Life & Style | Leisure

Hip Hangouts: Cool places in UAE to hangout this weekend

Our pick of the top spots to see and be seen in the emirates

By Farah Andrews, Junior Writer, Scene magazine
Published: 12:09 December 6, 2012

Image Credit: Supplied picture
Chill in Calabar (left), watch Nicki Minaj live in Dubai (centre) or check out The Wizard of Oz (right) for a perfect Christmas day out.

Calabar

Why go?

1. First things first, this bar's number-one pull is its alfresco location. Across the lake from the Burj Khalifa, overlooking the fountains, the palm treefilled terrace of Calabar boasts the best view in Dubai and, while you’re right in the centre of the city, it still has a decidedly laid-back vibe thanks to oodles of sunken seating and a resort-like outdoor cocktail bar.

2. While the location alone is enough to get us to Calabar every time we have visitors in town, it’s the food and drinks that have us going there weekly. Team are particular fans of the berry-bursting cocktails and the crispy calamari (oh, and the chicken sliders when we’re feeling naughty).

3. Calabar is also home to one of the best happy hours in the city – from 6pm-8pm, Saturday to Thursday and from 4pm-8pm on Fridays there’s a 50 per cent discount on all drinks. Bonus!

The Address Downtown, Dubai | 6pm-2.30am, daily | 04 888 3444

PUMA Creative Factory 3: Love Thy Planet
The uber cools at Puma have come up with an amazing workshop that lets you transfer your own images on to a T-shirt or tote bag, and if you apply online now, you could be at the workshop. The way it works is pretty simple, you submit a pic in advance, Puma convert it to a negative, then at the event you’re free to splash it with your choice of invisible ink and watch in awe as the sunlight develops your original, colourful fashion masterpiece.

To get involved you have to upload a photo that you think represents sustainability to pumalovethyplanet.com, and then Puma will get in touch with the lucky people who have been selected to come along. Just make sure you upload your snap before Monday December 10. As well as all the creative fun, there will be a barbecue and live entertainment, guaranteeing an electric atmosphere on the day. We’re thinking a bright pink scene logo tote will look fierce.

You’ll be driven to Puma Desert Workshop | From 12pm, Friday December 14 | pumalovethyplanet.com

Nicki Minaj Live in Dubai
pre-NYE pick-me-up, look no further than the queen of craycray, Nicki Minaj, who’s jetting into the city for her debut Dubai gig. The feisty rapper will be hitting the stage at Meydan on December 28, so brush up on all of your Pink Friday lyrics and expect a lively show full of more colour and quips than Katy Perry in a Barbie factory. It’s very likely that the hotly anticipated show from the Starships singer will sell out, so get your hands on tickets now! Cost Dh450 or VIP tickets Dh650

Meydan Racecourse | Friday December 28 | theatelierworld.com

The Wizard Of Oz
For a perfect Christmas day out get tickets for The Wizard Of Oz, the family favourite musical is coming to the Madinat Theatre’s stage this festive season. So follow that yellow brick road with Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Lion, and get swept away by this magical musical. All together now, “We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!” Cost Dh165

Madinat Theatre, Jumeirah | 3pm, daily from Thursday December 20 until Monday December 31 | 04 366 6546