Things to do in Dubai this weekend
What’s On has a list of things to do in Dubai this weekend, including brunch, drinks deals, festive events, live entertainment and new openings.
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.
THURSDAY
Deacon Blue live
Deacon Blue enjoyed huge success with singles such as Real Gone Kid, Fergus Sings The Blues and Wages Day from their 1989 album When The World Knows Your Name. The band drifted apart but Ross, along with James Prime, Lorraine McIntosh and Dougie Vipond, reunited to release 2012’s The Hipsters, which went top 20 in the UK. Read an interview with the Deacon Blue.
Irish Village, Al Garhoud, Dubai, 9pm, Dhs185. Tel: (04) 2395000. Metro: GGICO. theirishvillage.com
‘Enter The Dragon’ at China Grill
The hugely popular China Grill launches a new sophisticated supperclub concept, ‘Enter The Dragon’. For just Dhs195, guests can enjoy unlimited Dim Sum, other small plates and, of course, selected drinks, while resident DJ Ivy V provides the soundtrack.
The Westin Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina, Dubai, Dhs195, 10pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 5117333. Metro: Nakheel. chinagrillrestaurant.com/dubai
Nasimi Sessions
Robin Schulz takes to the sand in front of Atlantis for the latest in the popular Nasimi Sessions series. The German underground DJ who went overground in a big way with his 2013 remix of Waves by Dutch hip-hop artist Mr Probz. Establishing himself as the go-to man to give pop songs a house kick, Schulz’s recent reworking of Prayer In C by Lilly Wood & the Prick also topped charts around the world. He was last in town in October, rocking Cielo by The Creek.
Nasimi Beach Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, Dhs195 for guys and ladies free before 9pm. Taxi: Nasimi Beach, Atlantis The Palm, Tel: (050) 8497332. platinumlist.ae
Steve McCurry – LAST CHANCE
World renowned photographer Steve McCurry is most famous for his iconic image Afghan Girl, which he took in a Pakistan refugee camp in 1984. In April he’s exhibiting his series of photos of UAE women in Dubai, entitled 7 Princesses. Read an interview with Steve McCurry here.
The Empty Quarter, Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai, Sun to Thur, 10am to 7pm, free. Tel: (04) 3231210. Taxi: Gate Village, DIFC. theemptyquarter.com
Italian drinks
Say ciao to a new themed evening of Italian drinks in Downtown. The chic Armani/Lounge is putting on canapés and drinks such as Bellinis and Negronis for its aperitvo evenings on the terrace with views of the fountains.
Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Tue and Thur 8pm to 10pm. Tel: (04) 8883888. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. armanihotels.com
New pool bar
New meets old with the opening of the Hilton’s rooftop pool bar. Sitting on the 14th floor of the hotel, The Edge does drinks and a casual menu of mezze, seafood and Arabic nibbles. But who cares about the food when you’ve got views of the Dubai skyline and the creek like these? Dubai just got a new selfie spot.
Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira, Dubai, daily 6pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 2127551. Metro: Al Rigga. hilton.com
Annie – LAST CHANCE
The Broadway musical continues tonight. The Depression-era story charts the journey of orphanage-runaway Annie, an 11-year-old in New York, who overturns her fortunes with the help of local billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Under his wing, the star wracks up an impressive collection of new friends, including the President of the United States. Meet the stars of Annie here.
Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3666546. Taxi: Souk Madinat. madinattheatre.com
FRIDAY
Try rare Ethiopian coffee
A new coffee boutique will serve the world’s first batch of Ethiopian Gesha coffee. Mokha 1450 supports female coffee farmers in Yemen and Ethiopia.
Aswaaq Centre, Al Wasl Road, Dubai, daily 7am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 3216455. Taxi: Next to Life Pharmacy. mokha1450.com
Cassy at Provocateur
Cassy Britton is something of a unique case in electronic music. She manages to please both chin stroking underground ‘heads’ in the bowels of Berlin’s finest clubs, but she also sends kids in muddy English fields bat crazy. Whether headlining Panorama Bar or Creamfields, then, she always has the right record for the right situation. Those records are mostly of a house and techno persuasion, can come with a touch of party or a plunging depth to them, and are always expertly sequenced. Straight from the Beatport Top Ten they are not; carefully dug out over the course of a long career they most certainly are. Read more from Cassy here.
Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, 10pm to 3am, free. Taxi: Four Seasons Resort. provocateurdubai.com
Manuel Tur at De.Con.Struct
De.Con.Struct holds its second event tonight at The Basement, hot on the heels of their brilliant launch a fortnight ago, with Danny Howells. German DJ Manuel Tur as well as UAE House favourite Raxon take to the decks, with the former using the night as preparation for big sets in Berlin and London later this month.
The Basement, Boutique7 Hotel & Suites, TECOM, Dhs100, 10pm to 3am. Taxi: Boutique7. facebook.com/deconstruct.music
Apollonia at Eden
Apollonia, the French trio of Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky, are vinyl collectors, players and lovers in every sense. Throwing down immaculate house and righteous techno on wax is second nature to the Gallic DJ collective. On the eve of international Record Store Day, the lads play at Dubai’s Eden Beach Club. Hear what they have to say with this Apollonia interview.
Apollonia at Eden Beach Club, Rixos Hotel, The Palm, 10am to midnight, free. Taxi: Rixos Hotel. facebook.com/edendubai
Try a new chef’s table
Capanna Nuova, the Italian restaurant at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort, has launched a chef’s table. Chef Francesco meets guests, asks about dietary preferences and then whips up dinner for up to four guests. Prices are between Dhs280 and Dhs330 per person and the table must be booked in advance.
Dubai Marine Beach Resort, Jumeirah, Dubai, daily 7pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3461111. Taxi: Opposite Jumeirah Mosque. dxbmarine.com
Dubai Collective at Pacha
Pacha is ready to go all day and all night, throwing open its doors for a monster 11-hour session featuring the very best of Dubai. A who’s who of mix masters from the region will take to the decks in both the main room (11pm to 3am) and up on terrace (4pm to 3am). Expect the likes of Charl Chaka, David Craig, Arcade 82 (Live), Marko Smokingroove and Greg Stainer.
Pacha Dubai, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 4pm to 3am. Taxi: Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Tel: (050) 8861129. platinumlist.net
SATURDAY
Piknic Electronik
The Piknic Electronik festival is settling in well on the UAE’s musical landscape. And the third event today sees one of the My Favorite Robot trio racing from the massive Californian festival Coachella to play in Dubai the very next day. My Favorite Robot are DJs and producers Jared Simms, James Teej and Voytek Korab, known for their deep and moody synth tracks and their record label of the same name. After Coachella, Voytek heads to the UAE, where hopefully he’ll play Glass To The End and Magneto, at the family-friendly festival. Read more about Piknic Electronik here.
Sports Village, Dubai Sports City, Saturday, April 18, 3pm to 11pm, Dhs130 in advance, Dhs150 on the door, under-12s free. Taxi: Dubai Sports City. facebook.com/PiknicElectronikDubai
Part With Your Art
Do you ever find yourself looking at a piece of art on your wall at home and thinking, “I don’t like that anymore.” On the other hand, maybe you find yourself at home staring at a blank wall thinking, “I really need some art to brighten up this place.” Both parties can help the other by engaging with a new art fair in Dubai. Part With Your Art is a five-day event in which regular folk can buy or sell pieces of art at prices to suit all budgets. If you’re a seller you must submit the details of your piece (size, price, frame) and describe what type of art it is (oil, watercolour, photograph, acrylic) by April 11. If you’re a buyer simply go to the fair at Iris in The Oberoi Hotel this month and see what grabs you.
Iris, The Oberoi, Business Bay, Dubai, 4pm to 2am, free. Tel: (056) 9511442. Metro: Business Bay. irisdubai.com
Pik-Nik at The Westin
It may be spelt with a ‘k’ but the new ‘pik-nik’ at The Westin involves a hamper of food, a blanket and a lawn so we’ll let the quirky spelling slide this time. Dhs390 gets you bread, cheese, charcuterie, and salads for four people, or grab a burger and hot dog from the BBQ. Children can learn circus skills and a guitar duo add to the chilled atmosphere.
The Westin, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai, 11.30am to 4pm, Dhs390. Tel: (04) 3994141. Taxi: The Westin. westinminaseyahi.com
