Weekend Vibes: This Weekend EW Will Mostly Be…

Indulging in a free New Year make-over, practicing our salsa moves and ending the festive season the traditional French way…

Thursday

Getting in our registrations quickly!

The 3^rd Arab Women’s Sports Tournament has extended their registration deadlines until today – Thursday 7^th January. Taking place in Sharjah from February 2^nd to 12^th, the women-only competitions will include basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and equestrian jumping from teams spanning over twelve countries.

If you’re on a sports team who want to take part in the action, register as soon as possible at awst.ae

Dining out at Festival City

There’s a world of culinary temptations opening at Festival City this month and we’re not ones to miss out on the latest foodie hot spots. Those of us with youngsters will be getting interactive at Tastes of Asia with its eight live cooking stations, where children under 12 dine for free! And those in need of a girls’ night out are stopping by Vista Bar and Terrace from 8pm to midnight to watch the sun set over the skyline whilst enjoying 50 percent off our food bill plus one complimentary beverage.

Tastes of Asia and Vista Bar and Terrace are located in InterContinental in Dubai Festival City. Find out about more dining deals at diningdfc.com

Friday

Remembering that ‘sharing is caring’

We’ll be savouring the simple, wholesome and award-winning cuisine at Fümé Downtown this Friday brunch time, where the menu may boast “no bells, whistles or flashing lights” but the view certainly does. You’ll find us on the terrace overlooking the Burj Khalifa as we tuck into an uncomplicated array of comfort food from around the world. With an emphasis on sharing, there’s no need to choose between the Arabic breakfast spread, the organic cheddar eggs or the vitamin-packed breakfast smoothies – we’re ordering the lot.
Open weekends from 8am to 2am in Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. Find out more at fume-eatery.com or call (04) 456 8784 – but note there is a no reservation policy.

Getting the star treatment we always knew we deserved

We can’t think of a better way to start the weekend than a professional make-over… except maybe starting the weekend with a free professional make-over. That’s why we’ll be at the Paris Gallery store in Dubai Mall this Friday morning as they team up with Dubai Shopping Festival to provide us all with a little well-earned luxury. Not only will professional make-up artists be giving out free makeovers, there will be five winners walking away with up to Dhs5,000 worth of cosmetic products. Yes, please.

Paris Gallery Store in The Dubai Mall from 10am-11am.  Call (04) 3308289 for more details

 Curing our Latin Fever

After all the food and drink we indulged in this festive period, let’s burn those calories the way we do best… by dancing until the early hours of the morning. Every Friday at Inka Restaurant and Lounge it’s ‘Noche Latina’ night and we can’t wait for another week of authentically Latin, live entertainment. With an elegant dress code and a speculator live show, we’ll be salsa-ing, cha-cha-ing, samba-ing and mambo-ing from 10pm till close.

Located on the 31^st floor at Sofitel Hotel Dubai Downtown, call +971 507854163 or email bailamecuba@gmail.com for reservations and guest-list

Saturday

Shopping until we can’t possibly shop anymore

The holiday season might be over, but Dubai Shopping Festival is just beginning (a perfect excuse to continue the shopping spree). We’ll be at Mall of the Emirates this weekend as they celebrate the festival’s second decade running with a full month of flash sales, celebrity reveals and daily contests – one of which will see a lucky shopper driving a Lamborghini Huracan 2016 home at the festival’s end. You’ll probably find us there every free minute we have for the next four weeks as we take advantage of the catwalk shows, in-store presentations and a music event headlined by superstar OMI.
For more information on specific events visit malloftheemirates.com

Rendezvousing with the kids at Bistro Des Arts

This weekend only, the authentic Parisian bistro is offering a perfect family day out as they introduce Dubai to the centuries old French tradition of Epiphany. The children’s game, which celebrates the end of the festive period, involves diners enjoying a slice of galette des rois (puff pastry layered cake) inside which a small toy has been baked. The diner who receives the ‘lucky slice’ is then crowned King or Queen of the Bistro!

‘Epiphany’ this weekend only. Dhs 20 per slice. Located at The Address Dubai Marina Hotel, entrance on the right side of Marina promenade. Call 04 55 11 576 for reservations

DIARY DATES

If you’re feeling a little wanderlust at the start of the new year, there’s an app for that. Tune in to #Kenyalive on Periscope this month as state-of-the-art technology brings Kenya’s spectacular wildlife into your home. From January 7 – 13, the Mara Conservancy Lion Interaction will be using starlight cameras in a series of live night broadcasts the likes of which have never been done before. And from January 14 – 18 the Watamu Turtle Watch Project will be broadcasting from a GoPro strapped to the back of a wild turtle.

Download the Periscope app on your mobile phone, tablet or computer and visit MakeItKenya.com for more

The Seafood Market Restaurant is celebrating its 23^rd Anniversary on the 23^rd of this month with free-flowing beverages and live entertainment from 7pm – plus a 23 percent discount on bill. The popular shop-before-you-eat-concept restaurant is also giving away a trip for two to Hong Kong. The trip (which includes flight, hotel accommodation and Dhs2000 spending money!) can be won by spending Dhs200 at the restaurant in the weeks leading up to the event.

Located at Le Meridien Dubai, Airport Road. Call (04) 702 2490 for reservations.

Words Jennifer McNeill. Images Aeropostale (main) and supplied