It’s a big…
I know we say this a lot, and we honestly think it’s always true, but it feels especially true to say it this week – it’s going to be a big weekend for Abu Dhabi. One could argue that Super Weekend was full of pop culture heroes and dueling engines. It’s also our Abu Dhabi 2023 Annual Awards Ceremony tonight.
Friday March 3
this is the method
Season 3 Episode 1 star wars spin off mandalorian Now available to stream on Disney+. The show introduced us to Pedro Pascal’s helmet dad avatar, The Child AKA Baby Yoda AKA Grogu, and launched a thousand chic nuggie-based memes.It’s a samurai-style space western set five years after the events return of the jedi, and wove a yarn of a warrior’s creed on the brink of extinction, imbued with themes of friendship and the price of honor. The third series promises to take us deeper into Roaring sarlacc pits, a significantly larger Mandalorian G-Unit entourage, more Darksaber wielding and Grogu smuggling scams, the appearance of famous Jedi Masters, and (finally) the prospect of ) for a good old field trip to the fabled land of Mandalorian. Dear friends, this is…
Episode 1, Series Three The Mandalorian is now available to stream Disney+. The service is available via an app on your smart device for only Dhs29.99 per month.
no paddle
Padel went from “what’s that? Oh, you mean tennis”, to the invisible ephemeral for someone who plays cricket every weekend. It has caught on, chat GPT for racquet sports, it’s as much as Maltesers, healthier for you, and now thanks to one of the capital’s biggest padel authorized names, Just Padel – five new padel courts are open and available Amazing prices at the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. The courts are all open air and rentals start at Dh220 for 45 minutes.
Marina Mall, from Dhs220, justpadel.ae
hand in hand
As part of the grand opening celebrations for chic new Euro-smash ristorante Amano – the owners are pouring a beautiful ‘crazy’ Happy hour offers, daily from 5pm to 7pm. Valid until March 5, restaurant diners can enjoy free flow of beer and wine. No, it’s *completely free* excitement gestures in Italian. Not in that “it’s free now, but at some point you’ll get a call” kind of way in that mafia movie. Amano, on the verdant shores of the eastern mangroves of Al Kheeran, is now open and openly inviting la good life.
Amano, Al Kheeran, Eastern Mangrove, noon to 11pm daily. Tel: (055) 128 8635, @amano_easternmangroves
Saturday, March 4
super excited
The long-awaited arrival of Ultra Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi on 4-5 March has now confirmed the line-up for the exciting first phase of the event. What a stage it is… The top names in Ultra Abu Dhabi 2023 are – Calvin Harris, Skrillex, Armen Van Buren, Sasha and Digweed, Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Illenium, Kshmr and Nghtmre. A Phase 2 announcement is expected soon.So make sure you turn on notifications what is on. Tickets for the inaugural Abu Dhabi event of the world’s premier electronic music festival are priced at AED 315, early bird single-day regular tickets (still available). Regular general admission will be AED 450 per day once the limited early bird tickets are sold out. Those looking for two-day tickets can snag them at the early bird window for Dhs420 for Normal Access or Dhs595 for Premium Normal Access. Thereafter, regular access costs AED 600 and premium ordinary access costs AED 850.pass now Platinum List.net
Ultra Abu Dhabi, Etihad Park, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 4-5 March 2023, from Dhs315. ultraabudhabi.com, Platinum List.net
Free (plant-based) nugs
Impossible Foods, patron of the flavor packs, plant-based meat alternatives, is about to launch a brand new product that, dear friends, is definitely a game-changer. A guilt-free, cruelty-free, and completely vegan way to let Chick Life choose you — nuggets-free. And there’s a way to try them out for free this weekend. Veggie burger joint Nabati is offering 20 free portions to the first 20 dine-in burger orders each day on Saturday and Sunday.
Al Reef Downtown Mall, noon to 10pm. @wearenabati x @impossible_foods
market on the calendar
The Al Ain Oasis Saturday Market is coming to a close for this year’s season – with the final week’s session scheduled for March 25th. Live performances; arts and crafts; top-tier cookies to feast on at Cookie Break; cosmetics from Saante’ and My Korean Product; and exotic trinkets from R&A Handicraft.
Al Ain Oasis, Dhs10 for children and Dhs20 for adults, 3pm to midnight on Saturdays.
Red Bull Gives You Wings (Mirror)
The Red Bull Car Park Drift Series is about to kick off its 15th season this weekend with the starting line being Corbiche in Abu Dhabi, this Saturday 4th March. Through the haze of smoking tires, near-miss car scams, following the rules of physics to absolute melting point – the professional drivers of the Red Bull Parking Drift entourage will be on a specially constructed track in the National Tower, among thousands A showdown in front of the refueling car fans.
Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi Corniche, opens at 2pm on Saturday, March 4. Red Bull Network
Enter the world of comics
version 11 Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC) Confirmed for March 2023, this will be its second time in Abu Dhabi. Celebrating all things pop culture, Comic Con continued its quest last year, moving from its former home at the Dubai World Trade Center exhibition halls to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). ADNEC will host The Capital Sequel from March 3rd to March 5th, 2023. Comic Con is a festival dedicated to the spiritual geeks in all of us – offering fans the opportunity to participate in A-lister meet & greets from entertainment icons, theaters, workshops, manga & anime art galleries, esports exhibits, and even characters Play parade. This year’s talent includes Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), a pair of Stranger Things stars – David “Dancing with the Penguins” Harbor and Jamie Campbell Bower aka Lord Vickner, Doctor Who (Matt Smith), Andy Serkis and C3PO (Anthony Daniels).
ADNEC, event tickets now through mefcc.com Website, the price of a one-day pass is Dhs135, and the price of a three-day pass is Dhs299.
Sunday, March 5
Dive Theater
The crooning crustacean, the crab Sebastian once famously sang, “It’s better in a wetter place, honey,” considering the undersea expeditions offered by Abu Dhabi Marine Corp. Range of activities, we might actually take that assessment. You can try trips for all ability levels, from snorkeling adventures (from Dhs150) and beginner scuba diving (Dhs350 for ages 10 and up) to more challenging dives and advanced PADI certification diving courses (from Dhs1,500 ). Proof that water sports are “hotter under water” if you will. But if you’re more of an adrenaline rush in rough waves, there’s plenty of similar activities here – SUPping, jet skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding, E-Foil and donut rides, zorb balls and sea rays Lessons, perspective kayaking, wake-surfing and sailing and more.
Abu Dhabi Marina, next to the Emirates Palace, Break Water, Tel: (800) 4386, abudhabimarine.ae
e-sports
Popular Dubai cycling studio Motion recently opened an Abu Dhabi branch on Al Reem Island. Part of the brand’s success is built on the fact that it burns up to 1,000 calories per ride. Intense workouts come in candlelit sessions (sounds glamorous), women-only options and R&B-backed classes, all led by a team of experts focused on keeping you motivated and pushing harder.
Office 461, 4th Floor, Wafra Square Building, Al Reem Island, cycling lessons from Dhs50 (first ride). Tel: (055) 8530 0836, Motion Loop.ae
welcome to the family
Last month, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, announced via Twitter the inauguration of the Abrahamic Family House – a project dedicated to the three major Abrahamic religions. Host large projects for places of worship. And now, this very special beacon of love, tolerance and peace in the cultural district of Saadiyat Island is open to the worshiping and visiting public. You can learn more before visiting, Our Handy Guide.
Jacques Chirac Street, Saadiyat Cultural District, free @abrahamicfh
Image: Supplied