Compact Size....Consize News

Actors in the making
The Naked Mask Playhouse is training would-be thespians every Saturday from May 31 to June 27. The all-day sessions will show you how to nurture creative thinking and use your imagination, voice and body to express yourself. By the end, you’ll be ready for the stage or ready to create your own play. The fee is Bt950. Call (085) 503 4525 or e-mail nakedmaskstraining@gmail.com.

Trotting for charity
Start getting in shape for the Amari Watergate Hotel and BMW’s 12th annual Charity Midnight Run on October 10 at the hotel on Petchaburi Road. You can run six kilometres for Bt600 or 10km for Bt1,000, with all the proceeds going to organisations that help people living with HIV. Call (02) 653 9000 or drop by www.Amari.com.

Your tickets to many paradises
The Paradises Expo 2009 at Impact in Muang Thong Thani from Saturday until May 31 combines nearly a dozen expos under one roof – furniture, wedding, fashion, jewellery, food, family and child, travel, home and real estate and gardening. It’s open from 10.30 to 9 daily. Call (02) 314 0855 or visit www.Impact.co.th.

Brides become princesses
“Wedding Fair” from May 28 to 31 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is touted as Thailand’s biggest bridal exhibition, offering everything that’s needed for a couple’s most memorable day. Check out deals on hotels, wedding dresses, accessories, photo studios and honeymoon destinations. There will be makeup and hair workshops and chances to win prizes. Call (02) 203 4212-6 or visit www.ThaiWeddingFair.com.

Slam dunk
S’Club at Siam Centre and Sponsor sports drink will hold Hoop Jam, a three-on-three street basketball tournament, on May 23 and 24 at Siam Discovery Centre. The winners will share the total prize money of Bt70,000. Sign up before May 18 at Siam Centre’s fourth floor. Call (02) 658 1000.

Baby, let’s dance!
Do you have the dance moves of a Korean or Japanese star? If so, enter The Mall J-K Cover Dance Contest 2009 and show off those steps. To qualify, you must be between 13 and 22 years old and be in a team of three people. There are also cosplay costume competitions. The heats take place on Saturday and Sunday and again on May 9 at The Mall Ngamwongwarn and on May 16 and 17 and May 23 at The Mall Bang Kapi. Call (02) 173 1643.

‘Wave’ of generosity
Radio station Green Wave 106.5 FM is holding a Green Charity Fair on May 9 where you can donate food, washing utensils, shoes and bags for students, books for children and other goods. The proceeds will go to 15 charities. The event runs from 1 to 6 at Central Plaza Pin Klao. Visit www.GreenWave.fm.

What’s cookin’?
The international touring troupe of South Korea’s acclaimed “Nanta Cookin” show makes its Bangkok debut from July 22 to 26 at Siam Paragon’s Royal Paragon Hall. A combination of slapstick comedy, drama and Korean folk music, the show is set against the backdrop of a busy kitchen where food is being prepared for a wedding. Tickets are Bt900 to Bt1,800 at Thaiticketmajor.

Baskets of plenty
From April 30 to May 17, experience the atmosphere of a floating market and pay your respects to nine Buddha images at an exhibition and sale at River City. There’ll be classical-music performances Thursdays through Saturdays from 5. The shopping complex is on Charoen Krung Soi 24. Catch the free shuttle boat Saphan Taksin Skytrain station. Call (02)237 0077-8 or visit www.RiverCity.co.th.

Going for gold
Test your mental skills to win a 15.16-gram gold ornament worth more than Bt15,000 in a quiz by easy-listening radio
station 103.5 FM One. Explain how the “one” in their name, which when pronounced in Thai means “day”,
relates to FM. For more about the question, visit www.ThisIs
Click.com or call (02) 641 5383. If you have an idea how to answer, type 1, add your full name and your idea
, and send the SMS to 4219244 before April 30.

Backpacking in Tokyo
The Thai Youth Hostel Association and Japan Youth Hostel invite applications for the “Exciting Tokyo Expedition”, which takes place from May 8 to 13. It’ll include visits to major attractions like the Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Temple, Kamakura Daibutsu, Yokohama and Mount Fuji. Call (02) 628 7413-5 or visit www.HiThailand.com.

Yesterday once more
The Ban Bang Khae Social Welfare Development Centre for Older People celebrates its 56th anniversary in June by inviting shutterbugs to enter a photo contest on the theme “Ban Bang Khae Pratapjit, Ban Ya Kas Pratapjai” (“Impressions of Ban Bang Khae”). Applications are being accepted until May 15 and the winner receives Bt10,000 and a certificate. Visit www.BanBangKhae.go.th or call (02) 455 1593.

Coffee as a career
Franchise Focus magazine is holding a talk and demonstration for anyone interested in making creative coffee their career. The seminar, which takes place on June 20 in the Bang Na Hall at Central Bang Na, covers everything from creating a coffee menu and coffee-shop administration to making latte art. Call (02) 720 4821-4 or visit www.Franchise
Focus.co.th.

Splendour of Songkran
River City celebrates the Thai New Year from tomorrow until April 30 with a variety of activities that include sprinkling water on a Buddha image from Tuesday to April 15, demonstrations of Thai desserts, traditional puppets and masks between April 11 and 15 and a kite exhibition for the entire month. Get a free kite when you register. Call (02) 237 0077 or visit www.RiverCity.co.th,

This festival is nuts
The Koh Kae Festival on March 28 and 29 at CentralWorld celebrates the peanut snack brand’s 33 years with an exhibition and a host of other activities including concerts by indie musicians, graffiti demonstrations and B-boy dancing. You can also shop for hand-made accessories, postcards and books. Call (02) 416 0077 or visit www.Koh-Kae.com.

Got any undersea snaps?
Photographers are invited to submit entries to the Thailand Travel and Dive Expo 2008, which has categories for “Miracle of Nature” and “Amazing Underwater World”. Application forms can be downloaded at ThailandDiveExpo.com. The deadline for their receipt is April 25. Call (02) 203 4221.

Got something to celebrate?
Royal Princess Larn Luang
Bring your family, friends and teachers out to celebrate and take advantage of a graduation/celebration package that offers an international buffet at Bt650 per person. Or enjoy Chinese feasts at a table for 10 for between Bt8,000 and Bt20,000 (minimum of 40 persons) with a 10-per-cent food discount, ice-carving, cake and a bouquet. Until April 30. Call (02) 281 3088.

Doing business in comfort
Pathumwan Princess Hotel
The hotel offers executive-meeting packages with morning and afternoon breaks, a choice of lunch menus, and meeting equipment including an LCD projector, notebook, and floral arrangements. The package is Bt1,190 per person for a full day and Bt1,090 per person for half a day. Minimum of 30 participants. Until October 31. Call (02) 216 3700.

A gift of a voucher
King Power Duty Free is offering members Bt10,000 gift vouchers for Bt9,000.
The vouchers can be used at King Power Downtown Duty Free Mall on Rang
Nam Road and King Power Duty Free at Suvarnabhumi Airport. For information, call the Hotline Service Centre at (02) 677 8899.

Dog day afternoon
Kasetsart University’s “Finding New Homes for Stray Dogs Project” is offering dog-training classes. Sessions will be held April 26 and 27. There are 30 places available and the registration fee is Bt800 (Bt600 for those who have adopted a stray dog
from this project). Call (02) 579 8574-5 ext 8107 or visit www.VetTech.ku.ac.th.

RYS Volunteer Camp
The Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace-Thailand will hold the Religious Youth Service Volunteer camp from October 10 to 15 at Rajabhat Nakhon Si Thammarat University for youths aged from 17 to 25. Apply by June 1. Tel: (02) 718 7766 ext 230, (084) 469 2031

Fifth World Choir Games
The Olympics for Choir, the world’s biggest amateur choir competition, take place in Graz, Austria from July 9 to 19. Tens of thousands of singers and visitors from all over the world will transform the town into a world metropolis of choral singing. Any interested choir team wishing to test their abilities in this peaceful competition can visit WorldChoirGmes.com for more information and application.