, alongside a myriad of international items.

A variety of succulent dates, refreshing regional juices like amar dain, erek-sous and karkadaih along with Ramadan soups from the cauldron will welcome guests on arrival. Dishes will be offered at various food stations offering guests a varied and eclectic choice, starting with cold or hot mezze including babaganoush, zaatar labneh, spinach sambousk and lamb kebbeh.

A salad corner features marinated asparagus and grilled halloumi or sumac marinated hammour, while the global hot buffet includes foul medamas from a copper pot with tasty accoutrements, roasted lamb ouzi, shawarma and a live Arabic grill. Diners will also delight in the woks of Asia corner and steaming dishes like lamb stew with okra, chicken casserole and vermicelli rice.

The all-inclusive Iftar rounds out with dry fruits and nuts, Ramadan sweets and desserts such as rich and creamy katayef asafiri, popular um ali as well as a Western-influenced selection of chocolate brownies and raspberry macaroons.

For those who want to enjoy a later meal, an a la carte Sahour menu will be available from 8pm until 2am, served in The Tee Lounge or on the terrace of Blades Restaurant.

The Sahour menu also takes its cue from the broad range of flavours from the Middle East and beyond. Guests can leisurely dine on Arabic favourites from waraq inab and manakish to kebab kashash and shish taouq, and end the evening with a selection of delicious local sweets.

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Of course you know, this means war. Well, it did back in the mid-1700’s when France and Britain were fighting over North America, which is also why the Fortress of Louisbourg was built.

The Feast And The Fury, a new dinner theatre production scheduled for presentation this summer at the Louisbourg Playhouse and at the national historic site itself plunges its audience into daily life at the Fortress during a time of conflict.

“Canso has been captured and French privateers are out hinting British vessels,” Bev Brett, the writer and director of the show, says about its premise, “The audience becomes a group of prisoners who have been taken to the Fortress to be fed and entertained, in this case, to a traditional 25 course Ambigu meal.”

The Feast And The Fury grew out of a series of “mini-plays” Brett was commissioned to write three years ago.

With the sponsorship of the Fortress of Louisbourg Association, Brett re-wrote her earlier work into its present format.

“The Fortress was really helpful in making this play happen,” Brett notes, “They found us a big open warehouse where people can see the play more comfortably.”

Brett says the show is based on actual historical figures from all levels of Louisbourg society and uses a variety of theatre styles from “comedy to high drama to farce and melodrama.

Even a piece that started off as a puppet show, about two characters trying to find who is the most important person in Louisbourg, that we now do with real people.”

“We hope the audience will be drawn into the history through their emotions as they care about these people and what happens to them,” Brett explains.

“We have a cast of six actors, some of the finest on the island, who play 20 characters, and it’s a fast paced show so they’re jumping in and out of different costumes all the time,” Brett says.

The cast includes Joanne Donovan, George MacKenzie, Jeanne Matthews, Nick Sobol, James F. W. Thompson, and Lindsay Thompson.

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Game 1 of the Lone Star Series went to the Texas Rangers on Friday night, and Round 1 of the Lance Berkman-Josh Hamilton showdown decisively went to the Rangers’ center fielder.

Hamilton had the best game of his brief big-league career, going 5-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI as the Rangers outlasted Houston 16-8 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

His bat was the biggest on a night when the Rangers had a season high in runs, had a season-best six homers among 17 hits and were the beneficiaries of five Astros errors and seven unearned runs before a crowd of 32,117.

Much of the talk afterward, though, was about Hamilton.

“He’s incredible,” right fielder David Murphy said. “You saw pretty much everything he can do tonight. I think it’s not a stretch to say he’s one of the best players in baseball.”

Hamilton, the AL’s player of the month in April, had career highs in hits and RBI, and his two home runs traveled an estimated 866 feet. He also made a nifty catch to end the fourth inning.

He has 10 homers and 49 RBI, which leads the majors. He has an AL-best 103 total bases, 13 of which came Friday. He’s the first Rangers’ player to have 13 in a game since Juan Gonzalez in 1999.

“That is how you play the game right there,” said Hamilton, who is hitting .314. “Some days you want to strangle people when you might not be doing so well. Then, you have games like that.”

Murphy got the Rangers going with a two-out RBI single in a three-run first. After the Astros scored two in the second, Hamilton hit a solo shot over the Rangers’ bullpen in the third that went an estimated 415 feet.

The Rangers scored four more in the fourth. The first came on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia homer, which traveled 440 feet. Hamilton followed soon after with his second, a three-run shot that went 451 feet.

“I said right before I went up, ‘I better hit one a little bit farther or he’s going to be ragging me all night,’” Hamilton said. “I got one.”

The Rangers were up 8-2, but Houston responded with five runs in the fifth. Nine Astros batted, and the inning ended only when Carlos Lee was thrown out at home as the potential tying run.

Berkman had a single off the leg of Sidney Ponson during the rally and finished 2-for-4.

Houston tied the game in the sixth, but the Rangers claimed the lead in the seventh thanks to Ian Kinsler.

He walked, stole second, and scored the go-ahead run on a disputed play after a Michael Young single. Replays showed that Kinsler was safe at home, but Astros manager Cecil Cooper argued and was ejected by first-base umpire Angel Hernandez.

Hamilton followed with his fifth hit, a triple, that put the Rangers up 10-8.

Then came the Rangers’ eighth. It started when Murphy — who was 3-for-6 with three RBI — homered to right, and didn’t end until Brandon Boggs grounded out 10 batters later. Included were homers by Chris Shelton and Young, and a walk to Hamilton that didn’t please the crowd.

“It’s one of those things where I’m glad I didn’t get out of what I wanted to do, and that was have a good at-bat,” Hamilton said. “I didn’t try to do too much.”

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The first long racing weekend of the season is here and tonight’s Merrittville Speedway program kicks off three straight nights of action.

The modifieds will sit tonight out with the BRP Can-Am late Model Series in town to kick off its 2008 schedule. On Sunday, the 360 sprint series will highlight the Humberstone Speedway card. A pair of holiday 50-lap Lucas Oil Modified Shootout events will round out the week.

Merrittville’s loaded Victoria Monday program also features a 40-lap sportsman feature, a 25-lap Duel on the Dirt street stock event and the first Konzelmann Enduro qualifier of the year. On Friday, the modifieds will make the short trip across the river to Ransomville Speedway for the Memorial Weekend 50-lapper.

The most intriguing event of the racing smorgasbord may be tonight’s BRP Can-Am Late Model feature. That series was originally scheduled to begin at Black Rock Speedway in April, but a central New York storm postponed that race until mid-June.

The championship points race for the former superstock class will now begin tonight but a point leader will be throwing one of the late models into the turns when the green flag waves.

With the mods AWOL, Pete Bicknell will be in action with the full-fendered group tonight, a week after sweeping the modified season openers at both Merrittville and Ransomville. He’ll be in a car owned by veteran campaigner, Paul Grigsby.

The 19-time Merrittville champion got his start in the old late-model division in the mid-1970s but the cars you’ll see this evening bear little resemblance to that class.

“Those late models were the forerunners of the pro stocks,” Bicknell explained.

“Those cars were faster just because we used such a big motor compared to what this series is allowed. The one big advantage these guys have is their great suspension.”

Mr. Small Block did manage to sneak a little practice time in before tonight’s baptism by fire.

“I tested the car here a few weeks ago when nobody knew who was in it,” Bicknell revealed. “I thought if I was a complete disaster, I wouldn’t embarrass myself, but it was great. I was comfortable right away.”

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Beneath clear blue skies and in the cool shade of centuries old oaks, a large crowd of townsfolk and visitors from surrounding areas gathered at Veterans Memorial Park of Mayo to participate in the fourth annual Wild Beast Feast. The event, held Friday, March 21, was hosted by the Rotary Club of Mayo.

Since 2005, Rotary Club of Mayo has hosted the event in order to raise funds for youth scholarships. Last year, the festivities were held at Wyatt O’Steen’s arena on CR 353. During that event, approximately $9,000 was raised. This year, the event raised an estimated $10,000, after expenses, according to Steve Land, Rotary Club of Mayo member.

Lance Braswell, president of Rotary Club of Mayo, as well as others, felt this year’s Wild Beast Feast went quite well and exceeded expectations.

“With every Feast we have, we use the previous one to build and improve upon, and with each event, our volunteers get better at the process,” Braswell said. “I would say that this year went as smoothly as any, everyone knew their job and their role, and the whole event went as smoothly as I have seen.”

While listening to country, bluegrass and gospel music, everyone enjoyed a delicious, mouth-watering barbecue meal. The menu consisted of bacon-wrapped elk, venison, gator tail, frog legs, coleslaw, baked beans, hot dogs, and banana pudding for dessert.

Sheriff Carson McCall was in charge of gathering the meat and making sure everything was cooked before people arrived at the park.

Braswell thanks everyone who volunteered as well as the public for coming out to make Wild Beast Feast a huge success and for supporting the youth of our community. A special thanks goes out to the sponsors - Lafayette State Bank, First Federal, Anderson Columbia, Inc., Drummond Community Bank, Lafayette County Farm Bureau, Joe P. Burns Funeral Home, Progress Energy and M.M. Parrish Construction Company, says Braswell.

“Without the help of all our Rotarians and volunteers, we could never produce an event of this size and magnitude, and each year, we see more people pitching in to help make this event what it is,” Braswell said.

Rotary Club of Mayo is planning to host Wild Beast Feast at the park next year and hopes everyone returns for another fun-filled evening for the entire family.

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A leopard was killed, diced and seasoned for a feast in a Sivasagar village this afternoon, hours after it attacked two girls who had strayed into a bamboo grove in search of firewood.

The forest guards arrived too late. By then, the hide had even been “exported”.

“We have information that the hide will be taken to Dimapur where there is a big market for it,” said H.K. Dohotia, officer-in-charge of Sapekhati police station, where a case has also been registered. But they managed to seize 7kg of meat.

Residents of Dhuniapathar, of course, pleaded that the hunt was an act of self-defence. They claimed that they went after the leopard only when it wounded the girls.

Six, including a minor, were injured in the incident. All of them were admitted to the Sivasagar Civil Hospital, where eight leopard-attack victims from nearby Deopani are still undergoing treatment.

Today’s killing adds to the swelling statistics of man-leopard conflict in Upper Assam.

Five days ago, a leopard and two cubs were poisoned near the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Jorhat district.

The previous day, eight were injured when a leopard suddenly attacked villagers in Deopani.

Three others were wounded by a leopard in Kalugaon two days earlier. An alarmed forest department has appealed to the people not to venture too deep into the jungles by themselves.

Depleting forest cover has been forcing the leopards to venture into human habitation for food, said divisional forest official of Sivasagar, Utpal Bora.

“The leopards kill cattle, which are easy prey.”

Daya, a Sivasagar-based NGO, has assured the villagers that the organisation would ensure compensation for the cattle killed by leopards but that the people should leave the big cats alone.

“Our main aim is to save the leopards,” Simanta Borthakur, president of the NGO, said.

According to estimates, over 45 leopards have been killed in Upper Assam in the past two years.

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• Red Knots Get to Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs

Governor Jon Corzine Tuesday signed legislation imposing a moratorium on harvesting horseshoe crabs in New Jersey so that starving shorebirds can feed.

Horseshoe crab eggs at Delaware Bay are a primary source of food for red knots on their way north to breed in the Canadian Arctic.

These migratory shorebirds make one of the longest yearly migrations of any bird, traveling 9,300 miles from their Arctic breeding grounds to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America.

But over-harvesting of horseshoe crabs has led to a diminished supply of food for the red knots and has brought the species to the brink of extinction.

“The effects of human behavior often have widespread, unintended consequences that reverberate across the animal kingdom for generations, like the ripple effect in a pond that started out as one small disturbance,” Governor Corzine said.

“It is with that in mind that we are here today to extend the moratorium on horseshoe crab harvesting, so as to reverse the endangerment and prevent the extinction of the red knot species and other shorebirds.”

“This moratorium will be held in place until the populations of both horseshoe crabs and red knots have returned to a level where they will be self sustaining as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service,” the governor pledged.

The measure is backed with stiff financial penalties to deter potential offenders. Fines for the continued harvesting of horseshoe crabs will be $10,000 for the first offense and $25,000 for each subsequent offense.

The legislation, A2260/S1331, was an initiative of Democrats in both houses of the Legislature.

“The decline in New Jersey’s horseshoe crab population has left the red knot perched on the edge of extinction,” said Assemblyman McKeon, D-West Orange. “We simply cannot allow an entire species to be wiped out when the ability to halt the red knot’s decline is within our reach.”

“With today’s bill signing, New Jersey is fulfilling its sacred responsibility to undo years of damage to the centuries-old relationship between the State’s horseshoe crab population and the red knot shorebird,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex.

“Over-fishing and lax oversight on the taking or horseshoe crabs in the 1990s has led to the starvation and near extinction of the red knot,” said the senator. “Today, we are taking this opportunity to preserve the food chain, and allow the red knot a chance at survival.”

The Delaware Bay is the linchpin of the red knot’s spring migration because it is the center of the Western Hemisphere’s only population of horseshoe crabs.

Horseshoe crab eggs, unlike any other food resource, are quickly metabolized into fat. This allows the red knots and other shorebirds to double their body weight in two to three weeks.

The fat reserves put on during a stopover along the Delaware Bay allow red knots to survive and continue courtship, mating and egg production until food becomes available. Without a sufficient fat reserve, the consequence is loss of reproduction, or worse, mortality.

Emergency protections are needed to prevent further catastrophic declines in numbers of red knots warns a February letter submitted to federal officials by nine conservation groups, including Audubon.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall are urged to use emergency authorities to list two subspecies of red knot under the Endangered Species Act.

“There is no question the Red Knot is in very deep trouble and needs emergency protection if it is to survive,” said Audubon policy and advocacy specialist Betsy Loyless.

She cites a new report by 20 shorebird biologists from around the world which details the rapid and ongoing decline of migratory shorebird populations in the Western Hemisphere.

Audubon applauded the new legislation, saying, “As the administration weighs the petition for more federal protection, the New Jersey legislature has taken bold action that would protect the Red Knot’s food source.”

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New Zealanders are downing the cold sugary sweet by the bucket-load - 27 litres each in a year.

This easily beats the United States (18.7 litres) and Australia (17.8 litres), according to market research by IBISWorld.

Its no scoop - New Zealanders have always enjoyed their dairy products, even taking the unique step of installing hokey pokey icecream as a national icon among paua, gumboots and Buzzy Bees.

The girls mother, Gwyn Morphew, from the United States but based in New Zealand since 1996, was not surprised to learn that New Zealand was the highest consumer of icecream per person in the world.

You guys are crazy - eating icecreams in the movie theatre in the middle of winter, Ive never seen anything like it.

Mrs Morphew was armed with wet wipes for the occasional out-of-control drips as they sat in the sun at Oriental Parade yesterday, enjoying their treat.

We always have a container of it in the fridge, usually vanilla because its less mess with kids.

The top three flavours in most countries are vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

In New Zealand, hokey pokey flows into second place after vanilla, with chocolate and strawberry following, according to the Ice Cream Manufacturers Association.

The North Island is spoilt for choice when it comes to quality - with Rush Munros factory in Hastings, and award-winning Kapiti Fine Foods. Kapiti took top honours with its lemongrass and ginger at last years annual icecream awards.

A panel of international experts rated it 99.25 out of 100.

Rush Munros 100 per cent natural icecream is a previous winner, with its flavours including organic Irish creme, mango sorbet and cappuccino.

New Zealands biggest icecream maker Tip Top, now part of global dairy giant Fonterra, also has links to the Wellington region - it was formed when two friends opened an icecream parlour in Manners St in central Wellington in 1936.

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It doesnt matter whether you are a local or a visitor - the holiday season is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the bounties Nelson has to offer. All going to plan, you will have had a dose of sunburn by now and will have been well fed, or you may well be fed up with really friendly relatives and want to get out of the house or campground.

I have the perfect answer. The Nelson region boasts more than 20 wineries for you to visit, and if you happen to be in Golden Bay, there are a few more.

But first, a few rules. Most wineries dont open until about 11am, so treat yourself to a wee sleep-in - you are on holiday, after all.

Secondly, plan a stop for a substantial meal. Wine will always eventually win over your constitution, so eat plenty to ease the pain.

Remember that wineries are not party bars or babysitters - they are there to show you their product in a relaxed, enjoyable environment. Please respect their hospitality, and if you have kids with you, take care of them, because wineries have lots of very cool but potentially dangerous equipment. While some wineries have facilities for children, the little blighters are ultimately your responsibility.

Finally, pick a sober driver and buy them juice and coffee all day. I dont want to sound like a spoilsport, but drinking and driving is the perfect way to ruin a great holiday.

The Nelson region lends itself to four quite distinct wine tours - the Waimea Plains, the Moutere Hills, Tasman and Motueka, and then Golden Bay, so that takes care of the next four days for you.

Of course, all the wineries are worth visiting, but here is a small selection.

On the Waimea Plains, you have a choice of nine wineries. That is a lot to fit in to one day - four or five is a good number, so you may need to take two days if you want to see them all. Fossil Ridge Wines has one of the most picturesque wineries in the region. It may be very small but its wines are super, and I suggest you check out the unoaked chardonnay.
Brightwater Vineyards has been one of the star performers in the region in recent years, collecting a number of gold medals and a trophy along the way. My favourites here include a luscious multi gold medal-winning sauvignon blanc, a beautifully balanced riesling, and a pinot that is perfect for enjoying outdoors this summer.

Greenhough Vineyards is consistently one of Nelsons top producers - I think it is among the top five pinot noir makers in the country. While its pinots are outstanding, Greenhough also produces a delightfully floral gewurztraminer and a superbly well-balanced riesling among a range of wines that can be relied on year after year.

Kaimira Estate has just opened a brand new winery and tasting facility in Livingstone Rd and has also released a new label, Brightside. This replaces the old Kaimira Nelson label - you will find this fantastic value wine in supermarkets and some cafes, while you will find the estate label of Kaimira at wine shops and restaurants. Its new tasting facility is a must on your wine tour.

Seifried Estate produces a range of wines covering three price points - the Old Coach Rd range, the Seifried Estate range and the premium Winemakers Collection range. Not only does it have great tasting facilities, there is also a super restaurant with an outdoor garden. This winery caters for the kids with a very cool playground.

Te Mania Estate and Richmond Plains share facilities at the Grape Escape complex in McShane Road.

Richmond Plains is one of the few certified organic wineries in the country, and you simply must try Te Manias pinot noirs and chardonnays. They both produce the perfect summer pinot noir rose - one is lush and creamy, while the other is a little more spicy and complex.

Enjoy lunch at the Grape Escape cafe, too.

Waimea Estates has a shelf loaded with trophies and walls dripping with awards, and is consistently one of the best producers in the region.

It has a range of wines labelled as Spinyback. This may be a lower-priced wine but is simply fantastic value - there is nothing cheap about the quality, and for every bottle sold, five cents goes to the Tuatara Trust. This year, the trust banked a $10,000 cheque.

Moving away from the plains, youll have a truly boutique wine experience at Rimu Grove. Barb and Patrick make one of the best pinot gris you will find anywhere and have a selection of aged and very good pinot noirs and chardonnays to tempt you.

Ruby Bay Vineyard is another new winery, and as well as making some delightful wines, it offers boutique accommodation in a fantastic setting.

Anchorage Wines has a great facility where you can take a picnic to enjoy on the lawn while you try some great-value wines.

Neudorf Vineyards is one of New Zealands best wine makers. Its Moutere chardonnay is legendary, while its pinot noir is simply outstanding. Personally, I love the riesling, and this is another place where you are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the delightful gardens.

Dave Glover from Glovers Vineyard makes some of the longest-lasting reds in the region.

The young pinots tend to have plenty of tannin and great fruit concentration, but Glovers also has some nicely aged wines for you to buy. Check out the rieslings as well.

Woollaston Estates facility is magnificent. With much of the winery and tasting facility buried underground, it has a very low environmental impact. The wines are getting better each year as more is learned about the fruit that comes from the vineyards. The current offerings are exceptional value for money.

Woollaston Estates also sponsors the annual Nelson Jazz Fest, so take the opportunity to enjoy jazz in the winery. Check the events guides for dates and times.

Kahurangi Estate not only makes great wine, it has some of the best vineyard food in the region. I love the pinot blanc at lunch time.

Moutere Hills Vineyard has recently risen from the ashes. A year ago, its winery was destroyed by fire, and the newly rebuilt facility offers great dining on the deck overlooking the vineyard while tasting some delightful aromatic-style wines.

Whichever wineries you choose to visit, I know you will not be disappointed - Nelson wines are getting better and better each year. Enjoy your time in our beautiful region - and please make sure your sober driver drives carefully.

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ASH SAVANTHRAPANDIAN, 18, from Dunedins Logan Park High School, moved to Wellington and completed first year study in law and humanities at Victoria University.

I spent the year living in Wellington just down the hill from Vic Uni, for the first semester in a flat with 13 other people, and then in the second semester I moved to a flat across the street and flatted with two good friends.

I paid on average about $120 in rent, not including expenses.

Im earning about $200 a week from part time summer jobs.

And if I had another $100 a week Id spend it on Christmas presents, and probably food.

This summer Ill be working till just after new years, then its back to Malaysia for a month to be with my family.

The highlight of this years social calendar was my flatmates birthday party in October. We had a band and really good food. Im pretty sure the decorations are still up.

The main challenges I faced this year were balancing full-time uni with six days of dancing a week. I was usually too tired from one of them to be able to do the other properly!

Six months ago I was in freezing Dunedin for the mid-semester break. No complaints though as it was great to see my friends and family again.

When I couldnt sleep at night was because I was thinking about what Im planning to do next year. Still havent really decided yet, its either dance, law or a gap year.

The main thing that didnt happen this year that I expected to happen was me chickening out of the School of Dance Auditions. A week before the deadline I got myself together and went through with it, which Im happy about.

The biggest first was living in a new bigger city on my own… and doing the groceries! I really enjoyed being independent.

The thing I miss most about high school is having all your friends there all the time. University is very self-directed, and you often feel isolated, particularly if youre new to the city and havent been to high school with half the people at uni!

Next year I will be either at a dance school overseas if I get accepted, or doing second-year law at Vic, or taking a gap year and working in Wellington.

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