Thursday 26
Sample Korean delicacies: It’s Korean night at Silk Route Café which means all the firey flavours you can manage – think spicy kimchi, grilled meats, hot soups and other regional specialities. The buffet is priced at just Dhs125 per person so fill your boots!
7-10.30pm Silk Route Café, Holiday Inn (02 657 488)
See DJ Roberto Mermand: Cutting edge house music DJ Roberto Mermand who hold residency at a number of major clubs in Dubai will be debuting tonight in Abu Dhabi. So if you’re in the mood for loud sounds and sick beats head down to Relax@12 and get to dancing.
Free entry, 8pm-late, Aloft Hotel (02 654 5138)
See an alternative musical: Although Urinetown is a musical set in a public bathroom, we have it on good authority that it’s much more than just toilet humour. The show won three Tony Awards when it was first performed in New York ten years ago, and tells the story of an oppressed under-class rebelling against an evil, controlling corporation. Go see.
Dhs50. 8pm. Also showing May 27, 3pm and 7.30pm; May 28 at 3pm. Al Muna Primary School. www.timeouttickets.com
Sign up for Boot Camp: The Original Fitness Co.’s military-style boot camps are infamous in Abu Dhabi for their punishing workouts. Sign up now for their next course (which starts on Sunday 29th) and you get a 50 per cent discount. Book now before they sell out!
OFC (02 406 9404) www.originalfitnessco.com
Friday 27
Soak up the party: It’s getting hot, and when it gets hot people tend to head to water. Aloft has water, and wants you to dance around it all night long, so head down there tonight for the Rain Pool Party with plenty of competitions and prizes to be had.
Dhs100 gets you two drinks, ladies get in for free. 6pm-late, VIP areas require booking (02 654 5013)
Win a free trip to Paris: If you spend over Dhs150 at La Brioche (easy to do if you’ve got a soft spot for good pastries and cakes), you’ll be entered into a raffle draw to win a trip for two to romantic Paris. Now wouldn’t that be nice? And if you don’t win, at least you’ll have a sackload of food to console yourself with while watching romantic comedies. Bon appetit!
La Brioche, Khalifa Street (02 626 9300)
Toast a legendary pub: Popular expat watering-hole Heroes celebrates reaching the grand old age of 14 tonight. And in typical British teenager style it’ll be marking the occasion by staying up late, knocking back the cold ones and listening to deafeningly loud music. As ever, you’re invited, and if you’ve already spent half your life there, what’s one more night?
Crowne Plaza (02 621 0000)
Feast like a caveman: If you like your Friday brunch low on carbs and big on glistening lumps of seared flesh, strap on a bib and get to Chamas. Smoked beef, chicken wings and lamb chops are all available in intimidating quantities, while there’s also a very impressive salad bar for meat-deniers. Simply sit back, fill up and wait for the protein-induced coma to kick in.
Dhs295 with free-flow beverages. InterContinental (02 666 6888)
Saturday 28
Buy a one-of-a-kind purse: If you’re bored of the same old conventional handbags and want something a little brighter to sling over your shoulder this summer, visit Grafika at Al Wahda Mall to browse their collection of Zorar bags. You’ll find funky totes covered in buttons, badges and all sorts of other quirky ornaments. Best of all they’re spacious enough to carry all your summer essentials.
Prices start at Dhs250. Grafika, Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7111)
Bend space-time: How one hour can last all night we’re not entirely sure, and physicists are still deliberating; but while the eggheads figure it out amongst themselves, the folks at Wakataua are busy partying, and want you to join. Happy hour at Wakataua lasts all night long every Sunday, that’s 25 per cent off all beverages. And they’ll even throw in a live DJ.
7pm-1am, Le Méridien Abu Dhabi (02 644 6666)
Thai up your lunch: You want Thai. You want it now, you want it cheap, and you want it quick: Talay is there for you. Throughout the month of May, Talay serves up an express Thai lunch (one main course and one dessert) at a discounted rate. But call in advance and book to avoid disappointment.
Dhs95 plus tax, 12.30pm-3pm, Le Méridien Abu Dhabi (02 644 6666)
Snaffle half-price takeaway: Last year, we named Spaccanapoli’s metre-long pizza the finest slice in the city. Today, you can sample its cheesy delights half-price (along with the rest of the restaurant’s pizza selection) between 4pm-7pm. Just remember to check that your doorway’s wide enough before ordering.
Crowne Plaza (02 616 6261)
Sunday 29
Be a water babe: Meet other mums to be at this Aqua Natal class, a series of gentle and soothing exercises in water that promotes physical wellness during pregnancy. A great way to stay in shape and socialise with other expectant mums.
Dhs100. 9-10am. Abu Dhabi Golf Club (02 445 9600)
See Emirati art: An exhibition of work by Emirati painter Abdulaziz Al Fadli has just been unveiled at Khalidiyah Palace. Head along to check out his brightly-coloured, high-contrast works and maybe even bag a piece for yourself.
Free. Until June 19. Khalidiyah Palace Rotana (02 657 0000)
See F1 take to the streets: It’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend – the most glamorous fixture on the F1 calendar. Red Bull’s Mark Webber won last year’s race, and with the Aussie in fine form, expect him to be pushing teammate Sebastian Vettel all the way to the chequered flag.
4pm. AD Sports
Blast the fat: Some people may want to party tonight, but you know better; summer’s coming up and there’s cellulite to be dealt with. Throughout May the Sheraton is offering a full cellulite treatment including body scrub, a 70 minutes algae package and a soothing body lotion.
Dhs450, Sheraton Abu Dhabi (02 697 0272)
Monday 30
Maybe win money: Accumulators Night is a brand new party at Hemingway’s that gives you the chance to win a tasty Dhs1,000. Simply pick up your free ticket on the way in, and if your number is called out at 10pm, you win the booty. If not, it’s rolled over to next week. Clever, see?
Hilton Abu Dhabi (02 692 4567)
Flex those musselsLike mussels? Love mussels? Stills has an all-you-can-eat mussel night tonight and they’re betting you can’t clean them out. Bring your appetite and some change, and prove them wrong.
Dhs99 plus tax, 7pm-midnight. Stills, Crowne Plaza Yas Island, reservations recommended (02 656 3053)
Ride a horse: Learn to gallop with the best of them, by taking a horse riding lesson at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. One of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors while it’s still cool enough.
Dhs50 Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (02 445 5500)
Try a new menu: Executive Sous Chef Juan Pablo has created a new and exciting tapas menu for the Bravo Spanish Tapas Bar, with dishes such as dates stuffed with blue cheese, pineapple and shrimp skewers, and a large selection of paellas and Spanish cheeses.
Open daily, 6pm-12.30pm, Sheraton Abu Dhabi (02 677 3333)
Tuesday 31
See some totally hilarious women: Forget the touring comics who spend a few days in the UAE, make a few gags about how hot it is and fly out again. All the performers at the all-female Funny Girls show tonight live in the UAE and will be cracking jokes, tap-dancing and singing songs.
Free. 8.30pm. Cooper’s (02 657 3333)
Fill your box: There’s something so efficient about bento boxes, something that makes us think of precision Japanese engineering. And while we’ll never be that efficient, we can at least steal their good ideas for our Wokcano bento box combo dinners.
Dhs99 for a singles box, Dhs189 for a double, both with open Chinese green tea, (02 495 2000)
Ship off the kids: Some call it a summer camp, but serious parents call it ‘a place to ship off the kids and get some peace and quiet.’ If your little angels are a handful, let the Hilton take care of them this summer. Registration for the Hilton Summer Camp has started for all kids aged four to 12. Dhs170 per day, or Dhs800 per week, both inclusive of activities and lunch.
Sunday to Thursday 9am-3pm (02 692 4205)
Sing ‘It’s raining men’ And any other cheesy anthems you can remember the tune of after a few drinks.
11pm onwards. Sax (02 674 2020)
Wednesday 1
Beat the heat: Think the summer sun is the perfect excuse to slump in front of a DVD? No chance. Zayed Sports City’s special summer offer begins today. For just Dhs100 you get access to all sports facilities and activities for a single rate including ice skating. bowling and entrace to Haddin’s gym. The kids rate is just Dhs50 per day.
ZSC (02 403 4200)
Make the kids putt: If you’re running out of ideas to keep the kids busy this summer, why not send them off to the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and teach them some golf. They may resist it now but when they putt their way to CEO in 20 years, they’ll love you for it.
Dhs175 per session (requires reservation) or Dhs595 per week. Sundays to Wednesdays, 8.30am-10.30am, (02 557 8000)
Watch arty shorts: Short attention span and a penchant for arty cinema? Get down to Marina Mall this evening, where Alliance Francaise is presenting an evening of thought-provoking short films.
Free. From 7pm. CineStar, Marina Mall. www.af-aboudabi.net
Sup free bubbly: It’s ladies’ night at Yacht Club, with glassfuls of your favourite fizzy stuff being handed out for nothing between 8pm-11pm. You’ll need to fork out for is a cab fare and, if you’re a man, a shave and convincing wig.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi (02 666 6888)
