Lebanon Tourism, culture, music and events

By: Venetia Rainey Source: The Daily Star BEIRUT: "Out!" The shout echoes across the sunny car park, and from the edges of a painted cricket field, clusters of spectators clap or shake their heads according to their nationalities. A Sri Lankan batsman walks off into a crowd of teammates eager to dissect what went wrong.On the outskirts of the crowd, Nour Haidar shuffles along in a line of people under a tent and scoops a spicy looking stew of various sized lentils onto her plate next to a vibrant cucumber and tomato salad. "I don't normally watch cricket," she says with a sigh, "unless my boyfriend has it on the TV – which can be quite a lot." She picks up a large dumpling-esque pastry filled with spiced potatoes and takes a bite. "But ...

By: Chirine Lahoud Source: The Daily Star BEIRUT: It seems security tensions in Lebanon and the region are not so serious as to keep well-known international performers from coming to perform at Lebanon’s summer’s festival. The curtain will open on the 16th edition of the Beiteddine Art Festival June 26, when Lebanese diva Majida al- Roumi will take the princely palace’s main stage. The vocalist is expected to perform a selection from her best-loved tunes, such as “Bakeer Falayt,” “Lebnan” and “Nashid al-Hob,” among other favorites. More than just a pop culture figure, in her role as U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Roumi has also made numerous public appearances in aid of various humanitarian campaigns. Over the past few years she has performed with such international artists as Spanish t...

Beiteddine International Art Festival 2014 – Full Program Thursday June 26 – 8:30 pm – Majida El Roumy Live a splendid moment with our famous Lebanese diva, in a concert not to be missed! Magida El Roumi promises the fans of the Beiteddine Art Festival a night to remember, as she will offer them a compilation of her best songs, especially her new releases reflecting the joy and sophistication of her art. USD: 200, 150, 100, 60, 30  LBP: 300 000, 225 000, 150 000, 90 000, 45 000  Tickets available in Virgin Megastore all branches.  Majida Al Roumi Thursday July 2 – 9:00 pm – Joss Stone Soul, pop and Rhythm n’ Blues at their best with Grammy Award winner Joss Stone! Joss Stone was only 16 years old when she debuted with The Soul Sessions in 2003. Britain and the United States quickly fell for her worldly, earthy soul voice. With over 11 million album sales to date and a wealth of experience under her belt, she embarks this year on a world tour, stopping in...

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2014 By: Brooke Anderson   Source:   The Daily Star BEIRUT: For some, a vacation means a fully catered luxury getaway to an exotic location, or perhaps it’s an adventure with a backpack and the chance to meet other travelers at a hostel. For others, the appeal can be the opportunity to feel at home in a foreign country – or in some cases in another region of the same country – with the expert hospitality of a knowledgeable local. In Lebanon, where large luxury hotels are often touted to attract big-spending tourists, the small but charming bed and breakfast – or boutique hotel – model is growing in popularity in the shadows of shiny high-rise accommodation. The standard ranges from simple rooms in a proprietor’s home to suites fit for a king – or a tourist with an appreciation of architecture – in fastidiously restored grand houses. “I prefer small hotels with stories,” says Samar Youssef, a travel blogger staying at Villa Clara, a bo...

Date: Friday, April 25, 2014 By: The Daily Star Source: The Daily Star BEIRUT: Beirut International Jazz Day is back with a lineup of six acts, which were announced at a news conference Thursday. Scheduled to take place on April 30 under the patronage of UNESCO, half a dozen performances will transform Beirut’s Downtown into an open-air jazz club. The Lebanese Conservatory Big Band will open the festivities at 7 p.m., mingling jazz classics with newer tunes. The 18 musicians are set to thrill with rhythmic saxophone, trumpet and trombone solos. Those whose taste runs toward the good old blues will be happy to hear that The Real Deal Blues Band – considered among the best Lebanese performers representing jazz culture in the country – are scheduled to immers...

IMAGINE DRAGONS Monday July 7th 2014 | 20:30 ...

Elias Rahbani. Wednesday July 2nd 2014 | 20:30 ...