Beirut Street Art - Book Launching & Exhibition - Sat. Feb. 13th

I am trying to be "fair and balanced" in my reporting (A bit like Fox News I guess). Only insiders will understand this joke.

A streetside cafe - the Beirut version

Hassan El Jouni, eat your heart out! :)

When life gives you lemon - Make coffee!

It is not a norm for Beirut/NTSC to comment on the opening of new shops around town, but the other day, I found myself with a friend in Gloria Jean's newly opened outlet in Hamra (Or on a street parallel to it). It was their first operating day, and my friend - who was sick - asked for a tea with lemon and honey. The kind staff appologized profusely for the lack of both ingredients because they were still on their ordering list. Still, him and I eventually conceded to have drinks without the said ingredients. As we sat down talking, a couple of minutes later - a very kind and smiling waitress comes in with.... a lemon! She simply went to the grocery shop next door and bought it. When it comes to excellent service, few things can top this! Needless to say that the friend in question (Who was staying in a hotel nearby) ended up squatting in the shop several times more day after day. And all of this because because of a lemon (And the zeal of a smiling, beautiful brunette waitress!)....

Fame - this WAS it.

Video Irene Cara - Fame - irene, cara, fame, clipUploaded by TonyG1967. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Recently, I saw the new version of the movie Fame - at some point I felt upset at myself for not liking it. Because suddenly I became the voice of an older generation, one that says "they don't make them like they used to" and all that. But truly, the movie was a let down in every possible way for me. It didn't help much that I saw "This is it" right after which also reminded me how far down the mark Michael Jackson was (But to quote that critic who said about Elvis Presley's death calling it "a good career move"), which enhanced my bitterness that some things should simply be left alone and that nothing is sacred anymore these days. But to be fair to the movie Fame (the new version), I can only wonder how can anyone, and I mean anyone, compete with the video above?... I guess we are only virgin once, and once it's broken, well, it is broken.

Valentine remnants!

Isn't it comforting to know that those silly proofs of Valentine affection might not survive the year that elapsed? OK, maybe they did, I am just exaggerating - but a decapitated teddy bear could not be an omnious sign, right?

Round up - Round down

Radio Station Sawt al mada (With mada meaning "horizon" or something of the sort) has gone bonkers with its new campaign "Let's get MadA" - cute, but just like Al Hadaf, I wonder what it means!.... And then comes Exotica trying to sell its flowers for Valentine's day but focusing on the "Miss(ed) occasion of 2009" (Whereby people have to make more effort this year to catch up... But it isn't clean who is to do that effort - her or him). Then, as even good things must come to an end La CeDetheque is closing its doors - the alternative music store, the anti-Virgin is now closing. For Christmas they headlined "Last Christmas at la Cedetheque" and now "the final countdown" (The first is a reference to the Wham song and the latter to the Europe mega-hit), so when it comes to going - at least they are doing it in style.

Am I missing the target?

Al Hadaf (The target) is a free weekly classified ad magazine that competes with Al Waseet here in Lebanon. They have just launched a huge campaign to promote the fact that the classiad now costs 20,000 LBP. Among the ads in question: "For sale, Parrot, knows Russian and German" or "Chef for restaurant needed, nice voice, ability to sing when needed."

But whereas I am truly impressed by the witty copywriting, I am wondering what the whole campaign says? Does it say: Even the weirdest ad can make it to our print edition? Or are they conveying the message that: No matter how weird the product it will find a seller to match it?

Again, sometimes I feel I am not getting it... or that I am missing the target!