Scene selection: January 19 - 25

Am loving that the UAE absolutely doesn't bother with a post-New Year slump but instead gets straight back into the swing of things. If I were back in London, no one would be going out until, oooh, mid-Feb at least. Tonight I'm taking my in-laws to Rhodes Twenty10 at Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, and I quite fancy getting there via one of those fun buggy things that vroom along The Walk. Anyone been in one? Then, I still haven't seen Breaking Dawn - Part 1 yet, so need to find out where it's still playing, and if the venue does those orange slushy drinks that stain your tongue for five days afterwards but which are totes worth it. Then it's prep, prep, prep for the Scene party at The Address, Dubai Marina on Wednesday, which is going to be awesome. And I look forward to welcoming the very lucky Scene Connect members who found a golden ticket (well, pink ticket, actually) in their copy of this week's mag. Darlings, it's going to be epic!
Gemma White, Editor

This Friday I’m dressing up for the Zuma brunch to celebrate my friend Laura’s birthday, so on Thursday I’ll be eating as little as possible to save maximum space for sashimi and soba. Then, on Saturday, I’m planning to go to Al Mamzar Beach Park near Sharjah – I love the beaches at this peninsula/park, and find that on a Saturday it’s far less crowded. I will definitely embarrass my husband by insisting we rent one of those family bikes and take a pedal around the greenery. On Tuesday I’m going to visit Embassy with girlfriends – I love the art deco décor and the flaming cocktails (yes, they’re actually flaming). Then on Wednesday, as I’m sure the other girls have told you, it’s our Scene party – I hope to have found the perfect dress by then, or maybe I’ll go for white tailoring, inspired by Lucy’s fashion pages this week. Finally, on Thursday I’m booked to go to see W.E. as I’m intrigued to see if Madonna has any talent as a director!
Nyree Macfarlane, Deputy Editor

So, my hideous cold has finally gone (hooray!), and since I’m on serious sale shopping catch-up I’m well and truly up for some major DSF bargain hunting action this week. But aside from the obvious extended mooches around Bloomingdale’s, Harvey Nics and Dubai Outlet Mall, I’m going to be sticking to one of my New Year’s resolutions and hitting up a handful of the amazing independent boutiques I visit far too infrequently – starting with O’ de Rose, Studio 8, Bambah and new fave, Rivaage at Sunset Mall – for a mega-spend fest. Whoop whoop! Obviously, I’ll be looking for the perfect dress to wear to the Scene party next Wednesday (which will be underpinned with my brand new In-Power Spanx – a post-festive bulge essential) and a pair of knockout heels that would have Cinderella weeping into her glass slippers. I’m thinking Blake Lively/Amber Heard/Liv Tyler red carpet gorgeousness – check out the party pics in the February 2 issue to see how I got on!
Lucy Wildman, Fashion Editor

After a relatively relaxed first fortnight of 2012, everything is changing today; my friend Sam is jetting into town for a week and boy do I have grand plans for her. On Saturday we’re hitting the beach for a few hours ( just to show off Dubai’s winter heat), and in the evening I’ve got us booked in for a delish meal at one of my fave restaurants, Indo Thai in the Radisson Royal. Afterwards we’ll be going downstairs to club-of-the moment Mo*Vida to dance the night away. On Saturday we’re going to hit Wild Wadi for some water park fun and then head down to the Creek to hire an abra and check out the DSF fireworks, I’ve heard they’re amazing. Then on Wednesday there’s the small matter of the Scene party at The Address, Dubai Marina’s Shades, what could be better than an evening celebrating all things Scene?
Farah Andrews, Writer