Tag Archives | Beirut

Giveaway Day 12 – Two $50 Gold Combo Vouchers from VOX Cinemas

By Rami on March 5, 2018 in Giveaways

Today’s giveaway is presented by the friends at VOX Cinemas who were kind enough to offer 2 Gold Combo vouchers that include a GOLD Movie Ticket, popcorn, and your choice of starter, main, drink and dessert from the menu. I personally have tried this Gold combo last summer and totally loved the 5 star experience, but it unfortunately makes it difficult to later attend regular shows! 😛

VOX Cinemas recently launched a new loyalty program by the way which is a free to join program that allows you to earn points every time you visit the cinema to use on free movie tickets along with a number of other benefits. I think it is a must for those who regularly go to the movies and you can read more details about it here.

To qualify for the draw, go to +961’s page on Facebook and interact with the giveaway’s post. One winner will be randomly chosen and announced tomorrow morning, and I will message him/her for instructions on how to claim the vouchers.

Beirut is Choking on its Traffic And It Wont Get Better!

By Rami on February 28, 2018 in Government, Social

Traffic around Beirut is seriously unbearable these days. I know the increasing number of cars keep making it worse every year but it is just frustrating now with the road works at major highways.

With the construction of the L bridges in Jal El Dib now, 2 lanes from each side of the highway have been closed and I can imagine how awful it is for people using that route everyday. On the other hand, the southern entrance is also no better, road works are being conducted on the airport highway and 2 lanes have also been closed on its eastern side.

What’s puzzling though is that when such works are performed on vital roads, the government does not bother to oblige the contractor to work day and night shifts to finish whatever they’re doing in the least number of days. I’ve never someone working after 5 or 6 PM on the airport road for example and no one seems to care…

Much needed maintenance is currently also being done for Salim Salam tunnel by the way, but fortunately only during the night. However, I lately heard that at some point it will be totally closed day and night for 7 whole months in order to complete the whole work! I already get stuck for 25 minutes sometimes to cross the distance from Beirut Sports City to Salim Salam, and I imagine it will be hell if the news turned to be true!

And of course it doesn’t just stop at Beirut main entrances, some inside roads are closed in fear of terrorist attacks, but I don’t believe this is justified anymore especially that the authorities claim the situation is very well “controlled” nowadays. The blocks around ESCWA in downtown, General Security in Mathaf, as well as Adlieh all don’t make sense anymore. The one at ESCWA isn’t even logical since it gets lifted by 5 or 6PM everyday because you know, terrorists don’t work overtime.

What’s funny though is that blocks around Nejmeh Square have all been lifted as if the parliament is suddenly no longer a target, so we should probably wait until other places get also suddenly lifted from target lists!

Now some may suggest there must be a solution by at minimum improving the public transport system, but in a country that scores so low on corruption perception index thanks to highly inefficient officials, you better instead look for fun things to do when stuck in you car during the days to come!

Giveaway Day 7 – 3D Printing Pen from Virgin Megastore

By Rami on February 24, 2018 in Giveaways

Today’s giveaway is presented by Virgin Megastore and consists of a 3D Printing Pen (3Doodler Start Essentials Pen Set). This 3D Pen is most suitable for kids as it inspires creativity, design, planning, building and spatial understanding. It is also quite safe to use since the pen nozzle and plastic can safely be touched with no burn risks.

To qualify for the draw, go to +961’s page on Facebook, answer the giveaway post, and I will randomly select one winners tomorrow morning.

Giveaway Day 1: Dinner For 2 At Pier 78 Kempinski Summerland

By Rami on February 18, 2018 in Giveaways

For the first day of the giveaway series, Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort was kind enough to provide a voucher for 2 persons for a dinner at their Mediterranean restaurant Pier 78 ($150 value).

I personally have experienced Kempinski Summmerland’s service on several occasions and they impressed everytime. Aside from the programs they present on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays evenings at Pier 78, I specifically love the family brunch they also offer on Sundays. The open buffet has a lot of variety and is nothing less than what you would expect from a 5-star venue, but what really makes them stand out from other hotels offering similar formulas is that they also provide free kids entertainment so that parents can enjoy their meal at ease.

So, to qualify for the draw, go to +961’s page on Facebook, like the giveaway post and tag your friends in a comment. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced tomorrow morning, and I will message him/her for instructions on how to claim the voucher.

The Housing Bank Just Screwed Home Shoppers in Lebanon

By Rami on February 15, 2018 in Economy

The two most popular options for home shoppers in Lebanon in order to finance their purchases is to either get a loan from the General Organization for Housing in case the apartment price is relatively low, or from the Housing Bank if the price is on the higher end.

However, earlier this month the Central Bank of Lebanon issued a new circular with amendments on subsidized loans, and as a result the Housing Bank increased its the interest rate from 3% to 3.75% while lowering the payment period from 30 to 20 years and toughening the lending terms in general.

To give you an idea of how these amendments impacted the monthly payments, a loan of $250,000 used to cost ~$1,050 on the previous conditions, but currently cost ~$1,500 based on the new terms and rate (refer to their loan calculator). Needless to say, this 50% increase means that a lot of home shoppers now can no longer afford the apartments they were previously aiming for!

I, for example, have been searching for an apartment in Beirut for a while now and the new terms mean that I have two options, to either settle for a significantly smaller one in space, or simply look for one of the same size outside the city. The latter is unfortunately a deal breaker for me so I just decided to halt everything now in hope for the prices to go down maybe… I guess it is only logical for this to happen now that the demand is expected to take a hit.

Things are by the way also quite ugly now for people who are already engaged by contracts with real estate developers. Those usually pay monthly installments directly to the developers until the project is fully complete, and then apply for a loan to finance the remaining amount, but they definitely didn’t see a 50% increase on their future payments coming! And while people like me can simply stop searching, others who are bound with contracts can do nothing but go for the loan anyway or pull out of the whole thing and pay a certain penalty to the developer for doing so.

I’m not an expert in economics but things seriously don’t seem right with the new Housing Bank decision, I mean you can’t simply cut down the people’s purchasing power just like that. I just hope this isn’t an indication of the Lebanese Lira being in a bad situation now and I also hope these amendments are only a temporary measure. Otherwise, I guess the real estate market is expected to go into stagnation no matter how developers try to convince the public that it is a resilient sector!

Alfa Restores Hope in Life for A Young Woman This Valentine #الحب_الحقيقي_مش_أعمى

By Rami on February 13, 2018 in Ads

For Valentine this year, and in its continuous quest for supporting people with iron will in the Lebanese society, Alfa decided to gift an eSight 3 device to Sariya, a young mom who lost her eyesight few years ago after being diagnosed with Glaucoma disease.

I can imagine how hard it was for her not being able to enjoy the simplest pleasures in life by watching her beloved ones’ faces… but fortunately this seems to have come to an end with Sariya finally able to be autonomous again, walk around freely, and of course see her family!

Her reaction once she tries the eSight 3 glasses is absolutely priceless…

#الحب_الحقيقي_مش_أعمى

بعد سنين من المعاناة من المي السودا، ساريا شافت 👓 حب حياتها من جديد بفضل تكنولوجيا أمنتلا ياها ألفا ❤
#الحب_الحقيقي_مش_أعمى

Posted by Alfa Telecommunications on Tuesday, February 13, 2018

بعد سنين من المعاناة من المي السودا، ساريا شافت حب حياتها من جديد بفضل ألفا ❤#الحب_الحقيقي_مش_أعمى

Kudos to Alfa for giving that young woman hope in living a normal life again!

Kempinski Summerland’s Floating Dinner For Valentine

By Rami on February 13, 2018 in Reviews

Last weekend, I surprised my significant other with a getaway at Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort. Previously, I enjoyed their luxurious services with dinner at Candelabra, so I was enthusiastic about experiencing a one night stay in one of the rooms.

Needless to say, the service during our stay was impeccable, but what really stood out was the floating dinner we had in their private heated covered pool accompanied by your personal butler. I’ve previously seen a lot of Instagram posts of floating breakfast trays at Kempinski Summerland last summer but little did I know it was served all year long. I did not think twice about upgrading our experience the minute the Lady In Red suggested that wonderful experience.

For Valentine, Kempinski Summerland is also offering several packages, of which, a romantic one night stay and the exceptional floating dinner, a seafood dinner at Pier 78 with famous singer Manel Mallat and a set menu dinner with singer Paola Ibrahim at Candelabra. My recommendation? Surprise your loved one with something out of the ordinary!

You can get more information about their offerings here.

25 Ideas for Valentine’s Day This Year!

By Rami on February 7, 2018 in Events

It’s the same dilemma every year… February 14 comes and couples are clueless on what to do for Valentine, so here are 25 events from Lebtivity to help you plan better this year!

You can also check the full 2018 Valentine’s events in Lebanon here.

Gustave Bouchon – Liquor, Wine & Cigar Concept Store in Byblos

By Rami on January 31, 2018 in Reviews

Last week I was in Byblos and a friend there took me to a new wine, and cigar concept store in town called “Gustave Bouchon“.

The reason I’m writing about the place is because it has a carefully curated and unique selection of liquors and wines to suit different drinking styles. I personally have little knowledge about pairing spirits with food and I know a lot of people who like me simply settle for whatever the waiters recommend at restaurants, or end up buying the same kind of wine at supermarkets because they can’t tell the difference between all the available ones. It is a rule of thumb for example to go for red wine when having meat, but then again red wine can vary in taste from dry to sweet and to really enjoy your mean you must pick the one that suits your food the most. So what I loved most about Gustave Bouchon is that they have a knowledgeable sommelier who’s specialized in pairing spirits and food, and can even suggest the right bottle for you depending on your drinking style, as well as the type of event/gathering you’re hosting or attending, and you can of course try whatever you choose before buying.

The palce also has a table that fits 10-15 people for those who would like to gather for some fine drinks. So you can choose the bottle you like and they will serve it to you along with bits and bites and a fine cigar if you’re a smoker, and they can offer several dining formulas (Sushi, French, or Italian) if you reserve ahead of time. The decor and setting of Gustave Bouchon make it ideal for group gatherings by the way, with decor inspired by The Austro-Hungarian Empire and bottles organized on shelves in libary style. The lighting and the vibrant bottle colors make it a really inviting place for passers by.

So in brief, if you’re looking to know more about spirits and food pairing or simply want to enjoy a fine drink, then I highly recommend you get the right partner(s) and go check out Gustave Bouchon. And if you’re lucky enough then you’ll probably meet the owner and he will tell you the story behind the store’s logo and slogan “The man the tale”.😉

Biel is Moving from Beirut Waterfront to Al Naher Area

By Rami on January 28, 2018 in Social

It seems like Biel which has hosted countless exhibitions and events at Beirut Waterfront is soon moving to Al Naher area (The road that takes you from Emile Lahoud road toward Chevrolet/Alfa). My friend Amer Tabsh just shared some photos on Facebook showing the new location with construction works in progress.

I have no idea about the reason for the move but I guess Solidere has probably plans to build something else instead of it at the Waterfront. As for the new location, people are definitely going to be criticizing choosing Al Naher area, but the owners probably had no other choice knowing that lands of big areas are almost not existent in Beirut. Somewhere in Jnah could have probably been an alternative.

In all cases, people crossing Emile Lahoud road everyday better be prepared for the traffic Jam the new Biel will be causing during each event hosted there!

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