Thursday 30
See the world’s number one DJ: Having been sitting at the top of DJ Magazine’s annual top 100 DJs poll for four years, Armin van Buuren is the undisputed king of dance music. Dress yourself and your chums up in something fluorescent and go see him do his thing at Flash Forum tonight.
From Dhs250. 10pm.
Exfoliate madly: Revitalise your skin with the new Exfoliating Body Polish available at The Yas Hotel’s Espa. Apricot kernels and spearmint might leave you smelling like a smoothie, but your skin will thank you for it and you’ll feel squeaky clean and satisfyingly refreshed.
Dhs199 for 200ml, Espa, The Yas Hotel (02 656 0000)
Summer-ise your wardrobe: Al Wahda Mall’s Grafika boutique has welcomed some new additions to its summer collection and is now stocking designer bags by Pakistan-born Marin Hussain, tops and dresses by Jolie, New York, and a range of funky Italian rubber watches.
Grafika, Al Wahda Mall, www.grafikauae.com (02 443 7111)
Dance yourself silly: Trance not your thing? Any clubbers not in the mood for Armin van Buuren tonight will be heading straight to Rush at The Yas Hotel for a night of R&B and hip hop anthems. Ladies and airline crew get in free before midnight, so it’s the perfect excuse to get grooving till the wee hours. And if you want to get really flash, book a VIP table.
The Yas Hotel (055 256 3212)
Friday 1
Hit the shops: The summer sales have started, and everywhere from Mango to Desigual is getting in on the act. Make sure you don’t get left with last season’s dregs by hitting Abu Dhabi malls and hitting them hard. Get your claws out and your running shoes on – time is of the essence!
Try out a new brunch: Sick of kicking your weekend off with the same old slop? The newly opened Essence at Beach Rotana has some excellent international fare on offer, with access to buffets at both Brauhaus and Benihana included in its brunch package.
Dhs195 (02 697 9000).
Be a proud American: Join AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce) and the American Community in celebrating the 235th anniversary of US independence. Tickets are Dhs350 which includes a buffet dinner, cake cutting ceremony and entertainment. Three people will also walk away with a round trip business class ticket to any destination courtesy of Etihad Airways. Not one to miss.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, for tickets e-mail events@amchamabudhabi.org
Send the kids camp: Wishing it was time for school to start again? Sick of your little ones already? How about giving your self a break and sending them to Libra Summer Camp for sports coaching, group activities and some classroom based activities. It’s suitable forages four-14 and can be booked on a weekly basis.
Dhs800 per week. Call 800 54272 for info
Saturday 2
Work on your self-esteem: If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, unsure of yourself, or just think you might be losing your mojo, head down to this workshop in the Bain Al Jessrain area for a little boost. It’s called ‘Knowing and Appreciating the Real Me’ and will explore self-esteem and positive mental attitudes to give you better techniques for dealing with everyday problems.
Email bksona@gmail.com or call 050 515 9646 for enquiries
Enjoy a weekend roast: Head down to Afya to enjoy the special roast menu featuring black angus beef specially flown in from Australia. Finish off with pastries and cakes from the dessert station for just Dhs125including two house beverages.
Traders Hotel, Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8555)
Eat a lot of curry: How about spicing up your evening with some tongue-tingling cusine at Park Rotana’s all-you-can eat deal at Ginger restaurant. It’s Indian night tonight, which means it’s just Dhs140 for all the curry, samosas, oily breads and other Subcontinental delicacies you can manage, so tuck in and fill your boots.
Ginger, Park Rotana (02 657 3333)
Remember how much you hate Culture Club: Karma karma karma karma karma chameeeeeleon. It’s a terrible song, obviously, but every time it comes on in a nightclub, you and your chums are still guaranteed to go nuts and throw yourselves about like the ’80s never ended. So for retro tunes and ironic dancing galore, get down to Eightyluscious tonight.
Free. Eight, Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 558 1988).
Sunday 3
Get the kids swimming: For Dhs275, enrol your child in the Shangri-La’s new weekly swimming courses. There are four different levels and the completion of each week’s course is celebrated with refreshments, canapés, a free T-shirt for the kids and a certificate of achievement.
The Health Club, Shangri-La (02 509 8910)
Do some home toy shopping: It’s too hot to hit the shops with a crowd of kids, that’s for sure. If you want some fun games and toys to keep them out of your hair over the summer, give online store Journey Toys a go. They have items for all ages and deliver to Abu Dhabi for free.
www.journeytoys.ae
Keep the kids busy: The Millennium Hotel’s children’s summer camp starts this week, providing a get out of jail free card to busy parents everywhere, worrying about how to keep the kids entertained during the long summer break. Prices from Dhs650 include breakfast, lunch and soft drinks so you can pack them off in the morning, worry free.
Le Club, Millennium Hotel (02 614 6000)
Get a Brazilian: We mean a Brazilian blow-dry, of course, the new hair treatment that will keep your locks sleek and straight all summer long – so no more frizzing up in the midday heat. Visit Sisters Beauty Lounge for a professional do.
Prices from Dhs1,700. Khalifa Bin Shakbout Street (02 222 2501)
Monday 4
See a beat- dropping vegan: Smooth-headed dance music leviathan Moby will be entertaining the beautiful people of Dubai tonight. Flick to page 56 to read our interview with the mild-mannered gent, then pop along Sheikh Zayed Road tonight to see him do his thing.
From Dhs200. 9pm. Dubai World Trade Centre. www.timeouttickets.com
Eat more sushi: Monday night is now sushi night at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where unlimited piscine treats are to be scoffed for Dhs135 per person. Children aged six-12 eat for a mere Dhs40 so there’s nothing stopping you from making this a family affair.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club (02 558 8990)
Invest in some handmade jewellery: Jewellery maker April Jones has recently launched her business, April Reign, selling understated, rustic pieces of jewellery. Invest in them online.
www.aprilreign.com.au
Go somewhere different for lunch: Sick of eating the same old nonsense from your local food court? Drop into Cho Gao for lunch and treat yourself to a tasty Asian stir fry for a very reasonable Dhs50. Better than a Big Mac by far.
Crowne Plaza (02 616 6149)
Tuesday 5
Laugh like a drain: Do drains laugh? Yes. Yes they do. And so will you if you get along to tonight’s Laughter Factory gig at Heroes, where Canadian gagster Glenn Wool heads up a bill that also includes Ava Vidal and veteran cockney Jeff Innocent.
Dhs130. 9pm. www.timeouttickets.com
Get advertising experience: TBWA, Twofour54 and Apps Arabia have partnered to offer a free ‘introduction to advertising class’ for people interested in entering the world of advertising. The class includes a two-week work experience programme for six of the participants. Registration is now open but places are limited so what are you waiting for?
Register at. twofour54.com
Release your inner caveman: Man up and get yourself down to Sofra Bld where you can choose different cuts of meat from the grill station to be cooked in front of your very eyes. There are fresh greens too, but greens are for girls.
Shangri-La (02 509 8555)
Eat award-winning pizza for free: You’ll need to buy one to get your freebie, but, still, for a cut-price slice of heaven from our favourite Italian, get thee to Frankie’s.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3333).
Wednesday 6
Get in some cut-price putting: Fancy a cheeky midweek round? Well, you’re in luck, because Abu Dhabi’s courses have a range of bargain summer rates, so you can get in some practice on the cheap.
Get some girly freebies: Got the midweek blues? Put some sparkle back in your life with a visit to Yacht Club, where Wednesday’s have unlimited bubbly for anyone lucky enough to be a girl. Can’t say fairer than that.
7pm-12.30am. Yacht Club, InterContinental (02 666 6888)
Make houmous: And tabbouleh. And moutabel. And shish tawook. Or possibly none of the above and something else entirely. Either way, tonight’s lesson in Arabic cuisine at Atayeb ought to be a tasty blast.
(02 656 0760)
Watch top actors in a brand new show: Award winning actors Guy Pearce and Kate Winslet are starring in hit new show Mildred Pierce. Catch it while you can.
7pm, OSN
