THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
Sweet Symphony Sounds
Kick off your weekend the cultural way with a glorious night of classical music. On Thursday 28 and Saturday 30 January, The Almaty Symphony Orchestra commence their season of concerts with Classica Extravaganza, a two-night festival of classical music at The Theatre, Mall of the Emirates. Lead by award-winning Spanish violinist Erzhan Kulibaev, the renowned orchestra has performed in the world’s most prestigious venues including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Palais des Festivals in Cannes, Crocus City Hall in Moscow and Astana Opera in Kazahkstan, and will be bringing their world-class performance to the UAE got the first time this weekend. Featuring works from Piazzola to Vivaldi, this is a concert classical music fans should not miss. For more information, visit platinumlist.ae
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
Everyone’s Talking About BLA BLA
Dubai never does anything by halves, and last weekend saw the launch of a HUGE new leisure hotspot that’s set to revolutionize our weekends. Home to 20 bars, three restaurants and one enormous beach club, Bla Bla spans a whopping 100,000 square feet along The Beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence, and is designed to appeal to a full spectrum of preferences and pockets with its vast array of gorgeous beachside venues.
From the chilled-out Ibiza-inspired beach club and Bali-esque beach bar to an eclectic mix of bold, beautifully designed bars and a handful of top-notch restaurants, whether it’s a chilled day stretched out on a sunlouger, sundowners on the terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf, or a fancy dinner under the stars, Bla Bla is an all-day social and dining destination like nothing the city has ever seen before. Prepare to be dazzled! For more information and to book, +971 58 606 3535 or visit blabladubai.ae
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
Ripe Retails Therapy
Shopping in the sunshine is a great way to while away the weekend, so a stroll around The Ripe Market on a lazy Saturday is always on our to-do list.
Back for the winter season at Dubai Police Academy Park in Umm Sequim, the market’s food retail offering has been expanded, with delicious locally-made artisan produce including bread, meat, milk, olives, labneh, and olive oil to stock up on, as well as the local farmer’s market, showcasing fresh organic, non-organic and hydroponic produce from a handful of the region’s best local farmers. Supporting local businesses from across the Emirates, the market’s central walkway is packed with merchants and makers selling everything from organic skincare, handcrafted leather bags, handmade jewelry, unique fashion, and art, and is a great place to explore the diverse array of crafting talents here in the UAE. With lots of family-friendly activities to enjoy, as well as dozens of food stalls in the Park Cafe, Ripe Market runs every Friday from 9am-7pm, and Saturdays from 10am-7pm. Keep up to date with new additions to the market @ripemarket @AcademyParkbyRipe and ripeme.com
