Thursday 10
Support your local rock heroes: Most of us have dreamed of being a rock star at some point in our lives, but the guys at this battle of the bands show tonight are actually fulfilling their fantasies. A diverse array of bands, including Flaming Trees, Coat of Arms and Danny Band, will be strumming it out for a Dhs20,000 prize and a chance to play at this year’s Yasalam concert on the beach.
Free. 7pm. Flash Forum, Yas Island
Eat like an Aussie: Chef Craig Squires returns from Down Under to the Beach Rotana’s Finz restaurant, where he’ll be cooking up some Antipodean dishes made up of authentic ingredients such as Moreton Bay bugs, Australian oysters and maybe even kangaroo. The hopping, giant marsupials may be cute, but their flesh tastes delicious.
Finz, Beach Rotana (02 697 9000)
Treat your little angels: Based on the classic children’s tale about two hares trying to quantify their love for each other, Guess How Much I Love You is a stage play that should delight the littl’uns, or at least keep them quiet for a few hours.
Children Dhs95, adults Dhs120. 4pm. Abu Dhabi Theatre. www.timeouttickets.com
Listen to jazzy French music: Can a cover band ever do the sultry, crooning vocals of Serge Gainsbourg justice? Find out tonight, at this evening of homage to the legendary Gallic singer-songwriter and actor. Jazz bands will be performing their takes on Gainsbourg’s hits including the infamous ‘Je t’aime… moi non plus’. Ooh la la.
Dhs175. March 10, 9pm. Splash Garden, Aloft hotel, Khaleej Al Arabi Street
Friday 11
Hear an emotionally charged rock band: When he’s not taking up screen time in Hollywood blockbusters such as Panic Room, Fight Club and Lord of War, Jared Leto does a nifty sideline in sending hordes of hyped up teenagers into hysterics with his band 30 Seconds to Mars. They’ll be performing at Flash Forum tonight, so expect issue-ridden lyrics, soaring choruses and rock histrionics from the three-piece as they run through hits such as ‘The Kill’ and ‘Beautiful Lie.’
Dhs150-Dhs300. Doors open 7pm. Flash Forum, Yas Island. www.timeouttickets.com
Goad on some pugilists: If you’re up for seeing some ripped blokes landing some bone crunching blows on each other, the Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship is the event for you. Among the fighters is Bob ‘The Beast’ Sapp – a guy who’s so solid he resembles a genetic cross between a human and a rhino.
Dhs120-Dhs1,200. 7.30pm. Zayed Sports City. www.timeouttickets.com
Be captivated by the classics: World renowned string fourpiece the Bennewitz Quartet are performing pieces by the big boys of the classical world – Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn – at Al Jahili Fort tonight. Not to be missed if you love the music of yesteryear.
Dhs50-Dhs100. 8pm. Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, www.timeouttickets.com
Catch carnival fever: It’s the last day of Carnival Week at Chamas, so head down to the InterCon to check out the live samba dancers doing their thing and take advantage of the Brazilian-themed happy hour (6pm-8pm).
Chamas, InterContinental, Bainouna Street (02 66 66 888)
Saturday 12
Become the next Jean-Luc Godard: If you’re a fan of French New Wave cinema, book yourself a place at the French Alliance workshop taking place today. Here, you’ll be taught about the cinematic techniques behind classic Gallic films such as A Bout de Souffle, The 400 Blows and Jules et Jim. Good French language skills are essential.
Dhs125. 2pm. French Alliance, Khalidiyah. www.timeouttickets.com (02 666 6232)
Tri harder: Anyone who undertakes a gruelling 3km swim, followed by a 200km bike ride and a 20k run deserves a round of applause in our opinion (or to get their heads checked, depending on your perspective). Head down to Emirates Palace to see some outrageously fit people take part in the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon. It kicks off at Emirates Palace and finishes off at the Corniche, so head down to support the athletes. Free for spectators.
6.20am start. www.abudhabitriathlon.com
Feast like a Maharaja: One of our fave Indian restaurants, Indigo, has invited guest chefs the Qureshi brothers to cook up some of their signature dishes this week. Sample age-old recipes with spices and flavours based on the cusine of nomadic tribes from India’s north-west frontier provinces.
Indigo, Beach Rotana (02 697 9011)
Score a digital home run: Some folk believe that bar-room gaming reached its pinnacle with the invention of the dart board. They’ve obviously not checked out Wii Night at The Tavern, where a busy, energetic crowd pair their end-of-week drinks with a more cutting edge brand of fun.
Free. From 8pm. Sheraton Abu Dhabi (02 697 0272)
Sunday 13
Get a haircut: Men, now’s your chance to smarten up your look. Kazumi Salon is offering all gents a whopping 50 per cent off, so book now for your discounted short back and sides. Offer valid all month.
Kazumi Salon, Grand Millennium Al Wahda(02 495 3940)
Drink with your fellow hoteliers: What with all those pushy guests and long hours, working in a hotel isn’t the cushiest of careers. Thankfully, Sunday is hoteliers’ night at Cubes nightclub, where selected drinks only cost Dhs15 for those who earn their keep by working in the industry.
Free. From 8pm. Cubes, One to One Hotel, Al Nahyan (02 495 2000)
Cheer on the gee gees: Get down to the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club today and you’ll be able to see some powerful Arabian horses galloping for glory along the flats.
From 4pm. Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 19th Street (02 445 5500)
Bring your baby to the cinema: Visit Cine Royal’s Mother and Baby screenings, where your infants can scream their lungs out and no one will mind. You even get free popcorn thrown in. Held every Sunday and Tuesday, this week’s showings are Rango at 10am and The Ride at 11.30am.
Dhs30. CineRoyal, Khalidiyah Mall (02 681 9444)
Monday 14
Spin at lunchtime: Find it hard to fit exercise sessions into your working week? There’s no longer any excuse, since the Sheraton is holding intense 30-minute power spinning sessions at 12.30pm. Sounds like hell? At least you’ll be back at your desk, sandwich in hand in no time.
Dhs30/35 Sheraton Abu Dhabi (02 697 0272)
Gawp at some odd-coloured tigers: Al Ain WIldlife Park, which is already home to a pair of white lions, continues its line in pasty big cats as it has just imported two white tigers. The siblings, named Sugar and Spice, are on show in the zoo now.
Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort (03 782 8188)
Get the kids active: Le Méridien Hotel has just launched a kids’ fun garden and Monday afternoon is sports-themed – a perfect chance to get the little ones away from the television set and running around.
Free. 3pm-6pm. Le Méridien (02 644 666)
Get your fill of crabs: What’s more satisfying than sitting on a patio at the beach, cracking open a freshly cooked crab and feasting on the delicate meat? Nothing, that’s what. Get your fingers sticky with Fishmarket’s Crabulous promotion, where they’ll be serving the crustaceans with a range of sauces all week.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen (02 666 6888)
Tuesday 15
Stock up on books: If you’re running short of reading matter, then get yourself over to Adnec, where the six-day Abu Dhabi International Book Fair kicks off today. Publishers from across the globe, as well as a few celebrated authors will be there to convince you to load up on literature.
9am-10pm. March 16-21. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (02 657 6180)
Have a British feast: Should any of our UK readers be missing the tastes of their motherland, then Gingers restaurant at the Park Rotana should be your port of call today. A selection of English treats will be there to alleviate your homesickness.
Dhs140. From 7pm. Park Rotana Hotel, Salam Street (02 657 3333)
Balance your body: Is your skin rough and scaly? Look like you should spend your weekends in the reptile house at the zoo rather than at the beach? Sort it out with the Sheraton’s Body Balance special offer. It starts with a 30 minute full body scrub that leaves your skin soft, and is followed by a moisturising oil massage.
Dhs390 all month. Sheraton Health Club and Spa (02 677 3333)
Watch Europe’s finest soccer teams: It’s the second leg of the UEFA Champions League last 16 games tonight, with Manchester Utd taking on Marseilles and Bayern Munich coming up against Inter Milan. Watch on TV or your favourite sports bar.
11.45pm. Al Jazeera Sports
Wednesday 16
Lust over metal: The Big Boys Toys expo rolls into town today, bringing the city four days of shiny gadgets, money-sponging gizmos and excitedly salivating grown-ups. Flip to page 68 for an idea of what to expect.
From Dhs100. Until March 19. Adnec. www.timeouttickets.com
Party near some boats: Yacht Club at the InterCon is up there with the best bars in the city, especially at this time of year when use of the marina-side terrace is still an option. Get down there tonight, when DJ Wesley Arons from the Secret Square club in Paris will me mixing the beats.
Free. From 10pm. InterContinental Abu Dhabi (02 666 6888)
Hit the dancefloor: Join in a sociable salsa class, where you can learn some hot moves and get a good workout. Classes are held by Colombian BNF dance group and you can stick around afterwards to practice.
Free. 9pm. The Village Club, One to One Hotel (02 4952 000)
See some A-list art: The capital’s galleries may have fallen a tad quiet of late, but there’s plenty going for culture nerds willing to take a short jaunt down the road to Art Dubai, a four-day fair featuring some of the biggest names in the contemporary scene.
Dhs50. Until March 19. Madinat Arena, Dubai
