The Latest Happenings Around Town

New York-themed restaurant Tribeca, in JBR, is kicking off the new year with free comedy nights.

The list

Get a little Looney
Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi will be hosting live performances by wacky Looney Tunes characters for a week starting January 3. So, if your kids love Bugs Bunny, Daffy duck and Taz, you know where you'll want to take them! There will also be interactive programmes including workshops, arts and crafts and a variety of other engaging activities. The show, hosted under the name 'What stole my chicken?' will run at 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm, and kids can enjoy the workshop from 12pm onwards. More information can be found at www.yasmall.ae 

Laugh your head off
New York-themed restaurant Tribeca, in JBR, is kicking off the new year with free comedy nights. The bi-weekly event is sure to tickle your funny bones with several different acts on the list. Starting on January 11, the opening will see Canadian host Dave Marosi and Dubai Laughing co-founder Ray Addison on MC duties. There's also going to be a line-up of UAE's favourite local comedians such as Simeon Goodson, Omar Kazim, Salman Qureshi, Mohammed Rushdi and Peter Stoddart. The event starts at 8pm and there will be plenty of food and drink deals to enhance the merriment, so be sure to bring along your appetite and your sense of humour! For more information, check out www.facebook.com/TribecaKitchenandBarDubai 
Blogging for Change
Brace yourselves, bloggers! Masdar, Abu Dhabi's Renewable Energy Company, has launched its much-awaited international 'Engage' Blogging contest in anticipation of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2016. The competition invites contestants to pitch in their two cents on how governments and the private sector can collaborate to solve risks posed by climate change. Most importantly, it seeks an answer to the question 'What are the policies governments should adopt to encourage public-private partnerships and enable the private sector to develop goods and services necessary for a global transition to a sustainable economy by 2030'? If you have some interesting points on the topic, write a post on your blog, with a link to Masdar's Engage page or email it to press@masdar.ae by January 4. The winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to Abu Dhabi and be Masdar's guest VIP blogger during the sustainability week.

Shoes for Kids
Clarks, the British footwear brand synonymous with comfort and style, has just opened the world's first-ever Clarks Kids store at the Dubai Mall, with exclusive franchiee, Jashanmal Group. So now, you can pick up all your kids' shoes - from their first shoes to school shoes - from one convenient location. As you're busy picking out the best pairs, your little ones will find plenty to entertain themselves at the fun store, which includes a colouring table and an interactive iPad foot gauge which features animated characters Jack and Daisy who are always waiting to play! Shopping for kids has never been so much fun.

Draw like a Pro
If learning to sketch like a professional is on your list of New Year's resolutions, then you're in luck. Artist Sight is a revolutionary event organised by instructor and classically-trained artist Deborah Mends that aims to teach anyone (yes, even an absolute beginner) how to draw like a trained artist in only ten weeks! The classes will take place for ten consecutive Saturday mornings starting January 16, is open to all over the age of 16 and costs a total of Dh3,500. Participants will learn to work through a series of exercises and drawings over the weeks to engage the way the brain learns to draw and will be able to perfect realistic portraits by week ten. For more information, check out www.howtodrawjourney.com or call Deborah at 02 444 4589.

Fro-Yo Love
Good news for all who love a healthier alternative to the sweet stuff. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, America's fastest growing frozen yoghurt concept, announced that they will be partnering with UAE-headquarted retail company Two Spoons to open four outlets in Dubai by early 2016! With a variety of flavours like brownie batter, pomegranate, birthday cake and salted caramel, and a wealth of different toppings, these are sure to be lip-smacking launches.