Scene selection: May 17 - 23

I'll be saying aloha to Abu Dhabi this weekend as Mr Gemma and I head to the Yas Viceroy to check the place out and report back for you (check out our May 31 issue for all the deets - you know you need to start planning your summer weekend getaways asap!). I'll be taking time out to catch R-Patz's new flick, Bel Ami, in which he plays an unscrupulous cad, which I think he'll be quite good at. Am defo cheering for the dude's post-Twilight career. Having recently rediscovered my passion for More Café's Pasta Basta (the pesto one), I'll be fitting in a mammoth bowl of that, and finally, I admit a shameful addiction to EL James's Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy, so will be taking time out to ponder the new Edward Cullen-esque question: Christian Grey: Hot… or stalker weirdo? Such are these modern conundrums!
Gemma, Editor

I think it’s finally too hot to be outside, and so this weekend will be the first that my ‘beat cabin fever in Dubai summer strategy’ is employed. On Thursday night Mr Nyree and I are heading to Wox at the Grand Hyatt – not only is it my favourite spot for a quick bite in the city (the fresh Vietnamese noodle soups are delish) – but the Grand Hyatt’s indoor jungle makes me feel like I’ve been outside (sorta). Then, on Friday, we have visitors in town, so we’ll be taking them to some of our favourite spots, including At The Top in the Burj Khalifa to spy the sunset and the fountain from above. On Saturday, I’ll visit Ripe Market in Dubai Garden Centre to pick up my Raw Coffee fix for the week (the locally roasted coffee is without a doubt the best in Dubai), and bag a big box of organic vegetables, as my summer resolution is to cook more and say goodbye to takeaways (I may even delete Wagamamas’ number from my phone, emphasis on the may).
Nyree, Deputy Editor

Since I spent waaaay too much cash last month (who said staycations saved you money? Ha!) I’m going to attempt a fairly budget weekend, starting with one final visit to the beach before it gets hotter than Mars on the sand. I do have a back-up plan if the farewell sunlounger plan goes pear-shaped – at home pampering! I’ve stocked up on a pile of Champneys spa treats (recently arrived in Boots), so can happily indulge in some much-needed spa therapy without rinsing my bank account. Saying that, I do have my eye on the amazing Globe-Trotter Centenary luggage collection at Harvey Nicks, so my thrifty weekend may go down the swanny if I get anywhere near Mall of the Emirates. Next week, however, I’m definitely treating myself to a little something for the wardrobe, and for a good cause too. This year’s Women for Women charity tees go on sale exclusively at S*uce on Wednesday. With tees from Chloé’s Clare Waight Keller, Martine Sitbon of Rue Du Mail, Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, Nathalie Rykiel and Agnès B, buying all six to help raise money for women in war-torn countries is a splurge I’ll happily undertake.
Lucy, Fashion Editor

This evening I’m dabbling in the high life and heading to the opening of Mansion Nightclub at the Meliá Dubai Hotel. According to the exclusive invitation, I need to “get ready for sweet corruption at Dubai’s hottest new playground,” I’m nervous! This leads me perfectly to a whole other kind of corruption, Gemma has got me reading Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James, I literally can’t put it down (in fact, writing this is totally encroaching on my reading time). If I can tear myself away from Christian Grey, I’ll be having an adventurous Saturday as my friends have a (very) belated birthday surprise in store for me. I have high hopes, girls, (just off the top of my head) that the dream day would include waking up to Cinderella-style forest animals magically doing all the odd jobs around my house, while I go swimming with dolphins and Chris Hemsworth and then jet off to Rome for an amazing dinner, before discovering I can sing and dance like Beyonce. Hmmm, Mr Grey would totes be able to sort that out...
Farah, Junior Writer