Lebanon Tourism, culture, music and events

Give the gift of choice this Valentine's Day Date: Friday, February 06, 2015 By: Ghinwa Obeid Source: The Daily Star EIRUT: It's the month of love and those with a special someone are gearing up for Valentine's Day, which falls Feb. 14, a holiday as nerve-wracking as it can be blissful. To avoid Valentine's-induced bickering, The Daily Star has put together a list of events taking place in and around the capital on the special day. Instead of opting for the cliché of a candle-lit dinner, live music and dinner options might make for a Valentine's to remember. Singer Fares Karam performs. (The Daily Star/Stringer + Regency Palace Hotel in Adma will host singers Yara and Fares Karam on Feb. 14. Yara's passionate and lively voice, paire...

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015 By: Mohammed Zaatari Source: The Daily Star N ABATIEH, Lebanon: When Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, then Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon stood in front of Beaufort Castle and, addressing his soldiers, said the edifice had secured a front for his men. After the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from south Lebanon in 2000, Speaker Nabih Berri stood in front of the edifice too, to stress how it had become a symbol of resistance in south Lebanon. Located at the highest point of Arnoun, in Nabatieh, the castle has long played a major strategic role in Lebanese military history. Sitting at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, the castle oversees Palestine, the Golan Heights, the slopes of Mount Hermon, the...

Date: Monday, January 19, 2015 By: The Daily Star   Source:   The Daily Star BEIRUT: The colorful steps in the Mar Mikhael neighborhood have been featured among the nine most creative staircases around the world by Vogue magazine. It was included in "Step Right Up: 9 Amazing Staircases from Around the World," along with others in London, France's Angers, Rio de Janeiro, Arkansas, Sicily,   San Francisco   and Seoul. "Staircases are normally considered simple, at times inconvenient, pathways," Vogue wrote. "A handful of artists, though, have experimented with transforming them into alluring art installations," it added. "From beautiful flower arrangements populating steps in Sicily to the downright bizarre 'Hairy Staircase' in Arkansas, here is a look at the most wonderful sets from around the world." The stairs in Mar Mikhael, painted with vibrant geometric shapes and patterns, are the brainchild of Dihzahyners (pronounced ...

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2015 By: Ghinwa Obeid Source: The Daily Star B Before you plan your trip there are a number of things that you need to have in order to ensure that you enjoy the day to the maximum. "You need pants, jackets, goggles and gloves, and then you need to have the skis, the ski boots and the poles," explained Riad Zgheib, a ski coach. All clothes should be waterproof and warm to protect against the cold, harsh weather on the mountains. Snowboarders need roughly the same clothes, but the equipment is different, especially the footwear. "The boots for snowboarding are softer; they're closer to hiking shoes," he said. "Ski boots are made of heavier plastic." This is because skiers run a high risk...

Date: Monday, January 12, 2015 By: Mazin Sidahmed Source: The Daily Star KFAR DEBIAN, Lebanon: The mountain town of Kfar Debian was abuzz over the weekend as ski slopes opened for the first time this season, and local businesses said they looked forward to a productive winter. The slopes were opened thanks to heavy snowfall as a result of "Zina," a storm that overwhelmed Lebanon this past week. Areas located more than 200 meters above sea level were pummeled with snow Friday, reaching up to 1.5 meters at the country's tallest peaks. The mayor of Kfar Debian, Wassim Samir Mhanna, was full of optimism, saying signs pointed to a strong touristic season ahead. "In terms of the first day, we can say that it was very good, in terms of ...

Wara El Bab" - The New Comedy Play of Georges Khabbaz - Starring :   Georges Khabbaz   - Talal El Jurdi - May Sahhab -   Laura Khabbaz   - Joseph Acaf - Wassim El Toum - Ghassan Attieh - Joseph Salame - Cynthia Karam - Boutros Farah & Omar Mikati - Starting 11 December , in Chateau Triano - Zalka Main Road - Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 8.30 p.m. & Sunday 4.30 & 8.30 p.m.   For Reservation : Chateau Triano : 04/722245 - 03/249842 Every Day Starting Today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets price : 20,000 - 30,000 - 40,000 - 50,000 LBP www.tourism-lebanon.com

Date: Friday, January 09, 2015 By: Justin Salhani Source: The Daily Star BEIRUT: A few years back, word started to spread about a new hip part of Beirut. Gemmayzeh and Hamra had become overcrowded and the nation's party people were looking for the next "in" spot. Step forward, Mar Mikhael. Traditionally an industrial and residential area, Mar Mikhael began attracting major nightlife traffic around 2010, when a series of pubs and restaurants popped up. But it has evolved way beyond just a nightlife hub; Mar Mikhael has since carved a niche and manifested itself as a creative district, where services like pubs and restaurants are straddled by clothing and furniture stores, arts & crafts workshops, and a plethora of other design and ...