EVENTS NOT TO MISS - PECHA KUCHA

I think the first time I attended a Pecha Kucha night was when I first met Luana. 
20 slides. 20 seconds. 12 presenters. I was hooked. 
At the time, I thought I knew more or less what was going on in this city. Who was doing what, what new ideas were being developed, which publications were in, events, products, campaigns, designs… I was wrong. I knew jack shit. But I wasn't alone.

And so that night, there we all were, squatting on the stairs of St Nicholas, Gemmayze, a drink in one hand, a brochure in the other, listening to these presenters from multi-disciplinary backgrounds strutting their stuff. The presentation timing was perfect: long enough to get one's idea across and short enough to avoid boring anyone's pants off.

Pecha Kucha. As simple as that.
The concept is a Japanese one that first started in 2003. It literally translates to: chit chats and takes place in over 400 cities around the world. Beirut is one of them and this is Event Night number 16 already. Don' t miss out on any more.
See you there.

February 27th at 8pm in AltCity, Hamra

Petra

Video courtesy of Dima Boulad

http://vimeo.com/60199045

More info at:
www.pechakucha.org
www.pechakucha.org/cities/beirut

BITTERSWEET LOVE

I believe in love. I do. 

The kind of love that bonds you to your fresh cup of coffee early in the morning. The kind of love that tingles from your pores after a good corniche run. The kind of love you feel for practically everything two glasses of wine later. 

I also believe in the other kind of love. The traditional kind. Not in forevers, but in love. And yes, I believe it is beautiful. 

I thought I could try and point out some romantic quirks in this city. I worry though that I'd sound like a complete fake seeing as to I am not in love myself. But I can still spot them. Or recall them. I was there once. 

Problem is, these romantic quirks are quite subjective. I am titillated by the most random moments, events, actions, and locales. At one point, taking a walk all over Hamra on a quiet Sunday morning Starbucks black and bitter in hand, was one of those romantic quirks. I could do it all the time. 

At another, sipping on Almazas that had long ceased to be cold climbing the stairs of Vendome, Achrafieh to reach a certain step high enough to look down at the main road below did it too. 

Buying mussels and coquilles st jacques from the Achrafieh street dude Ali coupled with a bottle of chilled white wine and drinking it on a construction site was high on the list.

But this can't all be about me.

So I asked around. 

However, practically everyone and their mothers' answers seemed to include: "doin it"… in de Prague's toilet…. in BO 18's parking lot… on Centrale's staircase…" I kid not.

After getting over the apparent death of romance and the realization that 'doin it' period is seemingly romantic, here's what I was also told would make the list:

- "Getting hot chocolate while in the car from Beirut Cafe and parking on the 'hill' right in front of Movenpick at 2am and watching the ocean and the lights." 

- "Jumping in the sea after a party on a hot night and swimming in our underwear just before the sun comes out in Ain el mraisseh where we're technically in a sewage but the sea is too dark then to look dirty."

- "A nice walk on the corniche and then a sit down at Sporting then a Ferris wheel ride at sunset"

- "Watching the sunset at Rawda Cafe; a place where its scandalous to kiss or make out."

- "Driving to the deserted house near Harissa in the middle of the night and making out to the city view below."

- "Midnight of a hot summer, taking a bottle of wine and 2 glasses up to the roof and swimming in the inflatable pool in our underwear."

- "Driving to the corniche during a storm and letting the waves splash over the car while we cozy up inside."

- "Shopping at Souk el Tayib then following it up with Hamra's nice small second hand bookshops."

A part of me was hoping to discover something new; some new locale, new activity, new thrill. And yet, I realized the corniche - to swim, to stroll, to have coffee, to run, to watch the sunset-  kept popping up. Constantly. With almost everyone. It got a unanimous vote.

And honestly, I believe I don't need to wonder why.

Petra

A DRINK OR TWO

It rains over Bittersweet Beirut. It's lovely. At least I think so. A man on the street offered me roasted chestnuts. I happily obliged.

For the festive season, Luana and I thought it fun and useful, to focus on top 5s. We are all looking for ideas. We are all looking for inspiration. Maybe we can help.

There's a long list of top 5s.
Top 5 places
Top 5 products
Top 5 restaurants
Top 5 designers
Top 5 homes
Top 5 alleyways
Top 5 wall graffiti

But somehow the alcoholic in me gets served first. My top 5s starts there. Plus with rain, work overload and all, my brain and soul need to get warmed up to start producing. And so I find myself indulging more often than I'd like to admit. (Yes, Luana, I lied. I drank yesterday too).

Although I mostly enjoy my glass of wine, I will occasionally indulge in a cocktail if I know it to be worth my while. True, that you'll never know if it IS worth that while till you test it and... I've done my fair share of testing. When it is bad, it is bad. The bartender has to be freaking great to pull it off. Otherwise my words of caution: stick to Almaza or white rum on the rocks with a squirt of lime.

1. DragonFly: Moscow Mule - Thank you Nino Aramouni for no longer asking what I'm having (they mix everything well)

2. Kayan: Bloody Mary - goes well with the chips and salsa we all fill up on

3. Momo's: Passion Fruit Martini for fun, but Dirty Martini takes the cake - Wafic El Tibi: thank you for the intro

4. Dictateur: 005. I like. Luana loves. Hady Salhab, you did a good job. Nero, cheers

5. Centrale: Frozen Margarita

Now, a call out. I am personally looking for top 5 red wines. Good value for money bottles. Help would be appreciated.
Go ahead. Hit me.
I need to stock up. The nights are getting colder.

Petra

FIVE DELIGHTFUL PLACES WORTH A VISIT THIS CHRISTMAS

You know how it feels when you miss a day of work and go shopping or go to the beach instead? When you know your colleagues are sitting there behind their grey desks counting the hours while yours are flying away? You know how it feels as if the sun is a bit shinier that day? 

This is how I felt this saturday when I dragged myself out of the office with Petra and Lina for a couple of hours walking in one block of Mar Mikhael; I was amazed by all the lovely boutiques that have grown there! I will definitely work on a post about this area (what I call the Papercup area) but today's post is a bit wider; five beautiful places I would definitely visit for my Christmas shopping this year.

1. Pink Henna; Vintage jewelry and accessories boutique /  Mar Mikhael (01 57 03 61)

This place is an awesome find--It is small, but jam packed with goodies old and new. You're 100% bound to find something that makes you go "Oooooo." 

2. Al bourj; Library /  Nahar building, Downtown (01 97 37 97)

Maybe the smallest library in town- but one with a beautiful vibe and definitely the nicest selection of bandes dessinées in town.

3. Luanatic; Lebanese funny gifts /  Mar Mikhael (70 71 34 35)

If you haven't been to my workshop yet, then now is the time! The space is an old charming flat with high ceiling and old patterned tiles; I just love it! We have new additions to the tote bags (Mehchi keessa? Please!), baby bodies, and mug collections, as well as new wall signs and decals, vintage wallpaper rolls, stylishly funny pins, and artsy notebooks! 

Gifts by the dozen :)

4. Zara Home; Home accessories / Beirut Souks, Le Mall, ABC Achrafieh

I just love Zara Home! It's the perfect place to shop for family gifts. I usually go there then decide who to get what; whether it's a candle chandelier, or a nice frame that you'd customize with a personal photo, or a big bowl from their new antiquish tableware collection, there's always something that you can get to cross one off your list.  (Oh and remember to buy one or two door knobs while you're there- they're just gorgeous and will surely be handy one day!)

5.  Spare arts; Furniture and home accessories designer boutique /  Mar Mikhael (01 56 90 70)

Wow, talk about a hidden gem! No, really; I walked by this place and my curiosity was instantly peaked. A line of yellow tap lights calls for you in this beautiful raw space with surprisingly affordable pieces. Definitely worth a visit.

Luana

INTRO

I've been asked if I love Beirut. More times than I care to remember. I have never known how to answer that. I love it sometimes. Often I do not. Most people I know can relate. I hate the question though: hard fact.

Luana pushes me to do a lot of things. Mostly they are things that I know are good on the long run. This is one of them. She insisted we start this project. Actually, she gave me no c

hoice. She put it simply. She said this is a reminder for us that we are doing something for ourselves in this city. For what we have. What we live. Here. Now.

And yes, it is bittersweet because that is exactly how we feel about Beirut. And we just live it.

We're taking it one step at a time. It's the spaces we love. The people we love. The ideas we love. The events we love. And the crap we don't.
So here goes...

'Give a damn. Many damns. More damns than anyone'
~ Alexis Ohanian

Petra