Weekend Watch

Instep rounds up this weekend’s hot and happening activities around the country.

Music

Since their birth last year, Salt Arts has given music fans plenty of reasons to celebrate. After curating live shows featuring artists like Sounds of Kolachi, Zoe Viccaji, Sara Haider, Shallum Xavier, Emu and Natasha Humera Ejaz, this dream team is back with a new show.

The sounds of prog-rock unit D/A Method will melt your hearts as they take center-stage in Karachi for the first time. The band, featuring Umair Dar, Talha Alvie, Istvan Csabai and Usama Siddiq, released an all-new concept album, this past December, and the show is a chance for music fans to see this unique band in action. Under a beautiful Karachi skyline, indie sounds will come together as Ali Suhail and his band will also take the stage. Two acts, lots of good music, this is one music event that shouldn’t be missed.

Scheduled to take place at the Alliance Francaise in Karachi (tomorrow night), the show is free and open to all. You can also buy merchandise from the band (at the show) including a copy of their new album, The Great Disillusion.

Comedy

With six stand-up comedians, LOL Waalay is a laugh riot and they’re coming back this Valentine’s Day for a special comedy show. The event is scheduled to take place at the PACC on Saturday, February 13 (tomorrow night) from 8:30-10:00pm.

The host for the evening will be Zuhaib Shaikh while the performer bill includes Aadi Adeal Amjad, Zubair Tariq, Syed Muhammad Kumail, Sannan Wastani and Syed Osama. Passes for the event are available at The MAD School for only PKR 600. If you haven’t gotten hold of your tickets as yet, hurry up and prepare yourselves for a good dose of laughter this valentine’s eve.

Cinema

It’s a big week for cinema as several films across various genres are heading to the big screen this week. Ryan Reynolds makes another attempt to become a superhero after Green Lantern with Deadpool, an anti-hero from the world of Marvel Comics.

Keeping in mind Valentine’s Day is How to be Single, a new rom-com featuring an ensemble cast that includes Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson and Leslie Mann. Set in New York City, the film is similar in ideology to Bridesmaids and hopes to create a similar wave.

You can also catch The Finest Hours, a film that tells the story of daring rescue attempt by the Coast Guard and boasts of an all-star cast that includes Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster and Eric Bana.

Moving closer to home is Bollywood’s big release Fitoor starring Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapoor. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor (of Rock On fame), the film is supposedly a spin on Charles Dickens’ novel, The Great Expectations. Also starring in this love saga is Tabu and Ajay Devgn.

Literature: Lahore Book Bazaar

Liberty Books, one of the country’s leading book stores is hosting a book bazaar in Lahore from the  February 11 to 17 at their Mall of Lahore outlet. Reading enthusiasts are offered a selection of over 2000 books to browse from, priced at PKR 150 only. The bazaar will exhibit books from several different genres ranging from Urdu and English literature to education, food, history and general knowledge among others. The store is open through-out the weekend and entry is free.

Love Struck: Valentine’s Day Offers

Love is almost palpable in the air. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner nearly every retail brand has something special on offer for the romantically inclined. Ensemble Salon in Karachi are offering exciting deals that can be gifted as vouchers to a loved one, starting from the 10th to the 20th of this month with several other salons across the city also offering special pampering deals. High street brand Sapphire has also introduced their Valentine’s Day collection second year running in a row. The collection, titled La Saint Valentin is available exclusively in stores. From the Red Riding Hood Bakery in Karachi to Lahore’s favourite deli, The Delicatessen by Cosa Nostra, sumptuous hampers are also available for purchase.