Life Club Beirut Review

February 1, 2012 By 4 Comments

Most of you have heard about Life Beirut by now. Some of you might’ve already tried it too. Life Beirut is the newest addition to Beirut’s mega-club scene. The gargantuan, multi-level club with the retractable roof is set to open this Thursday, but it’s been in soft-opening mode for a few weeks and after trying it twice, I feel a review is in order right before the grand opening.

Life is located right behind B018 in the Karantina region. It’s in the building adjacent to Sleep Comfort’s, on the top level. After going in past the well-mannered bouncers and courteous host, an interactive projection with the club’s name separates the two entrances into the club’s main area.

After going up the stairs, you find yourself at the topmost level of the club, which runs along both sides as well as the back of the club. On the opposite side is where the stage is. The DJ booth is located on the middle-level at the center of the club, immersing the DJs and VJs into the crowd, versus the top-down format you usually see.

The mid-level is like the topmost one, with tables and balustrades providing plenty of dancing space minus the shoving and pushing. The lowest level has tables which are arguably the center of attention, with the spotlights and everyone else’s attention focused on the area adjacent to the stage with the beautiful backdrop of Beirut’s Port and its massive cranes and silos.

The light system is impressive and fits perfectly with the club’s architecture. It’s similar to the old Palais by Crystal’s in terms of creating the surreal visuals minus the use of LED screens, creating a more immersive experience. Speaking of architecture, contrary to what many people believe is law, a retractable roof does not mean Bernard Khoury, but an architecture firm called Creative-LABS.

Oh, and yes, the club’s roof opens to reveal the night sky and the fireworks which are a regular addition in the night’s entertainment, which includes dancers and a virtual DJ deck on a large touch-screen on stage (which the guys need to practice on more and probably switch from Windows =P).

The music is played by resident DJs Dania, Youssef Kanaan and Haytham Fawaz (who is one of the stakeholders which I think is pretty cool) and it’s mainly crowd-pleasing, mildly remixed radio House and RnB hits. As for other stakeholders, they include Dani Khairallah (Dani K) so even though they’re not affiliated with the big clubbing scene holding groups, there’s plenty of clubbing experience that went into creating this club.

Now, to the part you all worry about: the prices. The standard vodka bottle is the 750ml Russian Standard bottle, which sells for 160USD a piece. So, for a table of 12 people and two vodka bottles you could manage to have a good time for 25-30USD. As for the typical age of the clubbers present, it included a wide spectrum of ages but was mainly older clubbers between the ages of 25-30 year olds dressed smart.

Verdict: Life Beirut is worthy addition to the Lebanese winter clubbing scene. The interior is impressive and the entertainment elements are plenty.
Price: 60-70 USD should be more than enough for you and your date on a table of friends.
Atmosphere: Typical Lebanese joie-de-vivre spirit, people dress to impress and it’s about enjoying people-watching as much as it is clubbing, with every table within the view of the other.
Music: Commercial House and RnB
Staff: Waiters need a bit of work, but the hostesses and hosts are very accommodating.
Location: Karantina area

Filed Under: Clubs

Beirut Has a Comedy Club, and It’s Hilarious

January 30, 2012 By 6 Comments

Sometimes, I fear Beirut has nothing more to offer. Fortunately, more times than not, this city proves me very , very wrong. On Saturday, I was planning to spend a typical Saturday night probably hitting Gemmayzeh then clubbing somewhere. BUT, while getting dressed and simultaneously checking my Facebook, I found something interesting on my newsfeed: 4 local stand up comedians, in a few hours, somewhere in Beirut. A phone call later, I had booked two seats for Lori and me at The Comedy Club in Monot.

The funny business starts on the phone, for when I called to reserve I asked “what should one do to attend tonite” and the nice lady on the phone said in a matter of fact-ly voice “First, reserve. Then, come and enjoy.” So, even before laying eyes on the place, I was starting to like it.

The Comedy Club is located right above Pacifico in Monot, so it wasn’t that hard to find. We took a small table for two in the middle of the club and were surprised to find a packed house. The club serves food as well, so Lori had some chicken with sauteed vegetables and fries and I had a cup of orange juice (-_-). Around 11:00 PM, the show began with Elie Mitri breaking the ice and letting a few dirty words out to prepare for the unapologetically hilarious pieces that were to follow.

Elie Mitri is the “batee2″ guy in MTCtouch’s hilarious TV commercials, he was also the host of the night and the founder of the club. His chilled and cool method of delivering jokes will catch you off-guard and have you suddenly bursting out in laughter. The air of familiarity in the room was also refreshing, as if everyone present were very good friends and it was ok to let out a piglet-snort every now and then.

Next came Dany Sakr, whose piece included healthy portions of sex and weed in Lebanon. Dany’s piece was extremely relatable to, with the jokes we crack about people in Lebanon who smoke weed and think they’re outsmarting people who don’t and the police by calling it “chocolat bi 50,000 alf” or “7ashix.” Another hilarious one was about a sexual encounter with a French girl in his aunt’s house up in Douar, where the fridge had nothing in it but debs el kharoob (molases) instead of the sexier chocolate syrup for example. Skype-sex, weed, s&m… Dany handled it all like a boss. My favorite was how his mother is in “appear offline” mode sometimes, and simply recites what a mother should say without paying attention to what Dany tells her, like his answer to “kif ray7in?” is “bi siyaret bugs bunny el khadra” to which his artist mom replies “illo ma yesra3″. Oh, and did I forget to mention Dany’s mothers and brother, included in some of his jokes, were in the audience?

Up next was Joe Rahmeh, all the way from Aaynata El Arez, a land famous for weed production and a notoriously heavy accent. The butt of many of Joe’s jokes was Minister of Electricity Gebran Bassil, deservedly so in my opinion. Joe also cracked jokes about his typical Lebanese village father, how burning marijuana plants in bulk by the police made people up there happy for two months, going “hunting” without guns since the birds were also on the floor, high. Joe’s relationship advice was also hilarious, which led into some improv towards the end of his gig. He was interactive with the crowd, much to Lori’s dismay who became the volunteer for all improv sessions that night. Though, I’m proud because when Joe asked for something guys hate that girls do, “heels” was Lori’s answer, and I couldn’t agree more ladies!

The final comedian was a resident doctor at Hotel Dieu, Elias Ghoussoub. When you look at Elie, you feel he’s that mean, always-angry, hates-everyone person who you’d want to avoid. That’s until he starts spewing his laugh-out-loud venom on stage. He started off cracking jokes about Elie Mitri, with the most hilarious one being “awwal marra t3arrafat 3a Elie, aleh inno 3odwo el zakari fiyyeh… ya3ne ayro fiyyeh. Iltillo mni7 iltilleh ma kenit mentebih” to which young and old, hipster and tante clapped to. Elias then went on to describe Christmas dinner with his family, which was also absolutely hilarious. His mean, nerdy demeanor makes his punch lines all the more powerful. Later followed some improv, and with Lori’s help, he played out a movie  scenario called “7abibi darabneh bil basterma.”

All in all, we had a blast at The Comedy Club. I am extremely glad we decided to go, and this is a discovery I definitely want to share with all of you. The charge for the show is just 10,000 LBP per person, the rest is whatever drinks or food you order, which is a massive deal for a Saturday night and 4 comedians live! The very friendly atmosphere also adds to the magic of the place, which is refreshingly “underground” and non-mainstream. So, if you thought Lebanon has just a couple of comedians who joke in English and rework Pablo Francisco jokes, think again and try The Comedy Club’s alternating, very Lebanese lineup every week (and hopefully twice per week too). Check their Facebook page for their schedules!

Filed Under: Clubs Tagged With: ,

Dictateur: My New Favorite Spot

January 12, 2012 By 1 Comment

It’s been so long since I discovered a place I fell in love with so quickly. This out-of-the-way venue has been open for more than a month and its loyal fans already span across several countries. I sometimes use the alley it’s on to escape traffic when I’m going back home, and remember thinking to myself “what a horrible choice of location.” Several suggestions I try it later, Lori and I made our way to the outskirts of Mar Mikhael street behind Al Mandaloun, and were seriously impressed.


It’s hard to describe Dictateur in one word. The venue is divided into several sections, each of which could be a stand-alone venue. A bar area, a lounge area, a diner-style seats area, an outdoor area and even a roof-top like section make the place a bar-restaurant-club-lounge-cafe type of place suitable for so many different times and occasions.

Let’s start off with the outside. It’s an inconspicuous facade which at first glance gives you impression it’s just a one-room bar like any other. The whole is decorated with the place’s trademark signature, a series of numbers separated by forward slashes that represent something in Dictateur. For example, 030 / 004 / 287 is painted on the wall outside. The numbers stand for Badawi street, bike racks, and neighbors, respectively.

Once you go in, you can either go to your left into the bar area, or soldier on forward where two ramps lead to the rooftop area, or the lower outdoor space and lounge under it. Probably the most amusing piece of furniture is a toilet seat transformed into a flower pot, with soil and few blossoms sprouting out of it. This spot is ideal in summer or when the weather’s nice. It’s also quieter than the lower outdoor area, where the dancing happens sometimes, making it perfect for a nice drink and conversation.

The outdoor area is lit with a massive custom-made, do-it-yourself style “chandelier” made of the light-bulbs you find at your mechanic’s, which are hung on the hood as he inspects your car’s motor. Two dozen or so of these lightbulbs are arranged in a circle, lighting up the outdoor area in that yellowish-orange aura you see in the photos.

The lounge area is adjacent to the outdoor section and directly under the rooftop area. It has large and long tables, perfect for a large group, It also has very comfortable couches for two or three people, which is where Lori and I sat on that extremely cold night.

Most lamps, decorations and other items in Dictateur are do-it-yourself stuff, such as three massive lamps made of tape inside the lounge as well as the container-like wooden row of diner-style tables under the ramp that leads to the rooftop area. The XXX / XXX / XXX format is repeated several times, indicating different numbers for different things, such as how many meters of tape were used, for how many lamps. Or, how much alcohol the storage area fits. That, for a slightly OCD-ish person like me when it comes to stuff like that, was divine.

The music was also good. In a place like that, I’d be afraid of listening to soft rock, oldies and other repulsive genres of music. Much to my delight, it was splendid lounge music, with just the right tempo, volume and enough electronic and acoustic elements to please everyone present. It not being radio garbage is also a plus, after all, paying to listen to something you can turn on in your car for free, is a rip-off in my opinion.

The prices are also fair and much cheaper than some of its neighbors. A beer is for 7,000 LBP and you can get a decent salad for as little as 10,000 LBP. My friend Liliane recommends the goat cheese and artichoke salad on Foursquare, which is what I’ll be having next time!

So, all in all, I absolutely adored the place. Definitely one of my favorites, if not the favorite for now. I seriously recommend you try it yourself and understand what I’m really talking about. It’s a nice, down-to-earth place which is still hipster-free and is actually an underground venue, not just cause its cool. Proof? The out-of-the-way venue and low-key publicity which is basically just word of mouth as far as I can tell.

They have a facebook, so please don’t ask me about contact details =P It’s also fully wheelchair accessible =)

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Filed Under: Clubs, Uncategorized Tagged With:

MAD Beirut Opening Review

December 17, 2011 By 2 Comments

Mad Beirut is open, and last night I created the Foursquare venue which so many of us will be checking into this season. The middle-floor of the White Beirut building has been completely transformed into the club you see below. I’ve taken the liberty of compiling a before-and-after photo below.

As you can see, it has come a long way. The overall distribution of the bar, tables and seats is somewhat similar to White’s, with the bar running down the middle flanked by high tables on both sides, then on a more elevated level sofa-like chairs on lower tables.

What’s also nice is that walkways on both sides of the club have been made allowing you to travel to and fro without needing to shove or get shoved or a drink spilled on you. On the far side of the club is a grid of bright lights which are turned on during bass drops in the music, on the other side, the wall is completely covered with LED screens, above which the DJ booth is located.

The roof has a rhombus grid of multicolored lightbulbs that change with the music’s mood and the visuals on the screen. What was also cool is the multi-colored lasers whose reach spans the whole club, with white, violet and red laser shows accompanying the other visual elements. In other words, the visuals are pretty cool.

The music has the same style and flow we’re used to in summer. DJ Bob, Jad and Elie do a fantastic job of mashing up the favorite commercial House and RnB tracks and their remixes.

What’s important to note is that the club and visuals are still not complete. The walls are going to be covered with artwork, though I have yet to find out what kind. Also, the visuals were still being put through their paces and soon enough, the trippy, massive visuals White used to broadcast will be migrating downstairs.

If it gets too stuffy, there’s a lounge reception area where you can go rest your weary feet. Also, if it’s not too cold, you can go out on the balcony and finish off your drink and cool down before going back in to the club.

This was just the opening review. I’ll follow it up with a proper review with the things you want to know like table prices and reservations when I get the chance to go to Mad again. But, for now, Mad is definitely one of the venues I’ll be checking into on Foursquare this winter season.

Filed Under: Clubs Tagged With: ,

The NYE2012 Series: 6 Ultra Glamorous Options (250USD+)

December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ultra-Glamorous (250USD and Above)

Four Seasons Hotel Beirut
425USD
01761600

I absolutely adore this venue, the staff and the hotel as whole. The nights I’ve spent there have all been very memorable and enjoyable. The food’s heavenly, the views are magnificent and the experience is unlike any other I’ve had in Beirut. Here’s the description:

“High end six course menu with one bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose for every 2 guests. Enjoy the evening with a live band to play jazz and classics from 60’s and 70’s from 9:30pm – 11:30pm and then dance till dawn with our resident DJ. Enjoy Beirut’s best fireworks from our 26th floor with a special reception”

If you ask me, it’s well worth the price, but I reckon most of us cannot afford it. If you can though, I can think of no better, well-rounded NYE celebration.

Blackout Party (AddMind)
225-375-475USD
76168855

The guys at AddMind have made it a tradition of celebrating NYE with a massive mega party at BIEL. Previous themes included a Casino Las Vegas theme in 2010 and a Circus theme in 2011. To welcome 2012, AddMind are doing a “Blackout Party” glow in the dark party.

I think the theme is fabulous and I love the idea of glow-in-the dark paint and elements at parties. It’s also a less mature and more fun approach, compared to the casino and posh circus themes of previous years. Oh, and they’re also giving you the chance to win tickets (I entered, fingers crossed)

Le Gray Hotel Beirut
440USD
01-971 111

It’s either at Indigo on the hotel’s rooftop or in Bar Three Sixty. The price is the same, but the lineup and formulas differ.

Bar Three Sixty: Live entertainment with Samer Maroun, Ibrahim Jaber on percussion and DJ Alexis till late. Exquisite menu, open prestige bar  and special countdown parade and fireworks.

Indigo: Champagne aperitif with a saxophone twist, gourmet menu, open prestige bar and live entertainment and DJ all night and special countdown parade and fireworks.

What’s weird is that last year’s celebration in Indigo cost 300USD per person, this year it’s 440USD. Quite a price hike! But, perfect for celebrations as a family.

Phoenicia Intercontinental Beirut
01357357

Eau de Vie
1,000,000 LBP (667USD)


I like this venue, and if you haven’t already, read my review here. Description: “A five-course gastronomic Gala menu with Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Hennessy VSOP and open premium bar will be served. A famous DJ and orld-renowned violinist and an international band will join for your entertainment.”

It’s not as impressive as similar events and venues, and it’s much more expensive. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d recommend Eau de Vie for NYE 2012.

Whisky Mist
195-260USD

If you’re more into a club setting, the lofty Eau de Vie might not be your best option. There’s the underground club Whisky Mist at Phoenicia too, with a much more reasonable price with the same 5-star treatment you’d expect at Phoenicia Beirut.

Description: “Packages include open premium bar, canapés & party favors”

Buddha Bar
250-400-500USD
01993199

There’s the bar, lounge and restaurant to choose from. Buddha Bar’s elite status needs no introduction and if it’s within your budget, it’s certainly an option to consider. Read my review here if you want to know more about the diverse selection of music and the different types of people that frequent Beirut’s longest-running international mega club.

Note: I have included the places I am most familiar with. If I missed anything, it’s probably because the information was not readily available or that I have never tried the concerned venues.

Filed Under: Clubs, Leb Tagged With:

We Are Your Friends, Now BFFs 4 Life

October 18, 2011 By 7 Comments

After Saturday night, I got the validation I needed for my Endorsements section. In other words, I’m super-glad I endorsed We Are Your Friends: A Really, Really Big Party and I am certain I didn’t let you, my dearest readers, down.

The Venue

It was absolutely fantastic. After going into the once-sugar factory, you end up in a 50-meter or so corridor which is at some points open-air. Dotted on both sides were several bars, some exclusively for beer or water, others for everything else. This was divine because there was no crowding, pushing or shoving to get your drinks, allowing everyone there to stay friends!

Beirut in the Mix’s Room

The first door on the left led to a high-ceilinged room which I’d say is about half the size of Art Lounge’s event area. That was where Ronin and Nesta’s Beirut in the Mix crew set-up shop, which also included Phil. Here you’ll forgive me for not mentioning everyone, cause 15 DJs is a whole bunch to remember! The room’s walls were run down and bare concrete, with simple graffiti illuminated with LED lights creating a neon-like glow on the walls, which flickered as the heads and arms of people dancing jotted up and down to the deep, subtly melodic warehouse techno and house.

What’s nice was the proximity of the DJ booth to the dancefloor and how the security staff were friendly and accommodating, versus brainless goons who have not mastered the art of speaking you encounter in other events. In fact, Lori and I spent a good portion of the night up in the DJ Booth with Ronin, Nesta, Phil, Pat, George, Tina and a few other friends.

I spent the rest of my time jumping up and down, while revolving in the air and orbiting around my gorgeous date. I also had a bit too much to drink (for the first time ever), with Yorgi’s signature drink of Vodka, RedBull and a single piece of Halls candy.

We Run Beirut’s Room

We Run Beirut’s room had white-washed walls and had a tiled floor, creating a somewhat stark contrast between it and the rest of the venue, but still a very much underground, industrial location. The DJ booth was up-high and the room had an adjacent, darker room, allowing them both to fit roughly as much as the other rooms. Here, I stuck around for a while as the Basement’s Diamond Setter dropped the bass loops that made me fall in love with him coupled with the massive beats that create the “diamonds” in the jewels of a set he creates.

The BCE’s Room

This room was the venue’s most intimate one. Its ceiling was low and its size smaller, creating a cozier, darker atmosphere with an impression you’re somewhere deep underground. The music though, was everything but dark and deep, with uplifting and mildly remixed house tracks like “I follow rivers” being performed in unison by DJette and the crowd: DJette dropping the beat, everyone else singing it. The BCE’s brand of indie electro and nu-disco attracted the Cotton Candy and Behind the Green Door regulars who spent most of their night in that room, which was packed all night!

All in All

It was a night where three giants of underground house music in Beirut teamed up for some sexy music, healthy fun and plenty of positive vibes. Personally, I had a ton of fun. From what I could tell, so did everyone else. What was also different, is that the organizers themselves were part of the crowd and having just as much fun, with DJs from each promoter spending some time at the other promoters’ rooms before or after their sets. In other words, no stuck-up diva crap and an authentic “we’re all friends” feel to the overall fluid event.

For the Doubters

For the doubters who think this was spoiling an underground venue, I say: Shush, you hipsters. Underground doesn’t mean unpopular or unsuccessful, it means staying true to your genre no matter what. So, if an event got 1442 attendees, decent coverage and some buzz, that doesn’t mean the music was any worse or that the underground street cred of the guys was in any way shaken, on the contrary, it’s promoting proper clubbing and raving in Lebanon and exposing more and more people to how fun should be had (unlike you, who want to hog all the fun).

Stay up to speed with the guys

Beirut in the Mix
The BCE
We Run Beirut

and of course

Gino’s Blog =P

Filed Under: Clubs

Clubbing in Dubai

September 26, 2011 By 9 Comments

My name is Gino, and I’m a cluboholic. I’m also Lebanese, which means like most of you guys, I’m full of myself too and think we’re the best at everything and everyone else sucks. I was in Dubai last week though, and thanks to an awesome bunch of friends like Victor, Jade and Jean, I got to tour most of the clubs in that emirate.

Firstly, let’s face it, I’m sure most of you guys think Dubai is an ultra-conservative gulf country where alcohol and other fun stuff are frowned upon for religious reasons. Well, it isn’t, it’s the complete opposite. In fact, it may be even wilder than Beirut. Why? Because in Beirut, we suggest sex, talk about it, pretend we do it when in reality, very few are getting any. In Dubai, it’s straight to business. Almost everyone is an expatriate and doesn’t need to worry about their grannies finding out because someone blabbered.

That doesn’t mean though that Dubai qualifies as a party-driven town, for laws and religion do impose annoying restrictions. The first is that the club needs to be in a hotel, where alcohol can be served. Second, party ends, lights on, music’s off at 3:00AM sharp, always. Oh, and you also can’t drink and drive, even if you’re not drunk.

I might’ve been a little harsh on us Lebanese though, for the Lebanese and Emirati nightlife are closely related. In fact, Lebanese peeps are probably the pioneers and drivers behind the UAE party scene. I say that because in my two favorite clubs in Dubai, Lebanese people were to thank for the awesomeness while I was there. The first was the Basement’s DJ Jade at the Atlantis Hotel club N’Dulge (formerly Sanctuary), the second club was Lebanese itself, opened by Pier 7′s and Metis’ Crystal Group: People Club in Raffles Hotel.

So, we have exported our nightlife expertise, but we tend to think it’s less interesting than our domestic nightlife endeavors. That’s not particularly true. It’s definitely different, but definitely not less enjoyable.

First things first, the music is ultra-commercial. In N’Dulge, Jade sorta disappointed me with a crowd-pleaser, versus what I’m used to listening to him spin. DJ Joey in People also played a mainstream set of mildly remixed radio hits. So, you might not find the underground sanctuary you can rejoice at in Lebanon, such as B018, but every now and then, Gunther and Stamina or Ziad Ghosn drop by for some good music exhibition in the liberal emirate.

The clubs are large and posh. N’Dulge is massive, with a Buddha-Bar-like feel to it. The lighting is subdued and the decor is oriental. It’s also split in two, because I believe it’s hard to fill it all up on a normal night (ie not Friday). People is super-sexy. It’s situated at the top of the pyramidal Raffles Hotel, with a panoramic view of the Dubai skyline. It’s two different levels with two beautiful gorilla metallic-collage-statues at the entrance.

The people is where the difference really becomes obvious. In Beirut, we’re used to the same, generic type of clubber. A guy, cigar in hand and an overly-large polo logo on his shirt (the larger the logo, the more expensive the shirt apparently). A girl, too much make-up, heels you can’t walk in and a bag that always gets in the way of things. It’s hard to point someone out from the crowd, and foreigners usually stand out in stark contrast with the locals. In Dubai, everybody is a foreigner. Locals seem to stick to their own venues, and clubs are swarming with Lebanese and other Arab expats, as well as European and Asian expats. So, no matter what your taste, you’ll find a group (or person) to your liking.

Clubbers are also more outgoing, and more often than not, you’ll find someone to take back home with you. Probably because everyone’s staying for a certain period of time, and in terms of bad rep, you don’t really have anything to lose. Of course, I could be completely wrong about the sex stuff, but in terms of finding a dance partner at a club, Dubai is well, well, well ahead of Beirut. Girls are not indomitable fortresses of rejection, they like to have fun and dance. Yes, I know, shocking! So, even if you’re like me, taken and a nice guy, chances are you won’t be dancing alone like a dumbass, but dancing with most of the other people at the club.

In conclusion, Dubai does have a nightlife scene, and a fun one too. It’s not Beirut, cause everyone there has jobs in the morning. So, if it’s not a Friday night, you probably would stay in or find a nice restaurant or pub to chill at. Speaking of jobs, Friday nights are even more special in Dubai because you’d probably be releasing all the week’s work stress. So, next time you’re there, or if you’re thinking twice about moving there and it’s impact on your social life, remember it’s not as bad as you think! In fact, I love the idea of no valet or traffic, just a cue of taxi drivers at your whim, 24/7 and all over the place.

 

Filed Under: Clubs

The Roof at the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut

September 26, 2011 By 1 Comment

This is a long overdue review, but it was awesome enough that I remember every single detail even after 3 whole weeks.

Back in July, I was in James Zabiela’s gig in the Beirut New Waterfront. Bored as I was trying to get in, I looked up at the brand new, and very tall Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, wondering how annoyed the guests were that we were raving under their rooms. Then, much to my surprise, I see fluttering colorful lights on the rooftop. I was crushed… There was a rooftop I did not know about in Beirut.

Not sure what it would be like (mainly how much it would cost, and what I’d need to wear =P) I did not give it much thought until September, when summer begins to die a slow death none of us want to acknowledge. Then, a couple of tweets later, I find myself and Lori invited to check out the highest rooftop in Beirut.

Anyway, let’s get to the reviewing part now. We went there on a Thursday night, and Thursday nights at The Roof are usually in collaboration with a luxury brand. Our Thursday was with Laurent Perrier’s Rose Champagne, which I like to add tastes marvelous (and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t really drink alcohol. I’m serious, I don’t).

After handing your car keys to the valet at the entrance, you make your way through the lavish lobby to the elevators. You press the topmost button and you’re there in a few seconds. What was great was the courteous hotel staff, who were exceptionally polite and accommodating. Once you arrive to the top, you’re greeted by the hostess and shown to your table, or just let in to find your own seat or spot on the bar.

Once you go through the door, on your right is the hotel’s pool, which sports large metal drums floating around with fires blazing in them. To the extreme right is a jacuzzi I’d very much love to spend an evening in. It has the best view in town.

The tables around the pool are perfect for that long heart-felt or businessy talk. The sound of the water, the light from the fire and the subdued volume in that area make it a perfect spot to settle in after you’ve had your dinner or drinks.

Speaking of drinks, we had the amazing Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne that night, so I can’t say much about the cocktails. However, the prices are unexpectedly low compared to what you’d imagine for a top-notch venue like The Roof. For 19,000 LBP you can have one of several non-champagne cocktail, which I think is pretty reasonable assuming you’re not there to binge-drink.

As for the food, it’s Asian fusion. We had chicken and shrimp dumplings to kick things off. They were pretty good dumplings, but I’d definitely recommend the shrimp ones, a lot more flavor and texture in them. The real treasure though, was the savory meat. I am not a big fan of many flavors, but the sirloin steak bits were probably the best carnivorous treat I’ve had in quite a while. All you had to do is place a mouthful on your tongue, and close your mouth. The spices, sauces and garnishes will make all of your taste buds’ receptors fire at the same time, leaving an overwhelming taste and after-taste and the meat is cooked to be so tender that you barely even have to chew it.

The music is loungy, so don’t expect to dance the night away and end up jumping into the pool. Then again, The Roof isn’t a club, it’s more like a pre-clubbing spot, or an I’m-too-lazy-to-dance-but-wanna-have-a-nice-drink-and-dinner-somewhere-fancy kind of place.

Wearing shorts and a tank-top might not be the smartest idea. I’d go with a nice pair of jeans or pants and a polo or shirt. As to whom you should go there with, I’d recommend you take that special someone there for a date. Booking a table though isn’t a bad idea either. The insane view, comfortable sofas and subdued atmosphere permits an easy-going night out with your friends or colleagues, perhaps even the boss or client you want to impress…

Verdict: We tend to assume places like this are out of our reach, and probably our salaries’s reach, but The Roof is surprisingly accessible every now and then, and a must-go-to place for a date. Hurry though, you’re running out of summer night.

Price: 80 USD should be more than enough for dinner for two with drinks

Atmosphere: Laid back, relaxed and perfect for both the drinkers, and the diners, or preferably both!

Music: Chill-Out, Lounge music

Staff: Friendly, but make sure you become friends with the manager and hostesses too. They’ll help you pick and choose.

Location: Four Seasons Hotel Rooftop

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Filed Under: Clubs, Food Tagged With: ,

Dance in the Summer Review

September 5, 2011 By 6 Comments

Firstly, allow me to congratulate MixFM and redeeming themselves after the Dance in the City calamity a few years back, and showing Lebanese clubbers that the NRJ Music Tour is not the epitome of dance or concert events.

Non-electronic heavyweights like T-Pain, Dev and Taio Cruz along with mega-star DJ Dash Berlin created an unfamiliar buzz which was not limited to fans of a particular genre. In other words, you could find hard-core T-Pain fans just as excited as the Lebanese Trance Family was about Dash Berlin.

The setup was ok, but too commercial, with ads replacing visuals most of the time. I guess it was unescapable to be able to finance so many top-notch artists, and sponsor Marlboro was certainly more than willing to oblige in light of the imminent ban on sponsorships and ads that have to do with smoking.

Here, I’d like to pause and confess I honestly wanted to go there after 2:00 AM, since I have really no interest in singers and other live performances. To me, DITS = Dash Berlin. But, Lori made me and I ended up watching the entire concert, and thus am able to review DITS for you guys (so you should thank Lori =P).

First off was virtually unknown Amanda Wilson. She’s the voice behind the remix of Tim Berg’s Bromance, Seeking Bromance. Her performance was nice, but nothing memorable. Next came Mann, the West LA 20-year-old “Buzzin” rapper. He interacted with the crowd more, although one might’ve argued he flirted with random girls more than he actually sang. Nevertheless, he had everyones hands in the air, including mine, as we buzzed through his performance.

Then it was the diva of electronic and pop music, Sophie Ellis Bextor, the voice behind Armin van Buuren’s Not Giving Up on Love. Her performance was breathtaking, with her backup dancers and her commanding voice and stage-presence, she had everyone’s attention grabbed.

Next came Gala, the woman who sings “Freed from Desire” who sang that song as well as new single of hers. Later came Dev, whose performance was my absolute favorite. Why? Because her voice was genuine and she was rapping live, not just lip-syncing. She also introduced new material, and really hyped up the crowd. She won me over big time!

Taio Cruz seemed too chill. He walked slowly and in a measure way with his big black shades, and sang his chart-topping hits, throwing thousands into a singing frenzy. He then left, a bit too soon, probably to get to Sky Bar early =P

The, John Martin, virtually unknown, sang the Swedish House Mafia’s “Save the World Tonight” track and left the stage to none other than the supposedly headlining act, T-Pain. T-Pain sucked, big time. A mass exodus occurred, and virtually everyone not electronically-educated and waiting for Dash Berlin turned around and walked to the entrance. He did not sing a single song. Just random verses, interrupted by long minutes of nonsensical and poorly choreographed WWE-like gimmicks. After staying on the stage far too long, for far too much time, he finally left us in peace.

What’s notable is that he sang a small part of the original mix of Arab Money, which includes verses from the Quran (bisem ellah el ra7man el ra7eem, el 7amdullelah rabb el 3alameen). Which I thought unimaginable and sort of gutsy by him.

Then came Christian Burns, which we’ve seen a LOT of this year. But, he managed to surprise us with Tiesto’s In the Dark… I had no idea he sang that track, which brought warm feelings and memories to my heart!

Then, the man of the night took to the stage with his beautiful tablet, which had “Marhaba Beirut” marqueed on it. The incredibly energetic and interactive Dash Berlin kept hopping up on his DJ booth, walking down the catwalk and even threw a Dash Berlin tshirt to the adoring fans.

His set was a beautiful mix of Dash Berlin’s greatest production and remixes. Till the Sky Falls Down, Never Get Over You, Exploration of Space, his Not Giving Up on Love remix and many many more tracks had me jumping up and down, hands in the air, twirling around and entering the state of trance I had truly missed and not experienced to the fullest since back in Above and Beyond’s 2008 live performance.

All in all, MixFM has proven itself the undisputed megaconcert and event organizer. The 18+ door policy as well as the much more impressive lineup made its closest rival, the NRJ Music Tour, pale in comparison. That is due mainly to the diversity and magnitude of the artists as well as the absence of the infamous and controversial teen sections, to which the NRJMT owes its astronomical numbers.

Looking forward to what’s in store next. Photos courtesy of MixFM Lebanon.

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Filed Under: Clubs, Leb Tagged With: , ,

B018 Review

August 31, 2011 By 12 Comments

After The Basement’s demise earlier this year, B018 automatically became my absolute favorite club, in the world. Apparently, I am not the only one that thinks so. B018 ranks 6th on WorldsBestBars.com’s Top 100 and 40th on DJMag’s Top 100 clubs. To compare, Sky Bar is 62nd on DJmag’s poll and doesn’t even appear on World’s Best Bars page. Let’s start with the basics:

The Name

Pronounced: B (bee) 0 (written as a zero, pronounce as the letter O) 18 (eighteen).
Written: B018 NOT BO18
Origins: Founder, Naji Gebran’s apartment was number 18 in a block B back in the 80s, where the B018 concept began. Contrary to popular belief, it does NOT mean Be-Over-18.

Origins

Start: 1984, Beirut
First Location: 1993, a warehouse in an industrial area of Beirut
Second Location: 1998, the current location in the Karantina area

Location’s Significance

B018 is located in the Karantina area, which is Arabic for Quarantine. This part of Beirut used to be where foreign crews were screened for diseases in ancient times, and in more modern times, more specifically during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) it housed some 20,000 refugees. The area saw horrific violence and the refugee camp was completely obliterated and its residents displaced.

The area’s terrifyingly macabre aura and history make it an unlikely spot for an entertainment hub. But that’s exactly what it’s become. B018 is Beirut’s oldest and most legendary club, and it sits buried in an area that has been synonymous with pain and discord for centuries, chasing away the ghosts of the past.

Architecture and Design

Everyone knows that Bernard Khoury designed B018. It is arguably his most famous creation. From the highway, you might mistake it for a humble parking lot. However, at night, the sounds and traffic will definitely show you otherwise.

The above-ground structure is an unassuming metal facade with a massive hydraulic apparatus that articulates the infamous retractable roof.  Concentric circles surround the metallic, subterranean structure, where cars complete a full rotation around the club before finding a spot in one of the outer circles. The headlights of clubbers’ cars reflect off the surface of one of the roof’s retractable sections, which along with the city lights, create the only dynamic visual factor in the club below.

The comfortable sofas are foldable, serving as both a seat and an elevated platform for the more restless happy feet. It might be interesting to point out that the wood used in making the chairs comes from coffins, adding to the cryptic feel of the bomb-shelter inspired club.

The many unique and bold features of the club’s design and architecture have landed B018 in every single architecture-related journal and magazine. The vibrant and energetic club is a stark contradiction of its surroundings and as Bernard Khoury explains, a perfect protest to the neglect this area of the Lebanese capital has suffered over the years.

The Music

B018 is a massively underground club. Its pedigree is endorsed by the world’s biggest underground names, from Dany Howells to Nick Warren, to the M_nus crew, James Zabiela and many many others. The club hosts the gods and goddesses of underground electronic music on a regular basis. It has also harbored many of Lebanon’s artists with underground street cred such as Lumi and Fady Ferraye.

From electro, to techno, to minimal, to nudisco, to house and progressive, there’s always a deliciously digital genre blaring from the speakers and spilling off onto the highway. Big Al, Gunther, Stamina, Fady and Ziad are the resident decknicians and will always make sure you get the bass massage your internal organs so desperately need.

Other days, B018 plays host to a completely different type of music, from funk and jazz, to pop and rock and 80s music. It’s usually on Thursdays, and sometimes on Mondays. But Friday and Saturday are always dedicated to the club’s reputation-making deep, underground, electronic masterpieces.

My Two Cents

B018 is my ideal venue. It is underground, yet can be glamorous when it needs to be. It has amazing DJs all year round, yet can play host to virtually any musical heavyweight. It is ancient, but has yet to lose its luster. I’ve become close friends with many of the people behind this club, especially Ziad and Gunther. I hold the mayorship of B018 on Foursquare, and have done so for well over 18 months straight. I’ve checked in there a total of 67 times, which is a LOT.

I am disappointed to see so many people get the wrong impression about B018. Its afterhours operations earn it underserved notoriety of being infested with drunks and junkies. Well, I don’t really drink alcohol and I don’t do drugs and I can vouch the same for most of the people that frequent B0 (although they probably drink more alcohol than I do =P). So, to whomever thinks they’re too good for B0 and wouldn’t go there in a million years, I say THANK YOU! Good venues unspoiled by fish-face poses, cheap cigars and way-too-much makeup are a rarity, and B018′s notoriety does serve an indirect purpose: filtering the clientele, watering down the vanity and selecting for more genuine music lovers that go clubbing for the music, not for their Facebook’s mobile uploads album. So, if you want to dance, long and hard to music you didn’t listen to on the radio on the way over to the club, B018′s for you. If your friend’s birthday sucked, or your date was a flop, redeem yourself and save your night after 2:00AM at B018.

There’s no better feeling than going to a club on any given day, dancing for hours, opening the roof to let the smoke out and the cool in, and eventually let the sunlight flood the dancefloor and bar. My advice to you is, go on a weekday (except Monday, cause it closes) and leave at around 7:00-8:00AM and point your fingers and laugh at all the people stuck in a traffic jam on their way to work or school, while you go home to sleep through the day and recover.

Club: B018 Karantina
Location: Karantina (near Forum)
Music: Underground Electronic
Resident DJ: Gunther & Stamina, Fady Ferraye, Big Al and Ziad
Price: 30,000LL entrance with one drink for walk-ins after 2:00 AM
Door Policy: 18+
The Verdict: Divine

Filed Under: Clubs Tagged With: , , , ,

BLACKLISTED: SkyBar Beirut

August 5, 2011 By 36 Comments

Please Read this more recent post before proceeding. Thanks!

Among the few things I pride myself on knowing well and having extensive experience in is the stuff we do at night. No, I’m not just talking about sex. I’m talking about what happens before (if ever) we copulate: the rituals we perform as we drink and move to a calculated sequence of synthetic voices and beats.

The thousands of hours I’ve clocked in at clubs have been some of my best and of course some of my worst. I’ve been to the most underground hell-hole of a party, to the stinky rich glam-fests that your ears are drilled with every time you turn on your radio.

I don’t really drink alcohol and apart from Coke (as in Coca Cola) my only fix is clubbing. It is, as the wise Maxi Jazz (Faithless) put it “this is my church, this is where I heal my hurts.” I’m also fascinated by the many types of music, venues and of course people which engage in these nocturnal activities that separate us from our purely evolutionarily-driven animal relatives, and of course religiously-paralyzed neighboring countries.

After this elaborate display of my night-time pedigree, I’ll move on to the main course. I am, as of now, Blacklisting Sky Bar Beirut. Yes, take a few seconds to let that sink in… Readers who are by now accustomed to my writing, know I take pride in destroying the things people hold sacred and untouchable for silly purposes. It seems Sky Bar has become one of those things, and like every other person and thing who think they’re sacred, have become sloppy and stupid with their dealings.

I have been going to Sky Bar since 2009. This bastion of needless displays of extravagance and overly-absurd door policy was the go-to place if you wanted to be someone in the Lebanese clubbing world. Their notoriety at the door though, was simply that, notoriety. The fables you’d hear of the tragedies of not being let in, or blacklisted or whatever, were overly exaggerated. That worked well for Sky though, for if you heard that Sky Bar was like Fort Knox, you wouldn’t bother trying to get in except if your nose was held pretty high, or you enjoyed a slightly above average IQ to know that at the end of the day, its the dollar that speaks best, not your beauty genes. This made life a lot easier for the management.

Bit by bit, Sky Bar became more and more of a sacred temple that would always be awesome, always be the best, always be the biggest. The same happens with people who own Macs (myself included): if a mac crashes, we keep it to ourselves and pretend it was divine intervention, but if a Microsoft-powered machine hiccups, we burn it at the stake. That’s exactly what’s happening with Sky Bar.

I’m sad I’m the one that has to bring this up, but it seems no one else has the guts to do it. Why? Because those who get in covet their access like a prized possession, and those who don’t, suddenly pretend to be socialist heroes who are champions of humility and opposed to the lavish lifestyle Sky Bar represents.

Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m bringing this up. I’m definitely not a socialist, for starters. And the reason is because I have been denied access to Sky Bar three times this year. Here’s a detailed description of each time.

The first time, I came to Sky Bar at 12:30AM and my friends were already up. The new shell of a human being they’ve assigned to guard the door didn’t like the idea I was, according to her, “late” and “without a date.” This of course was said, as she let in groups of guys wearing glittery t-shirts. She was new to me, so I hopped back into my car and went to party elsewhere that night, not wanting to make a fuss.

The second time, I sinned and showed up wearing a polo shirt, pants and birkenstocks. Yes, horrible, I know. But, they had a point, it does not comply with Sky Bar’s dress-code. So, I was a good boy, shut up and went to change, came back a little while later. That’s when the incredibly intelligent female door master and her equally gifted muscly friends with iPads decided they were smart and witty enough to sell me “sa7eb el ma7al halla2 2alna ma baddo 7ada yfoot” (the owner just told us he doesn’t want anyone to come in).

Yes, they actually said that to me... They actually expected me to believe that the mythical owner sent them his thoughts and wishes telepathically, or better yet, came down his throne to physically inform them he didn’t want anyone going in anymore. Of course, some people did go in despite the royal order. Allow us to stoop to their level for an instant and believe that the owner did in fact give this order. Wow, brilliant order, denying paying customers that have a reservation and are abiding by your door policy!

The third time, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t my fault, and dressed in the same clothes I wore to my grandfather’s funeral and was there at 9:30PM. A shirt, suit-pants and formal leather shoes, could it get any more formal? We had a reservation and I made sure there was more estrogen than testosterone in our small group before going down. Yet, even this third time, the genius with the iPad decides I dont qualify for the dress-code. When asked which part of the dress didn’t fit the code, the answer of a person who never had the satisfaction of getting past the sixth grade was given.

Now, this is coming after my history last year in the club. There were some weeks in 2010, where 6 days out of 7, we’d be at Sky Bar. Heck, we even knew most of the waiters on a first-name basis. We grew accustomed to the playlists, our regular tables and seats and the whole Sky Bar experience which made summer in Beirut what it is.

This year, we’ve been graced with the new White venue and a brand new club, Pier 7, which rival Sky Bar on several aspects. Before you dismiss this as if you were some enlightened nightlife fairy, consider the differences between these 3, or better yet, what Sky Bar has to offer that the other two don’t have? I’ll admit Pier 7 is fairly new, and several hiccups have set it back somewhat in our minds. But White, well, in terms of capacity, entertainment, venue and clientele, it’s every bit as good as Sky Bar. Sky Bar’s feeble attempt at revamping its venue with the LED-screen walls, though wicked-awesome, pales in comparison with White’s transformation.

Anyway, we’re not here to compare the three, but deep down you know I’m right about Sky Bar not offering anything special anymore. Proof of this is plentiful, if you would just bother to look at the past “accomplishments” of the club:

  1. Sky Bar was NEVER, EVER, EVER number 1. There isn’t a chart in the world that lists it at the top, ever. I challenge anyone to find it.
  2. Sky Bar first entered DJmag’s rankings last year as the world’s number 51 club. It now stands at 62, tumbling an embarrassing 11 places, while clubs like B018 sky-rocketed from #68 to #40 (read more here + sources)
  3. You might say that DJmag’s polls are a bit old? Not recent enough? Well, the results of the poll I ran on the blog a couple of weeks ago corroborate the claim that Sky Bar isn’t really all that anymore (scroll up a bit)

What’s more important is that I’m confident I am not the only one that has had to put up with this deteriorating door policy, where the door staff are rude enough to admit the only reason you’re not getting in is because they don’t want you to, not based on something you’ve done wrong. That’s why, to avoid me looking like a child with a grudge, I am adding this poll for you to relate, or not relate to what I have explained above.

A club is an establishment aimed at entertaining, feeding and pouring drinks for paying customers. If someone has reserved and meets the requirements, the club has no right whatsoever to deny him or her entry. Moreover, they can teach their door staff manners.

(Rumor has it that the female at the door was bitch-slapped by an angry customer for denying her entry, too bad for the doorwoman the woman trying to enter was related to someone higher up. If the rumors are true, I salute the woman who dealt the slap, cheers to you my good lady!)

Till then, I strongly recommend you steer away from Sky Bar. There are plenty of other, funner venues where you are treated as a human being and where they know how to properly treat their customer, instead of denying a longtime Sky Barer friend of mine the table he wanted because he was a “child” and later sending the higher-ups pleading for his cold, hard cash again a day later. I am disappointed by this year’s performance, which is manifesting itself slowly, especially with the 9-DJ lineup dwindling and Sky Bar’s excuse for being liked: their dedication of Mondays to charities, slowly giving way to MixFM’s “decadance” events. Shame on you Sky Bar.

So, I am never setting foot again in Sky Bar except maybe on a Monday, when the door goons have no jurisdiction and the money is going for a good cause (not MixFM).

Rating: 5 fingers, and the only reason I didn’t add a sixth one, is because I encourage you to go on Mondays and support the charities!

Please Read this more recent post after reading. Thanks!
Filed Under: Clubs, Leb, The Blacklist

James Zabiela and Lee Burridge Live in Lebanon 2011

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It all started 4 (or 3) years ago, when James Zabiela made his Lebanese debut in the B018 parking. I had never heard of the British DJ and my better half back then surprised me with a pair of tickets. Much to my surprise, and hers, JZ’s set was absolutely mind blowing. The ultra sexy breakbeat elements he easily morphed into elegant tech-house instantly made Zabiela one of my favorite people in electronic music.

Zabiela is a man who can twist technology beyond its limits and create sounds that his machines were not built or designed to do. So much so, that the world’s most prominent DJ equipment company, Pioneer, have enlisted his help in designing their top-of-the-line turntables, the CDJ-2000s. The CDJ-2000s are used in every single respectable club or event worldwide. Yes, that’s how influential James Zabiela is in the EDM world, he literally helped build it.

Another element that makes Zabiela sets unique, is the energy and passion he portrays to his fans. In all four performances I have been lucky to be part of, he’s always come early, stayed much later than he should’ve and even stuck around to jam and experiment with the afterhours DJs! His golden locks never stay still as he jumps around and bobs his head to every single one of the 128 beats per minute in his music.

Saturday was no different. The blonde head captivated everyone’s attention, making the massive LED screens pale in comparison. But before getting to Zabiela’s set, we gotta stop and respect Hong Kong’s EDM pioneer: Lee Burridge. This was the second time I see the diverse DJ perform and what was notable this time around is that he steered away from breakbeat, Zabiela’s trademark, and instead focused on steady tech-house building it up slowly and surely for the multiple climaxes Zabiela would later induce.

Zabiela is notorious for employing several controllers in his sets. The sexiest and most well-known is of course the iPad. Zabiela links up his TouchOSC app on the iPad to AbletonLive on his Mac, which is hooked up to his mixer, CDJ2000s and of course several other controllers and effects machines. Combined, they are the best humanity can offer in terms of twisting and creating sound waves. On Saturday, Zabiela created music live with his iPad, walking around the set as the touch input on the tablet was wirelessly relayed to the rest of his decks.

His custom keyboard was also on hand, with the tiny piece of technology with a few extra buttons and faders making a huge impact on the music. Scratches, breaks and delays brought every track to a major, sustained climax, created mainly by his tiny controllers and iPad. The combination, which seemed haphazard and as-you-go created the excitement and unpredictability that make every JZ set different from the one before it. In other words, I was on my toes all throughout his set, jumping up and down at every peak.

To complete the night, my dear friends Ronin and Nesta kicked things off and Gunther and Stamina wrapped them up after the sun had risen from behind Lebanon’s mountains.

James Zabiela said his 2010 gig in Beirut was his favorite. It was also my favorite! And I’m sure this year will be his favorite as well! And I MET HIM! He is such a kind and humble person, and I love him even more after his acknowledgment of his Lebanese fans, myself included!

Images courtesy of MixFM

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Filed Under: Clubs Tagged With: ,
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