What's On Dubai October 2011

October 2011 Issue 402
DISCOVER THE PERFECT ROAD TRIP

TRIED AND TESTED ROUTES FROM AN AFTERNOON TO A WEEK
WIN!
Tickets to Sandance and
meet Richard Ashcroft
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ALSO INSIDE:
Metallica, Janet Jackson,
Oktoberfest and karaoke
PLUS!
Your complete
guide to UAE football
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OCTOBER 2011 WHATS ON 3
Contents
Features
18
Singing in the city
Fancy yourself as a bit of a
crooner? Heres our run-down
of Dubais best karaoke bars,
choirs and singing lessons
23
Sandance
Richard Ashcroft, Example
and DJ Joris Voorn call by for
a chat as we don our ip-
ops for the return of Nasimis
beach festival
27
Oktoberfest
Find the Oktoberfest for you,
with our guide to the best
Bavarian-based knees ups
30
Football fever
The most hotly anticipated
season in UAE history kicks
off of this month. Meet the
contenders
p33
33
Road trips
Whether you have a week off
or just a few hours, grab your
car keys and get ready for
our tried and tested road trips
42
Janet Jackson
The youngest member of the
Jackson clan talks about her
brother Michael and life on
the road ahead of her Yas
Island show this month
45
Metallica
One of metals biggest bands
touches down in the UAE
47
Yasalam
Tropfest Arabia, lm screen-
ings and art shows are all
happening in the warm up
to next months Formula One
Grand Prix
p42
Janet
Jackson
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4 WHATS ON OCTOBER 2011
12
Salaam
October in a nutshell
16
Win, win, win
Its competitions galore this
month with hotel stays, din-
ners, brunch for six and VIP
tables all up for grabs. For
more see pages 106 and 119
48
Film
Colin Farrell and Dr Whos
David Tennant face off in
the vampire-ick remake,
Fright Night, plus the twisted
superhero story Super, and
yet another Hollywood role-
reversal misadventure in The
Change-Up
51
Eating out
Our verdict on new restau-
rant Toro Toro, Friday lunch
at Reets, the latest additions
to the brunch scene and we
welcome Whats Ons new
columnist, chef Gary Rhodes
67
Arts
Workshops, classes, courses,
exhibitions and more this
month on the cultural scene
75
Shopping
Kit out your bachelor pad,
check out the latest releases
and what every lady needs
on her feet
83
Mind & body
The secret to a good nights
sleep, a look at the ve best
hair treatments, and how to
take care of your skin
91
Sport & outdoor
We tackle kickboxing, and
look forward to this months
international swimming and
cricket events
The round up
97
Music
Artist of the month Mary I,
plus all the latest from
clubland
109
Travel
Exploring the new marina
development in Hamburg,
advice, deals and rugby
great Colin Charvis gives us
his travel tips
121
Hot list
The top ten of everything
138
Backchat with Catboy
Our man on the radio reects
on the highs and lows of his
karaoke career
p51
p75
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Editor's note
This month we' ve been...
Braving kickboxing
lessons, p94
Discovering the UAEs best road
trips, p33
Chatting to Gary Rhodes about his
new recipe column, p54
Roy Keane, ex-Manchester United ace and sometime Sunderland
manager, has a saying: "Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail."
For me, planning is a concept as foreign as going for a walk in
Dubai or applying for your Emirates ID card (you havent, and youre
unlikely to do it any time soon). Dont get me wrong, at work Im
ne (*disgruntled noises from Team Whats On*), but socially, Im
totally inept. This, I feel, should have been taken into account
when, along with a group of friends, I planned my rst ever road
trip some time back. Or didnt plan it, as the case may be.
The idea was simple enough drive to Oman, Muscat specically, hang out for a couple
days, check out a few bars, maybe some restaurants, and generally do what tourists do. Easy.
Unfortunately, a lack of planning meant we couldnt actually nd Oman I mean, its Oman, its
an entire country, youd think it would be easy enough, right? Apparently not and the couple
of hours trip to the border took the best part of a day. Then, when we actually arrived at the
border, someone (me) hadnt brought insurance documents for the car (insurance? For crossing
borders? Who knew?), meaning we had to lie our way across. Literally, we lied our way over
the border with a series of unconvincing tall tales that were either more convincing than we
thought, or just wore down the poor man on the border crossing until he relented and let us
through. Finally, after yet further travel direction mishaps and yet more hours we arrived in
Muscat. And everything was closed. It was Ramadan, and unlike here in Dubai, everything just
shuts down for the Holy Month. Which we would have known, had we actually planned the trip.
If youre going on road trip, plan it rst. A great way to start is by reading our guide to the best
regional road trips (p33). In it youll nd out how to make the most of an adventure, whether its
just for the day or even longer. Perfect planning. Roy would be proud. Enjoy the issue.
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11 intro DXB.indd 11 9/26/11 8:58:19 PM
35%
15%
Welcome to our world
Salaam!
We're ocially part of the Twitterati.
Follow us @WhatsOnDubai for
exclusive updates on nightlife,
restaurants and more around the
UAE. Tweet yourself.
Whats not
After several deadlines have been
and gone, The Emirates Identity
Authority has conrmed that
Dubai-based expats have until June
2012 to register for an Emirates ID or incur a
daily ne. We think they mean it this time.
CIRQUE DU SOUK
Whats that? An Arabian inspired spectacular with
ying tanoura dancers and acrobats? Were in.
Oct 7 and 8, Madinat Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah,
Dubai, 8pm, Dhs185. Tel: (04) 3666546.
madinattheatre.com
Whats hot
First the new Green Line opened.
And now the RTA has extended
the opening hours for the metro,
with the last train departing at
midnight on weekdays, and 1am on
weekends. Time to ditch that car.
A global survey has shown
that the UAE is the only GCC
country not to make the list of the
cheapest places to buy petrol.
Were all for tipping in restaurants
good service deserves its
reward. But it's nice to have the
option, as opposed to having it automatically
included in the bill, which is happening in
some DIFC restaurants.
WORLDS BIGGEST KEBAB
APPLE UAE
METRO OPEN LONGER
EXPENSIVE PETROL
ID CARD DEADLINE
Dubai being home to the
worlds tallest building wasnt
enough for one local restaurant,
which has set a Guinness record of
its own for the worlds largest kebab.
Technology whizking Apple has
nally launched a dedicated
UAE version of its online store.
Fanboys rejoice as you can now
order your Apple tech to your door.
THIS
MONTH
WE'RE
GOING
TO...
Guess list
Here's what we've heard,
but keep it 'hush hush'
MOVIDA
Bad news
for ugly
people the
chances of you
being refused
entry to a club look
set to increase, with news
reaching us that swish London
celebrity hangout Movida will be
opening up a Dubai branch in
2012.
DURAN DURAN
Eortlessly easing
the squares of his
Rubiks Cube to
complete three sides
(yellow, white and blue
a new personal best),
the Whats On man-in-the-
know circa 1980 looked us dead
in the eye and whispered two words:
Duran Duran, before cycling home
on a Raleigh Burner bike to watch an
episode of Miami Vice.
LADY GAGA
Sales of meat-based dresses in the
Emirates could go up by one, if our
showbiz insider is to believed, thanks
to a planned visit by Lady Gaga. Our
connected chum insists the singer will
be over by the end of the year.
SERVICE CHARGE
50%
12-14 SalaamDXB.indd 12 9/26/11 9:08:18 PM
Welcome to our world
Salaam!
Find us at
www.facebook.com/WhatsOnDubai
OLIVER
Family musical Oliver makes its way onto the
boards at Ductac. Best of all, a percentage of the
tickets sales is being donated to children's charities.
Oct 21 and 22, Ductac, Mall Of The Emirates, Al
Barsha, Dubai, Dhs120. Tel: (04) 3414777. ductac.org
WHO'S A GOOD BOY?
Paws Pet Planet the day care centre for dogs is
hosting an o the leash park day for dogs, with
giveaways, games and goodie-bags.
Oct 8, Dubai Investment Park, Green Community, 10am
to 4pm, free. Tel: (04) 8848894. pawspetplanet.com
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Ashraf Ghori, lm-maker and CEO of Xpanse CGI
Graphic Novels
My work is highly inuenced by my love for comics. Kinokuniya is the
best option in the UAE for a good selection of graphic novels. Their
range of scale models and action gures is amazing, too.
Book World by Kinokuniya, Dubai Mall, Downtown, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4340111.
kinokuniya.com
GIRL
ABOUT
TOWN
Dubai 92s
Geordiebird
gives us the
heads up from
the Dubai bar
scene
What does it look like?
Its very cool and modern,
actually a contrast to the
hotel with marble pillars
and white pod seats dotted around.
Who goes there?
I didnt see any familiar faces, which was
kind of nice, to be honest. The crowd was
fairly mixed, from mid-20s to early 40s,
including a few holidaymakers.
When should you go?
We went on a Thursday and it was nicely
full, with a happy hour from 7pm to 9pm
and DJ Da Sendri playing deep house.
The tunes werent intrusive though, and
provided a soundtrack to our chatting.
Drink recommendations?
The signature Turkish delight cocktail is
amazing, and we also tried some fantastic
mocktails you should denitely try the
virgin mojito.
Any food on the menu?
Sushi. We shared an excellent platter and
nibbled on edamame.
Dress code?
Its a smart bar but people didnt go too
overboard with the designer togs. No
shorts or ip-ops, though.
How's the service?
Our smiley waitress was so nice we nearly
invited her to join us. Sweet, speedy and
not in your face.
What's the taxi situation?
Easy. There were loads outside. Beware the
many speed bumps nearby though we
counted 16 of them!
GB VERDICT:
A great bar if you live on The Palm, but an
awkward, isolated place to start, or end, an
evening.
Voda Bar, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel, The
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4530444
THIS MONTH:
VODA BAR
Equipment
Ive seen world-
renowned
independent lm-
makers use the most
humble of entry-level
equipment. At Salam,
in Oud Metha, they
have an excellent
range of Nikon and
Canon DSLRs, which
can do an amazing
job capturing video.
The sta are also really
helpful and actually
know what they are
talking about which
is always a bonus.
Salam Studio, Grand
Store, Wa Mall,
Oud Metha. Tel: (04)
7048484. salams.com
Art space
Shelter, in Al Quoz, is
a really cool, creative
space great for having
meetings with people,
and they also put on
lm screenings and
workshops throughout
the year.
Shelter, Al Serkal Avenue,
Al Quoz, Dubai. Tel: (04)
3809040. shelter.ae
Eating out
I love Lebanese food. You have to try
the grilled chicken at Al-Reef in Al
Qusais and the mandi at Tawasol, Deira.
Al Reef Lebanese Bakery, Al Qusais. Tel:
(04) 3945200
Al Tawasol, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road,
Deira, noon to midnight.
Tel: (04) 2959797
SALAAM
RECESSION?
WHAT
RECESSION?
The world is going through a tough
time nancially, but these gures
suggest Dubai isnt too bothered by
the global nancial crisis
15
Per cent increase in new
jobs created across the
UAE in 2011
In the news
Jetting in
Its London incarnation is a famed
celeb magnet, and following the so
opening of members' club Embassy
Dubai this month weve had a tip o
from an insider that Iron Maidens
Bruce Dickinson will be ying a
planeload of his rock n roll chums
in for the grand opening on the
weekend of Novembers Abu Dhabi
Grand Prix.
Celeb
spotter
Star visitors to keep an eye out
for in the coming months
Chris Brown (December),
Kim Kardashian (October), Metallica
(October), Janet Jackson (October),
Eva Longoria (Octo-
ber), Michael Bolton
(November), Kelly
Brook (October)
Whats On Station
2 billion dirhams have been raised from
station branding over the last two years
If you could name a Metro station what would you call
it? Tweet us @WhatsOnDubai
FILM CORNER
As life kicks back into top gear following the long summer, the Dubai Condential Film Club
has re-emerged with a niy little idea for its up and coming aernoon screening of Breakfast
at Tianys. Wait a minute, an aernoon screening? Why that is madness, we here you say. But
the key is that Blake Edwards' much-loved 1961 classic will be followed by a vintage English
aernoon tea party, replicating the atmosphere of the lm I say! How quaint.
Oct 8, Dubai Condential Film Club, Pavilion, Downtown, Dubai, 2pm, Dhs150. Tel: (055) 5537686.
dubaicondential.ae
211
The number of Porsches sold at the Dubai deal-
ership in August 2011 a company record
5
Average percentage
increase in UAE salaries
over the past year
THE NAME GAME
You might think that naming a Metro station after
a bank or electronics store is confusing, but the
RTA has appealed for sponsors for the naming of
the 18 new Green Line stations and it's easy to
see why...
OTHER CELEBS
RUMOURED TO BE
ON THE GUEST LIST:
Britney Spears
The Saturdays
Kimberly Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls)
JLS
Nick Knowles
Denise van Outen
cast members from The Only
Way Is Essex
Peter Andre
DESIGN PLEASE INITIAL AND DATE THE BOXES ABOVE
PROJECT MK-9888 UAE WHATS ON MAG ISSUE/POST DATE OCT 11
BLEED 212 MM (W) x 276 MM (H) TRIM 206 MM (W) x 270 MM (H) LIVE NONE GIVEN
SCALE BUILT AT 100% OF ORIGINAL SPECIAL NOTES

ARMANI EXCHANGE 111 EIGHTH AVENUE NEW YORK NY 10011
CONTACT MELISSA DRAKE 212.488.4527 | EMILY BARCLIFFE 212.462.7306
ABU DHABI
AL WAHDA MALL 971. 2. 4437213
MARINA MALL 971. 2. 6811464
DUBAI
DEIRA CITY CENTRE 971. 4. 2943057
THE DUBAI MALL 971. 4. 3399472
KUWAIT
360 MALL (OPENING SOON)
ARMANIEXCHANGE.COM/UAE
A duo of decadent delights for your competitive pleasures
WIN! WIN! WIN!
To enter
either of these fantastic
competitions, just e-mail
winwithwhatson@motivate.ae
with the name of the prize in the
subject line and the correct
answer to the
relevant
question
WIN! IMPERIUM
BRUNCH FOR SIX AT
JUMEIRAH ZABEEL
SARAY

One of Dubais most impressive new hotels
has launched a new Friday brunch and, to
celebrate, were giving you the opportunity
to win a table for six. Set in stunning French
restaurant Imperium, you and your guests
can enjoy a sumptuous seasonal selection
including cold cuts, roasts, artisan cheeses,
brasserie-style dishes, fresh seafood and,
of course, divine desserts, all with Mumm
Cordon Rouge Champagne and live jazz.
Afterwards head next door to Voda Bar for
buy one get one free drinks until 9pm. For
your chance to win this dazzling prize, simply
tell us
Where is the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray hotel?
a) The Tree
b) The Palm
c) The Branch
WIN! A NIGHTS STAY FOR TWO AT
THE ADDRESS DUBAI MARINA

Treat yourself and a loved one to a weekend in a swanky hotel, with
this fantastic prize. We have a nights stay in a deluxe room at The
Address Dubai Marina up for grabs, including buet breakfast in
Mazina and access to the gorgeous elevated innity pool. Home to a
fab spa, four restaurants and lounges and a 24-hour gym, the hotel
also has direct access to Marina Mall so you can satisfy your food,
tness and fashion cravings. For your chance to win a weekend away
for two, youll have to get this question right
Which mall is the hotel attached to?
a) Deira City Centre
b) Marina Mall
c) Mall Of The Emirates
16 Competitions.indd 16 9/26/11 9:10:51 PM
SINGING IN THE CITY
Listen up all you attention seekers, potential pop idols and tone-deaf
wailers. Dubais singing scene has taken of in a big way, turning us
from mute wallowers to wannabe warblers. Whether youre ready
for the spotlight, taking to the stage for the rst time or just want to
warm up those rusty pipes, weve found the best places and people
to kick-start your crooning career
HIBIKI KARAOKE LOUNGE
BEST FOR SHY TYPES
Too chicken to rock the mic in front of a crowd?
Hibiki has three private rooms equipped with
machine, ideal for private parties. is Dubai
singing stalwart has a loyal crowd of regulars
(weve spotted Dubai 92s Catboy belting out
Wichita Lineman there on several occasions)
but the happy hour from 7.30pm to 9.30pm
pulls in new performers too.
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Deira, Dubai, Mon to Sat
7.30pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 2096701. dubai.regency.
hyatt.com
ROCK BOTTOM
CAFE
BEST FOR
POSTBRUNCH
ENTERTAINMENT
Every Friday from
around 8.30pm the
stage is handed over to
the punters. Probably
not the wisest move, but amusing nonetheless.
Famed for blue drinks and hardened drinkers,
Rocky Bs is a magnet for fun loving party
people, guaranteeing you a good time, whether
youre belting out a tune or just tittering from
the sidelines.
Regent Palace Hotel, Bur Dubai, Dubai, noon to
3am. Tel: (04) 3963888. regentpalacehotel.co.uk/
dubai
KUNG KOREAN RESTAURANT
& KARAOKE
BEST FOR FOOD FANS AND THE MARINA
MASSIVE
We love karaoke. Were big fans of Korean
food. And this end of town has long been
without a spot for us to show o our pipes/
merrily humiliate ourselves, so were tipping
our caps and dedicating a shaky rendition of
Wonderwall to Kung, the latest karaoke club
in town. Housed in the Byblos hotel, there are
eight private karaoke rooms, two private dining
rooms and authentic Korean cuisine (you might
need to ask a hostess to translate the menu). Get
there before the crooning crowds discover it.
Byblos Hotel, TECOM, Dubai, 7pm to 2.30am.
Tel: (04) 4488000. bybloshoteldubai.com
BOSTON BAR
BEST FOR A LOWKEY LAUGH
Five drinks for Dhs89 and karaoke from 8pm
until midnight? Sign us up. At Boston Bar on
Friday nights everyone who sings is rewarded
with a free drink, with no one taking it too
seriously and some of the nest shout alongs
weve ever witnessed. Its worth mentioning
the quality pub fodder too, which you might
appreciate aer youve dominated the mic for
four hours.
Jumeirah Rotana, Al Diyafah Street, Satwa,
Dubai, noon to 2.30am. Tel: (04) 3455888. rotana.
com
KARAOKE
Where to publicly strut your stuf
18-20 Singing in the city DXB.indd 18 9/26/11 9:12:02 PM
SINGING IN THE CITY
HARRY GHATTOS
BEST FOR EXHIBITIONISTS
A tiny room packed with people not so patiently
waiting for their signature tune, Harrys is the
hottest spot for budding professionals. e
Kosupure promotion (kosupure is the Japanese
word for costume and play) on Monday and
Tuesday nights invites you to glam up as your
favourite pop or rock star, with everyone who
dresses to impress earning a free drink and the
best eort (for both appearance and singing
performance) winning a grand prize from
behind the bar. Registration starts at 10pm,
with the winner announced by the judges at
midnight. Need some Dutch courage? eres
a happy hour from 8pm to 10pm. However, its
worth a visit all through the week, with some
impressive cover versions and the hostesses
getting involved too. We may have sung A
Whole New World from Aladdin with them
once. Maybe.
Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 8pm
to 3pm. Tel: (04) 3198088. jumeirah.com
ITS MIRCHI
BEST FOR BELTING OUT THE
BOLLYWOOD
Do you like curry? Do you like karaoke? en
youll love curryoke. Every night at Indian
restaurant Its Mirchi theres a curry buet
(Dhs79 or Dhs155 with ve drinks) and a mic
up for grabs. If Bollywood songs are your forte
then youll love this place, but theres English
language tracks too. eres a dierent theme
each evening, with ladies night on Tuesdays
with free drinks for the fairer sex, Rocking
Retro on Wednesdays and Desi Fever every
Friday with DJs broadcasting live on 89.1FM.
Can you handle the heat?
Ramee Royal Hotel, Karama, Dubai, 7pm to late.
Tel: (04) 3344088. rameehotels.com
CHINA SEA
BEST FOR VALUE FOR MONEY FEASTS
AND YOUR OWN MACHINE
Home to some of the most authentic Chinese
cuisine in Dubai (and its super cheap to boot)
China Sea also has private dining rooms
upstairs kitted out with karaoke machines, all
in kitsch surroundings. Its not licensed so youll
have to be condent in your abilities or go with
a tone-deaf group, but youll have control over
the tunes and enjoy some seriously good food.
Near Clocktower Roundabout, Maktoum Street,
Deira, Dubai, 11am to 1am. Tel: (04) 2959816
SWITCH BOWLING
BEST FOR FAMILIES
ber-modern bowling
haven Switch also boasts
two private karaoke
rooms (Dhs50 per hour)
where you can enjoy a
massive range of tracks
in a state-of-the-art setting.
eres regular membership oers and ladies
nights too, with billiards, PlayStation rooms
and dining on site, plus some seriously
impressive bowling lanes.
Ibn Battuta Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, 10.30am to 11pm. Tel: (04) 4405961.
switchbowlingdubai.com
TIME CAFE
BEST FOR PEOPLE WITH A SHORT
ATTENTION SPAN
Another one in the Ramee Royal Hotel (the
neighbours must love them) you can sing
your little heart out from 10pm each night
at Time Caf with a book full of English
language tracks. Its also ladies night seven
days a week, and happy hour every day from
9pm to midnight, with 20 per cent o all
drinks. If singing isnt your thing, youll also
nd loads of screens showing sport, plenty of
pool tables and beanbags for lounging on.
Ramee Royal Hotel, Karama, Dubai, 7pm to late.
Tel: (04) 3344088. rameehotels.com
SINGING IN THE CITY
CHOIRS
Meet up, tune up and perform
with a group
BELLE VOCI
An informal, friendly band of singers, Belle
Voci performs music from across a number
of genres and decades. Rehearsing weekly
and free to join, the choir is always open to
new members, with the emphasis on enjoying
music and meeting like-minded songstresses.
E-mail: bellevocigroup@gmail.com
DUBAI CHAMBER CHOIR
One of the citys most impressive
choirs, the DCC is well known for its
stunning Christmas carols concerts and
performances of the classics in venues as
diverse as The Fridge and Emirates Palace.
The standard is high and members take
it seriously, with auditions held several
times a year. If you have the talent and
commitment, this is the ensemble for you.
E-mail: dubaichamberchoir@yahoo.co.uk
DUBAI SINGERS
A lively bunch of talented singers, this
choir has been running for over 30 years,
performing everything from well-known
musicals to the upcoming production of
Petite Messe Solonelle by Rossini. What
started as a sing-along round a piano is
now a popular group of singers that claims,
even if you are not especially talented, we
do expect you to be dedicated. No auditions
are necessary and rehearsals take place in
the Kindermusik villa in Umm Suqeim on
Mondays from 8pm to 10pm.
E-mail: dubaisingers.info
LESSONS
Perfect your pitch or take your rst steps to stardom
IMPACT
Offering a number of musical stylings from
jazz to rock, Impacts Karen Bradfield says
beginners are better as there are no bad
habits so dont be shy. Lessons cost Dhs220
for an hour and take place at DUCTAC.
With Impact linked to musical theatre
productions in the UAE, theres plenty of
scope for taking your new hobby to the
next level, too.
DUCTAC, Mall Of The Emirates, Barsha, Dubai.
Tel: (050) 8549782. ductac.org
JUMEIRAH MUSIC CENTRE
An enthusiastic bunch, the teachers at
JMC oer one-on-one lessons for children
aged eight up to adult, with everyone from
beginners to advanced singers catered for. A
one-o class costs Dhs140 or Dhs520 for four,
and you dont need to read music to get the
most from a session.
Jumeriah Plaza, Beach Road, Dubai. Tel: (04)
3492662. jumeirah-music.com
VOCAL COACHING DUBAI
Teacher Helen has coached everyone from
rst timers who cant hold a tune to out of
practice pros, and everyone in between. All
you need is a desire to warble. And dont
worry if you cant read music or the last time
you sang was somewhat awkwardly to earn
a slice of your colleagues birthday cake,
Helen covers everything from posture to
performing. Still unconvinced? A 30-minute
no obligation taster lesson costs just Dhs100.
The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Tel: (050) 5540579.
vocalcoachingdubai.com
CENTRE FOR MUSICAL ARTS
Lessons for budding singers aged six
and over are available at CMA, with
music tailored to suit your interests and
preferences? Want to learn a Disney
classic? Fancy trying a classical aria?
No problem. A term of 13 classes costs
Dhs1,635 for half an hour once a week.
Youngsters can also attend the Saturday
Sessions from 10am to 1pm at Dubai
College (Dhs950 for ten weeks), where
theyll meet other wannabe performers,
work as an ensemble and create a choir.
Mall Of The Emirates and Gold & Diamond Park,
Barsha, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3418872.
cmadubai.com
OPEN
MIC NIGHT
If youre ready for an audience then
head to Berts Caf in The Greens on
Wednesdays at 8pm. Established local
musicians and rst-timers alike can take
to the tiny stage and serenade diners, with
no pressure and a welcoming crowd.
Berts Caf, The Greens, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 3619292
For an Asian twist
For tranquil days. For intimate evenings.
Eauzone at the Arabian Court, One&Only Royal Mirage. For you.
Open daily for lunch and dinner. For reservations please telephone +971 4 399 99 99
oneandonlyroyalmirage.com
Dubais most romantic beach resort
8559 OORM_Eauzone_WhatsOn_270x206.indd 1 9/21/11 12:33 PM
InterContinental Abu Dhabi. Call 800 423 463.
CELEBRITY CHOCOLATIER CHEF
THE YACHT CLUB PRESENTS
LAURENT
GERBAUD
SHOWCASE
DINNER MENU
OCTOBER
TH & TH
EXCLUSIVE
TASTING CLASS
OCTOBER
TH & TH PM
Sandance
Break out the flip-flops
Sandance is back. The
beach-based festival
hits the golden sands of
Nasimi this month, and
its boasting another
impressive line-up, with
The Verves Richard
Ashcroft, chart-topping
pop rapper Example, plus
a full Chicane live show,
DJ action from David
Morales, Joris Voorn, Sasha
and lashings of local
talent
Performing a special live acoustic set for
Sandance, Richard Ashcrofts rst appearance
in Dubai is something of a calming lull before
the party starts in earnest. We grilled the
former The Verve frontman on reunions, his
friendship with Liam and Noel Gallagher, and
his gangster alter ego
Have you played an acoustic set at a dance
festival before?
Not really. But in England, early raves were
very eclectic. They werent necessarily all-
night dance events. People would throw on
different things. I had a brief spell clubbing
when I was younger. Youd dance to a
certain beat for six hours then at the end
all you really wanted [to listen to] was Bob
Dylan or The Beatles. So long as youre on
Richard Ashcroft
at the right time and youve got the songs,
its not a problem.
Will you be dusting o The Verves classic
back catalogue?
Ill be playing some of the best songs Ive
written in my mind over the last 20 years.
Im not sure if Ill play e Drugs Dont Work
because, well but probably Lucky Man,
Sonnet, A Song For e Lovers, Break e
Night With Colour. Im not one of these guys
who deny the audience the right to hear his
best tunes.
Are you looking forward to any other acts
at Sandance?
Example is doing very well. In England,
success comes with a heavy price, and Ive
got a lot of time for anyone who breaks
through and does something half interesting,
especially in the pop world. Its a tough game.
And youve got to respect people who have
been around a while, like Chicane. When I
was younger, I probably threw out a few bad
comments about people, but with time you
learn to respect your peers. You realise how
hard it is.
How familiar are you with Dubai?
This is my first visit, amazingly. Im
looking forward to checking it out. It looks
psychedelic. Everyone has preconceived
ideas of places. I try and keep an open
mind, but I can imagine a lot of marble
and air conditioning, some nice beaches
with great water parks, and streets where
keeping up with the Joneses means have
you got the [Rolls-Royce] Phantom coup
23-25 Sandance DXB.indd 23 9/26/11 9:18:48 PM
or the drop top or only the four-door hard
top. Im sure theres a bit of that going
on. But if you see the photographs
of Dubai merely 25 or 30 years ago
its astonishing. It was like a little
fishing village thats mushroomed
into something entirely different.
Its incredible. Id be interested
in whats going to be created in
Dubai over the next ten or 20
years. Whats going to be the sound
of Dubai, in a place thats relatively
young but ancient at the same time?
Your old friend Liam Gallaghers new band,
Beady Eye, played the UAE recently. Will
you ask his advice about the country?
[Laughs] I see him now and again.
Whenever people are gunning for me, Liam
turns up out the blue or hell give a call.
And Noel [Gallagher] was very good to e
Verve at the beginning. So my respect goes
a long way, but I wont be asking any advice
because I dont need anybodys anymore. I
tend to just do it and see how it goes.
You claim to have a slightly gangster alter
ego, named after The Godfather character
Michael Corleone. At what point does he
come out to play?
Michael is something we were laughing
about in the studio making my last album
in New York. Its a character we can all
relate to. His whole life is spent walking
between his very dark side and wanting to
morally put himself back together again.
Michael, my alter ego, can turn up. Im
not someone who turns into Michael at
any given moment. [Laughs] Michael just
makes sure other people dont take the ****.
What are the chances of The Verve
reforming again in the foreseeable future?
I really have no idea. You learn that
sometimes things come to an end for a
reason very real reasons and time
doesnt always heal. Its highly unlikely well
ever make music together again. Lifes too
short. No matter how much moneys on
the table, it really isnt worth it. I started
losing belief in the concept of the band very
early in life because its unreasonable to ask
grown adults to live and breathe the same
air in the same space for so long. We watch
people crack up on Big Brother within five
or six days. With the band, youre talking
ten years. Its like Spinal Tap. I loved Spinal
Tap as a kid, but its also a blueprint for
all the things that you dont want to get
involved with.
Is there another solo Richard Ashcroft
album on the way?
Im in the process of trying to write a set
of songs to compete with the best Ive
written. For the last few albums Ive been
on a bit of a voyage, trying to discover
different ways of recording, different styles.
Theres a certain time when I think people
recognised me as a great songwriter. If Ive
got any clarity about what Im doing next
its about reclaiming that, if I ever had it. So
thats what Im heading for: that definitive
album. I was 40 the other day, which
suggests Im in a different phase of my life.
I think its time to relate to my people, the
people who have grown up with me.
richardashcroft.com
The Amsterdam-based tech-house DJ cant
wait for his Dubai debut at Sandance
Ive never been to Dubai
so I dont know what
to expect. Ive
played all over the
world, from really
underground
venues to larger
commercial clubs,
so Im good at
adapting.
Expect a lot of good
music, somewhere between
house and techno. I play a lot of my own stu,
with quite a few remixes, plus music from
artists on my label, Rejected.
Every gig I played this summer went really
well. I played all over the place: New York,
London, Holland. But Europe didnt see the
greatest of summers, so Im excited to be back in
the sunshine.
e beauty of festivals is that you have time
to go and see other acts perform. I always try
to see as many acts as I can. Sometimes its
hard because of schedules, but I always look
if theres time. And I love going to the beach,
although I dont always have time to go as
much as I would like.
Im fully booked for the rest of this year:
South America, North America and a lot of
gigs in Europe. I need to make sure that Ive
got enough space in my passport.
jorisvoorn.com
Joris
Voorn
Example
Tracing the evolution of Elliot Gleave, aka
metamorphosing West London dance-rapper
Example, who plays live at Sandance along-
side his spinner, DJ Wire
1982 Born in West London.
1992 As a schoolboy, wins the Royal Mail Poet
Of The Year competition.
2000 Starts at Royal Holloway University and
meets his producer, Rusher.
2006 Gains his rst sni of fame with BBC
Radio 1 daytime airplay for Lily Allen parody, Vile.
Puts out debut single proper, I Dont Want To,
lms a video in Chernobyl for the track What We
Made.
WIN!
A MEET AND GREET WITH RICHARD ASHCROFT,
PLUS SANDANCE TICKETS
We have a meet and greet with Richard Ashcroft for two people (including a pair of tickets),
plus more tickets to Sandance to give away. For your chance to win, simply
e-mail winwithwhatson@motivate.ae with Sandance in the subject line and the answer
to the following question:
Sand is made from tiny particles of what substance?
a) Wood
b) Rock and minerals
c) Smarties
Example
David
Morales
The veteran New York clubland legend on
tans, his DJ mates and winning Grammys
Are you looking forward
to topping up your tan at
Sandance?
[Laughs]. Ive been on the
beach all summer, so Im
tanned already. But I dont
mind relaxing in the Gulf.
Are you pals with any
of the other DJs playing
the festival?
Only Sasha. Ive known him
for almost 20 years. He was my warm-up DJ
many moons ago.
Youve played club dates in Dubai before,
but do you expect a dierent vibe this time?
Yes. Obviously clubs are more intimate. In clubs
people get more dressed up and they dont come
out until late. Festivals usually attract a lot more
people.
Youre among an elite band of DJs/
producers to win a Grammy. Do you keep
the gong on display?
I keep it in my studio. I have great memories of
my journey in this business, from producing
famous artists to winning awards.
Whats next?
Producing new artist, besides producing my
own records, and touring as usual. I plan on
taking a month o in November and then I
have a new album coming out in December.
djdavidmorales.com
Oct 14, Nasimi Beach, Atlantis The Palm,
Dubai, 2pm to 2am, Dhs200 to Dhs350.
Tel: (055) 2004321. atlantisthepalm.com
2007 Releases debut album, What We Made,
on Mike The Streets Skinners label, The Beats.
2008 Plays his rst stand-up comedy gigs in
London after being mentored by funnyman
Richard Herring as part of a feature for BBC TVs
The Culture Show.
2009 Crashes the UK single charts for the rst
time with Watch The Sun Come Up, the opening
single from his second album, Wont Go Quietly.
2010 Releases Wont Go Quietly, featuring
production from Calvin Harris and Chase &
Status.
2011 Makes the nal leap to stardom during
what future generations may dub the Summer
Of Example: two UK number one singles,
Changed The Way You Kiss Me and Stay Awake,
are followed by his rst chart-topping album,
Playing In The Shadows.
trythisforexample.com
A bevy of Bavarians couldnt
keep us from donning our
lederhosen, grabbing a
stein, eating a bratwurst and
cramming as many German
stereotypes as possible
into a night out. Miles away
from Munich, weve found
the best bars in Dubai
celebrating Oktoberfest
FIVE TO TRY...
HOFBRUHAUS
When it comes to Oktoberfest in Dubai,
its hard to get more traditional that
Hofbruhaus. Despite being the younger
sister of the original bar in Munich, the
Oktoberfest spread of food and beverages
will demonstrate just how traditional it
really is. They have even booked a German
band who promise to have you doing an
exhilarating rendition of the birdie dance
nope, we have no idea what that is either.
Until Oct 31, Hofbruhaus, JW Marriot Dubai,
Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Deira, Dubai,
7pm to 2am, Dhs230 including drinks.
Tel: (04) 6077977. marriottdiningatjw.ae

SLOANES
At Whats On we love it when people put
a local spin on things, so we applaud
Sloanes decision to merge the Oktoberfest
celebration with the very Dubai tradition of
Friday brunches. Expect a buffet chock-
full of schnitzels, sauerkraut, Wurts and
pretzels top marks.
Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Sloanes, Grosvenor House, Al
Sufouh Road, 1pm to 4pm, Dhs220.
Tel: (04) 3998888. grosvenorhouse-dubai.com

GRAND
OKTOBERFEST
The people at Le Mridien are so
committed to the goodtime Bavarian vibe
that they are erecting an Oktoberfest tent,
flying in a band from Bavaria, have two
German chefs cooking up a specific a la
carte menu and stacking the bar with deals
on traditional brews impressive.
Oct 12 to 29, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Oud Metha,
Dubai, Sat to Wed 7pm to 1am, Thurs and Fri
7pm to 3am, free. Tel: (04) 3172271. restaurants.
dubai.hyatt.com
Hofbruhaus
27-28 Oktoberfest.indd 27 9/27/11 8:57:44 AM
You wont need to speak German in Dubai,
but its all about authenticity
An Guadn bon apptit
Darf ich mich zu dir setzen? may I sit here?
Fingerhackeln a popular activity in the
tent, involving two men sitting opposite each
other, hooking their middle ngers and trying
to pull their opponent over the table. We dont
condone this behaviour
Heisl toilet (comes from huslein meaning
little house)
Noagerl the very last sip from your glass. For
extra points shout pati naoger! to bid it farewell
THE HUB
Despite being hosted in an Irish bar, this is
still one of our top picks for the festivities.
Running for a week, The Hubs
celebrations are firmly focused on
the food. Arrive with plenty of
room in your leather shorts as
theres German specialities
on offer including pretzels,
bratwurst, weisswurst
(a veal sausage) and
roast chicken braised
with cabbage and potato
dumplings.
Until Oct 3, Sotel Dubai
Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina,
Dubai, 6pm to 1am, free.
Tel: (04) 4484862. sotel.com/dubai
WHEN DID IT START?
Last year Oktoberfest celebrated its 200th
anniversary with an estimated 6.5 million
visitors to the home of the party, Munich.
HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?
It was originally all about the royal wedding
in 1810, with the people of Munich invited to
attend and party in the elds outside the city
gates. There were horse races, which were
repeated the next year, and it soon morphed
into an agricultural show with a few beer
stands. By the close of the century visitors
were more interested in the steins than the
sheep.
WHY DO OKTOBERFEST
CELEBRATIONS SOMETIMES
HAPPEN IN SEPTEMBER?
Traditionally, festivities took place in the 16
days up to and including the rst Sunday in
October. Deceiving, we know.
HAS IT TAKEN PLACE EVERY YEAR
SINCE 1810?
No, fairly major problems like war and
cholera epidemics have cancelled the
festival 24 times.
DO I HAVE TO GET DRESSED UP?
No, but youll probably have more fun
(and enjoy a few more free ales) if you do.
THE IRISH VILLAGE
As youd expect, the home of Hopfest
does Oktoberfest very well indeed. Taking
place over a weekend, the chefs have
gone all out with a buffet of
grilled sausages, sauerkraut,
herrings, pretzels and
more, all washed
down with lashings
of German ale. And
what soundtrack could
be more perfect than
Oompah bank PIK AS?
Oct 13 and 14, Aviation
Club, Garhoud, Dubai, 7pm
to late, free. Tel: (04) 2824750.
theirishvillage.ae
27-28 Oktoberfest.indd 28 9/27/11 8:57:46 AM
C
M
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CM
MY
CY
CMY
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pick up whats on.pdf 1 9/15/2011 6:51:55 PM
AL AHLI
AL WAHDA
AL AIN
AL WASL
AJMAN
BANIYAS
Formed: 1970
League titles: Five
Last season: Eighth
Manager: Ivan Hasek
Kit: Red/White
Stadium: Al-Rashid Stadium, Al Nahda Street, Dubai
Capacity: 18,000
Player to watch: Luis Jimenez
Summer signing: Grate
alahliclub.ae
Formed: 1968
League titles: Nine
Last season: Tenth
Manager: Cosmin Olaroiu
Kit: White/Purple
Stadium: Sheikh Tahnoun Stadium, Mohammed Bin
Khalifa St, Al Ain
Capacity: 15,000
Player to watch: Mirel Radoi
Summer signing: Asamoah Gyan
alainfc.ae
Formed: 1974
League titles: Seven
Last season: Sixth
Manager: Diego Maradona
Kit: Yellow/Black
Stadium: Zabeel Stadium, Dubai
Capacity: 12,000
Player to watch: Khalid Darwish
Summer signing: Edson Puch
alwaslsc.ae
Formed: 1974
League titles: None
Last season: Division Two winners (promoted)
Manager: Abdul Qader
Kit: Orange
Stadium: Ajman Stadium, Ajman
Capacity: 10,000
Player to watch: Ibrahima Toure
Summer signing: Karim Kerkar
ajmanclub.ae
Formed: 1982
League titles: None
Last season: Runners-up
Manager: Jorvan Vieira
Kit: White/Blue
Stadium: Baniyas Stadium, Baniyas
Capacity: 6,000
Player to watch: Andre Senghor
Summer signing: David Trezeguet
baniyasclub.ae
Diego
Maradona
Football fever
After a crazy summer of wild rumours,
world-class players jetting in and new
managers taking the helm including
Diego Maradona the most hotly
anticipated football season in UAE history
starts on October 15. Heres the low-
down on the Pro-League teams, their star
players and a guide on who to support
Most
successful
club
Formed: 1984
League titles: Four
Last season: Fifth
Manager: Josef Hickersberger
Kit: Burgundy/White
Stadium: Al-Nahyan Stadium, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi
Capacity: 12,000
Player to watch: Fernando Baiano
Summer signing: Masaed Neda
alwahdaclub.ae
P
H
O
T
O
G
R
A
P
H
Y
:

P
L
C
30-31 UAE footie DXB.indd 30 9/27/11 9:12:44 AM
AL AHLI
AL WAHDA
AL AIN
AL WASL
AJMAN
BANIYAS
Formed: 1970
League titles: Five
Last season: Eighth
Manager: Ivan Hasek
Kit: Red/White
Stadium: Al-Rashid Stadium, Al Nahda Street, Dubai
Capacity: 18,000
Player to watch: Luis Jimenez
Summer signing: Grate
alahliclub.ae
Formed: 1968
League titles: Nine
Last season: Tenth
Manager: Cosmin Olaroiu
Kit: White/Purple
Stadium: Sheikh Tahnoun Stadium, Mohammed Bin
Khalifa St, Al Ain
Capacity: 15,000
Player to watch: Mirel Radoi
Summer signing: Asamoah Gyan
alainfc.ae
Formed: 1974
League titles: Seven
Last season: Sixth
Manager: Diego Maradona
Kit: Yellow/Black
Stadium: Zabeel Stadium, Dubai
Capacity: 12,000
Player to watch: Khalid Darwish
Summer signing: Edson Puch
alwaslsc.ae
Formed: 1974
League titles: None
Last season: Division Two winners (promoted)
Manager: Abdul Qader
Kit: Orange
Stadium: Ajman Stadium, Ajman
Capacity: 10,000
Player to watch: Ibrahima Toure
Summer signing: Karim Kerkar
ajmanclub.ae
Formed: 1982
League titles: None
Last season: Runners-up
Manager: Jorvan Vieira
Kit: White/Blue
Stadium: Baniyas Stadium, Baniyas
Capacity: 6,000
Player to watch: Andre Senghor
Summer signing: David Trezeguet
baniyasclub.ae
Diego
Maradona
Football fever
After a crazy summer of wild rumours,
world-class players jetting in and new
managers taking the helm including
Diego Maradona the most hotly
anticipated football season in UAE history
starts on October 15. Heres the low-
down on the Pro-League teams, their star
players and a guide on who to support
Most
successful
club
Formed: 1984
League titles: Four
Last season: Fifth
Manager: Josef Hickersberger
Kit: Burgundy/White
Stadium: Al-Nahyan Stadium, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi
Capacity: 12,000
Player to watch: Fernando Baiano
Summer signing: Masaed Neda
alwahdaclub.ae
P
H
O
T
O
G
R
A
P
H
Y
:

P
L
C
AL JAZIRA
DUBAI CLUB
AL NASR
EMIRATES CLUB
AL SHABAB
Formed: 1974
League titles: One
Last season: Champions
Manager: Franky Vercauteren
Kit: White/Red
Stadium: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Capacity: 42,056
Player to watch: Matias Delgado
Summer signing: Lucas Neil
jc.ae
Formed: 1995
League titles: None
Last season: Ninth
Manager: Umberto Romano
Kit: Gold/Blue
Stadium: Police Ocers Club Stadium, Dubai
Capacity: 6,500
Player to watch: Aboubacar MBaye
Summer signing: Faouzi Aaish
dubaiclub.ae
Formed: 1945
League titles: Three
Last season: Third
Manager: Walter Zenga
Kit: Blue/White
Stadium: Al-Maktoum Stadium, Oud Metha, Dubai
Capacity: 12,000
Player to watch: Carlos Tenorio
Summer signing: Mark Bresciano
alnasrclub.com
Formed: 1969
League titles: None
Last season: Division Two runners-up (promoted)
Manager: Ghazi Ghrairi
Kit: Red/White
Stadium: Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
Capacity: 6,000
Player to watch: Nabil Daoudi
Summer signing: Alhassane Keita
emiratesclub.ae
Formed: 1958
League titles: Three
Last season: Fourth
Manager: Paulo Bonamigo
Kit: Green
Stadium: Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium,
Al Waheda, Dubai
Capacity: 12,000
Player to watch: Carlos Villanueva
Summer signing: Azizbek Haydarov
alshababdubai.com
SHARJAH
Formed: 1966
League titles: Five
Last season: Seventh
Manager: Valeriu Tita
Kit: White/Red
Stadium: Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah
Capacity: 18,000
Player to watch: Anderson de Carvalho
Summer signing: Eder Luciano
sharjahclub.ae
Defending
Champions
Al Ahli the Red Knights from Al Qusais misred
last year, but have spent big to try and regain the
crown they won in 2008/09.
Al Nasr Translated simply as Victory this Oud
Metha-based outt is usually in the mix come the
end of the season.
Al Shabab Spearheaded by the former Black-
burn Rovers striker Carlos Villanueva, the greens
from Al Waheda took home the Etisalat Emirates
Cup last year.
Al Wasl Saint Diego himself takes control of
the team ttingly known as The Emperor. Expect
plenty.
Dubai Club Set up in 1995, they are Dubais
newest and smallest team the classic underdogs.
WHO TO SUPPORT STAR PLAYERS
David Trezegeut (Baniyas) As well as being
a former World and European champion, the
French striker scored 171 goals for Italian gi-
ants Juventus.
Grate (Al Ahli) Named the Germany
leagues player of the season in 08/09 after
scoring 28 goals in 25 matches to help Wolfs-
burg win the league.
Edson Puch (Al Wasl) The tricky Chilean
midelder was hand picked by Maradona to
add attacking air to the side.
Lucas Neill (Al Jazira) As Australias national
team captain, Neill brings further steel to the
defence of last years runaway double winners.
Deciphering how to get tickets for some events
can break a mans will. However, thankfully the
Pro-League Committee has removed all the
stress from this process allowing you to get
tickets directly from stadiums best of all,
tickets start from as little as Dhs20.
TICKETS
Emirates v Dubai Oct 15
Al Shabab v Al Wahda Oct 15
Al Jazira v Al Ahli Oct 15
Ajman v Baniyas Oct 16
Al Ain v Al Nasr Oct 16
Al Wasl v Sharjah Oct 16

(Home team in bold)
ROUND ONE
YOU ARE WELCOME!
DUBAI / FRANKFURT / LONDON / MALDIVES / NEW YORK / SHANGHAI
OPENING SOON: ABU DHABI / AZERBAIJAN / KUWAIT / MALLORCA
You are different . That s why we have created a modern urban lifestyle
experience at the heart of Abu Dhabi.
Introducing Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi.
STAY DIFFERENT at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. For reser vations,
please contact your travel professional or visit jumeirah. com
503329_JAD_FP_Whats On_20.6X27_FAW.indd 1 9/12/11 5:21 PM
HIT
THE
ROAD
AFTERNOON EXCURSIONS
ICELAND
WATERPARK
BEST FOR: FAMILIES
Whats on oer? e RAK parks previous
environmental claims namely that it is a
leader in the ght against global warming
may be questionable, but when it comes
to activities Iceland Waterpark is denitely
ahead of the game. ere are all sorts on oer,
from aqua soccer and an Olympic-size pool
to glacier slides and terrifying rides.
Essential kit: Swimmers and sunscreen, but
jewellery is not allowed.
Directions: Come o Emirates Road at
exit 119, at the roundabout take second exit
towards Al Jazeera/Al Hamra/Sharjah, drive
approximately 4km until you see Iceland
Waterpark on your right.
Travel time: Approximately 60 minutes
(105km).
Iceland Waterpark, Ras Al Khaimah, 11am to
8pm, Dhs100 to Dhs150. Tel: (07) 2067888.
icelandwaterpark.com
Looking for something to ll several hours on a lazy afternoon?
AL AIN WILDLIFE
PARK & ZOO
BEST FOR: ANIMAL LOVERS
Whats on oer? e UAEs best zoo by
a long chalk boasts lions, tigers, giraes,
rhinos and zebra, among other animals. Oh
my. Dont miss the nightly 7pm bird show,
featuring birds of prey including owls, falcons
and vultures, or the girae feeding, petting
zoo, camel rides (Dhs10), and on Wednesday
evenings, the bouncy castle (Dhs5) and 8pm
cartoon screenings.
Essential kit: Camera, sunscreen and comfy
shoes.
Directions: Easy peasy. Follow the Al Ain
Road (E66) straight to Al Ain. e zoo is
sign-posted and located on Khalifa Zayed Al
Awwal Street.
(125km).
Al Ain Wildlife Park & Zoo, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi,
4pm to 10pm, Dhs5 to Dhs15. Tel: (800) 2977.
awpr.ae
HIT
THE
ROAD
If you need a
change of scenery
and have anything from
an afternoon to a week on
your hands, ll the tank, put
on some tunes and start
exploring, with our tried
and tested road trip
routes
33-40 Roadtrips DXB.indd 33 9/27/11 9:17:12 AM
Antonio Banderas, Actor, Black Gold
Photograph by Brigitte Lacombe 2011
DFI_DTFF_WO_AB_10_11.indd 1 9/22/11 11:18 AM
BANYAN TREE
AL WADI SPA
BEST FOR: LUXURY FANS
Whats on offer? The Banyan Tree
Spa day package lasts for a relaxing 450
minutes. Thats seven and a half hours
of pure pampered pleasure. Split into
morning and afternoon sessions, it
includes a choice of 90-minute massage,
refreshments, a 90-minute hydrotherapy
experience complete with ice caves, tropical
showers and scented steam rooms, lunch,
a 90-minute facial and a 30-minute face
massage. Now thats a road worth travelling.
Essential kit: Swimmers, a change of clothes.
Directions: Head north on Emirates
Road (E11), take exit 119, turn right at
roundabout, after 4km there is a sign to
the hotel, turn right and you will reach the
hotel after 3km.
(105km).
Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah, Dhs1,800.
Tel: (07) 2067777. banyantree.com
Check out Adventure
HQ if you have an idea, but no
gear. You can rent kayaks (from
Dhs200 per day), bikes (from Dhs100
per day), tents, car fridges, roof racks
and more. And if youre stuck for an
itinerary, they can even provide
advice and recommendations for routes,
and they promise to get back to you
within an hour.
Times Square Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 3466824.
E-mail asktheexpert@adventurehq.ae
DAY TRIPS
Days to remember out and about in the UAE
CRAB HUNTING
BEST FOR: ACTIVE TYPES
Whats on offer? Light refreshments, an
hour of crab hunting by torchlight in the
mangroves with a spear, followed by dinner
(crab). If you want to spend a day by the
pool beforehand, its Dhs50 entrance, and if
the hunt makes you weary and you want to
take a room for the night, a double will cost
Dhs550.
Essential kit: Swimmers, old trainers, a
change of clothes.
Directions: Take exit 90 off Emirates Road
(E11) and continue straight until you see
signs for the Flamingo Beach Resort.
(50km).
Flamingo Beach Resort, Umm Al Quwain,
from sunset, Dhs190. Tel: (06) 7650000.
amingoresort.ae
SHUWAYHAH
Whats on oer? A rugged rocky landscape
great for o-roading, camping and relaxing.
Essential kit: Passport, Oman car insurance,
Omani rials, tent, sleeping bag, camping
chair, swimmers, plenty of bottled water, o-
roading map, barbecue (optional).
Why should you go? For intrepid 4x4-
equipped explorers, this route nicely
navigates two extremes: challenging boulder-
littered o-roading tracks, followed by the
reward of peace, tranquillity, seclusion and
freshwater pools once you reach the wadi.
Directions: Take the Dubai to Hatta road
(E44), then turn right at the roundabout
next to the Shell petrol station, signposted
to Mahdah. Head into the mountains for
around 35km then bear le for just over 5km
to Shuwayhah village, where you turn le and
cut through the rocky o-road track to the
wadi bed. ere are numerous at camping
spots before you reach the small pools at the
end of the wadi.
(160km).
The trip: ere arent many more stunning
landscape indications of crossing a national
border than when you venture into Oman
from the UAE. Leaving behind the Emirates
desert surrounds, youre almost immediately
traversing altogether starker territory,
spectacular mountains jutting jaggedly
into the sky. ere are still sandy enclaves,
however; if you have time, head past your
destination towards Al Ain, where theres the
option to swerve o for some moderately
straightforward dune bashing. Dont forget to
lower your tyre pressures rst and re-inate
once back on the highway.
is is more or less a trek into the easily
reachable wilderness, despite the relative
ease of spending half the journey distance on
tarmac roads. So forget any notions of cushy
hotel stays; tents are denitely required for an
overnight stay. e mountain climate ensures
bearable evening temperatures, although you
may wake up sweaty under canvas once the
sun rises on anything approaching a hot day.
Take care when pitching tents to nd
ground slightly higher than the wadi
riverbeds. Flash oods arent uncommon,
and the consequences could be a touch more
serious than a soggy sleeping bag many
unwitting campers have been swept to
WEEKENDS AWAY
Break out of your dinner-brunch-bar-sleep routine
load up the car and spend a few days out of the city
KHASAB
Whats on oer? Dolphins. Loads of them.
And a very pretty underwater world.
Essential kit: Passport (Khasab is in the
Omani enclave of Musandam), Oman car
insurance, Omani rials, underwater camera,
swimmers, sun cream, binoculars.
Why should you go? Known throughout
the UAE as the Norway of Arabia, Khasabs
scenery is nothing short of stunning, with
ords, islands for snorkelling, and quaint
shing villages. Best of all, you dont need a
4x4 drive to get there.
Directions: Dead easy. Take Emirates
Road (E11) until it ends in Shams. At the
roundabout take the rst exit, which takes
you to the coast then on to the Oman border.
Flash your passports (they might want to
search your car for contraband) then follow
the main road to Khasab.
(185km).
The trip: Set o at dawn to make the most of
the day. Base yourself out of the Golden Tulip,
a basic but clean and friendly hotel right on
the water, where you can go on excursions,
enjoy a run-of-the-mill buet dinner and take
a dip in the pool. We went on a full day dhow
trip (9am to 4pm) for Dhs200 per person,
which introduced us to hundreds of dolphins
that swam alongside the boat, jumping,
twisting and vying for our attention.
From there, its a cruise through the ords
to Telegraph Island, named aer a time when
the British used the tiny patch of land as a
cable station in the mid-1800s. If snorkelling
is your thing get kitted up (equipment is
provided) and circle the island, taking in the
sh, coral and maybe the odd sea turtle if
youre lucky (we werent). Lunch is included
and caught by the dhows crew while you
swim, turning Nemo into nibbles. Not much
can beat fresh sh grilled on a barbecue aer
an hour in the water.
Youll then slowly glide back to the hotel,
exploring inlets and ords on the way,
allowing you to see shing villages that can
only be accessed by water, where people still
live today untouched by technology. en its
back to reality for a quick swim in the pool
and dinner before an early night.
e next morning try a mountain safari
(Dhs300 per person for a full day) that can
be booked through the hotel, taking in the
dramatic, rocky scenery, driving through
dry wadi beds and enjoying the cooler
temperatures, stopping for a picnic lunch.
is isnt as stomach churning as desert
driving, with fewer drops and less speed, so
its more family friendly. Make sure you ask
your driver to stop at regular intervals for
photos; these views are worth capturing.
Once back, its time to pack up the car and
drive home. Customs queue permitting (it
rarely takes longer than ten minutes) youll be
back in Dubai by sunset.
Golden Tulip, Khasab, Musandam, Oman, from
Dhs700 for a double room per night. Tel: (00968)
26730777. goldentulipkhasab.com
their deaths in the past. Once you complete
the craggy route, youll emerge into the
comparatively at wadi, the shallow walls
secluded by vegetation, there are plentiful
places to pitch safely.
e trail is currently fairly unknown,
at least once you head a little further up
the wadi. And with lots of space to camp,
splendid isolation is easily obtainable. We
recommend a midnight swim in the pools
ve or so minutes up the wadi, although
take a torch as it really is pitch black out
there. And dont go alone the pools can be
deceptively deep in places.
With enough supplies, you can comfortably
stay and kick back for several days, although
such is the proximity to Dubai, an overnight
stop means you can be back home to
civilisation before lunchtime.
Need a 4x4?
If your rental Mitsubishi Lancer or posh
Porsche isnt up to some of these routes,
then rent a 4x4. O-Road Zone leases Jeep
Wranglers for Dhs1,600 from Thursday to
Saturday and oers courses in desert and
o-road driving if youre feeling nervous.
If youre going to Oman, mention it when
booking so youre covered by insurance.
Off-Road Zone, Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 3392449
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An extra couple of days off will
transport you to another country,
take you back hundreds of years and
introduce you to another way of life
JEBEL SHAMS,
AL HAMRA AND
NIZWA
Whats on oer? Souks, views, history and
an eco luxe retreat
Essential kit: Passport, 4x4 with Oman car
insurance, Omani rials, camera, hiking shoes,
sun cream, lots of water and picnic lunches
for the journey.
Why should you go? Its an epic drive,
but worth it for a four-day weekend.
Your end destination, e View, is a new
glam campsite, home to a restaurant and
permanent tents with their own terraces. is
is roughing it in style. With food, bedding
and facilities provided, theres no need to
worry about giant cooler boxes, digging your
own toilet or buying sleeping bags. Its also
the ideal spot to use as a base for exploring
the nearby villages, forts, markets and
attractions.
Directions: Take the main highway to Al Ain
(E66), which is called Al Buraymi once on the
Oman side of the border. Customs shouldnt
take longer than half an hour. Proceed from
Al Buraymi towards Ibri in the direction of
Bahla and on to Al Hamra. Once in Al Hamra
turn right at the National Bank of Oman
roundabout towards Hail Al Shas. e road
becomes a dirt track that requires a 4x4. e
View is signposted.
Travel time: Approximately four hours.
THE LONG WEEKEND
THE TRIP
Day one
Leave home aer lunch, arriving at e View
by sunset. Unpack in your en-suite tent, tuck
into a buet dinner then watch the stars from
beside the campre.
Day two
Eat breakfast overlooking the mountains
then head into Al Hamra village, a 15-
minute drive away. Its a bit like stepping
back in time, with mud houses and a
museum where locals show you what life
was like here in days gone by. From there,
its a drive to Al Hoota Caves for lunch at
its restaurant. Youll see an underwater
lake among the stalagmites and stalactites.
Then its time to take in the oasis at Birkat
Al Mouz in at the foothills of Jebel Akhdar,
picture perfect for photo taking. When
youre done, head back to The Views for a
snooze.
Day three
Today take in Nizwa, which is around 45
minutes from the resort, where you can
visit the cattle market on Fridays, or a souk
selling Omani silver, pottery and souvenirs
throughout the week. e towns fort is one of
the nest attractions in the area, dating back
to the 17th century. Aer lunch in Nizwa
drive up to Jabal Shams to witness some of
the best views in the country, and enjoy a
short hike, if youre feeling up to it. e Views
can suggest routes to suit your tness level.
Day four
Depending on time, either head for home or
squeeze in a quick visit to Bait Al Safa, a 400-
year-old house and heritage museum 8km
away. en line up the podcasts and prepare
for the pleasant drive home.
The View, near Al Hamra, Oman, from Dhs650
per room for two people including breakfast and
dinner. Tel: (00968) 24400873. theviewoman.com
GPS
COORDINATES:
N 23 09 31 7/
E 57 16 12 7
Essential kit
Passport, Oman car insurance, Omani rials,
camping gear, plenty of water, GPS device,
camera, shing rods (optional). Also make
sure your 4x4 has been properly serviced
before setting out.
Day one
Its best to set o in the morning, as the
320km rst leg drive down the E66 to Nizwa
involves crossing the Omani border at Jebel
Hafeet, which could take a while. e dual
carriageways make it all pretty quick going
until you reach the Omani town of Ibri,
where your last 130km sees the roads begin
to wind as you enter rural Oman. Arriving in
Nizwa, you can do a lot worse than checking
into the Golden Tulip Hotel. A dip in the pool
and a buet dinner is just what you need aer
day one. Its advised to make the most of the
bed and shower, as itll be the last of this type
of luxury until you get to Salalah.
Golden Tulip Hotel, Nizwa, Oman. Tel: (+968)
25431616. goldentulipnizwa.com
Day two
Before speeding o into the Omani
wilderness, its well worth waking up early
and spending a few hours sightseeing in
and around Nizwa it is the former Omani
capital, aer all. Known for its vast date
plantations, Nizwa also boats a souk, which
is a great place to mingle with the locals
especially on a Friday. For a few more Kodak
moments, its worth taking a short 20-minute
drive to see the impressive Jabrin Fort. Try
not to dawdle too much, as you need to arrive
at Ras Al Duqm (365km away) before dark in
order to set up camp.
Day three
With the worry of yesterdays long journey
out the way, the Ras Al Duqm beach is a
perfect place to stay an extra day to recharge
and aer seeing the location in daylight you
wont take much convincing. e sea is calm,
the beaches are deserted and the limestone
clis are spectacular. And Duqm is also
known for an otherworldly garden of giant
boulders scattered across nearby sandy plains
for happy snappers, perspective is key here.
A WEEK IN THE WILDERNESS
Whats that? You have the week off?
Time to get away on a serious road
trip adventure
Day four
Youve had your fun yesterday; therefore today
is all about driving. Salalah is still 480km
away and theres not a dual carriageway in
sight pack up camp and set o early to
reach Ash Shuwaymiyah. ere are few roads
around this part of the country, so directions
arent too dicult. e scenery changes
dramatically as the main road ascends up to
the Dhofar Mountains, but the real joy comes
as you take the road descending down the
spectacular limestone clis to the town of Ash
Shuwaymiyah known for its basket-making,
and a place to refuel on food and water. If you
continue down the beach, towards the bottom
of the clis, this stunning location is as good a
place youll nd to make camp.
Day ve
e long pilgrimage to Salalah is nearly over, so
feel free to set o at your leisure. Head back up
the cli face, take the turn towards umrayt
and then follow the signs to Salalah. From there
it is all down hill literally as you descend
into perhaps one of the Middle Easts most
photogenic regions: the plush green valley that
is Salalah. Lets face it, by now you deserve a so
bed and a warm shower, so make sure you head
straight to either the Hilton Salalah Resort or
the Crowne Plaza Resort you wont regret it.
Hilton Salalah Resort, Salalah, Oman. Tel: (+968)
23211234, hilton.com
Crowne Plaza Resort, Salalah, Oman. Tel: (+968)
23235333. ichotelsgroup.com
Day six
ere is plenty to do around Salalah to reward
yourself for completing the 1,500km drive. Top
of that list are the natural blowholes situated
along the clis to the west of the town, where
there are plenty of spots to stop for picnics
as you wind through the coastal road. Both
hotels can advise on daytrips and nearby
attractions, as well as providing swimming
pools and restaurants if you want to stay closer
to civilisation.
Day seven
ere is no messing around today. e drive
back to Dubai is a gruelling 1,200km. It is
possible in one day, but likely to take up to 12
hours. Before taking it on, make sure you are
well rested and, if possible, alternate drivers to
avoid tiredness. e safest option is to break it
into two days, stopping again at Nizwas Golden
Tulip hotel.
THERES
A NEW
LEGEND
IN TOWN
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I put the show together
and every song
I perform, Ive written
42-43 YAS - Janet Jackson.indd 42 9/27/11 9:20:01 AM
What can we expect from your Abu
Dhabi show?
ere are no special eects, nothing like that,
no pyrotechnics. Its just myself, the band and
the dancers thats it.
Do you still enjoy touring?
I do I love what I do. I dont think I would
be able to do it for as long as I have if I didnt.
I enjoy performing and to see those faces, to
make that connection, to see it all the way to
the back of the theatre and to be able to say
hello to them and to see them waving back at
me and smiling thats a rush for me.
What do you enjoy the most about
performing?
I have to tell you, I really do love it all. I put the
show together and every song I perform, Ive
written. Its a part of my life. Its so connected to
me, so close, because it is me. So, I enjoy every
moment of it. And we have a lot of fun on stage
Ive always been very fortunate to be very
close to the dancers. Aer I nish today, Im
going to hang out with them and were going to
go to some museums. ats life on the road to
me. at closeness and that connection that we
have, it shows on stage when were together.
Will we hear Rhythm Nation?
No, we dont do it in the show.
Really?
Im joking! [Laughs] No, of course we do. Its
too important to me not to because of the
message its about illiteracy and bigotry and
no colour lines and all that still resonates
with me so deeply.
Do you like to see footage of your older
hits?
When I do see them, yeah, its fun to watch.
I mean, I dont sit there and YouTube
anything, but before the show Ill dedicate a
little something to each city. Its fun to watch
and reminisce. Its nice; its nice to see.
Do you have a favourite song from your
back catalogue?
eres not one in particular that means the
most to me. ey all come from me my
heart and my soul so theyre all important
to me, and they all hold a special place in my
soul and my life.
Are you working on any new music?
Im thinking about it. Im just going to take
my time though, go back into the studio and
just fool around, see where I am and just take
my time with it, no rush. What direction Ill
take, I dont know. I have to be there at that
very moment to see what Im feeling at the
moment.
Who are you listening to right now?
You know who? Bruno Mars. I enjoy him
a great deal. And Adele I think shes
incredibly talented. I like Lady Gaga I like
the Gaga that sits behind the piano and its
just her and the piano, her voice and the
piano I think shes very talented and I wish I
could hear more of that from her.
Adele is huge right now
Yes, shes very talented. e rst time I
learned about her was a little time back, with
her rst project, and I thought wow you
The youngest sibling of the
Jackson clan, Janet Jackson
is the multi-award-winning
voice behind such hits as
Nasty, Rhythm Nation and
Thats The Way Love Goes,
racking up sales of more than
100 million along the way. She
hits Yas Island this month as
part of her Number Ones: Up
Close And Personal tour
Janet
Jackson
could feel the soul in her voice and its real, its
not something thats been learned, she really
feels it. Her voice is dierent, its recognisable,
and I love that.
You released a book earlier in the year,
True You, which gave quite a candid
account of your life. What was the
thinking behind that?
It was important to me because I feel part of
the reason why God put me here is to help
people, and thats what Ive always wanted
to do and try to do through my music. And
I took it a step further when I realised how
people were interested in my weight loss
and gain and what brought it on and how
I dealt with it And instead of just writing
about that, I wanted to take it to the very
beginning, which stems from my childhood
and has to do with self-esteem issues. I
wanted it to appeal not just to adults, but to
kids as well. Children, theyre in my heart,
so if I can help in any way, so they dont take
that same route, the same path I did, then
hopefully life will be a little easier for them.
Im not complaining, because Ive been very,
very blessed and fortunate, but you look back
and there are things you wish you could have
done, that you would have done or could have
done dierently.
So are you in a good place right now?
I am, I really am, Im very happy. It took a
minute to get here but I got here.
You perform Scream in this set, the song
you sang with Michael how does that
feel?
Its therapeutic. e energy of the song is so
erce. It makes me smile inside when I hear
him, when I hear his voice.
Oct 13, Yas Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
7pm, Dhs265 to Dhs665. Tel: (800) 35274.
thinkash.ae
42-43 YAS - Janet Jackson.indd 43 9/27/11 9:20:02 AM
Tickets: 800 YAS (927) www.yasmarinacircuit.ae
Selected Etihad Airways Shops and Virgin Megastores
GO BEFORE THEY'RE GONE
The last remaining tickets to the 2011 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS
ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX are going fast.
Enter
sandmen
At the pinnacle of metal
for the past three decades,
Californian rock legends
Metallica jet in for a
long-overdue debut
show in the Emirates
this month
Aside from having the temerity to include
their chosen genre in their band name, few
acts have represented heavy metal as well
as Metallica, selling more than 100 million
records since they formed 30 years ago.
e quartet frontman James Heteld,
guitarist Kirk Hammett, drummer Lars
Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo
are currently poised to release
Lulu, an intriguing collaborative
album with e Velvet Undergrounds
grumpy leader, Lou Reed. But before
then, they divert their World Magnetic
Tour to Abu Dhabi for a much-anticipated
gig. Time to break out the earplugs.
Five of the best
Metallicas nest ve albums
RIDE THE LIGHTNING (1984)
A classic thrash record blitzing
through eight tracks that
irreversibly changed mid-1980s
metal, adding an instrumental
inspired by horror writer HP Lovecraft for
good measure.
MASTER OF PUPPETS (1986)
On the last album before bassist
Cli Burtons untimely death,
brutal thrash numbers like Battery
rubbed shoulders with more rened
moments that developed an orchestral bent.
METALLICA (1991)
The quintessential Metallica
record, aka The Black Album,
turned the band from cult
successes into one of planets
biggest bands, thanks to singles such as
Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters.
LOAD (1996)
Though this record split fans
(not least as the band cut their
hair short and donned eyeliner),
the slowed-down bluesy lilt
showcased a more mature, eclectic Metallica.
DEATH MAGNETIC (2008)
After 2003s frankly embarrassingly under-par
St Anger, the chips were down.
Metallica responded with a
snarling beast nodding back to
their speedy thrash metal heyday.
Oct 25,Yas Island Show Weekends, Yas Arena, Yas
Island, Abu Dhabi, 7pm, Dhs295 to Dhs595.
Tel: (800) 35274. metallica.com
The ups and downs of Metallica
1981
Formed in
Los Angeles,
California
1983
Release debut album
Kill Em All
1986
Bassist Cli Burton
is killed in a tour bus
accident
1992
An onstage pyrotechnics
accident leaves James
Heteld with serious burns
2000
The band take on Napster
in court after their music is
shared on the download
website
2004
Documentary Some Kind Of
Monster released, depicting
Metallicas personal struggles
2008
Return to form with
comeback album Death
Magnetic
1991
Self-titled fth album
is released, going on
to sell more than 22
million copies
45 Yas - Metallica.indd 45 9/27/11 9:22:18 AM
WATH'SON27.X20.6EN.pdf 1 9/25/11 11:58 AM
TROPFEST ARABIA
Taking its bow in the region, the first ever
Tropfest Arabia screens films from its finalists
at Al Sahil Beach on November 4. Showcasing
the talents of Arab film-makers, Tropfest was
originally founded in Australia and is now
the largest short film festival in the world.
Welcoming entries from Middle Eastern and
North African nationals, every single short
film at Tropfest is created especially for the
competition. Prizes for winners include
Dhs100,000, while UAE film-maker Nayla Al
Khaja is among the panel of judges.
tropfestarabia.com
CUT & PASTE
A live design battle showcasing emerging
artists in front of a live audience, Cut &
Paste is an audio-visual feast that allows
rival designers to flex their skills in real
time. In the Middle East for the first time at
Yasalam, the fast and furious battle format
demands the competitors perform rapidly
during 15 to 20-minute rounds. Their design
brilliance is projected onto big screens for
the audience to watch, accompanied by a DJ
and an MC host. After a series of qualifying
rounds throughout October in Abu Dhabi,
eight finalists will face off at The Corniche on
November 5.

cutandpaste.com
Yasalam
Though the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix grid doesnt line up until the
middle of November, its huge associated festival, Yasalam, is already
revving up to get underway. Offering an extensive programme of
music, lm, art, sport and more over the coming month, read on for
our pick of the best events taking place before race weekend
CINEMA BY THE SEA
Like movies? Dig cars? Then grab the
popcorn for four nights of free automotive-
themed screenings on Al Sahil Beach
MONDAY OCTOBER 31
7.30PM
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
Michael Bays big budget morphing alien robot
sequel.
10.15PM
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Iconic time travelling adventure, starring Michael J
Fox.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1
7.30PM
THE BLUES BROTHERS
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd combine in this
classic musical comedy.
10PM
THE CANNONBALL RUN
Burt Reynolds and an all-star cast recreate the real
life 1970s outlaw race.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2
7.30PM
CARS 2
The return of endearing animated racing car hero
Lightning McQueen.
9PM
TAXI
A French taxi driver is forced to help police pursuing
German bank robbers.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3
7.30PM
TRON: LEGACY
A father and son risk their lives in a futuristic cyber
universe.
10PM
SENNA
Award-winning documentary tracing the
life of F1 legend Ayrton Senna.
BEST OF THE REST
OCTOBER 28 TO 30
Opening Parade and Multicultural Weekend
Celebrating the 19 countries currently hosting
Formula 1 races around the globe at Al Sahil Beach/
The Corniche.
OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 13
F1 FANZONE
Two weeks of free driving-based fun and activities,
art and race screenings.
NOVEMBER 5
RED BULLS SPORTS
Sport with a twist from the Red Bull Kiteforce
competitors and radio controlled car-engineering
competition, Red Bull Racing Can.
redbullkiteforce.com
redbullracingcan.com
47 Yasalam.indd 47 9/27/11 9:27:04 AM
FILM
WHO?
TAGLINE
ONCE UPON A TIME...
IDEAL IF YOURE IN THE
MOOD TO...
WATCH THIS IF YOU
LIKE...
TOP TRIVIA
WHATS ON TEN WORD
OR LESS REVIEW
RATE OR SLATE?
Orlando Bloom, Colin Firth,
Ellen Burstyn, Amber Tamblyn,
John Doyle (director)
An oer too good to be true it
just might be.
Abandoned by its tobacco industry,
the small city of Durham, North
Carolina was decaying. A rich
Texan looking to store toxic waste
oered a cash injection but at
what cost?
Relax, let a competently acted but
blandly downbeat mood piece wash
over you, then cheer up and forget
about it by bedtime.
Martin Scorseses far superior Alice
Doesnt Live Here Anymore (1974)
included laughs while Main Street
never does. Burstyns key role in
both lms somehow resonates.
is was Pulitzer-decorated
screenwriter Horton Footes (1916-
2009) last work. Alas, it wont
quite be remembered alongside
his stellar adaptations of To Kill A
Mockingbird and Tender Mercies.
Aecting yet frustrating drama
that avoids tackling an
intriguing premise.
Selena Gomez, Freddie

Highmore, Stacy Ferguson, Mia
Farrow, Luc Besson (director)
e nal...
Our diminutive Mimoy hero
faced a nal showdown with evil
nemesis Maltazard who was by
then a seven-foot giant standing
between Arthur and a magic
enlarging potion.
See o Bessons clunky trilogy,
based on his own adventure
novels for children, in the
animation-meets-live action style
hes stuck with throughout.
Previous installments Arthur And
e Invisibles or Arthur And e
Revenge Of Maltazard. Failing that,
youll spot similarities to better-
known fare like e Ant Bully.
e cast has always been oddly
music-sourced David Bowie
voiced Maltazard in the rst lm,
while Lou Reed has played the
baddie since, with Iggy Pop on
hand as his son Darkos.
Passable but charmless aair that
proves animation isnt Bessons
forte.
Colin Farrell, David Tennant,

Anton Yelchin, Christopher
Mintz-Plasse, Imogen Poots,
Craig Gillespie (director)
You cant run from evil when it
lives next door.
A Las Vegas teen suspected his
neighbour was a bloodsucker
responsible for a trail of suburban
slayings. When nobody believed
him, he sought expert help...
See a diverting if somewhat
pointless remake of the 1985
schlock classic, sneakily redressed
as a comedic ri on the US
housing crisis.
Smartly acerbic, convention-
mocking B-movies like An
American Werewolf In London
and e Lost Boys, although its
far less memorable than either.
Gillespie makes his rst foray into
wry horror aer the delightfully
skewed 2007 tragicomedy Lars
And e Real Girl. Good timing
hes also slated for Pride And
Prejudice And Zombies.
Less eective than the original,
despite lashings of 3D gore.
Main Street
Arthur 3: The War
Of The Two Worlds
Fright Night
Arthur 3: The War Of The Two Worlds Fright Night
48-49 Films.indd 48 9/27/11 9:28:22 AM
FILM | NEW RELEASES
Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv
Tyler, Kevin Bacon, James
Gunn (director)
Shut up, crime!
A downtrodden cook lost his
beautiful wife to a ashy drug
dealer. Unable to let her go, he
designed a crime-ghting alter-
ego Crimson Bolt to take his
beef to the streets.
Argue over its merits at length
this alarmingly brutal, sourly
comic oddity is by no means
everyones cup of tea, but it
certainly attempts a new twist on
the genre.
Kick-Ass, which approached a very
similar premise from a far safer
angle. Youll also get a whi of Will
Smiths deeply awed protagonist
in 2008 superhero satire Hancock.
Kick-Ass beat Super to release by
a year, prompting accusations
of plagiarism. Kick-Ass creator
Mark Millar always defended
Gunn though, noting that the
two projects developed almost
simultaneously.
Insanely violent genre spoof
made hugely memorable by its
incongruity.
James Marsden, Kate Bosworth,

Alexander Skarsgrd, Rod Lurie
(director)
Everyone has a breaking point.
Screenwriter David Sumner and
his wife relocate to Mississippi,
where Sumner hires his wifes ex-
boyfriend (Skarsgrd) to x their
house, leading to strange goings
on with an odd cast of locals.
Watch a remake of a classic, once-
banned 1970s movie. e original
was directed by Sam Peckinpah,
starred Dustin Homan and was
set in rural England. It will take a
ne lm to beat it.
Remakes of classic lms, or
perhaps hit vampire TV show
True Blood in which Skarsgrd
also plays a menacing character in
a small southern town.
Dustin Homan apparently gave
director Rod Lurie his blessing
to make the lm. But the real
question is: would the famously
irascible Sam Peckinpah have
approved?
Straw Dogs didnt need to be
remade. We just hope it does
justice to the original.
PREVIEW
Thomas Jane (actor/writer/
director), Lauren German, Ron
Perlman, Con Schell
One wrong turn... Into the dark.
Las Vegas newlyweds Dick
and Gina drove o into the
desert night on a honeymoon.
Unsurprisingly, three soon became
a crowd aer they picked up an
injured pedestrian.
Witness a fairly plucky if not
entirely successful attempt by
a young lm-maker to wring
creepy low-budget thrills from a
somewhat unoriginal tale.
Either of the two X-Files feature
lms although his directorial
debut is a far more nave, Jane
does partly succeed in generating a
similar sense of eerie discomfort.
Jane always planned for this to be
shown in 3D format, but initial
screenings didnt bother to do so.
Now showing as hed intended, its
a rare example of 3D oering a
genuine improvement.
Ambition far outstrips ability, but
some fun moments crop up.
Super Straw Dogs Dark Country

3D
Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman,
Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, David
Dobkin (director)
Who says men cant change?
Ex-buddies Mitch and Dave grew
apart as adults one became a
harassed lawyer and father, the
other an immature bum. Aer a
heavy night out, they both awoke to
a major identity crisis.
See both Bateman and Reynolds
playing against their usual
type by wallowing in a movie
so staggeringly crass that they
occasionally look almost apologetic.
Its yet another body-swap comedy
amazingly, that well has yet to run
dry for Hollywood so Big, Freaky
Friday, e Switch, Vice Versa...
As if to prove the above point, this
is the second lm in two years
(see also 2009s 17 Again) in which
Mann has played the wife of a man
who wakes up in a dierent body.
Aer a couple of crude laughs?
Youll get little more.
The Change-Up
The Change-Up Dark Country 3D
PREVIEW
48-49 Films.indd 49 9/27/11 9:28:23 AM

For more information or to make a reservation, visit marriottdiningatjw.ae or call +971 4 6077 7977 / 7009 / 7588. JW Marriott Hotel Dubai, PO Box 16590, Hamarain Centre,
Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Dubai, UAE. jwmarriottdubai.com
Swing to the Oompah
during Oktoberfest
at Hofbruhaus
Indulge in traditional German fare this
OcLober served u by our bonu de
Bavarian chefs from 19:00 until 02:00.
FROM AED 220 INCLUDING BEVERAGES
A LA CARTE IS AVAILABLE FROM
SATURDAY TO WEDNESDAY.
Book online at marriottdiningatjw.ae
or call +971 4 6077 7977 / 7009 / 7588.
HOF BR UHAUS AT J W MARRI OT T HOT EL DUBAI
EATING OUT
M
O
N
T
E

C
A
R
L
O

B
E
A
C
H

C
L
U
B
We like to think of this section as something more than a dining
guide, or a forum for performing hatchet jobs on mediocre
restaurants. If a restaurant is worth visiting, you will nd it on
these pages. But as well as bringing you our verdict on the
newest kids on the block, in each review and throughout
the section we try and highlight topics we feel need to be
focused upon. Whether thats the lofty issue of sustainability
or the worrying percentage of hotels and restaurateurs who
feel the UAE needs yet another steakhouse (it doesnt), we
endeavour to spark debate, to create a mood of excitement around
restaurants and food in the UAE. That is why, this month, we bring
you the rst recipe column from British chef and household name
Gary Rhodes (p54). Garys eponymous Mezzanine and Twenty10
restaurants are two of Dubais most popular, and with the launch of
Rhodes In Residence at Grosvenor Houses new Tower Two and the
imminent arrival of his rst Abu Dhabi restaurant at the St Regis, he
is going to be spending a lot more time in the UAE. Discussing ideas
for the column with Gary, his passion for food, his ability to bring
it to life in words and his unfettered enthusiasm for the project left
us convinced the column is going to be an unqualied success. On
top of drafting Gary into Team Whats On, weve introduced a new
cook a classic feature (p63) to eliminate some of the fear we all
feel when attempting to cook a timeless dish. For the rst of these,
one of Dubais most talented young chefs, Verres Nick Alvis, breaks
down the simple steps to preparing steak tartare. And as if that
werent enough excitement for one month, weve also launched
The Connoisseur a new, instructive column that we hope will
demystify the wonderful, but daunting, world of wine (p57). Reet
par Pierre Gagnaires expert sommelier, Julien Coron, who assisted
us with the rst column, was just as excited as we were to explore
new territory. You can also enjoy our verdict on Richard Sandovals
Toro Toro (p58), Reets new Friday brunch alternative (p53), a
round-up of new menus (p60) and new brunches (p64). Plus, as
always, our monthly Twitter recipe, and all the new openings and
food news. You lucky beggars, you.
Gareth Rees, Features & Food Editor
51-64 EatingOut.indd 51 10/5/11 9:41:22 AM
EATING OUT
Richard Sandovals
new Latin American
restaurant is onto
a winning formula,
but is the food any
good?
Toro Toro
Its no secret that many of the
UAEs restaurants are empty.
And, as hotels dont need to make
piles of cash from serving people
food, most are happy to keep
ambling forward, propelled by
a slow drip, drip, drip of all too
oen uninspired customers.
ere are exceptions. Zuma
and La Petite Maison are two
restaurants that seemed to land in
the desert with full reservations
books and loyal customers. Why?
Well, they are international
brands, which helps. But thats
not it. eir kitchens consistently
turn out a range of high quality
small plates, encouraging sharing
and thus conversation. And, in
Zumas case, a reliable restaurant
is paired with a lounge/cocktail
bar to keep the minglers mixing.
And so to Toro Toro, celeb
chef Richard Sandovals
Latin American restaurant at
Grosvenor Houses new Tower
Two, which couldnt be more
dierent to his homely Mexican
at Le Royal Mridien. Its
altogether bigger, brasher and
more exciting. It follows the
winning formula.
Spread over two vast oors,
the restaurant is downstairs
while a bar/lounge replete with
DJ and Latin cocktail bar resides
upstairs. With a design featuring
wrought iron prison bars, and
slender hostesses to escort diners
to their tables, it has the exclusive
feel of a private members club.
Were talking sultry, a little bit
naughty, and guaranteed to be a
hit with the same trendy crowd
that frequents Zuma.
e venue wows, and the menu
of sharing plates, inspired by
Brazilian, Peruvian, Argentinean
and Colombian cuisine, is simple
In tweet form... Dubais trendiest restaurants had better watch their backs, and their
reservations books theres a new boy in town, and hes not messing about. Follow us at
@WhatsOnDubai and @WhatsOnAbuDhabi
Need to know
Location: Grosvenor House,
Tower Two, Dubai Marina,
Dubai
Tel: (04) 3176000
Web: grosvenorhouse-
dubai.com
Open: Sat to Wed 7pm to
2am, Thurs and Fri 7pm to
3am
Cuisine type: Latin
American
Must eat: causa limena
Bill for two: Dhs1,000
and appealing. eres From the
sea, From the land, From the
garden (side dishes) and what
is billed as the show-stopping
highlight the churrasco.
From the sea, ceviche nikkei
was a shrewd blend of ahi (yellow
n) tuna, soy sauce, sweet potato,
pickled ginger, cucumber and
quinoa, and the combination
of fresh and piquant avours
complemented each other like
brown shoes do a blue suit.
e crust encasing the salt cod
croquettes broke between the
teeth with a crunch, giving way
to smooth subtly avoured sh.
e star performer, though, was
the causa limena, a vibrant purple
potato cake rm and moist at
once, almost spongy, which wore
a hat of swordsh so deeply
smoky it woke the mouth up with
a start before the so creaminess
of the sh spread across the
palate like a silk sheet.
e land was just as generous,
oering up a sweet pancake, a
strip of politely salty halloumi,
a fruity smack of tomato jam
and a nal hit of rich duck to
bring it all home at the end. A
dreadfully clever mix of avours.
Just as delicious were a plate of
tender braised beef short rib
sandwiched between two crisp
slices of atbread along with
gooey manchego sheeps milk
cheese, and a small pot of chicken
chipotle sauce, which smacked
us around the chops with such
an intense chicken avour that
we needed the delayed hit of the
chipotle spice to refocus.
Unfortunately, weve had
better churassco. It wasnt bad,
and it certainly didnt spoil the
evening, but at Dhs420 for a 560g
serving for two, a plate of slightly
overcooked steak, lamb chops
more medium than the requested
medium rare and slightly burnt
in places, a sweet lamb sausage
and no sauces on the side was
disappointing. ough two large
pieces of chicken marinated in
a forceful achiote sauce did hit
the spot.
A citrus panna cotta dessert
had a nice wobble and enough
zing to round things o nicely.
And the most impressive thing
about Toro Toro? When we went,
it was doing more business than
most restaurants enjoy aer a
year in the game. It had only been
open a week.
As he prepares
to expand his
UAE operations,
we introduce our
new, and highly
esteemed, monthly
recipe columnist
chef, restaurateur,
cookery writer and
TV personality, Gary
Rhodes
When you have a dinner party
at home, or even just cook for
a loved one, how oen do you
try far too hard, put yourself
under pressure and not quite
carry o what you initially
imagined you would? For my
new Whats On column, Im
going to show you how to
cook dishes that will wow but
will be very simple to make.
You will be able to share
great avours with very little
pressure. Im going to make
the recipes seasonal. But you
could make the dishes any
INGREDIENTS
Four chicken breasts (skin on), sea salt, pepper,
olive oil, knob of butter, 400g tagliatelle, 50g
aked almonds, two shallots (nely chopped),
one glass white wine, 300ml chicken stock,
200ml double cream
METHOD
For the sauce: Scatter almonds onto a baking
tray and toast in the oven until golden brown.
Boil together the shallots and white wine,
reducing until just three quarters of the liquid
remains. Add the chicken stock, stir in the
double cream and toasted aked almonds
(keeping a few to sprinkle on top), and simmer
sauce for ve to ten minutes until it thickens
slightly. Remove from the heat and cool for
ten minutes before liquidising in a blender
until smooth. Strain through a ne sieve.
For the chicken: Season the chicken with salt
and pepper. Heat a roasting tray with a splash
or two of olive oil. Place the breasts, skin-side
down, in the tray and fry on the stovetop for
ve to seven minutes until golden brown. Turn
the breasts and add the knob of butter. Once
melted, baste the chicken with the butter
and roast in the oven for a further eight to
ten minutes until rm to the touch. While the
chicken is roasting cook the pasta in boiling
salted water until tender but with a slight bite.
Drain and return to pan. Once cooked, baste
the chicken with any juices left in the tray.
TO SERVE
Stir the sauce into the pasta and serve with
the chicken, sprinkling a few almond akes
over the top.
IM GOING TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO COOK DISHES THAT
WILL WOW BUT WILL BE
VERY SIMPLE TO MAKE
ROAST CHICKEN BREAST
WITH ALMOND CREAM
NOODLES (SERVES FOUR)
THE CHEF THE
time of year. I will ensure
that all the ingredients are
available here in the UAE.
For my rst column, I've
gone for an autumn avour.
I have chosen an almond
cream sauce served with
chicken and pasta. When
I set about writing a new
cookery book, this is the kind
of dish I like to add. Roasting
those almond akes really
introduces a nutty edge, so
the avour becomes quite
distinctive. You are creating
an infusion, so when youve
toasted o the almonds you
cook them into the very light
cream sauce. You dont want
this to be over-creamy on the
palate; you want the almonds
to be number one. When
they are blitzed within the
sauce, the lovely natural oil
will be released, becoming
the essence of the sauce, with
that added roasted avour
from the toasting. e great
thing is that this sauce is
versatile. With a chicken dish
its sensational, with a pasta
dish it works so well because
its just the right consistency,
not too stodgy. Quite oen a
creamy sauce with pasta can
be the worst thing to eat, but
I ensure the consistency is
loose so that avour stays as
lively from the rst bite to the
last. If you make it in advance,
it keeps for a couple of days.
If you dont add the cream,
you could make the stock
base, freeze it and then bring
it out when you want it, nish
creaming it, leave it to infuse
and push it through a sieve.
Nothing could be simpler.
1/2
AD
THE HUDDLE
Does Dubai need another sports bar and grill? Well, with the football
season in full swing, the Rugby World Cup down to the serious games
and the F1 calendar bubbling to a climax, the one word answer is yes.
CityMax Al Barsha, Al Barsha, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4098000. citymaxhotels.com
TEXAS ROADHOUSE
Everything is bigger in Texas so the adage goes. So
if you nd your tummy constantly growling with
hunger, the giant hand-cut steaks at the Texas
Roadhouse should shut it up.
Texas Roadhouse, The Dubai Mall, Downtown,
Dubai. Tel: (800) 382246255. texasroadhouse.com
GAUCHO
The award-winning London-based Argentinean
steakhouse is the latest big name restaurant to
open its doors at DIFC. Were not really digging
the cowhide interior, but it does tell us one thing
vegetarians keep out.
Gaucho, DIFC, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
gauchorestaurants.co.uk
SHAKESPEARE AND CO.
It may not be as popular as its playwright
namesake, but Shakespeares tenth branch sees
the caf chain making a bid for a whole new
audience in Al Ain Mall.
Al Ain Mall, Kuwaitat Area, Al Ain. Tel: (03) 7660333.
alainmall.net
LE DECK
For those who want a taste of the exclusive Monte
Carlo Beach Club, without shelling out on club
membership (which will set you back a cool
Dhs35,000 to Dhs40,000), the new resorts
agship restaurant, Le Deck, is open for all-day
dinning to members and non-members. Sporting
a dark, richly coloured interior and an open
kitchen, the restaurant will specialise in seafood-
dominated Mediterranean cuisine from the Levant
and French and Italian Rivieras, As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner,
Le Deck will also put on Friday and Saturday brunches. We like the look
of the terrace overlooking MCBCs pool and landscaped gardens.
Monte Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 7am to 11pm.
Tel: (02) 6563500. montecarlobeachclub.ae
This months dinner options
A taste of things to
come
VOTE NOW AT
WHATSONAWARDS.COM
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wo awards_print ad for wo_270911.indd 1 9/27/11 10:06:28 AM
Reets' head sommelier,
Julien Coron, explains the
basics in the rst of our new
monthly wine columns
RULES FOR BEGINNERS
t
You can drink red aer white, but you cant
drink white aer red
t
Dont spend too much money at the begin-
ning, just explore, and nd out what kind of
wine and what avours you like
t
New World (South America, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa, USA) wines are a good
place to start, because you always have the name
of the grape on the bottle. With Old World (Eu-
ropean) wines, you need to know what grapes
grow in what region this requires research
DEALING WITH
SOMMELIERS
t
Never be afraid of the sommelier, and ask
plenty of questions
t
If you taste a wine and you dont like it,
return it always
MATCHING VERSUS
PAIRING
Wine matching is just as the name suggests.
For example, if you serve a sour dish, you pair
a sour wine with it. Fish and white wine, meat
and red wine thats simple wine matching.
ere is no room for error. ere wont be
any mistakes. Wine pairing involves thinking
about nding a wine to complement a avour
e.g. pairing a strong Roquefort cheese with a
sweet Sauterne. Or serving a rich, pan-fried
foie gras with a Merlot something velvety, a
bit rich, with tannicity (the level of tannin or
bitterness). It will go against the richness of the
foie gras and create a pleasant result.
ESSENTIAL KIT
Purchase a carafe and, if you only buy one type
of glass, make it a large one with straight sides
the Bordeaux glass is a great all-rounder
DECANTING YOUR WINE
Decanting a bad wine will make it better;
decanting a good wine will also improve it. Its
win-win. It makes a sharp edge smoother and
mellows the acidity. You can carafe white or
red, but there are a few rules. Carafe Chardon-
nay, and it will smooth out the avour, bring
out the complexity. But dont carafe more
aromatic wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Chab-
lis. If its a 1982 Bordeaux, decant it.
The connoisseur
Tasting
How to taste your wine
STEP ONE
Tilt the glass and look at the wine against
a white background to see its colour, and
to check its not cloudy. Quickly smell it to
see that its not corked or oxidised.
STEP TWO
Once you have had your rst nose, swirl
the wine in the glass to allow more
oxygen into it and expand the avour.
Put your nose in, close your eyes and
think back to the past its all about
memories. The scent should be more
pronounced.
STEP THREE
Taste the wine, trying to incorporate
air into your mouth, like washing your
mouth out when brushing your teeth.
NEXT MONTH: SOUTH AMERICAN WINES
Wine guide
Wines you should have in your cellar
Sauvignon Blanc An aromatic white with a scent of asparagus and gooseberry; serve
with sh (avoid creamy sauces), salad, or as an aperitif
Chardonnay Dry, buttery and a prime candidate for the carafe; drink with white meat or
sh in a creamy sauce
Cabernet Sauvignon Full-bodied and peppery; drink with red meat
Malbec A pungent red, which goes well with duck
Merlot This velvety red with hints of plum is an ideal accompaniment to red meat
Pinot Noir Low in tannins, this light red has a cherry character, and works well with sh
and any meat
Shiraz/Syrah A rich, spicy, musky red to sip with red meat dishes
Riesling This sweet German wine is not for beginners, but it goes well with spicy foods
Gewurztraminer Found in cool climates in France, Northern Italy, Australia and New
Zealand, this aromatic white with hints of exotic fruit goes well with spicy foods
Rose Ideal for a lazy sunny day; goes well with salads. Avoid anything too tinted or fruity
Champagne Try and lay your hands on Louis Roederer or Jacquesson
Cava Juliens favourite sparkling wine
Sauternes From Bordeaux, the king of sweet wines
EATING OUT
EATING OUT
WORKING LUNCH
When it comes to lunch, most
of us can just about muster
a quick pop to the
shops for a sandwich.
However, The Ivy's
new business lunch
menu could tempt
us to actually take
our allocated lunch
break seriously. Crispy
duck salad and chicken
Milanaise for only Dhs150? Better
start scheduling those meetings
around lunchtime.
The Ivy, Emirates Towers, Dubai,
noon to 3pm, Dhs150. Tel: (04)
3198767. theivy.ae
CHEESED TO MEET YOU
We at Whats On always, without
fail, save a little space for some
cheese and wine. Its in the
foodie warriors code. So dont
be surprised if you see our faces
at the Cavalli Clubs new cheese
and wine night every Tuesday.
Reservations required.
Tues, Cavalli Club, Fairmont Hotel,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 6pm
to 9pm, Dhs200. Tel: (04) 3329260.
cavalliclubdubai.com
LA DOLCE VITA
The Milan-inspired Armani/Peck
deli has introduced a new Power
Lunch menu for something a bit
classier than a cheese and pickle
sarnie for lunch. Two courses will
set you back Dhs130, or you can
splash out Dhs160 for the three-
course menu.
Armani/Peck, Burj Khalifa,
Downtown, Dubai, noon to
3pm, Dhs130 to Dhs160. Tel: (04)
8883444. armanihotels.com
THINKING BIG
If youre trying to impress, then
its hard to nd a better place for
a working lunch than the worlds
highest restaurant, At.mosphere.
The Grills new High Lunch gives
you the choice of two or three
courses for Dhs200 or Dhs300
respectively. Steep, in more ways
than one.
At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa,
Downtown, Dubai, Dhs200
to Dhs300. Tel: (04) 8883444.
atmosphereburjkhalifa.com
Light bites for news
hungry food lovers
On the
menu
Not surprisingly,
Friday afternoon
is a little different
at Michelin grand
master Pierre
Gagnaires Reets
Reets Culinary Friday
Lunch
From noon until four oclock
on a Friday is a time set aside
for a pursuit that has become a
UAE institution. Brunch. Other
countries do brunch, it wasnt
born in the desert, but we do
it dierently here. In Europe,
it is for late risers, a means of
recovering from a late night.
Elsewhere it is just a combination
of two words, and two meals. But
here it is the main event. A giant
feast, a paean to gluttony, several
hours of pure, unadulterated
indulgence. Dubai even has its
own section on Wikipedias entry
for brunch. But with ubiquity
and popularity comes confusion,
tedium and a decline in quality.
How oen have you signed up to
a brunch only to nd upon arrival
that the buet is stacked with
mediocre staples, the drink list
is limited and substandard and
youve nished eating an hour
into proceedings? Too oen, thats
the answer.
e solution is Reets new
culinary Friday lunch. It might
share a time slot with every
other Friday brunch, but it is an
altogether superior aair. Not
only does the price tag allow
less committed food lovers than
we the chance to experience
the inventiveness of the Reets
kitchen and the knowledge of
sommelier Julien Coron, which
you can absorb in our new
wine column (p57), but the
quality of the food and drink
is far greater than nine out of
ten UAE brunches. ere have
been dishes that havent quite
worked, but the food at Reets
has never disappointed us. Not
once have we stepped into the
private li feeling anything but
happy. e Friday lunch menu
is four courses, plus a few bits
and bobs. We enjoyed four small
amuse bouche the best, and
most inventive, of which was a
broccoli sorbet with camel milk
foam. is was followed by a
lovely piece of poached cod with a
lobster salad, then a garlicky lamb
roast, carved tableside and served
with fricassee potatoes, onions,
pickles and a rich jus deliciously
spiked with Roquefort, a cheese
course and, nally, one of Pierre
Gagnaires famous multi-faceted
desserts. All of this washed down
with a selection of ne wines.
Brunch, be damned.
Reets par Pierre Gagnaire,
InterContinental Dubai Festival
City, Dubai, noon to 2pm, Dhs250,
Dhs390 with wine pairings. Tel:
(04) 7011127. ichotelsgroup.com
60 WHATS ON OCTOBER 2011 60 WHATS ON OCTOBER 2011
NEW MENUS
With summer on its
way out, now is the
time for restaurants to
revamp their menus
60 60
NEW MENUS
With summer on its
way out, now is the
time for restaurants to
revamp their menus
NAME: PEPPERCRAB
CUISINE: SINGAPOREAN
MENU: Beyond
the silly indoor
forest at Grand
Hyatt Dubai lies
Peppercrab a
popular Singaporean
restaurant that has
recently undergone a so refurb
and menu relaunch. Despite a
loyal clientele, it had become a bit
drab, and while the dcor update
hasnt transformed it into one
of the most memorable locales
in town, its still a welcoming
environment. On a Wednesday
night, without promotion, the
reopened restaurant was fuller
than most in Dubai. Why? Well,
it probably wasnt prawn crackers,
though they came with some
excellent dipping sauces. Nor the
lovely, crunchy shrimp wanton,
assorted satay skewers, heavy
fried mantou buns or strangely
sweet salt and pepper calamari.
No, though the appetisers did
their job, as did a side of kang
kong belacan (better known as
morning glory) and a dessert of
jasmine tea crme brulee, it is
the eponymous peppercrab that
brought the punters back through
the door. Bib in place, and a
selection of pokers, pullers and
crunchers laid out before you, the
Namibian golden crab (sweeter
than the mud crab, which is also
an option) arrives all hard shell
and once-menacing claws. Its a
challenge. Food as sport. Fun on
a plate. Stir-fried with pepper
and chilli, providing a balance
to the sweet, sweet esh, which
extracted, messily, one small
mouthful at a time, it's divine.
Crab is so much better than
the overrated and ubiquitous
lobster so oen found on UAE
menus. And we will certainly be
returning to take up the challenge
once more next time with a big
group of friends.
PRICE: An expensive Dhs1,640
for two (Dhs70 per 100g of crab,
Dhs700 for 1kg).
Peppercrab, Grand Hyatt Dubai,
Oud Metha, Dubai, 7pm to
11.30pm. Tel: (04) 3172222.
dubai.grand.hyatt.com
NAME: ROCOCO
CUISINE: ITALIAN
MENU: Italians tend to be
very proud of their cuisine and,
as a rule, dont like things to
be tampered with. erefore,
Rococos Italian chef Vladimiro
Gadiolis attempt to combine
hearty Italian ingredients with
rened Gallic elegance is a brave
one. e newly introduced ve,
six or seven-course degustation
menus are the perfect way to
test how well this concept holds
up. Forget the over-ordered
bruschetta and the rich pasta
dishes swimming in pools of
sauce. Instead you can expect
inventive bite-sized delights,
such as vodka lobster carpaccio
and goat's cheese gnocchi in
saron broth. It is real Italian
food just not as you know it.
Other dishes, such as the squid
ink tagliatelle and the pan-
seared scallops with polenta
croutons, are clever little
demonstrations of cooking with
classic Italian ingredients that
are all too oen overlooked
in restaurants. While almost
everything on the degustation
menu is available in a larger
portion on the menu proper,
why would you bother when
you can have seven dishes for a
commendably equitable price?
PRICE: Five courses Dhs195, six
courses Dhs215, seven courses
Dhs235.
Rococo, Sotel Jumeirah Beach,
Dubai Marina, Dubai, 7pm to
11.30pm. Tel: (04) 4484848.
sotel.com
NAME: BATEAUX DUBAI
CUISINE: INTERNATIONAL
MENU: Already the best of
Dubais oating restaurant
options, the moodily lit, romantic
Bateaux has attempted to breathe
new life into its menu with a
couple of new additions. e
poached salmon with ratatouille
and the pepper crusted veal,
while not revolutionary, bold, or
even terribly good, are better than
the competitions predominantly
buet based stomach llers. And
its not really about the food, is it?
Even if it really should be. Lovely
setting, mind.
PRICE: ree courses Dhs330
per person, Dhs450 with house
beverages.
Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek, Al
Seef Road, Bur Dubai. Tel: (04)
3994994. bateauxdubai.com
REOPENING
Peppercrab
Rococo
Bateaux Dubai
1/2
AD
NEW MENUS
TRAITEUR
Hot List regular Traiteur can be relied upon to serve up the best
French fare in town. Chef Franck Detraits new dishes include
comte stued scallops, herb-crusted frogs legs and Brie de
Meaux ice cream. Nobody does it like the French, do they?
Park Hyatt Dubai, Deira, Dubai, Sun to Fri 7pm to midnight.
Tel: (04) 3172222. dubai.park.hyatt.com
ANGAR
If you believe that variety is the spice of life, you will gobble
up the new tasting menus at Angar. Choose from four set
courses of either vegetarian or non-vegetarian Indian dishes.
The watermelon desi shooter provides a recommended early
livener, grilled salmon with dill cucumber is the pick of the
seafood platter, and the crispy chilli garlic cauliower with
broccoli khichidi on the vegetarian menus platter will tempt
even the most committed carnivore. The brownie samosa,
meanwhile, nishes both selections sweetly.
Yas Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Wed to Mon, lunch 12.30pm to 3pm,
dinner 7pm to 11pm, Dhs160. Tel: (02) 6560000. theyashotel.com

BOCCACCIO
It's all change at the InterCon's unpretentious Italian after
renovations to extend its open kitchen, with a new menu and
new sous chef Federica Picconi. Start with air dried beef, before
the healthy tagliolini with clams, mussels and white wine. Don't
leave without trying the warm chocolate cake; its ingredients
include chili pepper and cocoa mousse for a subtle kick.
InterContinental, Bainouna Street, Abu Dhabi, lunch Fri and Sat
12.30pm to 3am, dinner daily 6pm to midnight. Tel: (02) 6666888.
ichotelsgroup.com
A.O.C FRENCH BRASSERIE
Put the words French and brasserie together, and you
immediately have our attention. A.O.C doesnt stray far from
the classics with its menu revamp, promising onion soup,
moules marinieres and tarte tatin. But theres nothing better
than a well-made classic.
Rococo, Sotel Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina, Dubai, 7pm to
11.30pm. Tel: (04) 4484848. sotel.com
FOUR MORE
TO TRY
Traiteur
EATING OUT
TWITTER RECIPE
Cooking couldnt be simpler with our monthly recipe in 140 characters
GREEN PEA AND MINT VELOUTE
Boil water/thaw peas/strain. Sear onion w/butter. Add garlic/thyme/chicken stock. Cook 4 min. Add
cream, mint/spinach, blend, sieve, season.
Alexandre Pernetta, chef de cuisine, Bord Eau
Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri, Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi, 6.30pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (02) 5098777. shangri-la.com
Follow us at @WhatsOnDubai and @WhatsOnAbuDhabi
METHOD:
PART ONE
When preparing your ingredients, its
vital that everything is nely chopped.
You want your tartare to be well balanced
without having a big crunch of cornichon,
for example, or a chewy chunk of beef.
Also ensure that your capers and shallot
are rinsed, otherwise their individual
avours are too strong. Mix the ingredients
together and season with a little salt,
tasting to ensure a nicely seasoned mix
which is not too salty.

PART TWO
Put the yolks into a round bottomed
mixing bowl, whisk in the mustard and
a tiny pinch of salt (this will enable the
salt to dissolve, so you dont have grains
in your finished tartare) and start to add
a few drops of Tabasco, truffle oil and
Worcestershire sauce to create a nice
emulsion. Be careful not to be heavy
handed with the last three ingredients
you can always add a little more. Finally
add the emulsion slowly to the beef
mixture and gently fold together until
you have a moist but not wet mixture.
Check the seasoning and serve with
toasted rye bread or chunky chips.
Cook a classic: Steak tartare
Verre by Gordon Ramsay head chef
Nick Alvis explains how to make a classic
steak tartare in the rst of our cook a
classic series
INGREDIENTS:
PART ONE
250g good quality beef llet nely chopped/minced (use the
less fatty cuts, such as tenderloin)
25g nely chopped shallot rinsed under cold water
25g nely chopped cornichon (gherkin)
15g nely chopped baby capers rinsed under cold water
10g chopped true (optional)
10g chopped parsley
10g chopped chive
Table salt to taste

PART TWO
Table salt
10g Dijon mustard
Two egg yolks
True oil (to taste)
Tabasco (to taste)
Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
EATING OUT
THE NEW BRUNCH
BUNCH
With the brunch season back in full swing this month,
it's time to check out whats new on the scene
JazzSumptuous brunch
WHAT? e folks at the Ibn Battuta Gate are
taking your Friday brunch up a notch, with
live cooking stations from two of the hotels
restaurants, amazing music and entertainment
for children. Its not oen youre serenaded
by a singer who has performed with John
Lee Hooker while tucking into your wasabi
prawns, before nipping next door to see what
former Welsh rugby international Colin
Charvis has to say about the World Cup
matches, but that was our day out when we
visited. We barely had time to dash back to
sample the Willy Wonka-esque delights of the
dessert room.
Children are catered for too, with a petting
zoo (featuring puppies, bunnies, snakes, a
parrot and more) and a bouncy castle, plus
their own buet, all supervised so parents
can relax with a glass of Laurent Perrier and a
plate of cheese.
WHERE? Al Bahou, Ibn Battuta Gate
WHY? A vast spread, good price options,
petting zoo, jazz supremo Ptah performing
and rugby action with live commentary.
HOW MUCH? Dhs295 with so drinks, Dhs395
with sparkling wine and house beverages,
Dhs495 with Laurent Perrier, Dhs95 for children
IMPERIUM
It might be an
Ottoman restaurant,
but Imperiums new
Friday brunch promises
French brasserie cuisine,
cold cuts, roasts, artisan
cheeses and seafood. There will be the
regulation live jazz to keep the beat, and
afterwards you can make your way to the
Voda Bar After Brunch Party for buy one get
one free drinks from 4pm to 9pm.
Imperium, Zabeel Saray, The Palm, Crescent
Road West, Dubai, 1pm to 4pm, Dhs275
without alcohol, Dhs395 with house
beverages, Dhs550 with champagne. Tel: (04)
4530444. jumeirah.com
THREE MORE TO TRY
ARMANI/PECK
Weve eaten some lovely
food at Armanis Italian
deli, so the new buet
brunch is on our must
visit list for October, no
question about it. Theres
the added bonus of a exible
time frame, oering you the chance to enjoy
three hours at any time between noon and
6.30pm.
Armani/Peck, Armani Hotel Dubai,
Downtown, Dubai, noon to 6.30pm (three
hours maximum per table), Dhs240 for soft
drinks, Dhs340 house beverages, Dhs550
champagne. Tel: (04) 8883888. dubai.
armanihotels.com
BLUE RAIN
We like Blue Rain. The Thai food is as good
as any in town and, even better, the sta
are passionate about it. So well certainly
be visiting the new Friday brunch with its
ve-course menu. Its always nice to see an
a la carte brunch. Quality and originality are
often the rst casualties of a buet.
Blue Rain, Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, Dubai, 12.30pm
to 4pm, Dhs300 without alcohol, Dhs400 with
house beverages, Dhs490
with champagne.
Tel: (04) 3722323.
ritzcarlton.com
aged seven to 12 and free for under sixes.
Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, The Gardens, Dubai,
12.30pm to 3.30pm. Tel: (04) 4445613.
moevenpick-hotels.com
Sezzam Family Brunch
WHAT? A booze-free aair, the new brunch
at Sezzam prides itself on being a family-
friendly extravaganza, with the emphasis on
good food. e dozen live cooking stations
up the brunch game, notably the barbecue
meat counter, eclectic pasta section, plus
entire candy and ice cream selections. A
rare melding of quality and quantity, with
added views of tumbling snow-seekers on Ski
Dubais slopes.
WHERE? Kempinski Hotel
WHY? Not unsurprisingly, its ideal for
families, or anyone looking to take things easy
for a change.
HOW MUCH? Dhs195, children Dhs50, family
of four (two adults, two children) Dhs395.
Fri and Sat, Kempinski Hotel, Mall Of The
Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai, 11.30am to 5pm.
Tel: (04) 4095999. kempinski.com
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
whatson270mmx206mm-Amwaj fish-path.pdf 1 9/25/11 6:23 PM
MODERN.
CONTEMPORARY.
ABU DHABI ART.
16 - 19 November 2011
Saadiyat Cultural District
Abu Dhabi, UAE
abudhabiartfair.ae
Organised by: Principal sponsor: Associate sponsor:
ARTS
p68 Class acts
p69 Station to station
p70 The Art Insider
p72 Five to see
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67-72 Arts.indd 67 10/5/11 9:46:48 AM
Class acts
Whether youre a complete
beginner, keen amateur
or thinking about going
pro, the UAEs increasingly
immersive, hands-on
cultural scene invites you to
get involved with a dazzling
array of workshops, classes
and courses. Which one will
you choose?
MAJLIS GALLERY
e rst season of painting and drawing
workshops at this Bur Dubai stalwart earlier
this year proved such a success that there
are already plans afoot to repeat the entire
experience again but not, unfortunately, until
January next year. e good news is that over
October and November Majlis will be hosting
a series of painting workshops, led by Kevin
Dean. Among his many other achievements,
the celebrated UK artist and illustrator
worked with Fontini Mosaici of Milan to
create the stunning oral design adorning the
courtyard of the Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi,
so its safe to say that his Painting Plants
workshops will be masterclasses in the genre.
Spaces are limited, so book yours now.
themajlisgallery.com
TASHKEEL
Oering on-site studio facilities (for members
only) in everything from photography to
textile printing and CAD as well as a rolling
series of creative workshops and courses
(for members and non-members alike),
this Ned Al Sheba gem will be celebrating
its fourth birthday in January, making it a
veritable veteran of the UAEs creative scene.
Pretty much a one-stop shop and highly
recommended.
tashkeel.org
ABU DHABI POTTERY
If youve ever felt the urge to get in touch with
your inner Demi Moore or Patrick Swayze
circa 1990s Hollywood weepie, Ghost, nows
your chance. Homa Vafaie-Farley established
her city centre studio in 1994 and, alongside
sales and exhibitions of her own work, oers
weekly pottery classes for adults and children.
abudhabipottery.com
THE JAM JAR
is month, Dubais original drop-in arts
centre you can come here to paint and
use the studios facilities, by the day or even
by the hour continues its commitment
to help evolve the local arts community
as Discovering Al Quoz, part of tasmenas
MENAlab 2011 project, kicks o. eres
plenty planned to do, but we recommend the
Discovery Walks, taking place from October
8 to 28, which aim to reveal the hidden side
of Dubais most happening arts district-cum-
industrial zone.
thejamjardubai.com
ARTS
67-72 Arts.indd 68 10/5/11 9:46:52 AM
Class acts
Whether youre a complete
beginner, keen amateur
or thinking about going
pro, the UAEs increasingly
immersive, hands-on
cultural scene invites you to
get involved with a dazzling
array of workshops, classes
and courses. Which one will
you choose?
MAJLIS GALLERY
e rst season of painting and drawing
workshops at this Bur Dubai stalwart earlier
this year proved such a success that there
are already plans afoot to repeat the entire
experience again but not, unfortunately, until
January next year. e good news is that over
October and November Majlis will be hosting
a series of painting workshops, led by Kevin
Dean. Among his many other achievements,
the celebrated UK artist and illustrator
worked with Fontini Mosaici of Milan to
create the stunning oral design adorning the
courtyard of the Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi,
so its safe to say that his Painting Plants
workshops will be masterclasses in the genre.
Spaces are limited, so book yours now.
themajlisgallery.com
TASHKEEL
Oering on-site studio facilities (for members
only) in everything from photography to
textile printing and CAD as well as a rolling
series of creative workshops and courses
(for members and non-members alike),
this Ned Al Sheba gem will be celebrating
its fourth birthday in January, making it a
veritable veteran of the UAEs creative scene.
Pretty much a one-stop shop and highly
recommended.
tashkeel.org
ABU DHABI POTTERY
If youve ever felt the urge to get in touch with
your inner Demi Moore or Patrick Swayze
circa 1990s Hollywood weepie, Ghost, nows
your chance. Homa Vafaie-Farley established
her city centre studio in 1994 and, alongside
sales and exhibitions of her own work, oers
weekly pottery classes for adults and children.
abudhabipottery.com
THE JAM JAR
is month, Dubais original drop-in arts
centre you can come here to paint and
use the studios facilities, by the day or even
by the hour continues its commitment
to help evolve the local arts community
as Discovering Al Quoz, part of tasmenas
MENAlab 2011 project, kicks o. eres
plenty planned to do, but we recommend the
Discovery Walks, taking place from October
8 to 28, which aim to reveal the hidden side
of Dubais most happening arts district-cum-
industrial zone.
thejamjardubai.com
ARTS
67-72 Arts.indd 68 10/5/11 9:46:52 AM
ARTS
Class acts
Auction fever
Seeing the light
The rst in a new series of public sales from
Ayyam Auctions takes place this month with
Art and Antiquities of the Islamic World.
Featuring over 50 lots from the 18th and
19th centuries, it promises to be a collectors
paradise. With no paddle to call our own, well
be at the public viewings leading up to the
event. If youve got the dirhams to take part,
turn up and get bidding.
Viewings Oct 12 to 16, auction Oct 17, Ayyam
Art Centre, Dubai, 7pm. ayyamgallery.com
Emirati painter and sculptor Khawla Darwish,
and Egyptian designer and painter Mona
Fares pick up the baton this month to become
the second pair of artists in residence at
Ductacs Gallery of Light. With visitors actively
encouraged to interact with the artist, this is a
great opportunity to discover a little bit about
what makes the artistic temperament tick. All
four resident artists work will be shown in the
gallery throughout November.
ductac.org
THE PAVILION
e newest and one of the most ambitious
of Dubais recent run of multi-discipline,
multi-functional art spaces, e Pavilion
Downtown Dubai takes the notion of a
creative hub to a whole new level. With its
commitment to promoting the citys art
community to the public, the emphasis may
be rather more on the cra than cras (if
you know what we mean), but its open-door
policy and revolving programme of creative
workshops alongside exhibitions, screenings,
lectures and more, ensures theres always
something here to sink your cultural teeth into.
pavilion.ae
A recent collaboration
between photographers
Sinisa Vlajkovic
and Mohamed Somji
documents the UAEs few remaining
privately owned diesel stations
Why the focus on diesel stations?
As documentary photographers, we
became interested in the individually
owned diesel stations for two main reasons:
their aesthetic values and unconventional
beauty, and their role as micro centres of
local community life, where everybody
knows everybody and theres always time
for tea and conversation.
The UAEs rapid change and growth is
seen by many to be a good thing, yet you
dont seem to agree. Why?
Every progressive society has to keep
moving forward while at the same time
preserving its past, its heritage and its
cultural foundations. Our aim was to bring
to a wider audience an aspect of life in the
UAE that is fast disappearing in the face of
mass consumerism, materialism and overall
alienation.
The exhibition talks about the loss of a
local, hospitable and modest culture
that is now rare in the modern UAE
Emiratis constitute less than 15 per cent of
the population, while the expat majority
is always in transit people come, stay a
few years, and leave. People live and work
in high-rise towers, go to work alone in
their cars, and so the feeling of belonging
to a wider community is no longer there.
Local is replaced by mass, hospitality by
arrogance and modesty by greed. That
may be the case in most parts of the world
today, but we believe that more should be
done to encourage and foster a sense of
togetherness and community.
If you could keep anything in the UAE,
what would it be?
At the top of our wish list would be the
re-emergence of open public spaces similar
to town squares, a place where people
from various communities, income groups,
and nationalities can come together. Nasr
Square in Deira served that function well
for many years and it's sad to see that its
currently being torn up we hope its to
make way for a new public space.
Until Oct 20, Gallery One, The Pavilion, Emaar
Boulevard, Downtown, Dubai, free. Tel: (04)
4477025. pavilion.ae
Station to
station
DUCTAC
Judging by the popularity of recent outings such
as West Side Story and e Sound of Music (back
by popular demand to a venue near you soon),
Dubais love aair with the performing arts
continues apace. You dont have to wait until the
next big-name show rolls into town, however,
to get involved. Ductac runs a series of dance,
theatre and musical workshops and courses
throughout the year. Step up and take your
bow. Its current artist in residence programme,
meanwhile [see News Flash, below le], will see
a series of one-o artists workshops hosted in
the Gallery of Light this month.
ductac.org
67-72 Arts.indd 69 10/5/11 9:46:55 AM
Art historian, dedicated collector
and managing director of Dubais
Meem Gallery, Charles Pocock
knows the UAE art scene like the
back of a Picasso. Do you have
an art question for Charles? E-mail:
editor-wo@motivate.ae
THE ART INSIDER THE
Why have you chosen to
celebrate India and why
now?
As far as I know, Ye Hai, India
Darling! is one of the rst Gulf shows of
contemporary Indian art. In the past ten
years, artists in India have been making
headlines with their avant-garde ideas
and talent. The idea was to bring some
of this cultural eervescence to Dubai
and the UAE. Creatively, India is and
always has been immensely varied.
I wanted to bring some of this vibrancy
to the Middle East.
Can you tell us a little about your
artist selection why this group in
particular?
The selection reects the many
preoccupations of India today: religion,
society, the environment, and politics.
The artists hail from Delhi, Mumbai,
Pune, Bhubaneswar I think that the
visitor will feel as though this exhibition
is like a garden, full of marvellous
owers, colours and scents that will
bring back memories or allow them to
visit a little bit of India in Arabia.
Whats in it for the viewer?
I nd myself deeply moved by many of
these works, including Maruti Shelkes
wonderful oil portraits of women and
men living their daily lives in India,
sitting under a mango tree, listening
to music or playing with a cat. Others,
such as Pradeep Mishras Baby make us
reect on the preciousness of life, the
idea of reincarnation.
Sum up the show in three words
Colourful, imaginative, philosophical.
Until Oct 30, XVA , DIFC, Dubai, free. Tel:
(04) 3585117. xvagallery.com
Pia Copper, curator of
Ye Hai, India Darling!,
now on show at XVA
Gallery
Five minutes
with...
It seems the art market in the region is seeing
its own Arab Spring, evidenced by what is
happening with the auction houses. With
October being seen as the start of the season
for modern and contemporary Middle
Eastern art, what happens now is a good
indicator of things to come for the year ahead.
Sothebys has its sale in London on October
4 and Christies in Dubai on October 25. e
planned Bonhams Middle Eastern September
sale in Dubai was cancelled during the
summer and was rescheduled for January 2012
this has also been cancelled.
At the time of going to press, we understood
from senior executives at Bonhams that they
were looking at closing the current oce in
Dubai. Christies has cancelled its jewellery
sale, replacing it with an aordable art sale
of Middle Eastern work. is is recognised
as a smart move by Lawrie Shabibi Gallery, a
spokesperson for which is quoted in a recent
interview in e National newspaper as
saying, buyers oen found auction houses
intimidating and were put o by the exorbitant
estimates. While others argue it is clearly a
move to separate the expensive from the less
expensive work, and by proxy distinguishing
between good and lower quality work.
ere are other concerns for seasoned
collectors. One is the limited availability of great
works being oered, with far too much new
work now coming from galleries and artists
direct to auction. Hala Khayat of Christies stated
in a recent interview in Canvas, I dont think
were going to get a big collection like the Farsi
collection in future sales. e second worry is
the recent departure of all the recognised senior
specialists from the leading auction houses.
Charlie Moore resigned from Bonhams in the
spring of this year to set up Charles Moore
Fine Arts, Dalya Islam resigned from Sothebys
in December 2010 and William Lawrie took
gardening leave from Christies following the
scandal of e Lost Collection, and then set
up Lawrie Shabibi in March of this year. e
auction houses play a major role in the market,
however, they need to take a hard look at what
they do and how they do it. Change is afoot.
67-72 Arts.indd 70 10/5/11 9:47:08 AM
Get ready to enter the record books. Travel on a journey through the history of the U.A.E
to above the clouds and beyond your highest expectations. With timed ticketing for your
convenience, visit At the Top, Burj Khalifa to see Dubai as it has never been seen before.
For more information please call us on 800 AT THE TOP, or visit www.atthetop.ae to
purchase your tickets today.
Five to see
THE STATE: SOCIAL/ANTISOCIAL?

An ambitious start to the autumn exhibition season, this
collaboration between The Third Line and Trac draws on the not
inconsiderable body of artists represented by each gallery, along with
private works from the Farook Collection. Curated by Rami Farook,
works from artists including Banksy, Tracey Emin, Huda Lufti, James
Clar and Youssef Nabil will be on display across both galleries in an
attempt to question and investigate the state of society, both local
and global.
Until October 20,The Third Line, behind Spinneys Warehouse, Al Quoz 3,
Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3411367. thethirdline.com.
Trac, Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3470209. viatrac.org
HIGH TENSION
If ever you needed proof that a
picture can convey a thousand
words, this retrospective of
Dutch photographic artist Erwin
Olafs career is it. Beautifully lit
stills and tableaux tell of stories
and lives far beyond the connes
of the frame.
Until Nov 10, Carbon 12, Al Serkal
Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, free. Tel:
(050) 4644392. carbon12dubai.com
BRAVE NEW WONDERLAND
Fantasy and reality come together in this playful show by Jennifer
Simon, her fourth solo exhibition in Dubai. Familiar local scenes form
the backdrop to her work, but its the element of surprise in ashes
of colour or the inclusion of unlikely, slightly surreal objects that lifts
this beyond mere illustration.
Oct 15 to Nov 10, Majlis Gallery, Al Musalla Roundabout, Bastakiya, Bur
Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3535550. themajlisgallery.com
EMIRATI
EXPRESSIONS
Featuring photographs by
Emirati artists that were
developed through a series of
workshops led by photographer
Stephen Shore earlier this year.
Essentially an exploration of what
it means to be Emirati and the
universality of being, full stop
this is another artistic feather in
the cap for Saadiyat Island.
From Oct 19, Manarat Al Saadiyat,
Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, free.
Tel: (02) 4061400. artsabudhabi.ae
ARTS
TAKE MY TIME
Inspired by Picasso and Klimt, expect to see vivid colours and
materials like gold leaf, crystal and glass at Slovenian artist Miro
Persolja's three-day exhibition. He is bringing 100 works to the Burj
Al Arab and will no doubt amass further fans to add to his list of
followers, which includes Silvio Berlusconi and Pope John Paul ll.
Burj Al Arab, Al Sufouh, Dubai, 10am to 10pm, free. Tel: (055) 3375269.
jumeirah.com/burjalarab
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SHOPPING
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75-81 Shopping.indd 75 9/27/11 12:08:34 PM
Shop talk
The hottest news from the regions stores
with Deputy Editor Helen Spearman
A TASTE OF
THE BIG APPLE
Wardrobe woes
I loved the blouses on the AW/11 runways
but I cant aord the designer prices. Any
suggestions to master the trend on the cheap?
Salma Abu Dhabi
Sophia Serin, Editor of
Emirates Woman: H&M has a
stellar selection of blouses that
can be dressed up with a set of
pearls, boyfriend blazer, belt or
ballet pumps. Word of warning:
dont go overboard with too many pleats, pussycat
bows and pu sleeves theyll leave you looking
dowdy rather than whimsy.
HOW TO...
SHINE YOUR SHOES
Clean dust and dirt o your shoes
with a damp rag
Cover with shoe polish, rubbing in
circular motions and into the seams
After 15 minutes, brush vigorously
with a horsehair brush to remove
Bu your shoes with a cotton cloth or
old T-shirt until they gleam
Pop-up stores havent quite caught on in the UAE
yet, but NYC favourite Bloomingdales is leading the
way with a six week shopping festival celebrating
the city that never sleeps. With temporary stores
dedicated to popular neighbourhoods, a Yankee
outlet, specially designed merchandise from more
than 90 designers (check out the mens tees), street
carts serving hot dogs and pretzels, plus a special
appearance by none other than Eva Longoria, we
bet the New York New York festivities will have you
parting with your bottom dollar.
Until Nov 12, Bloomingdales, The Dubai Mall, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3505333. bloomingdales.com
THIS MONTH WERE BUYING
NEW SUNGLASSES
Another month, another excuse to buy another pair of
sunnies to add to your collection. We'll bet you can't resist
these limited edition shades, handmade from natural
bamboo and tea wood (Dhs750) from super chic French
brand Waiting For The Sun. You wont want to sit on these/
leave them in Barasti/be seen without them.
Beach Hut, The Walk, JBR, Dubai Marina, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4243191. leisuremarine-me.com
Keep your footwear as good as new with this
handy guide to shining your shoes
1 2 3 4
WIN! TICKETS TO
DUBAI FASHION WEEK
Taking place from October 20,
Dubai Fashion Week will be previewing the
Spring/Summer 2012 collections from Middle
Eastern and international designers including
Jelin George, Mumbai Se and Zori Couture. The
gloriously glam week attracts the regions fashionistas
with a host of parties. For your chance to win two invites
to watch catwalk shows for a whole day,
e-mail winwithwhatson@motivate.ae with DFW in
the subject line and the answer to this question:
Which of the following is not a coveted label?
A) Celine
B) Chanel
C) C&A
Were coming over all ladylike this
autumn, taking our cues from Lady
Gaga in this Salvatore Ferragamo
ensemble, albeit a more toned down
take on the trend (those specs would
give us a headache). If you want to
emulate the queen of quirkiness then
hot foot it down to vintage boutique
Bambah to swipe this hounds-tooth
frock (Dhs630).
Bambah, Beach Road, Jumeirah, Dubai.
Tel: (050) 6741754. bambah.com
FACEBOOK DOES FASHION
Technology has gone timeless with the launch of
online boutique Wayed Vintage. Through its Facebook
page you can browse accessories sourced from all
over the world, including 1980s Swarovski earrings for
Dhs350 and rare Chanel pieces.
facebook.com/WayedVintage
Trend
alert
75-81 Shopping.indd 77 9/27/11 12:08:48 PM
SHOPPING
Shoe peo ple
Sick of seeing the ubiquitous red sole everywhere?
Heres our pick of the up-and-comers, red carpet
favourites and soon to be super-brands
Charlotte Olympia
Who? After graduating from Londons Cordwainers shoe school, Charlotte
Olympia Dellal set up her eponymous label. Her work is sold globally, with
designers including Alice Temperley featuring the line in their runway
shows. Shes also quite the It-girl herself.
Whats her style? Classic shapes, stacked platforms and vibrant colours,
with each shoe handcrafted in Italy and adorned with a gold spider web on
the sole.
Any celeb fans? Lots. Blake Lively, Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker and
Kim Kardashian have all been spotted in Dellals designs.
How much? Pretty steep, with platform pumps setting you back about
Dhs3,500.
Where from? Symphony, The Dubai Mall, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3308050.
charlotteolympia.com
Camilla Skovgaard
Who? At age 20, Denmark-born Camilla spent seven years in Dubai working in womens
couture. After leaving she studied shoe design, creating her own line that was bought by
Saks Fifth Evenue while she was still a student. A raft of awards followed and her shoes are
now available in 33 countries worldwide.
Whats her style? Architectural, with plays on constraint and cutouts, plus the giant soles
that have become her signature.
Any celeb fans? Fashion-forward starlets like Kristen Stewart, Vanessa Hudgens and
Rachel Bilson.
How much? From around Dhs1,700 for sandals to Dhs3,000 for ankle boots.
Where from? Harvey Nichols, Mall Of The Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4098888.
camillaskovgaard.com
Ruthie Davis
Who? Following jobs with Reebok, Tommy Hilger and Ugg, Ruthie Davis
started her own footwear line, which is the polar opposite of those cosy
sheepskin boots.
Whats her style? Patent, spiked and very, very high. These shoes look
like they could do damage, both to your oorboards and your bank balance.
Any celeb fans? The taste-makers in LA. Think Rihanna, Whitney Port,
Beyonc and Lady Gaga.
How much? Depending on the style, youll be forking out at least
Dhs1,700.
Where from? Bloomingdales, The Dubai Mall, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3505333.
ruthiedavis.com
75-81 Shopping.indd 78 9/27/11 12:08:54 PM
1/2
AD
Shoe peo ple
Brian Atwood
Who? Put simply, hes the new Louboutin. Atwoods background in art
and architecture put him in good stead at New Yorks F.I.T fashion institute,
where he honed his style. After graduating he worked as a model then
clawed his way up at Versace, eventually becoming the head designer of
accessories before starting his own label.
Whats his style? Decadent, modern and sexy, with a mix of essential
designs (neutral peep-toe pumps) and the attention grabbing (multi-
coloured python platforms).
Any celeb fans? Everyone A-list has worn Atwood, with Game of Thrones
Lena Headey glamming up her basic black gown with some of his pink
suede shoes at this years Emmy Awards to much acclaim.
How much? From Dhs2,200 for a basic pair of patents to an eye-watering
Dhs7,000 for thigh-high studded boots.
Where from? Harvey Nichols, Mall Of The Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 4098888. brianatwood.com
Anna Baiguera
Who? Taking over from French Sole
as fashionistas rst choice for ats,
Italian designer Baigueras family
has been in the shoe-making busi-
ness for decades, with the footwear
enthusiast starting her own label in
2010.
Whats her style? Prim, but beau-
tifully coloured ballet slippers, either
pared down in leather for day-to-day
wear, or in bejewelled satin or velvet
for evening.
Any celeb fans? Oprah has been
singing Baigueras praises no end.
How much? From Dhs485 for a
pair of basic ballerinas to Dhs1,075
for animal print designs.
Where from? Boutique 1, Mall Of
The Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 3951200. annabaiguera.com
75-81 Shopping.indd 79 9/27/11 12:08:56 PM
SHOPPING
Bring your man cave bang up to date with our
pick of the must-have gadgets. And a nice sofa
to watch the footie on, too
Bachelor
Pad
Nerf Havok Fire Automatic Blaster
Youre all grown up, so you can be
trusted with this fully automatic
foam dart ring weapon. Possibly.
Dhs550. play.com
Dyson Air Multiplier AM01
This isnt a fan. It res air at you, but still isnt a
fan. Apparently. Regardless, Sir James Dyson is
a bit of a genius so well forgive the confusion;
it looks cool, keeps you cool and there are no
blades to chop your ngers o.
Jumbo Electronics, various locations, Dhs1,199.
jumbocorp.com
Chill Pill Ice Tray
An essential for evening entertaining and sundowners on the
balcony, this Chill Pill ice tray is a good talking point and the jumbo
cubes dont melt quickly. A good quality in a cube of ice.
Harvest Home, Jumeirah Centre, Beach Road, Dubai, Dhs42.
Tel: (04) 3420225. harvesthomegroup.com
Samsung UE40C700
Its a 3D TV. Think of the movie
nights, kudos and viewing
pleasures. Special DVDs
and programmes are slowly
coming onto the market, but
in our book its all about being
the rst person with the latest
bit of kit.
Samsung, The Dubai Mall,
Dubai. from Dhs10,000. Tel: (04)
3399607. samsung.com
BoConcept Melo Sofa
A sofa, a at bed, a sofa bed, L-shape couch or chaise, this
adaptable lounger can accomodate guests without looking
shabby. The shade of grey is also handy for hiding smudges. Not
that were calling you scruy...
BoConcept, Mall Of The Emirates, Dubai, Dhs4,999. Tel: (04) 3414144.
boconcept.ae
Sonic Chair
Its a speaker that you sit in. Talk
about surround sound... You cant
get any closer to the music than
this, it comes with a touch screen
and its a good looking bit of
furniture, too.
Price on application. sonicchair.de
75-81 Shopping.indd 80 9/27/11 12:09:02 PM
1/2
AD
DVD
SENNA
(Universal Pictures)
Despite often being hailed as the
greatest racing driver of all time, the
story of Ayrton Senna is ultimately
one of tragedy. This documentary
explores the extraordinary story
of the Brazilians career and his
struggle through the ranks of
Formula One to become a global
superstar. Dont be put o by the
idea that this is just another sports lm while it is heavy
on archive footage, it skilfully manages to avoid being
bogged down in racing folklore, instead telling a story of
inspiration, rivalry and, ultimately, tragedy.
Virgin Megastores, Dhs85
ALBUM
PIERRE RAVAN
KARAVAN
(Clubstar)
Shaven-headed spiritual house
guru Pierre Ravan revives his
semi-regular series of KaRavan
mix compilations with these
two discs of slinky beats. The 24
tracks certainly reect the scale
of the Dubai-based globetrotters almost tantric-level
marathon DJ sets. And though most represent a deep
house education, Ravan slides in several widely known
club players (Sander Kleinenberg, Robert Owens)
beside undiscovered gems and his own productions.
Virgin Megastores, Dhs110
GAME
PRO EVOLUTION
SOCCER 2012
(Konami on Xbox360/PS3)
The annual release of the popular
PES series is often the highlight of
a gamers year. However, as always
it brings with it the same incessant
arguments about how it weighs up
against EA rival Fifa12. One thing is
clear, aside from some noticeable
graphic updates, this latest oering
is in no way a radical departure from last years model
but it does conrm that realism has well and truly
replaced the arcade element to the game. The gameplay
has become grittier and player movements have been
toned-down, both of which add to the games realism.
Geekay Games, Dhs269
Playlist
A triple threat for your eyes,
ears and entertainment
75-81 Shopping.indd 81 9/27/11 12:09:05 PM
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MIND & BODY
p85 Body talk
p86 Five of the best...
p87 The science of sleep
p88 Visia facial assessment
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Body talk
Im going travelling for a few
weeks and showers will be
limited. How can I keep my dark
hair looking good (and not
greasy!) for the holiday photos?
Jess, JLT, Dubai
Dry shampoo is your saviour.
Previously akin to talcum powder,
THIS MONTH WERE TREATING YOU TO
SILKORS DIAMOND MICRO-DERMABRASION FACIAL
Three ways to show your support and raise some money for
a worthy cause
1
Lingerie store K-Lynn has launched a campaign to promote
awareness, giving away vouchers for free mammogram screenings at
Dubai London Clinic. Go to the Mall Of The Emirates branch to take the
pledge and youll have your photo taken for a window display. Spread
the word.
K-Lynn, Mall Of The Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3410708
2
This month, Aromatherapy Associates is donating proceeds from its
Renew Rose Hydrating Mask (Dhs270) to Breast Cancer Awareness.
Its perfect for dry, sensitive skin and is a fantastic after-sun cooler
straight from the fridge.
Amara Spa at Park Hyatt Dubai and Amrita Spa at Raes
3
The annual Safe & Sound Pink Walkathon from BurJuman mall is
taking place on Friday October 28, so mark the date in your diary,
gather up some friends and start raising some funds.
www.safeandsound.ae
Just when we thought the UAE had done it
all with the gold ATM machines, a diamond
facial comes along. Available at Silkor in Dubai
and Abu Dhabi, this exfoliating treatment
uses a wand studded with real diamonds
to stimulate blood circulation and activate
collagen for a healthy glow. It also whitens the
skin, evening up patchy areas while minimising
pores, wrinkles and dark spots, making it
perfect for sun worshippers. For your chance
Super hands
the new breed of sprays
is suitable for brunettes,
revitalising and adding
shine between washes.
We love Lee Staord Dry
Shampoo Dark (Dhs45
from Spinneys, Le Marche
and Geant). Its a suitcase and
desk drawer essential.
NEW OPENING
OF THE MONTH
Balance is a vast, Asian-inspired space that
dominates the top oor of the Oasis Centre.
Youll nd themed rooms for hydrotherapy,
Ayurvedic treatments, Hammams, yoga and more,
and its a surprisingly luxurious spa for a mall,
with a huge treatment menu, exercise classes and
healthy caf next door. We especially liked the
Crystal Healing Facial (Dhs350 for 90 minutes),
which uses rose quartz and organic products. And
the cookies they serve afterwards are tasty, too.
Balance Well Being 360, Oasis Centre, Sheikh Zayed
Road, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3847010. balance-wellness-
centre.com
to win this treatment (worth Dhs600), e-mail
winwithwhatson@motivate.ae with diamond in
the subject line and the answer to this question
In the song, what are diamonds?
a) Forever
b) Temporary
c) For never
BARGAIN BEAUTY
New spa Zen Asia promises to transform you from frumpy to foxy with
the help of some experts, a giant box of cosmetics and just Dhs399.
Ideal for a special night out, the Diva Ready package (normally Dhs560)
includes make-up using M.A.C products, a haircut, blow-dry and styling,
plus a nail polish change with Essie colours. Youll pick up some tips, too.
Zen Asia, W Cluster, JBC 5, JLT, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4572374
Its all hands on deck (or back) with the new
massage at ESPA. Two specially trained
therapists use warm volcanic stones and
synchronised motions to double your
relaxation, with extra stretching to remove
tension. Many hands make light work, after all.
Four Hand Synchronised Massage, Dhs725 for 90
minutes, ESPA at the Yas Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Tel: (02) 6560862
Beauty dilemma
W
I
N
!
News, reviews, giveaways and more
from the world of well-being
BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH
83-88 Mind&Body.indd 85 9/27/11 9:58:09 AM
MIND & BODY
Five of the best
hair treats to try
Is your crowning glory
far from glorious? From
new colours to deep
conditioning, daring cuts to
innovative ingredients, weve
rounded up the best salons
guaranteed to rescue your
tresses
WHAT? The Killer Cut
WHERE? Toni & Guy
Have you had the same haircut since
you were 15 years old? Daring to chop your
locks? With high stakes, this is the time to go
to the tried and tested professionals. Big name
cutters Toni & Guy earned its impressive
rep over the years with sharp snipping and
fashion-forward styling. We went for a drastic
change, and watched as four inches of hair
fell to the oor. Scary? Oh yes. Worth it? You
bet. Guided by style director Alexis we were
expertly guided towards a cut that would suit
our face shape and overall look, so there was
no guesswork and only a mild heart murmur
when we looked in the mirror.
Toni & Guy, DIFC, Dubai, from Dhs270. Tel: (04)
3303345. toniandguy.com
WHAT? The Quick Colour Change
WHERE? Thai Privilege Spa
If your hair needs an immediate
injection of colour and shine and you dont
want to subject it to harsh chemicals then
try the new range of naturally derived semi-
permanent colours from Italian brand Davines.
Using ingredients like saron, ginger, Indian
walnut and rose oil, the Finest Pigments range
lasts up to ten washes but the conditioning
eects will last a lot longer, with the dark
colours leaving a lovely gloss for weeks.
Thai Privilege Spa, Villa 1074, Al Wasl Road,
Dubai, from Dhs240. Tel: (04) 3489679.
thaiprivilegespadubai.com
WHAT? The Conditioning Therapy
WHERE? Pastels
Air conditioning, chlorine, pollution
and humidity do not make for happy hair.
Many of us suer from a dry mop (well,
parched, to be honest) and o-the-shelf
products oen arent eective in making
us look like weve just stepped out a salon.
Unfortunately. So, if you want glossy locks
its time to bring in the big guns. Pastels Kera
Hammam treatment takes a mere 15 minutes
to transform you from Worzel Gumidge
to Gisele Bundchen (well, kind of), using
nourishing ingredients that continue working
even aer you leave the salon.
Pastels, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, from
Dhs150. Tel: (04) 3947393. pastels-salon.com
WHAT? The Blow Dry
WHERE? JetSet
More than just a blast of the
hairdryer, sleek salon JetSet has teamed up
with neighbour N.Bar to oer you a mini
makeover; book a mani-pedi (Dhs140) and
youll pay just Dhs85 for a blow-dry. e
hairdo itself le our locks shiny and bouncy,
with a fashionable 1970s ick, and took a
super speedy 35 minutes. Even better, a quick
spritz with hairspray the next morning and it
was as good as new.
JetSet, Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai. Tel: (04) 3300886. jetsetdubai.com
WHAT? The Super Colour
WHERE? Sisters Beauty Lounge
e days of salons stinking of
ammonia may be numbered, with spas opting
for more brands that use natural products.
Inoa by LOral is a new hybrid that combines
colour with comfort for the scalp and hair. By
ditching the ammonia (and accompanying
scorching smell), it covers grey but you might
need a couple of treatments for the colour to
penetrate deep enough for it to really last. We
were wowed by the massive range of shades
and how so our hair felt. umbs up.
Sisters Beauty Lounge, from Dhs500,
The Dubai Mall, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3398500.
Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 222250.
sistersbeautylounge.com
Thai Privilege Spa
83-88 Mind&Body.indd 86 9/27/11 9:58:14 AM
MIND & BODY
Five of the best
hair treats to try
Sleep is something
most of us take
for granted. But
if you cant drop
off or maintain a
good nights doze,
there can be many
reasons why. A
polysomnography
sleep study can
determine the
causes and help to
plan remedies
WHY? Most people need between
six to ten hours of sleep per
night. Its vital for health and
well-being: a lack of shut-eye can
cause everything from fatigue
and problems at work to, medical
evidence suggests, increased risk
of cancer, hypertension and lower
life expectancy. Too much sleep
can be harmful too, however, and
can also lead to health problems.
HOW? Sophisticated technology
has been developed to analyse
every aspect of your sleep.
At the American Center For
Psychiatry & Neurology, sleep
experts hook you up to around
Dhs100,000 of equipment. A ra
of electrodes and sensors are
connected to your head, face,
ears, shoulders, throat, stomach,
hand and legs, plugged into a
small box strapped to your chest,
in turn connected to a logging
device that records the results.
ese variously monitor depth
of sleep (Rapid Eye Movement
and non-REM), brainwaves,
heart rate, breathing, snoring,
body position and oxygenation,
THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP
1 A light snack can aid with
sleep but big meals should
be avoided as they take more
digesting, so your body cant
relax
2 Avoid alcohol within four
hours of bed it has sleep
inducing properties, but the
quality of slumber youll have
will be poor
3 Try to sleep when you
get drowsy at night that last
episode of True Blood can wait
4 Exercise close to bedtime
will keep you awake. If its
unavoidable, try stretching or
yoga to calm your body down
5 Dont use your bed for
watching TV, lounging or
playing on your Xbox its for
sleeping
TEN TIPS FOR A GOOD
NIGHTS SLEEP
1/4
AD
as well as muscle, eye and leg
movement. Looking a little
like an escaped intensive care
patient, you then spend the
night in your own bed to avoid
disruption to your everyday
sleep, before returning to the
centre the next morning.
RESULTS? e combined data
is presented as various graphs
and statistics and explained by
a doctor in detail on a second
6 A regular bedtime and
morning alarm will help
regulate your body
7 Minimise noise, light and
extreme temperatures in the
bedroom. Yes, its nally time
to buy some curtains
8 If you sleep longer at
weekends to catch up, that
is actually the real amount of
sleep your body needs every
night. Take note
9 If you cant sleep, get up
and read quietly in another
room, only returning when
youre sleepy
10 If you need to nap during
the day limit it to no more
than an hour and make sure
its no later than 3pm
visit to the centre. is shows
up symptoms of conditions such
as insomnia, sleep apnea (when
breathing temporarily stops
during sleep) and hypopnea
(abnormally shallow breathing).
e consultation also includes
reex, eye, mouth and joint
checks, as well as a brief health
questionnaire. If this rules out
organic sleep disruptions, there
are several further courses of
action, from lling out a sleep
diary over a period of two weeks
to medication and even, in
more extreme circumstances, a
psychiatric examination.
American Center For Psychiatry
& Neurology, behind Khalidiyah
Mall, Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, 9am
to 9pm, Dhs4,000 to Dhs5,000
(some health insurance schemes
will cover this cost). Tel: (02)
6664866. americancenteruae.com
83-88 Mind&Body.indd 87 9/27/11 9:58:16 AM
MIND & BODY
Visia Facial
Assessment
Will a new analysis system
nally encourage you to get
serious about the future of
your skin?
ink about your skincare routine is it a
quick splash with soap and water? A lengthy
session in front of the mirror using pricey
products? A guilty sweep with a cleansing
wipe before bed? More important than your
regimen is why you choose certain products
and what skin complaints youre trying to
address. You may think your skin is oily,
but a closer inspection may reveal deeper
dehydration. You might be considering
botox for those ne lines, but sun damage
could be the real problem.
Technology, as ever, might be the answer,
with a machine by Visia at SenAsias Express
Urban Spa claiming to take the guesswork
out of your product shopping and spa time.
It promises to prole your face to identify
problem areas and underlying issues, then
creates a customised prescription to correct
and prevent. With a face covered in makeup
(have to hide those eye bags) we went
along to put it to the test.
e Visia machine looks more like
something youd nd in an opticians than
a spa; sleek and modern (and in true sci-
style its hooked up to a laptop, with an extra
screen for the client), you place your face
in a white sphere, while a camera takes a
photo from three angles. Within seconds,
the results are in. Gulp. Youll be talked
through the ndings with an experienced
therapist who, in our case, will stop you
panicking about the Brown
spots 96 per cent phrase
emblazoned on the screen.
As it turns out, the higher
the percentage the less you
have to worry.
e assessment looks at eight key
skin problems; spots, wrinkles,
texture, pores, UV spots, brown
spots, red areas and porphyrins (bacteria).
You receive a result for each, which is
compared to other women in your age group
so you can see how you fare against your
peers. We walked in worried about open
pores and le vowing to use sunscreen aer
peeking at the UV damage on the lower
layers of skin. It wasnt pretty. Turns out
there are a world of potential problems
lurking beneath our foundation.
e machine even predicts the future,
showing you an image of your face in seven
years time and the complaints you might
suer from if action isnt taken. Suitably
terried, it was time to address some of
those problems.
Moving to the therapy rooms, SensAsia
has treatments and products on hand to
reverse the damage and protect you against
predicted perils. To sort out the dehydration,
texture and pore problems identied by
Visia, we were whisked away for the Super
Boost Facial from Dr Dennis Gross, a
NYC dermatologist with an impressively
eective line of treatments and products.
Want a namby-pamby aromatherapy face
massage? Dr Dennis isnt the man for you.
Administered by therapist Wi, the facial
boosts your skin with vitamin C and a
shedload of tingly active ingredients to
minimise pores, plump out ne lines and
hydrate at a deep level. Its not a relaxing
hour (apart from some lovely massaging
while a mask is doing its thing), but if youre
looking for results its a fantastic choice.
You leave armed with a print out of your
Visia report (stick it on your bathroom
mirror to bully you into slapping on the
sunscreen), a skin survival guide to keep
you on the straight and narrow, an invite for
a free mini facial in the next week and, of
course, a cup of the famed ginger tea to go.
And overwhelming urges to avoid looking
like that photo of yourself in seven years.
SensAsia Express Urban Spa, Mall Of The Emirates,
Al Barsha, Dubai, Sun to Thurs 10am to 10pm, Fri
and Sat 10am to midnight, Visia Facial Analysis
Dhs100 and Super Booster Facial Dhs600. Tel: (04)
3549228. sensasiaspas.com
83-88 Mind&Body.indd 88 9/27/11 9:58:22 AM
TOUGH MEN
CHOOSE SENSITIVE
www.NIVEA-me.com NIVEAForMenMiddleEast
*Source Euromonitor International: per Mens Skin Care
and Post-Shave Denitions, Retail Sales Value 2009
SENSITIVE AFTER SHAVE BALM
New Active Comfort System soothes irritation instantly
For a comfortable skin feeling & healthy look
Also available in Shaving Gel, Face Wash and Face Moisturizer
for an unmatched skin-soothing experience
SPORT & OUTDOOR
p92 Sport talk
p94 Kickboxing
91-94 Sports.indd 91 9/27/11 10:00:45 AM
Sport talk
MR FITNESS
Swimming
World Cup
Group
Power
AQUA NATAL
Just because youre
expecting, doesnt mean you
cant keep in shape. Aqua
natal classes at the Abu Dhabi
Golf Club oer gentle exercises
in water combined with breathing and
relaxation techniques.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Khalifa City, Abu
Dhabi, 9am to 10am and 6pm to 7pm, rst
session free, Dhs100 per session. Tel: (02)
5588990. aquanatal.info
The best swimmers on the planet
are set to make waves at the rst
leg of the Swimming World Cup.
And theyll be donning their
Speedos right here in the UAE.
The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin
Rashid Sports Complex will be
hosting 34 races over two days
with a cash incentive of US$10,000
(Dhs36,730) for anyone who breaks
a world record.
Oct 7 to 8, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports
Complex, Dubai Bypass Road, Dubai, 8am to 6pm, Dhs20.
na.org
News, events and your questions
answered from the world of sport
I recently read that drinking fruit juice
even if its fresh isnt as good as eating
fresh fruit. Is this true?
Sidney, Satwa
e thing with shop bought juice is that the
skin or peel is removed when its made and
thats where the bre is usually found. e
benet of maintaining the bre from the
peel is that it slows the impact and eect
of the fruit sugar (fructose) on your blood.
is then reduces the amount of insulin
In his seven years as a personal
trainer, James Houghton has
helped everyone from West End
actresses to the Arabian Gulf rugby
sevens team lose the pounds and keep
in shape
Do you have a tness question for James?
E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae
that is released from the pancreas
and helps to maintain a more even
and manageable level of blood sugar.
e other issue with fructose is that it is not
metabolised in the same way as glucose.
Because of its unique metabolism, fructose
is preferentially converted into triglycerides,
or fat, which is then very likely to be stored
in the fat cells. Humans evolved eating about
16g to 20g of fructose a day, but nowadays,
this quantity has increased to over 85g to
100g, which could explain the higher rates of
increased weight and obesity. So, to answer
the question fresh fruit is better.
CYCLE FOR GOOD
Fancy a challenge? Well, Gulf for Good is organising a
cycle event that will take in all seven Emirates all in the
name of charity. Your legwork and sore behind will help
raise money for the Al Manar Charity School in Ajman.
Saddle up and start training now.
From Nov 28. gulf4good.org
Normally, the biggest
obstacles to working out
are the amount of time it
takes and the motivation
needed, thats where the new
CXWORX classes come in.
These intense 30-minute sessions use the
ideas of personalised training but in a group
environment.
CXWORX, The Aviation Club, Garhoud, Dubai,
Dhs50 per session, Dhs425 per month,
Dhs1,050 for three months. Tel: (04) 2833071
WE LOVE IT
There are a lot of people in the UAE who dont just like cricket they love it. And
that includes us. Which is why fans all across the Emirates will be thanking their
lucky stars as Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in a three-test series. With Abu Dhabi,
Dubai and Sharjah each hosting a ve-day game, it is sure to be one of the
highlights of the UAE sporting calendar.
Oct 18 to 22, Zayed International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, prices to be conrmed.
Tel: (02) 5588331. adcricketclub.ae
Oct 26 to 30, Sports City, Emirates Road, near Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, Platinum
Dhs115 for ve days, Premium Dhs80 for ve days, regular free. Tel: (04) 4251111.
dubaisportscity.ae
Nov 3 to 7, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, prices to be conrmed. Tel: (06) 5433154
91-94 Sports.indd 92 9/27/11 10:00:48 AM
SPORT & OUTDOOR
1/2 AD
SCULPT PUNCH
Try this if you want to burn fat fast
Vent your aggression in a fun way with this new
kickboxing class. Suitable for all tness levels
(but best suited to those who favour blood
sports over ballet), trainer Wolfgang Tresize will
whip you into shape with punching, kicking
and blocking with bursts of cardio. And if a man
called Wolfgang cant sort you out we dont know
who can.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, Mon,
A trio of new exercise
classes to get you sweating
Three to try
Wed, 6.30pm, Dhs60 members, Dhs80 non-members.
Tel: (02) 6970272. sheratonabudhabihotel.com
X-TEND BARRE
Try this if you want long,
lean limbs
A calorie-busting combo of cardio
and strength training, X-Tend Barre is a full body
work-out set to music that uses stretches from
the world of dancing and an array of props like
resistance balls, bands and weights. It aims to
create a dancers physique, toning the whole body
in under an hour, but is gentle enough for those
getting back into exercise following pregnancy or
injury. Classes start from the end of October.
Real Pilates, Palm Strip, Beach Road, Dubai, Dh65.
Tel: (04) 3453228. real-pilates.com
CAPOEIRA
Try this if you want rhythm and agility
We know it looks a bit silly to outsiders, but the
Brazilian martial art of Capoeira is worth the
temporary embarrassment. An intense session
burns calories, helps prevent injuries, improves
concentration, helps with musicality and boosts
circulation. Aside from the physical benets, its
a highly social sport, with players connecting
through the rhythm of the movements.
Instructor Espoleta has taught all over the world
and is just back from six months in Brazil. Women
only, childrens and adult classes are available
throughout the week.
Contender MMA Gym, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al
Quoz, Dubai, Dhs80 per hour or Dhs500 for a
month of unlimited sessions. Tel: (04) 3469990.
contendermma.com
COMING
SOON
91-94 Sports.indd 93 9/27/11 10:00:48 AM
SPORT & OUTDOOR
1/4
AD
Kickboxing
Being a mild-
mannered pacist,
the idea of throwing
or rather kicking our
staff writer, Matt, out
of his comfort zone
seemed too good an
opportunity to pass
up. This month, Matt
tackles kickboxing
Im a lover, not a ghter! is the
clich I clung to as I was ushered
o to my latest monthly torture.
Now dont get me wrong, Im as
hard as the next guy [as long as
the next guy is Milhouse from
e Simpsons Ed], but Im
yet to come across a dangerous
situation that I couldnt talk
myself out of. Well, aside from
this monthly mission, that is.
Maybe I can be both a lover and
a ghter, I assured myself as I
headed o to the dauntingly
titled KO Gym.
LEARNING CURVE
While having my wrists wrapped
it was hard not to notice the array
of championship belts adorning
the walls at KO one of which
will, no doubt, one day, in an
alternate future, proudly boast
my name. My daydreams were
quickly shattered as Zack, the
owner of the gym, rang the bell.
Fight time. My recent exploits
have involved highly technical
sports, so it was a refreshing
change of pace to be able to delve
straight into the action. However,
ten minutes in, and well and truly
knackered, Zack explained that
the warm-up was nearly done
and I almost cried. Oh, boy.
CONDITIONING
All ghting sports have a heavy
focus on tness. If youre not t,
you can loose your focus, and
sometimes your teeth. at said,
it is important to note that the
sessions at KO are open to all-
comers, from complete novices
to lean, mean Fight Club fanatics.
e daily sessions involve a lot
of aerobic work around the gym,
and more star-jumps than there
are stars in the sky. If you thought
you were t, you were wrong.
PAD WORK
Following the gruelling warm up,
it was time to pad up. Dividing
us into pairs, the trainers ran
through the drills for the session:
jabs, straights, sidekicks, ducks,
blocks etc. We then took turns
alternatively holding the pads and
doing the drills. Despite catching
a few sti kicks from my no-
nonsense partner, and the slight
confusion working out which was
my leading leg, my condence
grew the more accustomed I
became to the combinations. It
was tough, but oddly fun.
VERDICT
e kickboxing sessions at KO
are hard work, but ultimately
they are a fun and rewarding
introduction to the sport. So,
while people might not cower in
fear at the sight of me walking
down the road, perhaps my
colleagues will now think twice
before sending me away to war
again. en again, probably not.
KO Gym, behind Al Maya
supermarket, Dubai Marina,
Dubai, Sat to Thurs 6.30pm to
8pm, Dhs60 per session, Dhs1,000
per month. Tel: (050) 2861673
91-94 Sports.indd 94 9/27/11 10:01:01 AM
MUSIC AND NIGHTLIFE
p99 Nightlife news
p101 Artist of the month
p102 Club diary
R
E
P
U
B
L
I
Q
U
E
97 Nightlife opener.indd 97 9/27/11 10:03:00 AM
STEP ON @ CATWALK
Nightlife news
SWEET LIKE
IKANDY
With the temperatures tailing o to the mid-30s,
which feels positively refreshing after the summer,
were looking forward to ikandy, the Shangri-Las
glam bar, reopening at the end of the month. Its
totally tropical, with poolside seating, tunes from DJ
Jason Kabuki, shisha, drink promotions and a new
ladies night. And the swimming pool will be lit up in
bright pink once the sun sets. Magic.
Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 6pm to 2am,
free. Tel: (04) 3488888
The gigs, live shows, giveaways and insider
info to keep your social life buzzing
No doubt spurred on by Mamma Mia, the money-making saccharine stage show
turned movie (oh Meryl, what were you thinking? Youre better than that) Bjrn
Again are arriving on our desert shores. Bringing with them ABBAs enormous back-
catalogue, dangerously spangly costumes and support by quality coverband The
Maplejacks, the quartets 90-minute show will be followed by an after-party at the
Aloft Hotel, with Radio Two playing hits from the 1970s and 1980s. Friday night and
the lights are low
Fri Oct 7, ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, from Dhs75. tickets.virginmegastore.me
Mamma Mia, its Bjrn Again
Dubais indie music scene has been bubbling away nicely over the past few
years. From Twisted Melons at IBO (ask yer dad), to current upstarts Loaded at
the Ibis hotel in Barsha, theres always been a small but loyal following for those
who love a good Stone Roses tune. One name thats been around for longer
than they care to admit is Step On, AKA Rude Larry McGuinness and Whats Ons
very own Ed, Mark ME Evans. Setting up base at the Golden Tulips Catwalk club
once a month, theyll be playing their usual blend of indie fun, new and old, and
promise a good time for all of your entry fee back. Its free to get in.
Fri Oct 21, Catwalk, Golden Tulip Hotel, Al Barsha, Dubai, 9pm till 3am, free.
facebook.com/StepOnDubai
Our weekly x of funk is back with a new name.
Casa Latinas Freshly Laced, one of Dubais least
pretentious nights out, is now known as Deep
Crates, but fear not the underground feel, street
sounds, drink deals and DJs we know and love are
still on the scene.
Thursdays, Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Al Barsha, Dubai,
8pm to late, free. Tel: (04) 3996699
NEWS FLASH: FRESHLY LACED
BECOMES DEEP CRATES
EVENT OF THE MONTH
MONSTER HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY
Fancy dress is something we take seriously in the UAE between the Rugby Sevens,
school disco nights and parties with the most obscure themes you can imagine
(weve been to Dolce & Karama, lashes and taches and superhero soirees) we have
quite the accessory collection. The highlight of our costume calendar is Halloween,
andthere'sno better bash than Nasimis, hosted by local legend DJ Tim Cheddar. With
a massive Dhs25,000 awarded to the best dressing up eorts, an expected 5,000
witches, goblins and ghosts dancing to everything from Cheddar's cheese and house
from Smokingroove to R&B in the specially created dungeon, and a horror
show at midnight, this will be a monster party.
Fri Oct 28, Nasimi Beach, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, 5pm to late,
Dhs100, Dhs50 or ladies free before 8pm. Tel: (055) 2004321
WIN!
MINISTRY OF SOUND
HEADPHONES
Youre not still wearing earbuds are you? Between
Beats by Dre, Sennheisers and Skullcandy, monster
headphones are what all the cool kids are rocking. To
get you back on track, we have two pairs of Ministry
Of Sound headphones, available exclusively from
Virgin Megastore, to give away. They are iPod and
MP3 compatible and come with a 1.5metre cable,
making them ideal for DJing or just mooching
about looking good. For your chance to win, e-mail
winwithwhatson@motivate.ae with headphones in
In which part of London is the original
Ministry Of Sound club?
a) Girae & Cottage
b) Warthog & Bungalow
c) Elephant & Castle
Hellish
Halloween
On the one night of the year reserved for ghouls
and creepies, youd be hard pushed to nd a place
more appropriate than Metal Asylums Hellish
Halloween. Headlined by Nervecell, the UAEs
biggest metal band (they are appearing on the
same stage as Metallica this month), with support
from Egyptian metalcore group Destiny In Chains,
this night should certainly chill the bones. And
there are prizes for the best costume.
Oct 28, Metal Asylum, Cheers Bar, The Lodge, Oud
Metha, Dubai, 9pm to 3am, Dhs80. Tel: (04) 3379470.
metalityuae.com
99 Music-Nightlife News.indd 99 9/27/11 10:04:33 AM
for events that dont sell tickis via platinumlist for events that sell tickets via platinumlist for events that dont sell tickis via platinumlist for events that sell tickets via platinumlist
STEP ON @ CATWALK
Nightlife news
SWEET LIKE
IKANDY
With the temperatures tailing o to the mid-30s,
which feels positively refreshing after the summer,
were looking forward to ikandy, the Shangri-Las
glam bar, reopening at the end of the month. Its
totally tropical, with poolside seating, tunes from DJ
Jason Kabuki, shisha, drink promotions and a new
ladies night. And the swimming pool will be lit up in
bright pink once the sun sets. Magic.
Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 6pm to 2am,
free. Tel: (04) 3488888
The gigs, live shows, giveaways and insider
info to keep your social life buzzing
No doubt spurred on by Mamma Mia, the money-making saccharine stage show
turned movie (oh Meryl, what were you thinking? Youre better than that) Bjrn
Again are arriving on our desert shores. Bringing with them ABBAs enormous back-
catalogue, dangerously spangly costumes and support by quality coverband The
Maplejacks, the quartets 90-minute show will be followed by an after-party at the
Aloft Hotel, with Radio Two playing hits from the 1970s and 1980s. Friday night and
the lights are low
Fri Oct 7, ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, from Dhs75. tickets.virginmegastore.me
Mamma Mia, its Bjrn Again
Dubais indie music scene has been bubbling away nicely over the past few
years. From Twisted Melons at IBO (ask yer dad), to current upstarts Loaded at
the Ibis hotel in Barsha, theres always been a small but loyal following for those
who love a good Stone Roses tune. One name thats been around for longer
than they care to admit is Step On, AKA Rude Larry McGuinness and Whats Ons
very own Ed, Mark ME Evans. Setting up base at the Golden Tulips Catwalk club
once a month, theyll be playing their usual blend of indie fun, new and old, and
promise a good time for all of your entry fee back. Its free to get in.
Fri Oct 21, Catwalk, Golden Tulip Hotel, Al Barsha, Dubai, 9pm till 3am, free.
facebook.com/StepOnDubai
Our weekly x of funk is back with a new name.
Casa Latinas Freshly Laced, one of Dubais least
pretentious nights out, is now known as Deep
Crates, but fear not the underground feel, street
sounds, drink deals and DJs we know and love are
still on the scene.
Thursdays, Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Al Barsha, Dubai,
8pm to late, free. Tel: (04) 3996699
NEWS FLASH: FRESHLY LACED
BECOMES DEEP CRATES
EVENT OF THE MONTH
MONSTER HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY
Fancy dress is something we take seriously in the UAE between the Rugby Sevens,
school disco nights and parties with the most obscure themes you can imagine
(weve been to Dolce & Karama, lashes and taches and superhero soirees) we have
quite the accessory collection. The highlight of our costume calendar is Halloween,
andthere'sno better bash than Nasimis, hosted by local legend DJ Tim Cheddar. With
a massive Dhs25,000 awarded to the best dressing up eorts, an expected 5,000
witches, goblins and ghosts dancing to everything from Cheddar's cheese and house
from Smokingroove to R&B in the specially created dungeon, and a horror
show at midnight, this will be a monster party.
Fri Oct 28, Nasimi Beach, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, 5pm to late,
Dhs100, Dhs50 or ladies free before 8pm. Tel: (055) 2004321
WIN!
MINISTRY OF SOUND
HEADPHONES
Youre not still wearing earbuds are you? Between
Beats by Dre, Sennheisers and Skullcandy, monster
headphones are what all the cool kids are rocking. To
get you back on track, we have two pairs of Ministry
Of Sound headphones, available exclusively from
Virgin Megastore, to give away. They are iPod and
MP3 compatible and come with a 1.5metre cable,
making them ideal for DJing or just mooching
about looking good. For your chance to win, e-mail
winwithwhatson@motivate.ae with headphones in
In which part of London is the original
Ministry Of Sound club?
a) Girae & Cottage
b) Warthog & Bungalow
c) Elephant & Castle
Hellish
Halloween
On the one night of the year reserved for ghouls
and creepies, youd be hard pushed to nd a place
more appropriate than Metal Asylums Hellish
Halloween. Headlined by Nervecell, the UAEs
biggest metal band (they are appearing on the
same stage as Metallica this month), with support
from Egyptian metalcore group Destiny In Chains,
this night should certainly chill the bones. And
there are prizes for the best costume.
Oct 28, Metal Asylum, Cheers Bar, The Lodge, Oud
Metha, Dubai, 9pm to 3am, Dhs80. Tel: (04) 3379470.
metalityuae.com
99 Music-Nightlife News.indd 99 9/27/11 10:04:33 AM
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outdoor atmosphere with dedicated lounge, dining, shisha and barbecue areas.
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whilst soaking in the electronic atmosphere of our live band.
L 88C L
the vibrance of our chefs, cooking your order right before your eyes and exactly to your liking!
1 l S l

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www.habtoorhotels.com
facebook.com/
SkyGarden.DXB
in association with
METROPOLITAN HOTEL, DUBAI
MUSIC AND NIGHTLIFE
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In pop music, you dont have to start young,
but it certainly helps. For Abu Dhabi-based
singer Mary I real name, Maryam Igram
stardom was in her veins almost from birth.
I started entertaining crowds when I was
four, she recalls. e more people that were
watching, the more I enjoyed it. I would sing
at talent shows, auditions, weddings, school
plays, rallies, choirs, theatre, musicals, you
name it.
Born in Milwaukee, USA and brought up
in Canada, Mary has carried such ambitiously
multitalented skills into adulthood when
she moved to the Emirates. In addition to
music, she has experience as a presenter,
journalist, model, actor and public speaker.
Her Lebanese heritage is audible, though, in
the Arabic overtures of her modern R&B-
brushed pop. Her time in the UAE has proved
inuential, partially inspiring new single
Time Of Your Life, which is out now.
Ive had the time of my life in the UAE. So
many great events, clubs and experiences, she
enthuses. Going dancing, letting go, having
fun, laughing, seeing so many great things
and being entertained.
Inuenced by Michael Jackson, Aaliyah
and Mariah Carey, she is aiming at similar
levels of success. So you wont catch Mary
demeaning herself on the likes of American
Idol or Arabs Got Talent.
I dont believe in getting discovered that
way, she explains. I make my own music,
write my own songs.
Having enjoyed airplay on Radio 1, Virgin
Radio and MTV Arabia, as well as plotting
an album release before years end, Mary
took the plunge recently and quit her job to
become a full-time musician.
Sometimes you need to take a risk and do
what you love. It doesnt matter how much
youre making. Im doing what I want to do.
Its such an amazing feeling.
mary-i-ocial.com
101 Artist of the Month.indd 101 9/27/11 10:05:49 AM
CLUB DIARY
This month's clubbing highlights
14
7
Sunset Sessions @
Audio Tonic
DJ Hell @ Movida and Ill
Communications
6 Justin Berkmann
@ Ministry Of Sound
The founder of London-
based clubbing institution
Ministry Of Sound, Justin
Berkmann, celebrates his
babys 20th birthday with a
special set in Dubai, his rst
ever in the city
Did you have a long-term plan
when you started Ministry Of
Sound?
No. [Laughs] I went in without really
understanding where it was going
to go. It was born from an absolute
obsession of wanting desperately to
play [legendary New York club] the
Paradise Garage. When the club shut
that couldnt be fullled, so I thought
I best make my own club. Very quickly
it became an obsession. I had no idea
what it would turn into.
Has your original ethos to focus
on sound systems over lights and
design contributed to Ministrys
longevity?
The sound system was always the
key. Thats what many of the more
important and successful clubs in
New York were about. Ministry is
one hell of a big sound system in a
perfectly acoustically designed box.
People spend millions designing
beautiful interiors for nightclubs, but
fundamentally its all about being
in a black box with a great sound
system and a few ashing lights, and
losing yourself in the music. Too many
people forget that. Its actually not that
complicated.
Can you still remember the rst
night?
Not really, is the honest answer. I do
remember that half the sound system
didnt work. Everybody was running
around going That sound system is
unbelievable. I was like, OK, but you
want to check it out next week when
its actually working properly.
What are you planning for your
Dubai set?
Good question. Ive only ever own
through Dubai. Ive never actually
stopped o, so its a bit of an unknown
for me. Ive seen some videos of pool
parties and Im looking forward to the
weather, since I haven't had a summer
holiday this year. Im really pleased to
come over and play.
Looking back on two decades of
Ministry, would you do anything
dierently in retrospect?
Nobodys ever asked me that. Probably
nothing Id want to admit to in print.
[Laugh] I was a man obsessed. Often
today things are decided too much
by committee and you end up with
compromises. I knew exactly what it
needed to be like and I wouldnt be
diverted from my plan by anyone.
XL Beach Club, Habtoor Grand Beach
Resort, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai, 9pm to
3am, Dhs100, ladies free before midnight.
Tel: (04) 4084444. ministryofsound.com
1
WEEKLY
Eclectic Circle @ MustHaveSoul
MHSs imaginative Saturday sounds
continue, rooting out Motown to Balearica.
360, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, 4pm to
2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405. musthavesoul.
com
Braun Battle Of The Year Middle East @
Star Atrium
Breakdance competition, featuring the
turntable skills of DJ Lobito.
The Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, 3pm, free. Tel: (800) 382246255.
braunbotyme.com
2
WEEKLY
Just Sundays @ Cavalli Club
Sleek commercial tracks from DJ Enzo Mirak.
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
11.30pm to 3am, free. Tel: (04) 3329260.
cavalliclubdubai.com
6
Audio Tonic @ Sea Lounge
Audio Tonics in-house selectors continue
their MCBC residency.
Monte Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu
Dhabi, 9pm to 3am, free. Tel: (02) 6563500.
audiotonic.net
Moonlight Dance Pool Party @ Ryders
Lounge
DJ Kirk Manion soundtracks a night of pool-
based partying.
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, 19th and 24th
Street, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to 3am,
Dhs100 including one drink, free before
10pm. Tel: (050) 2641834. adcitygolf.ae
Sharam @ Ndulge
The inuential Deep Dish DJ kicks o the
new season at Ndulge, formerly known as
Sanctuary.
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, 10pm to 3am,
Dhs100. Tel: (04) 4260561. sharam.com
WEEKLY
Deep Crates @ Casa Latina
The successor to Freshly Laced loads up on
funk, hip hop and more, with DJ Lobito.
Ibis Al Barsha, Al Barsha, Dubai, 10pm to
2.30am, free. Tel: (04) 3996699. facebook.
com/groups/deepcrates
7
Big Bucks @ Barasti
Win a share of Dhs150,000 while getting
down at the beach club party.
Le Mridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort &
Marina, Al Sufouh Road, Jumeirah Beach,
Dubai, 7pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 3993333.
lemeridien-minaseyahi.com
DJ Hell @ Movida and Ill
Communications
The German clubbing trailblazer brings his
Eat My House, Baby tour to the Emirates.
Trilogy, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm
to 3am, Dhs130, Dhs100 before midnight,
ladies free until 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
djhell.com
The Revenge @ Audio Tonic
Audio Tonics sixth season opens with
rising Glaswegian nu-disco cult name The
Revenge, Burnski and residents.
2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405. therevenge.
co.uk
14
WEEKLY
MustHaveSoul @ Sea Lounge
The MHS residents select the hottest soulful
gems.
Monte Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu
Dhabi, 4pm to 2am, free. Tel: (02) 6563500.
musthavesoul.com
7
The Revenge @
Audio Tonic
102-104 Club Diary.indd 102 9/27/11 10:07:02 AM
CLUB DIARY
6
20
14
Sharam @ Ndulge
Charles Webster @
MustHaveSoul
Sandance @
Nasimi Beach
Have you visited both cities
before?
Ive played in Abu Dhabi, at Left
Bank, but never Dubai. In Abu Dhabi
they're really getting into their house,
but maybe not quite as upfront as in
London, so you have to ease them
into the newer bits while dropping
stu they already know. Im very
much looking forward to visiting
Dubai, too.
The Monte Carlo Beach Club,
which hosts your Abu Dhabi date,
is a posh spot. Do you prefer
swanky or down 'n' dirty venues?
No preference as long as the sound
system is banging and the crowd are
right up for it. Thats what creates a
great vibe and night.
Having traversed various genres
and aliases over your career, are
you always looking for outlets
for productions that don't t into
house music?
I have been involved in quite a few
dierent genres. I started producing
back in 1990 on the hardcore/rave
scene and that morphed into the
6/7 Soul Purpose @
MustHaveSoul
A man of many alter egos,
British producer/DJ Martin
Ikin assumes his house-
based Soul Purpose guise for
consecutive nights in Dubai
and Abu Dhabi
jungle/drum n bass scene. I play
piano in my jazz-funk band, The Soul
Purpose Allstars, so Im a bit of an
all-round music lover. But I've always
loved house and thats where my
focus lies for the foreseeable future.
The This Is House Music EP is your
latest Soul Purpose record. What
does house music mean to you?
Its probably dierent for everybody
depending on what era you rst got
into house. For me, its all about the
groove. It doesn't matter what sub-
genre vocal or not, simple or clever
it has to have a solid groove that
makes you want to nod your head. Or
even pull funny faces.
Oct 6, 360, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
Dubai, 7pm to 2am, free. Tel: (050)
1076405
Oct 7, Sea Lounge, Monte Carlo Beach
Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi,
4pm to 2am, free. Tel: (02) 6563500.
soulpurposerecords.com
Sandance @ Nasimi Beach
The beach-based fest returns, presenting
The Verves Richard Ashcroft, pop rapper
Example, Chicane, David Morales, Joris
Voorn, Sasha (pictured) and more.
Dhs200 to Dhs350. Tel: (055) 2004321.
atlantisthepalm.com
Sunset Sessions @ Audio Tonic
Resident DJs Vas Lloyd, Raxon, JC and
Soulsher pick the grooves.
2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405. audiotonic.net
20
Charles Webster @ MustHaveSoul
MHS welcome back the deep house-
spinning Miso Records man.
2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405.
charleswebster.net
Loaded @ Casa Latina
The See You Next Friday crew cue up more
top-notch indie and alternative oor-llers.
Ibis Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha,
Dubai, 9pm to 3am, free. Tel: (055) 8825675.
facebook.com/seeyounextfriday
Step On @ Catwalk
Indie anthems from DJs Rude Larry and ME.
Golden Tulip Hotel, Al Barsha, Dubai, 9pm to
3am, free. www.facebook.com/stepondubai
27
Malik Alary @ Yacht Club
Eclectic house and beyond from the Paris-
based spinner (also Oct 28).
Yacht Club, InterContinental Abu Dhabi,
Bainouna Street, Abu Dhabi, 9pm to 1am,
free. Tel: (02) 6666888. myspace.com/
djmalikalary
CLUB DIARY
Prior to your Dubai date, youre
touring Central and South
America. Do you have a big
following over there?
Yeah. More than I was expecting when
I rst got there. The feedback was
huge. Im pretty happy that people
like my music over there that much.
How does the UAE compare?
Its denitely dierent to other
countries, which I dont mean in a bad
way. You can compare peoples party
attitudes to their dierent cultural
backgrounds. In every country people
celebrate in a dierent way. My rst
party in Dubai was good, with a lot
of friendly people from all over world.
Im looking forward to being back.
21 Alex Niggemann
@ Audio Tonic
As Audio Tonics new season
builds up steam, Berlin-
based house champion and
Soulfooled label co-founder
Alex Niggemann returns to
Dubai
You grew up playing classical
piano. Is that skill useful in your
production work?
Oh yeah. My classical education
helped me understand and play
harmonies and chords. I just got an
electrical piano. It has everything a
usual piano has, but I can use it to play
almost every instrument through my
computer.
You released a Loopmasters CD
recently, a collection of samples
that other artists can reuse. Have
you heard any tracks created
using your samples?
There have been a few tracks sent to
me. Its weird, but it makes me proud
to hear people making music with my
sounds.
Is your debut album coming soon?
Im working on it. Theres still a lot to
do. Hopefully it will be out early 2012,
but Ill take my time. I dont have a
deadline.
360, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, 4pm
to 2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405. myspace.
com/alexniggemann
28
Ian Pooley @ Audio Tonic
Audio Tonic celebrates ve years in
operation with Daft Punk-remixing German
house draw, Ian Pooley.
2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405. ianpooley.com
Monster Halloween Costume Party @
Nasimi Beach
Start Halloween early with DJs Tim Cheddar,
David Craig and Smokingroove, plus a
monster Dhs25,000 in costume prizes.
Dhs100, Dhs50 or ladies free before 8pm. Tel:
(04) 4262626. atlantisthepalm.com
Liquid Rain Pool Party @ Aloft
Get set for Alofts biggest pool party yet.
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu
Dhabi, 7pm to 3am, Dhs100 including
two drinks, ladies free. Tel: (02) 6545138.
aloftabudhabi.com
31
Zombie Fever @ Zinc
Fancy dress Halloween celebration, with a
free cocktail for the rst 100 zombies, plus
costume prizes.
Crowne Plaza Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road,
10pm to 3am, Dhs100, free before midnight,
ladies free. Tel: (04) 3311111. cpdxb.com
28
Ian Pooley @
Audio Tonic
7 Dust @ Trilogy
From the ashes of the sadly
departed hip hop/funk
institution Freshly Laced
comes new night, Dust. DJ
Solo explains all
Whats Dust all about, then?
Its a new night I've started with
Megadon Betamax, a boogie producer
originally from Australia now living in
Dubai. It will be a monthly event, which
means that we can focus on a separate
genre each month: a hip hop special,
a boogie special, a bass music special
and so on.
What happened to Freshly Laced?
Wed been running the night for close
to a year and a half, and although it was
going well, we wanted to move on to
do dierent things. I see it in a very positive
light, as people now know that it's possible
to run a successful 'underground' night in
Dubai. Although Freshly Laced was quite
eclectic, we intend Dust to be even more
diverse. And Trilogy allows us to bring
larger artists.
How was the rst night last month?
It went better than we could have ever
imagined. The feedback was 100 per cent
positive from the crowd. Somebody said
to me Thank you for making Dubai better,
which really meant a lot.
Are you planning a dierent guest
every month?
We do intend on having dierent DJs and
music each time. This month, Megadon
Betamax will headline and I'll support.
After that we may bring international
artists. Well always try to surprise people.
Are there any DJ Solo records
imminent?
I have just released a track called Twilight
Empires, which you can download for
free from anothermusic.bandcamp.com,
and I also have a new EP out as [alter ego]
Wriggly Scott, called Names, ready for
release at the beginning of 2012. Until
then I intend to release one track for
free every month.
Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to 3am,
Dhs130, Dhs100 before midnight, ladies
free before 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
facebook.com/dustpeeps
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cavalli club.pdf 9/26/11 3:45:58 PM
A couple of quality nights out to keep you clubbing
WIN! WIN! WIN!
To enter
either of these fantastic
answer to the
relevant
question
WIN! A VIP TABLE
AT THE MINISTRY
OF SOUNDS 20TH
BIRTHDAY AT XL BEACH
CLUB
Like good tunes? Like a glam night out? Want
a night out with seven of your mates for free?
Just as we thought. To celebrate the 20th
birthday of superbrand Ministry Of Sound on
October 6, weve teamed up with one of our
favourite hotspots, XL Beach Club, to oer
you a VIP table for eight at the party. On the
night youll enjoy a bottle and mixers, plus
music from MOS creator Justin Berkmann and
Gareth Cook of Rulin fame, all in XLs uber-cool
poolside setting. For your chance to win a
night on the town, simply tell us
How old will Ministry Of Sound be on
October 6?
a) 2
b) 20
c) 200
WIN! A VIP TABLE FOR TEN
AT REPUBLIQUE

We love Downtown Dubais newest nightspot for
many reasons the giant glitterball, the pretension-
free tunes and gorgeous dcor and were oering
you and nine friends a night out there too. Situated
next to The Address Downtown Dubai, Republique is
a two-storey music haven, playing the tunes you grew
up listening to, with the hits of the 1980s and 1990s
(but without the silly hair) on Thursdays and Fabulous
Fridays when Dubais beautiful, fun loving folks come
out to play. We have a VIP table up for grabs on a night
of your choice, so if youd like to treat yourself and
nine other movers and shakers to a good time, youll
have to get this question right
What is Republiques motto?
a) Music makes us equal
b) Music makes us dance like lunatics
c) Music makes us shake it like a Polaroid picture
106 Competitions.indd 106 9/27/11 10:09:37 AM
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address cabana.pdf 9/28/11 9:25:58 AM
TRAVEL
p111 The new Hamburg
p116 Travel talk
109-115 Travel Hamburg.indd 109 10/9/11 9:48:01 AM
TRAVEL
The new
HafenCity, the exciting new
development on the banks
of Hamburgs River Elbe,
is set to revitalise what is
already one of Germanys
most enthralling cities
Somethings taking shape on the banks of the
River Elbe. Something big. Hamburgs vital
artery has long pulsed with life, but a vibrant
new development is springing up at the
harbour. A city within a city. Full of cutting-
edge sustainable architecture, innovative
urban spaces, restaurants, bars, boutique
shops and oces, not to mention the odd
world-class cultural beacon or two.
People are already living, working and
hanging out in HafenCity, although its only half
Harbour view:
The sun sets on
Hamburg's harbour
Hamburg
TRAVEL
built. When its nished, it will boast museums,
theatres, green parks, sports facilities and a
stunning opera house to rival that big one in
Sydney. Everything, in fact, to keep even the
most boredom-prone and pernickety city
hopper enthralled for days on end. Except none
of it is being built for tourists.
Wait. Come back. Just because Europes
biggest urban regeneration project wont
double up as Europes biggest tourist trap
doesnt mean that people from outside arent
more than welcome. e aim is to make
HafenCity resemble an organic district of
a working city, where tourists and locals
interact to contribute to its buzzing urban vibe.
Besides, how could they possibly keep tourists
away from Elbphilharmonie, the sensational
new concert hall and opera house that towers
above the Elbe, dominating not just HafenCity
but the entire Hamburg skyline?
Built onto the distinctive redbrick frame
of the existing 1960s-built Kaispeicher A
warehouse, Elbphilharmonie is already
beginning to shimmer with an undulating
facade of glass panels, thrusting skywards
like a huge glistening iceberg. Its been called
a cultural lighthouse for Hamburg, and it
is attracting sightseers from near and far.
Free open-air concerts present jazz, folk and
classical music, while tours of the site oer
an opportunity to watch a new aspect of this
famous old city evolve.
Its a chance for people to see for
themselves how ultra-modern projects like
Elbphilharmonie are being fused with the
traditional industrial landscape of Hamburg.
Across the 157-hectare site, new developments
are seamlessly blending in with the old.
e idea is to retain the unique feel of this
traditional port city, and celebrate its vivid
maritime heritage.
e Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
has thrived as a commercial port for
centuries. One of the early members of
the Hanseatic League trading alliance, it
grew rich through its position on the River
Elbe. Today the city is a powerful media
centre and business hub, and home to over
1,500 millionaires more than in any other
German city. It has changed with the times
and managed to come out on top. But its links
with the ocean are never far away.
Hamburgs seafaring past and present
converge at the old harbour. Tankers, freight
ships, commuter ferries, pleasure boats and
huge luxury cruise liners sail up and down
the great river. e unpolished docklands
atmosphere is strong, from the huge Blohm +
Voss shipyards, to the legendary Fischmarkt.
You can buy much more than sh here, but
youll have to get up early to catch the market
in its full glory. From 5am every Sunday
morning, the place rocks with live music,
sloshed pilsner, mounds of currywurst and
Ship shape:
Hamburg
has been a
commercial port
for centuries
Night lights:
Hamburg's
Reeperbahn is a
night owl's dream
Vital artery:
The River Elbe
That's
entertainment:
Hamburg's new
Elbphilharmonie
concert hall and
opera house
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(S+G+I)-What's on 270 x 206.pdf 1 9/15/11 10:36 AM
Ad.indd 1 11/21/10 3:36:59 PM
TRAVEL
NEED TO KNOW
HOW TO GET THERE
Emirates ies direct from Dubai to Hamburg from
Dhs3,060 per person. emirates.com
WHERE TO STAY
25 Hours Hotel
Soak up the retro 60s and 70s feel of one of
Hamburgs newest and quirkiest hotels. 25 Hours
is right in the thick of the HafenCity action, and
as bets its dockside location, its full of nautical
ourishes. From its exposed concrete walls and
leather sofas, to the owery wallpaper and mock
animal skin rugs, its as cosy as a sailors cabin. And
dont forget to chill out at the rooftop sauna.
Uberseeallee 5, HafenCity. Tel: +49 402577770.
25hours-hotels.com
Mvenpick Hotel
Outside of HafenCity, but close enough to
everything else Hamburg has to oer, this rst-
class hotel occupies one of the citys famous
historical landmarks. In 2007, the hotel was
completed within the walls of a 17-storey water
tower, which has been standing proudly above
Sternschanzen Park since 1910. You can expect
comfortable rooms, a tip-top breakfast and some
stunning views of the city.
Sternschanze Park, Hamburg. Tel: +49 403344110.
WHAT TO SEE
The International Maritime Museum
The largest private maritime collection in the
world will keep you entertained with a Second
World War U-boat, a beheaded pirates skull,
a Lego model of the Queen Mary 2 and the
impressive medal haul of Admiral Alfred von
Tirpitz.
Kaispeicher B, Koreastrasse, HafenCity. Tel: +49
4030092300. internationals-maritimes-museum.de
Prototyp
If youre into rare classic sports and racing cars
(Porsches in particular) the collection in this
converted factory will blow your socks o.
Shanghaiallee, HafenCity. Tel: +49 40 39996968.
prototyp-hamburg.de
WHERE TO EAT
Austernbar
This oyster bar in an old red-brick warehouse is an
ideal rest spot after visiting the Maritime Museum.
Kaispeicher B, Koreastrasse, HafenCity. Tel: +49
4030087888. hamburg.austernbar.de
Carls at the Elbphilharmonie
A bassoons blast from the Elbphilharmonie, Carls
oers great French and German food, whether
its in the casual pub-style bistro or the brasserie,
which has great views of the harbour.
Kaiserkai, HafenCity. Tel: +49 40300322400.
carls-brasserie.de
the colourful cries of the market traders.
e Fischmarkt oozes authenticity and
character. It oers a glimpse of a time
when Hamburg was a haven for sailors
from every continent. And where there
are sailors, there are bars. Just a few
blocks inland is perhaps Hamburgs most
infamous street e Reeperbahn. Once
a rough strip of boisterous drinking dens
and dodgy show-bars, it is now a not-
so-rough strip of boisterous drinking
dens and dodgy show-bars. e Beatles
cut their teeth here. It remains one
of Europes largest red light districts,
but these days the many theatres and
restaurants along the strip attract all
kinds of inquisitive tourists.
Like the old harbour and Fischmarket,
the Reeperbahn is as real as it gets. So
its little wonder that HafenCity is being
developed with the same attention to
authenticity. Its not a theme park. But it
is actively encouraging visitors of all ages.
HafenCity is an important magnet for
tourism in Hamburg and attracts people
from all over the world, says the head of
communications for the development,
Susanne Bhler. Visitors merge into
the exciting everyday life of HafenCity
mixing with residents and oce workers
City view: A
bird's eye view of
Hamburg featuring
the city hall
WHEN HAFENCITY IS FINISHED, IT
WILL BOAST MUSEUMS, THEATRES,
GREEN PARKS, SPORTS FACILITIES
AND A STUNNING OPERA HOUSE
and get to feel HafenCitys maritime and
urban atmosphere right up close.
One HafenCity development thats
staying true to the essence of Hamburg
is the newly opened 25 Hours Hotel. e
boutique property could be described as
either eccentric or downright bonkers,
but theres method in its madness. It aims
to capture Hamburgs maritime spirit
through 25 tales collected from sailors
clubs in the city. e tales are told in a log
book in each room, as well as through the
hotels striking xtures and ttings, from
dangling ropes and portholes, to fussball
tables and an old shipping container.
Places like 25 Hours add vital splashes
of colour to the project as it takes shape.
Whether HafenCity can achieve its aims
and become a naturally bustling urban
neighbourhood with its own distinct
personality remains to be seen. Some of
the citys residents see it as rather soulless
and contrived, while others welcome
the regeneration of a decaying industrial
landscape. Either way, great care is being
taken in retaining the original character of
the area and winning over the naysayers.
And if that doesnt grab you, theres always
the rest of Hamburgs many appealing
attributes to explore.
Former Wales rugby
captain and British Lions
player Colin Charvis is a
temporary Dubai resident, a
self-confessed Francophile
and has a unexpected
talent too
Travels with
Colin Charvis
DIWALI DEALS
Emirates is in a festive mood this month,
oering plenty of ight deals to India to
celebrate the festival of light, Diwali.
These deals are likely to be snapped
up quickly, but with 185 weekly
ights to India, your odds are still
quite good. Please note that whether
it is Chennai or Mumbai, the reduced
ights must be taken before Oct 20.
emirates.com
THAI STYLE
You can try to avoid it, but Thailand is
still one of the most popular holiday
destinations in Asia. And with a plethora
tempting deals from Dnata, its not hard to
This months travel tips
Whats the best holiday youve ever had?
I went to France to play a bit of rugby and
ended up staying a year. I was being paid to be
in the South of France, travelling and enjoying
fantastic food. It was the best gig in the world.
Whats been your biggest travel disaster?
ere was a charity trip to climb Kilimanjaro
with a team of 50, including 15 ex-captains
for Wales, but only the luggage for 12 of us
see why. Choose from three
nights bed and breakfast stay
in Chiang Mai for Dhs445, or a four night
ve-star stay at a beach resort in Samui for
Dhs1,095, youre spoilt for choice.
Until Nov 20, Dnata Holidays, Dubai. Tel: (04)
3166666. dnataholidays.com
TRAVEL APP OF THE MONTH
Kayak
A top-class travel search engine. This app
will sift through the depths of the Internet
and pull out the best ight deals, rental car
search, hotel bookings and ight tracking.
Oh and its free, too.
Available for: Android, iPhone, iPad,
BlackBerry
Price: Free
store.apple.com/ae
Travel talk
Advice, deals and other tasty travel tidbits
ASK AWAY
Open Skies editor
and passport stamp
collector Conor Purcell
answers your travel dilemmas
I have just bought an iPad. What travel
apps can you recommend? Mandy, Mirdif
The technology that allows us to access
information on the move is improving at
incredible speed. So what does that mean
to the traveller? Well, a lot actually mobile
apps are perfect for the rst-time tourist,
the jaded traveller or even the stay-at-home
expat. Wandering around a foreign city with
a guidebook in hand is not the best look;
wandering around with a smartphone,
interactive maps and audio translations is
a good idea, if only to stop you from being
marked out as a gormless tourist. Here are
some of my favourites.
Wikitude
Augmented reality might just change your
life, and here is one of the reasons why. Point
your camera phone at any location in the
world and its corresponding Wikipedia entry
will show up. Simple, but very eective.
Free. wikitude.com
FlightBoard
Obvious but brilliant, FlightBoard lets you
use any airports arrivals and departures
screen as your phones home screen with
push notications on any ights or routes you
choose. Even better, you can publish delays on
your Facebook page or Twitter stream.
$3.99. itunes.apple.com
Foodspotting
Another blindingly obvious application,
but all the better for its simplicity. Users
can recommend dishes at restaurants and
nominate them with a photo. The app also
shows nearby restaurants, selects best
dishes and allows photo sharing.
Free. foodspotting.com
Wndr Kabul
An interactive city guide to Kabul? Oh yes.
This app features social media and blog
feeds, videos, podcasts, reviews, and best of
all, an interactive map layer to show to your
driver. It also has some decent weekend trip
suggestions, such as Bamiyan and the Panjshir.
Oh, and did I mention its my app? Yes, I created
it, but dont let that spoil your fun!
Free. wndrkabul.com
turned up. And there was a TV crew with
us. I spent a day and a half thinking, Ive
spent 12 months raising money and training
and Im playing cards in a hotel lobby. It all
worked out in the end, though.
If you can advise people to visit one
destination, what would it be?
Again, the South of France. Its so diverse.
Each little village and town has a dierent
culture. e people dont just exist; they really
live their lives and enjoy themselves. Its all
family orientated with two-hour lunches.
What do you never travel without?
Two packs of cards. Without sounding like
too much of a geek, I started learning magic.
Ive got a couple of David Blaine pick a card
tricks where your card appears on the wall,
picked up from books, DVDs, online and
other magicians. Its great for banter.
Until Oct 23 Colin is commentating on Rugby
World Cup matches in Al Bahou, Ibn Battuta Gate
Hotel, Dubai.Tel: (04) 4440000.
116 TravelExtra.indd 116 9/27/11 10:13:26 AM
A trio of tremendous treats. Are you feeling lucky?
WIN! WIN! WIN!
WIN! A WEEKEND STAY WITH
BRUNCH FOR TWO AT THE IBN
BATTUTA GATE HOTEL

We love a new brunch here at Whats On its what gets us out of
bed on a Friday morning. Theres nothing like corks popping, food
cooking and good times to get us excited and were sharing the fun
with you. The JazzSumptuous brunch at the Ibn Battuta Gate hotel
is a celebration of cuisines, with everything from mini peking duck
pancakes to tiny lemon meringue tarts on oer, plus entire rooms
dedicated to cheese and desserts, all in a stunning space. Its a happy,
happy place. If you and a friend would like to try these delicious
delights and enjoy a nights stay for two in a deluxe room then
youre in luck. For your chance to win, simply tell us
Which genre of live music provides the soundtrack at the
JazzSumptuous brunch?
a) Hip hop
b) Gregorian chanting
c) Jazz
To enter
any of these fantastic
answer to the
relevant
question
WIN! DINNER AT TALA
Gooey mozzarella, buttery garlic bread, long strands of sauce-
drenched spaghetti... Hungry yet? Thought so. Luckily weve teamed
up with Italian restaurant Tala at Novotel Deira City Centre to give
away vouchers worth Dhs333 to three lucky winners so you can enjoy
pizzas, pastas, salads and desserts on us. For your chance to win some
quality carbohydrates, tell us
Which of the following is not a type of pasta?
a) Fusilli
b) Penne
c) Margarita
WIN! DINNER FOR FOUR AT HANDI
If the hottest night out youve had for a while was when your car A/C
broke, then this is the competition for you. Weve teamed up with
Handi restaurant at the Taj Palace hotel to oer you and three friends
an authentic Indian meal, featuring dishes
from the Northern Frontier, including
slow-cooked dum pakht, biryanis and
kebabs. For your chance to win a
table for four, simply tell us
Which of the following is not a
popular variety of biriyani?
a) Chicken
b) Marshmallow
c) Vegetable
118 Competitions.indd 118 9/27/11 10:15:40 AM
Celebrate this world famous event at Stills bar and terrace,
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island.
Enjoy a variety of your favourite draught beverages, mouth watering
German specialities prepared by our German chef and live music
from the renowned German band,
BARFUSS
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
October 26th, 27th & 28th 2011
6.00pm until late
AED 130* per person
(inclusive of buffet dinner)
For bookings & information, please contact
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island Restaurant Reservations
on 02 656 3053 or Email: restaurants@cpyas.com
*Subject to 10% service charge & 6% tourism fee
Stills
at
with live music from
Barfuss
Oktoberfest
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THE HOTLIST
T
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New entry

Non-mover

Up

Down
p123 Brunches
p127 Bars
p131 Restaurants
p135 Spas
121 HOT LIST OPENER.indd 121 9/27/11 10:16:44 AM
INDIAN
NIGHT
EACH
TUESDAY
Experience the irresistible sensations of authentic Indian
cuisine every Tuesday at the Flavours restaurant.
This is a denite must try for only AED 185 net per person
including house white and red.
Savour the taste of India
For further information and reservations call 02 677 3333
indianNight_WO.indd 1 9/13/11 5:42:55 PM
THE HOT LIST
1
Al Qasr
2
Traiteur
3
Zuma
4
The Talk
5
Armani/Hashi
BRUNCHES
OUR
PICK
OF THE
BRUNCH
BUNCH
The Talk Traiteur
Al Qasr is always
popular, but
it's sure to be
even more so
this month as
summer ends
and the party
season begins
in earnest.
There's too
much to try it
all, but that's
the point. Al
Qasr puts on a
banquet worthy
of a Roman
emperor.
The large
outdoor terrace
will be open
again from
October 21,
adding even
more space to
the three rooms
indoors.
If you want to
see everyone
you know all in
one place, this
is where you
could do it.
A price tag of
Dhs495 couldn't
be called cheap.
In fact, it's rather
expensive. But
one expects to
pay for quality.
Al Qasr,
Madinat
Jumeirah, Al
Qasr, Al Sufouh,
Dubai, 12.30pm
to 4pm. Tel:
(04) 3666730.
jumeirah.com
Traiteur is
popular, but
never rowdy.
With an open
kitchen buet,
jazz band and
plenty of bubbly,
it's eortlessly,
Gallicly chic.
French brasserie
classics. Eggs
benedict for
breakfast,
roasted meats
for mains, and a
room dedicated
to dessert.
Bright sunlight
streaming
through the
windows, and
the outdoor
terrace open
it's brunch time.
Dressing in your
sundress or
light, summer-
style suit and
imagining
you're spending
a summer in
Europe.
Up to you
Dhs375 sans
booze, Dhs450
with wine and
beer, Dhs595
with bubbly and
Dhs1,998 with a
limo pick up.
It's a the pricier
end of the
spectrum, but
Traiteur never
disappoints.
Park Hyatt
Dubai, Deira,
Dubai, noon to
4pm. Tel: (04)
3172222. dubai.
park.hyatt.com
It's Zuma. It's
never short of
custom. And
the brunch is
no dierent.
One of the most
popular in town.
There's a good
selection of hot
dishes from
the a la carte
menu, as well as
plently of freshly
prepared sushi
and sashimi.
DIFC is set to
explode with
the opening
of Gaucho and
Hakkasan in the
coming months.
But will they
challenge the
Zuma brunch?
Enjoying food
the way it's
meant to be
eaten with
friends. Small
sharing plates is
the name of the
game at Zuma.
Kitsu (no
alcohol) Dhs315,
Kowaku Dhs425
(with alcohol)
and Kyasha
(with champers)
Dhs550.
Building 6, DIFC,
Dubai, 12.30pm
to 4pm. Tel:
(04) 4255660.
zumarestaurant.
com
Position yourself
at a table with a
view of the pool
outside, and
you'll feel like
you're on holiday.
A sumptuous
seafood buet,
tandoori and
pizza ovens,
roast beef
and Yorkshire
pud and a
dangerous
dessert station.
Head
downstairs to
West Beach
Bistro for the
afternoon,
moving back up
to the outdoor
majilis for
evening shisha.
At Dhs299, it's
a frugal choice
for a big group
brunch.
Dhs299
with house
beverages,
Dhs399
with Cattier
champagne,
Dhs455 with
Met, Dhs499
with Veuve.
At just Dhs350,
The Talk
denitely walks
the walk.
Mvenpick
Hotel Jumeirah
Beach, The
Walk, JBR,
Dubai, 12.30pm
to 4pm. Tel:
(04) 4498888.
moevenpick-
hotels.com
The brunch, like
the soundtrack,
is cool, lazy and
laid-back.
Sushi and
sashimi,
followed by an
impressive BBQ
platter served at
your table.
Location,
location,
location. Well,
it's the Burj
Khalifa, isn't it?
Quality
Japanese food
in a chilled out
environment.
Dhs290 with soft
drinks, Dhs380
with house
beverages.
Dhs585 with
spirits and
half a bottle of
Bollinger.
Armani Hotel
Dubai, Burj
Khalifa, Dubai,
noon to
3.30pm. Tel: (04)
8883444. dubai.
armanihotels.
com
Several new
brunches are
set to hit the
scene this
month (p64).
Can Al Qasr
keep its crown?
Traiteur is
where What's
On brunches
when we want
something
a little more
sophisticated.
Any decent
brunch below
the Dhs300 mark
is a winner in our
book. And our
bank manager's.
You could do
worse when
it comes to
Japanese
food, but you
couldn't do any
better.
With the launch
of Armani/Peck's
brunch this
month, Armani/
Hashi had better
watch its back.
ATMOSPHERE FOOD LOCATION BEST FOR PRICE INFO WHATS ON
SAYS...
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6
Toshi
7
The Grand Grill
8
JazzSumptuous
9
Thai Kitchen
10
Belgian Beer Caf
PRICE INFO WHATS ON
SAYS...
BRUNCHES
ATMOSPHERE FOOD LOCATION BEST FOR PRICE INFO WHATS ON
SAYS...
H
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TH
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11The Observatory, Marriott
Harbour Hotel
12 Anise, InterContinental DFC
13 Warehouse, Le Mridien Dubai
14Latitude, Jumeirah Beach Hotel
15 Fazaris, The Address
Downtown Dubai
Thai Kitchen Anise
12 ANISE
Its all change at Anise for the winter brunch
season, with alfresco BBQ on the terrace, a
Latino band and a new cocktail bar to add
to the numerous live cooking stations. That
should liven proceedings up a bit, we reckon,
making Anise well worth rediscovering.
InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai,
12.30pm to 4pm, Dhs295 with no alcohol,
Dhs395 with house beverages, Dhs550 with
champagne. Tel: (04) 7011127. diningdfc.com
Dinner and
drinks for
Dhs215. How
can you go
wrong?
The outdoor
terrace looking
out over the
creek will be
back in action
this month.
Just like any
busy restaurant.
The high
adrenalin day
time brunch
environment it
is not.
It's Asian Night,
so think sushi,
dim sum, soup
and grilled
meats made to
order.
Hidden away on
the 18th oor
of the Grand
Millennium
hotel with a bar
just next door
for post-10pm
drinks.
A big gathering
of friends that's
unlikely to end
in distaster.
An eminently
doable Dhs215.
Grand
Millennium
Dubai, Tecom,
Al Barsha,
Dubai, 7pm
to 10pm. Tel:
(04) 4299999.
millenniumhotels.
com
It's a party.
Birthday parties,
hen parties, stag
dos you name
it, The GG plays
host to it. And
the sta love to
get involved.
Buckets of beer,
plates piled
high with meat,
plus various
sides and salads.
Dubai Marina,
right next door
to Barasti.
Now the
weather's cooler
everywhere is
an option.
Fun. Fun. Fun.
All comers
are welcome.
There are no
pretentions
here.
A bargain at
Dhs295 with
alcohol or
Dhs225 without.
Habtoor Grand
Resort & Spa,
Lobby level,
Dubai Marina,
Dubai, 12.30pm
to 4pm. Tel:
(04) 3994221.
thegrandgrill.
com
Sophisticated.
Suitable for
friends and
families alike,
there is literally
something for
everyone. And
we don't say
that often.
You're greeted
with bubbles
then move on to
the live cooking
stations, explore
the restaurants
and spend far
too long in the
cheese room.
A bit isolated at
the Jebel Ali end
of town, but
the marina is
nearby if you're
continuing the
post-brunch
mischief.
Keeping the
children out of
the way and
entertained;
there's a petting
zoo, bouncy
castle and their
own buet.
Dhs495 with
Laurent
Perrier, Dhs395
with house
beverages and
Dhs295 with
soft drinks.
Ibn Battuta
Gate Hotel, The
Gardens, Dubai,
12.30pm to
3.30pm. Tel: (04)
4445613
Thai Kitchen is
an extremely
relaxed aair.
An a la carte
menu and table
service just like
dinner. But it's all
you can eat.
Park Hyatt
Dubai is a lovely
hotel, and a trip
here will give
you a chance
to visit the
often ignored
northern end of
town.
Anyone with
relaxation on
their mind and
hunger in their
belly.
Dhs245, making
it one of the
best value
brunches in
Dubai.
Park Hyatt
Dubai, Deira,
Dubai, noon to
4pm. Tel: (04)
3172222. dubai.
park.hyatt.com
A high-end
European pub
at around noon
on a sunny,
summer Sunday
afternoon.
Order from the
menu, help
yourself to cold
cuts, salads and
cheeses from the
buet and then
move on to the
carving stations.
It might not
be as centrally
located as its
sister outlet, but
it's our favourite
of the two BBCs
in Dubai.
A pub lunch
and then some.
And just look at
the price. That
should make
you smile.
Dhs249 makes it
one of the most
wallet-friendly
feasts in town.
Crowne Plaza
Dubai Festival
City, Dubai, 1pm
to 4pm. Tel:
(04) 7011128.
ichotelsgroup.
com
While the Rugby
World Cup is
on you can pop
into Al Bahou
next door
to enjoy live
commentary.
Make sure your
table is outside
with a view of
the marina.
Can't think
of anywhere
suitable for a
group brunch?
The Grand
Grill suits all
purposes.
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NOVEMBER 2010 WHATS ON 127
THE HOT LIST
BARS
THE
FINEST FOR
BEVERAGES
AND
BITES
THE
FINEST FOR
BEVERAGES
AND
BITES
Laid-back and
bustling, with
groups of friends
gathered around
high tables, at the
bar or dining. It
kicks up a gear
later on.
Its a trek from the
marina, but Loca
has breathed new
life into this resort.
Loca is ideal for
group nights out
when you can
dominate a long
table, but couples
might get jostled
about a bit.
Average, but there
are oers on during
the week. Just
don't get carried
away with the
'serve yourself'
beer taps dotted
around. Enjoy now,
pay later...
Dubai Marine Beach
Resort & Spa, Beach
Road, Jumeirah, Dubai,
noon to 2am. Tel: (04)
3461111.
dxbmarine.com
Slicker than black
ice and cooler
than a cucumber,
with sleek dcor,
gorgeous sta and
seriously stylish
clientele. Dress
down at your peril.
Slap bang in the
middle of DIFCs
stylish concrete
jungle.
A glamorous night
out, either a deux
or with a group of
glam pals. Don't
bring that mate of
yours who doesn't
brush his teeth or
shine his shoes.
Steep, but
ultimately worth it.
You get what you
pay for, after all.
Building 6, DIFC,
Dubai, Fri to Wed noon
to 2am, Thurs noon to
3am. Tel: (04) 4255660.
zumarestaurant.com
At last, it's cool
enough to return
to one of our faves.
This bar is the
ultimate in beach
chic; relaxed, stylish
and full of beautiful
people.
Facing the sea,
Jetty is right on
the soft sands of
the beach at the
original One&Only.
It's a dreamy spot.
Sundowners,
pre-dinner drinks,
romantic evenings,
nights out en
masse. Pretty much
everything.
It's not cheap. At
all. But you won't
begrudge the bill
when you're in
such a stunning
setting.
,
One&Only Royal
Mirage, Al Sufouh,
Dubai, 2pm to late.
Tel: (04) 3999999.
oneandonlyresorts.
com
Busy, busy, busy.
As more people
move into JLT,
McG's just gains in
popularity. And it's
a good crowd, too.
McGettigan's is
JLTs only watering
hole. Situated at
the Bonnington
hotel, it has its own
entrance so you
don't need to leave
via a bright lobby.
Sports, sh n chips,
comedy and live
music. And with
the cooler weather
approaching, the
outdoor area is the
place to be.
Seriously hefty
portions of pub
grub at decent
prices, and the
drinks bill won't
make you wince
either.
Bonnington Hotel, JLT,
Dubai, 12.30pm to
3am. Tel: (04) 3560470.
bonningtontower.com
Merry mayhem.
Private cabanas
with glass-fronted
plunge pools,
mingling at the bar,
VIPs and a glam
crowd.
Right on the beach
at the Habtoor
Grand, with all the
action centred
around the pool.
Meeting models,
pumping tunes,
wearing heels with
your bikini (ladies
only, of course).
Club in with your
mates and fork out
for a table. It looks
cooler and means
less trips to the bar.
Habtoor Grand, Dubai
Marina, Dubai, noon to
3am. Tel: 056) 6406161.
habtoorhotels.com
1
Loca
2
Zuma
3
Jetty Lounge
4
McGettigans
5
XL Beach Club
A genuinely
cool bar in an
unexpected
spot.
Go for dinner,
stay for drinks.
Repeat every
week until
you've tried
everything on
the menu.
We love the
non-traditional
pub dcor
check out the
cool log-lined
wall.
Want to feel
like you're on
holiday this
weekend? Jetty
Lounge is the
bar for you.
ATMOSPHERE LOCATION BEST FOR PRICE WHATS ON
SAYS...
INFO
If you want to
win a table at
the Ministry Of
Sound party on
October 6, check
out page 106.
XL Beach Club Barasti Zuma
BARS
Full of shiny, happy
people having the
time of their lives in
the fading sun and
under the stars.
One of Dubai's
most desirable
spots, along a jetty
to an island in the
sea. This place is,
quite simply, a
knock-out.
Wowing visitors
and hearing some
of the best music
the city has to oer.
There are few better
places to watch the
sun set.
It's one for the end
of the month.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
Al Sufouh, Dubai, Sun
to Thurs 5pm to 2am,
Fri and Sat 4pm to
2am. Tel: (04) 4068744.
jumeirah.com
Caramels crowd
of city slickers
pile through the
doors for mid-week
drinks, but Fridays
are a bit quieter.
Another jewel
in DIFCs crown,
Caramel keeps
well-heeled types
well fed and
watered.
Some of the best
bar snacks in town,
or a good choice
for a main meal.
Lollipop chickens
and some mini
burgers, please.
Its pricey, but
that goes with the
territory in this part
of town.
Building 3, DIFC, Dubai,
7pm to midnight.
Tel: (04) 4256677.
carameldubai.com
Busy at the bar,
packed out pews
and more chilled
upstairs. Love it.
One of the rst
dining and drinking
spots in Festival
City, the BBC has
been joined by a
bevy of outlets.
Want to feel like
youre not in
Dubai? This is
the place for you.
Order the moules
frites and youll
practically get
a stamp in your
passport.
There are drink
and dinner deals
through the week,
but it can be on
the expensive side
otherwise.
Crowne Plaza
Dubai Festival City,
Festival City, Dubai,
7.30pm to midnight.
Tel: (04) 7012222.
ichotelsgroup.com
The English
Premiership kicked
o last month and
this is where the
marinas footie fans
are congregating.
Another good
choice for the JBR
crew. If you live
nearby it's best to
walk; The Walk is
chockablock with
cars every evening.
Watch your team
on the giant curved
screen, and play
some pool or chat
at the bar at half-
time. Lad heaven.
Fair and in true
sports bar style,
theres a happy
hour (or two) too.
Mvenpick Hotel
Jumeirah Beach, JBR,
Dubai Marina, Dubai,
Sun to Wed 6pm to
2am, Thurs to Sat,
noon to 2am. Tel: (04)
4498888. moevenpick-
hotels.com
It's back! Barasti's
tents kept a steady
ow of punters
coming through
the summer, but it's
cool enough for the
hoardes to arrive.
It's a Dubai
institution for its
prime beachfront
location, split level
bars and proximity
to the marina.
Bumping into
everyone you
know, sundowners,
long nights out and
hoping you won't
get pushed in the
pool.
Surprisingly
expensive for all its
laid-back beach bar
vibe. And we can't
stand those tiny
plastic cups.
Le Mridien Mina
Seyahi Resort &
Spa, Dubai Marina,
Dubai, 11am to 2am.
Tel: (04) 3993333.
lemeridienseyahi.com
6
360

7
Caramel
8
Belgian Beer
Caf
9
West Beach
Bistro
10
Barasti
360 is known
for keeping
music lovers on
their toes with
local talent and
international
DJ. Keep it up.
As busy as
it gets, the
atmosphere
has been a bit
lacking of late.
Not sure why.
A good choice
post-Laughter
Factory comedy
nights, and the
food is decent,
too.
We love the
Victorian tiles,
vintage signage
and European
pub feel.
Love it or hate
it, you'll be
going there
soon.
ATMOSPHERE LOCATION BEST FOR PRICE WHATS ON
SAYS...
INFO
Jetty Lounge Belgian Beer Caf
H
O
T O
N

TH
E H
EELS
11 Nezesaussi Bar & Grill,
Al Manzil Hotel
12 Left Bank, Souk Al Bahar
13 Neos, The Address
Downtown Dubai
14 Armani/Prive, Armani Hotel
15 Oeno, The Westin
13 NEOS
Neos is dominated by a jaw-dropping
window, allowing views across SZR. The art
deco decor, with mirrors, pillars and glam
bathrooms add to the luxury feel, so this a
place where you should dress up. Speaking
of up, youll need to take two lifts to reach
Neos lofty heights. A great choice for
wowing visitors and doing business in style.
The Address Downtown Dubai, 7pm to
2.30am. Tel: (04) 4368927. theaddress.com
THE HOT LIST
MARCH 2010 WHATS ON 131
1
La Petite
Maison
2
Zuma
3
The Ivy
4
Indego by
Vineet
5
Verre
RESTAURANTS
THE
ELITE
OF THE
EATING OUT
SCENE
La Petite Maison Indego by Vineet
The buzz is
like no other
restaurant in
Dubai, and it will
take a serious
newcomer to
unseat LPM.
There's a long
bar, an open
kitchen and lots
of close (but not
too close) tables.
It's light and
bright at lunch
and dinner.
The onion and
anchovy tart
and the burrata
for starters,
followed by the
lobster and the
razor clams,
with cheesecake
for dessert.
Competition is
going to heat
up around DIFC
with Gaucho
opening this
month, but LPM
is still the best
restaurant in
Dubai.
It depends on
the number
of sharing
dishes one
orders. Dhs800
to Dhs1,000
should do it for
two.
DIFC, Gate
Village 8,
Dubai, Sun
to Fri noon
to 2.30pm
and 7pm to
11pm. Tel:
(04) 4390505.
lpmdubai.ae
Zuma is a place
to 'see and be
seen', and there
are plenty of
people in Dubai
who live and
breathe that
motto.
Dark, cool and
moody in the
upstairs bar.
Bright with
open sushi
counters, so
you can see the
chefs in action
downstairs.
Order the wagyu
tenderloin from
the robata grill,
or the divine
veal. At lunch
there are three
menus available,
starting at a
decent Dhs62.
As with LPM,
the opening
of Gaucho
in the DIFC
'hood could
provide some
competition for
Zuma.
Dhs1,000 for
two is par for
the course.
Building 6, DIFC,
Sat to Thurs
12.30pm to 3pm,
Sat to Wed 7pm
to midnight,
Thurs and Fri
7pm to 1am. Tel:
(04) 4255660.
zumarestaurant.
com
The Ivy isn't
ghting away
the punters, but
there is already
a steady ow of
loyal fans.
Green leather,
dark wood and
crisp, white table
clothes. And
there's a handy
little cocktail
bar and lounge
area in which to
enjoy a tipple.
The menu
changes
regularly, but
the venison
carpaccio,
aromatic duck
salad and sh
'n' chips are all
good.
As soon as
Hakassan arrives
in November,
Emirates Towers
should start
to feel more
like a culinary
destination.
You could enjoy
three courses
for around
Dhs550 (sans
booze), but
spending more
would be very
easy indeed.
The Ivy, The
Boulevard,
Emirates
Towers, Dubai,
noon to 3pm,
6.30pm to
11pm, bar
to 2am. Tel:
(04) 3198767.
theivy.ae
The food
inspires
loyalty from
its clientele,
ensuring a
healthy number
of return
customers. A
sign of quality.
A winding
stairway
leading to an
warm glow
and an inviting
restaurant.
Chef John
was trained
by Vineet
Bhatia, who is
the master of
modern Indian
cuisine. It's
good, OK?
In a popular
ve-star
hotel in the
most popular
residential area
of the city. Is
that to your
satisfaction?
Dhs900
(without
alcohol) if two
of you are
eating three
courses from
the main menu.
Grosvenor
House, Dubai
Marina, Dubai,
Sun to Thurs
7.30pm to
11pm. Tel:
(04) 3176000.
grosvenorhouse-
dubai.com
At the chef's
table on a
Friday. Fabulous.
At a corner
table on a quiet
night, the food
is what makes it
worthwhile.
The space
is not ideal,
and despite a
relatively recent
refurb Verre
is still a little
dated. But it
functions well.
Two of Dubai's
most talented
young chefs
head up Verre.
Head chef Nick
Alvis' steak
tartare recipe is
on page 63.
Gordon
hasn't visited
for a year.
Fortunately,
the Verre
team make a
trip to Deira
worthwhile.
Dhs395 for three
courses, Dhs495
for six courses.
For the chefs
table its Dhs695,
with wine
pairings Dhs350
to Dhs600.
Hilton Dubai
Creek, Deira,
Dubai, Sun to
Fri, 7.30pm
to 11pm. Tel:
(04) 2271111.
gordonramsay.
com
Don't miss the
Gypsy Queens'
LPM rst
anniversary
performances
from October
23 to 25.
If you want
Japanese in
Dubai, there's
only one option.
Zuma.
The Ivy can be
relied upon for
a good, solid
meal and a
pleasant dining
experience.
Vineet is
planning
another visit
soon, so expect
some menu
tinkering in the
near future.
It's time for
a bit of a
shake up in
Ramsay's Dubai
operations, but
Verre's menu is
rst rate.
ATMOSPHERE INTERIOR FOOD LOCATION PRICE INFO WHATS ON
SAYS...
6
Rivington Grill
7
Traiteur
8
Reets
par Pierre
Gagnaire
9
Toro Toro
10
Rhodes
Twenty10
PRICE INFO WHATS ON
SAYS...
RESTAURANTS
ATMOSPHERE INTERIOR FOOD LOCATION PRICE INFO WHATS ON
SAYS...
H
O
T O
N

TH
E H
EELS
11 Asado, The Palace, Old Town
12 Okku, The Monarch Dubai
13 Blue Rain, Ritz-Carlton DIFC
14 Rhodes Mezzanine,
Grosvenor House Dubai
15 Ruths Chris Steak house,
The Monarch Dubai
Reets par Pierre Gagnaire Rhodes Twenty10
14 RHODES
MEZZANINE
With the recent departure of chef Paul Lupton
after several years at the helm, Mezzanine is
sure to make some changes. But were sure
new chef Marcus Chant is up to the chal-
lenge, and we cant wait to see what he does
with what is always a tremendous menu. No
pressure, Marcus.
Grosvenor House Dubai, Dubai Marina, Mon
to Sat 7.30pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 3998888
RG is extremely
popular, so we'd
advise you to
book ahead.
Clean, bright
and white, with
chalkboards
displaying the
delicious daily
specials and a
buzzing open
kitchen.
The menu
changes with
the British
seasons, and
there are always
good specials
on the board.
The terrace is
back in action,
and it oers a
cracking view
of the Dubai
Fountain for
those who
enjoy that kind
of thing.
Around Dhs400
for two, but
on weekdays
you can enjoy
two courses at
lunchtime for
Dhs80, or three
for Dhs100.
Souk Al Bahar,
Level 3, Old Town,
Dubai, noon to
7pm. Tel: (04)
4230903. riving-
tongrill.ae
It's denitely
worth booking
in advance, and
if you can secure
a table outside
you're on to a
winner.
From the
moment you
catch an eyefull
of the action
in the open
kitchen as you
descend the
stairs, Traiteur is
a delight.
Chef Franck
Detrait and
the team have
made some
menu changes
this month.
For more
information,
turn to page 60.
Park Hyatt
Dubai. Amble
over to The
Terrace for an
after dinner
drink.
The degustation
menu is Dhs375
for four courses
and coee. For
a la carte you're
talking around
Dhs650 for two.
Park Hyatt Dubai,
Deira, DubaiSun
to Fri 7pm to
midnight. Tel: (04)
3172222. dubai.
park.hyatt.com
It can be busy.
It can be quiet.
It's all by-the-by.
Reets is all
about the food.
And, boy, is that
exciting.
A private lift
leads to Reets'
private oor,
where the
restaurant
dwells in all its
purple-pink
glory.
Always inventive.
Check out our
verdict on the
new Friday lunch
menu on page
58.
The InterCon
DFC is a lovely
hotel, but
Reets would
be worth a visit
wherever it was.
Dinner for two
will hit Dhs1,000,
but the lunch
is a bargain at
Dhs180. As is the
new Friday lunch
at Dhs390 with
wine pairings.
InterContiental
Dubai Festival
City, DFC, Dubai,
7pm to 1am.
Tel: (04) 7011128.
ichotelsgroup.
com
It's been open
less than a
month, but on
both our visits
so far it's been
busy. An instant
favourite. Book
ahead.
Two oors. Bar/
lounge upstairs.
Restaurant
downstairs. It's
dark, sexy and
sure to be a hit
with anyone
who likes to stay
up late.
Check out our
verdict on celeb
chef Richard
Sandoval's latest
Dubai venture
on page 53.
The spanking
new Grosvenor
House Tower
Two sure to be
Dubai Marina's
latest nightlife
hotspot.
Our bill was
Dhs1,000 for
two sans booze,
but with the
small plate
sharing concept
you could
spend more or
less.
Grosvenor
House Dubai,
Dubai Marina,
Dubai, Sat to
Wed 7pm to
2am, Thurs and
Fri 7pm to 3am.
Tel: (04) 3176000.
grosvenorhouse
-dubai.com
Anything
with our new
columnist Gary
Rhodes' name
on it is going
to be popular,
isn't it?
There's a nice
little bar and a
small lounge
area for pre,
and post dinner
cocktails.
The sh 'n'
chips is better
than any other
restaurant in
Dubai, but the
whole menu is
reliable.
Le Royal
Mridien is a
little dated, but
Rhodes' place
is right up to
date. Take a
table upstairs, if
possible.
Around Dhs650
for two. Not
bad, really.
Le Royal Mridien
Beach Resort &
Sp, Dubai Marina,
Dubai, 7pm to
midnight.
Tel: (04) 3995555
garyrhodes.com
Lunch is a good
deal, but RG is
all about the
Saturday roast
on the terrace.
The new menu
additions are
exciting. Now
is the time to
pay a visit to
Traiteur.
Toro Toro is
an instant
success story.
You should visit
it as soon as
possible.
Sommelier
Julien Coron
oers his
expert advice
in our new
wine column
on page 57.
Gary is set to
spend a lot
more time in
Dubai, so we
expect he'll be
paying a visit to
the kitchen.
Managed by Danat Hotels & Resorts, a Division of National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels
PO Box 112723, Abu Dhabi, UAE | T. +971 2 894 6111 | F. +971 2 894 6112 | reservations.tilal@danathotels.com | www.danathotels.com
*Rates are subject to 10% service charge & 6% tourism fee. Double occupancy. Payment is by credit card or cash only. Offer valid for UAE / GCC residents only, from
1st October - 10th December 2011.
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INTRODUCING THE
NOMINEES
ewA 2011 vote now ad - wo.indd 1 9/25/11 6:47:31 PM
1
SensAsia
Express
2
One&Only Spa
3
B/Attitude
4
Amara Spa
5
Talise Ottoman
Spa
THE HOT LIST
SPAS
THERAPISTS MENU THE SPA PRICE WHATS ON
SAYS...
INFO
THE
DADDIES
OF THE
HEALTH AND
LEISURE
SCENE
The ladies at the
Express version
of SensAsia have
been recruited
from the other
spas, so truly
know their stu.
Check out the
shorter treatments;
think 50-minute
massages, 30-
minute body
scrubs and super
fast facials, using
Elemis, Dr Dennis
Grossman and Eve
Lom products.
The sassier
younger sister
to the other
branches, this spa
is pared down
with everything
you need in your
small but perfectly
formed treatment
room.
Dhs155 for a back,
neck and shoulder
massage, mini-
facials costing
Dhs60 and Dhs225
for a body wrap.
Very reasonable
indeed.
Mall Of The Emirates,
Al Barsha, Dubai,
Sun to Wed 10am
to 10pm, Thur to Sat
10am to midnightTel:
(04) 3549228.
sensasiaspas.com
Some of the best
therapists in
the city, and no
doubt. They're
well-informed,
charming and at
ease to explain
everything you
need to know.
Extensive, with
everything from
day-long ESPA
rituals to eective
medi-pedis from
Bastien Gonzalez.
Just gorgeous,
with terracottas,
woods and lovely
fabrics. Sumptuous
treatment rooms
and a VIP area for
couples complete
the experience.
Not as expensive
as it could be
(shush) with a 25-
minute body scrub
for Dhs215 and
one-hour massage
at Dhs490. Big
thumbs up.
One&Only The Palm,
The Palm Jumeirah,
Dubai, 10am to
9pm. Tel: (04)
4401010. thepalm.
oneandonlyresorts.
com
When we visited,
our therapist,
Woody, was a
consummate
professional
knowledgeable
and intuitive.
The list includes
Tibetan
treatments, facials,
scrubs, wraps,
foot treatments,
traditional
and signature
massages and
hammam rituals.
Check out the
ve hammam
pools ranging in
temperature from
18C to 38C.
The bespoke
Intuitive massage
is Dhs420 for 60
minutes or Dhs540
for 90 minutes.
Tailored to your
specied needs,
its one of the best
weve had.
Grosvenor House
Dubai, Tower Two,
Dubai Marina, Dubai,
9.15am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 3998888.
grosvenorhouse-
dubai.com
Really lovely, and
they'll welcome
you back like
an old friend.
A friend who's
going to bust
those shoulder
knots for good.
Grouped by
theme, theres
an emphasis
on rituals and
packages that
include pool and
health club access.
And the pool is a
knockout.
From the tiled
entrance to the
outdoor showers,
Amara is gorgeous.
It is especially good
for couples, with
romantic VIP suites.
Steep, but there
are monthly
oers that take
the sting out. We
reckon the quality
of products, spa
and therapists are
worth it anyway.
Park Hyatt Dubai,
Deira, Dubai,
9am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 6021234.
dubai.park.hyatt.com
The therapists
administering
the hammam
treatment know
exactly what
they're doing.
Everything from
quick facials to
four hour ritual
treatments are
available. But the
hammam is the
star.
Saunas, steam
rooms, Jacuzzis,
outdoor pavilions,
heated stone beds,
Thalassotherapy
pool, and of course
the male and
female hammams.
A 45-minute
hammam
treatment is
Dhs300, and well
worth it.
Talise Ottoman Spa,
Zabeel Saray, The
Palm, West Crescent,
Dubai, 9am to
9.30pm. Tel: (04)
4530000. jumeirah.
com
Speedy, chic
and you get
your ginger tea
to go. We love.
Find out more
on page 88.
Check out the
pool cabanas;
they cost
Dhs2,500 per
day so go with
friends on a
special occasion.
Take your
swimmers and
make time for
the hammam
pools.
Make a day
of it with
pool access
and dinner
at Traiteur
afterwards.
The traditional
Turkish
hammam is
something very
special indeed.
Talise spa SensAsia Urban Spa
SPAS
6
SensAsia
Urban Spa
8
The Spa
9
The Spa
Gentle, kind and
with a rm hand
when required,
SensAsias sta
are top-notch at
what they do.
Simply put, the
menu is both
innovative and
imaginative. It
caters specically
for mum-to-bes,
golfers, high-heel
fans and frequent
yers.
Asian chic with
splashes of jewel
tones to balance
the signature
Oriental ambience;
the cosy rooms are
a true treat. It has
the best dressing
gowns in town, too.
Worth a visit for
the ginger tea
alone, but if you
choose wisely
youll get an hour-
long massage for
Dhs310.
Emirates Golf Club,
Dubai, 10am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 4179820.
sensaisaapas.com
Packed with
experts, theres
a mix of
nationalities
and specialities,
from massage
therapists to a GP.
In addition to
a packed spa
menu, Talise has
a naturopath, life
coaching and
medical testing
on oer.
Explore the leafy
pathways leading
to treatment
rooms and an
outdoor pool thats
tucked away just
for those day-long
spa sessions.
Not bad for
such a high-end
establishment. The
80-minute Royal
Hammam costs a
fair Dhs450.
Al Qasr, Al Sufouh,
Dubai, 9am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 3666681.
jumeirah.com/talise
Superbly trained
therapists are on
hand to guide
you through the
vast spa on your
journey from
reception to
relaxation.
Tired? Try out
the highly
recommended jet
lag treatment. If
youre looking for
something else,
theres a separate
menu for ladies
and gents.
Only minutes away
from the stress of
The Dubai Mall, this
shrine is a tranquil
haven for shoppers.
For the quality of
the treatments and
snooze youll enjoy,
the higher prices
are worth it.
The Address Dubai
Mall, Old Town, Dubai,
10am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 4388888.
theaddress.com
Be prepared for
the therapists
to whisk you
away from the
daily grind into
a cocoon of
comfort.
You wont be
spoilt for choice
here, but there is a
decent selection of
rituals for lengthy
pampering.
High-quality spa
real estate the
relaxation rooms
overlook the lakes
at the base of Burj
Khalifa.
It may seem pricey,
but youll get your
moneys worth
by enjoying the
relaxation and
steam areas.
'
The Palace, Old Town,
Dubai, 9am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 4287888.
theaddress.com
Very
knowledgeable,
super sweet and
ber-attentive.
Its all here,
from express
facials for DIFC
oce-dwellers, a
mens menu and
a host of exotic
treatments.
Modern, bright
and calming, with
steam and sauna
rooms, plus a
lovely relaxation
area.
At the top end of
the scale, with an
80-minute Thai
massage costing
Dhs600, but
there are regular
promotions.
The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC,
Dubai, 9am to 8pm.
Tel: (04) 3722777.
ritzcarlton.com
Take your pick
from branches
at MOE, Village
Mall and The
Palm.
Try out the day
retreat with
sunrise yoga,
a signature
massage,
mini-facial and
beach access.
Give the
summer
citrus reviver
treatment a
try and leave
with a spring in
your step.
A lovely spot
to relax before
getting a table
at Ewaan.
THERAPISTS MENU THE SPA PRICE WHATS ON
SAYS...
INFO
7
Talise Spa
H
O
T O
N

TH
E H
EELS
11 Banyan Tree Spa, Banyan Tree
Al Wadi
12 Armani/Spa, Armani Hotel
13 Lime Spa, Desert Palm
14 ShuiQi Spa & Fitness, Atlantis
The Palm
15 Mandara Spa, The Monarch
Banyan Tree Al Wadi The Spa
Linger for a
juice and a
browse of
the books in
the lounge
afterwards.
10
The Spa
11 BANYAN TREE
Its a fair old trek out of Dubai (allow an hour)
but once you arrive at the Banyan Tree spa
its suddenly worthwhile. The highlight is The
Rainforest, a hydrotherapy experience that
includes tropical showers, ice caves and steam
areas, ending in a giant pool. The treatment
rooms are rather lovely too, with Asian-inspired
massages, body scrubs and more.
Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah,
10am to 10pm. Tel: (07) 206777.
banyantreespa.com
Our man on the radio explains
the lost of art of karaoke, and
his love of Glen Campbell
Karaoke a microphone, a badly produced
backing track, and a cheap video with low-
resolution lyrics popping-up on a TV screen.
ats it. Whether youre singing to no-one but
the barman in a dive bar in ailand or giving
it the full Mariah on stage in front of Simon
Cowell and a TV audience of millions, its all
basically the same thing.
But karaoke has one fundamental aw. e
more you do it and the better you become, the
less fun you have.
In the beginning, karaoke is like a rst kiss.
eres a mixture of fear, excitement, anticipa-
tion and self-doubt. Will you clam-up? Will
onlookers cover their ears in disgust? Will the
guy controlling the music switch it o and have
you forcibly ejected from the establishment?
Most people dont perform for a living, so
getting up in front of a mixture of ones peers
and strangers can be terrifying. ere are those
these songs like my precious and, should
anyone sing one of these before me, it can ruin
my evening.
e nal and, perhaps, most damning stage of
a karaoke career is becoming a ringer. is
accolade is normally reserved for those with
above average vocal skills. You can spot them a
mile o. eyre normally in the same seats every
time you go to a karaoke bar. ey know the sta
and there are normally a couple of them.
e ringer has his or her set list. Not only
that, they also occasionally duet with their
ringer friends, belting out pitch-perfect har-
monies before ending with high ves. It quite
literally sucks the enjoyment out of the room
for anyone else in there and the worst part is,
the ringers know it. Of course, you can spoil
it for them too. All you have to do is jot down
their songs on a coaster, go back the following
week and sing them all rst.
Who says karaoke isnt fun?
Catboy hosts the Catboy & Geordiebird
Breakfast Show, Sun to Thurs, 6am to
10am, Dubai 92. dubai92.com
who will never, under any circumstances, give
it a go. en there are those who claim that
theyd never do it but nd themselves on stage,
microphone in hand. Normally this happens
towards the end of a particularly fun night.
is is the nadir of the karaoke experi-
ence. Like baby birds ying for the rst time,
karaoke virgins go from nervous whispers and
mumbles to smiles, screaming vocals and clas-
sic rock posturing. e rush of adrenaline has
an intensity that can never be captured again.
From that moment on it can only go downhill.
Youre so lost in the moment that you dont
realise how terrible you sound. So, next time you
give it a go, the nerves are far less prevalent and
you get to hear yourself. is brings most back
down to earth with a bump.
e next stage aer this, at least for the more
focused warbler, is nding your set list. ese
songs have to be within your limited vocal
range, well known, but not likely to be chosen
by anyone else. To give you an example of this,
mine are Nights In White Satin by e Moody
Blues, Glen Campbells Wichita Lineman and
Love On e Rocks by Neil Diamond. I guard
WITH CATBOY
BACKCHAT BACKCHAT
NEXT MONTH:
DUBAIS BIGGEST SPORTING AND SOCIAL EVENT THE DUBAI
RUGBY SEVENS. PLUS THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX AND BRITNEY
SPEARS, INCUBUS AND PAUL MCCARTNEY PLAY YASALAM
138 Backchat DXB.indd 138 9/27/11 10:23:48 AM
WW Whats On AD 20.6x27 en.pdf 1 9/22/11 2:41 PM
Find a catwalk of gorgeous cocktails to t your aura perfectly in the heart of Fashion Avenue,
The Dubai Mall. Sashay into the Ember Lounge, where you can cool off whenever youre
feeling haute. In fact, Ember Lounge will look so good on you, the room will ll with cheers.
Doubly so between 6:30pm and 9pm, when parched fashionistas get a second beverage
free whenever one is purchased.
Open every day except Sunday, 6.30pm to 11.30pm.
For reservations call +971 4 888 3444 or email dine@theaddress.com
For those with taste
On trend, every season

What's On Dubai October 2011

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What's On Dubai October 2011

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October 2011 Issue 402

DISCOVER THE PERFECT ROAD TRIP

Selena Gomez, Freddie

Colin Farrell, David Tennant,

James Marsden, Kate Bosworth,

Super Straw Dogs Dark Country

THE STATE: SOCIAL/ANTISOCIAL?

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