Bearded bells

Rafic Ali Ahmad

A legend in Lebanese theater, Rafic Ali Ahmad buys me a shisha at the notorious Rawda Cafe and talks about his life.

Full Story »

Armenian school of rock

Eileen Khatchadourian

Armenian rocker Eileen Khatchadourian has managed to blend traditional Armenian rhythms with rock, and more rock. Here’s how she did it.

Full Story »
Page 1 of 11

Random posts

  • Chocolate cake: The pub was crowded and loud, and there was chocolate involved. I know this because cake was rammed into my mouth before I sat down.
  • E-lust: We live in a world larger than our egos, and understandably want to shrink it into manageable screens. And wouldn’t it just be lovely if our social lives were really servants of mice and keyboards?
  • Robots in disguise: The man to blame for over a hundred music video clips and dozens of popular advertisements, Lebanese Said el Marouk has taken his show to the silver screen with a $200 million film.
  • Business beef: I generally tend to avoid potentially violent confrontations in closed environments, especially when said environments float at around 50,000 feet.
  • Little fish: Some 2 million years ago, give or take ten minutes, in a cheery cave in central Africa, an ancestor paused in an unprecedented moment of consideration and regarded his mate.
  • Angry mother: Nidal al Achkar is the lead role in the Beiruti theatrical movement. Manager and founder of the Al Madina theater, she offers a center for culture and art in Beirut, even if she herself has lost hope.
  • Seed of Zicco: Zicco House is much more than just the poetry readings and concerts at the Samra Bar: it's a launch-pad for the country's most prominent movements, and has become a hub for thinkers and dissidents who dream of change.
  • Road pigs: The leader of the pack (cue 60s music) raised his hand in a fist, and the procession came to a halt. He dismounted his hog like it was a horse, and walked towards the bunny with the largest bosom.
  • Love is blind: Who loves you baby? Friends? Family? Professional matchmakers? We set two guinea pigs, Karl Baz and Nayla Aramouni, on three blind dates apiece to figure it out.
  • Love me Dutch: ‘Well, if all else fails, we can always get married.’
  • Kung-fu redhead: Somewhere in the mess of neurological pathways I call Karl (when I'm referring to myself in the psychotic third-person) I've managed to equate affection with violence; in other words, if I enjoy someone’s company, I hurt them.

Recent comments

  • Hani Bathish on Burned breakfast: Great article, there are a few ‘alleged chefs’ and restaurateurs I...
  • GASS on We’re married!: you’re so cute guys !
  • nicolien on Love me Dutch: Dutch people definitely rock… and we also know how to pick us some nice Lebanese...
  • yasmine on Google hates Arabs, and housekeepers?: This is the most entertaining thing yet – I can’t stop...
  • Abbie on Monkey seeds revolution: Sometimes it’s simply hard to understand how “stupid” ppl can be....
  • Mack trucks on Drob frem: It is great that from a war toned country a super car designer is evolved. There is no...
  • Hani Bathish on Monkey seeds revolution: Oh man, I can’t tell you how many times I have slammed into human...
  • Jad Aoun on Monkey seeds revolution: I’m still here juggling a thousand and one things. Just shared your post...
  • Jad Aoun on Monkey seeds revolution: Absolutely hilarious! Not only did you eventually get the green light to run the...
  • tasteofbeirut on Bearded bells: I have been enjoying your pieces.
  • Sonia on We’re married!: I am amazed to see all these came true. You are a beautiful couple and very nice...
  • Georgia on We’re married!: And here was me thinking you’d fallen off the edge of the planet…....