Random posts

• Armenian school of rock: Armenian rocker Eileen Khatchadourian has managed to blend traditional Armenian rhythms with rock, and more rock. Here's how she did it.
• Your bar: Along with his brother, Haytham is the co-owner of Juniper. Like many Lebanese, he moved back to Lebanon after having lived abroad for many years. He's a Liverpool FC fanatic.
• Caramel: Creator of Caramel, Lebanese producer and silver screen heroine Nadine Labaki is surprised by her success, and grateful for the learning experience.
• Fat in Beirut: So, three fat women walk into a government office in Beirut; did that sound like the front end of a bad joke? Let me try again.
• Deserts ahoy: We’re not built for sudden changes. When my ancestors travelled they spent weeks preparing ropes and mounts; I packed clean shorts into a small bag and walked through metal detector after detector.
• Bearded bells: A legend in Lebanese theater, Rafic Ali Ahmad buys me a shisha at the notorious Rawda Cafe and talks about his life.
• Take the stairs: Have you ever soaked up the bohemian vibe around Gemmayzeh Stairs? Thank Joseph Raidy, the man behind its renaissance.
• Mother of 30: Mama Jamale is a surrogate mother to more than 30 children. She has helped two generations of SOS Village children and looks forward to supporting many more.
• My Bin Laden: Charbel Khalil made his name by finding Bin Laden, straightening out politicians and comically dismissing the country's leaders; something he still doesn't regret, even if it almost started a war.
• Whither thou goest: They stared at each other for a long time, him through the mask and her through a wispy cloud of existential angst. Whatever magic they shared was absolutely lost on me.
• Blush: Working all the pretty faces from your neighbor's wedding to Elie Saab's fashion shows, the beautiful Hala Ajam gives me a look behind the blush.