You may not have asked for it, but we went ahead and did it anyway — picked the events we would go to ourselves, so we can recommend them to you. And this week there is plenty to choose from — from a facial massage with singing bowls to a city route filled with giant LEGO figures (yes, you heard that right). And a lot of art, of course!

Where? Bait Maryam, Cluster D — Jumeirah Lake Towers

Bait Maryam in JLT has reopened its doors after a makeover, and it is once again ready to welcome guests. If you still haven’t been — run, because this is one of those rare places where you instantly feel at home.

Named after chef Salam Dakkak’s mother, Bait Maryam is steeped in family tradition. The menu is a love letter to the Levant: think fluffy manakeesh straight from the oven, vibrant salads bursting with herbs, slow-cooked stews, and desserts that taste like childhood. Each dish carries memory, migration, and belonging — served with the kind of genuine hospitality that regulars know and love.

It is no surprise the restaurant has been recognised by the Michelin Guide, which praised both its soulful food and Salam Dakkak’s heartfelt approach.

By the way, every detail in the restaurant tells a story — whether it is the food, the interior, or the people. We spoke with chef Salam Dakkak and her daughter, Nada Darraj, about what makes this place so special — read the full interview here.

Where? FaceRoom, The Residences at Marina — Gate 2 Marina Promenade

Believe us: if you want to feel truly human again, you need to try the facial massage. And FaceRoom is introducing something even better — a one-of-a-kind facial massage that combines sculpting techniques with the soothing vibrations of singing bowls.

So what does that feel like? Imagine lifted, glowing skin and a deep reset for your mind. Singing bowls have been used across Asia for centuries in meditation and healing — their gentle sound waves ease stress, calm the nervous system, and, when paired with facial massage, leave you refreshed inside and out.

Note: sessions every Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM (Dubai)

Where? Lawrie Shabibi, Al Quoz 1, Al Serkal Avenue — 21

Lawrie Shabibi presents New Western Views, the first solo exhibition in the region by Swiss–Egyptian artist Marwan Bassiouni. The show offers an early look at his ongoing international project, featuring photographs made between 2018 and 2022 inside mosques across the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK.

Each work is composed around a window — a rare feature in many mosques — opening onto the outside world. Through these frames, everyday Western landscapes come into view: supermarkets, apartment blocks, highways, sports fields. Yet what makes them striking is the context: patterned tiles, carpets, wooden minbars, and other details shaped by the diverse communities who adapted ordinary suburban spaces into places of worship.

By pairing Western exteriors with Islamic interiors, Bassiouni turns the tradition of Orientalist imagery on its head. Instead of casting the Muslim world as distant or exotic, he situates Islam within the fabric of contemporary Europe. These photographs are not about spectacle or critique, but about presence — the simple, resonant act of looking out.

In doing so, New Western Views opens a space to rethink both landscape photography and the politics of representation. It asks who gets to define how a place looks, and how diasporic identities can be expressed not through performance, but through the quiet architecture of daily life.

Where? Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue — Warehouse 68 17th St — Al Quoz — Al Quoz Industrial Area 1

Blackbird is landing at Cinema Akil — three days of films handpicked by Shannon Ayers Holden, in partnership with Alserkal Avenue and Dubai’s one-and-only indie cinema. The festival explores Black memory, voice, and legacy through the cinema.

Revolutionary icons, powerful coming-of-age stories, and reflections from across the diaspora — films that stretch across time, place, and memory. And it doesn’t stop when the credits roll: each screening opens into conversations with special guests and thought partners, sparking dialogue that connects generations and communities.

The programme opens with Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992), Denzel Washington’s iconic portrayal of the civil rights leader on what would have been his 100th year. It continues with Akeelah and the Bee (2006), a feel-good story of a gifted girl chasing her dream with the support of her community, and concludes with Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s Memories of Love Returned (2024), an award-winning documentary on memory, legacy, and a promise fulfilled in Uganda.

See schedule & tickets here

Where? Azul Lounge, Cinemacity Fountain Views, Fountain Views BLVD, Downtown Dubai

Cinemacity’s Azul Lounge is rewriting the script on drink culture with a brand-new menu of ten playful, movie-inspired creations that blur the line between childhood nostalgia and grown-up sophistication. Soda-fountain twists, candy classics, and all the rituals of a perfect movie night are remixed into imaginative serves.

Remember stepping into the cinema in the 90s or early 2000s? The smell of popcorn, the fizz of soda, the sugar rush of candy. Azul brings all that back — only this time it is in your glass.

Dubai has turned into a city of play. As part of LEGO’s global Never Stop Playing initiative, larger-than-life installations have popped up across town — swings, seesaws, cranes, and playful creatures, all reminding us that play isn’t just for kids. Running until September 30, the project invites everyone to pause, smile, and rediscover the joy of simple moments.

Here is where to find them — save this list:

Dubai Design District (d3) — Giant LEGO seesaws, hopscotch, and a claw crane

Dubai Frame — A giant LEGO swing with a skyline view

Al Barsha Pond Park — Oversized LEGO pigeon & turtle

Blossoms Park, Nad Al Sheba — LEGO heart & hummingbird

Al Khawaneej Pond Park — LEGO cactus

Jumeirah Beach 3 — LEGO skateboard

Jumeirah Beach 2 — LEGO lifeguard tower & beach build

Umm Suqeim Beach — Giant LEGO bucket & spade

Don’t even think about breaking this rule.