Thursday 17
Experiment with objects: Head over to Qasr Al Hosn and immerse yourself in the first full-blown monographic by Hassan Sharif, the foremost contemporary artist to have emerged from the UAE. The show’s inauguration will be held tonight at 7pm.
Runs until June 17. Open daily 10am–10pm. Qasr Al Hosn Cultural Quarter Hall, Abu Dhabi, (02 657 6171).
Play with big boys’ toys: If you’re one of those lucky lads with cash to burn and time to kill, don’t miss out on the Big Boys Toys expo. There is some seriously cool, wildly expensive stuff for you to spend you hard-earned (or not so hard-earned) cash on. The rest of us can just go and drool over the in-your-dreams items, such as the pool table made out of a Mustang.
Tickets Dhs100. March 17-19, Adnec www.timeouttickets.com
Claim you’re partly Irish: That’s what everyone does on St Patrick’s Day isn’t it? Downs a few glasses of Ireland’s infamous black and white bevvy and tell anyone that’ll listen that their second cousin lives in Dublin? It’s a time-honoured custom. So dig out your daft leprechaun hat and hit one of the pubs around town that have celebratory drinks offers on tonight.
Visit www.timeoutabudhabi.com for a full round up of venues
Move to Motown: With the city’s soul music fans by now reduced to jabbering simpletons by the prospect of Stevie Wonder’s imminent arrival, free festival Magic of Motown takes over Yas Marina tonight to help fans through the final stint of the wait. Head down to check out cover band Hitsville performing, plus many more soul-inspired shenanigans.
Free. From 6pm. www.yasisland.ae
Friday 18
Sing along with Stevie Wonder: At last! Soul legend Stevie Wonder is here in the capital, and Yas Arena is set to be packed out with fans for this long-awaited gig. We can’t wait to stick our mobile phones in the air while Stevie belts out classic hits including ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)’ and ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You.’
Dhs250-650. Doors open 7pm. Yas Arena. www.timeouttickets.com
Keep the soul flowing: If you’re still buzzing after Stevie’s set and you’re wearing nice enough shoes, MustHaveSoul at Skylite is your best option for after-party action. South Africa’s DJ Black Coffee (interviewed on page 60) is this week’s guest DJ; expect the usual soundtrack of up-tempo, soul-infused hits.
Free. From 4pm. Skylite, The Yas Hotel (02 656 0000)
Keep enjoying the Craic: Yes, St Patrick’s Day may be well and truly over for another year, but if you’ve not had your fill of Irish hospitality yet, then book yourself a table
at Stars ’N’ Bars Irish-themed brunch today. Price to be confirmed.
11.30am. Stars ’N’ Bars, Yas Marina & Yacht Club, Yas Island (02 565 0101)
Fulfil the need for speed: Although the top fuel cars may have been and gone with the recent Yas Drag Racing Festival, there’s still plenty of high velocity action to enjoy at the Yas Pro Drag Racing series, as souped-up bikes and cars battle for speedy domination for your amusement.
Dhs30. Yas Marina Circuit, www.yasmarinacircuit.com (800 927)
Saturday 19
Get a fix of high culture: It’s time to immerse yourself in high art and classical music as the Abu Dhabi Festival kicks off today. This year’s event celebrates the theme, Harmony for Humanity and begins with a concert, Mozart Masterpieces, performed by Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Walloni.
8-11pm. Emirates Palace. Tickets available from www.timeouttickets.com at Dhs295-495
Breed your own Picasso: Parents of future artists rejoice! Creative Saturdays at Le Méridien are filled with lessons in cooking and music, as well as castle building, clay arts and Lego. Bring the kids, and a book.
Free. Every Saturday from 2pm. Le Méridien, Abu Dhabi (02 644 6666)
Be inundated with art: Can’t wait until next November’s Art Abu Dhabi for the chace to see hundreds of world class artists displaying their wares under one roof? Drive on up the E11 highway today as it’s public day at Art Dubai and more than 500 artists from 81 galleries in 34 countries will be on show.
Dhs50. Noon-5.30pm. Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. www.artdubai.ae
Keep partying for St Patrick: While most folk have by now packed away their novelty foam hats and shamrock specs for another year, the Irish antics are still going at Heroes. And with the boys in green taking on England in the Six Nations rugby championship at 10pm, expect the black stuff to flow well into the night.
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi (02 621 0000)
Sunday 20
Become well read: Today is the last day of the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, meaning it’s your last chance to get your hands on one of the 500,000 titles on show. There are also some cultural discussions taking place, with Arab hip hop and calligraphy being two of the subjects being considered.
Free. 9am-10pm, Adnec, Khaleej Al Arabi Street (02 657 6180)
Admire Algerian art: With works that draw heavily on his north African heritage, Rachid Koraïchi is often cited as the region’s most consistent creative talent. He’s the subject of new show ‘Path Of Roses’, which opens at Emirates Palace’s new Zaha Hadid Pavilion.
Until April 4. Emirates Palace (02 690 9000)
Catch a film abouta bureau: Apart from maybe The Accounting Office, we can’t think of a less inspiring film name than The Adjustment Bureau. Boring title aside, the movie’s on general UAE release today and apparently it’s a fast-paced thriller starring Matt Damon that has had the critics raving. The words, never, book, judge and cover come to mind.
Colour code your relationship status: It’s Singles Traffic Jam night at Eight Bar & Restaurant, where you’ll be able to meet fellow singletons, or, if you’re already spoken for, ward off unwanted advances thanks to the nifty traffic light sticker system.
Free. From 8pm (02 558 1988)
Monday 21
See some regicide: Double, double, toil and trouble… it’s not often you get the chance to watch a classic performance of Macbeth by actors from London’s Shakespeare Globe theatre. Catch the performance at Abu Dhabi Theatre.
8pm. Dhs50. www.timeouttickets.com
Have a day off from the little angels: Drop your kids off for an afternoon of Simon Says, Tug-of-War, ball games and group sports in Le Méridien Abu Dhabi’s central garden. Sporty Mondays start at 3pm and last for three hours.
Free. Every Monday from 3pm. Le Méridien, Abu Dhabi (02 644 6666)
Watch a biopic under the stars: Tonight, the alfresco Village Club will be showing Ray, the excellent movie about R&B legend Ray Charles. Jamie Foxx superbly played the blind singer, and bagged himself an Oscar for his portrayal.
Free. 8pm. One To One Hotel, Al Nahyan Camp (02 495 2000)
Thank your mum: It’s Mother’s Day, so take the chance to show your mum a little heartfelt appreciation. Whether you want to spoil her with flowers, thoughtful gifts, posh meals out or fancy spa treatments, we’ve got it covered with our round-up of the best Mother’s Day offers in the city on page 8.
Tuesday 22
Tease your brain: It may not seem like the most logical venue for a pub quiz, but we’re assured the new weekly contest at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is every bit as enjoyable as its hotel-based equivalents.
7.30pm, Abu Dhabi Golf Club (02 558 8990)
Roll some leaves: Like to surround yourself with a impenetrable fog of tobacco smoke? Then the Cigar Club at Skylite is probably your ideal night out tonight. A cigar roller from Cuba is flown in to show you how the cancer-causing giant stogies are rolled.
From 6pm. The Yas Hotel, Yas Island (02 656 0000)
Fill up for free: It might primarily be a place for the capital’s men to satiate their carnal desires for massive hunks of meat, but of a Tuesday Brazilian-themed venue Chamas also lays on a selection of free-flowing drinks for the ladies. End result: everyone’s happy.
From 7pm. InterContinental Abu Dhabi (02 666 6888)
Flex your mussels: Got a hankering for shellfish? Belgian Café has you covered – it’s serving up unlimited mussels for an extremely reasonable Dhs120.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi (02 666 6888)
Wednesday 23
Tuck into tapas: Luscious restaurant Pearls and Caviar has its Supper Club today and tomorrow. The unlimited tapas menu includes Tuna Tartare with Wasabi or Tempura Prawns with Chermoula. Delicious!
Dhs195 with selected beverages. 7pm-11pm. Shangri-La (02 509 8777)
Learn to save a life: If you want a productive way to spend the day, why not attend an internationally certified full-day CPR and First Aid class. You will need all day (seven hours) to get certified, but few things are as useful when emergencies arise.
Third Wednesday of every month. Focus Management Consultancy, (02 643 3384)
Read for kids: Spend an afternoon reading to children or competing along with your own in the Méridien’s Interactive Wednesdays. Xbox games, group reading and other fun to be had.
Free. Every Wednesday from 3pm. Le Méridien, Abu Dhabi (02 644 6666)
See some modern dance geniuses: Contemporary dance may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Push, which is showing tonight as part of Abu Dhabi Festival, sounds like a show you shouldn’t miss. The critically acclaimed show combines modern dance and ballet.
Dhs295-Dhs495. 8pm. Emirates Palace, www.timeouttickets.com
