Things to do in Dubai this weekend
You know that moment on a Thursday afternoon when your work buddy asks what you’re doing this weekend and your mind goes blank? Well worry no more, friends, because What’s On has the perfect solution, whatever mood you are in.
Heading to the capital this weekend? Then check out our list of goings on in ABU DHABI there, too. Click here.
ENTERTAINMENT
Check out the latest movie trailers and cinema listings of films being release in Dubai this weekend. Click here.
THURSDAY
THAI FOOD FESTIVAL
Three chefs from Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket fly into Dubai to serve up south-east Asian dishes for a month-long celebration.
Nosh, Mövenpick Hotel JLT, Dubai, 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Tel: (04) 4380000. Metro: JLT. moevenpick-hotels.com
GO GOLD
Film fans can now be food fans after Vox Gold launched a new gourmet menu with the help of highly-trained food and beverage experts. Sliders and sarnies of course have a place on the new menu, available at all gold screens, and so too is the likes of goat’s cheese bruschetta, ‘Louisiana’ buffalo chicken bites and kamikaze shrimp for starters.
CHECK THE SCENE
Walking into The Scene is a bit like walking into your granny’s house. If your granny served elaborate cocktails, that is. We spotted lampshades made from Kilner jars and Beano comic strips used as wallpaper in this new restaurant from TV chef Simon Rimmer. The food is as comforting as the squishy booth seating, with cauliflower cheese, fish and chips, and shepherd’s pie on the menu, along with less familiar fare like duck and chicken rillette (left). The piping hot chips were fat, golden and crispy around the edges. We burned our mouths, but kept on going. Nostalgic indeed.
Pier 7, Dubai Marina, Dubai, daily 10am to 2am. Tel: (04) 4222328. Metro: Dubai Marina. thescenedubai.com
DJ RAXON
Abu Dhabi born DJ Raxon has been playing electronic music for over a decade and is the resident DJ at 360° during the Audiotonic sessions on Fridays from 5pm to 3am. You can catch him playing alongside long-time Audiotonic collaborator DJ Mr Mr as part of the Level 41 Summer Series this month at Media One Hotel.
Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City, 9pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 4271000. Metro: Nakheel. mediaonehotel.com
FISH BAZAAR
Diners at one of Dubai Marina’s hidden gems will receive 20 per cent discount as Fish Bazaar reopens for the new season. Having undergone renovations over the summer, the beach-facing restaurant, which specialises in Thai and Japanese cuisine, is the perfect spot to enjoy fish delicacies and Thai specialities such as Tom Yum and Pad Thai. The restaurant also has its own fish market, enabling diners to choose from the freshest ocean catches, as well as a live cooking station which ensures dishes are cooked according to their preferences.
Habtoor Grand, Dubai Marina, Dubai, 12.30pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 408 4257. Metro: Dubai Marina. Taxi: Habtoor Grand. facebook.com/habtoorgrandresortandspa
DUST BROTHERS
Eat Dust this weekend with Superbreak and Brother J when they guest at Megadon Betamax and James Locksmith’s fun-filled party. Crate diggers extraordinaire and re-edit evangelists, Superbreak and Brother J are rising stars on the global disco scene thanks to a string of wicked re-edits and fun-filled DJ sets. Get your boogie on to a blend of disco, funk, soul and house.
Story Rooftop Lounge, Behind Zayed University, Knowledge Village, Thursday, September 4, 9pm to 3am, Dhs50. Metro: Dubai Internet City. dustdxb.com
FRIDAY
DUBAI FLEA MARKET
With it still too hot in the midday sun, the vast Dubai Flea Market has taken up an evening slot outdoors, and at new location Zabeel Park.Chock-full of second-hand trinkets, clothes and other bits and bobs, it can be found between gates 1 and 2, close to the Metro, kicking off at 7pm. For more details calls 055 452 6030.
ELECTRIC DAYS PARTY POP-UP
Electric Days is teaming up with Go Baby Go for a pre-season teaser at Sho Cho. Go Baby Go will get the party started at 1pm with a Japanese brunch, then Electric Days takes over for post-brunch from 6pm.
Sho Cho, Dubai Marine Resort, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, 1pm, Dhs250. Taxi: Dubai Marine Resort. facebook.com/electricdays
NEW COFFEE DELIVERY
Coffee Planet now delivers bags of coffee to your door. Select what machine you use, choose when you like to drink coffee and let the website find your perfect blend. Bags of 250g ground coffee start at Dhs20.
coffeeplanet.com
CHEF THEATRE
For those who like their dinner with a healthy dose of drama – and we’re not talking about eating dinner on your lap while watching Breaking Bad – Mexican restaurant Fuego has launched an ambitious Chef Theatre programme. The two-hour sessions, for groups of three people or more, start at Dhs120 per person, and enable you to watch head chef Jose Manuel in action in the kitchen as he cooks dishes and explains Mexican food culture.
Souk Al Bahar, Downtown, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4490977. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. fuego.ae
TRIBUTE ACTS
The Music Room’s calendar is looking pretty packed throughout September. Ben Waters heads to the Dubai venue on September 5, along with his band. One of the UK’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll pianists, he’s worked with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and PJ Harvey in the past, and Jools Holland’s a big fan. Expect to hear a mix of rock ‘n’ roll, blues and boogie. Next week it’s one of the UK’s best Amy Winehouse tributes, Gyp Kenton.
Majestic Hotel, Mankhool Road, Bur Dubai, Dhs100. Taxi: Majestic Hotel. Tel: (050) 2484054. themusicroomdubai.com
CHIKALICIOUS
The New York dessert bar arrives in Dubai this weekend, and it’s celebrating by inviting the sweet of tooth to tweet or Instagram using #CHIKALICIOUSME. Show the staff and your pud is free.
Village Mall, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. facebook.com/chikaliciousme
MOONCAKE FESTIVAL
Anyone dining at Hakkasan from September 5 to 8 will, to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, will be welcomed with a customary gift, the traditional mooncake. Named after the Moon Goddess who was said to make these kinds of cakes, Hakkasan has customised their own recipe and will serve these which mark one of China’s oldest and most respected traditions with customary Chinese tea.
Emirates Towers, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3848484. Metro: Emirates Towers. hakkasan.com/dubai
POST-BRUNCH PARTY
Societe at Marina Byblos has the launched their post-brunch party, with doors opening at 4pm. Until 8pm, partygoers can indulge in The Marshmallow, The Fab and The Candy Cane while listening to the club’s retro selection of classic hits from the 80s, 90s and 00s. There are also new movie-themed creations that will take you straight back to the days of the VHS, with classics like Cool Runnings, Pirates of the Caribbean and Point Break.
Marina Byblos Hotel, Dubai Marina, Wed 8.30pm. Tel: (050) 3571126. Metro: JLT. societe.ae
DJ ZEDD
He’s toured with Skrillex, he’s produced Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, he’s won a Grammy Award for his track Clarity and he sits in Forbes magazine’s latest DJ Rich List at No.7. All by the age of 24. It’s fair to say that Zedd, aka Anton Zaslavski, was a somewhat precocious child. Born in Germany to two classical musicians, Zedd’s enduring passion from day one was composition. “When I was six or seven years old, I started writing my own music, and recording on a keyboard and on video camera, and it just became normal for me,” he recalls. “Every day I tried to make a song, and when my parents came back from work I would present them with the song and that became my daily thing.”
Read more from the man himself right here.
Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone, Al Mina Al Seyahi, Dubai, Friday, September 5, 8pm to 3am, Dhs180 in advance, Dhs220 on the door. Taxi: Skydive Dubai. Tel: (050) 8861129. platinumlist.ae
DJ MASTERCLASS
Think the sync button is the worst invention ever? Believe that DJing is an art form and have a palette of tricks up your sleeve? The search for the Middle East’s best turntablists gets underway this week and judges are on the lookout for creativity and flair on top of mad mixing and scratching skills at the fourth annual 2014 Pioneer DJ Middle East Championships. The first two qualifying rounds take place at DJ Corner, Al Quoz, on Friday and Saturday, followed by two more qualifying battles the week after (September 12 and 13) at Eastern Commercial Agencies, in Al Maktoum Road, Deira. The final is scheduled to take place at Dubai’s Zero Gravity venue on September 25.
Read more about the event right here.
September 5 and 6
DJ Corner, Al Joud Centre, Street 15a, Al Quoz, near Sheikh Zayed Road, Friday, 6pm. Metro: Noor Islamic. Tel: (04) 3807470. facebook.com/PioneerDJMEA
NICE ICE, BABY
The monstrous No.1 Events outfit is branching out yet again, with new venture I-Scream at the popular Story Rooftop Lounge in Dubai Media City. Our very own Greg Stainer opened up this sexy little prospect with his own sought-after blend of house music, followed the week after by the Smokingroove brothers. With the best local talent lined up, this is a new weekly club night to put on your radar.
Story Rooftop Lounge, behind Zayed University, Dubai Knowledge City, every Friday, 9pm to 3am, free entry. Metro: Dubai Internet City. Tel: (056) 114 5553. yourstory@storydubai.com
MIGUEL LARA
Cavalli Club continues their season of special guest appearances with Miguel Lara. Known for playing the violin as an accompaniment to his progressive house beats, the star has performed in renowned venues around the world including Ushüaia and SuperMartxé, Ibiza and CDLC, Barcelona.
Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Tel: 8002282554. Metro: World Trade Centre. cavalliclubdubai.com
SATURDAY
DUBAI PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY
She racked up 14 top 5 singles in the UK as one-fifth of ‘90s pop sensation Steps, so Lisa Scott Lee knows a thing or two about making it in showbiz. Now the singer, who lives in Dubai with her husband, professional dancer Johnny Shentall, has established the Dubai Performing Arts Academy to share her expertise with a new generation of pop hopefuls, with the official opening this Saturday between 11am and 2pm. Open to children aged between four and 18, the school aims to equip its pupils with all the singing, dancing and acting skills they need to become future stars of stage and screen.
Fitness First, The Lakes, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4245159. Taxi: The Lakes Club. dubaiperformingarts.com
POP-UP YOGA SALE
Dubai’s only yoga and fitness apparel boutique yApparel is holding a pop-up sale at Zen Yoga. They’ll showcase the latest collections in active and lifestyle wear from popular international brands, not to mention its hugely popular psychedelic leggings collection. A second pop-up is scheduled for September 23 at the Body Tree Studio in Abu Dhabi.
BBC Building, Dubai Media City, Dubai, Fri 4pm to 8pm, Sat 10am to 2pm. Tel: (04) 3443013. Metro: Nakheel. yapparel.com
PARK YOGA
If you’re interested in yoga but are put off by pricey studios, head to Safa Park on Saturday evenings, where Dubai yogi Lakshya teaches free community classes. It’s open to all levels.
Gate 5, Safa Park, Dubai, Sat 6.30pm. facebook.com/LakshyaYoga
FREE DANCE WEEK
Try out a selection of classes from ballet to hip-hop at no cost.
James & Alex Dance Studios, Concord Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4470773. Metro: Nakheel. jamesandalex.com
WATCH MY LEFT FOOT
The Loco Motion group are screening Oscar-winning movie My Left Foot at Jam Jar in Al Quoz. The Story of Christy Brown is a 1989 Irish film directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis. It tells the true story of an Irishman born with cerebral palsy, who could control only his left foot. Christy Brown grew up in a poor, working-class family, and became a writer and artist.
JamJar, Al Quoz 3, Street 17a, Dubai. 7pm. Tel: (04) 341 7303. info@thejamjardubai.com
SELL YOUR STUFF
After condensing your life into a few suitcases to move to the UAE, it’s amazing how quickly expats accumulate clutter. If you’re running out of space, The Auction House can help. The new service auctions pre-owned household items every weekend at its Al Quoz HQ. On Fridays there’s a sale at 10am for goods under Dhs1,000, and a second at 3pm for goods over Dhs1,000. On Saturdays the 10am sale is for items over Dhs1,000 and vice versa. When What’s On went, the star lot was a king-size bed, mattress, two side tables and mirror for just Dhs700. Contact them for a free appraisal and they will collect your stuff and put it up for bidding.
4th Street, Al Quoz 4, Dubai, Fri and Sat 10am and 3pm. Tel: (800) 8243. Taxi: RnK Interiors. theauctionhousedubai.com
GET PAIN-FREE WAXING
Waxing is not near the top of anyone’s list of favourite things to do, so there’s good news in the arrival of Mancine, a wax that promises to take the pain out of hair removal. While not entirely pain free, it’s a vast improvement on its predecessors and comes in a variety of scents such as Brazilian Strawberry, Honey Comb and Brazilian Rose. Getting beach ready just got a whole lot easier.
Ibn Battuta Mall, Jebel Ali, Dubai, daily 9am to 10pm, Dhs20. Tel: (04) 3669828. Metro: Ibn Battuta.
SEAN KINGSTON
Famous for billboard hits including Beautiful Girls, Eenie Meenie, Fire Burning and Shawty’s Like a Melody, Sean Kingston – whose real name is Kisean Anderson – was last on stage in Dubai in 2013 headlining the Caribbean Carnival with fellow RnB singer Jason Derulo. His set at ARMANI/Privé will include a few of his past hits as well as music from his latest album, and its title is presumably a nod to the horrific accident he experienced in 2011, which almost claimed his life. Three years ago, he was in critical condition after crashing his jet ski into a bridge in Miami. Despite a fractured wrist, broken jaw and damage from water in his lungs, Kinston made a full recovery and his near-death experience is said to be the inspiration behind his new record Back 2 Life.
Tickets for the night at ARMANI/Privé, for which the doors are open from 10pm to 3am, are on sale now priced at Dhs100. Visit platinumlist.net.
