Once again, Emirates Woman has your weekend looking pretty great. Follow this guide and enjoy a taste of Dubai’s most selective restaurants, celebrate the Blue Dragon Festival by eating the dragon’s ears (just trust us on that one) and peruse the works of Picasso and Miró whilst giving to charity.

 

Enjoy classical art with a charitable twist    

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From March 7 until May 17, Alpha Soul is bringing two of the most renowned classic artists to the UAE for an exhibition called Picasso and Mi, Passion and Poetry. The exhibition will showcase an incredible 267 pieces of artwork that have been sourced from private collections across the globe, using a visual narrative to explore the lives and work of Miró and Picasso. At the Burj Khalfia, Annex One, for Dhs125 when purchased online at PlatinumList and TicketMaster. Additionally, part of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Al Noor Training Centre for children with special needs. Visit Picassomiro.com for more details.

 

Get a taste of the best of Dubai

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In celebration of the Dubai Food Festival, Taste of Dubai is returning to the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre this weekend. Over three days, 20-fine dining restaurants will be offering you a taste of the very best their menus have to offer, including Nobu, Catch and Bread Street Kitchen (pictured). In addition to some of Dubai’s tastiest fare, there will be chef talks, cooking classes and music from 1970s sensation Boney M, plus others.
Thursday: 4pm – 12pm, Friday: 12pm – 12am, Saturday: 12pm – 11pm. Tickets are available in advance or on the door at Dhs75 and Dhs90 respectively for adults, children are free.

Give the gifts that keep on giving at The Change Initiative
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Whether you need to buy some presents for upcoming celebrations or feel you deserve a little gift yourself – The Gift Garden is the coolest, quirkiest new pop-up gift market in Dubai. Launching at The Change Initiative this Thursday afternoon between 10am and 2pm, The Gift Garden will feature a selection of original, trendy and affordable gifts. You can also get out your green fingers with the Pavement Collaboration – chose your succulent, chose your art pot and get planting. If all that wasn’t enough, cult foodie and food blogger Yasmine of Petites Choses will be there to teach everyone a whole new take on hummus. It’s a free event for everyone to attend, call (04) 376 9426 or RSVP on the Facebook event.

 

Awaken the Blue Dragon
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Just in time for the Blue Dragon Festival, one of Dubai’s favourite Chinese restaurants Zheng He has cultivated a special, a la carte Blue Dragon menu. In order to help you truly reap the good luck benefits of this ancient tradition, the chefs at Zheng He have crafted appropriate dragon-themed foods to be enjoyed. Steamed crystal mushroom dumplings are the ‘dragon’s ears’ while pan-fried spring onion pancakes are the ‘dragon’s scales’. The dragon’s beard? Rice noodles of course. Available from March 10 – 20 2016. For reservations call (04) 4323232 or email restaurants@jumeirah.com

 

Be a social butterfly at Marina Social’s newest brunches
The Social Room Bar
Marina Social restaurant at InterContinental Dubai Marina has just launched exciting new brunch options for all social weekenders to indulge in. Each brunch features a la carte sharing menus with paired drink packages. Some of the exciting dishes on offer include smoked sea trout, celeriac and apple remoulade and pulled lamb, sour dough pizza with basil pesto, chargrilled courgette and buffalo ricotta. ‘Share & Social’ is on every Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm and prices range from Dhs315 for brunch with soft drinks, to Dhs495 with house beverages and Dhs595 with bubbles. It’s the same deal on Saturday with the ‘Saturday Social’. For reservations call (04) 446 6664 or email reservations@marinasocialdubai.com

 

Diary Dates

Experience the dark side of the circus
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Next week on March 17, 18 and 19 in Abu Dhabi, the Cirque Le Noir will be entertaining the crowd with jaw-dropping and complex stunts. These will include The Columbian Wheel of Death with high-risk feats performed inside wheels spinning high above the stage. And don’t worry Dubai; the circus is coming to you between March 23 and April 2 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets for both Emirates shows start at just Dhs199 and are available to buy on PlatinumList.

Engage in some Emirati-French culture
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As part of the French-Emirati cultural programme, inspired by the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra are performing on Saadiyat Island Wednesday March 16 in an evening called Universal Expressions. The music will begin with the specifically commissioned piece by Emirati composer Faisal Al Saari – Zayed’s Dream followed by the world premiere from Bruno Mantovani, one of the greatest living French composers. Doors open at 6pm, tickets available at Ticketmaster between Dhs80 and Dhs350.