Summer in Abu Dhabi

June 1

Tuesday
Morning: Start the month as you start your mornings: with a coffee. Downtown, we’re currently keen on Second Cup (Najda Street), where the wi-fi is free and the air-con brisk.
Out in the wilds of Khalifa City, however, ours is a fresh baguette with cheese and a frothy cappuccino at La Brioche (02 626 9300). Open daily 7am-11.30pm.
Family

Midday: You’ll want to cool down after all that coffee and chat, so get on over to the Armed Forces and Officers’ Club for a spot of indoor swimming. It’s one of the only public indoor pools in the capital, and it even has a slide for the little ’uns to enjoy.
Al Maqtaa (02 441 5900). Day rates: adults, Dhs100; kids ages 3-12, Dhs50; babies swim for free.
Family

Evening: The folks at The Dome have their Nations Football 7s well under way. Featuring some of the keenest football fans you ever did meet, tonight is the second evening of their 16-group stage, meaning that eight nations have already bitten the dust. Grab your flag and show some support.
The Dome@Rawdhat, opposite Zayed Sports City, Airport Road (056 106 4178).
Family

June 2

Wednesday
Morning: It’s all about ‘informal coffee and chat’ when the Abu Dhabi Ladies get together. Food costs Dhs40, but the chat is free.
Every Wednesday morning, 10am-noon, until your jaw falls off. Jazz Bar, Hilton, Corniche (050 886 3841).
Ladies only

Midday: The Qureshi Brothers are responsible for some of India’s finest restaurants. They’ll be cooking lunch and dinner (until 11.30pm) in Abu Dhabi between June 1 and 7; a must for spice fiends.
Indigo, Beach Rotana (02 697 9334).
Adults Only

June 3

Thursday
Evening: It’s one for the night owls this Thursday, as Charles Schillings, French DJ extraordinaire, takes no prisoners at the Yacht Club (InterContinental Hotel; 02 666 6888). Elsewhere, the more comically named DJ Lethal rules the roof at relax@12 (Aloft; 02 654 5138), currently the city’s hippest nightspot.
Ladies Night

June 4

Friday
Afternoon: The month’s first day of rest, or so you thought… Drive over to the Spacewalk launch pad and partake in a spot of indoor skydiving. First-time flyers can book in for Dhs180, but we recommend the party package, allowing up to 12 of you to ‘jump’ for Dhs1,700.
The ceiling’s the limit! Abu Dhabi Country Club (02 446 3653). Open daily 2pm-11pm.
Family

Evening: The rooftop bastion that is Level Lounge is holding a three-night summer fiesta as a last bash before everyone heads off to cooler climes. Running from June 3-5, they’re promising special drinks offers and international DJs galore. The weekend’s hottest ticket? Could well be.
Crowne Plaza, Hamdan Street (02 621 6143).
Adults only

June 5

Saturday
Midday: It’s Saturday, so you’ll be wanting a lie in. Once you’re on your feet, gather your hombres for an afternoon of bowling. The city has alleys in abundance, but we like the 40-lane Khalifa Bowling Centre (02 403 4648; Dhs10 per game, per person), where you can start your afternoon with a meal at the reasonably priced (and surprisingly attractive) Big Noodle Bowl on the second floor. If you want something a little more up to the minute, the six-lane alley next door to Wanasa Land (Al Wahda Mall; 02 443 7654; Dhs10 per person, per hour) is as high-tech as it gets.
Family

Evening: Fancy a dance frenzy, Arabian style? Top night out, Viva Arabia, is back, this time with a belly dancer, featuring local sounds to keep you moving all the night long. Local gents best leave your yollah sticks at home – it’s not that kind of Arabian gig, apparently.
Zenith, Sheraton Abu Dhabi (02 697 0224).
Adults only

June 6

Sunday
Evening: Perhaps the hottest news on the Dhabi dinning scene this summer, Emirates Palace has recently become the home of Hakkasan. Already established in London, where it became the first Chinese restaurant to earn a Michelin star, the local version comes complete with its own side entrance and valet parking. Definitely a dressing-up occasion.
Hakkasan, Emirates Palace (02 690 7999). Open daily, 6pm-2am.
Adults only

June 7

Monday
Evening: The World Cup is almost here, or hadn’t you heard? Get in the mood by shopping for necessary items. For football shirts, head to Mina Mall, where the anonymous clothing shop to the right of the food court offers cut price kits of dubious heritage that certainly look the part. For the latest in football video games, Hamed Centre (Elektra Street, next to Ponderosa Steak House) has everything you need, on every platform. The produce may or may not have come from a genuine factory, but it all seems to work just as well. Bargaining for it all is par for the course, of course. Make sure you wear your nerves of steel – flinch and you lose.
Family

June 8

Tuesday
Morning: Nilofer Safdar has attracted a comfortable crowd of like-minded folk via ww.meetup.com. Once a week, she overseas seminars on various forms of emotional wellbeing, this morning’s aiming to help you build a thriving and loving relationship via meridian tapping techniques (MTT). In Chinese medicine, the meridian lines are thought to carry your ‘chi’ (energy) throughout the body. Like acupuncture, many people believe that tapping these will have positive effects on both your outlook and your physiology.
There’s only one way to find out. 11am-1pm; Dhs30 per person. Call Nilofer on 050 864 0174 for location information.
Adults only

Evening: The city’s educators get a chance to wind down at PJ’s this evening, as our favourite Irish bar opens up for Teachers’ Time Out (no, it’s nowt to do with us). Every teacher gets a free drink on arrival, so remember to bring your mortar boards – we can’t imagine how else they’ll be able to tell you apart.
PJ O’Reilly’s, Le Royal Méridien (02 674 2020); 4pm-10pm.
Adults only

June 9

Wednesday
Evening: DJ Hosse boards the Yacht Club, complete with his R’n’B collection, for the first of three nights on the decks. An InterCon regular, you know where you are with the man Hosse.
The Yacht Club, InterContinental Hotel (02 666 6888).
Adults only

June 10

Thursday
Afternoon: We pity the fool who neglects to see The A-Team this summer. Catch up with Templeton Peck (AKA, Bradley Cooper) and his team of crack commandos on p52, and for the latest cinema times, make sure you click on www.timeoutabudhabi.com. Now don’t say we do nothing for you!
Adults only

Evening: On the eve of the World Cup (yes, it starts tomorrow, and, like kids at Christmas, we won’t be able to sleep), arguably the best place to be will be at the Nations 7s football final over at Dome@Rawdhat (see June 1). Kicking off at 7pm, the nocturnalists among you will be keen to grab a taxi over to relax@12 afterwards, for DJ David Craig’s first night in the capital.
Prepare for a big one. Relax@12, Aloft Hotel (02 654 5138).
Adults only

June 11

Friday
Morning: Spend your morning at Khalifa Park’s Maritime Museum. For a mere Dhs3 (kids below three go free), you get to ride a time train that traces the history of Abu Dhabi from Bedouin 7,000 years ago, right up to traffic congestion on Hamdan Street. Oh, and there’s a surprisingly decent aquarium in there, too. Well worth your time. Khalifa Park, next door to Park Rotana Hotel.
Family

Evening: There’s little point in advising anything else… From 6pm (UAE time), the majority of the city will be in front of a TV screen as the 19th FIFA World Cup opens in Johannesburg, South Africa. Opening ceremonies dispensed with, the first match will be South Africa Vs Mexico, with the Uruguay Vs France game beaming live from Cape Town at 8.30pm, our time. So begins a month of mayhem. For more info on where to watch the games.
Adults only

Late: Step On at Heroes gives you, the city’s indie community, a chance to get your rocks off. Expect Oasis, Blur, Supergrass, et al.
Heroes, Crowne Plaza, Hamdan Street (02 616 6132).
Adults only

June 12

Saturday
Morning: You knew it was coming, so let’s get it over and done with. Ice skating is unnaturally popular for a country brought up on desert traditions, but it does bring with it a kind of cool aid. We’re fans of Abu Dhabi Ice Rink – from marauding kids to flailing first timers, there’s room there for everyone.
Abu Dhabi Ice Rink, Zayed Sports City (02 444 8458). Open daily, 10am-10pm; ladies’ day, Thu, 10am-5pm. Dhs25 per person, including skate hire.
Family

Evening: DJ David Craig keeps the beat going over at Cinnabar (Abu Dhabi Hilton; 02 681 1900), but most of the city’s expats will be gathering around a video screen for England Vs USA (10.30pm). If you want to combine the two, Hemmingway’s is running FIFA Fever specials throughout the month.
Adults only

June 13

Sunday
Morning: Been meaning to get more involved with the local culture? Stop meandering and try out an Arabic calligraphy class on the ground floor of the National Theatre.
Classes run every Sunday morning (10am-noon) and evening (6pm-8pm), ladies only. Men can get involved on Tuesday evenings from 6pm-8pm. Dhs400; call 02 657 6355 for more info.
Adults only

Evening: Start the evening with a meal out at the Crowne Plaza’s latest Italian venture, Spaccanapoli (02 616 6261; dinner reservations, 7pm-11pm). Their Asian fusion restaurant, Cho Gao, has been a huge hit with Dhabi’s foodies, so we expect great things from their new Italian eatery. Following that, why not hot foot it to Dhabi’s only German bar, Brauhaus (Beach Rotana; 02 697 9118), where the Germany Vs Australia match (10.30pm kickoff) will put paid to any sense of romance you achieved over dinner.
Adults only

June 14

Monday
Morning: Time to get your creative brain out – silk and glass painting are both stalwarts of the Arabian artistic tradition, and you’re heading down to the National Theatre this morning to scrub up on both of them. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am-1pm. Dhs400 per person. Call 02 657 6355 for more info.
Adults only

Evening: You could do worse than heading back to Heroes this evening for their weekly quiz night (9pm) and then getting yourself a comfy seat for the day’s big game, Italy Vs Paraguay (10.30pm kickoff). If work schedules mean little to you, start the evening at 4.30pm, when house beverages are served at Dhs15 (until 8.30pm).
Heroes, Crown Plaza, Hamdan Street (02 621 0000).
Adults only

June 15

Tuesday
Morning: Pack your knitting needles; this one is for Dhabi’s budding Stella McCartneys. Fashion designing classes run at the National Theatre on Mondays (10am-1pm), Tuesdays (10am-1pm) and Thursdays (5pm-8pm). Why waste money at the summer sales when you can sew your own?
Dhs500; call 02 657 6355 for more info.
Adults only

Evening: There’s only one place in town worth watching Brazil kick off their World Cup campaign. Head over to Chamas, grab yourself one of their five for the price of four bottle buckets (Dhs140) and watch the absolute mauling that will be Brazil Vs North Korea.
Chamas, InterContinental; 02 666 6888.
Adults only

June 16

Wednesday
Morning: Keeping with the creative theme this week, we recommend a trip to the Ghaf Gallery, where the Express Yourself in 30” by 30” exhibition is hoping to focus on a variety of work, both international and local. We’re excited by the hodgepodge nature of this event; any artist is allowed to enter, whether they’re an Emirati painter or a San Franciscan beat poet. All they have to do is stick to the size restrictions.
To submit to the exhibit, or just to visit, contact Ghaf Art Gallery, Khalidiyah (02 665 5332).
Family

Evening: Many footie fans are predicting a big win for Spain at the FIFA World Cup this year, and their campaign gets underway tonight. Start your evening with a meal at Bravo Tapas Bar, the capital’s only Spanish eatery, then grab a place by the pool to watch the big game. Spain Vs Switzerland kicks off at 10.30pm.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 697 0224).
Adults only

June 17

Thursday
Afternoon: Spend the morning waxing on, waxing off (we’re talking car washing here), and the afternoon watching the all new Karate Kid movie. With this, as well as the likes of Robin Hood and The A-Team, it seems as though 2010 will be remembered as the summer of the reboot. But it’s been a while since Jackie Chan did anything worthwhile, and previews suggest this may be a return to his comedic best.
Family

Evening: Take a night off from the incessant football and head to the DJ Mark Pickup event at relax@12 bar. Once a drummer for Gomez, the man’s known for playing his electronic drumkit mid-gig, and his three desk trickery has to be seen to be believed.
Relax@12, Aloft Hotel (02 654 5000).
Adults

June 18

Friday
Afternoon: If you thought paintballing was an outdoor sport, think again. At the back of Wanasa Land, Strike Zone looks like the barren, industrialised set of a Robocop movie. Strike Zone is like Laser Quest and paintball combined. Armed with touch-sensitive chest shields, protective headgear, and a gun that shoots rubber pellets, your aim is to be the last player standing in a close-range fight to the death. Anywhere else, and this would be an adults-only operation, but here it’s part of a kids funzone. If you can’t beat ’em, shoot ’em, point blank, with rubber bullets.
Strike Zone, Wanasa Land Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7654). Open daily, 3pm-11pm; Thu-Sat, 3pm-midnight. Dhs40 per person for 15 mins, unlimited pellets. Minimum two players, maximum 14.
Family

Evening: It’s England Vs Algeria (10.30pm), followed closely by DJ Said Mrad’s gig at the Yacht Club. We recommend sampling a few of the fine brews at the Belgian Beer Café, catching the game over a cone of their magnificent chips, then dancing the night away to Mrad’s oriental tunes.
Belgian Beer Café and Yacht Club, InterContinental Hotel, Al Bateen (02 666 6888). Free-flowing drinks and chips promotion, Dhs160.
Adults only

June 19

Saturday
Afternoon: After an undoubtedly heavy night last night, you’ll be wanting to take it easy. You could be really wanton and while away the day in a PlayStation Café. There are two that we favour – the games room at the Armed Forces Officers’ Club and Hotel (non-members, Dhs30 per hour; open daily, 1pm-10pm; 02 441 5900), where you could even head upstairs to watch the day’s big match with some Tex Mex grub at the Taverna – and La Mariah Café, where eight machines are primed for that killer games and shisha combo you never knew you wanted.
(Mariah Mall; Dhs27 per hour; open daily, 10am-midnight; 02 677 1741).
Family

Evening: As if the banks of the Al Maqtaa Creek weren’t sleek enough, the good folk at Etoiles have recently opened a very fancy Lebanese restaurant nightspot at the Fairmont. Check out the Cedar Lounge any night this month, though we recommend booking early – the al-fresco seating area is tres chic.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3223). Lunch, daily, noon-4pm; dinner, daily, 7pm-midnight.

June 20

Sunday
Evening: It’s Father’s Day, but the likelihood is Dad’s at work until the evening. Why not treat him to a special night out at Bord Eau, where he can stuff his face with their amazing cacao ice cream?
After that, release him to enjoy the evening’s footie fun with his best buddies at his side. Try the Shangri-La Hotel’s World Cup tent, replete with huge TV wall and massive surround sound system. He’ll be thanking you forever more.
Bord Eau, Shangri-La Hotel (02 508 9888). Open daily, 7pm-11.30pm. World Cup tent, June 11-July 11; open daily, 1pm-1am; Dhs75 per person, including two drinks.
Adults only

June 21

Monday
Afternoon: There’s a great little World Cup art exhibition going on at the Alliance Francaise, featuring the work of football fanatic, Huthyfa Abdul Zahra – could be the perfect way to while away the evening before the next big match. For more information.
Alliance Français, above Choithrams, Khalidiyah (02 666 6232). Open daily, 9am-8pm. Exhibition is free.
Adults only

June 22

Tuesday
Afternoon: Nothing like a little bit of shooting to release the stress. We recently hit up the Caracal Shooting Club and took the place apart. In 25 rounds we hit several pinpoint headshots and three perfect bullseyes. Beginner’s luck? Nah, mate. It’s all about steady wrists and killer calm. On a less boastful note, we particularly liked the little café out front, and their croissant and shooting combo is, ahem, to die for.
Caracal Shooting Club, Armed Forces Officers’ Club (02 441 6404). Dhs175 for gun and lane rental; Dhs100 for 50 nine-millimetre bullets.
Adults only

Evening: That boy Messi is in action tonight in the Greece Vs Argentina game (10.30pm). We can’t think of a better place to watch it than at the World Cup Headquarters, Chameleon bar. Usually great for cocktails, the Fairmont’s pride and joy will be reimagined as a sports bar for the duration of the World Cup, with two 50 inch plasma screens showing all the action, a number of raffles and plenty of decent footie-friendly snacks. Let’s hope it lives up to its spiffing name.
Chameleon, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3238).
Adults only

June 23

Wednesday
Evening: Tonight, it’s all about choices. You could be the Lord of the Dance, waving your feet around in the aisles as though you were a puppet on a string (Adnec; June 23-25; www.timeouttickets.com; for more info), or you could be at relax@12 for their Diva DJ night. Then again, perhaps you feel like settling down with a drink and some buddies for the Slovenia Vs England game (6pm). It’s all going on in the same area, of course, so we recommend starting off at Aloft’s World Cup Marquee, where games are in constant rotation from 11am every day, and kids and bored partners are catered for with fitness classes, yoga sessions, Wii tournaments and mini soccer games. The match should be over by 8pm, at which point you can hightail it to Abu Dhabi Hall for the show, then finish the night in a DJ-driven frenzy back at the hotel, trying to forget it’s a school night…
Aloft Hotel, Adnec (02 564 5114).
Family

June 24

Thursday
Evening: There are currently two Russells in Time Out’s life: R Peters and R Brand. Today is all about the latter (though you can express your desire to bring R Peters to the capital via our online petition), with today’s release of Get Him to the Greek, a spin off from the so-so Forgetting Sarah Marshall in which the Brit lothario just about stole the show. Supposedly channelling Keith Richards, Liam Gallagher and Morrissey into the ultimate rockstar, this ought to put Brand well and truly on the comedic world map.
Follow it up with a trip to Battle of the DJs, again at relax@12, tonight featuring the talents of DJ Stew Magoo and DJ Chad Punk Aloft Hotel, Adnec (02 564 5114).
Adults only

June 25

Friday
Morning: What child doesn’t like the brown stuff? We’re talking chocolate, of course, and the Shangri-La are running Chocoholic Fun days both today (and on June 11). Starting at 11am, the entertainment will all be about learning to create with chocolate – preparing pastries and other creations through a variety of games and other activities. Sticky, messy fun.
Choco-La, Souk Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8527); Dhs100 per child, ages four to 14 only.
Kids only

Evening: It’s Arabian Night at Cinnabar, over at the Hilton, so we recommend checking in at Hemmingway’s again to ensure you don’t miss the unmissable Portugal Vs Brazil (6pm), arguably the most interesting of all the group stage matches.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 681 1900).
Adults only

June 26

Saturday
Morning: As dependable as the summer heat, today sees the first day of the Summer in Abu Dhabi fest. You can read more about it in the box below, but let us say this: we’ll meet you in the Laser Quest – only one of us can emerge victorious.
Family

Afternoon: If you enjoyed your indoor skydiving experience earlier in the month, we reckon you’re ready for the magnificent Mutahida flight simulator, where the fully operational cockpit of a Boeing 747-400 is yours for the crashing. We tried it out back in January in Al Mina port, but they’ve since moved to Al Bateen Airport. Ironically, a great way to spend an afternoon away from the sun.
Mutahida Airways, Al Bateen Airport; Dhs750 per hour (02 412 2222).
Family

June 27

Sunday
Evening: The Abu Dhabi Book Club meets on the last Sunday of every month in the Tourist Club Area. Currently they have 137 members, though regular attendees number around 20. They also enjoy the occasional wine tasting evening. Already oversubscribed, they are keen that you contact them for further details via their website, www.groups.google.co.uk/group/adbookclub.
Adults only

June 28

Monday
Evening: If you’ve time on your hands, nothing beats the boredom like murder – a midsummer murder mystery evening, that is. This night of ‘whodunit?’ intrigue involves plenty of dressing up, a decent meal, and a whole lot of Sherlock Holmsing, all within the futuristic confines of the Yas Hotel. If you can’t bring yourself to imagine you’re in a haunted house, try imagining you’re on a deserted island – at the height of summer on Yas Island, that shouldn’t be too hard. Only for groups of eight or more; Dhs640 per person for a double occupany, Dhs880 for a single occupancy. Price includes room, dinner, breakfast and MURDER…
Adults only

June 29

Tuesday
Evening: There are very few games that’ll get your heart pounding as fast as squash – definitely for the very fit, and the wannabe fit. There are courts across the capital, so pick the one closest to you and give your pacemaker a generous warning. Out in Khalifa City, your best bet is Abu Dhabi Golf Club (02 558 8990; Dhs40 per person, per hour; members and guests only). If you’re in the Tourist Club Area, try the Beach Rotana (02 697 9000; Dhs50 per person, per hour, members and guests only) or Le Méridien (02 644 6666; Dhs120 for two people, per hour). More central to the corniche is the Sheraton’s resort (02 677 3333; Dhs50 per person, per hour; free to guests and club members), and for those around Muroor and Bain Al Jesrain, the Armed Forces Officers’ Club and Hotel has you covered (02 441 5900; Dhs50 per person, per hour). Happy swatting!
Adults only

June 30

Wednesday
Now’s the time of the month to start hunting down your next issue of Time Out Abu Dhabi. This July we’ll be looking at how to live the life of luxury on the cheap, and helping Abu Dhabi’s lonely men make the most of their time while the cat’s away… Remember, we’re available from all good supermarkets, petrol stations, bookshops and hotels. Stay shadeside, y’hear!?
Adults only

The whole world in your hands

Forget the rest, we reckon FIFA 2010 is still the best football Sim out there.

Forget the old adage about EA Games rehashing their previous games. FIFA 09 blew away the competition, making giant leaps in replicating the sport of football in video games, and this year, that leap is even greater with even more intelligent team AI, better ball and player physics and completely free movement; in fact, the game is so stunningly accurate that my flatmate mistook it for watching a real match.

It’s not just the graphics, which are superb. It’s everything: the commentary, the crowd noise, the way the teams work the ball, the way individual players look and behave. Off the field there have been changes too. The addition of Virtual Pro allows you to create a player to be played across multiple game modes – no more waiting four seasons to get your star out of Be a Pro and into Manager Mode. But Online Live Play is particularly interesting: it allows you to follow your favourite team and replay games that have just been played, based on their current form. Don’t like the fact Chelsea beat Aston Villa? Play it again and see if you can change history.

FIFA 10 bucks the sports game trend of reissuing the same game with a splash of paint. It is simply the best football game available, and one of the best sports games you’ll ever play. Julian Cram

Running from June 24-August 5, Summer in Abu Dhabi is a lifeline for families sticking it out through the summer. Those who have visited in the past will know it’s a multi-themed extravaganza featuring cultural learning zones, science-driven play areas, gigantic trapeze structures and good old funfair fun.

The key components to look out for this summer are the highly acclaimed Big Apple Circus, being brought in direct from New York; Laser Zone, which will no doubt be besieged by overweight dads trying to relive their adolescence (and Time Out Abu Dhabi employees); something called Dance-tricity that claims to be able to convert a dancer’s movements into electricity (has anyone shown this to the folks at the World Future Energy Summit?); the Mad Scientist Laboratory, with real-life professors conducting real-life experiments on real-life people, and the Play Motion Zone, where body sensors will translate movement into art. Far out! This year’s event will span more of the city, with live cooking demonstrations and workshops from Abu Dhabi Mall to Al Ain.
For more information on prices and timings, see www.summerinabudhabi.com.

Summer’s best box sets

Hide from the heat by watching these choice TV favourites back to back. Words James Wilkinson.

Castle season 1
Episodes: 10
The setup: Richard Castle, a charismatic but museless crime novelist, is paired up with a female homicide detective with whom he shares a sparky relationship; cue much sexual tension, witty banter and entertaining murder-solving.
It’s a bit like: Remington Steele meets Due South
Try it if you like: Lightweight but thor-oughly entertaining episodic crime shows.

Samantha Who? Season 2
Episodes: 15
The setup: After a car accident leaves her with retrograde amnesia, Samantha Newly discovers that her old self wasn’t particularly nice to the people around her and decides to make it up to them, one step at a time.
It’s a bit like: My Name is Earl meets Memento
Try it if you like: High-concept feel-good comedy.

Greek season 2
Episodes: 22
The setup: University newcomer Rusty Cartwright tries to shed his high-school nerd image by joining a fraternity and making new friends – much to the annoyance of his sister, who’s so embarrassed by him she denies he exists.
It’s a bit like: Animal House meets The OC
Try it if you like: Watching attractive teens partying, dating and angsting, all wrapped up in a tasty comedy coating.

Eli Stone season 2
Episodes: 13
The setup: Slick attorney Eli Stone develops an inoperable aneurysm, causing him to experience visions of the future and to use his skills to fight for underdogs rather than corporate fat cats.
It’s a bit like: Ally McBeal meets Field of Dreams
Try it if you like: Quirky character comedy mixed with genuinely heart-warming drama.

Burn Notice season 2
Episodes: 12
The setup: In the middle of an operation, CIA agent Michael Westen discovers that he’s been given a ‘burn notice’ – he is no longer an employee of the Agency, his assets have been frozen and he cannot leave his hometown of Miami.
It’s a bit like: The Equalizer meets MacGuyver
Try it if you like: Spy-centric action shows with likeable anti-heroes.