Keep it BuZzin’

I’m a sucker for good advertising. The below clips are two of a series of locally aired commercials promoting BuZz energy vodka mix. They’re hilarious, and oh so “Lebanesey”. My feminist friends may rip into them, but I like ’em! Also, the actors are quite talented–they have great comedic timing! I’ve never consumed an energy drink–but these commercials almost make me want to run out and buy a BuZz. Almost.

Now, just to balance the good with the bad, here’s the yin to the above yangs:

Yikes! What exactly are ya sellin’ there, Trillium Development?

Fortunately, I think they’ve since taken the billboards featuring this particularly tasteless and wildly sexist ad down.

Sunday To-Do List

Hiya kids–

Coupla things you should make time for in the coming week, here’s the rundown:

– Register for TEDx Beirut 2012:

Yep, click the link, go through the motions, and prepare to be inspired on November 17th! TEDx Beirut is an all-day event featuring a lineup of inspirational speakers. These people put most of us to shame. They’re the movers and shakers–the masters of innovation and motivation– working to make a change in our dear, forlorn country.

Check out the lineup here: TEDx Beirut 2012 Speakers

I’ve been to TED salons before, and from what I hear, the full day event is sure to be well worth the $30.00 registration fee. Make sure you pay online, or at a participating Virgin Megastores branch. Keep your ticket and receipt. Participants will not be able to pay at the door on the day of the event, so book a place!

– Donate to the relief effort for victims of the Achrafieh bombing:

While our dear politicians sit about twiddling their thumbs (and on occassion, flinging accusations at one another), you can push a few buttons and actually help your fellow Lebanese. Send the letter ‘A’ to 1105 by SMS to donate $1 to Yourhibat. Alternatively, you can wire/deposit whatever amount you like in their account at BLC bank in Dekwaneh, account #100361736.

If you can volunteer your time, open your home to survivors, or donate other goods (like food and clothing), check the Donner Sang Compter (NGO) Facebook page for updates on what is needed: Donner Sang Compter FB page

They’ve already done a ton of work to help–including organizing charity benefits for the bombing victims. Below is a  collection of photos that really tugs at my heartstrings. Should be enough to inspire you to do something, however little, to help the victims get back on their feet.

Achrafieh Blast In Pictures

– Pick up a copy of The Outpost!

What’s that? You haven’t heard of The Outpost yet? Where have you been hiding, under a rock? The Outpost is a new magazine, launched back in September. Its premier issue is available at a Librarie Antoine near you–or through their online subscription service.

The Outpost is unlike any other magazine in the Middle East. It features inspired writing on a wide array of topics–everything from art, design, and culture to social affairs. What’s unique about this particular magazine is that it not only covers pressing environmental, aesthetic, and humanitarian issues plaguing our society, it also proposes potential solutions for them. The Outpost’s graphics are quite spectacular.  The team has clearly invested a great deal in information design, so it’s quite a visual treat. You’d think the people behind the magazine were ripe with age and experience, but the Editor in Chief and his closest collaborators are actually in their 20s! The theme for the inaugural issue is “The Possibility of Possibility”.

I’ve got my copy right here:

The Outpost

The Outpost is currently recruiting, so if you think you’ve got enough talent to join the team, check out their website.

– Finalize Halloween plans!

I’ll leave the details of this one to you, as I don’t even know where I’ll be spending Hallow’s eve–or what sort of costume I’ll be in!

Have a good one, sugas 😉

Give me Coffee, or Give me Sleep: The Top 3 Coffee shops in Hamra, Beirut

Mmm…Momma sure does love her a good cuppa Joe. I spend the majority of my time away from home in the fantastic neighborhood of Hamra, where I work and play. Here are the top three coffee joints whose java-licious creations hit the spot!

1. Cafe Younes: With two locations in Hamra, and a french press capable of raising the dead, Cafe Younes is by far my favorite coffee shop in Hamra.

Reasons to Love Younes:

-High level of hygiene: don’t believe me? Check the bathrooms. The older of the two branches is being renovated at the moment, so have some patience.

-Food and beverage menu with a wide array of delicious options: Erhmegerrrd! You’ve got to try the ‘Snicky’! I will say this, though: there’s nothing special about the ‘special’ brownie :/The bagels are delightful, though–as are the pancakes! I could go on, but I’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.

–Affordable prices: This really matters to students, and those of us on meager salaries.

-Eclectic clientele: Home of the Emos, Pseudo-intellectuals, introverts, ex-patriots, extroverts, actual intellectuals, histrionics, students, professors, starving artists, fashionistas, etc…

-Strong, flavorful coffee: perhaps the most important qualification. They sell take-home blends of various origins and strengths at the location off of Hamra Street. My favorite in-house orders include the aforementioned french press and the cappuccino.

-It’s local: Bit7ibb Libnen? 7ibb sina3to!

The only downside? You might have to wait a while for service at the Abdel-Aziz branch, and there’s no outdoor seating there. So, I do have to stress that the original location off of Hamra street is at the top of my list.

2. Second Cup: I don’t particularly enjoy the atmosphere at this place, but man do they have some good coffee and sweet treats! One cool thing that sets them apart from other coffee shops in the area is that they offer their brews with the addition of several different aromas (irish cream, vanilla, etc…) It’s an amazing olfactory as well as gustatory experience! Plus–they have blue velvet cake. That’s momma’s weakness right there. They also sell take-home blends. Prices are affordable, so why not try ’em all?

The downside: Poor bathroom hygeine. Ieulk. Also, I know this is being too judgmental, but the people that frequent the place seem like complete tools. (Sorry for the California-girl terminology).

3. Caribou Coffee: Sure, the quality of the goods/services has declined since it opened, but Caribou Coffee still deserves a spot on the list. Their Zebra Mocha (hot) does things to me, people. Their tea is fantastic, their cheesecake is delicious, and their location allows you to work with the hustle and bustle of the Hamra main street in the foreground. Their basic blends aren’t as rich as #s 1 & 2 on my list, but their specialty drinks will keep you coming back for more–provided that you have a sweet tooth, of course. Caribou boasts a mixed clientele in terms of age–the place is frequented by students and senior citizens alike. The bathrooms are squeaky clean. Momma likes.

The downside: As mentioned above, their actual coffee isn’t as rich and aromatic as that of  the top two coffee shops. Secondly, the quality of the drinks was far better when the place opened, for example: Initially, my favorite drink there was the ice blended ‘Mint Condition’, which the menu still advertises as being made with real ‘Andes’ thin mints. Well, they stopped using the Andes brand, and I can taste the difference. I don’t like it. When I asked why, I was told it was too expensive to import them.

Andes Mint Condition, How I Miss Thee!

Notable Mention:

-Starbucks’ Coffee: Say what you will about the franchise (most of the critique its received has been politically charged), Starbucks still serves up the best Mocha Frappe I’ve ever had. Also, their multi-level indoor/outdoor seating overlooking Hamra Street is fantastic. Definitely deserving of a mention.

-Buttermint: Just off of Hamra street, this breezy, well-lit place is resembles an over-sized breakfast nook. Be sure to stop in for generous mixers of the best mint lemonade in town. So why aren’t they on the list? The food portions are too small, meaning you get less for your money. Also, the glassy exterior and roomy interior, which overlooks an outdoor deck, renders Buttermint more of a spring/summer destination. Just not cozy enough for winter.

The few that didn’t make the cut (and why):

-Gloria Jean’s: Why, you ask? Because their coffee is weaker than my 87 year-old grandmother’s hip joints. Yeah. Props for the two central locations with cozy seating, though.

-The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Are them beans and leaves made o’ gold? ‘Cause the beverages sure are priced that way! 9-10,000 for a cup of coffee is just wrong. Also, the atmosphere is lacking. The drinks are pretty good, though.

Well, there you have it! Don’t like my take? Weigh in! That’s what comments are for! Xx

Patrick Sfeir, You ‘Drew’ Me In

Hey hey Babies,

Happy Saturday! Lookie what I came across while surfing the net the other day:

Awesome, innit?

There’s plenty more where that came from, check out the talented animator’s website: http://www.patrick-sfeir.com/

Raw, inspired talent played out against a background of tasteful music. ‘Le Temps d’un Soupir’ is my personal favorite. There’s a touch of darkness in his characters, but you still get the feeling they’re being drawn and manipulated by a hopeless romantic.

Turns out he’s the same guy who illustrated the Abou Abed Joke book!

Enjoy 🙂