The List - October 28

The List - October 28

He-he-hello,

It seems that Dubai has really bounced back from summer, Ramadan, and the global meltdown. There are so many things happening this week and weekend it’s hard to choose!

This week I’ve got tips on places worth checking out as well as suggestions for what to do if you’re stuck at home.
Enjoy


In Dubai…

Where to eat in Oud Metha: try the ‘back a yard’ chicken at Blue Fields, a new Caribbean restaurant next to Enoc House near Lamcy Plaza Tel. 04 3357377 highly recommended by @wildpeeta

Where to eat in Deira: Bait al Mandi on Muraqabat St. in Deira serves up the delicious Yemeni dish mandi with perfectly piquant salsa. I prefer the chicken mandi, smother it with yogurt and salsa and wash it down with a “bebsi” (if they had Coke it would be the perfect meal) 04-2629139

What to read- local: The fabulous Louise Foster took over the helm of Harper’s Bazaar Dubai, sister publication to a well-known American fashion magazine that was first published in 1867, just a few months ago and added a noticeable new energy to the publication. The Beyoncé Cover in October was gorgeous. Keep your eyes open for yours truly in an upcoming issue.

What to read- local: Rex men’s online magazine is handsome, witty, charming, almost perfect… The Rex boys have a good eye for style and a great sense of humor. Now all they need is a clever advice column

What to mall- Dubai Mall: Candylicious 10,000 square feet of every color, flavor, and texture of crack- ahem, I mean sugar- you could ever dream of. Don’t miss Pixie Stix and Peanutbutter M&Ms

What to weekend: Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi of course…

if that’s not your thing… what to weekend: Dubai Fashion Week Grande Finale at the Intercon Festival City on Thursday night.

and if that’s not your thing…what to weekend: it’s Halloween on Saturday. Find a party and think of something clever for your costume. ***Please note- clever does not mean dressing up like a whore*** Be creative. I always like pop cultural references- get a wig and do Kim Gosselin, buy a bunch 8 baby dolls and be OctoMom, or grow a beard and dig up a nice windbreaker and be Ahmadinejad

or do all of the above, as I am sure many of you will!

Get your groove on: check out the new Wednesday House night at Sho Chos. The weather is amazing these days so book an early table for dinner and stay for the evening.

What to culture: The Scene Club is screening “Iran: The Hundred Year War on Thursday the 29th. The Scene Club' is the UAE's first official film club and showcases a non-commercial feature film every month followed by a post-event Q&A session with the director, audience, and media. All for FREE.99 peeps!

And around the globe…

Who to follow on Twitter: urlesque combs the web searching for the funniest web videos & photos, cool websites, and internet trends and brings them all to you on your Twitter page.

WTF?: Handerpants- underpants for your hands…. Apparently there are “ hundreds of uses”: Girly Stuff, Social Networking, Construction, Texting, on your motorcycle!, the elderly, Night Blogging (FYI- I am not a "night blogger")

Take a laughternoon break: CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR PARENTS JUST JOINED FACEBOOK. YOUR LIFE IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

What to read: Going Rogue- An American Life by Sarah Palin.

PSYCHE!! Please don’t. Even 432 pages is too much for a good party trick.

Actually you should read: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak because the book is 10 brilliant sentences and the new movie based on the book is not worth the $9 ticket. And then read In the Night Kitchen, also by Sendak, which is one of my all time favorites.

How to save the Earth: Stop idling. Ok, ok, it’s tempting in the summer in Dubai to leave your car running when you run into the pharmacy, but every moment you spend idling your car's engine means time spent needlessly wasting gasoline, as well as rougher wear on your vehicle.

What to do if you break your foot and have trouble getting around: learn to do something on Youtube. Youtube is a treasure trove of information; you can learn how to do anything on there! Some of my favorites are: super sexy smoky eyes from Makeup Geek TV, Special Forces Combatives- Knife Fighting How To’s, and How to Make Risotto

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The List- October 22

The List- October 22

He-he-hello,
I’m back in action Dubai darlings, although somewhat hindered by a fractured 5th metatarsal. Fear not, I am still managing to crutch my way around Dubai, uncovering the best of the best to share with all of you.

Just in time for the weekend, here’s my weekly list of ‘what to, where to, and how to”:

(apologies for the font issues, I've been fighting with blogger all day and can't work it out)

In Dubai…

Where to eat- Souk Al Bahar: Rivington Grill- in Souk al Bahar. The entrées are delicious, but I say skip em’! and head straight for the toffee pudding and banoffee pie. You will not regret it.

What to mall-Dubai Mall: Spend a day or two, or three exploring all the mall has to offer. Harper’s Bazaar’s Fortnight of Fashion – on til the 23rd- has highlighted some fab designers, like my personal shoe fave Luciano Padovan. And there was even a Kenzo event… who knew Kenzo had made it out of the 80s!

Where to spa (men): consistent feedback from "Lulu’s Dudes" says that Feet First at Ibn Battuta is a sure bet for a great massage. It may not be as fancy as 1847, but if you are a “knotty” boy the masseurs can really work the stress of Dubai out of your back and shoulders.

What to culture: Kutub is a literary circle that reads works by Middle Eastern authors published in both Arabic and English. Held the first Monday of every month at The Third Line gallery in Al Quoz, it’s a great way to expand your reading list and check out The Third Line's latest contemporary art collections.

Get your groove on: try something new and get on the Brunch Cruise by Bateaux Dubai. Cruise the Creek and enjoy DJ Sticky Fingers spinning latin rhythms, soul grooves and laid back reggae.

What to do on Saturday October 24: Stock up on books. Get out early for the annual Warehouse Sale at Magrudy's (starts at 7am) and then head over to Ibn Battuta Mall (near Géant) and dig into the House of Prose: 2nd Annual Book Sale from 10 am -2pm all the books are only 5AED each 043685526

Random act of kindness: the next time you see a family taking turns being the photographer of their group (or couple) stop and offer to be the photographer. You’d want the same from someone next time you find yourself standing in front of a giant fountain or an elephant clock.


And around the globe…

Who to follow on Twitter: God- A. because he’s was clever enough to get that Twitter name. B. because he's a Pixies fan, and C. because his bio reads “Hells yeah, it's me!”


WTF? Cat massage… "the front of your cat is a veritable treasure chest of fun.” ???? Via Warming Glow blog.

Take a laughternoon break: Naked Street Running “One man. So much to prove.”

What to read: If you have a daughter, or plan to have a daughter, or a much younger sister; or teach school you should read this book. Queen Bees & Wannabes explains how girls’ experiences before adolescence impact their teen years, future relationships, and overall success in life. Fascinating

What to podcast: iTunes U has 200,000 educational audio and video files from top universities, museums and public media organizations from around the world. No tution, endless topics. I particularly enjoyed the History and Theology of the Puritans series from RTS, they really did get a bad rap…

And speaking of rap…

“if you don’t know, now you know n***a”: Know your history kids. Hip-hop lost one of its most influential figures this month- Mr. Magic. He brought rap to mainstream radio in the 1980s helped pave the way for the breakout of hip-hop culture.

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bad, bad Lulu

bad, bad Lulu

He-he-hello,
Yikes! Has it really been 2 months?
Ramadan+a month's vacation+jetlag+a last minute/whirlwind trip to DC from Dubai do not make for favorable blogging conditions. But rest assured fair readers and followers, I'm back in action in Dubai scouting out the coolest of the cool.
I'll be sharing a new list with you Tuesday, chock full o' fab tips on 'what to', 'how to', and 'where to' in Dubai and around the globe.
Your's truly,
Lulu

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The List - August 13

The List - August 13

He-he-hello,

It's the dead of summer, but why are we still so busy? Time to slow down, take stock, and get ready for Q4, for school, for Ramadan...whatever it is that is bearing down on us as we slide into mid-August.

Just in time for the weekend, here’s my weekly list of ‘what to, where to, and how to”.

Enjoy!


in Dubai...


Where to eat in Al Barsha: Check out Bay Leaf for delicious Indian food in Al Barsha. Great prices, delicious food, and very pleasant atmosphere. The best mango lassi I have ever had. Word to the wise, if you like spicy and you are a fair skinned redhead like yours truly, you will have to insist pretty adamantly that they make it spicy or they will give you some weak-a$s white girl stuff. Located behind Lulu Hypermarket in the Baron Hotel bldg 043235265

Where to eat on SZR: Bento-ya is a great little sushi place tucked away at the back of the Sketchers building on the east side of SZR. Don’t go there for the décor, but the sushi is fresh and friendly.

What to mall – MOE: Scoop up what’s left of the summer sales before everyone else gets back in town. Or as my lovely friend @IvanaSaveska put it, get in a good workout by visiting all three floors at Harvey Nics.

What to mall- Burjuman: Ditto on the sales here. There are some great stores in Burjuman that you don’t find in all the other malls like Saks Fifth Avenue, Max Mara, and Ace Hardware. But the best part is that there is a Mrs. Field’s Cookie shop in the mall. The perfect “post workout” treat.

What to do this weekend: Clean out your closets. Of course to make room for anything you bought as a result of the aforementioned, but more importantly there is a clothing drive in Dubai run by Liberties Textiles. Clothing banks can be found in several neighborhoods in Dubai (thanks to @mzaher for bringing this to our attention)

Get your groove on: House legends Sasha and John Digweed spinning together at Skanktuary on Friday night.

How to answer -“Do you want anything from the U.S.?”: “How much space do you have in your suitcase? Just kidding… there will have to be another list as the possibilities are endless, but you can’t go wrong with candy like Hot Tamales, Peanut Butter M&Ms, & Sourpatch Kids; Blax snag-free hair ties; Rooster Sauce-the best condiment in the world!

and around the globe…

Who to follow on Twitter: Chunneltv “content discovery tool for the creative, the cultured, and the curious.” now this is what Twitter is all about! 100s of personally selected minions combing the web for interesting things and bringing all to your Twitterfeed. Another great suggestion from my good friend @OmarAlfi

WTF?: Really, there are no words to describe this other than I believe that there is a conspiracy in the fitness industry to humiliate women.

What to read: Another critically acclaimed graphic novel, that uses comics to make the unthinkable familiar. Persepolis is timeless memoir of a young girl's life under the Islamic Revolution. Don’t wait to read this book.

Take a laughternoon break: My cohort @samirkilachand sent me this site- aptly titled Don’t Even Reply: E-mails from an A-hole. It is quite irreverent, so if you like that kind of humor, you’ll enjoy this.

How to save the Earth: This is a great one from Chunneltv. You don’t need to speak Portuguese to understand that faça xixi no bahno means “pee in the shower” & save thousands of gallons of water.

What to plan for: A Freight Escape - Hopping a freighter to travel the world isn’t just the stuff of fiction. If you’re a true adventurer you can go around the world on a massive cargo vessel for as little as $90 a day.

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The List- August 6

The List- August 6

He-he-hello,
Summer is flying by, can’t believe we’re a week into August already.
Here is my weekly installment of ‘what to, where to, and how to’. Maybe you’ll find some fresh ideas for how to spend a few days of what's left of summer.
Xoxo,
Lulu

in Dubai...

Where to eat in Karama: Arz Lebanon- good Lebanese food, yummy hummus Beiruiti and don’t miss the spicy khashkhash kebabs. You don’t have to drive all the way to Karama for this place as there are a few locations around Dubai, but you never know when you may be hungry after shopping at Burjuman or buying pashminas and ‘copy watches’ in Karama. Trade Centre Road 04 3964466

Where to eat in Souk Al Bahar: looking for good sushi ? Mix it up and try a place with more than two syllables. Momotaro in Souk Al Bahar is delicious. Don’t miss the fresh sashimi, my favorite the Arctic Roll, and the special green tea served in the coolest little tea pots.

Tired of going out for dinner and spending too much?: eat better at home

What to culture: Dubai Museum if you haven’t visited yet, it’s really worth the trip down to Bur Dubai, yes even in the August weather. What else are you going to do with all your unpaid leave?

What to mall - Dubai Mall: My friend from Hershey Pennsylvania, the chocolate capital of America, pointed out that there are scores of chocolate stores in Dubai Mall. It’s quiet and hot in Dubai right now, go enjoy the AC and go on a Chocolate Safari in Dubai Mall. Let me know what you discover. I’m still a Fuala fan myself…

What to mall- Dragon Mart: with a shortage of real street food variety in Dubai, Dragon Mart offers plenty of interesting choices within 1.5km air conditioned corridor. Don’t miss the saj, the crisp green mango, and soft-serve ice cream. Don’t miss the newly expanded J Section for a great selection of home furnishings.

What to do this weekend: find a house party to crash. There are always parties on L Frond…

Get your groove on (next weekend): get your dancing shoes ready, Sasha and Digweed will be at Skanktuary on August 14th . I know, I know, I hate that place too, but I had the funnest night there with @freespiritsarah as we were serenaded on two separate occasions, and one time it was by an peculiar grey-haired man who was no more than 4ft tall.

Where to spa: Amara Spa at the Park Hyatt is my absolute favorite spa in town. Cross the creek and feel like you’ve gone on a mini-vacation for the day. Check out the summer specials valid until the end of the month.

How to answer -“Do you want anything from Turkey?”: “Evet! Please bring me some fresh Turkish Delight (not the pre-packaged stuff); an ornamental backgammon set (lovely, hand-made from wood and embedded mother-of-pearl); and a cute little Nazar Boncugu (evil eye bead) to keep dem haterz away.”

*new* Random act of kindness: Take 5 AED, buy a big bottle of COLD water and some fruit juice, then give it to the poor guy who has to sit/stand around and “guard” your parking lot all day. They are all over Dubai sweating through the summer

and around the globe...

Who to follow on Twitter: ManagementTip- quick, practical management tips and ideas from HarvardBusiness.org. No one is a natural manager; these tweets will either reinforce that about your current manager, or make you a better one.

WTF?: California Cryobank has added a celebrity look-a-like feature to its donor search function. “CCB Donor Look-a-Likes link directly to photos of the 2-3 celebrities our staff has deemed each donor most closely resembles.” Choose a sperm donor who looks like Ronaldo, John Abraham, JT, or William H Macy- really, you’d choose that for your child? Sorry Felicity, I’m sure he’s a lovely man, talented actor, but not such a looker…

Take a laughternoon break: Thank you @AymanDXB for this hilarious laughternoon break. Egyptian paparazzo in Hollywood Yehya at Night of 100 Stars "boke me, boke me" hahaha

What to read: Watchmen- my dear friend Dhani gave this to me for my birthday last year. It took me a while to get into it, the whole graphic novel thing was new to me, but I have new found respect for the form and I recommend the book. Take time to appreciate the intricacies of the illustrations.

What to podcast: make good use of your commute, listen to enlightening podcasts instead of Lady Gaga and Akon. Our Ocean World is a daily podcast that features news and information about issues related to the ocean, as well as suggestions on how listeners can help preserve our most vital natural resource.

What to plan ahead for: Aren’t you bored of going to London every summer and hanging out at Harrods??? do something meaningful with your holiday next year. Check out Roadmonkey adventure philanthropy expeditions

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The List - July 30

The List - July 30

He-he-hello,

Dubai is really starting to feel empty these days, but there is still plenty of fun to be had.

Watch the weather, there have been some mild evenings in the past week and I even managed to take a long walk one night and solve all the world’s problems, it was lush.

Here’s my take on “what to, where to, and how to” this week:

Dubai…

Where to eat in Satwa: Il Rustico's pizza is some of the best I’ve had in Dubai. Located in the Rydges Plaza Hotel at the big roundabout on Diyafa Street

Where to eat in Al Barsha: This neighborhood is hard to navigate, but there are some hidden dining gems in the tangled streets. My friend PC, who has impeccable food taste, highly recommends Kabab Roll. I coundn’t begin to describe how to actually get there, but if you stumble upon it, give it a try.

What to buffet: Chocolate Buffet in the Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La Hotel for 75AED Wed, Thurs, Fri from 6-11pm.

What to culture: The Scene Club is the UAE's first official film club and provides a monthly platform to enjoy independent films. Every month they showcase a non-commercial feature film from around the world and also fly-in their directors to Dubai for their film screening followed by a post-event Q&A session with the audience and media. It's free and includes popcorn and soft drinks.

What to mall – Oasis Center: Remember the mall that “accidentally” burned down in 2005 and was rebuilt along SZR? It’s worth a visit to check out Gourmet Station. This hidden gem for gourmet food lovers offers a wide range of select gourmet products you normally can’t find In Dubai markets; from foie gras and caviar, to marmalades and infused olive oils.

What to get your hands on: there are copies of Bruno floating around Dubai.

Get your groove on: Don’t miss Roni Size at Alpha Club on tonight!!! I’ll be there in my checkered Vans dancin’ my little heart out.

Get your rub on: Yin Yang Massage Center (043444211) in Beach Center on Jumeirah Beach Road (near the zoo) has the some of the best massage prices in town- you can get two full hours for 300AED. Follow it up with dinner downstairs at Sammach. Perfection

Check it out dudes: I’m excited about the potential of this new online men’s mag for the Middle East.

How to answer -“Do you want anything from Oman?”: "Na’am, RC Cola and some frankincense." RC Cola is oddly widely available in Oman. It goes really well with pizza, mmmm.

and around the globe...

Who to follow on Twitter: Lifehacker “Don't live to geek; geek to live.” As a ‘maven’ and a Virgo I’m all about increasing efficiency in one’s life. Lifehacker has a constant stream of good ideas

Great things you find on Twitter: for my muhajaba friends

WTF?: The CEO called it Big Willie? where’s his PR girl? Don’t let him near our phallic icons

Take a laughternoon break: American fast food chains come up with some pretty funny ads. I loved the Burger King paparazzi ads with Brooke Burke- brilliant! This new one from Hardees is hilarious.

What to read: The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal Ben Mezrich's new book about the founders of Facebook. You spend half the day on the site, might as well read this sensational book about its genesis.

What to podcast: This I Believe podcasts feature a different person reading an essay they have written about their most deeply held beliefs. Since its debut in 2005, the This I Believe series has featured essays by Colin Powell, Bill Gates, Gloria Steinem, Muhammad Ali, and many everyday citizens. One of my favorites was this one about the power of literacy; something we who can read this blog probably take for granted.

Weekend jam: just for fun Gettin' Jiggy With It na na na na na na na nana na na na na na....

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The List- July 22

The List- July 22

He-he-hello peeps,

Another hot weekend is upon us and as the life slowly drains from Dubai your pal Lulu is here to give you some freah ideas for going out or staying in.

in Dubai

Where to eat in Jumeirah 1: Istanbul Flowers next to Safestway (with the giant lobster) is a great spot. Don’t miss the Ïskender kebab and the yummy banana juice

Where to eat in Souk Al Bahar: Mirai joins the ranks of the duo-syllabic Japanese fusion Dubai hotspots. No black cod on the menu, Mirai actually has something different to offer. Head over to Hive after for some great music and a cool crowd.

What to do for a chill weekend: Potluck Brunch - invite the most interesting people you can think of and everyone brings a dish and a bottle of something (great suggestion Ayman)

What to culture: check out the new Islamic art exhibition at Emirates Palace.

Puff-puff-pass: with a cool breeze coming off the Gulf you can honestly still enjoy outside shisha these days. Koubba Bar at Al Qasr is a gorgeous place to smoke some shisha and enjoy the sea breezes.

Get your groove on (next weekend): Legendary drum&bass DJ Roni Size will be spinning at Alpha Club July 30th. I saw him at iBO years ago-one of the best shows EVER.

How to answer -“Do you want anything from Scotland?”: tablet candy or a wee Jimmy *note to AnnaLouise- this is a hat, not what you are giggling about

What to get excited about now: The Dubai World Championship. Golf? Normally I’d say *yawn* but one of finest courses in golf-dom will open soon at Jumeirah Golf Estates, get your J. Lindeberg outfits ready

… and around the globe

What to salad: I know, random; but summer is all about cool crisp salads. From The Minimalist: Mix wedges of tomatoes and peaches, add slivers of red onion, a few red-pepper flakes and chopped cilantro. Dress with olive oil and lime or lemon juice. Astonishing.

What to read: Creation by Gore Vidal Recommended by @OmarAlfi A historical novel chronicling the adventures of an imaginary "Cyrus Spitama", an Achaemenid Persian diplomat of the 5th century BC who travels the known world comparing the political and religious beliefs of various nation states of the time. Along the way he meets influential philosophical figures of his time, including Zoroaster, Socrates, the Buddha, Mahavira, Lao Tsu, and Confucius.

What to read – if you’ve already read that: there are some great book lists circulation on Facebook right now look for "15 books that will stick with me"

Weekend anthem: 'Insatiable' by Prince… put together a nice makeout playlist with this Prince classic as your anchor.

What to podcast: I usually advocate podcasts for your commute, but I have so many friends with insomnia I think everyone should have this one handy.

WTF?: speaking of insomnia..."D’you ever lie in bed at night in your lacy, beribboned bustier and bemoan the fact that you just can’t get those cans comfy?” (beaut.ie) hahahahaha

Take a laughternoon break: I just replaced another iPod. It killed me to have to do that again, but I was dying without one. Just caught this Simpsons classic the other day that summed up my exact sentiments about Apple.

Who to follow on Twitter - for political science nerds: Arabist- a blog from Cairo about Arab politics and culture. Interesting insights

*How to Twitter: for those of you who want to try, start here

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