Events for you in August 2008

Tuesday 5 August. Movie Night (not shown on the above calendar). "I'm Trying To Break Your Heart", a film about the band, Wilco, by Sam Jones. This event will be the first of its kind at the BAGHA. We'll be meeting downstairs around 20:00 to watch selected pieces of the movie on the project screen. Snacks - popcorn, nachos and hotdogs, of course - will be available, and we'll all be enjoying an extended Happy Hour that starts with the movie. Afterwards, anyone who wants to stick around for a chat about what we'll have watched is more than welcome.

We hope to make Movie Night a monthly or twice-monthly event, and we may even go as far as T-shirt production to help it gain some momentum. Of course, movie choices are heartily encouraged, and we'll have scored a victory if we eventually see some competition over what will be watched in future. Those with potential choices might be asked to explain the reasons for their selection and perhaps even asked to shape the event, rather than just pressing play. Hope you make it!

Thursday 7 August. From The BHC To The BAGHA (not shown on the above calendar). This event is most certainly the first of its kind. Last month, we suggested to the BHC the idea of co-hosting a mini-event, starting there and ending here, and we were given the go-ahead, so get ready for some extended Happy Hours, free snacks, a charity raffle there for some fun prizes, a trivia quiz here with some more fun prizes, and some great music spanning decades - all with a British theme.

Friday 8 August. The Quarter-To BBQ (not shown on the above calendar). Quarter-To's sixth BAGHA performance will coincide with a fantastic all-you-can-eat-create-your-own-meal Mongolian BBQ. All meals include a coconut filled with a double-shot of your choice of spirits (we suggest rum). Again, more extended Happy Hours. Should be an extremely relaxing way to spend a Friday evening.

Thursday 21 August. The Funky Hat Party. Get ready. It's going to be big. Bring your hats, your sense of humour, your friends and your dancing shoes. Each ticket costs 700 taka (on sale from noon tomorrow), which will include a free drink at the gate, so long as you bring that funky hat [prizes for the best]. More info about the event is to be posted here soon.

Sit with Lady Luck at the BAGHA Club Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament

Test your luck at the first BAGHA Club Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament on Friday 25 July. The tournament starts at 4, as does the 4-hour Happy Hour. The BBQ starts at 7 – enjoy that free shot in the coconut that comes with your meal – and the bar closes late.

Card sharks, amateurs, novices, spectators and lovers of food and drink welcome. We expect a large crowd from the late afternoon until the late evening. If you think Lady Luck might be on your side that night, or if you want to cheer on your friends, or if you just want some great barbequed food, be here then.

To compete, register at our upstairs bar and pay 1500 taka. Prizes will be presented towards the end of the evening for the top 5 players. Bring an expat club card to enter.

Help us spread the word. For more info, call 881 4644 or email manager@baghaclub.com

Event follow-up written on 26 July 2008...

Last night's poker tournament was a tremendous success, with forty three competitors from around the international community! We will most definitely be repeating the event in future.

The final table of eight competitors became the stage for a long drama that unfolded over more than an hour, and a Nordic Club member took home the grand prize, followed by a BAGHA member finishing in second place.

Strain those brain cells at the Big Quiz this April

On Wednesday 30 April, be here for The Big Quiz. Pick a team name, wear a team colour, and work with your mates to win money for a good cause - the winning team donates the money to a charity of choice. The quiz nights are always loads of fun, and this one should be especially so with an extended 18:00-20:00 Happy Hour, a special pub menu for the evening, and a late bar closing. The following day is May Day, so everyone should be able to enjoy a much-welcome three-day weekend.

Also on the cards is a May Day celebration geared towards families and young children. More details will be posted soon.

Swim, eat and dance at the pool,food&musicBASH

Join us for the pool,food&musicBASH on Friday 30 May.

We will fire up the barbeque, which will serve hot dogs, burgers and shish kebabs. The food will be well-priced and cooked up quick, so come with an empty stomach.

Rapid Action Band will be on stage from 20:00, and DJ Simon will begin his set at 22:00.

Come early, come hungry, come thirsty, and bring those flipflops. Tickets are 700 taka, which comes with a free drink and a hotdog. Check out our Facebook Group page for more info.

Bring an expat club card to enter. Cheers.

Irish band Four Men & A Dog to play at the BAGHA!

Renowned Irish folk band Four Men & A Dog are flying over to perform a series of unique one-time shows, one of them here at the Club on Friday 25 April! 300 tickets are on sale for 1500 taka each, and more than half of them have already been sold, so move quick if you'd like to attend. The band will be supported by local music ensemble, Purbo Poschim, and dance troupe, Nikkon. Many thanks to HELM, Chevron, Ranks ITT and Homebound for their sponsorship of this fantastic event.

Big screens, burgers from our barbecue, and the chance to see something unprecedented here in Dhaka, and a follow-up DVD of the event! Spread the word, buy tickets soon, and be here on Friday by 19:30.

Event follow-up written on 26 May 2008...

Last Friday, the BAGHA Club hosted its largest event in years! Well-known Irish folk band Four Men & A Dog was supported by local music ensemble, Purbo Poschim (which means East-West in Bangla), and dance troupe, Nikkon. Check out the photos from the event on our Facebook.com Group page - to view them, you'll need to join Facebook, a process that takes about two minutes.

A lot of great people deserve a big pat on the back for the amount of effort they put into the preparation of the show - organizers, performers, sponsors and the Club staff all worked successfully as a great machine that enabled one of the expatriate community's most unique-ever events to come to fruition. Thank you, and congratulations.

It was, in all respects, unbelievable, and everyone left the venue on a high with recollections of an unforgettable night. Let's hope for future events that can be as special.

Coming up on Wednesday is Quiz Night, and we hope you can attend what should turn into an evening of light-hearted, relaxing fun. "Strain that brain for charity!" And on this coming Friday, we'll be hosting the first Great British Sunday Roast (on a Friday) in months, so be here then!

Get ready for An Arabian Night

On Thursday 11 April, join us for "An Arabian Night." Entry is free!

The first part of the evening will include a wonderful spread of food of Arabian cuisine. Familes are warmly invited.

Rapid Action Band will perform from 20:00, and DJ Simon will be on from 22:00, possibly followed by a special guest DJ. Dress fun, prepare to feast, and dance to beats from around the Middle East.

Join us on 9 April for the 2008 AGM

Hey guys, the Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 9 April, a week from today. We hope you can attend.

It will be a chance to share your thoughts about the Club and to hear the opinions of your fellow members. Votings for the 2008/09 Committee will also take place, so come along, speak up, and give it a shot!

The meeting will begin at 18:30.