Thursday 17
Worship Earth’s finest DJ: Looking to make amends for his ill-fated trip to the city last year, Tiësto returns to unleash a trance music marathon on the Flash Forum tonight. Since October’s cancelled show, the Dutchman has been named ‘the Greatest DJ of All Time’ by dance music bible Mixmag, making the phrase ‘better late than never’ all the more appropriate.
From Dhs150. 10pm-4am. Flash Forum, Yas Island www.timeouttickets.com
Party in style: It’s all about the R&B and house at Abu Dhabi’s original high-end nightclub, with the not very imaginatively named DJ Jack manning the decks at Étoiles this evening. As well as being able to hang out with some good-looking folk kitted out in designer clobber, you might even spot the odd celeb partying here.
Free. 11pm-3.30am. Étoiles, Emirates Palace (02 690 9999)
Tap in to Tap Out: If you’re hankering for a hoppy beverage this weekend, hail down a taxi and direct your driver to the One to One Hotel, where the two-day Big Tap Out festival kicks off today A vast array of draughts will be on sale by the glass, metre or bucket, all accompanied by live bands and other entertainment.
Free entry. 5pm-1am. One To One Hotel – The Village (02 495 2000)
See some awesome animals: The grammatically awkward Mongolian Animals Circus rolls into town today, promising monkeys on motorbikes, kangaroos in boxing gloves and – quite possibly – a llama being poked with a stick. It’s not all about exploiting defenceless critters, mind – look out for trapeze artists and fire jugglers, too.
From Dhs100. Zayed Sports City www.skyevent.ae
Friday 18
Witness a dance legend in action: Nope, unfortunately it’s not MC Hammer. As one of the most respected choreographers working in the world today, though, Akram Khan isn’t far off the brilliance of the ’90s hip hopper. See a rare performance of his latest ensemble production, Vertical Road, right here in the capital tonight.
Dhs50. www.timeouttickets.com
Make a splash: The funky folk at Immaculate Touch are hosting another of their pseudo-legendary pool parties at Centro hotel this evening. Get on board for a day of cool drinks, grilled meat and expertly mixed beats, courtesy of resident deck-smiths Natalie B, ChadPhunk, Cliff Townley and co.
Dhs50. 1pm-9pm. Centro, Yas Island (02 656 4444)
Take strides against cancer: Now in its 16th year, the Terry Fox Run is the biggest community-orientated fundraising event in the city, raising more than Dhs7 million for cancer research. Not yet registered? No worries. Head down early to the Fanzone area of the Corniche and you can still get involved with the 8km run. Registration From 7am, race starts at 10am.
www.terryfox.org
Ditch the diet: There are two luscious chocolate offers on today. You can stick marshmallows and other goodies in a dark chocolate fountain at Piano Lounge from 4pm-7pm. Meanwhile the Yacht Club is serving its chocolate desserts at a discounted rate. Worth the wobble, we’re sure.
Both offers Dhs45, InterContinental (02 66 66 888)
Saturday 19
Pitch a virtual curve ball: The Tavern pub’s Wii Olympics continues with baseball being the game of choice this evening. Strike out your opponent with some lightning fast pitches, then smash some giant home runs out the park and you’ll either be crowned champion or dislocate your shoulder.
Free. 7pm. Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort (02 677 3333)
Watch a Western epic: The Coen brothers’ latest big screen yarn, True Grit, concerns a young girl who hires a bounty hunter to track down her father’s killer. It stars Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, and has had a few Oscar nominations, so it’s got to be worth the price of a cinema ticket. Find out as it goes on general UAE release this weekend.
Get snap happy: Sick of taking dull pictures of your mates with your finger over the lens and their heads all cut off? Perfect your photography skills with an advanced conceptual masterclass from internationally renowned snapper Misha Gordin.
9am. National Theatre, www.ephotoc.net
Round off the weekend with meat: We find that the main problem with weekends is they’re far too short. So make the most of what’s left of your precious Saturday off with a lunchtime trip to Stills Bar’s terrace, where they’ll be sizzling some meat on the barbie for you to chomp on, accompanied by some live music from jazz band Atlantis Avenue.
Dhs110. Noon-4pm. Stills Bar & Brasserie, Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 656 3053)
Sunday 20
Eat more cheaply: Treat yourself twice this month at Le Royal Méridien. If you eat in either Amalfi or Al Fanar, you can dine in the other restaurant with a 50 per cent discount. Fine Italian dining and a meal with some of the best views in the city – can’t say fairer than that.
Le Royal Méridien, Khalifa Street (02 2 6742020)
Get luvved up: Tennis is a great way to stay fit and make some new friends, so why not make sure you can thrash them by taking a few lessons?
Dhs170-Dhs220. 8am-1pm; 4pm-8pm. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Bateen (02 666 6888)
Wear blue, drink free: If you’re of the fairer sex, that is. Wear something blue to Prego’s for Azzuri Ladies night, and you can sup bubbly for free.
7pm to 9pm. Prego’s, Beach Rotana, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000)
Take a zumba class: Get fit and learn to dance with a zumba class. This South American aerobic dance class will have you working up a sweat in no time. Dhs70, including access to the pool, or free for members.
6pm-7pm. Re:charge at Aloft hotel, Al Safratt (02 654 5148)
Monday 21
Get your baby fit: Join this new Mums and Bubs fitness class. A variety of cardiovascular, resistance, core strength and flexibility exercises suitable for mums and little’uns. Stick around for coffee and a chat afterwards.
Dhs60. 11am-noon, Haddins Fitness Centre (050 800 6492)
Ease your Valentine’s rage: If you’re still filled with fury at all the smooching, whispering in ears and staring into eyes that accompanied last week’s Valentine’s love-athon, get your bitter old self down to One To One for their free film night, where the appropriately titled I Hate Valentine’s Day ought to dissipate some of that anger.
Free. 8pm. One to One Hotel (02 495 2000)
Get beautiful: Head to Hairworks beauty salon, and get your tresses chopped into a stylish new ’do. They also offer mani-pedis, threading and waxing, should you want to get treated from head to toe.
2nd floor, Spinneys Khalidiyah (02 681 6678)
Stock up on books: The Logos Hope floating book fair sails out of town tomorrow, so get down to Mina Port with a fistful of dirhams and a thirst for knowledge. There are more than 7,000 titles to choose from, so expect to be sneered at like a literary pleb when you pick up a Harry Potter.
www.adach.ae
Tuesday 22
Take the stage: If you fancy treading the boards in Abu Dhabi, try out for a part in Resuscitation Theatre’s amateur production of Chekhov’s The Seagull. Booking in advance is essential. 6pm. February 22 and 23, New York Film Academy between Muroor (4th) and Airport, and 15th and 17th streets. Next to Abu Dhabi Media
Film Commission Villa.
Call Maggie Hannan (050 837 1563)
Drive fast without getting arrested: Find Abu Dhabi’s wide, straight roads make it impossible to resist the urge to put your foot down? Instead of having to pay speeding fines that resemble a Third World country’s debt, take your motor along to Yas Marina Circuit today, where you can race your car around the course with no fear of being flashed by a speed camera.
Dhs850. From 7pm. Yas Marina Circuit (800 927)
Tee off: Golf isn’t just the sport of surgeons and businessmen, nowadays it is perfectly acceptable for anyone to don their dodgiest trousers and have a go. Get some lessons so that you don’t make a complete fool of yourself.
Al Ghazal Golf Club, Capital City (02 575 8040)
Taste the high-life for free: With selected drink deals all night, girls looking for a fun midweek evening out should give popular nightclub Zenith a try.
9pm-2am. Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort (02 677 3333)
Wednesday 23
Hear a larger than average jazz group: What’s better than a band? A big band, that’s what. If you like your musical ensembles to be of the sizeable kind, make sure you don’t miss the 20-strong Abu Dhabi Big Band’s performance at One to One Hotel tonight. Dhs200, including a buffet.
8pm. One to One Hotel (02 495 2000)
Experience an alternative film fest: Today is the first day of the Heritage Film Festival, a brand new programme of outdoor movie screenings themed around national identity. Until February 27. Heritage Village, Breakwater, www.goethe.de/abudhabi
Get wet: The Abu Dhabi Hammerhead Water Polo team hold their training sessions on Wednesdays. As long as you can swim and you’re fairly fit you can join this sociable and competitive team for a practice. Sessions are fun, fast and furious.
Dhs50. 8.10pm-10.30pm AFOC, call club secretary Andy Babbayan for details (056 126 7276)
Enjoy a pre-weekend night out: If you like house, R&B and hip hop, then there are a wealth of venues across the city that will appeal. However, if you also like your nights with a touch of class (and discounted beverages) then give Carnival at Left Bank a go.
Free. 8pm till late. Left Bank, Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1680)
