Dubai Christmas Festival is fast approaching. From December 6 to 8 visitors to the Media City Amphitheatre can shop, sample festive food, enjoy live music and see Santa Claus. The Christmas tree will be lit at 6pm every day, chefs will be whipping up dishes in the Choithrams Cookery Theatre and children can visit the Winter Wonderland area for arts and craft activities, a bouncy castle and musical show. Tickets can be purchased at www.dubaichristmasfestival.com and cost Dh30 per adult in advance, Dh40 on the door.
Taste of Argentina
From December 4 to 9, visitors to The Market Cafe, Grand Hyatt Dubai, will be able to sample a taste of Argentina thanks to the visiting chef Enrique Palacios's special menu. Palacios is flying in from the Park Hyatt Mendoza and will be cooking Argentinian delicacies including empanadas and entrana. The menu is priced at Dh195 per person, including soft drinks. Call 04 317 2222 or visit www.restaurants.dubai.hyatt.com for more details.
Observation Deck opens
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers has just opened Observation Deck at 300. Located in Tower 2 on level 74, the Observation Deck offers a birds-eye view of the Abu Dhabi skyline, Corniche and the Arabian Gulf and the cafe attached serves mocktails (try its signature Etihad Sparkler), light snacks and speciality teas and coffees in luxury surroundings. For more information call 02 811 5555 or visit www.jumeirah.com.
Make a date for dates
The Emirates International Date Palm Festival starts on Monday and runs until December 1 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The sixth annual celebration of the UAE’s culture and heritage offers something for people of all ages, with the opportunity to plant and climb date trees, a children’s area and a cookery zone, as well as plenty of date tasting and a date palm theatre with live entertainment. For more information about the event visit www.datepalmfestival.net.
Maybury to open in Dubai
The wholesale company Maybury is set to open its first flagship store in Dubai Marina in the next few weeks, with a view to further openings across Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The shop promises to bring something extra to the region, describing itself as a “new concept in fresh, homemade shopping”. As well as the shop area, there will also be an in-house cookery studio and cafe. The store will be open daily from 6am to 11pm and is located next to Dubai Marina metro station.
