This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 9, 2015.

4 reasons to stay indoors

IF the hazy skies have not presented enough reason to stay indoors, these latest premieres and movie line-ups may just make you want to stay in this weekend. The rerun of Dharma & Greg (Season 4) starts at 11.30pm tonight on FOXHD (Astro Channel 724) and will be shown every weekday. The half-hour-long comedy series follows the life of Dharma, a hippie San Francisco yoga instructor/dog trainer, and her whirlwind romance with husband Greg, a sensible, Harvard-educated US attorney. Raised by hippie parents, she was taught since childhood to shun convention, trust her instincts and approach everything with unbridled passion for life.

THIS month, FOX Action Movies showcases a horror fest line-up of movies under its Weekend Action Blockbuster banner. Tomorrow night at 11pm, Astro Channel 434 will be showing Disturbia, starring Shia LaBeouf, a mystery horror film partly inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window. The main character turns his attention to spying on his neighbours after being placed under house arrest only to develop a suspicion that one of them is a serial killer. 

OPEN your eyes to the unsolved mysteries of nature with Wild Enigmas on Nat Geo Wild (Astro Channel 550). In the coming episode, the series explores Russia’s frozen curtain, myths of the giant sea serpent and the monkeys of Shangri-La. Catch the show tomorrow at 10.30pm. 

GET the popcorn popping tomorrow, and have friends and family over for a movie night — FOX Movies’ Saturday Blockbuster Premieres presents St Vincent, the story of a struggling single mother who moves to Brooklyn with her 12-year-old son. She is forced to leave him under the care of her neighbour Vincent (played by Bill Murray), who turns out being a mentor to the boy despite his unconventional ways. St Vincent will be showing on Astro Channel 413 and 433 at 10pm.

2 performances to catch

Lipstick: Series 2

THE second installation of the Lipstick Series explores issues like gender equality and sexual abuse through dance and music. Lipstick: Series 2 by Kamini Manikam features Bharathanatyam, and a combination of Carnatic and contemporary music in this production that includes poetic works in various Malaysian languages. Tickets are priced at RM55 and can be purchased via the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) ticketing counter, www.dpac.com.my or at the Tanjai Kamalaa Indira Dance School (9 Jalan Cumarasami, Bt 3½, Jalan Ipoh, 51100 Kuala Lumpur). Show time is 8pm this weekend at H-01, DPAC, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya. To find out more, call (03) 6257 4069, (012) 914 9951 or (012) 606 5570, or visit www.facebook.com/lipstick4humanity.

Allan Perera presents Giggle

GET your weekly dose of comedy at Allan Perera’s latest variety show featuring a musical and sketch comedy. Giggle portrays Malaysian-inspired characters like Rukumani Jones A/P Thomas, YB Wan Bedek Wan Temberang, Saudara Kam Mun Ting and Guitar Joe. PJ Live Arts is at Block F @ Jaya One, 72A Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya. Tickets are priced at RM103.78 and can be purchased at www.tix.my for shows at 8.30pm tonight and tomorrow, and at 3pm and 8.30pm on Sunday. Log on to www.pjlivearts.my, or contact (03) 7960 0439 or (03) 7931 7426 for further details.

1 great Deepavali sale

GET a head start on your Deepavali shopping with handcrafted sarees and jewellery on sale at the Lavanya boutique by the Temple of Fine Arts from today throughout the weekend. While being there, you can also shop for your home. The boutique has a selection of decorations and furniture, as well as artefacts created from clay, wood, stone, metal and fabric. Drop by the Lavanya boutique at the Temple of Fine Arts, 116 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields 50470 Kuala Lumpur between 10am and 9.30pm. Call (03) 2273 1330 or email lavanya.arts.gmail.com for queries. 

1 exhibition to visit

DISCOVER the Egyptian art of tent-making in Khayamiya: Khedival to Contemporary — The Tentmakers of Cairo. Khayamiya uses a hand-appliquéd technique in which fabric pieces are cut, folded and hand-sewn to canvas, creating an ornate traditional tent. Journey through the exhibition to view the transformation of khayamiya from the late Ottoman Empire to the present day between 10am and 6pm. The Islamic Arts Museum is in Jalan Lembah Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, and admission to the exhibition is free. More info at www.iamm.org.my.

1 adrenaline-filled night

WATCH as Malaysia’s best mixed martial arts fighters go up against contenders from around the world at One Championship: Tigers of Asia. Cheer on your favourite as you witness the return of home-grown talents like Peter Davis, Ann Osman, Gianni Subba and more. The championship starts at 7pm at the Putra Indoor Stadium, Lebuhraya Bukit Jalil, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Tickets are priced between RM63.50 and RM623.20, and can be purchased at www.redtix.airasia.com. Log on to www.onefc.com for more information.

3 places to celebrate Oktoberfest

Genting Club

EAT, drink and be merry at Resorts World Genting’s Oktoberfest celebrations at Genting Club tomorrow. Enjoy German dishes, beer and music at RM180 (for two persons), a package which includes five beer vouchers, and a snack platter with pork bratwurst sausage, Vienna sausage, smoked pork sausage and cured meat with rub tomato. Club members are entitled to a 20% discount, while guests can stay at Resort Hotel for RM150 per room. Getting Club is situated in Genting Hotel, Resorts World Genting, Pahang. Visit www.rwgenting.com or contact (03) 6105 9009 for more information.

Brotzeit

CRAVING for German food? Brotzeit’s Oktoberfest Platter is bound to satisfy with an array of goodies — the Brotzeit signature knuckle, pork garlic sausages, gypsy belly bacon, lumberjack steaks, pretzels, sauerkraut and potato salad. Enjoy the promotion at Brotzeit outlets in Mid Valley Megamall, Bangsar Shopping Centre and Sunway Pyramid. More details at www.facebook.com/brotzeit1516.

Gastro Sentral

TAKE up the Ultimate Oktoberfest Challenge at Gastro Sentral, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, by finishing three types of sausages, three side dishes, three pretzels and three pints of Erdinger Beerall within 30 minutes. Complete the challenge and the meal is yours for free! Fail to complete the challenge and you will be fined RM200 nett per portion. If you think you have what it takes, drop by Gastro Sentral on the lobby level of Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, 2 Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Visit www.dining.lemeridienkualalumpur.com/GastroSentralOffers or call (03) 2263 7888 for more details.