The second Ashekman posted this photo, I immediately called up Omar to find out more about this extremely massive project.
The idea is to paint the roofs of a several hundred houses and buildings in the Ouzai area of Beirut, next to the airport. It’ll be an awesome kufic style (the same style they designed my tattoo with, which I absolutely adore) word that planes landing in Beirut will get to see, a beautiful welcome to Beirut!
The word is “Salam”, Arabic for “Peace”, and the point is to try and shed the negative war connotations people unfortunately still have about Beirut!
I will be going down to the site on Saturday with Ashekman, and I’ll update you guys with all the details and plenty of photos from there. I smell a Guinness World Record brewing, but the kind that doesn’t involve Tabbouleh or Hummus!
Electric Sundown is exactly what you need on a Friday night, far away from the hectic city life, but still just a short drive away. Electric Sundown happens at Iris Beach Club, and starts just after work hours end at 5:00PM and go late into the night (depending on how long y’all last dancing!)
The venue is awesome, right next to the beach and with an infinity pool over which the stage is built. Get your swimsuits for a dip when you come early, or lounge on one of the sun beds.
They’re opening next Friday May 12, 2017. The lineup is absolutely insane, with Nu, Stavroz and YokoO on the ticket! Nu needs no introduction, but I’m personally super excited about Stavroz after seeing them a couple of times and being blown away! RSVP here
(stay tuned for more opening dates and events for the summer!)
Wondergaap was born when Michel Maouad, Rayan Sayegh, Ryan Fayad and Kevin Abboud discovered their mutual love for music and their admiration of the same musical influences. The result was a Beirut-based Post Pop, Indie Rock band, best described on their own page as “Nourished by the scent of pine trees, fuelled by the sound of crackling firewood and soaked with wonder-filled conversations.”
When I was offered the chance to be the first to release their awesome new music video, I of course said yes, and I’ve embedded it below for all of you to enjoy!
I absolutely loved the artwork of “Soda on the Roof”, and the music video kept true to that “wonder-filled”, daze-like, non-chalant, dreamy attitude. The video follows three young women around the usual beloved Beirut spots, and ends with them, you guessed it, drinking soda! The retro feel of the footage and the gonzo-style, roving camera motions that make you feel you’re part of the story, in the car with them, shopping for mucnhies at the supermarket, going into bars and everything else they do.
Here’s their new music video for Tellit!
Here are the lyrics:
You found a soda on the roof So why don’t you, never you, didn’t you No complaints I had when you said the truth So why don’t you sit down on a chair Rest and find ice
Who told you to go up and search on the roof Ouhh! Such a doof idea It was your choice, No dice not wise So it’s a must to sit down on a chair Rest and find ice
Driving so much onto Trying to rest and find ice Getting so much of you…
If you like what you hear, make sure to follow Wondergaap on their different social networks: Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube and Instagram
Parking in Beirut is an absolute nightmare. Anyone who lives, works or studies in the capital knows the horror of parking in the city. Whether it’s trying to park in gridlocked traffic, the park meters that are far and rarely ever work, the valet mafias that violently occupy any free parking spot, the empty towers that replace most parking lots, the violation of parking lots of the 3000LBP price and charging as much as 5000, 7000 and even 10000LBP… The list goes on and on.
Possible High-Tech Solutions?
There are several folks trying to do something about this. There’s a company called ABSC, that’s importing Korean-made, ferris-wheel like parking structures. I was first made aware of them when I saw one in a parking lot in Zouk Mikael. You park in the empty car compartment, then you select a 4-digit password. To hail your car when you wanna leave, you just punch in the 4-digit password again and your car will be ready to drive away in in 90 seconds.
Another company, SPCL, felt the Korean version of the automated parking structures was too expensive to make economic sense, so they decided to create their own right here in Lebanon.
This is that blue building you might have noticed and wondered what that might be. It’s right next to the Fiat bridge in the Mathaf area, and no, it’s not a training building for security forces, nor a rock-climbing structure. It’s a locally-produced automatic parking structure that the company feels might be the solution for the seemingly impossible parking problem in Beirut.
Here’s a video of how the Lebanese version works
How Much Will This Cost?
It would definitely be a great solution for buildings without enough parking spots, but there are two concerns that came to my mind. The first, how much it’d cost to get and maintain these automated parking structures. Second, how much it’d cost us to park in them. If it’s for a residential building, you won’t have to pay every time you park, obviously. However, if you’re going somewhere public like the bank or a shop, will the price tag be too high? Especially since regular parking lots are charging up to 7000 and 10000 LBP, how much would a high-tech option cost? Or rather, how much will they charge us to park in them with such exorbitant, unchecked current parking rates? And no other option to park in Beirut. And very little viable public transport options…
Not All Gloom and Doom
I think the prices will be an extra burden on our wallets, but, I’m also excited that local companies are taking the initiative and trying to find and create solutions to problems the Lebanese authorities never even bother with (they’re too busy drafting tax hikes to solve issues like urban planning and that boring stuff).
Maybe more entrepreneurs and engineers here should start coming up with solutions the Lebanese government, busy extending for itself and hiking taxes on the lower and dwindling middle class, never even tries to do. Can’t wait to try one of those systems! Will let you know about it when I do.
For us, the post-war generation, it’s just that awesome building that took forever to renovate. Beit Beirut though, is one of the only surviving symbols of Lebanon’s Civil War, a war most Lebanese try to forget and never try to come to terms with.
History
It was built in 1924, and was called “The Barakat House”, designed by Youssef Aftimus. It was a posh residential complex, with 8 spacious apartments for Beirut’s middle class families. Shortly after the Lebanese Civil War started, it became a perch for snipers, especially Christian militias, since its strategic location meant controlling the vital Sodeco junction.
In the 1990s, it was supposed to be demolished. However, brilliant Lebanese heritage activists resisted, and after years of advocating and protests, by groups like “Association pour la Protection des Sites et Anciennes Demeures au Liban” (APSAD), the decision to demolish it was reversed, and instead, its ownership was transferred to the Beirut Municipality.
After partnering up with the French Embassy in Beirut, and the Paris Municipality, the building was renovated and became part of a huge complex that would house a library, a museum and urban cultural center on the former, bloody demarcation line between East and West Beirut. Despite several years delay, Beit Beirut is ready, but the usual political indecisiveness means that it’s still not open to the public except on rare occasions. Until now…
We’ve been hard at work in some of Beirut’s most neglected neighborhoods for the past few months. In mid-April, around the date of the start of the Lebanese Civil War, MARCH will present the culmination of these many months of hard work. I won’t say more now, but it’ll be a chance for the public to come and see this magical, beautifully renovated place, as well see what we’ve been up to in our beloved capital.
Stay tuned for more, and follow me on Instagram for more pics like this!
In these weekly posts, I try to sift through everything happening in Beirut and Lebanon and select the ones I think will be nice. It focuses mostly on nightlife, but there are other cultural, social and political events I include as well.
I love Aya Metwalli’s sound. That’s why I embedded one of her originals from her SoundCloud above. “Muthalath” is the one I love the most, and as she describes her sound on her Facebook page: “Strange sounds juxtaposed, cushioning distressed yowling of a wildcat.”
So, if you’re in the mood for a nice show with the live element merging with an electronic one, it’s just 5000LBP entrance at the intimate Dawawine venue.
This one’s a shout out to all the peeps who read my blog in the DXB. Despite your cheesy #mydubai hashtagged photos, we love you, and you always show us a very good time when we visit the Emirates. The boys at Uberhaus have shipped the iconic dome all the way to Dubai, and installed it on Blue Marlin’s beach. So, on Thursday night, the dome is coming to y’all in the UAE, so take good care of it and have a blast! Oh, and as if the deal wasn’t already sweet enough, Dixon, Ame, Romax, Trikk and Jixo & Dansz are on the night’s ticket!
The team behind Follow The Rino have been steadily churning out quality Techno parties in venues that never disappoint. This Friday, they’re getting M_nus’ Julian Jeweil to Beirut, along with local sweethearts Eli, Jean J, Rolbac and Kapush. They haven’t revealed the location yet, but I am sure they’re going to surprise us with another one of their sick, new locations!
RSVP here to make sure you know the location before Friday!
I love Techno. That’s abundantly clear I guess, but that means that I’m always extra delighted that most of the hot acts in town these days are right up my alley. Vellocet are back this Friday, with Lucy from Stroboscopic Artefacts, Gunther and Jool on the ticket at Minus 5. Wear black and put on comfortable sneakers.
If you’re in the mood to get out of Beirut on Saturday night, but not drive too far away, you might wanna check out Metro Beirut’s party at Rave Cave. It’s a charming, traditional stone-masonry venue nestled up in the mountains a short drive from Beirut. Matthieu Faubourg will be spinning this Saturday night, and best part is, entrance is free!
So, someone’s finally gonna put the penultimate Lebanese myth to the test: can you ski and swim on the same day? That’s the plan this Saturday, with skiing in Laqlouq in the day, then beach at Batroun’s O Glacee in the afternoon! Tickets are for 80$ for skiers (all inclusive) and 50$ for the folks that will just be enjoying the sun on the snow. The organizers of this event have decided they will donate all proceeds to MARCH, so, it’ll all be for a good cause as well!
The guys at C U NXT SAT and ODIN are teaming up on Saturday afternoon for 6 hours next to the slopes, with Jade playing b2b with Ziad Ghosn, and 2Third and Trebien on the lineup as well! So, if you’re on the slopes in Mzaar this weekend, this might be the best apres-ski party you’ll find.
Today is International Women’s Day, and on Saturday, there will be a march from Sassine Square to Kaskas Garden. It’s no longer ok for women to not have full and equal rights in Lebanon, so it’s important we show how many of us feel the same way and aren’t happy about the patriarchal society we were brought up in.
OXIA is in town!!!! You all definitely know “Domino”, and this weekend, Oxia will be with Nicolas Masseyeff at The Grand Factory. To get an idea of what that will be like, here’s a track by both of them…
You probably already saw the documentary above, but if you still haven’t, I suggest you do. There are several things in it that are very important, but maybe not new. Here are some:
Impunity for Druglords
The hash part is definitely not the surprising one for most folks. What is though, is how druglords who openly admit to murdering a lot of people, still roam free, while Lebanese drug enforcement agents lurk around gas stations to follow and entrap young Lebanese folks who buy rolling papers before going to their home and minding their own business.
It reiterates the feeling that most Lebanese have, that the government is only powerful against the helpless and innocent. Against the criminals, it dares not budge a finger, and if by some miracly they do, the political godfathers swoop in and send their private armored cars (paid for by your taxes) to bail them out. As for those kids they pounced on for buying rolling papers? They rot in jail with ISIS members till someone pays somebody off or gets a wasta, or a judge that isn’t from the Dark Ages.
Gross Incompetence by Drug Enforcement Officials
I’ll just put some quotes from drug enforcement chief Chamseddine here to illustrate just how sadistic and misinformed drug enforcement is in Lebanon
“The hashish, is the most dangerous drug for the human being”
Seriously?
“We arrest thousands of people. Hundreds for drugs dealer, but thousand for addicts. Two thousand. Three thousand during the year.”
How shameful is it that 1–3 thousand taxpayers are arrested each year for smoking hash? That’s between 3 and 9 people every single day, who go through the living hell that is Hobeich police precinct, under conditions that can be described as inhumane at best, and medival at worst.
“I can put you in jail for 3 years, if you smoke hashish”
For a victimless crime, when those who boast about killing people that wrong them, roam free in their fancy villas.
“Our ability, it’s not enough to make big ride to there, because most of guy there have maybe weapon, more than police”
It’s enough to catch 3000 people though. That needs a lot of ability and effort and resources, why don’t you spend them on the ones doing actual crimes?
“Nobody can touch him? If I have 100 soldier, I can go and put him like a mouse, ok?”
So, we have less than 100 soldiers in Lebanon? Our soldiers can bounce back ISIS fighters, I’m sure druglords won’t be an issue for them. There must be a different reason they aren’t being caught “like a mouse”, while innocent Lebanese taxpayers get treated worse than a lab mouse…
“We treat addicts and users like sick people”
If that’s true, sick people need care and support, not enhanced interrogation techniques and subhuman detention conditions
“It’s war between the good guy, and the bad guy”
How is the good guy the ones that wait outside of clubs in the morning, then cut off a car full of young people going home sober, and strip-search them on the street and threaten them when they’re clean?
“I cannot expect in some day, the hashish will be legal in Lebanon, ok?”
Luckily, that’s not for the police to decide, and no one is asking for it to be legal, just not a criminal offense. Maybe when it’s no longer treated like a violent crime, they might have enough capability to actually bust the real criminals?
Incalculable Harm to Lebanon’s Youth
Let’s not kid ourselves. A lot of people smoke hash in this country. A lot get busted for it too. The physical and psychological trauma caused by being put through Lebanon’s judiciary is one that is decimating Lebanon’s youth. Even if you don’t spend months and years locked up with murderers and terrorist in an overcrowded prison, the fact you got caught and spent a few nights behind bars is tantamount to social suicide. No one will want to be your friend anymore. No one will trust you. You will forever be “that girl who went to Hobeich” or “that guy who was in Roumieh prison” as Sadek put it in the last part of the documentary.
As if that wasn’t enough, for a non-violent crime with no victims or harm, even just smoking hash, will get you a “black dot” on your criminal record which you cannot appeal to remove for at least 3 years. That’s 3 year you’ll probably not be able to land a job, go to grad school, get a residency permit abroad, vote, run for elections and pretty much everything else that needs a “background check” (sejjel 3adle). For what? Smoking hash? For real? When serial killers and genocide architects hold elected and appointed office? For shame.
It’s Time To Speak Up
The taboo around this subject is the main obstacle it has. Most people are with decriminalizing, if not legalizing. It’s 2017. We cannot let 3000 lives be ruined every year so that some folks can make money off bribes by taking advantage of the helpless, while turning a blind eye to the real criminals and actually dangerous hard drugs.
Politicians sometimes say they support legalization, and even though that’s just talk to pander to their disgruntled base, they wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t almost at its tipping point. The elections are around the corner, and many of you will be voting (I hope) and some of you will be campaigning and a few of you will be running. It’s time to make decriminalizing hash one of your priorities. If you don’t smoke hash, someone you love surely does, and trust me, you don’t want them getting arrested for that. Khallas, it’s enough. Till then though, be careful and inform yourself. Check out Skoun’s Know Your Rights guide so that the next time someone tries to set a trap for you thinking you’re a “mouse”, you’ll be a smart mouse that knows its rights and how to demand they be respected.
So, you guys love these series, and I love doing them. I love doing them because it makes the week pass by quicker, when I look through all the event invites and try to plan accordingly.
I love Donner Sang Compter (DSC Lebanon). I wrote about their awesome blood donation campaign last week, and this Thursday, they’re taking over The Grand Factory to help raise funds for their massive, life-saving operation. 60,000 lives have been saved, with 15,000 donors and 250 volunteers in the past 6 years. Come down and support, register to be a donor or a volunteer if you still haven’t, and come party your ass off on a Thursday.
Tickets are for 22$ with 2 drinks (1 drink after 10PM) and 33$ after 11PM. ALL proceeds go to support DSC Lebanon, so, party for a good cause this week!
I love the guys at Ollie Daze. If I’m in Lebanon, I try my absolute best to never miss their events, whether up in the mountains on the snow, or down on the coast lounging at the beach. They combine the awesomeness of good music and parties, with nature and extreme sports. They’re an extremely fun bunch and the atmosphere at their events is always very laid-back and chill, with wholesome sports activities everyone can take part of, as well as chill-out areas and dancing spots, making it a crowd-pleaser no matter what you’re up for. Doing tricks in a half-pipe, having a cocktail in a beanbag or showing off your dance moves, you can probably do all three at Ollie Daze.
They’ve set up an awesome igloo in Les Jardins du Mzaar, with an indoor and outdoor section. Damage is 20USD with 1 drink, and party starts at 2PM on Saturday till 2AM on Sunday!
Quite a massive lineup at The Grand Factory for C U NXT SAT this Satuday! BLOND:ISH return, and I loved their most recent EPs and releases, so can’t wait to see the ladies again ❤. It’ll be my first time seeing BLANCAh, so I’m excited about that. Honestly though, it’s Unders I’m looking forward to see the most. His sets are always our go-to ones in between festival days. They’re always a pleasure, and his most recent release is titled Syria, which you can listen to below: (this is what he had to say while producing this slower groovy track: “between all the negativity, the more i looked into the situation, the country, its people and its culture, the more this track reminded me of so much beauty the media doesn’t portray.” How awesome is he?)
TRIBE is a new party crew in Beirut, and their nights at Off & On have been off the hook so far. This Saturday, they’re flying in Herodot and R2M2 to Beirut and partying till the wee hours of the morning in the intimate club nestled in the capital’s central district. If you’re looking for a more intimate setting, or somewhere to go party late this Saturday, then consider trying TRIBE.
Entrance is for 33$ and 1 drink, and free before 12:30AM
This one is dedicated to all the skiers and snowboarders out there. Board Inc’s doing their 3rd annual slopestyle competition at the Mzaar Snow Park this Sunday. If you think you’ve got what it takes, the prizes are worth more than $5000, so register. The trophy ceremony will happen on the Jonction Terrace, with an apres-ski kind of gathering!
You guys loved the ratings posts I shared last month in trying to understand why TV stations’ behavior was becoming so juvenile. This week, IPSOS and Nielsen released their Television Audience Measurement Results for 2016. So, I picked out a few of their slides and I’m publishing them here with a couple of comments of my own on some. I feel this paints a clearer photo of the TV landscape, with some cool numbers on TV, smartphone, Internet and Social Meida penetration in Lebanon.
TV Users in Lebanon
Smartphone Users
Social Media Penetration
Ad Revenue Share in Lebanon vs Other Countries
What’s interesting is how low the share of digital ad spending is in Lebanon. Globally, in the US, UK and Western Europe, digital gets 36–39% of the share, tied to or slightly above TV ad spending. Even in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) it’s at 17% whereas in Lebanon it’s at a tiny 8% compared to 46% for TV…
(I wish digital ad spending would increase, it’d make monetizing online projects and expanding them a lot more attractive)
Lebanese TV Stations
So, the MTV squad was right, it does make the most money when it comes to ads. However, if you combine the different LBC channels (LBCI, Drama, LB2) it still makes the most money from selling ads, with Al Jadeed a close second. Sorry guys!
Top Stations by Genre Throughout the Day
The top 3 stations rank first in the three “genres” studied when it comes to all-day totals. Al Jadeed is close first in political news, MTV is a close first in Social and Cultural programs and LBCI is way ahead of all of them in Series.
Local TV vs Satellite TV Performance
However, the only time local TV beats Satellite ones is from 7PM to 11PM.
Top Station by Genre at Peak Time
Accounting for that, the “top channels” at peak time are somewhat different.
News
Personally, I just watch local channels for the news, and here’s the evening news viewership slide.
It seems that with each passing weekend, Beirut’s upping its game when it comes to nocturnal dance parties and cultural and culinary experiences. This weekend is no different, and since Uber has cut its base fare price to the same as a mankoushe xtra, you have no excuse not to hop around without worrying about driving drunk, getting flashed by those new traffic cameras, or dealing with valet parking services.
I know a lot of you are still worried about using Uber cause of the credit card payment, but in Lebanon, you can pay your driver in cash too. If you still haven’t signed up, make sure you punch in my promo code “prnib”, so we both get 10$ credit each (so you’re first ride will probably be free).
Now, onto the main course:
Friday
The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra
I know some of you might gasp that I’m including this in this weekend’s plan, but deep down, I’m a huge classical music buff. I love the LPO, and it’s always such a pleasure seeing them perform. This Friday, at 8:30PM, this is what awaits you in the USJ’s St Joseph Church right off Monot.
L. van Beethoven: Egmont Overture
G. Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn
G. Mahler: Totenfeier
R. Wagner: Liebestod from Tristan & Isolde
Soprano: Béela Müller Conductor: Harout Fazlian
Entrance is free, but the church fills up quick, so get there early and make sure you silence your phones and don’t clap till the very end!
Nesta at Reunion
After some LPO therapy, what better than an extended set by Beirut sweetheart Nesta at Reunion? It kicks off at 1:30AM till the early morning, so make sure you grab a bite and check out Factory Friday at The Grand Factory before walking into the tunnel for a night with Nesta on the decks.
Entrance might be limited, so if you can’t get your name on the door list, you might wanna try to!
This is one of the bookings this year that had me hyperventilating when I found out. I LOVE Boris Brejcha. I discovered him in DGTL Amsterdam in 2015, and ever since, he’s always been in my SoundCloud likes. It’s a new party crew called TeknoAnd, and they’ve had some solid Techno bookings so far and are bringing Boris Brejcha to Beirut for the first time this Saturday. Here’s a preview of what’s in store:
It’s quite the Techno night this Saturday in Beirut, and with just 3.33USD from The Grand Factory to B018, you have no excuse not to try and make it to both bangers that night. I love PAN-POT, and with local darlings Jade, Eli, Rita and Vanclod Jandam on the ticket at Grand and in Reunion, it’s bound to be another beautiful night on the industrial complex rooftop we all love to dance at.
Kahwet Beirut Munchies
After all that clubbing, or before it, why not eat a wholesome Lebanese meal or dessert, with an arguileh, if that’s your vibe, in an atmosphere that feels like Beirut’s old neighborhoods and streets. Kahwet Beirut opens till 6AM, so, if you’re in the mood for a post-clubbing munchies session that’s a bit different than what you’re used to, it’s one short Uber ride away.
Don’t Drink and Drive
I hope you have an awesome weekend in Beirut, and that this short but very sweet selection helps you decide what to do. Whatever you do though, please don’t drink and drive. Hail an UberX, it’s cheaper and less heavy on your nerves and anxiety with all the new traffic cameras, rising valet parking services and non-existent free parking spaces in our beloved, congested city.
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