Deals, events, new openings, free stuff! Here’s your weekend sorted…

The great news is that in only a few hours it will be a long weekend. Hurrah all around. Here’s a line up of what Dubai has to offer over the next four days.

Fill your boots…

Wednesday 4

1. Take the kids to Wild Wadi, for free

Wild Wadi Waterpark is offering free access for all UAE residents under 12 until May 30 (just from Saturday to Thursday, so not on Fridays). While Tantrum Alley may be too scary for little ones, there are a lot of family-friendly rides, including Flood River and the Juha’s Dhow and Lagoon play area. To make sure you get the free tickets bring along the National UAE ID card of those under 12 (and then you’ll have to pay the Dhs275 entry for yourself, of course).

Wild Wadi, near Burj Al Arab, Al Sufouh Road. 10am to 7pm, Saturday to Thursday. Tel: (04) 348 4444. More information on website. 

2. Shop and sip

Tonight My Ex Wardrobe are putting on a bit of a market at the excellent watering hole Cocktail Kitchen – there will be 10 rails of clothes to browse, as well as shoes and bags and two free drinks for all shoppers (dangerous).

Cocktail Kitchen, Cluster P, JLT, 7pm to 10pm, free entry. More info on Facebook.

3. Celebrate the dearly beloved

The Music Room is hosting a Prince tribute night to celebrate the late legend (we may get emotional). House band Evolver will be covering a selection of funk and rock classics – including the late Prince’s greatest hits. Then, DJs James Locksmith and Rick Prior will dig deep into Prince’s musical vaults to play his originals, remixes, B-sides and some rare finds (they’ll be joined by vocalist Simonne Cooper). Plus, all of the proceeds from the door – and some of the bar takings – will be donated to Autism Rocks, a charity that brought Prince to Dubai last year (and that the man himself supported).

The Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai. 6pm to 3am, free entry before 10pm, Dhs50 after. More info on Facebook. 

Thursday 5

4. Visit a new beachside cafe

The Brass – a specialist coffee house with a branch already in City Walk – has just opened up at The Beach opposite JBR. To celebrate they’re going to host a brass band and live coffee painting from Wednesday to Saturday this weekend from 5.30pm. The band includes the sax, the clarinet, the tuba and the drums – while the coffee painting involves transforming a canvas using the leftover grind.

The Beach, opposite JBR, Dubai Marina. From 5.30pm this Wednesday to Saturday. Tel: (04) 385 6971. More info at website. 

5. Celebrate Cinco De Mayo

May 5th is when Mexico celebrates its 1862 victory over the French during a battle on their home turf, and Cinco De Mayo has become a bit of a party day in Mexico. To celebrate, gorgeous Mexican spot Maya is putting on a fiesta, doing Dhs35 margarita deals and serving up guac’ and tacos via special cooking stations. There’s also been talk of sombreros.

Maya Modern Mexican Kitchen & Lounge, Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah, 7pm to midnight. Tel: 04 316 5550. More info on website.

6. Brunch and bunk

The Pullman JLT is serving up a pretty fantastic offer this month – brunch with soft drinks plus a night’s stay in a hotel room for just Dhs299 per person (well, excluding 20 per cent for municipality and service fees). You can stay on a Thursday night and go for the Friday Jazz brunch, or stay on a Friday and try the traditional Saturday roast brunch. You can also opt to pay Dhs424 per person to add selected beverages into the mix. Pre- or post-brunch you can relax by the hotel’s pool, or use the complimentary access to Riva Beach Club on the Palm Jumeirah.

The Pullman JLT, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, from Dhs299, available for Thursday or Friday stays until June 4. Tel: (04) 567 1100 – quote WKNDBRNCH when reserving. More info on website. 

Friday 6

7. Celebrate how they do in the South at P&Bs

This Friday US-inspired smokehouse Perry & Blackwelder’s is throwing a bit of a party that means unlimited smoked barbecue and a bucket of brew for Dhs225 per person (the à la carte menu will be available too). There will also be live music, a graffiti artist and other drinks specials on offer. Should be good fun.

Perry & Blackwelder’s, Souq Madinat Jumeirah, 12pm to 1am Friday May 6. Tel: (04) 366 6197. More info on website. 

8. Do yoga under the new moon (for free)

There will be a three hour session of vinyasa, yin yoga and then pranayama and meditation at Dubai Internet City tonight in honour of the new moon. The event starts with Vinyasa flow – which is active yoga – at 4pm. You’ll then get to try yin yoga at 5.10pm, which is all about deep stretching. Then, at 6.15 the class will turn into a breathing and meditation practice. One thing’s for sure, you’ll leave feeling pretty tip top and definitely very zen.

Dubai Internet City Ampitheatre. 4pm to 7pm, free, just make sure to register here. More info on Facebook.

9. Audition for your big theatrical moment

Fancy yourself a bit of a Dench or Pacino? Well, a local theatre company is putting on auditions for their upcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire this weekend. The play will be on stage in September, but they’re looking for their leads (as well as their supporting cast) now. All you have to do is turn up to The Junction from 7pm to 10pm tonight or tomorrow night with a monologue (which you’ll find here) prepared. Haven’t seen the iconic movie adaptation of the play? Don’t worry – the director would prefer if you haven’t seen it because it “affects artistic interpretation”.

The Junction, Alserkal Avenue, 7pm to 10pm today and tomorrow. More info on Facebook.

10. Go to an extra-lengthy brunch

Loca has just made their brunch longer – by an hour – and cheaper – by Dhs80. Good deal! This means you can now partake in unlimited Mexican food and selected bevvies for Dhs270. This is a good option for those of you who find last orders coming at around 3.40pm particularly painful. The brunch runs at both branches, and all the favourites from the Loca menu are served, while there’s also the opportunity to ‘make your own taco’.

Loca, Souq Al Bahar and Dubai Marine Beach Resort, 12pm to 5pm every Friday. Tel: (04) 346 1111 (Dubai Marine). Tel: (04) 449 4455 (Souq Al Bahar). More info at website.

11. Celebrate interesting sounds

This afternoon new MOE bar Brunswick Sports Club is hosting an afternoon in celebration of local music podcast Motellacast (click on the link above to listen to some of its tunes). The podcast is all about finding new sounds from unknown producers, and so its founder DJ MoCity has rounded up five local guest DJs and musical curators for tonight. They’ll bring us many different types of music over the afternoon at the sports bar – and include Dan Greenpeace, essarai and Emote.

Brunswick Sports Club, Sheraton, Mall of the Emirates. 2pm to 8pm, free entry. More info on Facebook.

12. Vibe with one of dance music’s original superstars

Carl Cox is the type of DJ with fans on every continent – he’s a festival headlining act, and he’s making his Blue Marlin UAE debut this weekend. Expect quick, slick mixing and an infectious energy that will leave the whole crowd pumped.

Golden Tulip, Al Jazira Hotel, Ghantoot. 1pm to 11pm, free guestlist. More info on Facebook.

13. Then see a Swedish techno legend at the decks

Once you’re done at Blue Marlin with Carl Cox – and still all amped up – make your way to Emirates Golf Club to see another techno lifer’, who, in the words of our sister mag Hype “has remained very much more in the underground, with a vast discography that has provided DJs and dancers with club ready dynamite ever since 1992”. The Swede is all about functional, rhythmic techno – and has always shunned passing fads. His set is likely to be one that leaves you entranced in its wake.

Groove on the Grass, Emirates Golf Club, Sheikh Zayed Road. 5pm to 3am, Dhs180 to Dhs240. More info on Facebook.

Saturday 7

14. Have a reality TV fandom moment

Fan of Arabic language TV show The Voice Kids? Well the stars of the show will be singing at Mirdif City Centre’s Central Galleria at 6pm tonight. The winner, Lynn Al Hayek will be there – at just 12, the Lebanese singer won the show after no previous musical training.

Mirdif City Centre, Mirdif, 6pm, free. More info on Facebook. 

15. Hone your photography skills

From today until Monday at Dubai World Trade Centre you’ll find Photography LIVE – an event that will be packed with seminars and interactive experiences to help amateur and professional photographers improve their work. Head here to see who will be on the centre stage and what workshops will be running throughout the three days.

Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road. Register online for free. More info on Facebook.

16. Help workers out in the heat

Today is the first ‘Water for Workers’ of 2016. What is this, you ask? Well, turn up at Collegiate American School in Umm Suqeim at 10am on Saturday (with your own transport) and you’ll then be given water and facecloths, will choose an area from a list and then drive off to hand out the hydration. Around 10,000 bottles of water and 10,000 face cloths will be given out on the day.

Collegiate American School, Umm Suqeim (map here). More info on website.

Enjoy the long weekend team!

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