Cyprus Arts & Living Events August-September

by Natalie Haughton - A Yoga detox retreat is taking place on Aug 19th- 21st at Tochni Village, Larnaca.  The retreat will be hosted by Dada Dharmavedananda from Cebu in the Philippines. Cost is €160 per person for a single room or €130 per person for a shared double room. Call 9658 9766.

Six packs and tans and very little else will be the order of the night when the “Dreamboys” perform in Cyprus.  The group are the only male strippers in the world to have their own West End Show in London.  You can see them in all their glory at Boutique in Paphos on Aug 22nd, 7 Seas Columbia Plaza in Limassol on Aug 23rd and Velvet Hall, Paphos on Aug 24th.  Tickets cost €15 from the website www.dreamboyscyprus.com  or call the booking hotline 99 247123.

The Hadjianotnas Winery’s open day is on Saturday August 27th from 10am-10pm.  Admission is free for all the family, there’s a tour of the vineyards, plus a wine tasting and there is also a children’s play area. For more information call 2599 1199 or check the website www.hadjianotnas.com.cy

Dimitris Mihlis is exhibiting his summer based art at the Gallery Kypriaki Gonia in Larnaca.  It’s on until Aug 30th.  www.gallerykypriakigonia.com.cy

The Cyprus Services Rambling Club’s summer picnic is on Sun 21st August near the Trooditissa Monastery.   Bring your food to share either sandwiches or you can use the BBQ pits should you wish to use them. There will be a short circular walk around the local area and this will start at 11 am from the picnic site; there will also be a wine tasting and a boules challenge to see who is best.  This is the map of how to get there. http://www.map-cyprus.net/images/maps/4000/troodos_west_06.jpg . If you want to go please contact Debbie on bookings@csrc.ws   or phone: 99 292092.

The National Tennis Centre in Nicosia will host the Aphrodite World Tennis Cup from September 6th – 10th.  The organisers have yet to announce the line-up and if international star Marcos Baghdatis will be playing. The Aphrodite Cup has been upgraded to grade 4 of the International Tennis Federation, thus attracting high level tennis players, this year with the participation of at least 45 countries. Entrance to the games will be free.  More info from www.cyprustennis.com

The 5th Cyprus-Russia Charity Gala is on Sept 10th, combining cultural entertainment and dining in the Presidential Palace gardens. Performances include: Legendary Russian rock band Lubeh in Cyprus for the first time,   Mihalis Hatzigiannis,  The Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation, The Cyprus Young String Soloists and the  A’Cappella ExpreSSS playing  Russian folk and jazz. Tickets and more info from www.cyprus-tickets.com  or 7000 9303.

Acclaimed actor John Malkovich will be in Cyprus on September 17th performing at the Makarios III Amphitheatre in Strovolos in a play called ‘The Infernal Comedy: Confession of a serial killer’. The production also features music from Vienna’s Akademie Orchestra.  The date is and tickets are on sale www.dfamous.net  or from the Pallas Theatre in Nicosia, (22 410181).

Direct from Leicester Square, Andrea Morrelli's Rat Pack Show with Musical Director Andrew Oliver and the Barry Rowe Combo Swing Band. Shows on Sept 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th 27th and Oct 1st & 2nd. With special guests Ben Miles as Michael Buble and Tina Chester as Barbara Streisand.  For venues and performance dates go to http://www.cyprusevents.net/events/andrea-morrelli-rat-pack-show-parekklisia-2011/

You can pre-book tickets to see the opera The Tales of Hoffman by the National Theatre of Prague.  The performance is part of the 13th Paphos Aphrodite Festival and will take place in the Medieval Castle.  The dates are Sept 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  Free phone 8000 8005 or go to the website www.pafc.com.cy.  Prices are €35, €50, €60 and €80.

The outdoor movie screenings continue through August. They will be showing Wasted Youth, Up, Ratatouille, Brief Encounter and the Red Shoes. The cinema is at 15 Solonos Michaelides St, Pallouriotissa.  Cut and paste this link into your browser window for the full rundown and a map of the venue or call 2234 9085 http://www.cyprusevents.net/venues/constantia-open-air-cinema  

On Sept 12th there’s a concert by the band "Love is in the Air" to mark the last full moon of the summer.  Featuring many styles of music including jazz and Latin, plus songs by the Beatles, ABBA, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, and Shakira,  as well as Greek songs. It’s at Nicosia Town Hall, for more call 22797004 or email culturalservice@nicosiamunicipality.org.cy

The annual Limassol Wine Festival takes place from Sept 8th until Sept 18th from 7-11.30pm. Since the first one in 1961, this festival has always been great fun.  Local wines are showcased and this year there is an award ceremony for the biggest glass of wine in the world, plus traditional Cypriot food.  Tickets are €6 for adults which includes a bottle of wine, teenagers aged 13-18 pay €5, and children under 12 pay €12.  There’ll be a shuttle bus service from Nicosia to the festival.  For more information go to www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy  or call 25 344402.

Anna Vissi will be performing an unplugged live gig at the School For the Blind in Nicosia on Sept 28th.  Call 7000 9303 to book tickets

The 2nd Quantum Nicosia Marathon and half Marathon are set to take place on Oct 9th.  Last year 5,000 runners took part and hopefully more will join the fun this year. More at www.nicosiamarathon.com 

Chef Dean Simmons at Lord Kitchener’s has been on a road trip around Sicily.  On Saturday 20th August he will bring this experience to Psematismenos.  A Taste of Sicily will serve 4 great courses served family style.  Cost is €30  To book call  2433 3484. 

If you need to hire a bus with an experienced bus driver get a quote from ww.cyprusbybus.com. They offer excursions and airport shuttles; they provide a mini-bus or larger vehicle depending on your requirements. 

There is now a Comedy Club in Cyprus. Comedians will be coming here every six weeks to perform at various venues across the island. For more information call 9682 1929.  The website has details of the line-up for each Comedy Club night www.cypruscomedy.com