Lebanon Tourism, culture, music and events

Article by Lebanon untravelled Website: http://lebanonuntravelled.com Qasr el Ahlam is a castle located in the village of Bakhoun in Dennieh Casa. It was built by Mohamad Hawchar a Lebanese visionary. It is the work of his life. He needed 25 years and stones from all over the world to achieve it. With a huge similarity to Park Guehl in Barcelona, the master piece of Gaudi, Qasr el Ahlam became a major attraction in the region of Dennieh. Qasr el Ahlam, Bakhoun Denieh Talal Hawshar, tel: 03 511278

Situated in the heart of Hamra, Cedarland Hotel is only a few steps away from most shops, restaurants/pubs, historical city centre and beaches. We are also very conveniently located for those visiting the American University of Beirut or its adjacent hospital. Our choice of rooms ranges from single bedrooms to two-bedroom apartments, catering for most tastes and budgets and suitable for long-term stays. Our 24-hour porterage insures you are greeted with a warm smile all the time.

BID THE BARREL ! If you've seen the artists at work at Massaya Faqra you'll know how beautiful a barrel can be. The colors, the imagination, the patterns... Each painter expressed their passion for Massaya in their own sense of creativity. We were thrilled by the entries in our painting competition this year by the artists Darine Semaan and Joseph Rahayem. This Sunday May 14 th , you can have your own original barrel at our barrel auction in Massaya Faqra starting 11:00 AM. DRINK OUR WINE, GO HOME WITH AN ARTISTIC BARREL Enjoy our authentic Spring brunch with open wine and arak, bid on the barrel you like and return home with a new piece of art! Non-colored oak barrels will also be available for bidding. P.S: All our barrels have done their vital duty of maturing Massaya wine so they have an authentic link to the vineyard. Painted barrels starting price: $400 Natural barrels starting price: $250 ! Brunch: $60/guest! $3

This Wednesday, April 12, URBN is going “Down” with the man behind some of the biggest RnB dance tracks of all time, JAY SEAN.  Reserve on: 70 220 223

Pruning day at Faqra Wine making is a fascinating process that starts with healthy vines. Every year at this time we carry out a careful pruning of the vines to ensure they will grow strongly and deliver a high quality crop of grapes. And this is a process that you can take part in. We love it when our customers and friends come to help us and you will enjoy having a role in preparing this year's vintages. First, there are one or two things you need to know. We will provide the tools and give you some basic instructions. You need to choose some sturdy shoes as the ground is often stony. So, to be comfortable, make sure you have footwear with a tough sole. There's food too. We encourage everyone to help prepare lunch of Risotto and Cabri lamb dish. For those who wish to stay for lunch, the charge will be $25 after the pruning session. ___ The following day, Sunday April 9, the Fireplace res! taurant presents its new Spring-S

Batroun International Festival August 6:  Beer, Wine & Seafood August 12:  Carole Samaha August 18:  Bonnie Tyler August 19:  Wael Kfoury September 7/10:  Batroun Mediterranean Film Festival Get your tickets from Virgin Ticketing Box-Office!

BEIRUT: In the days of flashy pubs and pounding music, the dimly lit wooden facade of Captain’s Cabin stands out as a relic of a bygone era. Now over 50 years old, the ramshackle bar is one of Beirut’s historic landmarks. Tucked away along Sadat Street, a few meters off the main Hamra Street, Captain’s Cabin has weathered the storm of decades of war. Andre Toriz, an amicable man of Mexican origin, had just been born when his father and three Middle East Airlines pilots begun looking for a place to drink and play cards away from their wives’ reproachful looks. It was 1964 when the four men rented an old fish shop, covered its yellow tiles in wood, and transformed it into their new getaway. “My father was the only one among them not to be a pilot, but they all called him captain,” Toriz told The Daily Star. As more men started spending their layovers there, the place was expanded, and opened as a fully licensed bar and restaurant in 1972. Alongside its original decor, which inc

Hardine is home to 30 churches, many are dilapidated and others have collapsed over time, effectively leaving 20 churches that are still in good condition. This relatively high number of churches is indicative of the village’s important religious status. Some of the churches in Hardine are : Mar Takla Church in Haret Kassab, an ancient church that was renovated in 1830 by Saint Hardini’s father and again in 1871 by by his brother, Matanious, and his nephew, Boulos. Mar Tadros Historical Church, which dates back to the tenth century. Mar Challita, Mar Nohra and Mar Elias Churches, which are all found in mountain caves. Mar Yohanna Chkif Cell, which dates back to the Crusader period and is known today as the “Toubawi” Cell. Church of Mar Sarkis and Bakhos, where the baptism of Saint Hardini by Father Mikhael Thabet took place. Mar Shina Church, which has been standing in the village square since 1844. In addition, the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate was located

Lebanon is a complex country of charm, chaos and contradiction. Beirut, it’s capital, is the wild child of the Middle East. The country hasn’t fully recovered from its 15 year civil war, but people are eternally optimistic and live every day as if its their last. With the utmost respect to my Lebanese friends, I bring you the Lebanon Survival Guide:   Ignore soldiers on the street. Don't panic when you see armed troops or even tanks, it’s normal. Don’t join any protests or take pictures of them and you’ll be fine. Locals are experts at distinguishing between fireworks and gunshots, so if they if they aren’t panicking you shouldn’t either.   Use the triple greeting. The quickest way to fit in (especially if you’re a pale westerner) is to greet everyone in English, Arabic and French at once. Hi, kifak, ça va? After that, if you can’t speak the language, simply throw in the three most common expressions every few minutes: Laaa (you’re kidding, repeated quickly three times),

Producer: Two Wheels Across DOP: Christian Ghammachi Editing: Sebastien Leclercq Colour Grading: Belal Hibri(Rez Visual) Music and Sound Design: Karim Khneisser